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Re: New to Timeshare seeking for tips (by Kenneth K.):

They all work differently, and according to the T/S program you bought, posters here would need to know exactly what your contract states.

Unfortunately, your time to recind, if a T/S RTU perchase, has expired under Mexican rules.

Helpful sdditional sites include www.tugbbs.com or the www.timeshareforums.com.

Also search for ' The Timeshare Beat" for some help.

When going to these forums, first ask under the newbies section. Make sure you include dates of purchase, so the discussion will not continue on your right to recind.

Then search the forums for the areas you unit is located in, and see if you note any owners (or contract holders if it is a type of Holiday Club) and see what they say.

I guess you have found your unit under the Redweek for sales and e bay. And the pricing for weeks or points seems so much lower than what you paid....but many of us have learned after the fact not to buy from the developer....since resale pricing is so much less.....sometimes there are tons of weeks for $1.00.....but those people usually failed to understand how to use the product they bought.

Usually, (unless it a kind of Holiday Club) you will be required to pay maint fees and taxes for the week you have a deed or RTU for ( Right to Use....a specific time...like a long term lease....that you have contracted to use a unit for)

In the USA and most foreign resorts, buying in means you are responsible fot your week or points in the unit. It is set up as a condominum and if owned or leased, you are the resposible party to pay you share for that time period.

You need to pay whether you use your week there or if you ask for a trade to somewhere else. When you trade into another unit, most do via a group they need to join or pay for....like RCI or Interval. There are a few exchange companies that you do not need to pay to join, some include Dial An Exchangs, San Francisco Exchange (will only accept top weeks in top resorts), Timex, Trading Places International and for course Redweek (here, where you posted)

When you trade a week, you are suppose to get a like for like. That doesn't always work. But usually the exchanger is happy.

Sometimes there are extra fees the resort expects you to pay. The biggest one I have seen (that is part of the owners maintance fees, but an extra for exchangers, or traders) is at Summglers Notch, Vermont. I believe last summer, it was $250 for a exchanger to pay for activities that the owners don't pay for ( its in their maint fees). If you are lucky enought to get a Disney Vacation Club unit in a trade, you will pay approx $100 over what owners pay. If you get to stay at the Marriott Beach Place in Ft LAyd, you get to pay a parking fee (daily) owners do not pay. Yes, its like fees up the bazoo.

Some Mexican exchanges into certain resorts also REQUIRE an all inclusive fee...and that could run into much money.....many T/S owners find its not wise to exchange into these units....because its cheaper to get a package (from the USA) from a travel agent that includes the AI, airfare, and the unit.

I hope this scratch the surface is a start. I could xontinue, but I'm sure others will also give advice. Please make sure you find the UNBIASED sites for the info, and those not afraid to share all the information, not just dribs they want to communicate.

You need to learn as much as possible, so you will find the best value you are able to for what you bought.

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