First time "timesharing" - What to bring?

[DeniseM]

Blues - that's exactly what we do. However, we usually take a picnic lunch on our excursions almost everyday, because we like to have a picnic and cold drinks where ever we may find outselves at noon.

 

[zentraveler]

I agree with Von. Perhaps families with multiple kids will cook dinner to save money. But for a couple on any but the most limited budget, it's just so much more convenient to go out. During the week, if we decide to cook a simple dinner, e.g. throw a couple of steaks on the grill, we'll stop at a grocery store to pick up just what we need for that meal.

We too confine our dinner cooking to simple steak or seafood and salad dinners, mostly when we are tired of eating out, have had a long day, or want to splurge on really nice wine instead of being waited on. Sometimes that is the most relaxing.

 

[rsnash]

I definitely cook breakfast in. It's usually our healthiest meal of the day as well, since I add loads of vegetables to egg white (Egg Beaters or Egg Starts (from Costco, less than 1/2 the price of Egg Beaters)) omelets. Whole grain toast, a bit of fruit. If we're at a relax at the resort type of vacation, we may plan a few lunches, but usually we go out and sightsee after mornings relaxing by the pool, so lunch & dinner are usually out.

I also second, third, and fourth, the suggestion of a good sharp knife. On our next trip to Orlando in January, I originally planned to only do carry-on, but after our last trip to PR (October), I was reminded, once again, that I need a good knife. So, I'm planning one checked bag. I want to pick up something hard sided, so then I can more easily pack our hot air popcorn popper, as long as I'm checking a bag. I hate microwaved popcorn and we're trying to eat healthier, so it's our main snack. I also bring a large non-stick skillet/wok and a heat proof silicone spatula. As well as assorted baggies of spices. Splenda or other sweetener of choice. And salt. Why can't resorts provide salt & pepper??? Basically anything you personally use almost daily and can bring just of bit of in a non-messy way, that you would have to buy in too large a quantity if you bought locally.

 

[DaveNV]

My 2¢ worth:

It depends on the kind of vacation it will be. Will you be hanging around the timeshare resort all day, or being on the go, out exploring the area?

I buy breakfast items, on-the-go foods, and snacks, but expect most major meals will be eaten out - for me that's part of the fun of timesharing - eating where the locals do. If we're out and about exploring or whatever, it's not always convenient to get back to the timeshare to make dinner. If we're hanging out at the timeshare, that's a different thing altogether.

Two adults traveling, usually alone, will not eat enough in the timeshare to warrant spending large money on big-size items to save a few dollars. But you need to stay aware - sometimes the smaller "convenient" sizes sold in grocery stores are just as expensive as the bulk-sizes sold at Costco. Factor in the hassle of finding a grocery store in a strange town, when you're already in Costco, and it's often not worth the trouble.

I weigh the "What if we were eating in a restaurant?" factor to the cost of an item. If a modest meal out for two is $20, then I can apply that $20 toward buying food for that meal, if I think we're likely to eat in. And a fair amount of groceries can be purchased for $20 - but only IF you are going to use them.

The sticky already mentioned has great ideas of what to pack, but you have to factor in how you're going to use those items. On a beach vacation to Hawaii, do I want to hassle with packing frying pans and utensils and foodstuffs? Likely not. But if I'm driving to the mountains to ski, then I'll pack the whole dang kitchen, if I think it'll be more convenent to eat in than out.

I have a ready-to-go locking box in my camping gear that contains must-have items I always take camping. If I was driving to a timeshare, I'd raid that. But if I'm flying, it's all about weight and convenience. The rest is trial and error.

Good luck!

Dave

 

[Bxian]

We just got back from a Miami/Orlando timeshare trip. I packed a small soft-side cooler with chicken breasts that I had frozen in marinade, a box of frozen veggies, and biscuits in foil. Our flight was delayed, so it was nice to get to the timeshare and throw the meat/veggies into the convection oven for a quick meal. It did not add much weight. I also packed Montreal steak saesoning in a baggie for use when we grilled steaks later in the week, as well as the all important home-made chocolate chip cookies (which did not last the week).

 

[zentraveler]

If a modest meal out for two is $20, ...

Not in any place I seem to travel .

 

[DaveNV]

Not in any place I seem to travel .

Key word is "modest." It averages out - even fast-food can be modest.

Dave

 

[rsnash]

Ditto on that undoable $20 meal for two.

We don't eat at fast food chains, so I don't see where $20 would get us dinner anywhere.

