Any experience with timeshares would be appreciated.

We own a Marriott timeshare in Orlando: the grande vista and previously owned one in Palm Desert. Of all time shares, I believe these are the best. Just make sure your purchase is in an area that is easily traded. I also like the idea that the week can be traded for points: we took a trip to europe with airfare and hotel and car in exchange for our week in Orlando

If you would like some really top notch advice on timeshares, exchanging, buying, etc., I strongly recommend Timeshare Users Group BBS at WWW.TUG2.NET This BBS was set up by a timeshare owner (NOT developer or resort) to help anyone who needs information on timeshares. I have been a member for about 3 years, but have owned timeshares since we bought our first in Las Vegas in '83. We have since added 2 more areas. With the help of the TUG BBS I now know how to make great exchanges, to buy RESALE, not from developers, where to buy to get the best exchange value, and by becoming a member for just $15 for the 1st year, you will have access to over 1600 resort reviews by people who exchanged and stayed in those resorts. You can also find out where to eat, best time to go, or just have a general discussion. My husband & I met 3 other couples I had met on TUG in New Orleans last year. I have lunch with a gal who lives a couple of hours away. We join on a Sunday night chat, and occasionally on an off night just to get together. Stop by, check it out--anyone can get in--just go to log in and follow the instructions and see what TUG is all about. Make your timeshare ownership enjoyable. The only interest I have in the BBS is to get people more informed in the joys of timesharing. We have been to Hawaii, Costa Rica, East coast, west coast, mid west, Florida, Rocky mts., Cabo San Lucas MX--and we wouldn't have gone with out owning t/s. Thanks for listening. Please feel free to email me if I can help any other way. Jo Ann

I think the most important point has been covered - buy a resale. These things can take a substantial drop in value. Do a bunch of looking over the internet, so that you know what the various areas are really worth.
We often vacation at off peak times, and we enjoy RCI Getaways. You do need to watch their web site to know what is available. Last May, we shared a two bedroom apartment in Williamsburg for a week with another couple - total cost, $99 for both couples. We have also done the Orlando area - a few miles from Disney for $199, again, off season.
But we bought in a resort that we had seen on a previous trip to that area, it was a good resort in a good location at a good time of the year. (Our week often falls in the Easter period.) When it does fall during Easter, we rent it out. The resort gets half and we get half. Last Easter, our half paid the annual maintenance and for both of the above cited vacations.
I guess what I am trying to say is research, where, when, how rentable is it, and are you willing to take on the annual fee?
It was a good addition to our vacation arsenal, and I hope that you will find something you can enjoy and that will be cost effective to you too. Happy traveling.....

Thank you all for your expert advice. I will now definitely think about a Marriot resale. The TUG 2 web site is exactly what I was looking for. In fact I was up until 3A.M. scouting around. Now I really need a vacation so I can get some sleep. Thanks again. Joe.

Glad to see it helped you so much, Joe. Hope you like it enough to join and help keep it going! I've gotten all sorts of travel information from my fellow TUGgers! Join the crowd! JoAnn

If you buy a time share, think of it as a sunk cost. That is, money you will never see again. Don't kid yourself into thinking it is an "investment." Or worse, thinking of it as a way to make a profit. Essentially, it is a highly illiquid asset. Enjoy it now for what it is, not what you hope it may be worth some day. Your kids may hate it. But that will be their problem. Just make sure you read and understand all the fine print.

Al- I ocassionally buy stocks so I am used to spending money that I never see again. Thanks for your advice.

Oops! I mean occasionally.

Joe: We own a Marriott time share at Grande Ocean on Hilton Head. Thought briefly about buying on the resale market outside of Marriott. However, one of the reasons we liked the arrangement with them was the point system. Next year we will be going to Australia, with flights for two, hotel and car. If you buy on resale outside of Marriott, we were told that the point system does not apply. So make sure if you go resale you check all your options. Another plus was the extra golf package membership. We found out that even if you do not use your time share, you can still use the golf if there is time available and you are in the neighborhood. Have fun shopping!

Mary Ann- Thanks for the good points!

another good internet site I found in latest Fodor's Budget magazine www.timesharing-today.com

Terry- Thanks for the new site and for the magazine lead. Very interesting blurb.

I have taken a pen to paper several times to analyze the timeshare business. I have NEVER been able to justify from an investment perspective the purchase of timeshares. Further, I have never been able to justify the purchase of timeshares from a simple "convenient-vacation" perspective. The entire scheme eludes me.

