Hello, I'm new to the forum...questions about timeshares in Mexico

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

Hello everybody,
I'm new to the forum and I am trying to educate myself on timeshares. My husband and I have stayed at Club Cascadas De Baja in Cabo San Lucas several times and absolutely LOVE IT! We are seriously considering buying a timeshare week there but don't have any experience with it.

I would love any advice you have. Especially if you own or have owned at Club Cascadas before.

I know resale is really the way to go, but the time we would like to go and the unit we would like to have are in high demand.

I have SO many questions, but thought I would get the ball rolling with an introduction. So hello!

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

[marquee-right][sign]Welcome to TS4MS! [/sign][/marquee-right]

You have come to the right place. I would start looking here and search for "timeshares for sale in Mexico" and many will pop-up. Don't be too hasty and study the subject well before you dive in. Right now, Holiday Group wasn't working so they must be updating their daily database, I assume.

People seem to like buying from this web site. You will get lots of response from people who are much more knowledgeable than I am.

Good luck and happy hunting.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Mexico is out of the country and is under a different set of rules. Other than the Royal Resorts Group, there are very few I would even consider buying. Cabo is a relative newcomer to the timesharing phenomenon, so I would wait and search for a great deal that will be coming soon enough. Mexico's high season is usually weeks 51 thru 16 and among those 51, 52 and 7 seem to be the most demanded. Unless you plan on going every year to the place you own, I would suggest renting or trading in rather than buying.

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

Tony,
As I understand it with my limited TS knowledge, Club Cascadas is managed through TPI which is based in the states. Does that make a difference as far as the rules go? In that case would it be better to break the rule of only buying resale and go through the company instead?

Club Cascadas was the first condo/timeshare place in Cabo I guess. I know that it has been around for at least 15-20 years because my great aunt and uncle bought there (which is how I found out about it in the first place...my family took their weeks because they weren't using them that year).

We love going there and would buy a week on the premis that we plan on going there every year. Have the option to trade is nice, but we really do love the property.

Not sure if that makes any difference or not though. Which is why I'm trying to get as much information as I can.

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

Mexico is out of the country and is under a different set of rules. Other than the Royal Resorts Group, there are very few I would even consider buying. Cabo is a relative newcomer to the timesharing phenomenon, so I would wait and search for a great deal that will be coming soon enough. Mexico's high season is usually weeks 51 thru 16 and among those 51, 52 and 7 seem to be the most demanded. Unless you plan on going every year to the place you own, I would suggest renting or trading in rather than buying.

Tony, I agree with you. Even if you go every year, renting may still be the better and cheaper way to go unless you buy one dirt cheap somewhere.

Many timeshares in Mexico are now mandatory all-inclusive fee resorts where you have to eat your meals too unless you want to pay double, in case you want to try a different restaurant outside the resort. Older contracts do not have this clause but many resorts are going this way now.

The Buganvilias resort in Puerto Vallarta do not have a mandatory A-I fee and you can buy them really cheap on the Holiday Group web site. That's the only timeshare I am familiar with.

It may be better to buy a resort in the USA and exchange with that to Mexico. Re-sale listings have a lot of mistakes because many owners don't even know what they own exactly. I would research it well and then double check with the resort too, if you buy in Mexico. In the USA, you can protect yourself by dealing with an escrow company or getting a title policy so you are protected and get good title to your timeshare.

Take your time and ask lots of questions here but if you buy, buy re-sale only so you won't lose your shirt when you have to sell in the future. Most Mexican timeshares are only for 25 years and then you have to renew your contract for an additional fee. Most timeshares in the USA are fee simple and do not expire.

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

How many timeshares in Cabo are you familiar with? Or in Mexico generally?? I'm really asking to find out if you've checked decided Club Cascadas is what you want after having looked at other options as well.

I'm a bit familiar with many of the timeshares in Cabo, and Club Cascadas would not be near the top of my list. That doesn't mean it's not right for you, but if it's the only resort you're familiar with I would very much suggest you check other alternatives.

