Original Message:
Re: The value of owning at KoOlina when you can't go (by Stephanie T.):
barryt22 wrote:How much did you rent it out for? I would think depending on the time of year, you should at least break even if you rented it yourself. From what I heard there is no such thing as a bonus week when you trade. I heard you have to pay interval for the extra week. II is only looking out for II and will give you the minimum in trade. I think if you own in Hawaii, you must use it to get your value out of it. As you know, Ko'Olina is not cheap. We plan to go every year.
Thanks - that was exactly my thinking. There aren't many places to get even a partial exchange for when you own in Hawaii. Knowing that we probably won't go every year makes me ? whether or not we should keep it, especially knowing that the maintainance costs will obviously continue to climb, and perhaps excessively, as it did this year. Our 'bonus week' costs us $199, which is fine. And yes, II only looks out for themselves. I prefer to work through Marriott, and let them go to bat for me when II is involved. I am still not comfortable with the rent by owner thing as I feel that the liability isn't worth it. We will keep the condo for a few years anyway, but I am not so sure it was the investment we thought it would be.