Is it OK to charge Guests??

Boppo57 · Jun 18, 2014

I'm reserving a 3 bedroom townhouse Marriott Village De iLe-de France near Paris. Two other couples are sharing with my wife and I. It will cost me approx 4000 points for 9 nights. Is it tacky to ask the two couples to chip in? I have no idea how much I would charge.

DeniseM · Jun 18, 2014

I don't think it's tacky, but I would have clarified that up front: "Do you want to go to France and split the cost of a condo with us?" Awkward to ask AFTER you have invited them.

I would charge at least enough to cover their share of the underlying maintenance fees.

Another option is to ask one couple to cover the car rental, and the other couple to cover the groceries.

Saintsfanfl · Jun 18, 2014

It depends on the nature of the "sharing". It sounds like you already invited them without asking them to pitch in. Normally if you want someone to pitch in it would be part of the invite. How tacky depends on the nature of your relationship.

alchook · Jun 18, 2014

I agree with Denise. If you ask people to join you in your timeshare it's akin to inviting guests to a vacation home. Fine to ask upfront for them to share the costs, because that gives them a chance to decline gracefully.

If you've already invited them and they've accepted you can't then ask them to share expenses. The polite guest reciprocates some other way.

vacationhopeful · Jun 18, 2014

Who invited the other 2 couples? Was a "cost" to stay mentioned to them? Many times people who know I go to GREAT places, just think it is a paid for and an extra room where they can stay as MY GUEST would be free to them.

Whenever, ANYONE mentions my travel plans and asks what type of place I am stay, I make SURE they know from my discussion of the condo -- it cost me REAL money and what the costs tend to be. Sure, some friends have ASKED about coming along but they always say upfront, they be willing to pay HALF the costs.

AS for my sibling collection, different rules. I get the unit and THEY buy everything after checking in. FOOD, DRINK, TICKETS, RENTAL CAR, GAS, even a tee-shirt or sun screen ... If several siblings are coming along, I expect they solve the DOLLAR split out of my listening range. AND I do not mention the cost of MFs or how I got THAT unit. I have a great vacation; they seem to enjoy there stay. AND yes, they do cook some very good meals in the unit.

Now, my siblings are employed; if I invite a niece or nephew (under 20yo), I expect to feed them pizza and limit their adventures costing money to what I want to pay. Over 20yo, food in the unit I will cover; all drinks are on them and dinners out are split.

Boppo57 · Jun 18, 2014

Reply

Just to clarify- nothing official yet. The other two couples asked for all of the details of the trip. I sent them the link for the resort- estimated cost of airfare- and window of dates that we will go. I expect hey will coem back and ask for the cost of the unit- or offer to give me money.

DeniseM · Jun 18, 2014

I wouldn't be coy about it - that leads to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. I'd come right out and nicely ask if they'd like to share the cost, and maybe suggest 2 or 3 ways to do it. Many people just think, "Oh, it's their timeshare, it's free." They simply do not understand your underlying costes.

Boppo57 · Jun 18, 2014

Thanks Denise. That makes sense.

Passepartout · Jun 18, 2014

We always clarify upfront. "Hey, we can get a condo in XXX. There could be an extra bedroom for $XXX. Wanna go?"

Then when we get there, we start a 'kitty.' Each couple pony's up an equal amount of cash into a container, then if we go to the onsite restaurant, a round at happy hour, need something communal from the onsite c-store, taxi or bus fare for the group, it comes out of that. Sooo much easier than trying to figure out whose 'turn' it is, or to do an accounting at the end of the trip. We replenish the kitty as needed, then at the end we use it to pay the resort fees that have been charged or divide up any surplus left as we separate.

It may not work for everyone, but it works well for us, and nobody feels 'used'.

Jim

MOXJO7282 · Jun 18, 2014

I personally don't ask if they're sharing the same unit but most of my family and friends, as would we, insist on reciprocating in some way. It probably never amounts to half of the MF but its the gesture that counts.