Also, our experience was that we went to Cabo and enjoyed it, but when we went to Puerto Vallarta we liked that even more. My wife really enjoyed Cancún several years ago, and there are many other places we've decided we would like to visit. So if yo haven't explored other areas in Mexico you should certainly consider that if you haven't.

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

All great things to consider, thank you.

I do know that the current resale weeks end in 2017. Then Club Cascadas is selling weeks from 2018-2052. Then to be renewed every 52 years *shrug*. This is why I'm here asking questions....it really sounds complicated to me. Here is the website of the place we are talking about.

Club Cascadas de Baja

There is a link there to Trading Places where they describe the "Legacy Memebership"

All I know is that all the owners I have talked to the last three times I have been there are thrilled with their ownership. That has to say something right?

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

T.R.,
We haven't stayed at any other timeshare places in Cabo. My aunt and uncle own and Pueblo Bonito Rose and they like it there a lot.

May I ask why you don't like Club Cascadas. Does it have to do with the managment or is the resort just not your style?

Thank you for your input. I really do appreciate it.

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

There are several issues to my mind.

First - and most important - is limited ocean front access and views. When Club Cascadas was built, the developer didn't get control of neighboring property. When those properties were subsequently developed, the new buildings cut off much of the ocean view from Club Cascadas.

Second is that the resort, being older, is not as nice as many other properties. Mexican timeshares are so cheap that, to my mind, there is little reason not to buy a top flight property. The extra that you pay is trivial compared with the added enjoyment of having a first class unit with a great view.

Third is that there are many attractive places to visit in Mexico - or other sunny locations. Many Mexican resort developers have mulitple resorts in various locations, and owners at one location can usually reserve directly at another location. That makes it quite easy to visit many locations. Conveniently, many resorts that meet these criteria also meet criteria #1 and #2.

***

So, if you haven't visited other resort and checked out other options, I strongly suggest that you hold off on Club Cascsadas until you've had a chance to look around a bit more. If you want to visit Club Cascadas, I'm sure that you can find an easy and inexpensive rental if you look around. Before you go, you can learn about other resorts in Los Cabos, and visit a few while you're there. Then make an informed decision after you've checked alternatives.

***

We wound up buying into Raintree Vacation Club - which includes Club Regina. Raintree gives us access to resorts in a number of locales in Mexico, as well as Whistler and several other locations.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I don't know- it would depend if TPI actually owns the property or is just providing management or is a service company. It is virtually never better to buy from the developer than on the resale market. In 2017 the "owners" of the weeks will probably be given the opportunity to re-buy an RTU for a certain number of years. With RTU's you have a much clearer picture of what your vacation lodgings will cost - in this case you divide the cost to buy by 9 or 10 and add the annual fees (with estimated increases).

Tony,
As I understand it with my limited TS knowledge, Club Cascadas is managed through TPI which is based in the states. Does that make a difference as far as the rules go? In that case would it be better to break the rule of only buying resale and go through the company instead?....

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

T.R.,
We haven't stayed at any other timeshare places in Cabo. My aunt and uncle own and Pueblo Bonito Rose and they like it there a lot.

May I ask why you don't like Club Cascadas. Does it have to do with the managment or is the resort just not your style?

Thank you for your input. I really do appreciate it.

Hi Hope,

I've owned various timeshares in Mexico since 93. Obviously I disagree with Tony. For some it's a benefit to have a RTU so you're not locked into something in Mexico for life, and beyond the grave (don't assume your heirs will want to own a timeshare in Mexico or anywhere!)

I don't know anything about Club Cascadas but the pics look nice. Do they keep maint fees in line? In Mexico annual fees should be pegged to the cost of living and inflation rates in the USA. If they are known for higher annual fees or frequent "special assessments", that's something to watch out for. You might want to try some other timeshare resorts in Cabo your next vacation. If you'd like to try one of the Pueblo Bonitos there, use your family's week or ask me & I can get you in, since I own two weeks in that system (I own in Mazatlan, every other year, odd years...but I can stay at any Pueblo Bonito). That resort chain gives really good value to it's guests, it is not all-inclusive (which I like), and all their employees I've talked to seem well-treated by mgmt and happy there. That counts for alot, imo. There are other major hotel chains in Mexico that are not good, that mistreat timeshare "owners" and apparently their workers (if workers walk around sullen and grumpy it says alot). If I were you I'd stay clear of the Melia group in Mexico. the Mayan Palace group, and also watch out for Palace Resorts, the luxury AI chain I got stuck "owning".

