Despite all the annoyances, I *love* timesharing

[iconnections]

Originally Posted by JWC

We have been timesharing for 20+ years and have had many great timeshare vacations. However in the last few years,since I retired, we far prefer to take non-timeshare trips. Unless the timeshare is a full blown luxury resort like the Grand Mayans, with all of the amenities then we would much rather stay in a luxury hotel/resort. We want the niceties like room service, full concierge service, etc. We never cook when we vacation so we don't need a kitchen though a small refrigerator is nice. We usually stay in a suite at the hotels which is plenty of room for the 2 of us. Many hotels today have suite hotels with units as large as any timeshare but far more amenities. Hilton's Homewood Suites are pretty good. We also want the flexibility that hotels offer both for scheduling and location. Often we will decide to take a trip on the spur of the moment.

Timesharing was great for us for a few years when we would take my mom, kids or meet with other relatives. Now our kids have their own families and schedules so timeshare vacations with them are not feasible though we do a lot of things together. We don't like to travel with anybody other than our kids as we like the freedom of doing what we want, when we want.

There are timeshares like the Grand Mayans, Royals, etc. that do offer the luxury resort experience and we have visited them many times. However, many timeshares are nothing more than condos which don't appeal to us anymore.

One other big factor is the comfort of the beds. That has become a very competitive item for the hotels, not just the quality of the mattress but also the sheets and pillows. Some hotels let you select the type of pillows you want. We have never found a timeshare that offer that same comfort.

We sold one of our timeshares and now just keep one which we will probably sell in the near future. We have many use weeks banked at SFX which we will give to our kids if it meets their schedules.

There are timeshares in Mexico that give you this choice too and even more for what type of cover you want, etc. We know because we own one of them. We love the resort because the service is excellent and you feel pampered by the outstanding and friendly staff and they seem to stay there for one or another reason so we meet them again year after year. I am not saying that I agree with the resort's sales policies or the changes they have brought about lately.

The Grand Mayan Resorts are very nice but way too big and impersonal. JMHO. There is no way that they know everyone by name like they do in a smaller resort. Yes, there may be some people they know by name and treat like a favorite guest but that is mostly the exception. I know because I talked to some owners there who are not multiple week owners and do not speak the language either.

It helps a lot to speak Spanish and that makes all the difference in the world. People love to hear their own language and feel more at home with you. We all need to learn to speak some Spanish as our efforts show them that we respect the people and their culture. It is a lovely culture because the people are warm, outgoing and love to have fun and have a big heart too and especially the ordinary people like you and me who make a living by working for someone else. We have made several friends in Mexico and they are very genuine and sincere when they like you and will go out of their way to help you in any way they can.

I am not talking about the very wealthy families in Mexico who are taking advantage of their own people any way they can or some of the English speaking salesmen who lie to the American timeshare prospects who come to their timeshare presentations to pick up the freebies that are offered to them on the street or at the airport. They are scum just like the owners of these private timeshare companies too. JMHO.

Don't go on these presentations because they are not worth your precious vacation time and do what John is doing. Just make an exchange to one of these resorts in Mexico and you are way ahead for not buying a contract of 25 years or more that is worth absolutely nothing the moment you walk out the door of the sales office. Just remember that and you are OK.

[JWC]

Originally Posted by Lisa P

John, I agree with you on the flexibility of paying cash for hotels but not on the amenities and sizes of hotel suites... at least not for the price. We've stayed in Homewood Suites, Amerisuites, Hampton Inn and Suites and the like, usually brand new whenever we've been there. They're still just mid-range hotel rooms with an in-room kitchenette wall and perhaps a simple breakfast included. Usually, there was not even an actual wall/door separating the BR from the sofa/desk/kitchenette area (couldn't call it a LR), the bathrooms are tight/basic, the pools are pitifully small and sometimes lacking heat or a hot tub, and there are NO grounds at all. Most have had no room service either. There's been absolutely no comparison between these places and the experience of staying in a good timeshare resort, IMO.

I am not talking about 2* and 3* properties. We only stay at them when there is no other choice which isn't very often. I usually don't stay in Hampton suites or Homewood Suites unless I have no other choice such as in small cities etc. I definitely do not stay in those other cheap ones. I did stay at Homewood suites in Phoenix as we were with our daughter. We had a 2 BR unit with full kitchen and the rooms were separate and larger than any timeshare we have seen. I have also stayed at the Homewood Suites in Wichita Falls, TX. as there was no better choice.

