Question for Lawren2, but I want everyone else to chime in.

[cmb Member Find all posts View Profile Close cmb]

I think about 2002 or 2003 - and luckily all purchases have been resale - though maybe still not the best choices, they've all had a purpose and have served their purpose - now it's time to rearrange the portfolio.

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

We bought our first week at a resort about 75 miles form home, in 1992. A second free week became available about 2 years later. We purchased our SA week around 2000 or 2001, just missing out on all those wonderful group purchases during the SA frenzy.

We have never regretted our purchases, and enjoy every minute of our vacations. Plus, I dearly love the hunt for those perfect trades!

Dori

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

1991 Orlando for me too! The first five or six years I used what I owned so I really didn't get addicted to timeshares until I bought my first Marriott in 1998 as I was searching the web on how to get the most from that expenditure. Over the last ten years, my vacation time has increased to six weeks, my children are independent so I can be more flexible and I'm learning so much from the experts on this board, I feel like the planning and trading fun are just beginning!

Maria

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

1998 in Vegas for us.

Timesharing has really evolved and changed since that time. Even our original purchases, which were for personal usage but evolved into exchangers over time, have been converted into a points based reservation system. Nothing stays the same in timeshare and you need to change a little as time moves along.

We now own 7 weeks and manage to make use of all of them in some way, shape or form. Before timesharing we didn't take vacations. Now we go every other month. For us timesharing has been a great way to see places we'd never have gone otherwise.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

About 3 years now for me. I researched for a long time before I tried it. I bought resale straight away...thanks to these forums.

Now I am an addict..and the places I have been! I had always sought out condos to rent with all my vacations unless it was urban and required a hotel room so I knew I wanted bedrooms and a kitchen.

Just yesterday, the kids and I were talking. One told me her friends family couldn't vacation this year due to gas increases/etc. They usually take very nice vacations. I said-Wow! They must wonder how we do it.

We are leaving for our second summer vacation tomorrow and we have another lined up for Thanksgiving. I just looked at my kids and said,

"Timesharing Rocks!"

You are so smart SC as you did it the right way right from the start! I wished we had searched the forums too before we started purchasing our timeshares but they didn't exist yet in 1983.

We bought our first timeshare in Maui in September that year and then we got invitations left and right to see other timeshare projects too and went to see them all. However, we bought our second timeshare a month or so later from leaving one brand new timeshare project while noticing this one on our way home. We took the phone number off the window of the closed sales office and called to make an appointment and bought the next day.

We still own both timeshares so have no regrets but buying re-sale would have been so much smarter. Good for you!

PS. They did exist because I read the TUG story of their beginning last night but somehow, I missed finding that forum.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

We bought our 1st and only TS in 1998 but it is 13 weeks. We used to trade but DH doesn't like to travel so we just use what we have now. He loves to ski and has skied Killington for as long as I can remember. We also go in the summer and he takes a week of tennis camp.

With my arryhthmia, I have become a couch potato so that is fine with me.

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

I purchased from the developer in 1992. Didn't do much with it for the first several years, except pay a lot of MFs. Then found TUG, and purchased a few more timeshares "the right way." I'm not a pro like many people on this board, but I do manage to snag some very very good trades.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

You are so smart SC as you did it the right way right from the start! I wished we had searched the forums too before we started purchasing our timeshares but they didn't exist yet in 1983.

We bought our first timeshare in Maui in September that year and then we got invitations left and right to see other timeshare projects too and went to see them all. However, we bought our second timeshare a month or so later from leaving one brand new timeshare project while noticing this one on our way home. We took the phone number off the window of the closed sales office and called to make an appointment and bought the next day.

We still own both timeshares so have no regrets but buying re-sale would have been so much smarter. Good for you!

PS. They did exist because I read the TUG story of their beginning last night but somehow, I missed finding that forum.

The fact that u STILL use these TS every year - TWENTY FIVE Years later tells me you made a wise purchase all those years ago - you purchased where u like to go.

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

We've owned 20 years, as few as a week and as many as six. We were down to three but are back up to six.

We've done II and RCI.

We've done more than 100 exchanges.

We've been involved in a rental program.

I've been privileged to have insight from a major exchange company employee.

We've been involved in Mr. Sleazes Wastegate mess.

Our first tour was OLCC, and we've done four more there since, as it was growing up.

I have done an almost-daily, detailed study of resorts and availability in SW FL since 1997.

I have been contact with hundreds of other owners via the Internet and in person the last 10 years.

We have played trip-planner/discount attraction getter/vacation host to dozens visiting the Branson area. We've share our home, our dock, our boat, and the country club.

I have helped many newbies figure out how to use their ownerships. I have helped to get them exchanges and resolve problems at the exchange companies.

Etc., etc., etc.

Other than, because I am a smartass and make smartass comments every now and then, like this sentence, and that rubs some people the wrong way, I'm not much worth having around.