Owning a timeshare is not for everyone, that's for sure

[GloBerry]

@jp10558 yea honestly the earlier the better as I'm a planner. Except when I put my vacation request 1 year in advance in doesn't get looked at till 3-6 months out. (Lower on the totem pole then the uppers who don't quite plan 1 year out, so I guess they wait for the higher ups to put in their requests) @frytard that's hopeful! I don't mind leftovers. 2-3 months is just about the brink before flight prices increase. Thanks for the replies!

 

[The Colorado Kid]

For sure it's a special breed of personality. When I discuss timeshares with friends, relatives I tell them not to do it.
For me it's a hobby / game / treasure hunt!

100%

 

[jp10558]

100%

For sure it's a special breed of personality. When I discuss timeshares with friends, relatives I tell them not to do it.
For me it's a hobby / game / treasure hunt!

Huh, that's interesting. I like to share things that worked out well for me, though I do also make it clear that there are things that are necessary for it to work out as well as it has been for me. People are used to me doing somewhat "strange" things and getting deep into some rabbit holes with stuff, so it may well be my personality too lol.

 

[TUGBrian]

this is exactly why timeshares are sold the way they are, id estimate the chances of a salesperson explaining the nuances of booking to this gentleman are less than zero, and in fact id imagine he has a pre-prepared statement for this very question that would result in the potential buyer feeling it would be extremely easy to book such a reservation if he becomes an owner!

whereas learning that is nowhere near the case many months down the road when they attempt to make this very reservation results in failure the new owner is pissed and "this timeshare sucks, I was ripped off, worst decision ive ever made".

this just makes things even harder for owners trying to sell because by and large they are not willing to lie to some random innocent stranger just to sell.

 

[ScoopKona]

Think mainly Hawaii and California as I'm West Coast based. Is there an option with timeshares to swap out the floating week you picked and then pick another or bank those points in case you didn't reserve the right date? Or is timeshare best for a dual WFH couple?

There are several different kinds of timeshare systems:

Traditional: You own a fixed week. You can use an exchange company to trade it for a different week elsewhere.
Float: You own a right to use a week, which must be reserved at some time prior to that week. The earlier the better, usually. It can then be relinquished and traded, if desired.
Hybrid: You own a fixed week. You can relinquish that week and now you own *something* -- points, usually. Then you can spend those points on whatever happens to be available.
Points only: You own points. Spends as above.

Adding to that is a lockoff -- which can work as any of the first three, but you can choose to relinquish one section, or all sections, and use each one as a trade opportunity.

I'm partial to hybrids. But every system has its strengths and weaknesses. I know someone who owns a timeshare in Vermont. Fixed, traditional week. This person has never once traded. Goes there every year. Loves it. That's the ideal system for that person.

I've never once used the week I own. Never will, either. I'm strictly a trader. That's why I like my hybrid system.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Timeshares worked for us in the past, and they work for us in the present. Only doing so in different ways. When we were working, our stays were regular and planned outside the school year, and we traded entirely within the two systems we owned in. In retirement, we still stay in TS, but now II is our friend, where we can rent getaways by picking and choosing what and where we want, generally in low season. So far this year, we stayed in TS in Hawaii and Palm Desert, with another to Las Vegas in a few months.

 

[rickandcindy23]

The importance of buying something that trades well cannot be emphasized enough. Sure, if you love to go to the same place every year, buying something that you love is always a good idea. We bought Maui for that reason. Buying something that trades requires a lot of thought. Never buy a trader in silver or even gold season. Always buy in platinum season.

My favorite purchases are Palm Desert, specifically Marriott's Shadow Ridge, lockoff, platinum season, reserving Pres week has been a great choice for us. January up to President's week is a bust, but live and learn. My other favorite is Willow Ridge, also Marriott, but it's Branson. Branson has a definite high season, which encompasses dates around July 4th.

We bought three Shadow Ridge and still own four Willow Ridge (selling two of those), and we have been very pleased with our trades, but so important to book ahead of owners that only own one week, because yoou can book at 13 months. We pay the lockoff fee of $95 and get two deposits into II. The trading power is incredible on those weeks. $164 Marriott-Marriott exchange fee. Works great, or at least it has historically worked great. Things change.

 

[frytard]

@jp10558 yea honestly the earlier the better as I'm a planner. Except when I put my vacation request 1 year in advance in doesn't get looked at till 3-6 months out. (Lower on the totem pole then the uppers who don't quite plan 1 year out, so I guess they wait for the higher ups to put in their requests) @frytard that's hopeful! I don't mind leftovers. 2-3 months is just about the brink before flight prices increase. Thanks for the replies!

