If a person wanted to get into timesharing - which way would you go?

[Quarterbore Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Quarterbore]

I am not a newbie to timeshares as we have owned many weeks over the years but a few years back we sold them all as our life had changed at the time. I fully know that buying at full retail is almost always the worst way to do this...

My question instead is this... If you wanted a timeshare and your goal was to establish a vacation plan going forward would it be best to find a location that you really like on a week you like and just buy the fixed week at the resort that you could be happy at...

OR

Do the experts on here think that buying into points or a high trader is smarter and then you simply play the exchange game to find a week and a resort that meets your needs?

I know I also have the third option and that being just watch EBAY or other sites for weeks for rent as sometimes the rents are not a whole lot more then then maintance fees themselves. That way you are free to do what ever and you are not contactually bound to the maintance that comes with ownership of any property.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Rule 1 never buy retail always 2nd hand
Rule 2 always buy what you can use
Rule 3 make sure it is driving distance if possable
Rule 4 hang out here and learn and ask questions.
Rule 5 check out the frebies forum daily
Rule 6 never buy a TS with a high MF

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

IMO, nothing beats a prime fixed week, at a prime location..........I would only buy (retail of course) exactly where I wanted to vacation at least 3 out of 5 yrs. If you can find a fixed red week at a prime location in peek season, at a great price, that would be the way to go. Not so easy to do, tho, even in this market.

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

I would not call myself an expert by any means. But, I think the right balance for most new to the timeshare world would be either (a) rent where you want to go, when you want to go, or (b) purchasing a resale ownership in one of the larger mini-systems that have several destinations of interest. The minis have inventory models closer to the traditional hotel industry, (i.e. decide where you want to go and book it), and are less subject to the winds of change that constantly buffet third-party exchange systems. But, the minis also bring a bit of diversity in possible destinations that is hard to do with a fixed week---and I suspect most people would really value that diversity. I would advise most newbies to avoid third party exchange like the plague, unless they wanted to turn vacation planning into a hobby.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Buy where you would like to go, and use trading only as a backup. Buy at a member-controlled resort and avoid those which are developer controlled. For problems of developer control look at DRI and Point at Poipu. Use the independent exchange companies with free membership for such trades as you may want to do.

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

I like points systems because they offer more resorts and shorter stays. However, I only like the in-house type. If the points system has desirable locations (HGVC and WM), there is little to no need to exchange out.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I like points systems because they offer more resorts and shorter stays. However, I only like the in-house type. If the points system has desirable locations (HGVC and WM), there is little to no need to exchange out.

Are any of these points-based mini-systems other than Hapimag (which is mainly useful if you live in Europe) member-controlled? Some like DRI have a real strong arm developer dictatorship. Worldmark's management tried but the courts have ordered it, after Worldmark fought it all the way to the California Supreme Court, to turn over membership lists to individual members who wanted to challenge management's director slate. So Worldmark in the near future may get a measure of member-control, but that has not yet happened as there have not been board elections since the Supreme Court ruling.

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

IMO, nothing beats a prime fixed week, at a prime location..........I would only buy (retail of course) exactly where I wanted to vacation at least 3 out of 5 yrs. If you can find a fixed red week at a prime location in peek season, at a great price, that would be the way to go. Not so easy to do, tho, even in this market.

Completely agree!!! I have several timeshares which are fixed weeks during supper prime time with fantastic views. All of these weeks are owned and run by the HOA and I prefer these over name brand floating weeks. Whenever I want to use my week I get exactly what I own and don't need to call anyone to reserve a week.

In addition when I don't go I never ever deposit these weeks with any exchange company since I can rent these for two to three times my maintenace fees each year. Please do not ask me what I own as I am always looking to buy more and don't want to compete for the few gems that I find occasionally.

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

wb Quarterbore. I think I remember you from the other board.

Where do you live and what are you travelling preferences in terms of size, season and location? If we know that there might some more practical / exact suggestions then general ones.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I would not call myself an expert by any means. But, I think the right balance for most new to the timeshare world would be either (a) rent where you want to go, when you want to go, or (b) purchasing a resale ownership in one of the larger mini-systems that have several destinations of interest. The minis have inventory models closer to the traditional hotel industry, (i.e. decide where you want to go and book it), and are less subject to the winds of change that constantly buffet third-party exchange systems. But, the minis also bring a bit of diversity in possible destinations that is hard to do with a fixed week---and I suspect most people would really value that diversity. I would advise most newbies to avoid third party exchange like the plague, unless they wanted to turn vacation planning into a hobby.

The larger points based mini-systems would be my preference as well. Buy (resale) the underlying points based at which resort you would most often visit, for preference and possible day use. Make sure there are several within the system that you would like to visit. Learn the system rules.

Diversity is what makes most timeshare owners want to buy and this is the safest harbor available.

Using exchange companies, as Brian states, can turn vacation planning into a full time job.

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

IMO, nothing beats a prime fixed week, at a prime location..........I would only buy (retail of course) exactly where I wanted to vacation at least 3 out of 5 yrs. If you can find a fixed red week at a prime location in peek season, at a great price, that would be the way to go. Not so easy to do, tho, even in this market.

+1

I think I agree also. Except for the word retail used here. You meant to say resale, right?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

+1

I think I agree also. Except for the word retail used here. You meant to say resale, right?

Oops, yes resale!

[Quarterbore Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Quarterbore]

Honestly, I don't know what we want or where... We sold our timeshares a number of years ago as the weeks we owned were not school year friendly. Now I am considering looking for a summer vacation place and exactly where we might choose is not decided. I am thinking beach but mountains might work too. As for when, I assume July/August but not this year as I can't do a vacation this year because of complicated reasons I don't care to get into here

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Honestly, I don't know what we want or where... We sold our timeshares a number of years ago as the weeks we owned were not school year friendly. Now I am considering looking for a summer vacation place and exactly where we might choose is not decided. I am thinking beach but mountains might work too. As for when, I assume July/August but not this year as I can't do a vacation this year because of complicated reasons I don't care to get into here

If you have to travel in summer, then you should buy in summer where you would not mind going every year. Since RCI has a deposit calculator now, you can get a good idea of what kind of value you would get if you want to exchange it with them at any point. If you can buy into a resort that is affiliated with other resorts and allows internal exchanges without involving an exchange company, that is a plus as long as the other resorts are places you want to go. For us, being near the west coast makes owning a GPR resort a must. That gives us access to exchange into or rent (cheaply) any of the resorts in that group and they also get deposits and rentals of non-GPR resorts from Diamond and DAE. Even so, if we had to travel in summer, just like every other system, summer weeks are not that plentiful so we would have had to buy in summer.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I realize it is not the answer you are looking for, but if I/we were interested in staying at timeshare resorts, and wanted the widest selection and flexibility, and with no ongoing financial obligation, I would use craigslist/vacation rentals, one of RCI discounted rental sites, or, simply google.