My survey

1) Where do you want your home resort to be? Does it matter? We usually travel somewhere different every year. In Caribbean/Mexico,south Florida/key west. If it difficult to go somewhere other than home resort or any disadvantages? Guess home resort is a lock/guaranteed slot.

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? Guess we could.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations? South Florida/key West/ Caribbean and Mexico

4) How many people do you usually travel with? Me and the wife ..possibly kids in a few years....jk

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule? Anytime

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance? Yes

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?4-5

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?

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? Pretty flexible but I'd like to know the average fees. $500-1k I guess.

11) Are you a detail oriented planner? Not really

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.


Thanks for any feedback. Like I said in another post we are going to a HGVC seminar sometime in the future as I already bought 4nights for $99at one either myrtle beach, Las Vegas or Orlando. Ish I would have come here first as I'm told I'm better off buying from the resale market. And now that I think about it whichever location we choose to do the tour they are going to try and sell that as my home resort and I'm not it interested in any of those locations as a home resort. Also, based on my survey maybe someone can advise a better vacation ownership that's HGVC. Think Wyndamm has happy customers. Much appreciated!

Questions 1, 2, and 9 are critical to the decision making process. So you should sit down and discuss with your wife, and then get back to us.

-Home Resort - there may be years when you can't afford to fly, or don't want to fly so it's good to have a drive-to home resort.

-It's important to know whether you want to visit one resort most of the time, or trade most of the time - different strategies.

-Only the hotel affiliated resorts systems are 4-5 Star: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Vistana (Westin/Sheraton)

What happened to your other timeshare that you got behind on a few years ago?

DeniseM said:

What happened to your other timeshare that you got behind on a few years ago?

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Forget the details but everthing worked out. Think divi took it back and left us with no obligations.

DeniseM said:

Questions 1, 2, and 9 are critical to the decision making process. So you should sit down and discuss with your wife, and then get back to us.

-Home Resort - there may be years when you can't afford to fly, or don't want to fly so it's good to have a drive-to home resort.

-It's important to know whether you want to visit one resort most of the time, or trade most of the time - different strategies.

-Only the hotel affiliated resorts systems are 4-5 Star: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Vistana (Westin/Sheraton)

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Regarding home resort. Really. Not any destinations we'd want to go on vacation near here. We'd be able to fly no matter what.

Trade most of the time.

horsegoer said:

Forget the details but everthing worked out. Think divi took it back and left us with no obligations.

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So, I'm assuming that your financial situation is solid now, or you wouldn't be looking at buying another timeshare? They all have maintenance fees, and the maintenance fees always go up.

With a US timeshare, you won't escape so easily.

DeniseM said:

So, I'm assuming that your financial situation is solid now, or you wouldn't be looking at buying another timeshare? They all have maintenance fees, and the maintenance fees always go up.

With a US timeshare, you won't escape so easily.

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Yes solid for sure. Are we better renting? We like to stay at resorts.

horsegoer said:

Yes solid for sure. Are we better renting? We like to stay at resorts.

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11) Are you a detail oriented planner? Not really

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If you don't want the on-going obligation, and aren't detail oriented, you are probably better off renting.

Have you visited the TUG Last Minute Rental Forum where all rentals are $100 per night or less? http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=45

DeniseM said:

If you don't want the on-going obligation, and aren't detail oriented, you are probably better off renting.

Have you visited the TUG Last Minute Rental Forum where all rentals are $100 per night or less? http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=45

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Thanks.. I will. Curious. So how are rentals//timeshares different or how to they compare to th "usual" resorts we are use to staying at in th Caribbean? Thanks

Are you used to fully equipped condos with full bedrooms, full kitchens (usually)with in-suite laundry facilities? That's what you get with timeshares- including TS rentals.

Jim

horsegoer said:

Thanks.. I will. Curious. So how are rentals//timeshares different or how to they compare to th "usual" resorts we are use to staying at in th Caribbean? Thanks

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There is no difference - you are just renting a timeshare from the timeshare owner, instead of from the resort, usually at a great savings.

*Since you used to own a timeshare in the Caribbean, I am assuming that you are familiar with what a timeshare is.

DeniseM said:

There is no difference - you are just renting a timeshare from the timeshare owner, instead of from the resort, usually at a great savings.

