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What age group are you? what age group are average TUGGERS?

If you own timeshare(s), what age group are you in?

  • 18-29

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 30-39

    Votes: 12 7.5%
  • 40-49

    Votes: 23 14.4%
  • 50-59

    Votes: 47 29.4%
  • 60-69

    Votes: 54 33.8%
  • 70-79

    Votes: 23 14.4%
  • 80+

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • Total voters
    160

needvaca

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
731
Reaction score
815
Points
203
Resorts Owned
MGO, WKV, SVV Bella
I've been on this site a couple years and I'm just curious what age is the average savvy timeshare owner, which all we TUG members are.
I bought my first at age 33 which seems young now, but I didn't discover TUG until a decade later.
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
10,762
Reaction score
7,057
Points
749
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
We are in our 60s and bought our main timeshare over 20 years ago. If our 32 year old son could have afforded it (and if he was married with a family) he might have taken it on but he can’t.
 

missyrcrews

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2014
Messages
1,155
Reaction score
1,533
Points
273
Location
West Bath, me
Resorts Owned
Cold Spring Resort, Acadia Village Resort, Samoset Resort
We bought our first week when our oldest son was 4...19 years ago this month. We've since added 3 weeks at the same resort. No regrets whatsoever!
 

goaliedave

Guest
Joined
Jan 5, 2019
Messages
1,298
Reaction score
854
Points
123
Resorts Owned
Raintree, Diamond (bought by Hilton), Shell (bought by Wyndham), Sheraton (bought by Marriott), Palace Resorts, a few independants
Old boomers. Most whine when anything changes from 20 or 30 years ago.

Sent from my SM-A505G using Tapatalk
 

slip

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
11,136
Reaction score
14,566
Points
999
Location
U'alapue/Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Resorts Owned
Pono Kai, 20 wks; Maui Schooner, 1.5 wks; 1 week Ke Nani Kai; WaveCrest Condo, Molokai, HI
I wish we would have bought ours earlier but we have enjoyed ours over the last nine years.
 

moonstone

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,761
Reaction score
2,766
Points
599
Location
Moonstone, ON
Resorts Owned
The Beach Club at St. Augustine Beach, FL (1 floating week, purchased in 1982)

77,000 RCI points (Sunrise Ridge Resort, TN)
We bought our first timeshare when we were in our mid-20's before the thought of starting a family. Kicked ourselves for many years afterwards for not buying a 2 bedroom but it was about $1000. more expensive as well as having higher maintenance fees. We purchased from the developer and pre-construction in an area of FL that we had been vacationing in for a few years and knew we wanted to return to year after year. We ended up having 3 children and our home resort, even though it has a max occupancy of 4 for a 1 bedroom, always accommodated the 5 of us and even supplied a roll-away bed so our daughter didn't have to sleep on the floor when she out grew the pack n'play. After our kids were grown and living on their own, we bought a 2 bedroom (points pkg). :doh:


~Diane
 

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
22,003
Reaction score
29,217
Points
1,348
Location
Mesquite, Nevada
Resorts Owned
Free Agent
I was first exposed to timesharing in my 20s, by attending presentations to get the freebie gifts. Couldn't ever see my way into spending the kind of money they wanted, because I never was settled enough to go on regular vacations. The military kept me hopping around. After I retired from Active Duty in the early 90s, I was less mobile, and more open to the idea of owning a timeshare. But it wasn't till fifteen years ago when we joined my brother on his first stay at a Cabo San Lucas timeshare he and his (then) wife had purchased, full-freight, from the Developer. I liked the resort, liked the idea of timesharing, but wasn't ready to pull the big-bucks trigger. After we got home, I started researching with a "There has to be a better (cheaper) way" mentality. I found Tug, found eBay, found out about resales, and the rest is history. I'm 66 now, and on the verge of really retiring, so I expect my timesharing will increase. We'll see!

