New To Timeshares

[Georgia632 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Georgia632]

Hello,
I am new to the life of timeshares and am looking at timeshare deeded ownership.

I know next to nothing about owning a timeshare, using points, how you get them, where you can go, should you exchange or use points in your "off" year, if you purchase an ownership for every OTHER year.

What do you experienced time share folks know or think about RCI-Resort Condominium International, and what about this place using Ron Jon Caribe Resort in Cocoa Beach, FL?

Is owning a timeshare and using the benefits that the sales person tells you about with reference to traveling just about anywhere and paying only prices like $135 a week for a place in Barbados really worth it and is it as easy and affordable as they say?

Is it permissible on this forum to discuss and compare timeshares by name, etc?

Thank you

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Hi. Welcome! You'll find a lot of timeshare enthusiasts here, but you'll also get a straight answer. I can't answer your specific answers about RCI or the resort you're interested in, but I can tell you not to buy from the salesman. You will pay multiples of what you can buy the resort for in the resale market. Take a look at ebay. You'll notice a lot of timeshares asking $1 and not even getting a bid. Most people would advise that you buy where you want to vacation nearly every year. I personally have not followed that advice, but I'm thrilled being a timeshare owner.

My weeks are "floating" weeks. At my resorts, it means I can pick any week in the year. Many are more restrictive and some weeks are fixed and some convert to points. You may want to spend a lot of time reading here before you take the plunge to get something you really want. Always go for the best season weeks, unless you personally want to spend January on the beach. If you don't want to vacation then, well, no one else does either. There is a value assigned to your week when you exchange.

Speaking of exchanging. You will pay a maintenance fee every year on your timeshare. Believe me, the fees do not go down and may go up significantly. I've been lucky. Mine have been relatively stable. In addition to maintenance fees, you will need to pay a membership fee at some exchange companies. RCI is one of those. Then you will have to pay an exchange fee. If you're booking the place for someone else, then you will may have to pay more for putting the reservation in someone else's name. But, in addition to your exchange, they do sometimes have weeks that are available for a low cost.

So, I think it would really be useful to read as much as you can here. Ask questions and then you will know what you'll be getting yourself into. It could be years and years of wonderful vacations, or it could be a financial albatross for you.

Good luck!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Welcome to TS4Ms!

Spend a lot of time reading here. Do not believe anything a resort sales person tells you. $135 for a week is completely misleading and untrue. No matter what you own, you must pay your annual maintenance fees. If you want to trade it for other week(s), those weeks must be available and then you would pay an exchange fee ($179 in RCI at the moment, a little less through other exchange companies). Assuming your week had enough trading power to get it and you were the first in line. A big book of pretty pictures does not mean you could actually exchange into any of those resorts at the time you wanted to go.

Do your research. Ask questions. Wait until you are sure before you buy, and remember that most timeshares are available for resale at a fraction of resort costs.

I would also suggest that you buy where you are most likely to want to vacation, as exchanging can be difficult. If you find a mini-points system (I don't mean RCI) that has member resorts that'd satisfy most of your travel needs, that is an avenue many of our members enjoy.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

Hello,
I am new to the life of timeshares and am looking at timeshare deeded ownership.

I know next to nothing about owning a timeshare, using points, how you get them, where you can go, should you exchange or use points in your "off" year, if you purchase an ownership for every OTHER year.

What do you experienced time share folks know or think about RCI-Resort Condominium International, and what about this place using Ron Jon Caribe Resort in Cocoa Beach, FL?

Is owning a timeshare and using the benefits that the sales person tells you about with reference to traveling just about anywhere and paying only prices like $135 a week for a place in Barbados really worth it and is it as easy and affordable as they say?

Is it permissible on this forum to discuss and compare timeshares by name, etc?

Thank you

By all means, read as much as you can about TS before making the plunge. There are so many different systems out there. Some are based on points, some on fixed weeks, some floating weeks. Many of the systems have a high concentration of TS in the west, FL, Williamsburg and Hawaii. Think about where you want to go and how you want to travel (driving vs flying).

Keep in mind that while trading with RCI can expand your reach, you will still have to pay the maintenance fees on your own TS, PLUS the RCI exchange fee (II is the same and I assume so are all the other trading companies).

While RCI sounds promising, there is no guarantee what you want will be available. Some places are difficult to get into because they are so popular or have limited availability.

You may want to consider renting a TS week before making a purchase. That way you can get your feet wet without getting stuck with something you don't really want (it's VERY difficult to sell a TS these days - many owners are giving them away just to unload them).

Good luck in your search. Once you narrow down some locations or possibilities, read the section of the forums specifically for the TS systems you are looking at. Then ask questions. There are plenty of people here to help you out.