Should I buy a timeshare?

[benchex]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
Yes, Maui (Every 2-3 year)
2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
Yes, we would want to visit our home resort at least half the time
3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
I don't think we have a top 5 currently, but we do have a list of nearly 40 destinations that we would like to visit, mostly International (outside of the US).
4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
4 (2 adults, 2 kids)
5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
School schedule for the next 10 years
6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
I can and have, but generally do not.
7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes
8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4 stars is the sweet spot
9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
$20k
10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?
$5000
11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Very much so
12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?
Yes, I understand this.

 

[4TimeAway]

Seems to me like not yet ready for timeshare.


International travel has not clicked with timeshare for us.

We've looked, but really, travel 12 hours on a plane to go to an off-city area to relax? Maybe 2-4 days in a city and get in 3-5 places.

For timeshares, we go to San Jose del Cabo for week and walk like crazy. Hawaii sure Big Island and Oahu no problem for a week. If we were on the East coast, Cancun, Caribbean, it could work…

HGVC could work for a couple stops I Japan I guess, but Airbnb might still be a better fit. We really like to cook.


However, if domestic a week or two here and there and you don’t have super high-end needs, there can be amazing values with US timeshares on the last minutes short notice weeks.

 

[vacationtime1]

OP is a good candidate for an every other year resale week (not points) at a Maui timeshare managed by one of the major hotel brands (Marriott/Westin/Hyatt). Reservations will be available twelve months in advance permitting favorable airfares/mileage travel.

The only remaining questions are which brand, and what view category to purchase. The three hotel chains each have a project on Ka'anapali Beach; they are a thirty minute boardwalk walk apart. I suggest onsite research; our votes don't matter. It is all about what you like and what amenities you are willing to pay for.

 

[benchex]

OP is a good candidate for an every other year resale week (not points) at a Maui timeshare managed by one of the major hotel brands (Marriott/Westin/Hyatt). Reservations will be available twelve months in advance permitting favorable airfares/mileage travel.

The only remaining questions are which brand, and what view category to purchase. The three hotel chains each have a project on Ka'anapali Beach; they are a thirty minute boardwalk walk apart. I suggest onsite research; our votes don't matter. It is all about what you like and what amenities you are willing to pay for.

I would want oceanfront or at the very least ocean view, I have been to the Westin on Ka'anapali and really liked being able to go to all 3 properties and enjoy their pools and other amenities. I am considering going back to Maui in a couple months and maybe look a little closer and the options.

 

[vacationtime1]

My suggestion would be to walk each of the properties in which you are interested, daytime and nighttime, to get a better idea of what kind of room you would get in each view category. There are three Westin projects, three Marriott projects, and one Hyatt project from which to choose.

If you are vacillating between OF and OV, buy OF. We had the same situation, bought one of each, and sold the OV after two visits; we found the extra one-time cost for OF to be totally worth it (MF's are the based on room size, not room view).

If you want to work with a broker, many of us (including me) have worked with Syed at www.advantagevacation.com

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@benchex Welcome to TUG. You would be a great candidate for an Every Other Year Westin Kaanapali Oceanfront North. These cost between $10 - 13k. You can find these on Redweek.com or via Syed, the realtor named above. You should walk the properties and/or rent from Redweek or TUG to get a feel for whether you like the property before you buy.

Westin South Kaanapali Every Other Year Oceanfronts are rare and very expensive so not a good option. Nanea is not eligible to trade using the StarOption system for times you want to trade for a different location. Other than Mexico, none of the Westins resale will get you international locations unless you deposit to Interval International which is not a great use of the maintenance fees. Buy Hawaii to stay in Hawaii in the best units. Rent it out your week when you cannot use and use the cash to go to Europe. Or use the cash you saved out of your $20k from purchasing a Westin North EOY to travel elsewhere.

 

[Kevin Y]

I own 2Bd 2 bath yearly at Maui Banyan. It's a different vibe than the larger resorts that you mentioned (3 star rating). For me, it's just right. When my kids were younger, we stayed at Marriott properties but as they got older (High School and up) it seemed that the activities in Kihei worked perfect for me and my boys. I own a holiday week which allows me to get Christmas and New Years every year. What I like is I don't pay additional fees (cleaning, parking, transit tax, etc) and the rooms are clean and barbecues are always open.

 

[ScoopKona]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
Yes, Maui (Every 2-3 year)
2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
Yes, we would want to visit our home resort at least half the time
3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
I don't think we have a top 5 currently, but we do have a list of nearly 40 destinations that we would like to visit, mostly International (outside of the US).

Just addressing these three points:

1 & 2) You should absolutely find a timeshare you like on Maui and buy one. If you purchase a biennial, you're only going to visit every other year anyway. That keeps the maintenance fees and costs down. If you buy a basic week, you'll be able to trade to one of your 40 destinations (but almost certainly not all of them).
3) I bought mine JUST for foreign travel. People act like it's impossible, but it's quite easy for anyone who is flexible. For years, I'd just call out to my wife, "A week in Ireland, Norway or Malta?" She'd answer and I'd book it. No big deal. But if you must stay in Florence on the second-week in June, this isn't going to work for you.

Which timeshare? I'd make a point of visiting several on your next trip. Even better, rent a timeshare week on Maui, stay there, and visit several.