AJ, several on the TUG BBS (www.tug2.net) have done this, and if we figured everything out, maybe we wouldn't have bought. But to read what the t/s owners say about it--to some it doesn't matter. We bought our in '83 in Vegas when our son lived out there. We only used it there, but we had more than a hotel room, we could fix our own meals (even though food was cheap there) we had space to spread out and spend time with our adult kids. Since '92, we have been to resorts & areas we wouldn't have gone to otherwise. For us, to spend at least $100 (probably more)a night in a hotel somewhere for a week or two PLUS having to eat out would have scared us away, or the thought of spending $1000 or $2000 a week was way too much for us to part with for any resort. We took vacations because we "didn't want to lose our week". Now we are retired, living on SS & 1 pension check, and just this year have spent 3 weeks in Fl, 2 weeks in New England, a week in Cabo San Lucas with friends,and just had to cancel, due to illness, a 4 week trip to the northwest. (would have been 7 weeks in t/s) We drive, whenever possible (yes, to the NW too)--we couldn't have done that without our timeshares. We 'had to take vacations' because we didn't want to lose the week we had. This is just our opinion for owning the 3 timeshares we do, and not meant to start a string of anything. You buy at a high tradeability resort for a low cost with low maint. fees and bank and travel. We bought when my husband was still working, got them paid for, and now it's very nice to walk out of a hotel at the end of a week and owe nothing but possibly a phone bill. Again AJ, this is just MY feelings and opinions, Timeshares aren't for everyone--but they are for us and our 3 kids.

AJ and JoAnn- This is my dilemma. The people that love timeshares LOVE them, and the people that hate them HATE them. Supposedly Marriot is top notch in the timeshare arena. It does seem that vacation resort rates are escalating rapidly, particularly if you deal with a travel agent. Thanks for your comments.

I have been a timeshare owner for several years and own at 2 different t/s resorts. I have also been a member of TUG for a few years.

I do not love them nor hate them. Timeshare is just another weapon in my vacation arsenal. Buying a timeshare can NEVER be justified on a purely economic basis with a few exceptions. However, it is a very good investment in yourself. We have taken many great vacations that we more than likely would never have done if we did not own timeshare.

From a pure economic basis, you can figure on an average cost of $100.00 /nt for a timeshare NOT including the orginal purchase price. This includes annual maintenance fees, property taxes, exchange fees, membership fees, etc. The figure could be higher or lower than $100.00 but that is a pretty good average. That is not too bad considering that most timeshare resorts are much nicer than staying in a hotel. Also you will be in a condo type accomodation rather than just a room.

You may exchange your t/s week(s) for other locations around the world. However it doesn't work nearly as smoothly as the t/s salespeople would like you to believe. Deluxe resorts in heavy demand locations during prime time will be almost impossible to get unless you are trading like quality.

I personally would NEVER buy a Marriott, HGVC or any of the other deluxe timeshare weeks. It is not necessary to pay their high prices to stay there. I have stayed at Marriots and HGVC simply by trading into them. The key is to owning the right resort at the right location at the right time. You do not have to pay mega bucks to enjoy the best if you know what you are doing.

Just to put in my 2 cents worth. We have bought two timeshares from developers and wish we'd done our homework first. Should have bought resale, but their paid for now so can't complain too much. We own at the Jockey Club in Las Vegas and Maui Schooner in Hawaii. We always trade the Jockey Club and although it has lost it's 5* rating while going through renovations, (hopefully temporarily)it still trades excellently. We have traded for Marriotts several times. Been to Marriott Desert Springs twice and Marriott Harbor Club in Hilton Head. We have also been to England, Cabo San Lucas, Lake Tahoe and Hawaii trading our Jockey Club.

I compare buying a timeshare to buying a car. The price is comparable to a new car if you buy from a developer, lower if you buy resale. With a car you have annual maintenance costs, not to mention the costs of gas, oil, insurance. Annual maintenance fees on a timeshare can range from $300-$600. The car can last you 10-15 years and when you sell it you may get a fraction of what you paid for it. The timeshare can last your lifetime and be passed on to your heirs. If you sell your timeshare, however, you may get half what you paid for it. Beats an investment in a car.

TUG website is great for research on timeshares. Also check out Fern Modena's website www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/1060 for timeshare information.

On our way in two weeks to a timeshare in New Hampshire to see the fall foliage!

Cal and Sharon- Thank you both for your thoughtful and very helpful comments. I am closing in on making a decision about a timeshare, but now I'm wondering whether to buy a new or used car.

Cal and Sharon- Thank you both for your thoughtful and very helpful comments. I am closing in on making a decision about a timeshare, but now I'm wondering whether to buy a new or used car.