At what point do MFs become untenable?

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

When we owned our 9 timeshares the breaking point for us was the over $550 range. All of our timeshare mfs were in the $320-$550 range. However, when we owned those 9 weeks there weren't thousands of rental sites on the internet offering huge savings without the baggage of owning. In many cases it's much cheaper to rent than to own now.

Kat, do you own anything now? Or, have you decided just to rent instead?

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

The information on SkyAction is very interesting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

You're welcome. (Not sure if you were thanking me or Daniel, but you're welcome either way!)

Even with some great weeks available on SkyAuction, I'm still happy to own timeshare. The SkyAuction weeks are only from RCI, and I get many of my best trades via II. Also, the cheap SkyAuction inventory is left-over stuff, and lots of good weeks will never show up there. However, I do feel that SkyAuction is taking value from many timeshare owners. Hmmm, probably should start a different thread on that....

[wandering gnome Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wandering gnome]

What do you click on the skyauctions site to find "Room and Board" or "Land and Seafood" auctions?

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

I think $800 is about the max I'd pay for my typical vacation.

If I'm going to Hawaii and want to stay at a Hilton or Marriott, I will go a little higher to get the view or particular room I might want.

I'm staying in a 2bd at Waiohai next year and It'll cost me about $1K, but worth every penny.

Anyway, back to the point. I agree with others. I own way too many resorts with MF's all over the map.

A few are in the $600 range, but they get me summer in So Cal on the beach. That is worth the $750 it costs after exchange fee.
Renting on the beach in So Cal .. at a hotel is in the $300/night range.

With all the recent increases in MF's and RCI exchange fees.. I'm getting close to dumping more timeshares.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

My breaking point is when the HOA prez says the maint fees aren't going up again...but then they do. $50 increases year after year with lies on top of that are my breaking point...AC or not AC.

[wandering gnome Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wandering gnome]

Can you be a member of RCI without a timeshare?

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

Can you be a member of RCI without a timeshare?

The back door into timesharing is to go thru skyauction.com, rciholidays, or some other RCI rental site....but according to my crystal ball (JLB isn't the only one with one)....while these sites are free now, I predict one day there will be a membership fee for those as well.

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

My timeshares run from $324 thru $726. I figure if I get a hotel room, it's going to cost me about $1000 to $1500/wk. I spend less and get exactly what I want, when I want it. I sometimes trade but sometimes I use the timeshares. I know I could look around and see what I could find as far as rentals go, but to me, I would rather know what I have, how many it sleeps and have all the room I need for everything.
They alll save me money, whether it's because I don't need to go out for breakfast or lunch..or I pack less because of the laundry onsite.
It's a bonus!!!

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

Can you be a member of RCI without a timeshare?

Yes, register at Sky Auction and get plenty of RCI timeshare weeks

[love2fly Member Find all posts View Profile Close love2fly]

It depends whether we are flying or driving ...

While we would balk at $1000 for a week at a close by resort, any vacation that requires plane tickets for the whole family is already a lot of money, and then we are easily tempted to spend more, since it does not change the bottom line by much.

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

Reviving this thread

I like to use the nice round number of $700 for a 2 bedroom unit. So, the MF plus exchange fee must be less than that for me to seriously consider it.

It's not the MF that is becoming the problem. It is the exchange fee that is getting intolerable. $149 is my breaking point there. So, I won't be using RCI much anymore.

OK. I needed to readdress my thoughts about costs. Having stayed in Syracuse <the armpit of NY State> with a group in November. Teeny hotel room with discount was $130/nite. Didn't even have a coffee maker

Maybe $100/nite for a resort isn't too much?


I'm using my internal exchanges where possible and trying out the independents.


What are you doing to cut the fees associated with exchanging?

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

We're trying to use the independents more and are not planning to renew our RCI membership when it expires.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

OK. I needed to readdress my thoughts about costs. Having stayed in Syracuse <the armpit of NY State> with a group in November. Teeny hotel room with discount was $130/nite. Didn't even have a coffee maker

Maybe $100/nite for a resort isn't too much?


I'm using my internal exchanges where possible and trying out the independents.


What are you doing to cut the fees associated with exchanging?

I am using exchange companies only when I can get great trade ups. Trading really cheap weeks for Orange Lake or anything for Disney or a Marriott Summit Watch bronze week for a 2 or 3 bedroom Ko'Olina unit or a WorldMark for a Four Seasons or Hyatt or just about anything in the Flexchange period. There are still plenty of opportunities available to trade up. The trade up has to be greater than the exchange fee or I won't do it unless I really need something and it's my only option left.

Out side of that, I do quite a few direct exchanges. I own such a diverse portfolio of timeshares that I can offer lots of choices for a direct exchange. The unit I am in this week is a direct exchange. That eliminates exchange fees completely.

Sometimes I rent a unit. Lately, I have been only using bonus time at resorts like WorldMark or Bluegreen for rentals. These are usually really cheap. But, I don't mind renting units from other owners. Last New Year's I rented a 2 bedroom Oceanfront unit at Ocean Point for $500 for the week. So, bargains can be had using renting.

The bottom line is that I love timesharing and travelling to various destinations and staying in them. I love rooms with views and I love to evaluate timesharing systems.

I boil every timeshare down to an apples to apples rental equivalent and adjust for quality/location/brand attributes. And, I simply choose the lowest cost method for acquiring a timeshare unit for usage.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Yes, $100 per night for a 2 bedroom unit almost anywhere is a good deal vs. hotels. That's why I use that as a rule of thumb.

Also, I don't use the independents much because they don't have the availability I need to book the trips I want. And yet, they still charge me a sizable exchange fee. I don't like keeping my vacation plans open hoping an exchange company will come through for me.

I really don't like ongoing searches. That is too much vacationing by roulette wheel for me. When I decide to book a vacation, I want to pick the location and dates and I want to be able to book and then do it. Or, if presented options, I want to decide at that moment. That's why sightings works well for me as well. I'm in essence being provided with options that I can take or reject.

I recall someone writing a message to SFX and said they wanted to deposit 7000 HGVC points, but they wanted Marriott or Four Seasons in return in some specific areas. When those questions have to be asked. That is vacationing by roulette wheel. Since many exchange companies allow request first, that can work well. In this way, you maintain lots of options for you week and the exchange company is just one option. Rentals, direct exchanges or other exchange companies remain options.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

I think ownership makes one feel has control. Which renting or exchange can not provide tht feeling.

Is most hotel's price increase? Somehow I got that feeling but could not say for sure.

Jya-Ning