Panama: Is Timeshare just for Hotel point a good idea?

[rudoe]

Hello,

i am new here and currently don't own a TS.
I am looking for a TS in (the republic of ) Panama. Unfortunately there is no TS of the big brands available at the beach.

So I was wondering if it is a good idea to buy a Marriott, Starwood or Hilton TS just for using it to get the a week in their hotels at the beach.

Unfortunately Hilton has no beach hotel in Panama so I don't think that's an valid option for me

Marriott has only a very expensive JW Marriott at the beach and is developing a Ritz Carlton reserve which is even more expensive.

Starwood had a Sheraton at the beach which would be an option.
Whats the way to get the max amount of SPG Starpoints with minimizing the maintenance fees?
I guess a Starpoint is worth 2 to 3 cents. So is it possible with TS to get a Starpoint for about 1cent?

Thanks for the answers

And if somebody knows about a TS which is in development in Panama I am happy to know.

Thomas

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[TUGBrian]

are a few Timeshares in panama


http://tug2.com/BrowseResorts.aspx?Central America | Panama&area=21&group=145

looks like one trades in both rci and ii

 

[DeniseM]

It is almost always a losing proposition to convert a timeshare to hotel points, because the conversion rates are very poor - they benefit the management company - not the owner.

In general, you get the most value out of your timeshare, if you use your home resort. If you want to go to Panama every year, then I'd consider buying there.

 

[rudoe]

Thanks Brian. I will look for that. I didnt know decameron was timeshare. The Gamboa resort is at the Panama canal not at the Beach unforunately

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[TUGBrian]

it is possible they are hotels that simply trade or exchange some rooms into rci or II.

 

[presley]

So I was wondering if it is a good idea to buy a Marriott, Starwood or Hilton TS just for using it to get the a week in their hotels at the beach.

Do not buy into Hilton timeshares to use their hotels. What you pay for the timeshare, the annual dues and the transaction fees will end up costing you more than just paying for the hotel without being a timeshare owner.

 

[Passepartout]

Here in TUG, we have a saying, "If you want to go to a certain place, then own there." Owning a timeshare to exchange, is just dumb. Especially, as I gather from the OP about Panama, that timeshares (they want to stay in) just don't really exist there. So it makes no sense to buy into a timeshare system in the hopes they'll build there and you can exchange in.

Otoh, part of the OP was asking "Starwood had a Sheraton at the beach which would be an option.
Whats the way to get the max amount of SPG Starpoints with minimizing the maintenance fees?
I guess a Starpoint is worth 2 to 3 cents. So is it possible with TS to get a Starpoint for about 1cent?"

I'll leave it to others to answer that question.


Jim

 

[DeniseM]

Otoh, part of the OP was asking "Starwood had a Sheraton at the beach which would be an option.
Whats the way to get the max amount of SPG Starpoints with minimizing the maintenance fees?
I guess a Starpoint is worth 2 to 3 cents. So is it possible with TS to get a Starpoint for about 1cent?"

I'll leave it to others to answer that question.


Jim

My response in post #3 was directed at this - the conversion rate from Starwood timeshare to hotel points is a loser. Like Hilton - you can just rent for less.

 

[rudoe]

Thanks for your replys.
Seems there is one small time share at the Beach.
But i would feel more comfortable with owning a TS from a big company like Marriot, Starwood or ...

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[am1]

You can trade into Decameron or usually last call on RCI but the All Inclusive fees are usually higher then booking from a different third party. Wyndham (not fsp/wm) had a timeshare close by which you could trade in to through RCI but the same thing. It closed in June.

Coronado beach club can be had trading in rci. Not all inclusive or right on the beach. You need a car.

Shearton has an all-inclusive hotel which can be had for $165 for two during the week/off season. Westin and Intercontinetal have all-inclusive optional hotels just past the mouth of the canal but at a rocky beach that used to be call Sh*it beach. Now called Playa bonita. I would not swim in the water.

There are other all inclusive hotels and non all inclusives hotels.

Air bnb or vrbo may work best.

Lots of good prices using cash and points in panama city for when you are coming and going.

I would not buy a timeshare to trade into panama resorts as at times inventory is too small and other times too much.

 

[dominidude]

Try airbnb, Panama is not yet a timeshare hub like Dominican Republic or Cancun. Therefore, owning a timeshare there is probably not going to be cost effective. Also, using timeshares to get hotel nights nights is also not cost effective. The only reason that the ability to book hotels using timeshares even exists is that people who own timeshares sometimes do not use all their timeshare points, and using the points in a hotel reservation is better than just letting the points expired.

 

[am1]

Try airbnb, Panama is not yet a timeshare hub like Dominican Republic or Cancun. Therefore, owning a timeshare there is probably not going to be cost effective. Also, using timeshares to get hotel nights nights is also not cost effective. The only reason that the ability to book hotels using timeshares even exists is that people who own timeshares sometimes do not use all their timeshare points, and using the points in a hotel reservation is better than just letting the points expired.

Hopefully it stays that way.