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Orlando Timeshare

yesrutgers01

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Nov 9, 2008
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Hey guys and girls...I did this before a few years back and it worked out great for a couple of members. I have a Westgate Resort timeshare with the home location in Orlando. It can be swapped for a number of other locations as well. We rarely get the chance to use it and now have 6 weeks that are sitting unused. could be a 1, 2 or 3 BR.
They now only let us carry 3 year's worth of weeks forward so I would rather someone use them then fall off the board. So, it can be very reasonable. I don't want to get into details here but you can message me if interested to discuss.
 
Hey guys and girls...I did this before a few years back and it worked out great for a couple of members. I have a Westgate Resort timeshare with the home location in Orlando. It can be swapped for a number of other locations as well. We rarely get the chance to use it and now have 6 weeks that are sitting unused. could be a 1, 2 or 3 BR.
They now only let us carry 3 year's worth of weeks forward so I would rather someone use them then fall off the board. So, it can be very reasonable. I don't want to get into details here but you can message me if interested to discuss.
 
Could something be planned for next year or does it have to be this year?
 
All timeshares are a bad idea.
Totally disagree. They aren't a good "investment" if you are looking at resell but they are great way to vacation. I have easily made my money back multiple times with my timeshares.
 
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Totally disagree. They aren't a good "investment" if you are looking at resell but they are great way to vacation. I have easily made my money back multiple times with my timeshares.

Sorry, they are a rip off for most people. Timeshares make money for the companies, so overall, they do not pay off for the customers.
 
Sorry, they are a rip off for most people. Timeshares make money for the companies, so overall, they do not pay off for the customers.
I bough my timeshare at the Atlantis for 60k 9 years ago. Taxes are around 1500 a year so I'm Into it for about 73,500. In those 9 years I have averaged at least four weeks vacation(to top resorts) a year by simply trading in that one week. This year my family will go to Scottsdale for almost 5 weeks off that one exchange. So in 9 years I've gotten at least 35 weeks vacation for a family of 5 for approximately 2,100 a week. How's that not value?
 
I bough my timeshare at the Atlantis for 60k 9 years ago. Taxes are around 1500 a year so I'm Into it for about 73,500. In those 9 years I have averaged at least four weeks vacation(to top resorts) a year by simply trading in that one week. This year my family will go to Scottsdale for almost 5 weeks off that one exchange. So in 9 years I've gotten at least 35 weeks vacation for a family of 5 for approximately 2,100 a week. How's that not value?

$73,500, my goodness, that's a ridiculous amount. Sorry, but Disney, Marriott and all of the timeshare companies are in the business of making money. And timeshares make them TONS and TONS of money.
 
$73,500, my goodness, that's a ridiculous amount. Sorry, but Disney, Marriott and all of the timeshare companies are in the business of making money. And timeshares make them TONS and TONS of money.
Did you even read what I wrote? That's over about 10 years and have had almost 40 vacations as a result. Not dinky little hotel rooms but condos that fit a family of 5. Yes, timeshares make money, mostly off of guys like Yes that don't use them. For me, rolling one week into anywhere from 3-5 weeks a year is money well spent.
 
Did you even read what I wrote? That's over about 10 years and have had almost 40 vacations as a result. Not dinky little hotel rooms but condos that fit a family of 5. Yes, timeshares make money, mostly off of guys like Yes that don't use them. For me, rolling one week into anywhere from 3-5 weeks a year is money well spent.
I'm with VK on this one. We have two weeks in Aruba @ the surf club. We sell our lock-offs on Redweek which pays our annual maintenance. Our breakeven was at seven years and now going on our eleventh year this January. Fly on Amx points so free baby free!
 
timeshares are not right for everyone. For the casual vacationer that may do only 1 or 2 weeks a year they may not pay off since you can get similar accommodations via deals. For those who want to vacation in certain locations at certain weeks with certain types of rooms (ie. Disney over Christmas or Spring Break at a place with a kitchen and multiple bedrooms) they make sense.

For VKJ it seems he has been fortunate enough to be able to take a lot of vacation time so it pays for him.

For me it does not make sense right now since you tend to have to lay out money for a time share and then have an annual maintenance fee. For a 1 week resort the combination of the layout and maintenance seems to equal about what I would pay at a similar resort in a similar location. Plus I tend to mix and match vacations between resorts, cruises, and staying with family.

As for Scottsdale, I did stay at the Orange Tree resort once. It is a timeshare place but I got it via skyauction that rents unused timeshares. Very nice resort and it cost me like $300 for the week there.
 
timeshares are not right for everyone. For the casual vacationer that may do only 1 or 2 weeks a year they may not pay off since you can get similar accommodations via deals. For those who want to vacation in certain locations at certain weeks with certain types of rooms (ie. Disney over Christmas or Spring Break at a place with a kitchen and multiple bedrooms) they make sense.

For VKJ it seems he has been fortunate enough to be able to take a lot of vacation time so it pays for him.

