Hello,
Reading and appreciating all the information in this user group. I realized that I may have posted in the wrong way so re-posting in a new thread. Sorry for double.
My husband and I have been trying to decide on this timesharing thing for a couple of years now, renting or borrowing from others, but we always get stuck on which system and location for home base. Thus, I am now asking for advice from all you wise people.
1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
We travel everywhere but our extended families like only certain places and since we have limited ability to string together longer vacations, we are trying to figure out how to maximize time with family. Texas-side likes to go to Disney Orlando every year but California-side is not so interested in going every year or even every other year. California-side likes to go skiing in North Tahoe or Utah or Colorado, to which Texas people may or may not come. NJ-side likes sunny beaches. We live in San Diego and like to travel and have the smallest family so we go wherever. We do tend to do at least 1 one-week vacation, and many 4 or 5 day vacations. Thus, it is easier for us if we can book by days rather than any specific week.
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?
Trade more likely than home resort unless it is a ski place. We do try to go ski twice every year, but not for a whole week.
3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
In no particular:
Orlando
Lake Tahoe, CA or Winter Park, CO
Hawaii (no preference on island)
Italy
Singapore
Because we like to travel, we think we would prefer that makes it for easier trading and would love if the locations existed in East or Southeast Asia where we also have family.
We also wonder if it is better to join places that allows us to rent for 5 days or do something like RCI's last call because we do tend to take last minute trips as well as plan something months in advance.
4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
My family has 2 adults and one 8 years old.
We tend to meet up with one other family on each side once a year, they tend to be families of 4. Everyone has kids under 10. (All the kids love Disney so we kept thinking of Disney but my husband doesn't enjoy Florida.)
5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Preferably school schedule but all of us frequently take kids out of school since they are in elementary school. Plus, none of our school schedules match, except for summer vacation.
6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes, we can but we tend not to do so.
7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes. We do this at least 1x a year.
8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4 stars or higher generally.
9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
We can go to $50k or $60k but it all depends on what that gets us and would prefer to avoid financing. We think we would prefer a 1 bedroom and bank for 2 bedrooms if needed, but then we are split on whether we should get 2 bedroom and be able to rent it or whatever based on what friends have.
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?
Again, that depends on what we get but preferably less than $1000 for one bedroom and don't know about the two bedroom - $2000?. We haven't really researched into this part.
11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
I am not sure what this means but I plan out every part leading up to vacation and when we get there, I don't want to do anything to plan it. My husband plans nothing until he is on vacation and then wants to plan out each day. Opposites attract...or drive each other crazy...
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 and that is why it is taking us so long to decide.
Thanks for your assistance!
Reading and appreciating all the information in this user group. I realized that I may have posted in the wrong way so re-posting in a new thread. Sorry for double.
My husband and I have been trying to decide on this timesharing thing for a couple of years now, renting or borrowing from others, but we always get stuck on which system and location for home base. Thus, I am now asking for advice from all you wise people.
1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
We travel everywhere but our extended families like only certain places and since we have limited ability to string together longer vacations, we are trying to figure out how to maximize time with family. Texas-side likes to go to Disney Orlando every year but California-side is not so interested in going every year or even every other year. California-side likes to go skiing in North Tahoe or Utah or Colorado, to which Texas people may or may not come. NJ-side likes sunny beaches. We live in San Diego and like to travel and have the smallest family so we go wherever. We do tend to do at least 1 one-week vacation, and many 4 or 5 day vacations. Thus, it is easier for us if we can book by days rather than any specific week.
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?
Trade more likely than home resort unless it is a ski place. We do try to go ski twice every year, but not for a whole week.
3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
In no particular:
Orlando
Lake Tahoe, CA or Winter Park, CO
Hawaii (no preference on island)
Italy
Singapore
Because we like to travel, we think we would prefer that makes it for easier trading and would love if the locations existed in East or Southeast Asia where we also have family.
We also wonder if it is better to join places that allows us to rent for 5 days or do something like RCI's last call because we do tend to take last minute trips as well as plan something months in advance.
4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
My family has 2 adults and one 8 years old.
We tend to meet up with one other family on each side once a year, they tend to be families of 4. Everyone has kids under 10. (All the kids love Disney so we kept thinking of Disney but my husband doesn't enjoy Florida.)
5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Preferably school schedule but all of us frequently take kids out of school since they are in elementary school. Plus, none of our school schedules match, except for summer vacation.
6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes, we can but we tend not to do so.
7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes. We do this at least 1x a year.
8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4 stars or higher generally.
9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
We can go to $50k or $60k but it all depends on what that gets us and would prefer to avoid financing. We think we would prefer a 1 bedroom and bank for 2 bedrooms if needed, but then we are split on whether we should get 2 bedroom and be able to rent it or whatever based on what friends have.
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?
Again, that depends on what we get but preferably less than $1000 for one bedroom and don't know about the two bedroom - $2000?. We haven't really researched into this part.
11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
I am not sure what this means but I plan out every part leading up to vacation and when we get there, I don't want to do anything to plan it. My husband plans nothing until he is on vacation and then wants to plan out each day. Opposites attract...or drive each other crazy...
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 and that is why it is taking us so long to decide.
Thanks for your assistance!