Tell me about timeshares. Are there any good ones?

[Anonymous]

My in laws have a time share and they love it. They have Marriott. I like the locations but some of them are kind of old and run down. Are there other timeshare brands that you'd recommend? I see Hyatt and Ritz Carlton have them but the locations seem limited.

[Anonymous]

The problem is the maintenance fees. The cost of the timeshare itself might be OK; but the fees are like condo fees. They can raise them indefinitely.

[Anonymous]

Total ripoff. You can get the same room for less and not pay into the timeshare. Plus you get daily housekeeping and the timeshare people do not. I could go on but you get the picture.

[Anonymous]

No. There are not.

[Anonymous]

Timeshares are for old people. They're suckers for that stuff. Plus, old people aren't intetnet-savvy enough to use options like air bnb or vrbo to get a better price/options, etc.

"Good" and timeshare shouldn't be in the same sentence.

[Anonymous]

This is a good resource: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index.php

[Anonymous]

THeres a reason why timeshare exit team has a booming business.

[Anonymous]

It is actually costing us money to get rid of MILs crappy timeshare. You can't even give them away.

[Anonymous]

We've owned in Hilton Grand Vacation Club for 10+ years. My husband owned before we met, so he's the one who knows the ins and outs of ownership, but I can comment on the properties.

Some can be worn down and others sort of corporate conference in feel, but I have no real complaints. It's much like renting a house or condo in that we always have a suite with kitchen and balcony wherever we stay. Also daily housekeeping. I think the best is that the location always beats what we could get with resort booking. For example, our "home" property is in Miami, right in South Beach in a lovely Art Deco hotel (not run down at all). that's at the quiet end of the strip. In Breckenridge (or maybe it was Vail - I can't remember) we had a ski-out room next to slopes. The property in Puerto Vallarta needed updates, but it was set into the side of a mountain overlooking the water and my favorite memory is sitting in the hot tub on the huge balcony and watching Pelicans fly by so closely you could look them in the eye.

You can also use points with other timeshare operators, though I can't remember what they are at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've owned in Hilton Grand Vacation Club for 10+ years. My husband owned before we met, so he's the one who knows the ins and outs of ownership, but I can comment on the properties.

Some can be worn down and others sort of corporate conference in feel, but I have no real complaints. It's much like renting a house or condo in that we always have a suite with kitchen and balcony wherever we stay. Also daily housekeeping. I think the best is that the location always beats what we could get with resort booking. For example, our "home" property is in Miami, right in South Beach in a lovely Art Deco hotel (not run down at all). that's at the quiet end of the strip. In Breckenridge (or maybe it was Vail - I can't remember) we had a ski-out room next to slopes. The property in Puerto Vallarta needed updates, but it was set into the side of a mountain overlooking the water and my favorite memory is sitting in the hot tub on the huge balcony and watching Pelicans fly by so closely you could look them in the eye.

You can also use points with other timeshare operators, though I can't remember what they are at the moment.

Sucker. Timeshares are worthless. You can rent out a fabulous home and give away the keys at any of these locations for less money. Plus you pay taxes and maintenance cost.

[Anonymous]

Marriott routinely sends us invitation to "free" stay at their resorts, in exchange for 3-4 hours of timeshare sale pitch. Thanks but no thanks. We stay at their resorts too, but woudl much rather book through regular hotel channel.

[Anonymous]

I think "good" is relative - my parents have one that is great for them - they go there every year, sometimes twice a year (as a compromise for living here, when my mom would rather live in that city). It's a GORGEOUS property, and everyone there knows them and they get treated very well. This is a Marriott, FWIW.

I know it is expensive, but staying in the property as a non-owner is expensive too. They've been going to this location for over 15 years now and will continue to go every year for as long as they can travel.

So my answer would be that yes, that is a good timeshare, for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think "good" is relative - my parents have one that is great for them - they go there every year, sometimes twice a year (as a compromise for living here, when my mom would rather live in that city). It's a GORGEOUS property, and everyone there knows them and they get treated very well. This is a Marriott, FWIW.

I know it is expensive, but staying in the property as a non-owner is expensive too. They've been going to this location for over 15 years now and will continue to go every year for as long as they can travel.

So my answer would be that yes, that is a good timeshare, for them.

Take a look at the documents and what happens when they pass away. My ILs got suckered in to leaving it to their children. I'm sure the sales guy told them how appreciative the kids would be. Of course no one wanted it and because their names were on the docs it cost $5000 to get rid of the obligation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think "good" is relative - my parents have one that is great for them - they go there every year, sometimes twice a year (as a compromise for living here, when my mom would rather live in that city). It's a GORGEOUS property, and everyone there knows them and they get treated very well. This is a Marriott, FWIW.

I know it is expensive, but staying in the property as a non-owner is expensive too. They've been going to this location for over 15 years now and will continue to go every year for as long as they can travel.

So my answer would be that yes, that is a good timeshare, for them.

Take a look at the documents and what happens when they pass away. My ILs got suckered in to leaving it to their children. I'm sure the sales guy told them how appreciative the kids would be. Of course no one wanted it and because their names were on the docs it cost $5000 to get rid of the obligation.

If it does get passed down (which I think it does), then there are 2 of us children who would be thrilled to use it regularly. And there are grandchildren who are nearing adulthood as well.

[Anonymous]

Almost any timeshare resort also rents by the night and for a very reasonable price most of the time. And you have 100% flexibility. I just don't see how it's worth it, unless you require an external force to require you to save for your vacation. We can do that ourselves.