I have NEVER been to a timeshare presentation that has lasted 90 minutes. The shortest has been 2.5 hours, the longest, 5 hours. My ex-husband LOVED timeshare presentations and all the free stuff you got for wasting vacation time. I loathed them. I don't feel a Mexican blanket and a bottle of cheap tequila are worth the hard core sales pitch in exchange for giving up precious hours of my vacation.

I have never been offered cash to attend a timeshare presentation in Cabo, but that doesn't mean cash offers don't exist. In Cabo, I attended a presentation the Pueblo Bonito Sunset resort; in addition to the free breakfast and a few beers, we got a credit at their spa and a voucher for dinner at the Pueblo Bonito Rose resort. I found that acceptable. I have also attended timeshare presentations at the Villa Del Palmar. I believe we got a discount on a one-day car rental, a voucher for a water taxi to Lover's Beach, and a few other things that escape my memory at the moment. If you do attend a timeshare presentation at VDP, DO NOT BUY THERE!!! I am a regretful timeshare owner at the VDP.....

he said that some of the companies offer you money to explore their properties, in exchange for 90 minutes of your time.

Pretty common at the upscale properties to get a credit towards spending at the resort (I remember the Westin offering $100 towards meals at their restaurants, 'activities' etc), but I can't believe anyone would actually offer cash. If there is such a place there will be a line extending to San Jose del Cabo to get in. Common to see offers for big discounts on tours, water activities, etc.

Having sat thru one of these (which involves plenty of arm-twisting) I wouldn't do it again for any reason.

Where would we find these opportunities

First opportunity will be as you get off the plane, then at the rental car office, then in the taxi, then when you check in at your hotel, then 100 more times as you walk the streets. Trust me, you will not lack for "opportunities" to attend time-share presentations in Cabo.

TimeShares are like Herpes

they are the gift that keeps on giving

and not in a good way... I have been there done that

and lost the T-Shirt Maintenance fees are the killer

they never go away if yo do not pay them (for years the

full amount) they will RUIN your credit so

AVOIS like the plague!

Boiler Plate sales tactics and crap places can ruin a trip.

If you are after cash go to Las Vegas.
I can NOT imagine wasting one minute of avacation at a swindlers show!

My DH likes to do these also for the freebies. We only got cash once in Puerto Vallarta, when we asked for it as part of the deal before we went to the presentation.

The last several years, I have put my foot down and refuse to do these any more. A big waste of time for being treated like garbage once they realize you have no intention of buying. I don't want to waste my vacation time and DH finally is on the same page with me.

In Cabo, Mayan Palace/Grand Mayan are notorious for being really nasty. It is true, you will be hit up constantly. We were even hit up as we waited at a bus stop!

We do own a timeshare though, at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach and love it. But knowing what I know now, you can rent these same places on the internet and not be out the up front money and annual fees.

By the way, we will be in Cabo same time as you!!

I have never been to one and will never go. My understanding is they are NEVER just the 90 minutes promised. It's an ugly business and nothing I'd ever get involved with.

You will be constantly hit up by timeshare reps, starting at the airport and continuing on the streets of downtown Cabo.

If you are serious... I would to go Trip Advisor's Cabo forum and read the posts there on the topic. If you *really* want to pursue this, at least you can research and find out the ones that are least aggressive (some are really nasty) and give the best 'prizes' for attendance with the least amount of time commitment.

I've been to Mexico (PV, Cabo, LaPaz) ~22 times. Never never never have I or will I get involved with the timeshare industry.

wrpperf1, this is long, but I hope it helps you decide whether or not attending a timeshare presentation is for you. If you are easily intimidated or easily succumb to pressure, don't go!

We have probably been on at least 20 timeshare presentations. My husband is a CPA and the sales person usually figures out he won't be swayed w/the great "value" of buying a timeshare. Also, near the end, my husband makes it very clear we would never make such an important purchase on the spot, which eventually helps us get away faster! But keep in mind you are always given over to an extra person (or 2) at the end who can sometimes really try to pressure you. Keep a cool head and JUST SAY NO. A dead giveaway that you should RUN from purchasing is a price offer good only at that moment. One time we actually really WANTED to hear the pitch at a place we were staying at in Cancun because we loved it so much and were curious, & did it for no perk at all! It was not high pressure. The best places usually aren't. Tip: don't ask too many questions or you'll be there longer!

