Owning Hawaii Timeshare(s)

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning timeshares in Hawaii when you live in the Mid West or Mid South?

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

We own 2 floating week at Imperial Hawaiian and live in Massachusetts. The units are 1 bedroom and the largest of the 1 bedroom units. The advantages to us:

We can get two consecutive weeks when we elect to visit

We can always rent for at least the fees plus $100 or $200 (we inherited them, so didn't cost anything)

If we deposit a week we can usually see decent exchanges in places we want to go.

Our resort is both RCI and II (II gives an accomodation certificate if we deposit certain weeks)

All the independent exchange companies accept the weeks and most give a bonus certificate.

The fees are higher (and we have a huge special assesment due) so we usually rent the units and not deposit.

You need to look at the bigger picture; will you be visiting EVERY year? If not factor in the exchange fees to see if you reant at the destination you wish to visit cheaper.

I'm sure there are dozens of other factors to weigh.

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

What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning timeshares in Hawaii when you live in the Mid West or Mid South?

The advantage for us is going every year and having a place to stay. We still rent extra time or when we want to go to different islands too. We love HI.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Both purchase prices (even resale) and annual fees are hight throughout Hawaii'. So, as a general guide, many of us believe that it makes sense to own in Hawai'i only if you intend to use that ownership (i.e., not exchange) at least one-half the time. Ownership then allows you to get the resort and unit you want.

If you don't intend to use your unit at least half the time, you would generally be better off getting to Hawai'i with a strong trader or renting.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

We are not mid-west or mid-south (west coasters) but the advantages would be the same no matter where you live in my opinion.
#1 You can choose where you go. We all have favorite islands & favorite resorts. If you own it you know you can always get exactly where you want.
#2You can choose when you go if you are an owner. You don't have the hassle of finding an exchange or a rental that fits you desired travel time.
#3You can line up multi-week visits easier if you own at least 1 of the weeks. This is a major advantage since traveling for less than 2 weeks from anywhere is not as cost effective with the cost (& hassle) of airtravel.You can find a good exchange or rental & book your own week to correspond. Owning at least 2 weeks or a lock-off unit allows you to book consecutive weeks for your desired travel dates.
#4 Hawaii weeks are valuable for exchange whenever you are not going to use your time. All exchange companies accept them & often give you bonus weeks as well. The trade power is very good, too, even for mediocre resorts.
#5 Hawaii weeks are very barterable doing private exchanges.
#6 If you plan to go to Hawaii at least every other year, owning at least 1 week at your favorite resort eliminates lots of the stress of making arrangements for the trip.
#7Cheap rentals are a lie. All of the better resorts rent for 2-3 times the maintenence fees. Just check out the listings on Redweek for the most desired resorts (especially in Maui ie: Marriott & Westin) and you will see that those owners are not just covering their expenses. They are using their owned weeks to finance their ownership and trips to other destinations. At least that is what they are trying to do! I don't know how successful they are since I don't try that angle. I also will not pay those prices. I choose to own where I want to go & I use my time or exchange it. I subscribe to the old philopsophy of timeshare. I either use it or exchange it. Using timesharing to make a fast buck off others just rubs me wrong. But that's just me. It's just my personal value system in this modern money hungry world.
#8 The exchange game is changing.If your heart is really set on going to Hawaii on a regular basis, buy a timeshare there (always resale!)

[Arline Member Find all posts View Profile Close Arline]

We also love Hawaii. We have 2 weeks at Kona Coast II; 2 weeks at Maui Schooner and 2 weeks at Pono Kai. Last year be brought our daughter and granddaughter. Next month, we will bring our son, DIL and 2 grandkids. Next year we plan to bring our oldest daughter and our other 2 grandkids. When we do not bring family or friends, we just stay longer. This year, we are extending our vacation 2 weeks in September with exchanges through Trading Places to Kona Hawaiian Village and the Hawaiian Princess on Oahu, to rest after the extended family members return to the mainland. In addition to Hawaii, we own 3 weeks in Las Vegas and 4 weeks in Florida. We plan to return to our home resorts on a regular basis to avoid giving II and RCI our prized deposits to rent

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

I bought a unit at Pono Kai just to use bonus time. Since I have a lot of flexibility and Pono Kai has broadband in the units, it is easy for me to pick up and go away for a few days. I was counting on the superferry, but it seems to expensive to use for short trips.

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

We have owned 3 weeks on Kauai for over 20 years. We bought the resort sight unseen--something I would never never recommend. For us, it was a very pleasant surprise--we were lucky! We have only rented one week of our time, got the maintenance fee plus more. We do live close to the West Coast so that does make traveling easier for us. We love our Hawaii timeshares--only 3 more weeks and we'll be on island for 3 weeks--whoo hoooo! Someone mentioned renting condos--many many rent for around $250 a night to around $600 a night. That does not include the 13% or so Hawaiian taxes. If you are interested, I would certainly buy a week through resale--that will cut your cost down a great deal!