Buying a Timeshare

I bought my first timeshare at one of those awful 'You have won a Holiday' prize presentations. It was intentional. I had already been to a timeshare presentation (where we came away with a new bicycle for my son) and I had been convinced it was an excellent concept, but I had no money.

A small inheritance later, I was told I had won a timeshare for 3 years and at the presentation, I bought a week at Club Bena Vista on the Costa del Sol at the beginning of July. I came away believing I had got a bargain as I had negotiated 33% off. I still believe it was good value.

I bought my second week (October half term) from a resort in Orlando - Vistana. The resort was superb and just minutes from Disney. Once again, I bought a resale - the price? About right.

I gradually began to realise that the weeks I had bought couldn't always exchange for what I wanted and I decided to find a week with very strong trading power.

I ended up sourcing an August school holiday week at a top resort in Cornwall - Clowance Estate and Country Club. I bought it through a resale agent and the price was fine.

In retrospect, I think I was lucky with what I bought - it was definitely more by luck than judgement that I ended up with relatively good weeks.

This is what I would now suggest to anyone thinking of buying a timeshare:-
1. Find out as much as you can about timeshare and how it works
2. Attend a timeshare presentation but DO NOT BUY. Leave your cheque book and plastic cards at home. Don't believe everything they tell you but you can learn a lot about how timeshare works
3. Work out where you would like to buy. You may have stayed at a resort where part of it has been timeshare. I know that Club Casablanca in Tenerife certainly also has a package holiday section.
4. Remember the better the resort, the better the trading power via RCI or Interval International.
5. Also remember, the more popular the time of year, the better the trading power.
6. Check that the annual maintenance fee is both acceptable and affordable. Could you rent a week in similar accommodation at the same location for a better price? Is the timeshare worth the annual maintenance fee?
7. Have a hunt around on the internet for resale companies and see what they've got for sale at your chosen resort. Listen to their advice.

Only when you're completely happy with what you've chosen then go ahead.

timetraveller

The Advantages of Timeshare

I couldn't imagine going on a package tour now. I must say, I rather enjoy hunting around for the most convenient flights. We don't have to put up with middle of the night flights as we can choose what time we want to fly.

The quality of timeshare units is generally better than the average self catering apartment. You will always get the odd not so good resort and I have been to one or two but the same can happen on a package.

It's easy to get used to doing what you want when you want. Travelling independently gives us that freedom of taking each day as it comes at our own leisure.

On every exchange we've been to, we've hired a car (apart from Egypt) and it usually works out cheaper than getting a taxi to and from the airport even if you leave it parked all week. Car hire is another thing that can be booked online. I always make sure that I get a rental agreement with no excess, even if it costs a few pounds more, then there will be no additional charges negotiated at the airport.

Don't get me wrong, you don't have to hire a car. We've met many people who travel around on the bus, the most memorable being the couple who went on the bus to Pretty Beach in Malta. On their recommendation, we drove there the next day in our hire car. We stood on this beach with an ugly view of the industrial port and asked a local where Pretty Beach was. You're standing on it, he said!!

Cost wise, I find that timeshare generally works out on a par or cheaper than a package. It really depends on the cost of the maintenance of your timeshare. If there are a number of you in your party, then I believe it is very cost effective. Where else could you get a week of really beautiful accommodation on a luxury estate in Orlando for a family of 6 for just £400? That is possible if you exchange your week with that maintenance cost for a resort in Orlando.

For me, the advantages of timeshare are the freedom of independent travelling, the quality accommodation and the cost effectiveness.

timetraveller