Giving it another try

[talanjs]

So most of you remember my Sell vs. Cancellation thread. Well after your replies I've decided to keep trying, now that i live in a different part of the country. I've already had a weekend in Steamboat Springs and just book a few days in Sadona and almost a week in Vegas at the Polo Towers, all drive-able trips too. Maybe this is the beginning of me liking my timeshare again...only time will tell.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by talanjs

So most of you remember my Sell vs. Cancellation thread. Well after your replies I've decided to keep trying, now that i live in a different part of the country. I've already had a weekend in Steamboat Springs and just book a few days in Sadona and almost a week in Vegas at the Polo Towers, all drive-able trips too. Maybe this is the beginning of me liking my timeshare again...only time will tell.

It takes a little work, a lot of patience, but timeshares can be made to be a good deal, even at developer prices.

[dougp26364]

TImeshare takes a little more work and planning than booking a hotel room and going at the drop of a hat. Once you get the hang of it and, once you get use to the larger and often nicer accomadations offered by timeshares, it's sometimes hard to go back to a vacation in a hotel room.

I'm glad things are looking better and you're getting good usage from your ownership.

[T. R. Oglodyte]

When we bought at Point at Po'ipu (resale), one of the things that DW and I took into consideration was that all of our children were or would soon be adults. We wanted to have a place where we could assemble together as a family and spend time together as a family.

When we get together with our kids we simply spend time together. We stock a refiterator with beer, wine, and snacks. People get up in the morning when they get up. We cook meals. We plan days. We sit on decks. We go swimming or hiking or ,,, We simply spend time together.

Timeshares are simply spectacular for that purpose. For us, they are like being in a home while we are some place. There is space for everyone to have private space, as at home, but we are also together.

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We have now had five vacations in Hawai'i that have been pretty much as envisioned. A couple have been with kids; a couple with by brother and SIL. I can't imagine that we would have had nearly the enjoyment in hotel rooms.

One of the things I have found most interesting is the amount of social interaction that occurs with the simple circumstance of cooking a meal and eating it together. There is something about doing that that is lost when eating in a restaurant, and we value that ambiance quite highly.

+++++

I can't imagine vacationing with my kids and DILs/SILs in hotel rooms.

[Carlos]

I am glad to hear that you are going to continue to give it a try. I too love going on my vacations in rooms larger than the hotel ones. I specifically like DRI because I can go with just my wife or with my family and extended family. We have a great time together. I bought enough points so that we could be together particularly when I retire and want to be with all of my kids and grandkids. That's still a way off, but I still have fun now just with me and my kids. I have also had great times with the in laws too. It is just a lot of fun being together with family.

[talanjs]

You are right, i keep forgetting about the benefits of the Suite style rooms with full kitchens. With two little kids it's truly a pleasure to be able to put them to bed in their own room and still have use of the living area and in the morning they can help themselves to breakfast both allowing us to sleep in if needed and save money of food.

[lynn]

DRI has been extremely helpful to us in allowing partial week stays that add good trips to our annual travel. I have spent this weekend setting up trips with this year's points. First, we are using a non-DRI timeshare to go to St. Maarten the week before Memorial Day. I am extending that trip by three days by making a reservation at DRI's Royal Palm Beach Resort. (At a 50% special discount in points!) Second, we are going to Gatlinburg and Bent Creek Golf Village during Labor Day weekend for three nights. While the rest of the southeast is sweltering, we have enjoyed this short mountain getaway for several years at Labor Day. And then third, my wife is a "giant" Harry Potter fan. We are going to Orlando to see the new Harry Potter Theme Park in October. Kids are back in school, and the weather should be great. (Other than some hurricane risk!) This will be Sunday - Friday reservation, thus calling for way less points, and we are at Grand Beach which is also 50% off for October. DRI can be a great thing if you live or travel close to their resorts.

[winger]

TS'ing is not everyone's cup of tea, but for my family, it is the primary way for vacationing. I too look forward to the day when my kids have kids of their own and we can continue the tradition of family time away from home in spacious units/suites.

[longtimer]

So glad to hear you are making your TS work. It took us a few years to learn how to make use of our TS, but now we love it. We don't like staying in hotels anymore because we've gotten so spoiled with all the extra room, separate bedrooms, living room and kitchen and laundry areas.

[tonyg]

Even when there are only two of us, I find it hard to settle for less than 2 bedrooms. Staying in one room with a bath is not something I ever want to do unless it's a sleep stop just overnight on a long trip.