If you are thinking of buying a timeshare...

There are many different ways to buy a timeshare. I remember that day when my husband and I decided to buy our timeshare.  This post if for those of you who do not currently own, but are considering buying a timeshare.  I want to share some things to consider...

1. The Maintenance Fee

This can change every year. More than likely it will increase.  Our maintenance fee when we purchased our timeshare in Orlando was $675. It is now $1197. Nearly an 80% increase.

2. Staying at Home Resort vs. Trading

If you really want to stay at your home resort every year, you do not have to pay for membership in an exchange company like RCI or II.  However, if you plan to repeatedly trade your week, you should realize your success with this will vary from year to year.  There is a lot of uncertainty when you make a trade request, and if you are accustomed to making plans well in advance of your travel dates, this might not work. 

That being said, if we get confirmed on a trade with only a few months notice, we tend to use our Capital One miles for flights, because usually flights cost more, the closer to the date of travel you buy them.

3. Housekeeping

This will be different than when you stay at a hotel.  There will not be housekeeping service everyday.  There may be an option to have daily housekeeping service, but for a fee. This was a surprise to us, as we were not told at the time of purchase.

4. Changes

The timeshare company can change the way they do business, and affect your ability to trade and exchange weeks. Recently Marriott Vacation Club stopped selling deeded weeks, and has gone to a points system (called Destinations Ownership Program). This is a radically different way of doing things, and will change the inventory available to those who do not convert or buy into the Destinations program.  We had no idea the company we bought our timeshare property from could make such a change.  We have decided to continue as a deeded weeks owner, but have concerns of how this will change our ability to successfully exchange through Interval International.

In summary...

If someone were to ask me if we are happy we became timeshare owners, or if we regret it, I would probably say we are split 50/50.  There are advantages and disadvantages.  Once we became accustomed to reserving, depositing, and exchanging our week, we have been pretty happy with our vacations.