One thing I would recommend is to start small. I started around 2021/2022 with a 2BR Marriott Grant Chateau. Luckily it was handed to me by my mom (Bought Pre 2010 so grandfathered for that rule whatever it was). 2022 We used it as a Maui Ocean Club 2BR(2BR Deposit didnt know better at the time about lock offs Ocean Front through II). Since then Animal Kingdom Lodge(Studio for Studiothrough II) Florida and 2BR Kauai Waiohai (1BR for Studio through II).

Alot of people recommend buy where you want to stay if you are planning for it to be a yearly tradition, but i like bargain hunting through II and I will probably rarely stay at Marriott Grand Chateau since i can stay at Hawaii or Florida!

Once you learn how to strategize your property through interval or through regular weekly traditional stay Float/Fixed whatever you choose, the next step is to learn getaways, accomodation tickets and other features II has. Right now I got a good deal on Tahiti Village for a week at 399 after taxes and their retail price is 1400 a night. Also have a Palm Springs planned as well for a week just to hang out somewhere since my wife has it off but I am working but will work from the resort and hang out at night.

This is coming from someone who is still learning and definitely have had help from others in this forum teaching me along the way.

Then I have my uncle.aunt who own a 1 BR Grand Chateau who used it once in the last 15 years even after i tell them what they can do with it and they bought retail.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Resales on Marriott have been headed downward for the last 15 years. After Marriott introduced the Destination Club program, now referred to as Abound, timeshares that used to cost $8-10K resale are now less than half of that cost. Sadly, Marriott's point product didn't help floating weeks at all for those who want to sell weeks, but for buying, it's a great opportunity.

 

[frytard]

Resales on Marriott have been headed downward for the last 15 years. After Marriott introduced the Destination Club program, now referred to as Abound, timeshares that used to cost $8-10K resale are now less than half of that cost. Sadly, Marriott's point product didn't help floating weeks at all for those who want to sell weeks, but for buying, it's a great opportunity.

I do feel like i missed the golden years of timesharing, but I hope it doesnt get worse - especially hearing that trading isnt getting as good value as it did in years past.

 

[GloBerry]

Thanks for the tips and insights everyone. Can't believe how nice y'all guys all. Think this timeshare thing could work for me, I do like finding alternative paths and treasure hunting. I'll keep in mind my vacation interests and getting platinum power if I decide to get a trader vs. a Hawaii TS. I'm getting the impression a WKV trader for could work for me if I go off season for HI. Feel like I missed out on the Abound cut off, but as my first TS attendance was after 8/2022, the ship sailed before I understood anything anyways. lol

 

[louisianab]

Disneyworld is becoming timeshare boot camp. The new questions we should ask people is can you navigate a weeks vacation at Disneyworld during a busy period with all of the planning that entails or not? If the answer is no, timeshares are not for you.

this is exactly my route for getting here.

 

[frytard]

Thanks for the tips and insights everyone. Can't believe how nice y'all guys all. Think this timeshare thing could work for me, I do like finding alternative paths and treasure hunting. I'll keep in mind my vacation interests and getting platinum power if I decide to get a trader vs. a Hawaii TS. I'm getting the impression a WKV trader for could work for me if I go off season for HI. Feel like I missed out on the Abound cut off, but as my first TS attendance was after 8/2022, the ship sailed before I understood anything anyways. lol

Yes I was in your boat in 2021. I do want to add one more time share eventually, Deciding between something in the Marriot Family tree or thinking of branching into Hilton Grand Vacation Club. I am also a regular hawaii person and have been pleased with the Marriott Selection so far. I have done one on Oahu, Kauai, Maui so I am aiming for Big Island at Waikaloa either in September this year or sometime next year and then Back to Kauai since we have family going in Fall 2025. I want to try out a Westin in Hawaii but have not yet.

 

[ScoopKona]

Thanks for the tips and insights everyone. Can't believe how nice y'all guys all. Think this timeshare thing could work for me, I do like finding alternative paths and treasure hunting. I'll keep in mind my vacation interests and getting platinum power if I decide to get a trader vs. a Hawaii TS. I'm getting the impression a WKV trader for could work for me if I go off season for HI. Feel like I missed out on the Abound cut off, but as my first TS attendance was after 8/2022, the ship sailed before I understood anything anyways. lol

Hawaii is actually a fairly easy trade -- with a handful of specific exceptions.

If you ask for "Any week on any island in any resort during a month-long window next year," it is almost certain you will get something nice. When we were doing our "reconnaissance missions" to Hawaii, this is how we set things up -- "Anything on Kauai during the summer." The request was filled within days, usually. Why? People cancel trips to Hawaii all the time.

