Timeshare presentations to get bargain travel? - not looking to buy

[wyndhamtimeshare847]

Hi , are there any recommended time share programs or presentations where you can essentially get discounted trips by taking advantage of them?

An example of one I came across is Westgate Vacation Package. Like this 7 day trip:
https://www.westgatereservations.com/specials/magical-vacation-7-days-in-orlando-disney-world/

We once went to a silverleaf presentation and got a cruise ( lot of restrictions ) but it worked out.

We will not be purchasing a timeshare but seeing if their are any recommended opportunities for those essentially looking for discounted travel .

This would be a family of 3 ( married, 2 kids) meets requirements etc.

Or is this typically frowned upon and people are just really supposed to "rent" someones timeshare to do this.

We want to really do a lot of traveling in the future so want to learn a bit more on this topic.

 

[Passepartout]

Trust me on this. NOBODY EVER went to a timeshare presentation to buy a TS. Every person there came to get free lodging or tickets to attractions or points or something. The salesweasels know this. And they are trained to be able to guide the conversation to get you (the mark) to a yes. They are prepared to insult you, to hold you without meals, kid's naps, and browbeat you with ever more intense pressure. Eventually, they know that a certain percentage will cave and sign. Maybe not you, but why do you choose to subject yourselves to the abuse?

You can cave early then head to the post office with a rescission letter, and the sales office probably won't find out you slipped the noose until after you're gone. Maybe.

I can't say that you're 'supposed' to rent from an owner, but that's one way to get the vacation without the abuse. Often, rentals come with more perks and no visit to the sales room. It's your vacation, your time and your money. How you choose to spend them is up to you.

Jim

 

[AwayWeGo]

Not once but twice we took hard-sell presentations for the promised freebies of airfare for 2 + 2 nights' accommodations in Las Vegas NV or Orlando FL. The directions that had to be followed to get the plane tickets were tedious & exacting, but we stuck with it & arranged Las Vegas trips twice. (First time, the hard sell was at a BlueGreen timeshare in central Virginia. Second time was a vacation travel club that held sales presentations locally.)

Nothing wrong with the airline tickets, once we got those. Also, nothing wrong with 2 Las Vegas nights the 1st time, when they put us up at the New Frontier Hotel & Casino (since demolished, with nothing rebuilt on the site).

The problem was the 2nd time, when the 2 Las Vegas nights were at a motel run down so bad it was no longer a Days Inn -- the redone sign outside said Good Day Inn. I was ashamed to have taken The Chief Of Staff to the Good Day Inn, freebies or not, & I suggested we leave pronto & stay instead at of some other (any other) better hotel. We toughed it out & made the best of it, & in all the years since The Chief Of Staff has not held that experience against me.

After those experiences of jumping through hoops twice to get those 2 airline reservations, & after getting iffy or worse Las Vegas accommodations that 2nd time, we decided that next time airfare for 2 is offered as timeshare tour or vacation club presentation freebies, we'll say No Thanks.

NOTE: 1 of our Las Vegas freebie trips is described on TUG-BBS . . .

https://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/2006-compound-freebies.31917/#post-224929

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[controller1]

https://www.vistana.com

At the bottom right hand corner of the page, sign up for vacation offers! Enjoy..

 

[LannyPC]

An example of one I came across is Westgate Vacation Package. Like this 7 day trip:
https://www.westgatereservations.com/specials/magical-vacation-7-days-in-orlando-disney-world/
We want to really do a lot of traveling in the future so want to learn a bit more on this topic.

Well if you really want to learn a bit (or a lot) more on this topic, I would suggest doing a lot of research here on TUG rather than going to a sales presentation for "research". Do you honestly think that the sales people at a particular chain (in this case, Westgate) are going to give you an unbiased, realistic picture of the timeshare industry? Do you think they will encourage you to take the information home and think about it? Do you think they are going to outline the pros and cons of owning at Westgate? What about the pros (as opposed to just the cons) of buying resale or owning at an independent, owner-controlled resort?

 

[x3 skier]

I do it whenever Hilton or Marriott (Vistana) offer it to me. Every time I go, I start out telling the sales sleaze that they can waste my time and theirs or call the pitch off. Most times, I’m out in under 15 minutes but if I have to spend 90 minutes being bored and saying no, I’m perfectly happy to do so for the cheap trip.

