Bryan

I just received an offer from Hyatt to stay in their new time share condos in Puerto Rico. The offer is: 3 nights for $149 (that's total, not per night or per person!) or 4 nights for $199. According to the letter and the person I spoke to on the telephone, the only catch is that I have to listen to a 90 sales presentation about purchasing a unit; other than that my time is my own and I'd have full use of Dorado and Cerremar's beach, pool and gaming facilities.

This sounds like one hell of a good deal. Am I missing something? What's the catch? I can sit for 90 minutes and say 'no thanks', especially for 3 nights for $149. Anyone done this before?

asr

I have participated in a similar promotion. My experience was okay (I mean, we enjoyed the rest of the trip), but there are a few things you should know. First, no one I know was ever out of the "presentation" in 90 minutes. It usually takes about 3 hours before you can get out the door. Second, be prepared for a hard sell. Timeshares sold from the developer (Hyatt in this case) are the most expensive. They will try to tell you that since it is property, it will appreciate in value. The truth is that you can buy a timeshare re-sale for about half the cost. I know that you will go into it swearing you won't buy, but a lot of people do anyway. They are very good at convincing you that it is a good deal. Before you go, check out what you would spend on a similar resort from a re-sale broker. Then you definitely won't be tempted to buy from Hyatt. Here is a re-sale website that I have bought from: http://www.vacation-realty.com/hot.shtml

tsowner

As a timeshare owner, we've gone to many promo's. This is a good deal, but remember you have to pay for your own tickets to PR. Also we have never been to "just a 90 minute" promo...they tend to drag on and on, hoping to wear you down until you finally buy. Go and enjoy yourself, but just say NO and don't listen to them tell you this is a one time dea. The best way to buy a t/s is to learn everything you can first and then buy resale at greatly reduced prices. The best place to learn about timesharing, whether it is buying, or selling, or learning how to make a decent exchange go to The Timeshare Owners Group (TUG) website @ WWW.TUG2.NET, and study and ask questions first. Anyone can get in the BBS, but only members are allowed to read the reviews, which are written by other timeshare owners who have actually stayed there. There are some very knowledgeable people on TUG..take advantage of their expertise. Even about going to PR to 'take a look.'

CHAS

we have taken advantage of this 3 times , last one was in orlando. got a great rate simmilar to yours. we went in in the morning for the 90 min presentation, they then told us it would take over 2 hours, we argued that it was set up for 90 min and no more, and told them right from the start we had no plans to purchase a time share that we were just taking advantage of the offer. we had our 90 min presentation which included breakfast and we were not pressured to buy. went in the morning when kids were still sleeping and we got to enjoy the rest of the day, it was a great value.
did one in new orleans at about 4:30 pm, got a free buggy ride, and again told them we were not interested in buying, the guy said it was to late in the day to argue with us, so again no pressure. if you let them know up front your not interested in buying and don't hedge or let them think your interested
you should be alright. some friends have time shares and they think there great so who knows maybe you will want to buy.

Mike Hocksbigg

We did this in Daytona Beach. Take advantage of the deal but don't buy the time share at their offering. As posted above, you can buy the same thing for a hell of a lot cheaper. Any county courthouse has repossessed time share titles that you can buy cheap.

L

Why put yourself through such stuff ... just find an inexpensive room at the same places through another process. I suppose it's the allure of something for free. Hey, life isjust too short. You have to associate with a bunch of salespeople while you try to out tough them. Sounds like a crappy way to travel. Why do it! Ciao

Ellen

Did this once and NEVER will do it again. They called me and offered me the deal on the phone. I told them no thanks that we wouldn't be purchasing so we wouldn't take the deal or visit the resort. The person on the phone told me "Oh, come on, you don't have to buy, at least take the cheap vacation and get a trip out of it." so we did. After over 2 hrs of presentation (supposed to 90 min.), we said we really needed to get going, that we weren't interested in buying and didn't want to waste the saleslady's time. At that tiem the saleslady became irate and told us we were freeloaders just after a cheap vacation and that she was a single mom barely making ends meet and now we had wasted over 2 hours of her time. We felt about an inch tall even though I know were were in the right. I'm just not going to put myself through that for any reason again.

Judy

I have gone on many timeshare tours over the years. Here are a few hints: Once when the offer was 2-3 night stay I found out when I got there that they were putting us up at a local hotel. So I would look in to that thoroughly that in fact you will be staying on that particular resort property. I would ask them what will happen if by chance they were to overbook? Then what? If you go, I would suggest you try and book your tour at the very beginning of your stay so you can get it over with and then have the rest of the time to enjoy. Once when we were at a small resort my husband felt after the tour that we were doing something we shouldn't be, that we were taking advantage. Make sure you are the type that can let it go and appreciate your time there without feeling terribly uncomfortable about having said no. If you are absolutely certain you are not in the least bit open to buying a timeshare it makes the sales/tour I think a lot easier, less stressful, and quicker. I would be a little careful doing what Chas said about telling them right from the beginning you are not interested. When I have done that some salespeople have gotten really angry with us and hostile about why we even came if we had no interest. I think it works best if you don't get on their bad side right off the bat and give them the time to get going with their initial presentation and at then at every point when the salesperson asks you what do you think, or are you interested just say, "I think it is a great concept, the resort is georgeous, I would love to be able to consider purchasing one but I am in no way financially in a position to do so." They will try to sell you death when they think you like what you see and hear, but if money is the bottom line they will let up. Of course, they will go to their manager and keep sharpening their pencil pointing out how easy it is financially for you to get in to a unit but if you insist that no offer will be in your budget at this time, they will get the point. One other out we use is to say that we never make financial spontaneous decisions on the spot - we always sleep on it. Remember - don't ask questions or you will be involved a lot longer. Good luck.

