Just bought our 4th Kaua'i Timeshare (LBR & Pono Kai)!

[klpca]

Well said Marty. I like knowing I'm going to get my oceanfront unit every year
When I go to Hawaii. I also rarely exchange but when I do I don't expect ocean
Front rooms. As for the maintenance fees, my Hawaii weeks cost less per year
Than most of the units that are right here in my backyard, The Wisconsin Dells.

Both ways work, it's just a preference.

Our Hawaii unit (Maui Hill) is pretty low for maintenance fees as well ($904) for a 2 bedroom ocean view fixed summer week. I like knowing that I can always have a summer week on Maui without the trading hassle or cost. Our plan is to use it eoy, and we'll either rent it through the resort's rental program or to family members.

While I understand the reluctance of others to buy in Hawaii, there are times when it can make sense. I probably wouldn't do this if we lived on the east coast, but living the west coast it is doable.

 

[flexible]

I had NO IDEA people on TUG actually wanted Pono Kai. Did you pay more than $1 and title transfer? There are a lot of people wanting to dump Pono Kai. There is nothing wrong with the resort. I just can't be bothered to manage so many contracts or deal with the hassle to rent them.

Did any of you see http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172925&highlight=Pono+Kai - His latest post on 18 Jun 2012 was "limited time" OR I will pay $300 to deed it back. They wanted to give away a 2 BDRM Pono Kai unit. He had ONLY one TUG post and recently joined. That is why I thought it was a probate lawyer or staff trying to dump it.

I paid Pono Kai $300 to deed back a 2 Bedroom Presidential Unit in September 2011.

I check TUG Marketplace looking for people who actually want our timeshares before paying resorts to deed back or cancel. I do NOT recall any "Wanted" listings for the timeshares I have paid to deed back which include:

 

[slip]

I do remember that post. I sent him a PM asking what unit it was. I think it was
In the J building. It doesn't matter at Pono Kai but I like to buy deeds in ocean
Front or at least ocean view buildings. Just in case the rules get changed.

 

[northpole]

I am curious as to why you would want 4 weeks of ownership in Hawaii when the disadvatages (from my perspective at least) such as ever-increasing maintenance fees, airfares, or the long term viability when one is no longer able to travel (and the kids don't want the burden of such fees) outweigh the benefits. We have owned 2 weeks in Orlando for 20 years and we have never had trouble trading into 5* resorts in Hawaii or anywhere else at prime time and our maintenance fees are way less than owning in Hawaii. If I was to do it all over again I would only buy 1 week (resale) and an RTU - at least that way I know that I will be rid of it down the road when I am no longer able to travel and my $$$ commitment is known upfront.

For us it just makes sense. I get over 8 weeks of holidays per year (I'm an air traffic controller in Vancouver). When I go somewhere, I like to stay for a while. I like to feel like I "live" somewhere rather than just holiday there.

I'm 38 and we have an 8 month old baby, so I expect to be able to use our timeshares for the next 40 years +. It'll be great having all of the family memories of living in Kauai for a month each year and watching our little one grow up!

I'm also a planner. When a person exchanges, it's more difficult to plan ahead. We'd have to make "requests" and not know where/when we'd be staying. At Lawai Beach Resort, we can reserve our units 24 months in advance... So that's what we do, I make our reservation 24 months in advance and chose the unit that I like the best... At Pono Kai, I make reservations 12 months in advance (to the day).

I might be a bit more laid back if I weren't working. My leave time, though plentiful, is very precise. There are certain times when I can get 4-6 weeks off in a row, and certain times that it would be impossible to do so.

Having 4 weeks timeshare in Kauai, where I'm guaranteed an ocean view, where I can plan ahead and hope to get many years use out of our timeshares - for us it's Perfect!

I sometimes tell people that I live in Vancouver for 11 months per year, and in Kauai for the 12th month...

 

[artringwald]

We also bought in Hawaii because we like being able to get ocean front every year. When you're looking at snow 6+ months of the year, you need an escape plan. Airfare and maintenance fees do get expensive, but we look at it as a medical expense (mental heath).

 

[slip]

Planning is a big part of it. We set aside what we will need with each paycheck.
That why where all ready. We've been doing that for a while now and we don't
even miss the money on a biweekly basis. If airfare goes up we're not hit as bad
because we have most of it set aside already.

I love than mental health!!

 

[Kona Lovers]

... but we look at it as a medical expense (mental heath).

Precisely. We're school teachers, and we look at our summer Hawaiian vacations as a "recharging of the batteries" time.

Aloha,

Marty