We often sort of enjoy going, & learning about the resorts, finding out what they go for and what the newest innovations in sharing and ownership are, etc. We only go when we have time to kill and to get a REALLY nice perk. (Like we wanted a free helicopter tour in Kauai and got one that way.)

"First time in ______?", pretty much means a pitch to do a timeshare tour is coming. The appointment makers are often very veiled in their attempts to sign you up for one, but not always. (Like you might see a REALLY LOW price to rent a car, then find out that is the price only IF you do a timeshare tour.) The people who get you to attend get paid for every prospect who shows up, so in a way you are helping someone earn a wage when you accept. Sometimes you have to pay $25 or so to "reserve" your appt. However, you are allowed to cancel. We did it once in Cancun and simply had to drive to the nearby resort and show our appt. receipt to get our money back. (There are laws re: that.) We figure the timeshare sales companies know what they are doing & are willing to risk it even though not everyone buys. We will NEVER buy one and we know it. Be sure to get all of the promised perks in writing before you committ and a receipt for any $ you pay to reserve your appointment.

Our first experience w/timeshare presentations was in St. Maarten 21 yrs. ago. I didn't want to do it & complained, but my spouse wanted the reward. In the end we learned a lot about St. Maarten & the timeshare world, got to see inside a georgeous unit, got an $80 voucher to spend at a very, very nice restaurant, and 3 days of free car rental! Since then we have gotten money several times (the most was $200), nice lunch buffets, a free tour from Cancun to Chitzen Itza, money, lunch and free entry into Xplor near Playa del Carmen, a dinner cruise on Lake Tahoe (that pitch was only about 20 min. long in a trailer because the new Marriott was still under construction!), $75 for a short presentation in Vail, free lift tickets at Breckenridge, a $100 shopping voucher in St. Maarten, a Red Lobster gift card with a free 3 nt. hotel stay in Orlando we never used, $75 in cash at one of WORST ones we ever attended (a dilapidated unit in our own state), a free night at a really nice lake & golf resort in our own state, $125 in Las Vegas for a short one in the timeshare hotel behind the Flamingo Hotel (a Hilton, I think?); lunch and money at Beach Palace in Cancun, and you get the idea ad nauseum. We have regretted going on 3 occassions: once in Daytona (because they kept us 45 min. longer than stated. We had to go through about 3 guys AFTER we got very angry, but still got our perks (about $25 + a Red Lobster voucher + free hotel stay that we never used). One pitch in our home state was so bad it was almost sad! They grudingly paid us our $75. Then there was one place a couple of miles west of the strip in Las Vegas where they misled everyone on the perks and the presentation was too long & prices stated were vastly different depending upon how the salesperson judged you!

You are doing the right thing trying to find which presentations offer the best perks. Often they are negotiable. I have seen mention on Tripadvisor not to do the Mayan something or other in Cabo. I think someone else has mentioned that above as well. If you find yourself with some free time or are just curious and either totally can't afford buying or KNOW you won't buy, a timeshare presentation can be a bit entertaining and get you a nice reward. Not to mention you will get to see the units in case you ever want to rent from an owner!

We are going to be in Cabo next week, and I don't want to spend my vacation being hasseled as I walk or drive around. Will this be a constant hassel?

We are exchanging our timeshare that we own in the states for the week in Cabo so the last thing I want to do is buy another one.

When someone says to me in PV,Cabo etc "Hey Amigo Where are you from?" I say "Zihuatanejo" (Where there are NO timeshare sharks) & keep walking. Most laugh,some scowl but by then I'm down the street,

Either take stewbear's advice, nanabee, or just tell them you already have a time share!!

Yes, nanabee, they will be EVERYWHERE. As soon as you exit customs at the airport, they will be trying to get you a ride, transport etc. If you say, I am looking for "cactus transport" they will say I am with cactus transport and take you to their kiosk to sign you up for a timeshare tour. That is why you should just arrange transport to your hotel ahead of time and totally ignore these guys. I have also pretended to only speak Italian, since they speak English & Spanish, they just leave me alone.

Out and about, they will approach and say "is this your first time in Cabo?" then offer a free tour or activity IF you go on a timeshare presentation. We were even approached at the grocery store by some guy at the bagging counter. Just say no thank you, or I already own at ...., or say you and your husband are not married. They don't usually want to do presentations to singles.

