Would you buy what you have if you had to do it all over again....

[theo]

Yes, I would buy (only resale, of course) all of our six currently owned fixed weeks again. All were purchased resale, still look forward to using them all each year (if / when unexpected family matters or illnesses --- or novel viruses --- don't preclude travel). I do not ever "exchange", but any of those six weeks can be (and have been) easily rented for 150%+ of maintenance fee amount, when necessary.

That being said, there were certainly other (different) weeks which I certainly would not buy again (or accept for free, for that matter). All were acquired in the resale market for next to nothing --- which is what they proved to be worth to us in terms of enjoyment. Foremost among those mistakes was a "converted" fixed week at Wyndham Sea Gardens in Pompano Beach, FL; would never return. Second place on "mistakes" list was Bay & Beach Club in Indian Shores, FL. Third place to Perennial Vacation Club (RTU membership). PVC general regions and facilities were decent enough, but the specific resort locations seemed second rate (IMnsHO). A few other timeshare mistakes we made do not deserve to be called out by name just because they didn't "work" for us for one reason or another. In any case, the timeshare acquisitions I would not repeat are now all gone and getting smaller by the day in the rear view mirror.

Edited 05/10/2020 to remove a possibly incorrect reference to the anti-deficiency status of two specific states (ME, FL).

 

[MOXJO7282]

Yes for sure. Buying into the Marriott TS was one of the best choices I ever made. We've been to Maui 7 times as a family for priceless memories and I've made our ownership into a great side hustle that has greatly improved my family's financial health. We now own 28 Marriott weeks and can't wait for a few more years where we will be using probably 1/2 of the units for ourselves in our retirement.

 

[turkel]

I love my Marriott timeshares. All bought resale. Like @Cornell I only wish the 2 gold weeks at Shadow Ridge where platinum. I always trade and split my units and find excellent value in them.
Hope travel is on next year which will be our first year of retirement,

 

[vacationhopeful]

Got out of the TS game. Traveling and working and moving and the economy .... had to channel my energy to keep going.
In decent health and still running around ... just avoiding people to stay healthy. Like I am sure many of us are also doing.
And my 4 siblings ... scattered across the USA track my cell phone ... to figure out where I am. Not hiding from them or anyone else.

Just giving a wave Hi to all my fellow Tuggers!!!!
Linda

 

[JohnPaul]

As I've mentioned before, we have only continued to buy timeshares and have never sold anything. I am extremely happy with our large portfolio.

In retrospect, I might not have purchased our Vistana. We bought it for Colorado skiing. Unfortunately our skiing has ended many years earlier than we expected. As it is every other year but with the VSN fee every year, it's a bit expensive for what we get. I sort of cost averaged by buying a second every other year at a mandatory resort with low fees so our cost per use has come down. Nevertheless we make excellent use of it.

Before the pandemic we were gone from home for 7 to 8 months of the year.

 

[TravelTime]

Given the coronavirus and inability to use timeshares, I do regret buying timeshares. I would have been better off renting.

 

[DannyTS]

I would buy Lagunamar again.

 

[cbyrne1174]

Given the coronavirus and inability to use timeshares, I do regret buying timeshares. I would have been better off renting.

That's been my opinion on DVC as of late. I really wanted to join but since I've been stuck inside bored, I actually researched all the main systems (DVC, Club Wyndham, Worldmark, and Marriott). DVC is the worst value. Everyone fights for the crappy studios because of how expensive 1 bedrooms are. You are paying for the theming. That's it. It's cheaper just to go to the resorts you like to eat at their 1 credit table service restaurants (Grand Floridian Cafe, Citricos, Sanaa, etc) and hang out at the resort for a bit/go for a walk around. That way you get your theming fix without forking over too much extra. Staying in the Presidential units at Bonnet Creek or at Lakeshore Reserve is nicer to me for what you get for how much you pay. Exchanging into Lakeshore Reserve is doable for relatively cheap, and Food and Wine season at Bonnet creek is in the value season, making a 2 bedroom presidential around $800/week. You can basically get a crappy little OKW studio for that cheap.

 

[needvaca]

Yes. I love my Vistana timeshares. I bought my first from the developer over a decade ago, but bought the rest resale, eBay and on TUG. I researched a lot on TUG first and got some great bargains. The key factors for me were:
- having an exit plan- being able to deedback to Vistana or easily give away for free
- buy platinum or highest season
-having flexibility (staroptions) in a good network of properties
- the ability to bank and borrow (especially useful this year)
-not owning more than I can realistically use(which is why I just did a deedback)

 

[Marathoner]

Also, all six weeks are in anti-deficiency states (Maine, Florida); a fortuitous coincidence and not the result of any actual planning.

This is incorrect. Both Maine and Florida are deficiency states, like most around the country.

