When you take friends on vacation

[MuranoJo]

My friends always offer to chip in before I even ask. They've been around us long enough to understand the background costs. I don't make a big deal of it and they get their own bedroom & bath in a great location el cheapo.

On the other hand, try arranging a family reunion for 6 families using 5 timeshare units, and they just don't have a clue about this thing called timesharing. (Nor the time and work it took to pull this off.) Although they just raved about the great units and setup, they weren't so excited to pay what amounted to less than one or two nights in a cheap hotel next to a freeway (I only charged them my exchange fee) for a full week at a condo with pool, tennis court, etc.

 

[teepeeca]

muranojo

Sometimes "family members" don't have a clue. BUT, more likely, they are "CHEAP", and just want to "sponge" off of others. "YOU" are the "rich" members of the family, and have access to "all of the great vacations/locations/resorts"---so YOU should be "thankful" that you can invite them---with them paying nothing !!!

I'm glad that "my" relatives are smarter than some others !!! (LOL !!!)

Tony

 

[Mel]

Sometimes "family members" don't have a clue. BUT, more likely, they are "CHEAP", and just want to "sponge" off of others. "YOU" are the "rich" members of the family, and have access to "all of the great vacations/locations/resorts"---so YOU should be "thankful" that you can invite them---with them paying nothing !!!

It's even more fun when you come to the realization that those "poor" family members have a (sometimes significantly) higher income that your "rich" family. The same applies to those friends who go with you on vacation, and are able to afford the more expensive restaurant because you are providing the accomodations. With true friends, they realize this, and take you with them to that nice restaurant - each sharing their own "wealth."

Many of these friends and family won't vacation if they don't go with us. Don't feel bad about it - they have their own priorities. If they ask about another vacation, show them the various rental websites, maybe even offer to book an escape for them - but they pay for it including any guest certificate fees. If they complain about the cost, they can choose to not vacation, or to stay in a hotel, and miss out on the benefits of being in a condo - their choice, their priorities. Or maybe they will choose to stay home and watch movies on their 52" television, which they bought with the money they saved by not going in vacation.

 

[Tia]

Some people are just , so for a whole week they pay only your exchange fee probably less then $200. Guess you could continue to let educational info. slip out here and there re all your time/ work/expense they are all benefitting from :ignore:

....On the other hand, try arranging a family reunion for 6 families using 5 timeshare units, and they just don't have a clue about this thing called timesharing. (Nor the time and work it took to pull this off.) Although they just raved about the great units and setup, they weren't so excited to pay what amounted to less than one or two nights in a cheap hotel next to a freeway (I only charged them my exchange fee) for a full week at a condo with pool, tennis court, etc.

 

[Twinkstarr]

Or maybe they will choose to stay home and watch movies on their 52" television, which they bought with the money they saved by not going in vacation.

OMG, that's my sister! :hysterical:

She bugged me about going on a cruise, so we go waste some poor TA's time, I get all excited and when it came to putting down the deposit, she decided to save her money for a new tv.

 

[l2trade]

If they ask about another vacation, show them the various rental websites.

Great advice! Show them how to get great deals without you. Why convince them to get a condo from you when they are perfectly happy in a cheap hotel room from Priceline?

One time, we stayed at the same resort with an overly competitive relative, pure coincidence. She bragged about the great one-time rental deal she got and the fact that she doesn't even NEED to own a $30k+ timeshare or work herself a deal through me. I smiled, quietly knowing that I got all 7 nights ocean front view for what she paid for only 4 in a dark corner of the resort. No need for me to even get into discussions about resale prices, TUG and trading tips with her. All she knows is what she heard during the sales pitch. I try hard not to be competitive with relatives like this. I just nodded my head to assure her that, yes, she must be right that she got the better deal. My wife said she kept eyeing our view, but I didn't notice. LOL!

 

[hvacrsteve]

We usually only will take others with us for short, 3 day or less trips, never a week!
We would be sick of them no matter whom they were by then, unless there were separate places completely!

 

[pgnewarkboy]

I think if you invite somebody, they're your guest. Also, if it's a trip you'd take with or without their company I don't think their occupying the second bedroom costs you 50% in that sense.

A couple we invited to Scotland paid for the rental car as a counterbalance to our providing the lodging. Everything else we split equally. Fair enough, I say.

Precisely our modus operandi when dealing with people who are our friends. Inasmuch as we share the rental car, however, I expect to at least split the cost with them. I don't think I have to explain that in advance. They are friends and know we are not playing "Daddy Warbucks". If they pay entirely for the rental car that is great. I don't ask for it. Some friends offer to pay all of the rental car and some don't. Some friends will split the rental car and treat us to dinner. I am happy with all of the above scenarios.

I am glad to have the company of our friends on certain trips. That is why we ask them to come. We don't ask them to come so they will share our maintenance fee expense.