I’d never choose any lesser company as they can set up so many complications and restrictions it isn’t worth the hassle.

As far as learning about Timeshares, just read things on TUG. For getting semi cheap travel, taking advantage of their sales promos can be easy if you tune out the presentation.

Cheers

 

[controller1]

Well if you really want to learn a bit (or a lot) more on this topic, I would suggest doing a lot of research here on TUG rather than going to a sales presentation for "research". Do you honestly think that the sales people at a particular chain (in this case, Westgate) are going to give you an unbiased, realistic picture of the timeshare industry? Do you think they will encourage you to take the information home and think about it? Do you think they are going to outline the pros and cons of owning at Westgate? What about the pros (as opposed to just the cons) of buying resale or owning at an independent, owner-controlled resort?

OP doesn't want to learn anything about timeshares. OP is upfront in that he/she only wants a free or highly discounted vacation! I must assume he/she is talking about something like the Marriott Encore or Vistana Explorer packages.

 

[Janann]

My best suggestion is to just sign up for the "contact me" pages on all of the websites for the major timeshare companies. You'll get plenty of offers.

Also, sometimes the offer is negotiable. I highly recommend hesitating a little before accepting their first offer...sometimes I have gotten something better with just the slightest pause or asking them to call back tomorrow. Once they have you on the phone they want you to make a commitment now, not tomorrow or next week.

 

[JohnPaul]

Important to differentiate between a stay package that includes a presentation and “trips” given for attending a presentation.

The first can be a good deal if you can say no.

The second are often nearly impossible to collect.

 

[wyndhamtimeshare847]

Taking the plunge on a Westgate trip. We are on a budget on would love to travel more so thought we would explore this option.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I am not looking to learn about timeshares ( but actually after spending a bit more time on here, i realized I might be a good candidate to rent one and would like to do that at some point). My wife's family had a couple timeshares. I helped them rent it one year , then helped them work through a buy back on one , and then i have been trying to sell ( for a dollar) their other one in the forums. For many people its not a right fit. The maintenance fees on many seem to outweigh a rental cost.

Even on the TUGG marketplace there are a couple http://tug2.com/timeshare-classifieds/search/results.aspx?Westgate Town Center&ResortName=14494

On one of the RCI points from Wyndham when we had it, we went to Vidanta and they had some perks for a pitch. It was a great meal, the tour guide was awesome ( thanked him for his time, have him 20 bucks ) told him we weren't buyers went through the pitch.

listed for sale for 99- 1500$ so seems like if one was set on buying one that would be a getter route, I'm guessing probably cheaper than the property offers them.

Controller1 , exactly what i was looking for, Im going to sign up for Vistana . is the encore something separate you sign up from?

Jannan, thanks for the tip, this is what i am also looking for . Are there any names you can mention on here that do this type of stuff? I Dont know many other than wyndham or disney vacation club.

The people who take advantage of the promo offers, is it once and done or can you go like once a year?

I get the whole concept. The developer can sell a unit which might be work 200k for 1.5 M through the fractional ownership model and receive maintenance fees in perpetuity. But for the consumer they are typically getting the very short end of a long stick.

 

[wyndhamtimeshare847]

My best suggestion is to just sign up for the "contact me" pages on all of the websites for the major timeshare companies. You'll get plenty of offers.

Also, sometimes the offer is negotiable. I highly recommend hesitating a little before accepting their first offer...sometimes I have gotten something better with just the slightest pause or asking them to call back tomorrow. Once they have you on the phone they want you to make a commitment now, not tomorrow or next week.

I wasnt sure how to tag you, if you have specific names to share that would really be appreciated!

 

[wyndhamtimeshare847]

a

OP doesn't want to learn anything about timeshares. OP is upfront in that he/she only wants a free or highly discounted vacation! I must assume he/she is talking about something like the Marriott Encore or Vistana Explorer packages.

Absolutely, thanks a lot, yes this is correct.

 

[Janann]

I wasnt sure how to tag you, if you have specific names to share that would really be appreciated!

You should add HGVC and Hyatt to your list. For some reason I haven't gotten offers from Marriott, but I would check them out too.

 

[wyndhamtimeshare847]

You should add HGVC and Hyatt to your list. For some reason I haven't gotten offers from Marriott, but I would check them out too.

Perfect thank you