Dumb and New to travel-needs helpful tips

[Joypeace]

Hello,

I am a new timeshare owner.
Our family haven't taken much vacation outside of California where we are living. So, we don't know much about booking flights and etc, let alone how to use point system of the timeshare efficiently.

I have some questions.

1) Can I save points two years in a row ? ( Diamond Resort)

2) How early should I book for a certain place? ( i.e. China)

3) How early should I book flights once booked a place ? (e.g., Hawaii in mid- September)

Thank you.

A clueless.

[DeniseM]

Originally Posted by Joypeace

Hello,

I am a new timeshare owner.
Our family haven't taken much vacation outside of California where we are living. So, we don't know much about booking flights and etc, let alone how to use point system of the timeshare efficiently.

I have some questions.

1) Can I save points two years in a row ? ( Diamond Resort)

Hopefully, someone with DRI will answer this.

2) How early should I book for a certain place? ( i.e. China)

If you mean how early should you start looking for a timeshare exchange or make a reservation using your points, the earlier the better.

3) How early should I book flights once booked a place ? (e.g., Hawaii in mid- September)

September is low season in Hawaii and you should find some good airfare prices, but probably not yet. You should start checking prices every day. Once you do a search on orbitz.com and save the link to your favorite places, it's easy to quickly check the current price everyday. Be ready to commit once the price you want, hits.

I did a quick search on Orbitz for Sept. 12 - 19 and the lowest price from SFO to Honolulu, was Hawaiian Air at $428 - it will be a little less directly from HA. That's a good price, but in this economy, it will probably go lower - I'd watch it closely.

[Joypeace]

Thank you Denise for replying to my questions.

As I mentioned, I have no clue about the price I want. Should I check the price until mid August and decide ?

Also, If I want to go to a popular place, i.e, China, exactly when should I start checking the availability ?
There was no availiability when I checked last week.

Thank you for your help.

A dumb.

[DeniseM]

Originally Posted by Joypeace

Thank you Denise for replying to my questions.

As I mentioned, I have no clue about the price I want. Should I check the price until mid August and decide ?

Mid-August might be kind of late, if you watch it every day you should get a feel for what it's doing. Something between $300 and $400 would be a good price.

Also, If I want to go to a popular place, i.e, China, exactly when should I start checking the availability ?
There was no availiability when I checked last week.

You should start now and check all the time. The people who are the most successful with timesharing start looking early and often.

Are you looking for an exchange, rental, a DRI points Resv.? If you tell us exactly how you are making the exchange/Resv. we can give a more specific answer.

As a TUG member, you can go to the TUG members only Sightings board (below the TUG Lounge Board) and ask other owners to search the exchange companies for you and tell you what's available in China.

[Joypeace]

Thank you again.

I will do as you advised, watch it every day and learn what's going on.

As for looking for a popular place, I think I need to study more about timeshare, including how to use this site.

I still don't know whether it was a good decision to own a timeshare....

Thank you.

Joypeace

[DeniseM]

For China - Are you looking for an exchange, rental, a DRI points Resv.? If you tell us exactly how you are making the exchange/Resv. we can give a more specific answer.

[Passepartout]

First, Welcome to TUG!

Joypeace, if you are new to travel in general, why not try some of the relatively nearby, easier-to-get timeshares. You live in CA, so go for Las Vegas, Arizona- Sedona is wonderful- Mexico is easy. You will find out how nice it is to be treated as an 'owner', not a hotel guest. Feel the space of a 1-or 2 bedroom condo instead of a hotel room. Watch a movie on the flat-screen in your jammies and cook in your kitchen-if that's your thing.

I don't know anything about timeshares in China. Having been there, I think I'd go for an escorted tour if it was me- the language , transportation, and eating difficulties can be a little intimidating if English is your only language. Especially off the beaten path (out of Beijing).

DeniseM gives good advise as to Hawaii (or any other) airfares. Check 'em early, often and be ready to pounce. Long haul can be a little easier, because even if flight prices drop precipitously, in many cases you can re-book at the lower price (for a fee). You will come to realize that on a plane that holds 200 people, 180 of them paid different prices, so don't obsess

You say you don't know if timesharing is for you, well, you better figure how to make it 'for you', 'cause you own one and if it isn't 'for you', you are going to have a heck of a time getting rid of it.

Stick around TUG. There are a lot of very nice, well traveled people here who (nearly) all love their timeshares and can't imagine traveling any other way.

Jim Ricks

[Joypeace]

Thank you Jim and Denise for your kind advices.

I feel like getting brand new friends.

Joypeace.

[DeniseM]

Glad to help, but if you can answer this question, we can help a lot more:

For China - Are you looking for an exchange, rental, a DRI points Resv.? If you tell us exactly how you are making the exchange/Resv. we can give a more specific answer.