I was wondering if there were any time share owners out there reading this site.You would know my choice of resorts etc. I'm looking at the Miami area in May.Bethel Bch Club in Surfside or Golden Strand in N Miami.

Lisa, we are timeshare owners and I suggest you ask this question on the Timeshare User Group (TUG) BBS at www.tug2.net. The BBS is written and run by timeshare owners. As a member-the best $15 (1st yr. only) dues I've ever spent, you can access the reviews that are written by t/s owners who visited there. Go to the site, to the log - in and then to the exchange section and ask the people there. If you decide to join, just tell them I sent you and enclose my email address. I think you'll be pleased by the various sections there. Or email me direct and I'll help however I can. JoAnn

Time shares are truly a scam. I worked for 6 years as an investigator in Florida, and approximately 75% of the time shares I looked could have been hit with fraud charges (we only charged about 50%).

Be REALLY, REALLY careful, investigate beforeyou sign. We didn't and are very sorry. Sounded good but in reality could not get booked when or where we wanted.Even into 3rd and 4th choices. We tried for Arizona for March==could only get booked inAugust!!!Tried several places in California=only "off-season" avaialable . As for resale, lucky to get 25% of your money out-- if at all.
Be careful===

Lisa, The others are correct--be very careful and do NOT buy through the deveopler. It is much cheaper to buy resale...I found that out too late, too. But, TUG will help you make the right decision, help you find the right t/s, and help you make exchanges that are wonderful and where and when you want. I learned, via TUG to plan our vacations ahead of time--sometimes over a year in advance--to get the best possible exchange, and by asking ahead of time about the resort and not get stuck in something undesireable. We have made some wonderful exchanges and hope to continue to do so in the future. No, timesharing is not for everyone, but even if you paid too much, you can still get years of enjoyment out of them by learning to use the system right. Please, all of you check out the TUG website at www.tug2.net Jo Ann

First, heed JoAnn's advice and check out the TUG web site. I have been a member of TUG for several years.

I am not in the timeshare business in any form. I am simply an owner that gets maximum benefits out of my t/s resorts.

I own at 2 different t/s resorts in California. I can't comment on those particular resorts you mentioned as I don't know them. The first thing you have to determine is why are you considering buying there. Do you intend to use it every year or trade it? May in Miami Beach is not going to allow you very many good exchanges. The ability to exchange your week for somewhere else is based on the trading power of your resort. Trading power is a function of supply and demand and is dependent on location and time.

Contrary to what the others said, We are able to exchange our weeks for anywhere in the world whenever we want. We have been doing it for several years. The reason that we can do that is we own at two very highly demanded resorts. The exchange companies give us bonus weeks as an incentive to deposit our weeks with them.

You have to realize that the vast majority of people will not be able to make the exchanges they want. Despite what the t/s salespeople may say, most t/s weeks are not high demand and therefore do not have good trading power. It doesn't matter whether thay are 'red' weeks or not. The fact of the matter is that 90% of the folks want prime weeks ( i.e. summer at the beach ). However only about 20-30% of the t/s weeks are considered to be prime.

Do some research and you will come up with some good resales that will satisfy your needs.

I agree. You better to LOTS of research. You can really get screwed by the slick-talking time share sales people. The offers of exchanges, etc., sound so good, but in reality, as Kevin and Jane said, they are often scams. With the hidden exchange fees and ever-increasing maintenance fees alone, you will find the costs are not what you have been quoted. The exchanges rarely seem to work out as hoped for, usually you have to wait til the last minute and then take what you can get...If you do get a time share, I would recommend only buying weeks that you actually want to use at a place that you will always want to go.
Good luck.

I agree with doing research....My husband and I first started looking into timeshares in 97, and have been researching ever since.....So far I have narrowed it down to only one company, and that is Marriott.....However, I will only buy from them a resale....As far as buying in a location that you may often travel to, We thought we had found such a place, but later learned that all the units for sale were newly constructed...So their was no room bargaining there......We loved the Marriott Manor Club in Virginia, and since we are only 4 1/2 hours away by car, we definitely could ourselves vacationing at least every other year...However, there are a few we are considering in Hilton Head, that are a very good rate...Research, Research, Research.............It definitely pays to know before you buy.......