Travel tip #11 - Timeshares

Timeshare is not a dirty word. In fact it may be beneficial to you when it comes to family vacations. If you don't currently own a timeshare, why not try one out and enjoy the benefits of one using a promo package for your vacation. We have had ours for several years now and find it way more affordable to vacation with it. There are many timeshare companies out there, you can visit a new one about every 3 years under this type of promo offer.

Here is why we love our timeshare -

• Nearly all rooms have kitchenettes (we book the ones that do) which means we eat out less. It may only be simple food, but it saves us quite a bit of money.
• We have access to a "free" washer and dryer. No running to the laundromat or trying to find quarters.
• The resorts normally have lots of activities at not additional cost, such as a pool, putt putt golf, basketball courts, ice cream socials, DJ's etc. When they do sometimes have activities that cost money, it is a minimal expense for supplies or gas (for boats etc).
• The bedrooms actually have a door between the sleeping area and the living area. This becomes important when you have part of the household that want to stay up later and watch TV or read a book - less disturbance of sleep.
• We are not tied to a specific resort and book online way in advance. This means that we can almost pick any resort to stay at as long as we have enough points. If you are a last minute booker, you might not have this luxury.
• If you are willing to travel off season, you can make your points spread over several weeks during the year.
• We can trade our time into the RCI system if we choose to. We are happy with our resorts and have not used this as of yet.

Here is typically how the deal works -

• You commit to listen to their spiel. Plan on the spiel taking ~4 hours (even if they tell you less)
• The spiel will be held buy sales people, and can sometimes be high pressure. Think of them as used car sales personnel.
• You are NOT obligated to buy!!! I repeat you are NOT NOT NOT obligated to buy. If you choose to buy because you think this product is something you would use, then fine, but do not let them make you think you have to.
• Prices are not set in stone. Buying a timeshare is sorta like buying a car, they have wiggle room for negotiations and sometimes you have to play hardball to get what you want (and be willing to walk away from a deal if they dont' meet it). If you choose to buy, be sure to read the contracts and ask lots of questions. This is the time you need to get it all in writing.
• Regardless of if you buy or not, you typically earn a reduced rate stay at one of their resorts or a contracted hotel nearby. The rates are going to be way less that what you will find on any hotel/travel website.
• You typically get some sort of incentive gift for the spiel. This could be tickets to a play, a gift card for dinner etc. Expect the value to run $50-$100 retail. This promo is negotiated at the time of your reservation, so wheel and deal then, not at the counter when you check in.
• Don't be afraid to name drop. Timeshares offer referral incentives, if you are able to drop someones name they might just get some cash knocked off their yearly maintenance fees.

We own with Blue Green Resorts, their phone number is - 800.845.0200, call Mon – Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. / Sat & Sun, 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. I am told that Wyndham and Marriott have nice plans/resorts as well, so you might check them out.