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Re: Maintenance Fees (by Mary D.):

Dealing with timeshares is a little like dealing with insurance. We don't always know what questions to ask, don't want to take the time to let the seller explain in full detail, or don't understand the terminology. For example,"This policy pays everything Medicare approves but does not pay" is absolutely true for most Medicare supplements, but Medicare may not approve everything or approve it at a lower rate than is being charged. (Actually, some healthcare providers ask for much more that will ever be approved but may ACCEPT 100% of what is approved.) Some Supplements will actually pay more than the amount Medicare approves. Obviously, they will cost you more.

We own with four different resort companies and they all use slightly different terms for similar things and have different rules. How folks who buy only resale learn all the ins and outs involved with their ownership amazes me. I'd be lost without all the stuff I've recorded on my computer about each group as I learn it. Yes, it is all in the materials you get from the developer when you buy (if you sit down and READ) but do resale buyers get all this? The RCI Disclosure Guide, for example? It covers in great detail most of the issues we have argued about on this site.

As far as Maintenance Fees are concerned, we hate the fact that they rise. But so does the price of gas. Hamburger. Haircuts. We, of course, can decide to walk more, eat less meat, and grow longer hair, but do we want our resorts to stop mowing the grass? Repairing the pool? Replacing worn furniture? Up-dating unit electronics? etc. etc. If they do stop, our pleasure in using timeshares and our ability to exchange them will surely slip. Would you like to exchange a Gold Crown for a dump? I'm not even wild about the resort managements outfits that make you buy your own bathroom tissue after the first roll!

MD