MJ

Timeshares are one of the biggest scams in the travel industry! There's a small chance it might be a good deal at a really, really deeply discounted price but probably not even then. You pay so much more than if you just did a good vacation package every year. I know because I've priced a lot of them!

Ralph

Timeshares are a joke IMO.
People think they're 'saving money' but the restrictions and total cost of the time value of money make timeshare deals big losers in my book.
When it's vacation time, I want to go where I want, when I want and to stay where I want, no restrictions, and complete with hotel amenities.
Everyone's different, to be sure.
But just keep in mind, the timeshare industry is profitable for developers...who do you thinking is paying for the margins in the end? Same principle as casino resorts...cheap food, cheap rooms, what's the catch? There's always a catch or they wouldn't be in business.

Patrick

I have known people whom I though were intelligent who have gone to those things convinced they wouldn't buy, and ended up buying. It must be incredibly high pressure. A friend of mine and her mother ended up buying two weeks in New York. They paid an initial down payment of something like $2000 (fees). Each year for the next 20 years they pay just over $5000 (that averages to about $357 a day). In addition each year they have several "small fees", they didn't tell me what. After 20 years they only have a "minimal yearly fee". No one has truly explained what happens when the entire building needs a total renovation and who pays for that. What do they get for this?-- a very mediocre hotel room in midtown Manhattan (the Manhattan Club). We visited them there and they were trying to sleep three in the room, one on a sofa bed that wouldn't open out unless you stacked the coffee table on top of the little eating table. Others buy them and brag about their ability to trade for other destinations, but we all know how difficult that can be to find a location and a time that you really want and that might not be just as cheap to rent on your own. So if you go to a free trip, be prepared to stand your ground. Frankly it doesn't sound like a vacation to me.

What

I can only laugh at these people who think they are being shrewd are are getting something for nothing (or near nothing) and then complain about the experience!

Mike

The worst investment someone could possibly make is to buy a timeshare. No one has mentioned yearly maintenance fees. For the cost of the yearly maintenance fee alone, you could go on a nice vacation.
I've gone to many, many time share presentations. They say it will take 90min and that is all the time I give them. Then I gladly take their free dinners and breakfests. I've been to at least 50 timeshare presentations and I'm proud to say, I've never ever bought one. Here's a little information that the average person doesn't realize when he/she sells their timeshare. The original owner is responsible for maintenance fees if the buyer {for whatever reason} does not pay those fees. I've seen yearly maintenance fees from $900.00 all the way up to $2000.00 per year. Multiply that cost times, say 200 units, and that doesn't include the original cost of the unit. If you play with the numbers, you will soon realize that there are big profits to be make at expense of the ignorant public.
My advice: Never ever buy a timeshare at any cost. You'll be left holding the bag.

eric

You're received about enough info on timeshares and "free" trips, so I won't add my 2 cents.

But I have had the experience of listening to the pitch and being called cheap, sneaky, etc. (Actually, call me nuts, but I enjoy sparing with salespeople.)

One answer always stops them dead in their tracks: "Uh, I think you should remember that you contacted me -- I didn't contact you."

MJ

Mike,
Thanks for putting some numbers to it! Here's another example. I had a client who had a "free" timeshare (her father was the owner and wasn't charging her to use it). It cost her $1090.00 for the air she had to buy due to the restricted dates of the timeshare (not her first choice of dates either!). A whole air and hotel package on the dates she really wanted (and, get this, at the same resort) cost $992.00! Even free timeshares are often worthless!

Celeste

If you have an awful lot of patience and several hours to waste, go for it. But the timeshare salesmen are VERY high pressure and can be very insulting. We went to one of these presentations and my husband hit the salesman when he called us "cheap little people."

Mike

The worst investment someone could possibly make is to buy a timeshare. Consider the yearly maintenance fees. For the cost of the yearly maintenance fee alone, you could go on a nice vacation.
I've gone to many, many time share presentations. They say it will take 90min and that's all the time I give them. Then I gladly take their free dinners and breakfests. I've been to at least 50 timeshare presentations and I'm proud to say, I've never ever bought one. All timeshare sales people are high-pressure sleaze-balls, and i enjoy playing on them. Here's a little information that the average buyer doesn't realize when they sell their timeshare. The original owned is responsible for maintenance fees if the buyer {for whatever reason} does not pay those fees. I've seen yearly maintenance fees from $900.00 all the way up to $2000.00 per year. Multiply that cost x say 200 units, then multiply the cost of each unit x 52 weeks. If you play with the numbers, you will soon realize that there are big profits to be make at expense of the ignorant public.
My advice: Never ever buy a timeshare at any cost. You'll be left holding the bag.

Here's an example: Lets say there are 200 units for sale at $10,000.00 per unit per week with yearly maintenance fees of 1000.00 per unit per week. Are we starting to understand? It gets even better!
That's $10,000.00 x 52 weeks = $520,000.00
per unit cost.
Now, lets not forget the maintenance fee!
That's $1000.00 x 52 weeks = $52,000.00 per unit, just for maintenance. Wait, it gets even better.
200 units x $520,000.00 per unit = $104,000,000.00 + 52 x $52,000.00 in maintenance fees = $2,704,000.00. That's $2.7 mil per year in just maintenance fees alone!!!! NOW, THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE HIGH PRESSURE!!!!