For me it does not make sense right now since you tend to have to lay out money for a time share and then have an annual maintenance fee. For a 1 week resort the combination of the layout and maintenance seems to equal about what I would pay at a similar resort in a similar location. Plus I tend to mix and match vacations between resorts, cruises, and staying with family.

As for Scottsdale, I did stay at the Orange Tree resort once. It is a timeshare place but I got it via skyauction that rents unused timeshares. Very nice resort and it cost me like $300 for the week there.
I can agree with all this. One added bonus for me, I bought this when my business was in its infancy and it was a good way to force me to take a vacation. There is always a good excuse not to take vacation early on but with this my wife held me to it. As you stated, I am fortunate enough now to take as much time as I like.
 
I bought a timeshare back probably in 99. Bought it from the owner who didn't want it. At the time the resort (Orange Lake) was selling them for the low $20s. I paid 5K which included several years of RCI membership. For quite a while it was a good deal but as maintenance and taxes kept rising it became a situation where for that money I could just book a week on vrbo.com for less money.

Obviously other folks figured that out because when I went on ebay when thinking of selling there were loads of similar units up for $1 and not getting bids. I ended up returning it to Orange Lake. It was nice for maybe 8 - 10 years. My only mistake was not timing giving it up at the right time. Not a big deal.

I can see both sides of the argument and have been on both sides but I'm now in the no, thanks department.
 
I too have a vacation club, mine is from Hilton. I have posted this on these boards before and have worked out mutually beneficial win-win deals with fellow Rutgers fans in the past.

I am starting a business this year and will not have time to travel as I have done in the past. My vacation club points are very flexible as to room size, travel location and dates (this year or next). If interested, post your email address and I will be in contact and can look up availability and provide more specific details.
 
The other added bonus I forgot to mention is all the hotel points. Although I accrue a lot of points through my business, Starwood is always giving me free nights or points for my loyalty. Don't think I've paid for a hotel room in 9 years either.
 
Getting back to the OP's original post, does the week have to be used this year, or can it be used in 2016?
 
Could something be planned for next year or does it have to be this year?

Sorry, last I saw this thread it was already off the first page. But it could be next year as well. Message me if u want more detal
 
As for timeshares- VKJ and 4real are correct. It all depends on your own personal circumstances.
We started with a 1 BR and upgraded to a 3 BR in 2004. I believe we paid $28500 for it at the time and paid cash. Just over $1100 a year for maintenance.
We have used it a number of times in Orlando and Vegas. Friends and family use it all the time. It is so well worth it for us. Most of the weeks we built up were when Kevin was playing and most our travel was based on Football. We plan to use a week in Arz this year ourselves.
As stated by others- it is not an investment for resale but great for its use.
 
Sorry, last I saw this thread it was already off the first page. But it could be next year as well. Message me if u want more detal

Shoot me an email with price, location, etc. at JPscubaman at aol dot com. Thanks.
 
I live in Florida. I agree. Wasted money. Ergo timeshare forclosures are a huge industry.

I have to laugh when friends say "I have a condo in Florida" when what the REALLY have is 2 weeks at a timeshare LOL
Home forclosures are also a huge industry. Is owning a home a bad idea?
 
Flawed logic .You live in a home 365 days a year. You get a timeshare 2-4 weeks a year. Not even vaguely related.
Pay your bills and it doesn't matter. Cars get repossessed everyday, should people not but those?
The reason you have the foreclosure market is because just like houses, people buy stuff they can't afford and don't need. When the college bubble bursts and student loans default by the billions are we going to say education is bad? Or should we just admit banks shouldn't lend 300k for a kid to get a piano degree from NYU?
 
Pay your bills and it doesn't matter. Cars get repossessed everyday, should people not but those?
The reason you have the foreclosure market is because just like houses, people buy stuff they can't afford and don't need. When the college bubble bursts and student loans default by the billions are we going to say education is bad? Or should we just admit banks shouldn't lend 300k for a kid to get a piano degree from NYU?

VkJ - timeshare companies make money because of the default rate. That is the business model. They get someone to shell out $30k for the timeshare and most stop making payments and default. The timeshare made money off that guy and then resells it to the next person and so on. Its not similar to buying a house because the banks business model isn't based on anticipating defaults. Very different. I get that you like your timeshare and that's great but on average they are terrible for the customer since most default.
 
Sorry, they are a rip off for most people. Timeshares make money for the companies, so overall, they do not pay off for the customers.


Man, you are friggin dense. Hotel rooms only exist to make money for hotel companies, so overall renting hotel rooms does not pay off for the customers. All inclusive resorts only exist to make money for resorts, cruise ships only exist to make money for cruise lines.

Like all other ways to vacation, timeshares are not typically a good financial investment. They are a way to take vacations. Vacations never pay off for customers financially. They are an expense. If you have that understanding and expectation - that you are buying your future vacations - timeshares can be a great experience. The only way to quantify whether it was worth it or not depends on whether you've enjoyed your vacations.
 
