Need Advice on Timeshare use!

[hobkjoe]

Buganvilias Resort (Puerto Vallarta) offers so-called discount weeks for timeshare owners and/or friends or families. After taxes, the rate is actually the same charge as the maintenance fee. Where is the real discount?

Should we disregard these offers and just use our contracted weeks? I’ve been trying to convince my wife that we are actually prolonging our contract and giving money to the resort. I say don’t use these extra weeks and use only our contracted weeks. The maintenance fees continue to go up year after year.

My wife says we should use the discounted weeks so we can spend more time at the resort.

We need another opinion.

 

[mikenk]

To me, it depends on how many weeks you want and realistically plan to use the resort. I assume you bought because you like going there. If you use the bonus week in a year but don't use your contracted one, then you are out two maintenance fees - ouch!

Can't you use your contracted one first, then if you want and have time to get back, then use the bonus one.

Mike

 

[slip]

I agree with Mikenk.
I have 2 weeks at my home resort and they have bonus time also. The bonus
time is actually $145 a week cheaper than the maintenance fees. The only draw
back is I can only book 90 days in advance. My regular weeks I can book a year
out. Are there any restrictions on the discount weeks?

 

[pittle]

We own at the Buganvilias and always use our registered week and sometimes use the extra week to have friends or family join us or extend our vacation. You do not pay for the bonus weeks unless you use them, but must always pay for the regular week.

We also own Mayan Palace and they have a similar plan that we sometimes use - pay an extra maintenance fee and get an additional week. We cannot use the extra weeks during February or March and have shorter time frames to book the extra week.

While we do not use these weeks every year, it is a nice option to have when you need them. Paying the extra maintenance fee is less expensive than exchanging where you add the exchange fee and membership fees to the exchange company.

 

[Passepartout]

I concur with Phyllis on every point- plus one more. If you only own one week, and can book either the pre- or following week as an extra, you can effectively get double the value of your airfare. Not inconsequential these days.

Jim

 

[hobkjoe]

This last year, the period covered was from April 30- December 17. There were excluded periods. If we were going to stay an extra week or two, I would use the Bonus week(s) rather than discount weeks. The contract specifies that we must use Bonus weeks rather than our contracted week(s) first. You still have to pay the maintenance fee for the Bonus week(s) but there is no extra charge when you use them, according to staff at the Buganvilias.

I still believe that by using these discount week(s), it delays you from using your contracted weeks, therefore you will be paying the maintenance fees that much longer. Does anyone see my point of view?