What to Buy - My Survey

[ferrerorocher]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
No
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?
Trade
3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Paris/Southern France, Italy, Caribbean, Hawaii, SE Asia.
4) How many people do you usually travel with?
1-3
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?
No
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 or 5 stars
9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
I have a decent budget.
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?
Doesn't matter too much (especially if it's a good TS).
11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
I can be and have been, but I can also go the other route.
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?
Ohhh, yes!

 

[WinniWoman]

Based on the fact that you do not want to go anywhere specific most of the time, you want to always trade, you can't make firm plans a year ahead of time and the fact that you want to travel to Italy, Asia and France (limited timeshares), you should not buy a timeshare imo..

Yes- you can get one in Hawaii (expensive) and the Caribbean, but I don't see the point since you will not be going there regularly.

Best to stick with renting.

 

[vacationhopeful]

Mary Ann has made valid comments.

But ... timesharing is another way of vacationing ... sort of like cruising on land. You could look at RCI Points deed with a GOOD ratio of points to MFs .. if a small number of points or an every other year. ANY timeshare should be one YOU would be happy to use at that time of year or location.

Remember, the MFs are not the only cost of timeshare ownership.
.....Many Florida resorts were damaged recently and are closed with future Special Assessments very likely.
.....Travel to Hawaii from most US states cost real money for a 2-3 persons yearly plus a rental car.
.....Airfare from your home town to your resort can be seriously altered by airline schedules and airlines' bankruptcy.
.....Exchanging or points systems have FEES beside the resort MFs. RCI membership is around $89 yearly, exchanges for RCI weeks is around $209 per exchange and then, sending a family member requires a Guest Certificate fee of around $100.

If you use what you own ... that really nice fixed week resort might have MFs TOWARDS $200 per night.

My independent VRI assocated fixed week resort's MFs for a 2/2 lockoff unit is under $900. Can rent my Prime time 1/1 side for $1000 and use the studio for free with some money towards beers. BUT that is the RARE exception among timeshare ownership.... is not a 4-5 star resort, has 2 small elevators for 18 floors and owners sing "Make New Friends" when riding during peak hours. ... but the units are CLEAN! And the location is great!.

 

[theo]

Based upon OP's stated desire only to "trade" into 4-5 star resorts in some rather lofty international locations, I personally think that buying a timeshare to achieve that particular objective would essentially be a fool's errand, consistently yielding ongoing disappointment after far too much investment of both time and money to achieve inevitably disappointing results.

OP: Go where (and when) you want (and can) travel and just pay the freight to rent there, without taking on the unnecessary gyrations, expense, uncertainty, disappointment and time consumption of playing the "timeshare exchange game" on a tilted (...and not in your favor) playing field.

Just my personal opinion; you asked.

 

[Panina]

I agree with the others. Based on the locations you want to visit and not wanting to visit a certain location on a regular basis, timesharing would only disappoint you. Renting is a better option for you.

 

[silentg]

Buy where you want to stay, we have done this for all of our timeshare weeks. If you want international destinations look for a timeshare that trades well. Renting would be a good option for you until you find a place that you would like to own.
Good Luck
Silentg

 

[RNCollins]

Your best bet is to try renting first. TUG2 and RedWeek are good to start with. You can also try:
http://www.myresortnetwork.com/
https://www.tripbeat.com/
Trip Beat/Endless Vacations has European Timeshares, that might be something you are interested in.

 

[DeniseM]

I don't think you are a good candidate to own a timeshare:

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Paris/Southern France, Italy, Caribbean, Hawaii, SE Asia.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
No

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4 or 5 stars