Mayan Palace, Grand Mayan are awful. We own at Pueblo Bonito sunset Beach, but it more or less sold itself so did not get a high pressure experience.

Don't worry, you will still have a good time. Just be aware.

Yes they are everywhere.

My best advice if you don't want to be bothered is don't say ANYTHING. If you even say "no gracias" it will give them an in.

They will yell things like "where you from?", "what's your name?", etc. Just DO NOT get involved.

Sorry MichelleY but the single thing doesn't get rid of them either. I've been to Mexico 22 times and counting, many times alone, that doesn'teven put a damper on them unfortunately.

Personally I found the timeshare sharks in Cabo much less aggressive or all-pervasive than in Puerto Vallarta. I was calling them the Cabo "guppies".

suze: we were told they want to sell timeshares to single women, not single men. Don't know why, but has something to do with young single men not being as good a prospect as single women. At least that is what we were told. And if you are married, you have to have your spouse with you to attend a presentation. They figure a married person will not commit without a spouse.

A bunch of girlfriends and I went several years ago and wanted to check out Sunset Beach. They didn't want us to go since our husbands weren't with us. One friend did not wear her wedding band and pretended to be single so we could go. Needless to say, I asked all the questions and wanted to buy. The salesman called my DH in California, I got the "do what you think is best" and I put it on my Visa card. Luckily, my DH loves Sunset Beach!

I have been to Cabo numerous times. I am going again on June18 2012. On our last trip we went to a timeshare presentation at the Mayan in San Jose del Cabo. We received $300 in US currency and cab rides to and from our hotel. while it is very pressurized if you have the ability to just say no it is worth it. The money given to us paid for our entire weeks worth of food.

Everyone has to make their own call about participating in this. For me it would not be worth $300.

Me, either, suze...........It would have to be a lot more than that to convince me to give up a half day's vacation to be badgered to buy something I have no intention of buying.

I think Cabo may be the worst for timeshares; well maybe PV. Can't imagine in my wildest dreams going to one of these things...

How much do timeshares cost?

There is no price for which I would attend a timeshare sales presentation in Mexico (well OK maybe if it were over a million bucks!).

I don't know about once you're attending one who's the pushiest, but I find PV a bit worse than Cabo as far as being approached in the airport, on the street, even in restaurants.

We've actually stayed with a certain time share group for almost free three separate times over the past four years - in exchange for listening to a 90-minute presentation - we have gotten three four-night all inclusive stays in Cabo, Loreto, and Cancun for less than $300 total for the two of us each time.

But - we are always contacted by the time share group ahead of time by phone at our USA home. We are always very clear that we would NEVER consider buying a time share, and they always say, "We are fine with that - just want you to stay with us so you will tell your friends that you had a good time."

These are very new and upscale resorts, with nice ocean-view condos and all meals and drinks (and some activities) are included. Multiple gourmet restaurants, bars, and great service.

The presentations have really been 90 minutes or less, and although there is the typical sales pressure, it's not really bad. I always remind them that we were clear with the reservation person that we will NEVER buy a time share.

We use the discounted time share for the first four days and then add another week or two for a vacation under our own arrangements - rent a car and travel or find another place to stay in the area.

We've already accepted another stay - to be arranged within the next 18 months at any of their Mexican resorts. Thinking of going back to their beautiful resort in Cancun, and then staying on in Cozumel and/or Isla Mujeres afterwards.

So ... it can be totally worth it, but I would never just head out with a time-share shark off the street or at the airport.

We ended up being lured into a timeshare presentation. I told my husband on the way over there, "What ever I say, you must say no. I don't care how much I beg, your job is to say no." We ended up with a lovely breakfast, a handsome sales rep , a wasted morning and no time share. Oh, and $150 cash, a snorkeling trip for two and a bottle of really cheap tequila. It could have been much, much worse.

We got $250 cash and an excellent breakfast in Puerto Vallarta. It a very nice resort next to the Marriott. The same guys asked us to come for a week and we gave in the last day. Well, the sell was so hard and unpleasant that I would never stay in any hotel in that very nice chain. Not worth it even for $250 US and breakfast.They certainly did not want to give us that money.

Stay away from timeshares presentations!
They are scams, here's one of the scammers resorts:
http://www.timesharescam.com/timeshare-complaints-resorts-black-list/2-villa-del-palmar-timeshare-complaints/

Yes we all know this already. While this thread is a couple years old, nothing has changed.