Ask the following:
1. Can I trade for any week or am I limited to certain weeks? Most older timeshares are sold by a fixed or floating week. Weeks are coded: white, blue, red, in order of ascending trading power. Many, such as Sunterra and Fairfield, are now going to a point system. Be sure you understand how it works.
2. What company do you use for trading? What is the yearly cost for membership in the trading organization, such as RCI? What does the TO charge for a trade? Are those prices going up in the near future?
3. Is this resort a high level resort (such as RCI Gold Crown) which maximizes my trading power? If not, don't buy.
4. Is my vacation time flexible? If not, such as a schoolteacher, you will find it very hard to trade when you want to.
5. What is the best deal you can give me? The longer you delay responding, the better the deal gets!
6. What are the annual maintenance fees? Is it possible to get hit with an extra fee for extraordinary expenses, where the management has not planned well?
7. Can I trade this every year or am I required to stay here every so often? I know of someone who bought in Texas for trading and was told that he had to use it once every x number of years--it simply could not be traded that year.

Economically, most timeshares don't make sense. However, they usually provide nice places to stay and they force you to take regular vacations. We've owned for 8 years and have had lots of nice vacations, including Spain and Quebec, but it was difficult (make that impossible) to get trades when we were tied to my teaching schedule, because everyone wanted the same dates. And regardless of the promises the salespeople make, it is about impossible to get a timeshare in Europe.

In agreement with many of the posters here, all timeshare is not created equal. I have never believed that timeshare is either a good monetary investment (ie. to make money) or a great trading investment (too much additional cost to belong to a trading association and too difficult to trade for the ideal).

We purchased our timeshare in a location that we had vacationed for three years on a rental basis. We knew we loved the location and wanted to return year after year. We have friends who live there who we enjoy visiting and we're divers so we go for the reefs. Our timeshare is in Cozumel, Mexico. We had even considered purchasing a house on the island.

After carefully observing the upkeep and managment of the condo for several years (and I would recommned this to all), we were satisfied that the financial backing was sufficient to keep the resort topnotch. Our contract guaranteed that we would not be liable for any major future improvements. Our future responsiblity would only be the cost of annual maintence with an annual max cap on that. Twelve years later and this has not changed; we have not been hassled and there have been many major and minor improvements. The property is as nice or nicer than it was when we purchased.

Further, the particular kind of timeshare offered was "flex-time". We purchase a book of coupons. Each coupon is equal to one week in a studio unit. Two coupons equal two weeks in a studio or one week in a one-bedroom, etc. etc. The coupons have a fixed value which never changes. I simply reserve the type of unit I want for the date I want it. I can go any time. I can go as often as I like. I can stay as long as I like. I can spread my coupons out and used them over many years or use them up in a few years. I can sell them or give them away.

Not to sound like an advertisement for timeshare, but I do want to make the point that the plans are not all the same. I would never have considered a "typical" same week every year type of plan. Its just too confining for our schedule. I wouldn't give up traveling to other locations to sit here every year - exclusively. We are lucky enough to use this like a second home - our cabin up North or Florida home so to speak and still travel to many other places. The good news - when a hurricane rolled through, I didn't have to worry about getting someone to board up the windows or mop up after.

Its perfect - FOR US.

The 1st time share presentation we went to was a high pressure sales deal full of assets that seemingly were too good to be true. In addition we supposedly won a cruise just for showing up, the luck of the draw, all for us. The reality is there never was a cruise and the TS Co. was gone, that is had vacated the office about 1 mo. later and their phone was disconnected as well. I admit I bit that night and wrote them a check. Thank God it was a Sunday because I realized the scam in plenty of time to put a stop payment on the check. I went to their office and pointed out how there presentation did not at all jibe with the fine print. He voided the contract but told me he could not give me my money back. I wish you could have seen his face when I told him I had already had put a stop payment on the check. He was crushed but offered no protest. He knew he lost this one. I realize TS work for many but after that and another high pressure sales shove in PV thats it for us. As Roberto Duran said, "no mas" JM2C. Larry

Jackie, you actually gave them a check?? That explains a lot of things!

