Why Buy More Than One Week/Club?

Hi All,

We currently own two weeks through different vacation clubs (Disney and Marriott). Every time we sit through another presentation, we take turns holding each other back from buying a third. The money is a stretch for us, but the sell is soooo enticing.

Our last presentation (today) took place in Aruba, where we were told that the third purchase is a smart choice because we could rent the high value property and use it to pay for our airfare and maintenance fees (effectively making vacations free).

Is this argument valid/realistic?

No, this is not a valid reason to buy another timeshare. The only reason to buy another timeshare would be because you wnat to spend many years of vacation at that spot. If you do buy another one for that reason, I would suggest you buy it resale. You will save anywhere between 40% - 60% than buying from the developer.

The money that you will put out for your third timeshare will cost more than any airfare tickets you get. The rent you may or may not get, will cost you for advertising it even though it may not be much. However, with the economy as it is now your competitors who will also will be trying to rent theirs particularly the ones trying to get out of their timeshares. They will rent their timeshare out well below the maintenance fees to get something as opposed to nothing. The value of your timeshare is worth more than airfare. It is not a good trade. Your maintenance fees will be more than the airfare, thus you will lose value.

This is NOT a good argument to buy another timeshare. Save your money. If you must buy then buy resale.

mikec458 wrote:

Our last presentation (today) took place in Aruba, where we were told that the third purchase is a smart choice because we could rent the high value property and use it to pay for our airfare and maintenance fees (effectively making vacations free).

Is this argument valid/realistic?

There is NO guarantee that any timeshare unit/week will rent. This is just one of many arm twisting tactics that timeshare salesmen claim (just look here and other internet timeshare rental sites for verification). If you want to buy in Aruba, then buy resale and save yourself thousands of dollars, but be aware of rising maintenance fees along with possible special assessments.

mikec458 wrote:

Hi All,

We currently own two weeks through different vacation clubs (Disney and Marriott). Every time we sit through another presentation, we take turns holding each other back from buying a third. The money is a stretch for us, but the sell is soooo enticing.

Our last presentation (today) took place in Aruba, where we were told that the third purchase is a smart choice because we could rent the high value property and use it to pay for our airfare and maintenance fees (effectively making vacations free).

Is this argument valid/realistic?

Since you seem to be caught up in the web of presentations from timeshare salespeople and their many lies, I would resist attending presentations in the future. These people are good at what they do and will tell you anything you want to hear to make a sale .... it's their job.

Thank you all very much for the insight! When your eyes are twinkling, its hard to think about those realistic counter-points.

At the same presentation, (Marriott Surf Club), the salesman said that in addition to loosing the points option and mariott vacation rep, the resorts treat resales like second class citizens when it comes to room assignments etc.

Any knowledge as to whether this practice is factual?

Own Marriott at Ko Olina, there is no truth to this what was told to you about people who purchase resale are treated like second class citizens. The only difference between buying from the developer and buying resale is that you cannot trade your timeshare for points, and thousands of dollars that you will SAVE from buying it resale. That's it. I say this to you because I bought my first timeshare from Marriott not knowing about the resale market.

I would advise you to go to the website called Timeshare Users Group www.tugbbs.com/forum You will find a wealth of information about all of the different time share systems and how they work. You will probably learn how to better use the ones you have and you will probably not even need to consider another as you will learn a lot and become much more informed.

Thank you all again. Particularly for the specific Marriott experience and reference to tugs. I've obviously been a bit naive and impulsive. There so much about ownership that I just don't know.

I've really been working the poolside network around here, and I've found two groups of owners - those that know as little or less than I, and those that are obviously more savy, but very tight-lipped about the lesser known ways to work the time share system.

Time to dig in and learn more about our current portfolio/options. Can you believe we were considering walking back into that sales office before the plane ride home! You've saved us $20K. Thanks.

Please let me know if you have any more insight, or leads that would help the not-so-newby, but conspicuously naive multi-week owner. -M

mikec458 wrote:

Thank you all again. Particularly for the specific Marriott experience and reference to tugs. I've obviously been a bit naive and impulsive. There so much about ownership that I just don't know.

I've really been working the poolside network around here, and I've found two groups of owners - those that know as little or less than I, and those that are obviously more savy, but very tight-lipped about the lesser known ways to work the time share system.

Time to dig in and learn more about our current portfolio/options. Can you believe we were considering walking back into that sales office before the plane ride home! You've saved us $20K. Thanks.

Please let me know if you have any more insight, or leads that would help the not-so-newby, but conspicuously naive multi-week owner. -M

Great. Thank you very much. -M