Is this a reasonable increase for a week timeshare rental?

[WinniWoman]

So we rented a week at a resort for last week for $1860. 3 bedroom. Fantastic view. Top quality as timeshares go in the Northeast. Booked it April of 2025 through booking.com. ( First Chair Destinations formerly was Vacasa when I booked it). No prepayment until and free cancellation by the month before. Worked out great.

We decided we’d like to return in 2027, but now it would cost $2500 non refundable for the same week and unit.

Not sure if I should book, wait, or what.

We really like the unit and it proved to be a good choice also because the weather was bad and we spent most of our time inside it.

Any input appreciated.

 

[TUGBrian]

can you make an offer somewhere in the middle?

 

[WinniWoman]

can you make an offer somewhere in the middle?

Well it’s a third party online site so it’s not like it’s a private individual. But I do have an inquiry in to the local property manager for First Chair. But they have it listed for $3243!

 

[dioxide45]

Reasonable is relative. It may not be reasonable to you but perhaps someone else is willing to pay it. Perhaps it was just underpriced in prior years. It isn't the increase so much as if the current rental rate is what the market will bear.

 

[CO skier]

Considering that "timeshare grade" hotel rooms (how many hotel rooms offer full size refrigerator and a comfortable place to sit while watching TV) easily top $125/night ($125 X 3 X 7 = $2,625) for a week, and considering everyone would be in a single unit with a full kitchen, and considering you like the unit so much, $2,500 seems entirely reasonable.

Since this is through a third party, maybe you got one helluva deal at $1,860 from one owner; another owner is offering at market rates this year.

If this is the case, "reasonable increase" is a non-sequitur.

 

[StaceyM]

So we rented a week at a resort for last week for $1860. 3 bedroom. Fantastic view. Top quality as timeshares go in the Northeast. Booked it April of 2025 through booking.com. ( First Chair Destinations formerly was Vacasa when I booked it). No prepayment until and free cancellation by the month before. Worked out great.

We decided we’d like to return in 2027, but now it would cost $2500 non refundable for the same week and unit.

Not sure if I should book, wait, or what.

We really like the unit and it proved to be a good choice also because the weather was bad and we spent most of our time inside it.

Any input appreciated.

The maintenance and/or cleaning fees could have gone up.
The booking site changed names. Their fee structure could have increased - they take a larger percentage from the owner or they revamped their pricing model.
The domestic market could be more expensive because a lot fewer people are willing/able to fly across the ocean in 2026.
You are also a few months closer to the vacation date (April vs June booking)

The question is not whether the increase is reasonable, it's
1) whether you can afford it
2) whether you value the vacation to be worth the extra cost
3) whether you can get anything comparable for a lower price

As for #3: Many property and timeshare owners cross-list their properties across VRBO, AirBNB, and even smaller personal independent websites. You might try searching some of the unusual key words in the listing title (especially if it was given a unique name) on Google and see if it's offered anywhere else for a lower price, or if you can find owner contact info. See if you can find it reviewed on Tripadvisor, that should give you links to other sites where it's bookable. Are any weeks at the resort listed on RedWeek or Koala?

Shop around, and if you can't find anything cheaper, it's probably a reasonable price.

You could wait for the price to drop, but it really depends. Is the week over a holiday, or a peak tourist season? Or is it an off season when weather tends to be bad? Are you talking 6 months in advance (Jan 27) or closer to 18 months out (Dec 27)?

 

[easyrider]

Any input appreciated.

If you really like it , take it. Especially now that you are aging. I doubt you will regret spending $640 more than before but you could regret not going to a place you like.

Bill

 

[WinniWoman]

Considering that "timeshare grade" hotel rooms (how many hotel rooms offer full size refrigerator and a comfortable place to sit while watching TV) easily top $125/night ($125 X 3 X 7 = $2,625) for a week, and considering everyone would be in a single unit with a full kitchen, and considering you like the unit so much, $2,500 seems entirely reasonable.

Since this is through a third party, maybe you got one helluva deal at $1,860 from one owner; another owner is offering at market rates this year.

If this is the case, "reasonable increase" is a non-sequitur.

Very good point about the hotel rates. I think I was just lucky last time. Plus I've been spoiled with the "no prepayment" offers on booking.com that they basically aren't offering any more.

But I take out travel insurance anyway just in case we can't go.

I did look back at other places in the area we rented in the past for the same week and we did pay $2000 for a small log cabin at a resort, and $2400 for a timeshare condo that we didn't care for.

 

[WinniWoman]

Thanks all. I was all set to book it, but.......

Yesterday it was showing as $2518. Today $2559. Ok. But then when I went to book it- with taxes and fees added in it was $2888! Now we are getting towards the $3000 mark. I'm not sure I want to go that high. I'm still procrastinating.

 

[WinniWoman]

Ok. So funny. I was continuing to do searches this morning for that area and other areas on booking.com and also on VRBO. I used my laptop and also my cell phone - inside and outside the booking.com app.- signed in and not signed in. (this is how my crazy brain works).

I had found a really nice condo at a different resort in a nearby town with a pool and nice views for like $2600 including taxes on VRBO. Was close to booking it when I decided to once more look at booking.com, but I was on a different browser on my phone since I had the other condo up on the other browser on my phone.

The original unit I wanted came up- this time for $2200!!! So- I get ready to book it, but then see I was not signed in and no "Genius" discount applied so I decided to sign in to book it. Sure enough another $200 off!! Woo Hoo! Total: $2098!!! SCORE! (And yes- I did think about waiting even more, but I did not want to play around with the algorithms anymore and risk it! I like things settled!)

Took out trip insurance for the cancellation feature since this time the booking was pay in full now and non refundable. (I do hate that booking.com is not doing the no prepayment required thing anymore). That was $123. Worth it.

This was almost like when I belonged to RCI and had to play the exchange game! Gave me a headache. And honestly, I know little about computers and algorithms. I go with my intuition doing this stuff.

Thanks again everyone.