Dave
 
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Panina

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Messages
6,781
Reaction score
9,968
Points
499
Location
Florida
Resorts Owned
Hgvc Anderson, Blue Ride Village Resort
I got my first timeshare in Atlantic City, on our first anniversary with my husband whom since passed. I was 25 and he was 33. We both loved timesharing.

Today I lighted a candle for him. It has been 11 years since the Lord took him. Timesharing was an important part of our lives. The memories I have of us timesharing are priceless now. I will always treasure them.

So now I am 59 and have 34 years of timesharing experience.
 

Gypsy65

TUG Member
Joined
May 11, 2019
Messages
821
Reaction score
785
Points
154
Resorts Owned
HIVC
I grew up with my parents owning a lot of timeshare as well as vacationing several weeks a year so for me is was a pretty easy decision
Started Using in my 20’s and owning in my 30’s
We have a 16 YO who started college FT when he was 14 and is 16+ now
He loves it and wants to take over everything we have when we are done ( not sure about the other siblings )
We are only in our early 50’s ( 52/54 ) so that may be awhile??
 

mentalbreak

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898
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353
I began timesharing at 15 when my parents purchased from the developer.

We were on a family vacation with my family of 5 staying in a hotel room “suite” that became a fire hazard when you used the sofa bed for the 5th person because it blocked the bed. As part of the purchase, resort found us a unit for the rest of our vacation and put the rental cost toward the purchase.

We purchased our own timeshare via ebay 10 years ago (I was 35) when we realized how much we value school break trips with our kids.

Interesting story: we had been so lucky to use our parents or our own timeshares that the first time we stayed in a hotel room, our son went in, looked around, opened up the closet and incredulously declared “this is it!?!”
 

Dori

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,060
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Location
Scarborough, Ontario
We bought our first timeshare when I was 42 and DH was 46. One of the best decisions we ever made. Before our resort was sold, by owner vote, in 2012, we made over 100 exchanges over the years.

Dori
 

DaveNV

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
22,003
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29,217
Points
1,348
Location
Mesquite, Nevada
Resorts Owned
Free Agent
Interesting story: we had been so lucky to use our parents or our own timeshares that the first time we stayed in a hotel room, our son went in, looked around, opened up the closet and incredulously declared “this is it!?!”


*I* do that now! :)

Dave
 

travelhacker

TUG Review Crew
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Funny -- I was actually thinking of creating a poll about this the other day. I guess this confirms what I thought -- I am definitely on the young side.

We are in our mid thirties and have 3 young kids. Timeshares work out great for us.

Funny Story:
Sometimes we'll use hotel points to fill in gaps from stays in timeshares when travelling. One time when we got to our room our six year old said "Uhhh....dad where is my bedroom?"....sounds like she's a fan.
 

Jan M.

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
4,486
Reaction score
5,844
Points
548
Location
Tamarac, FL
Resorts Owned
Wyndham Presidential Reserve at Panama City Beach
Club Wyndham Access
Grandview Las Vegas and Discovery Beach Resort - Both in RCI Points
Woodstone and Summit at Massanutten - Both in RCI weeks used as Wyndham PICs
We were in our very early 50's when we first bought 18 years ago. Our son was 15 at the time and we added him as an owner as soon as he turned 21. Travelhacker saying he is on the young side made me think of the categories he, our son and other people like them will check on surveys now and in the years to come.
 

Sugarcubesea

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
4,029
Reaction score
2,940
Points
449
Location
Novi, Michigan
Resorts Owned
QH, HBC, VBHC, & Pinestead Reef
I got my first timeshare in Atlantic City, on our first anniversary with my husband whom since passed. I was 25 and he was 33. We both loved timesharing.

Today I lighted a candle for him. It has been 11 years since the Lord took him. Timesharing was an important part of our lives. The memories I have of us timesharing are priceless now. I will always treasure them.

So now I am 59 and have 34 years of timesharing experience.

Panina:

What wonderful memories you have of your first husband and I'm so sorry you lost him...I truly believe the memories that we shared with our loved ones that have now passed are what keep us going...much love to you...