I'm partial to the Kona Coast Resort in Keauhou. We ended up moving just down the road from that place. We should have just kept going there over and over. But my wife wanted to see most of the state (except Oahu) before deciding. Nothing against Oahu -- we don't want a nearby city.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Yes I was in your boat in 2021. I do want to add one more time share eventually, Deciding between something in the Marriot Family tree or thinking of branching into Hilton Grand Vacation Club. I am also a regular hawaii person and have been pleased with the Marriott Selection so far. I have done one on Oahu, Kauai, Maui so I am aiming for Big Island at Waikaloa either in September this year or sometime next year and then Back to Kauai since we have family going in Fall 2025. I want to try out a Westin in Hawaii but have not yet.

Highly recommend Hilton Kings'Land for the Big Island. The Marriott is just okay.

 

[frytard]

Highly recommend Hilton Kings'Land for the Big Island. The Marriott is just okay.

Did you trade into it through RCI? I heard Boulevard is a good trader - do you recommend any others?

 

[SusanRN]

No, it isn't for everyone. But I'm sure glad it's for me. (Typed as I sit here in my lovely 3 BR cabin at Rangeley Lake Resort!)

A fixed week in a resort you want to go to works for non-planning family (as I sit here in my bayside unit at The Lucayan in Ocean City, MD, with my DD, SIL, and their kids). It's minimal effort for me.
It took them a couple of years, but the adults learned to ask me by New Year's what our timeshare dates are so they can put in appropriate requests at work!
Susan

 

[rickandcindy23]

Did you trade into it through RCI? I heard Boulevard is a good trader - do you recommend any others?

This particular trip coming up in 2025, summer, I booked with Grand Palms 3 bedroom. Used 45 TPU's, have 17 leftover points. I get 62 TPU's with the 3 bedroom, when I lock it off into two sides of the lockoff. Booked a 2 bedroom.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Exchanging via II, RCI or any independant companies (SFX, TPI, what DAE is now called, etc) I find that the reservations fees are too high. So I only go this route if I want to go someplace specific and I don't have access to it via a cheaper alternative with no reservation fees (Wyndham and Worldmark) or less than $75 Reservation fees (HGVC and HICV).

I use RCI less and less as the years go by. And with the surge in point based big corporate TS companies, I see less and less desirable inventory making its way to the exchange companies. The only exchanges I have are to pick up a high point value unit from one of the big companies that make obligatory deposits into RCI, and that exchange cost less than booking directly from the developer, or I want to go to an independent resort and RCI is my only means.

 

[GloBerry]

One of the resale agents I'm plan to work with is saying I can retro a mandatory Vistana timeshare at a MVC developer presentation later for minimum 10k purchase of Abound points. But on these forums it's a developer purchase from Vistana, min 10k that I'm hearing (ie Westin Adventuras), not MVC. Can can anyone confirm if I can do it with MVC? And verify the point minimum with MVC is 10k of points not 25k or 30k? It seems nice to consider the ability to participate in 2 different networks for additional investment of 10k.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

I so agree, it's not for everyone but for my family it has provided us an opportunity to spend time together as a family and make memories. I love the hunt and finding great deals. I have purchased all resale and most were purchased off a foreclosure list. I'm still trying to add weeks to my stable to TS's that I own so I can have a month in one location...

 

[Sugarcubesea]

My kids say that about me.

My kids tell me the same and always state --- buy another timeshare for me....lol

 

[rickandcindy23]

I wonder if RCI is feeling the pinch of their outrageous $299 exchange fee. It's definitely made me back away from RCI, but RCI does have some resorts worthy of the cost of the exchange power + exchange fee. Bonnet Creek is a bargain through RCI right now, fall dates. Anyone can book it.

 

[dioxide45]

One of the resale agents I'm plan to work with is saying I can retro a mandatory Vistana timeshare at a MVC developer presentation later for minimum 10k purchase of Abound points. But on these forums it's a developer purchase from Vistana, min 10k that I'm hearing (ie Westin Adventuras), not MVC. Can can anyone confirm if I can do it with MVC? And verify the point minimum with MVC is 10k of points not 25k or 30k? It seems nice to consider the ability to participate in 2 different networks for additional investment of 10k.

This is probably a better question in the Marriott forum. But I don't think the rep is correct. The $10k developer purchase is usually a Vistana purchase (Westin Flex, Sheraton Flex or Westin Aventuras). Requalifying using MVC Club Points usually requires a much higher buyin.

A direct Vistana purchase to requalify Vistana VOIs will also let you use Abound in addition to VSN since you would be enrolling those unqualified resales into Abound. No need to have actual MVC trust points for that.

 

[iftravel]

I wonder if RCI is feeling the pinch of their outrageous $299 exchange fee. It's definitely made me back away from RCI, but RCI does have some resorts worthy of the cost of the exchange power + exchange fee. Bonnet Creek is a bargain through RCI right now, fall dates. Anyone can book it.

How much TPU needed for a close in date? Is it available also in RCI getaways? I might book Marriott Harbor Lake but just in case I got RCI in time, Bonnet Creek seems equally good.