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VkJ - timeshare companies make money because of the default rate. That is the business model. They get someone to shell out $30k for the timeshare and most stop making payments and default. The timeshare made money off that guy and then resells it to the next person and so on. Its not similar to buying a house because the banks business model isn't based on anticipating defaults. Very different. I get that you like your timeshare and that's great but on average they are terrible for the customer since most default.

None of this makes them wrong, or inherently a bad idea though. The only take away here is to not buy things you cannot afford. Timeshares can be awesome, but you need to be smart enough to understand what you are buying, and whether you can afford it. Timeshares get a bad rap because the salesmen for them pitch them as investments, and people who are not smart enough to understand what they are buying fall for it and get burned.

Timeshares are no different from cars or engagement rings. They are liabilities not assets. If you understand that going in, no reason it cannot be a purchase that you will really enjoy.
 
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None of this makes them wrong, or inherently a bad idea though. The only take away here is to not buy things you cannot afford. Timeshares can be awesome, but you need to be smart enough to understand what you are buying, and whether you can afford it. Timeshares get a bad rap because the salesmen for them pitch them as investments, and people who are not smart enough to understand what they are buying fall for it and get burned.

Timeshares are no different from cars or engagement rings. They are liabilities not assets. If you understand that going in, no reason it cannot be a purchase that you will really enjoy.

Totally agree. The only thing to consider is your outlay costs vs. equivalent vacation accommodations from a non-time share company.

For example, if you pay $20,000 for a timeshare of a 2-3 bedroom condo / resort by Disney that has maintenance of $800 for a 20 year period. This equates to $1000 a year for the timeshare plus dues. That means you get it for about $1800 this year. Since dues will go up about 4-5% a year it may be $1840 next year and $1882 the year after.

To compare maybe you go to All Star Vacation homes just outside of Disney and look to rent a similar unit each year you will be looking at about $200 a night plus taxes / fees.

The cost is probably similar when taking into consideration the amenities offered or not offered by each. For example, if not staying on a Disney property you may need to pay for parking and may not get extra perks at the Disney parks. On the other hand you will have a kitchen to make breakfasts, a laundry area, regular shopping stores to buy normal priced soda and water (not hotel prices) and can take a day or 2 at Sea World or Universal. Yes, you would need to rent a vehicle vs. not needing one at a Disney resort.

If going to a vacation spot that doesn't have as many vacation rentals then finding an equivalent property may be tougher without a timeshare. So if you trade in your Disney Club points for another location you can get an equivalent room but the person who chose not to go the vacation club route may be stuck in a normal hotel. Then again in a normal hotel they may be able to get a 2 room suite for a similar cost.

Some of the hotel chains who have vacation clubs offer you silver or gold status for upgraded rooms and extra services that can be used throughout and not just when using your timeshare.
 
Totally agree. The only thing to consider is your outlay costs vs. equivalent vacation accommodations from a non-time share company.

For example, if you pay $20,000 for a timeshare of a 2-3 bedroom condo / resort by Disney that has maintenance of $800 for a 20 year period. This equates to $1000 a year for the timeshare plus dues. That means you get it for about $1800 this year. Since dues will go up about 4-5% a year it may be $1840 next year and $1882 the year after.

To compare maybe you go to All Star Vacation homes just outside of Disney and look to rent a similar unit each year you will be looking at about $200 a night plus taxes / fees.

The cost is probably similar when taking into consideration the amenities offered or not offered by each. For example, if not staying on a Disney property you may need to pay for parking and may not get extra perks at the Disney parks. On the other hand you will have a kitchen to make breakfasts, a laundry area, regular shopping stores to buy normal priced soda and water (not hotel prices) and can take a day or 2 at Sea World or Universal. Yes, you would need to rent a vehicle vs. not needing one at a Disney resort.

If going to a vacation spot that doesn't have as many vacation rentals then finding an equivalent property may be tougher without a timeshare. So if you trade in your Disney Club points for another location you can get an equivalent room but the person who chose not to go the vacation club route may be stuck in a normal hotel. Then again in a normal hotel they may be able to get a 2 room suite for a similar cost.

Some of the hotel chains who have vacation clubs offer you silver or gold status for upgraded rooms and extra services that can be used throughout and not just when using your timeshare.[/QUOTE]
This is what I have through Starwood. Not only have I not paid for a hotel room in years, I'm always upgraded, and guaranteed a room whether hotel is booked or not.
 
VK/cabbage/4real- OP wasn't meant for the discussion but it became interesting anyway.
All good discussion and on the money. They are not an investment for money but for convenience.
For me, we paid cash and now it is great to know if I want to take a week or two in a Orlando, Miami Arz etc, I don't have to worry about a hotel cost or how my room will be.
 
$73,500, my goodness, that's a ridiculous amount. Sorry, but Disney, Marriott and all of the timeshare companies are in the business of making money. And timeshares make them TONS and TONS of money.

Yes Comrade, in our country only profitable companies survive & thrive.

There are also timeshares run by non-profits. People generally call them homeless shelters.
 
I've heard of people selling timeshares for $0 or virtually nothing just to get out of the taxes/maintenance commitments. What are the best ways to look into that sort of thing?
 
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