We purchased our first timeshare in our early 50's and I'm now 58... I'm so happy that I have the opportunity to make memories with my family and friends at our TS's...
 

mcsteve

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
303
Reaction score
275
Points
174
Location
Ontario, Canada
Resorts Owned
HGVC Elara - Las Vegas
Southwind, Egret Point & Waterside by Spinnaker - HHI
Vacation Village @ Weston
Bought our first TS in our late 20’s (some 30 years ago) from a developer and were lucky enough to get out of the contract the next day, after many hours of “debate” with them. Since then we purchased some vacation clubs (points) until we found HGVC and this forum. The combination of vacation clubs and HomeAway convinced us that we cannot vacation for multiple days/weeks in a hotel room, especially as our kids grew. We have had such wonderful vacations as a result of TS and yet we know so many people who have not figured it out yet, and probably never will. They have heard, or experienced, such deceitful behaviour by TS sales people that they have shut it out completely as an option and wonder how we can enjoy using ours so much.
 

mentalbreak

TUG Member
Joined
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898
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Funny Story:
Sometimes we'll use hotel points to fill in gaps from stays in timeshares when travelling. One time when we got to our room our six year old said "Uhhh....dad where is my bedroom?"....sounds like she's a fan.

My kids totally relate.

It’s a rough life (sarcasm) when you have to slum it in a 4-star hotel room...
 

bnoble

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
11,631
Reaction score
5,367
Points
798
Location
The People's Republic of Ann Arbor
Currently (barely) in the 50-59 group. Bought my first in the 30-39 group. Even before we become owners, we would either rent houses/condos via VRBO etc. or stay in Residence Inn-equivalents. I understand that some people vacation in hotel rooms, but I can't imagine how.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
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22,071
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East Coast
Brought our first timeshare in the late 1970’s We were in our 30’s; now we are in that 70’s age group. Wonderful Memories and Awesome Vacations.
 
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Travel1

Guest
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Jun 5, 2013
Messages
85
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Bought our first timeshare in my early 50s ( about 8 years ago).

I used to rent timeshares occasionally before that, but on one trip I wanted to extend our vacation by one day and couldn't find anything available except a Motel 6 by the beach. I paid more for that room a few miles from the beach then the two bedroom timeshare I was renting on the beach. I pulled the trigger after that experience to have more control over my booking options to book timeshare rooms for myself. Bought resell and love my timeshare! (except for the yearly maintenance fee and bonus time increases, booking rule changes/restrictions etc....I suppose still cheaper than a hotel room, but over the years the increases do add up).
 

Fredflintstone

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Messages
1,928
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2,525
Points
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Resorts Owned
Rent only
Although I rent now, I did have 9 timeshares at 9 different resorts in my early 40s. I bought them mainly for my parents so I could get them off on regular Vacation. As they were very poor, I used to give them flights, spending money, book activities and a week whenever they had a birthday or Christmas. As they got older, they found travelling too cumbersome so I gave them other things. I did use them here and there too and did enjoy them.

As I was spending between 10500 and 11 k a year in MF, exchange fees, RCI fees, etc., I decided to dump them all and just rent. I do try to rent a timeshare first because they are nice places overall and are spacious. If not, I just rent whatever.

As of a couple of years back, I invest the money I used to pay MF and other fees and now use the dividends to travel when I can. Up to about a year ago, I travelled a lot until my dad got sick with Cancer. He has recently passed and now I am holding off a bit to make sure my Mom is fine. Being an only child means it’s really up to me.

I must say the memories I had owning timeshares were wonderful. I especially enjoyed sharing with my parents and I know they built great memories.

Who knows? I may buy again if the situation and terms look right. Of course, it would be resale all the way.

@Panina, I am sorry to hear the loss of your husband. It sounds like he was quite young. I am glad to hear you and him had wonderful vacationing memories. Its those memories that becomes so priceless especially when they pass on. From reading many of your posts, I can tell that you are a wonderful person. He was a very lucky man to have someone like you.


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