I can't understand the thrill of going to the same place year after year, especially beach resorts on the East Coast because you know they will be jammed packed with people whether these same people are staying at your condo, cottages or whatever. I'd rather go to a different destination every year and keep my mind activity finding unusual new places to discover.

I knew you could't resist that one Rusty. I guess I'm on your mind :S-

Oh oxidated one thanks again for showing everyone your true colors. You still don't get it do you? :-) LOL!

HappyTourist. I have had fantastic service from Interval World, much better than RCI - I didn't care for RCI. I've gotten excellent trades through them and I've never had a problem with Europe or Spring Break. But you are right, it does make it more difficult if you don't have flexible dates. I've only traded twice in Europe, Portugal and Spain and both places were beautiful. Maybe this goes back to where you own and having the highest trading value. I think owning in Hawaii has really paid off for my trades.

O.K. I thought I would put my cost & savings figures down as an example of how our timeshare has worked for us.

Purchase Cost: $4,500.00
5 year membership in II 350.00
2001 Maintenance Fee: 311.93
2001 Exchange Fee 119.00
2002 Maintenance Fee 445.26
2002 Intl Exchane Fee 159.00
2002 Bonus Week Exchange 199.00
2003 Maintenance Fee 445.26
2003 Bonus Week Exchange 199.00
2004 Maintenance Fee 526.00
2004 Exchange Fee 129.00
Total Cost $7393.45

Now below is what I would have paid to rent the same exact places where I have stayed.

2001 March - Vail $2,453.00
2002 March - Portugal 2,024.00
2002 Nov - Disney World 1,220.00
2003 Jan - Park City 2,800.00
2004 March - Kona 2,600.00
Total $11,097.00
My cost would have been $11,097.00, so far a savings of $3,643.55. I should also mentioned that there was one other bonus week in Spain that only cost $199 for the week that I let my step-daughter and mom use as a gift and a regualr week in Tucsan at a golf resort during x-mas week that I let my neighbor use as a gift right after she lost her son (her family needed to escape the holidays). I didn't count the above savings that it would have been into my equation, saving would of even been higher (at least $2,000 for both vacations). Plus, I have a deeded property (my property is deeded, not all of them are) that I can sell and recoup some of my initial investment. So, say if I was to sell my timeshare tommorrow for only $3,000. My total savings would have been well over $6,000. That's a year of maid service or another nice little vacation.

My other timeshare cost more but then the saving are greater because my cost to rent there would be a lot higher (we always stay there instead of trading). I could put those figures down too. The other issue is you don't want to trade for a property of lesser value, then you haven't made a good investment.

Again, I'm not saying TS's work for everyone because there are definetly some cons along with the pros but I thought I would put my own numbers out there to show how it has worked for me.

There are also some awful timeshare salesmen who lie through their teeth for the commission. You never ever want to make an impulse but or be swayed by a sales pitch, PV being one of the worst places. I don't blame you for a bit for being turned off Jacketwatch.

Are you on a weekend pass, Jackie ?

Thanks Mariann. If it works for some no problem. As stated they are not for everyone. Lets face it the non time share travel industry is huge and it will not be out priced from the market. Also there are no worries about increased maintainence fees, squeezing your weeks in, etc. We're fine w/o it. Others are fine with it. C'est la vie. Cheers, Larry, :-)

I agree with you totally Larry. If everyone was "one size fits all" this world would be a very boring place.

I agree that II is better than RCI. At the moment, we're stuck with RCI but our company (Cooper Communities Escapes) is slowing putting its TSs in II.
I think a good combination is to have one timeshare week and then do your own vacations for other weeks. You don't need to buy more than one week because the companies are always offering good deals on unused properties in down times. They also give out bonus weeks, often for just taking the TS tour when you're at a traded resort. Right now we have three weeks to use (only one is our actual TS trade) and don't have enough time to use them all!