*Since you used to own a timeshare in the Caribbean, I am assuming that you are familiar with what a timeshare is.

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Ok and yes. Was asking because we always liked the amenities, atmosphere, pools, restaurants that resorts offer. Wondering if these some of these rentals are at places as I described. Thanks

Passepartout said:

Are you used to fully equipped condos with full bedrooms, full kitchens (usually)with in-suite laundry facilities? That's what you get with timeshares- including TS rentals.

Jim

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Don't need those things.

horsegoer said:

Ok and yes. Was asking because we always liked the amenities, atmosphere, pools, restaurants that resorts offer. Wondering if these some of these rentals are at places as I described. Thanks

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Every timeshare resort is different with different amenities - but it's pretty easy to figure out what a resort offers by looking at the TUG reviews, the resort's own webpage, or other sources like Trip Advisor.

horsegoer said:

Don't need those things.

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If you don't need those things, why do you want to buy a timeshare?

Most timeshares are condos - if you don't need a condo, they you should stick with hotels that have the amenities that you want with no long-term commitment, and little advanced planning.

Was the timeshare that you previously owned a studio/hotel type unit?

Regarding (1) and (2), with a pure point system, it does not matter because there is not a home resort. With 4-5 star quality, I can only think of Marriott but the answer to (9) will be lots of $$$ out of pocket.

DeniseM said:

If you don't need those things, why do you want to buy a timeshare?

Most timeshares are condos - if you don't need a condo, they you should stick with hotels that have the amenities that you want with no long-term commitment, and little advanced planning.

Was the timeshare that you previously owned a studio/hotel type unit?

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We never really used our previous time share and it was many many years ago. Thought timeshares offered better value than regular resort hotel rooms.

horsegoer said:

We never really used our previous time share and it was many many years ago. Thought timeshares offered better value than regular resort hotel rooms.

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For the most part, timeshares are condos - often with all the resort amenities, as well.

If you prefer hotel rooms, you aren't a good candidate to buy a timeshare. There are lots of good deals on the internet for hotel packages, and that may suite your vacationing style better.

In previous posts (2010) it appears that you owned a timeshare for years. Did you just let it stand empty, or how did you use it? Was it a 1 or 2 bdm., or just a hotel room?

DeniseM said:

For the most part, timeshares are condos - often with all the resort amenities, as well.

If you prefer hotel rooms, you aren't a good candidate to buy a timeshare. There are lots of good deals on the internet for hotel packages, and that may suite your vacationing style better.

In previous posts (2010) it appears that you owned a timeshare for years. Did you just let it stand empty, or how did you use it? Was it a 1 or 2 bdm., or just a hotel room?

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Don't think we used it at all..lol. Forget what it was.

I don't think you'll find anything 4-5 stars with MFs of only $500. - $1,000. The only 5 star resort I know of is Four Seasons and the MFs there are $2500. You could probably find a 4 star for $1,000, but you'd still need to add in state taxes to that. It's much more likely that you'd be paying $1500./year for a 4 star resort.

I did see in your other thread that you like to take several one week vacations per year. You may be happier renting from an owner when you want to stay in a timeshare. If you truly like 5 star resorts, you're actually better off in a hotel than a clean up after yourself timeshare apartment.

horsegoer said:

Don't think we used it at all..lol. Forget what it was.

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With all due respect and compassion......based on your posts above, you are NOT a candidate for a timeshare ownership. This, based on money $500-1K, attention to planning, knowledge of what a timeshare ownership offers/entails etc....

And yes, you can usually rent a timeshare (much like a hotel room) for about the cost of MF's--this does not apply during peak periods, super-premium locations or (generally) those areas that have few accommodations for rent.

Save yourself a lot of worry and time. Just use the resources mentioned above (TUG rentals, Redweek rentals etc...) and find yourself a great vacation to rent without all the hassle.

Enjoy your HGVC vacation; the sales pitch isn't too long and is worth the time and trouble for a $99 vacation in a premium location.
cheers.

horsegoer said:

Don't think we used it at all..lol. Forget what it was.

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Since you never used your first timeshare, that is a clear sign that you probably are not a good candidate to buy another one.

Stick with the hotel discount packages - you will be happier.