I`m interested in buying a bargain basement timeshare. What is the best scenario to put myself into? Points week or what have you. I`m not interested in going to the same location every year and want a place that will allow me to be able to trade and go whereever I like. So I was thinking Hawaii or Vegas may be better for trading purposes. I`m looking for a place with a low purchase price and low annual maintainance fee but still a reputable hotel like a Sheraton, Hilton or Marriott. I have stayed at Tahiti Village before but was`nt impressed enough to purchase. I want the biggest inintial bang for my buck which will allow me as many options as possiable down the road. Please help.
Thank you
Paul
Please take no offense but there is a disconnect in what you want and what you want to pay, unless my definition of bargain basement is off.
To get Hawaii or Vegas and Sheraton, Hilton or Marriott you're need to make a decent investment unless
you don't want prime seasons or 2 BDRM units and can travel short notice.
If you have that type of travel profile then that is different and you can use less expensive weeks to travel short notice in the off seasons.
Now if you're like my family and want a 2BDRM Marriott quality in Hawaii during the winter then to me the biggest bang for the buck is a Marriott 2BDRM LO plat or possibly a Gold. I'm starting to really see the value in the Marriott Kauai Beach Club 2BDRM OV LO. I bought one last year at $6100 and saw one sell for a little cheaper and one alittle more.
That may seem a little costly for some but you get what you pay for in my book. IMHO so many make the mistake of buying a really cheap no name and then regret it because they can't exchange the way they want, they can't rent it or dump it if necessary.
Pay the money upfront and it will save you a lot of grief on the back end. And if you get a good resale price you will lose much less when you do try to sell it.
There may be cheaper Marriott LOs but I like Maui or Kauai because there will always be a demand for a 2BDRM LO OV Marriott in Hawaii if you need to flip it. They will also always be top shelf traders.
They will also always be great renters. I've rented my MOC weeks with no problem at great prices right through the economy meltdown and now Kauai has performed the same way for me the last 2.
So I suggest a 2BDRM LO OV plat, perferrably a Maui or Kauai because;
* Not a huge investment, Maui about $14k and Kaui about $7K
* Some would probably disagree but the MFs, $1899 for Maui and $1569 for Kauai is reasonable for what you get
* LOs bring tremendous value if you know how to maximize. Splitting and trading studio or master for some really nice 2BDRM Marriott units in shoulder season is very doable.
* Trading will be top shelf including all other great Marriotts around the world that will be easy to acquire through II or even direct trades.
* Renting 2BDRM Maui or Kauai when you're not using is easy if you get a decent week. Maui studios rent for more than total MFs. There are probably a few other Marriott studios that you could say that about. 2BDRMs rent for $1000+ MF.
* This would never become an albatross for you as Marriott 2BDRM LO OV plat weeks have always sold especially Hawaii weeks. No name brands once owned are hard to dump.
* If you do get a good resale price you won't lose much value of over time if necessary to sell.
