Timeshares: A question for those who own them
 

For those that own times shares. can you tell me if you generally must use a week at a time or if it can be used as days?

Also is a week considered 7 full days or just 5?

Thanks guys...see you in Newb's new lounge....

As far as I know a week is 7 days. Saturday check in Saturday check out.

As for the days thing, some allow the week to be split into 3/4 but not all.

This depends and is variable. Each company operates in a different manor.
Most Timeshares are a week=7 days with a check in day of Fri Sat or Sun. Some, especially those that are "points" may allow less than 7 days.
Some times shares are a "fixed" week, ie. same every year, some are variable or floating
For more and better info, explore www.tug2.net (the "bible" of timeshare info,etc.)

We own one (Marriott). 7 days checking in Fri, Sat or Sun (sometimes Thursday). You can do a split 3/4 week but only if there's a "matching" user for the other part of the week. Our week floats (we just have a "season" and sign up for the week we want to use within that season.

It will depend on if you have a week or if you have points.

If your timeshare is a points-based system, you can generally use it for any number of days you have points to cover.

With a deeded week, you often check in (and out) on a certain day, seems to typically be Saturday or Friday.

If you're thinking about purchasing a timeshare, buy on the secondary market. Don't buy from the developer or the resort. You can buy for pennies (often literally).

It probably depends - ours is 7 days. We don't stay at ours even though we've owned it for 20 + years but we always exchange it thru RC.

Thanks everyone. That answers my question very well.

Not only does this depend on the company that runs the timeshare, but also the property. For our Hilton points we can sometimes use just three days at some properties, but have to use a full week at others. We are also able to use more days if we take a studio instead of a two-bedroom, so it just depends. Some properties are more flexible and have more different floorplans than others.

Timeshare deals vary quite a bit. Some lock you into a specific week, year after year - others don't. We have one that is called flex-time. We bought coupons which we use to "pay" for time in our condo - thus locking in the price of the holiday for years to come. We can go any time we like, as many times a year as we like or any season of the year just by making a reservation. We can use our coupons one at a time for a studio unit, two at a time for a one-bedroom unit or three at a time for a two bedroom unit. We can sell our coupons, give them away or trade them for time in a different location. I would never own a timeshare that was less flexible than this. Its been perfect for us for over 15 years.

Wow that sounds great. Thanks

TC, which timeshare company or resort do you own through? I've never heard of the coupon system before.

We own time at the Coral Princess resort in Cozumel, Mexico. We've owned it for about 15 years. They trade through RCI, so I don't know if other RCI resorts use the same system. Honestly, we've never traded our time. We love Cozumel and go there every winter.

I own a time share at the Villa del Palmar, and while it was great for the first 5 years (while my ex and I kept adding weeks and upgrading), the service has declined and they've taken away many of the options they promised. There's a reason VDP is on that blacklist...........

I have what is referred to as a Gold Membership with two winter weeks. I can check in any day of the week and can book my weeks anytime between November 1 and April 30.

Yikes Tenthumbs. Just traded for a week - 2 BR/2 BA at the Villas Del Palmar (Cabo right?) - for the end of October.

Out a lot - fishing/diving etc - so I/we don't need much in the way of services but at least want a clean unit/decent facilities. Is it really that bad?

Do the units - 2 BR - have good views of the Arch?