Posted by Charm_AL on 11/1/06 8:56am
Msg #156550

I did a Hilton timeshare...

last night. A couple bought into a Vegas property. They also have one in FL. THey were like an infomercial talking about the great benefits and being able to use their points at any of this company's resorts. Any opinions, do any of you have a timeshare, what's the advantage?

Reply by Lee/AR on 11/1/06 9:09am
Msg #156555

Used to work for one & these are only my observations: In a nutshell: They are easy to buy; very difficult to sell. Most people just stopped making payments & they repo & sell 'em again.
If you have lots of free time and the money to travel around the country, I suppose they would be a good deal. (Nah... I really don't think that, but some people might.) They also have 'best time @ high price'....and that applies no matter where you are going. You only get the 'time period' you bought. I'm not making a lot of sense here. OK, Wisconsin in March is not a nice place to be, but if you bought the 'lousy' time period for less money & want to trade, it puts you in Florida in July....follow?

Reply by Charm_AL on 11/1/06 9:12am
Msg #156556

oh yea, I really want to be ib FL in July! not

Reply by Charles_Ca on 11/1/06 9:15am
Msg #156559

Re: I did a Hilton timeshare...My experience has been that

they have seasons, typically what they refer to as high season and low season and even a mid season. I have always purchased the high season since you can usually trade the high season for any time of the year. Of course the High season is also the most expensive!

Reply by Charles_Ca on 11/1/06 9:12am
Msg #156557

The primary advantage to me at the time I bought my timeshares was to forced me to take a vacation: I used to be very bad about scheduling vacation time. I purchased several weeks in different resorts and I always exchanged out of the resorts I owned. The maintenance fees reduce the savings considerably and do the taxes and of course you need to amortize the purchase price by the number of uses. I find that the cost is similar to paying for a middle quality resort rooms. I use RCI as my exchange company and I must say that I have stayed in resorts that I would not have otherwise stayed in because of the costs. If you pick carefully there are many 1st class resorts that you can stay in and have a suite because when you book its available.

I would recommend that anyone who buys shop around carefully. If you buy from the resort sales people expect to pay around $7k - $8k and up for a week. I own a high season week at Palm Springs Tennis Club and I was browsing the Riverside County Tax Assessors website the other day and saw units that were being sold for taxes of about $500: there may also have been some back maintenance fees. I suspect someone who knew they were going to lost their property to back taxes would not pay maintenance fees. There is also a very healthy secondary market in time shares just check on the internet. I still enjoy my timeshares but I wouldn't buy one now.

Reply by Charm_AL on 11/1/06 10:00am
Msg #156579

no one has to force me!

to take a vacation! Thanks for the replies...We take just about the entire month of July and travel because that's when we have my stop son for the summer. We take a lot of weekend trips and explore and just stay wherever we wind up at.
As far as timeshare, I feel differently than most, I guess.. I don't understand the point of 'owning'. I think, why not just book the place if that's where you want to go? I bore easily and I don't care to vacation in the same spot every year. Now, if I could buy and own a summer cottage on a beautiful lake with a pier, we're talking! I remember the most family fun times was when we all went to Three sisters lake, my uncle owned a great little cottage up there, many wonderful memories! My Father pulling the boat and losing a trailer tire...walking down the highway with a flashlight to find it. Us four kids in the back feet on top of two coolers, sandwiches and juice.
My ex also had a 'family' cottage at Lake Como in WI as well.
I like that no t.v., and walk up the side of the road for spring water. It is a great family experience when you must depend on each other for entertainment as opposed to everyone going off to their electronics
As time went on, no one wanted to go because the upkeep was done by whoever went and shutting it down for the winter became a burden...too bad.
But I'd really love to have one for our family traditions and to have a place for the kids to go when they start their families.

Reply by cassiewi on 11/1/06 9:13am
Msg #156558

We signed up for one, but ended up cancelling it the next day. Wasn't the Hilton. The interest rate was outrageous, 17%, that was the interest no matter your credit score. There were alot of great places we could go. We had an every other year plan, but still had to pay for maintenance every year. Just didn't seem worth it to us.

Reply by Lee/AR on 11/1/06 9:18am
Msg #156562

Cassie...Re: I did a Hilton timeshare...

I think you probably signed up for the one I used to work for: Peppertree...think it has a different name now--many years later. Near the Dells.

Reply by cassiewi on 11/1/06 9:25am
Msg #156565

Re: Cassie...Re: I did a Hilton timeshare...

Vacation Resort Group out of Il. We drove down to Illinois for the presentation. After we cancelled they called and asked for their book back. I didn't know what I had done with it. They wanted me to drive it back down there. No, I don't think so.

After that, the telemarketing service they used (you know, you entered to win an Escalade, and you're guaranteed a prize if you come to this presentation) to call us called me 6-7 times, no joke. The last time I spoke with a complete moron who said he was the owner of the company and gave me a fake name. I called back (caller id) and left a message saying if anyone calls me from this company again, I will report it to whomever I can. I was sick of getting those calls. I haven't had a call since.

Reply by MelissaCT on 11/1/06 3:30pm
Msg #156682

Re: timeshare

My parents both have timeshares. My dad has invited us up to his (Berkshires) the past couple years & bought a new one in the Pocono's this year. He didn't have enough vacation time built up, so he gave us the week this summer. I'd definitely consider buying one -- his are deeded & can be passed down generations. The only reason I haven't bought one of our own is that he will be QC-ing part of one to me next year (planning for the future). Another one will be deeded to my brother.

My husband doesn't fly (EVER), so we stay close to home. For us, it's great to get away for a few days. Our son loves vacation & we don't mind going to the same place every year.

Timeshares aren't for everyone, though. Purchasing on the secondary market is definitely the way to go (price-wise).

Reply by Ernest__CT on 11/1/06 9:17am
Msg #156560

I'll do all the Hilton timeshare signings they'll give me!

They're a breeze, and the signers are usually friendly, happy people.

As far as timeshares themselves go, Hilton's are among the best in the business. IN GENERAL, I wouldn't purchase any EXISTING timeshare. The reasonably-priced times are usually for times that are less than desireable (Florida in August, the coast of Maine in February). Newly-formed timeshares tend to have the best times open, that is, when you'd actually want to be in that location.

There are usually firm rules about swapping times. Expect to pay a fee.

As always, check a specific timeshare (such as a reputable firm like Hilton!) and do not be swayed by emotion only.

Good luck!

Reply by KathiAZ on 11/1/06 9:32am
Msg #156569

I love my timeshare

It is in Cabo, I have a week every other year, I don't plan to trade it out as we love going to Cabo. I will be using it next year for my Honeymoon.
I have it for 30 years, pay the maintenance every other year.
Works for me.
K

Reply by David Kral on 11/3/06 2:02am
Msg #156998

Timeshare

You kids get older and then you can make it. My relatives beg me to use theirs, buy it etc. If you every want to go to one, you can often bid on ebay, Craigslist etc and rent it at a discount from whomever owns it. Many are foreclosed on. I see little reason to own one.