What is timeshare? Originating in Europe, Vacation
Ownership (Timeshare Resorts) has become a popular form of
family vacations. Timeshare, or Vacation Ownership, offers
consumers the opportunity to own fully furnished vacation
accommodations.
Sold in a variety of forms, such as weekly intervals and
Points-based systems, for a percentage of the cost of full
ownership. For a one-time purchase price and a yearly
maintenance fee, timeshare owners own their vacation either in
perpetuity or for a predetermined number of years.
Why Consider Timeshare? Imagine the expenses of owning
your own vacation property or vacation home. Besides the actual
purchase cost, you have other expenses to consider. You will pay
taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, all for something you
might use once or twice a year.
Now imagine purchasing only the time you plan to spend at your
vacation home and share the expenses with other owners via a
yearly maintenance fee.
Vacation Around the World Additionally, through vacation
exchange networks, owners can exchange their time for other
popular destinations around the world and enjoy a variety of
different types of accommodations and amenities.
Traditionally, an exchange is done by depositing your week(s) in
an 'Exchange Bank' that would allow you to reserve a comparable
week in another resort destination. This means that if you owned
an 'Off Season' week, you could only exchange for other resorts
during what that location considers off-season. This can really
cause a problem if that destination has no off-season. (Note:
there are exceptions to these exchange restrictions)
However, with the popularity of Points based programs, timeshare
owners/members now have the opportunity to travel without
seasonal or other typical exchange restrictions. Points also
allow an owner/member to travel for varied lengths of stays.
Attend a Presentation Most resorts offer some type of
promotional offer in order to market their resort and affiliated
travel program. In the past, these sales presentations could be
very 'high pressure' and the promotional gifts offered
were, at times, somewhat worthless. Today, due to consumer
protection laws, these companies have stopped this practice.
Consumer protection laws are not the only reason resorts are
changing their sales policies. The biggest reason is common
sense. We live in a very consumer educated age and can research
just about anything we wish to, before we decide to purchase a
product or service.
The process of the presentation goes something like this....
1. Meet your resort representative.
2. Discuss your vacation and recreational interests.
3. Learn about the resort and affiliated network.
4. Tour the resort facilities.
5. Have any of your questions answered.
6. Lastly, you will be asked if you wish to become an owner or
member.
OK, lets talk about number six. I can already here some saying,
"I thought there was no obligation to purchase! ..."
There isn't.
Resorts usually offer a couple of options. One that can be
purchased anytime you like, and a promotional offer while you're
visiting the resort or during another predetermined time frame.
If (and only if) you find you have some interest in the resort
and their service, hear them out. You might be surprised at what
they have to offer!
Again, there is No Obligation to Purchase! The choice is, of
course, entirely up to you.
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