I am talking about 4* and 5* properties which definitely are more luxurious with more amenities than the vast majority of timeshares. In New York City, we stayed at the Michelangelo which is a 4* hotel in mid-Manhattan and we also stayed at the Manhattan Club timeshare. The Michelangelo is much nicer and more luxurious than the MC and with much better furniture. Our suite at the Michelangelo was larger than our unit at the MC. There is a 5* resort in Los Angeles ( Palos Verdes ) on a beautiful 102 acre site that you can get for $139 /nt right now. Cost is not a big factor with us but I mentioned that as some of the deals available now. In fact we are planning on staying there next week for a couple nights when we go to see the Dodger's

I agree that for many people, especially families traveling with children, timesharing can be very attractive. It worked well for us for several years. Many of the upscale resorts in Mexico such as the Grand Mayans are luxurious and offer all the amenities. However, the majority of timeshares are not in that category and not much different than a condo. We never use the kitchen so that is not a big deal.

Location also plays a big factor in choice. In many tourist areas like Cancun, etc. timeshares are usually a much better choice. We are location oriented and choose the best for the location we are at.

The main point is that all of the folks complaining about hotel accommodations think that all hotels are like Motel 6.

As far as pools go, we have our own pool so a pool is no big deal for us though we do like some of the resort pools. The pools at the hotels in Las Vegas are generally nicer than the ones at the timeshares. For example the Flamingo. The HGVC/Flamingo t/s where we have stayed many times has just a regular small pool whereas the Flamingo Hotels have very nice large pools with waterfalls and connected by slides. The Flamingo hotel pools can be used by the timeshare guests but they belong to the hotel and were there before they built the timeshare. We have also stayed at the Flamingo many times.

Another very big factor for us is the quality of the bedding and furniture. That is much better in the upscale hotels and even in some of the lower scale ones.

I am not knocking timesharing as it is fine for some people. I am simply pointing out that it is not for everybody such as ourselves that want something that the vast majority of timeshares do not offer.

[JWC]

Originally Posted by iconnections

There are timeshares in Mexico that give you this choice too and even more for what type of cover you want, etc. We know because we own one of them. We love the resort because the service is excellent and you feel pampered by the outstanding and friendly staff and they seem to stay there for one or another reason so we meet them again year after year. I am not saying that I agree with the resort's sales policies or the changes they have brought about lately.

The Grand Mayan Resorts are very nice but way too big and impersonal. JMHO. There is no way that they know everyone by name like they do in a smaller resort. Yes, there may be some people they know by name and treat like a favorite guest but that is mostly the exception. I know because I talked to some owners there who are not multiple week owners and do not speak the language either.

It helps a lot to speak Spanish and that makes all the difference in the world. People love to hear their own language and feel more at home with you. We all need to learn to speak some Spanish as our efforts show them that we respect the people and their culture. It is a lovely culture because the people are warm, outgoing and love to have fun and have a big heart too and especially the ordinary people like you and me who make a living by working for someone else. We have made several friends in Mexico and they are very genuine and sincere when they like you and will go out of their way to help you in any way they can.

I am not talking about the very wealthy families in Mexico who are taking advantage of their own people any way they can or some of the English speaking salesmen who lie to the American timeshare prospects who come to their timeshare presentations to pick up the freebies that are offered to them on the street or at the airport. They are scum just like the owners of these private timeshare companies too. JMHO.

Don't go on these presentations because they are not worth your precious vacation time and do what John is doing. Just make an exchange to one of these resorts in Mexico and you are way ahead for not buying a contract of 25 years or more that is worth absolutely nothing the moment you walk out the door of the sales office. Just remember that and you are OK.

I have stayed at several different timeshares in Mexico other than the Grand Mayans. I only use them as an example of an upscale resort. Without exception, every timeshare we have stayed at in Mexico has very hard uncomfortable beds.

We have made many friends at the Grand Mayans. My wife is Mexican and I speak Spanish fluently. We spend a lot of time in Mexico other than at resorts because all of my wife's family lives in Mexico. I am much closer to her family than my own. Her brothers think of me as a brother rather than in-law. I lived in Mexico, worked there, taught classes in Mexican Culture to American companies wanting to do business there. I founded a business in Mexico and am still a partner though I no longer participate actively in the business. We were married in Mexico almost 45 years ago.

I know and am friends with some pretty wealthy Mexicans. They are not the real abusers. The real abusers are the "wannabees" that aren't rich but pretend they are. You will see lots of them as guests at the timeshares during the busy Mexican season such as "la Semana Santa" ( Easter Week ) and the summer.

[cyseitz]

We took our first "official" family vacation at Bonnet Creek at Christmas time and I'm never going to fogert our teenagers' excitement and one of them saying "I can't beleive this is ours!"

Before timeshare we visited Pensacola at my mother-in-law's,Atlanta at my brothe-in-law's, and we had been to San Antonio, TX and Pigeon Forge, TN only because we had to go to play softball with the girls!