We were in PR for 1 week in October. We did not dine out extravagantly, some lunches were around $30, most around $45, a couple dinners were over $100. Our restaurants charges add up to about $900. But, I consider this part of the vacation costs. It's something I'm keeping in mind for costing out a possible cruise we might be able to sneak in at the end of December. We had ~$1600 in cc charges for our vacation, including a cheap rental car, and a couple tours, in addition to the restaurants. Add in the cost of the TS, it's pretty comparable to the ~$2500 I'm planning on spending on a cruise. As long as you are willing to go with a no view or inside cabin, there are some good last minute deals available. Hmm, this has nothing to do with what to pack. It's just helping me figure out the real cost of vacations!

 

[zentraveler]

Ditto on that undoable $20 meal for two.

We don't eat at fast food chains, so I don't see where $20 would get us dinner anywhere.

We were in PR for 1 week in October. We did not dine out extravagantly, some lunches were around $30, most around $45, a couple dinners were over $100. Our restaurants charges add up to about $900. But, I consider this part of the vacation costs. It's something I'm keeping in mind for costing out a possible cruise we might be able to sneak in at the end of December. We had ~$1600 in cc charges for our vacation, including a cheap rental car, and a couple tours, in addition to the restaurants. Add in the cost of the TS, it's pretty comparable to the ~$2500 I'm planning on spending on a cruise. As long as you are willing to go with a no view or inside cabin, there are some good last minute deals available. Hmm, this has nothing to do with what to pack. It's just helping me figure out the real cost of vacations!

Totally off topic too (our food costs are like yours) but I am thinking of trying to pick up a cruise bargain after Christmas. Not a big cruise person (have only been on one) but it does seem to be a bargain area. The front page of today's NTY had an article that talked about a 4 day Expedia cruise out of Miami for $99 !!

 

[rsnash]

Totally off topic too (our food costs are like yours) but I am thinking of trying to pick up a cruise bargain after Christmas. Not a big cruise person (have only been on one) but it does seem to be a bargain area. The front page of today's NTY had an article that talked about a 4 day Expedia cruise out of Miami for $99 !!

Go to VacationsToGo.com for their 90 day ticker of last minute deals. Then go to the bottom of the page and click "custom search" to enter even more details (more specific dates that are good for you, ports, length of cruise, costs). I haven't seen any for $99, but pretty close. I'm looking at a 7 day Bahamas cruise out of NYC Christmas week for about $2400 all in (for 2). The week after is a bit more expensive. I guess more people are wanting to go away New Years over Christmas.

Prices are even slightly less on CruiseDeals.com, but VacationsToGo has a better search engine. So, find what you want on VTG, then price it on CD. Then call to see if one will beat the other!

 

[JackieD]

We just got back last night from Mexico so I thought I'd add my .02 while it's fresh.
We are a family of 5. I don't think we overpack but I don't want to buy everything from sunscreen to shampoo. I bring mini sizes.

First thing we do after checking in is to head to the grocery store....actually during the last 10 yrs of timesharing my husband has done the grocery shopping We usually just get milk, cereals, eggs, yogerts, bread etc for breakfast, sandwhich making stuff, cheeses, kid drinks, water, snacks, premade salads & chicken. I am so happy when we're on vacation because I do no cooking! We always eat breakfast in. Usually we eat a late lunch and snack later in the evening or go out for dinner but rarely eat all three meals in or out.

One thing that others mentioned that I wish I brought this time especially since we didn't have luggage fees, was a small non stick pan. We only cooked breakfast but it would've been worth not scrapping the heck out of the pan and ruining eggs... I've brought one a couple of times but usually don't remember and wish we had.

Uncouth warning...: WHY don't most resorts (at least that we've stayed at) have exhaust vents in their bathrooms? We always bring matches, does wonders in a bathroom.....

-a soft side cooler
-a canvas bag and/or backpack...because no matter what we have stuff to lug around
-I've never brought dishsoap and never needed it. You can always call ahead and ask what they provide.
-laundry soap & stain stick (remember 3 kids!)
-I use ziplocks for everything from toiletries, jewelry, stinky shells to leftovers
-Aloe because WHEREVER we go, WHATEVER time of year, one of us gets sunburned!
-bug spray
-have to have coffee before anything else! I bring one of those air sucked out coffee bricks & filters

Travelling with kids is a whole lot different than just two adults. When my hubby and I go alone, we can get away with carry-ons only. We've gone on several trips when all 5 of us had a small carry on.... It CAN be done. Just depends on where and when you're going.