My BIL on the multiple trips his family has come insists on half MF. He was very vocally against us getting into TSing, thought it was the biggest waste of money and risky, and I guess he feels now its the least he should do. I tell him no but his wife (my lovely SIL) always sends us the check and makes sure we cash it. Its probably more her doing than his.

dioxide45 · Jun 18, 2014

We don't charge guests when they stay with us in our villas. I agree with others, you really want to make sure the terms of the deal are known upfront when you invite them to give them the opportunity to say no if they don't like the terms. If the invite is out there, it is kind of tacky to go back and ask them now.

While don't have our guests pay for any of the costs for staying in the villa, some do give us a gift, others don't. We don't expect anything.

MOXJO7282 · Jun 18, 2014

As soon as it is considered if you expect a guest to share costs you need to state that in the first few sentences on the conversation and repeat if necessary so there is no misunderstanding.

Most guests would also want to clarify because they don't want to be surprised down the road.

Luanne · Jun 18, 2014

When we have been planning to go anyway and have room in our unit, we haven't charged guests. The guests have usually been family members. In one case my brother in law paid for the rental car, in another case family members took us out to eat a few times and paid for a majority of the groceries.

We kind of figure if we're going anyway we're not putting out any additional money and don't ask for reimbursement. This is just what has worked for us.

klpca · Jun 18, 2014

We're going to Cabo in January with friends and originally planned on timesharing. We can't get a week that works for us so we're going to rent instead. We'll be splitting the cost of the week 50/50 with our friends. I don't see how it's any different than if we are using our unit (except that my timeshare cost is significantly less than the rental cost). Why wouldn't we split the cost?

I agree that it's different if it's family.

Luanne · Jun 18, 2014

klpca said:
We're going to Cabo in January with friends and originally planned on timesharing. We can't get a week that works for us so we're going to rent instead. We'll be splitting the cost of the week 50/50 with our friends. I don't see how it's any different than if we are using our unit (except that my timeshare cost is significantly less than the rental cost). Why wouldn't we split the cost?

I agree that it's different if it's family.

For us the difference is, we were already planning on using the unit. We don't incur any additional costs if there are more people in the unit. So we don't charge guests, family or friends (I did remember we have also done with another couple). If we were renting, we would of course split the costs.

But again, what works for one doesn't work for all.

geekette · Jun 18, 2014

It's important to set expectations at the start. The entire trip has a much better chance of success.

I have no hard and fast rule but generally do not charge family unless I am out of pocket, sometimes if I am not On the trip with them, or it's a pricey trip (air to Europe, for example).

If you are asking the question, then you probably think you want to or need to charge them, so, get it out in the open, everyone will appreciate it. Quite possibly a couple at home is wondering if there is a cost. Tell them before they ask.

dioxide45 · Jun 18, 2014

Luanne said:
For us the difference is, we were already planning on using the unit. We don't incur any additional costs if there are more people in the unit. So we don't charge guests, family or friends (I did remember we have also done with another couple). If we were renting, we would of course split the costs.

But again, what works for one doesn't work for all.

Pretty much the same for us. In many cases we were able to exchange our 1BR or studio in to a 2BR or 3BR unit. So having people use the extra bedroom(s) really isn't costing us any more than if we just exchange like for like in unit size.

Luanne · Jun 18, 2014

dioxide45 said:
Pretty much the same for us. In many cases we were able to exchange our 1BR or studio in to a 2BR or 3BR unit. So having people use the extra bedroom(s) really isn't costing us any more than if we just exchange like for like in unit size.

We usually had guests when we were using our timeshare unit (which is a 3-bedroom) on Maui. And if we were trading for a different time of year we always made sure we got enough bedrooms for all who were planning on going.

klpca · Jun 18, 2014

Luanne said:
For us the difference is, we were already planning on using the unit. We don't incur any additional costs if there are more people in the unit. So we don't charge guests, family or friends (I did remember we have also done with another couple). If we were renting, we would of course split the costs.