Anti-Deficiency Laws

Some states have laws that prohibit deficiency judgments after foreclosures. These anti-deficiency laws protect borrowers from having to pay the bank for its loss fo

www.alllaw.com

 

[csodjd]

Yes for sure. Buying into the Marriott TS was one of the best choices I ever made. We've been to Maui 7 times as a family for priceless memories and I've made our ownership into a great side hustle that has greatly improved my family's financial health. We now own 28 Marriott weeks and can't wait for a few more years where we will be using probably 1/2 of the units for ourselves in our retirement.

28 weeks... So, how do you manage that? How much time do you need to put in and how is the return on investment?

 

[TheHolleys87]

Rebuy DVC, yes, IF we could buy for the same price relative to inflation that we paid 20+ years ago. We’ve had many memorable visits to WDW that wouldn’t have happened otherwise and truly enjoy owning there. I wouldn’t pay current prices, even resale.

Rebuy Shell? Nope. We bought there based on an unrealistic dream that we’d fly to Hawaii EOY. As it turned out, we stayed in my parents’ TS, no need for Shell. We have it and use it, but I would not do it again if I could go back.

 

[jmhpsu93]

My first timeshare purchase was in 2006 at a Mexican resort (Crown Paradise Club) and we bought mostly to get access to the large apartment-size oceanfront units. We had been going there for a few years and loved the place, still do. Converted to a point-based system in 2011 which gives tons of flexibility, no maintenance fees (!!!). Still going every year for 4-7 days and just paying the all-inclusive fee (about $70-100 pp/day, depending on season). Could not be happier with our value on that one. They have other resorts across Mexico but we've never been - now that our daughter is headed to college in the Fall (in theory... ), maybe we'll try some of the others. 100% would do over again.

Bought into Marriott about two years ago with a retail purchase point transaction (yes, I know...) THEN found TUG a couple of weeks later. With TUG knowledge we acquired 2 Gold Marriott Grande Vista and 2 Platinum Sheraton Vistana Villages weeks, with free usage and closing costs paid so we were basically paid to take them. Looking back I would obviously buy into the DC program resale and I might have pressed for platinum MGV weeks and mandatory SVV weeks for a higher cost.

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our travels this year and I have a complicated web of Interval trades, DC point transactions, and Interval getaways that I've needed to navigate around to keep losses to a minimum, but it's still been worth it.

I think expectation management and flexibility are really important with regards to timeshare enjoyment.

 

[geist1223]

We would. Even the Developer WM. We have gone Downunder 4 times to WMSP/WSP on the Developer Credits.

 

[silentg]

We have been timesharing since 1981. Bought and sold many of the weeks. At one point we had 9 weeks of timeshare at different resorts. Some we got lots of value others not so much. One we bought a contract that we never stayed but we now have 3 timeshares and that is it. Our kids are grown and it’s just two of us usually that travel. We have given away, deeded back and exchanged for so many great places. We were fortunate to not lose anything due to CoV19. Still in good health and looking ahead to next year when we can travel again.
Trying to cope with Staying at home. Being retired makes it easier to do that. We wish things were better for everyone, stay safe and healthy and we look at photos of past timeshare vacations . I’m sure others do too!
Silentg

 

[susieq]

We only have 1 timeshare, and we love it. We purchased it back in 1995, in the Newport RI area, only about an hour from our home. It is an excellent trader, and we've been to places that we thought we'd only ever dream about. I can count on one hand the number of times we've stayed there, not that it's not great and in a great location, but because so many other places have been opened up to us. It's so nice though to always have that option to stay close to home. Don't regret this purchase for a minute, and would absolutely do it again.

 

[lprstn]

I would still purchase my Wyndham and Sheraton, but I would have bought Disney in addition

 

[planzfortomorrow]

Yes... I could of course have made better choices, but overall my travel goals have been achieved. I would never know *exactly* which timeshares were better for me until I bought them & started using them. One's flexible, one's cheaper, one's a set time, one's at a set place...

 

[WalnutBaron]

Although I now rent only, I have learned what I would buy IF I chose to buy. I have learned this through owning 9 resorts in the past plus lessons learned trying to unload them. Here are my learnings so far:

1. Quality matters. Buy the Platinum timeshares. The better the plan and resort, the better the resale and the easier it is to resell.
2. Check HOA performance before buying. As anything some HOAs are very accountable while others are...errr...you know.
3. Location matters. The better the resort in the sought after places, the better trade value, the easier the resale and the demand keeps the resort flourishing.
4. Scour. Buy for a buck. If you look there are always folks who just want out at any price. They are hungry. No need to pay thousands. Yes, I have seen the odd time Disney going for a buck from someone who just wants free of MF.
5. Buy in non judicial, anti deficiency states only. The best state frankly is California. I find states where you can pull the plug without consequence translates to more accountable, less cocky HOAs. They are careful because they know you have an easy time saying goodbye if they aren’t.
6. Check MF historically. If you can get a similar rental per week for a couple hundred bucks over a locked in contract, choose rent only.
7. Always get a resort you want to be at. Trader only timeshares are not as good as trade value can change.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Great post. A lot of wisdom captured in these few sentences. This should be posted as a sticky on this board!