Actually Mariann the TS guy in PV operated out of the hotel, on its premises! After I complained to the manager he said please write a letter to the co. because of all the complaints he had been getting about this. I did and got a nice letter of apology. I also complained to Apple and they said they had heard so many complaints about this sort of thing they were including a letter to be given to all those going to Mex. to be wary of these guys. Personally the next time we go to Mex., esp. PV I am getting t-shirts made that say "No habla timeshares"! :-)

Happy tourist - I think retirement is the ultimate time for owning a timeshare. You have oodles of time and complete flexability to take advantage of all those specials and/or bonus weeks that are available through the exchange. One day I'll be able to pack up and go at a moments notice, I better keep eating my wheaties.

Jacketwatch - I remember last year in PV I told my husband that I was going to make up a t-shirt with the word "timeshares" written in big black bold letters and over that have one of those red circles with a line going through it (like they have on no smoking signs) so that no one would approach me in town - it is so obnoxious. Unfortunately, it would probably just call attention and serve to egg them on. However, I've just thought of a better idea. You get a hold of one of their polo shirts that they wear as a uniform, say for instance the Mayan Palace, and you wear it whenever you go downtown. Since you'll appear to be one of them you would be left alone. It would be easy, I bet you lay down a $20 bill and many of the street timeshare venders would be willing to sell the shirt off their back (no pun intended). This could also have the added convenience of clearing out some of the tourist shops you enter so it won't be as congested for you as you shop. You just have to make eye contact with everyone and ask them how they are doing today and I bet you'll be able to clear your way to the counter in record time. What do you think?

Very clever idea Mariann! Its called hiding in plain sight. :-)

for the most part i agree with all of you except that all are bad. I went to a presentation at global travel and found it to be fairly inexpencive. the maintenace fee is only paid on the years you use it, and i can have anywhere from two to six weeks a year.the asking price was only 8000.00 and when you consider if i only go twice a year thats an awsome deal!

The age old timeshare question. Is it a good value or not. I think that for the most part those of us who do purchase make use of it, therefore ,is does work. In our case I need some assistance. We own a "red"week at anytime of the year on a points system with Westin Club Reginal. Their properties are excellent. Where I do not understand is how to move the time ino RCI and then choose another location that you want. Everytime I ask about a property I am told it is not available. Can anyone explain how towork this trade system which seems great on paper but my college graduate mind can't figure it out.
Thanks Carol

If you purchase a high demand resale with low maintenance fees timeshares are wonderful. I own a fixed summer villa week in the Wisconsin Dells. My maintenance fees range from $325 to $415 depending on if there are special projects going on. It cost me $4000 for my week 30 (early August) and $4500 for fourth of July week. I have made fantastic trades. I traded to the Big Island Christmas week and Maui Embassy for New Years week. Both places rent condos but the rent would have exceeded the purchase cost of one of the units that I can use year after year. The two together would have been $4700 to rent for those holiday weeks. This year I am going to Kauai for two weeks at Easter and I'm staying at two of nicest resorts on the island. Pahio Shearwater and Lawaii Beach Resort. If you can plan ahead and own a high demand week, at the right resort that has fairly low maintenance fees timeshares are the way to go.

If anyone is thinking about purchasing visit the BBS at www.tug2.net before you purchase it could save you a costly mistake. I too go on TS demonstrations although I always tell them when they ask me to go that we won't be buying we purchase resale. They always want the chance to sway me anyway but once the salesperson asks how much we paid and where we have traded we are out of there in minutes.

I forgot to add that with our TS which is at a ski resort in Wisconsin Dells we get bonus time at $59 a night if available for two bedroom villas with a jacuzzi and two fireplaces. We are going next weekend for two nights. We don't ski but our nephew is going with to snowboard and the girls will go tubing. We want to check out their new indoor pool/sauna rec area.