If you'd like info on the Pueblo Bonito resort chain, feel free to PM or email me. I've learned alot and keep up with current happenings there.

Have fun shopping for your first timeshare!

Carol C

P.S. I do agree with Tony that Royal Resorts is an excellent chain. But they don't have anything in Cabo, I don't think.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

If you haven't stayed at other timeshare resorts, you really should before buying. Timeshare resorts are so much better than most hotels that it's easy to fall in love with them. Staying at a different one, even in the U.S., would give you a better basis for comparison. We love Playa Grande in Cabo, and it's regularly on the various re-sale sites. The Pueblo Bonito resorts are nice and would allow you to go other places in Mexico without having to use an exchange company. Worldmark has a resort in Cabo. Worldmark yearly maint. fees are low--less than $500.00 a year for 10,000 Worldmark points, and Worldmark exchanges really well. The Sheraton and Westin resorts in Cabo are both lovely and would give you access to other Mexican locations. All of these are newer than Club Cascades. In my opinion, buying ANY resort before you've looked at others in the area would be a mistake.

I'd rent a week and spend some time looking at the other properties before buying.

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

Hi Carol,
I'm glad to hear that someone has had a good experience with timeshares in Mexico. My aunt and uncle own at the Pueblo Bonito Rose (which is actually right next to Club Cascadas). They love it there. I love the Sunday Brunch. tee hee. It just seems so huge to me. Both my husband and I are turned off by the large properties.

We love Club Cascadas. The 3 times we have been down there everything has been fantastic from the maid staff, to the management everything has been amazing. While in Cabo we have walked the beaches to see if there is anywhere else we would like to stay and I have to say from apperances alone, we couldn't find anything.

We specifically love Cascadas because it doesn't look like a large hotel or condo complex. It is full of villas and we just love it.

The way I understand things is that the current RTU time will expire in 2017. The current owners have already been given the option to re-purchase their unit from 2018-2052 and those that wanted to have, and those that haven't well thier units are already being sold for that time to others if they are interested. I can't believe that people are buying RTU weeks 10 years out! All the members that I talked to while vacationing there have been shocked to find out I wasn't a member, but that I was renting.

I would love to buy resale, but we need something in week 14-17 and that is a very popular timeframe. We have two boys that will be going into grade school soon. I have talked to others that have tried to purchase resale and they had to go through the management company because they just couldn't find any two bedrooms available (which is the unit we will need). I definitely don't want to be hasty. But, we have been thinking about this for over a year now, and it sure would be nice to get it done....one way or another.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

It sounds like you may enjoy the WIVC

World International Vacation Club

WIVC - Resorts

They don't have anything in Cabo, but some great botique resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Acapulco, and Rosarito Beach, plus a Colorado Ski resort and a resort in Spain.

The units are perpetual ownership, very low annual fees $420 for a 2 bedroom.

Excellent traders in II, and unique locations.

The Casa de la Playa is right on the beach, with a total of 8 units.

Or the Club’s Alta Vista Condominiums are perched on a hillside with a magnificent ocean view. Again a small complex.

These float so as your family changes, you can modify your reservations to fit.

Most of the ownerships don't include Christmas or New years, but there are some out there that do.

fwiw, Greg

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

I would love to buy resale, but we need something in week 14-17 and that is a very popular timeframe. We have two boys that will be going into grade school soon. I have talked to others that have tried to purchase resale and they had to go through the management company because they just couldn't find any two bedrooms available (which is the unit we will need). I definitely don't want to be hasty. But, we have been thinking about this for over a year now, and it sure would be nice to get it done....one way or another.

Just plug "Timeshare resale" into Google and start visiting the sites that pop up.

In less than five minutes time I could get to at least 30 Club Cascadas resale listings, including this listing for a week 17 resale.