We have been married 20 years! The timeshare was my 20th wedding anniversary gift from my husband.

We have booked Bonnet Creek for Christmas 2010 and I'm working on booking D.C. for next month!


I LOVE MY TIMESHARE!

[Lisa P]

Originally Posted by JWC

We want the niceties like room service, full concierge service, etc.... Many hotels today have suite hotels with units as large as any timeshare but far more amenities. Hilton's Homewood Suites are pretty good.

Originally Posted by JWC

I am not talking about 2* and 3* properties.

I may have misunderstood what you wrote then. It seemed as though you were saying you've found some hotel suites with room service, better amenities, comparable size to timeshares and in the mid-range cost level of Homewood Suites. We haven't. By choosing carefully and buying resales, we get better at less cost. For folks without the price issue, this may not be a big deal. For us, it certainly is. Timesharing is how we stay in mid- to high-end resorts for Motel 6 prices. We don't pay to stay at high-end hotels so they rarely enter into our family's consideration.

Originally Posted by JWC

I am talking about 4* and 5* properties which definitely are more luxurious with more amenities than the vast majority of timeshares.... There is a 5* resort in Los Angeles ( Palos Verdes ) on a beautiful 102 acre site that you can get for $139 /nt right now.

There are definitely deals out there in this economy, especially for last minute travelers!!! As with timesharing though, the best opportunities are usually available to folks without scheduling issues, trouble getting vacation time approved at work or limited vacation time, tight school schedules, etc. And much depends on where you want to go. For people who want to plan that one or two special weeks per year and make sure the dates don't come and go without a great deal somewhere they'd like to see, it's much more difficult to depend on being able to get a great hotel suite deal.

Originally Posted by cyseitz

We took our first "official" family vacation at Bonnet Creek at Christmas time and I'm never going to fogert our teenagers' excitement and one of them saying "I can't beleive this is ours!" .... The timeshare was my 20th wedding anniversary gift from my husband.

We have booked Bonnet Creek for Christmas 2010 and I'm working on booking D.C. for next month!

What fun! Congrats on your new ownership and the long marriage. Hope it works out for Alexandria. You may want to consider a shorter stay if it opens up. We've already booked our spring 2010 stay there - love the place. Once the new National Harbor location opens next year, it should get a little easier to reserve at Alexandria. Tough to do for now.

[bezerk]

Timesharing has worked for us for about 20 years now...we continue to love it......we now do most of our timesharing in Mexico and yes many timeshares in Mexico and hotels have hard uncomfortable beds but many do not....I do own a few timeshares in Mexico and I must say none of them have uncomfortable beds.

I also know wealthy, poor and mid-rich Mexicans and not all abuse their people, many are actually no matter their financial status very generous. There do exist good and not so good people in all countries and all races.

On the whole the Mexican people are very accepting, very generous and very humble, proud and kind. A true Mexican Friend is one for life.

Off on a different topic here...but either way timesharing has been great for us and we look forward to many more timesharing years, now with grown kids and grandchildren too! My son ( 18), is off this July on his first timeshare experience alone in his very own timeshare, bought on ebay of course and in Mexico......so guess it is gonna work for our kids too.

I do agree timesharing is not for everyone but for some it is the only way to vacation. Can't wait till I can get back to vacationing and timeshareing.

[mshatty]

I love it too. I sitting here looking out the window of our Schooner Landing Or. unit at the Pacific Ocean waves crashing on shore with cool weather outside!

Awwww.

[lawren2]

Originally Posted by mshatty

I love it too. I sitting here looking out the window of our Schooner Landing Or. unit at the Pacific Ocean waves crashing on shore with cool weather outside!

Awwww.

Coastal Oregon is on the short list for sure.

I hate you Michael! I'm stripping wall paper and painting a bathroom this weekend.

[mdurette]

We spent one night in Boston last month with our 3 Year Old. We stayed at a Marriot. Upon entering the room, our daughter put her finger up to her chin and tapped "somethings missing". She proceeded to open up the closet and the bathroom doors. "Where's the kitchen mom?" Crazy thing....we don't really cook while on vacation. Just a bit for breakfast and like the fridge for storing leftovers for future lunches. Starting her off young!

[iconnections]

Originally Posted by mshatty

I love it too. I sitting here looking out the window of our Schooner Landing Or. unit at the Pacific Ocean waves crashing on shore with cool weather outside!

Awwww.

Total bliss, isn't it. When the coast is clear and the sun is shining, Oregon is most beautiful and so is Washington State as well as California, of course. We have the most beautiful summer so far as it is not too hot and just the right breeze too.

Timeshares on the ocean make you lazy for doing much else but watch the ocean and walk the beach.