But again, what works for one doesn't work for all.

I see your point. I'll have to consider that in the future.

As a guest, it would make me uncomfortable to not split the cost. I don't know why though.

Luanne · Jun 18, 2014

klpca said:
I see your point. I'll have to consider that in the future.

As a guest, it would make me uncomfortable to not split the cost. I don't know why though.

What cost would you ask someone to split? Trade fee? Maintenance fees?

We've pretty much always had our guests ask if they could contribute and we've said not towards the unit. That's when the offers of car rental or food have come in.

andrea t · Jun 18, 2014

We never charge family or friends. Its our pleasure to have them join us. Just got back from Marbella with two girlfriends. They took me to dinner at Christina's on our last evening. I thought that was very thoughtful and more than enough.

elaine · Jun 18, 2014

I'd just like to chime in that this Marriott is just fabulous--stayed in August 2013. It is a great space for multiple adults--lovely patios, great area, very good local buses, if you don't rent a car. One of our favorite places ever!
We have only split with family and we subsidize it all--but they always buy a nice dinner, etc. I think that you could also propose a budget and ask the couples to pay for extras that add up such as a minivan, train/entertainment tickets, groceries, etc. instead of a cash exchange, if you wish. Something like, "I could get the condo with my Marriott points and I was thinking that you could get these items...."

Sandy VDH · Jun 18, 2014

It depends on the situation, the relationships, and the reciprocity of others.

If I am going anyway have booked the unit, have extra space then I invite people and ask them to buy a couple of dinners.

I have invited a bunch of my girlfriends out for a week and booked 2 large units. My treat. All of the rooms charges they divided among themselves and each paid a portion of mine. They paid way less than my cost of the units, but I viewed it as this case, I had a much a much better time with them all there and I had bonus weeks to spare.

Now I have been asked by someone that said, hey if you go here and get a larger unit I'd be interested in going. So depending on where the unit is, what it look to get it, etc, In those situations it ends up being a more sharing of expenses, if I am travel with them.

I only rent for profit if it is not direct family, and it I am not traveling with them.

momeason · Jun 18, 2014

dioxide45 said:
We don't charge guests when they stay with us in our villas. I agree with others, you really want to make sure the terms of the deal are known upfront when you invite them to give them the opportunity to say no if they don't like the terms. If the invite is out there, it is kind of tacky to go back and ask them now.

While we don't have our guests pay for any of the costs for staying in the villa, some do give us a gift, others don't. We don't expect anything.

We do not charge our guests either, nor do we expect anything. Our guests always offer to pay for car rentals, a nice dinner out or groceries. When I invite guests it is often because I scored an upgrade and have an extra suite. We enjoy sharing with our friends.

Our last guests paid car rental, some gas and a nice dinner and then when we returned, I received a notice from our church that they had made a gift in our honor. That was such a nice gesture. (We all belong to the same church.)

enma · Jun 18, 2014

We only invite friends that we are comfortable asking to split the cost. We "charge" them 40% of the maintenance fees since we always take the master bedroom and they get the smaller one or lock-off portion. Never been a problem, they are happy to pay. Still a deal for them. We split the car rental and groceries.
When we invite nieces and nephews and/or our married son and his wife the place is free but we expect them to cover their portion of the bill when eating out.

Is it OK to charge Guests??

Boppo57

DeniseM

Saintsfanfl

alchook

vacationhopeful

TUG Review Crew: Rookie

Boppo57

DeniseM

Boppo57

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

MOXJO7282

Tug Review Crew

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

MOXJO7282

Tug Review Crew

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert

klpca

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert

geekette

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert

klpca

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

Luanne

TUG Review Crew: Expert

andrea t

elaine

Sandy VDH

TUG Review Crew: Elite

momeason

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

enma