Timeshare - any supporters

ChrisBristol

Mark7799 wrote: »

We've owned a one week timeshare for seven years - no major problems.

We actually own in West Wales but I'd never dream of using it for a holiday - we bank it and swap it for somewhere else through Interval International or RCI - so far (among others)we've been to Marbella, Gran Canaria, Portugal, Florida and this year we're off for two weeks in Sharm el Sheikh.

What persuaded us was the standard of accommodation - far in excess of what we'd managed to get with package deals.

Strangely enough, I have a timeshare in the Costa del Sol which is very nice, but I prefer mid and West Wales; so the last couple of years I've swapped my week for a week in St. Davids, and a week in Cwmchwefru.

The pros are: it's good quality, and self-catering; when I stay in a hotel somewhere, it's not the accommodation costs that eat into my budget, it's the eating out. It's big enough that if you just want to stay in for a while you don't feel trapped like you do in a hotel room.

The cons of course are that you have to pay a management fee *and* a transfer fee (if you don't want the week in your usual place). That's over 300 quid - worth it if you're a family, but when you're a single person like me, that's a bit over the top.

I think you can rent it out for a week if you don't want to use it which apparently just about covers your management fee - I've not done that yet, I've just let friends use it instead when I haven't had time to go.

brodev

dzug wrote: »

Problem is it is theirs 'in perpetuity', so not only are they liable forever, it becomes part of their heritable estate and the family becomes liable!

Not quite - the family is definitely NOT personally liable. The heritable estate is liable. If it can't pay, the debt ceases, it does not pass on to relatives.

Still bad enough though.

Second this post. If the debt didn't cease I would run some up and I know a few people I would like to leave it to.

Kez100

If I had the money I'd buy a timeshare on Tresco. I might possibly consider joining DVC. I wouldn't touch any others with a bargepole. Just my inbuilt risk assessment.

rh1_3

RichardJohn wrote: »

Why would you want to go to the same place every year?

You don't have to. For not very much there are exchange companies who will shuffle the worldwide pack.

We bought a '5 year' timeshare which has no further tie ins and frankly this should be the way the industry should go.

We can swap years 2, 3 and 4 and the only commitment is to go in year 1 and 5 to your nominated timeshare location. Ours was absolutely fantastic and I have to be honest I was tempted to sign up but the whole lifetime of fees was far too scary.

It was a bit of a sprat to catch a mackeral but we didn't have any of the hard sell others on the 'Free Hol to Spain' have discussed elsewhere on the forum.

nw_man

Not being funny but this thread is almost 4 years old...

wallbash

The poster joined in 2005 and has made the grand sum of 35 posts , so their views can not be taken to seriously.

davidlizard

Aunt and Uncle bought 2 weeks of a timeshare the huge distance of 5 miles from their house.

However because they bought this timeshare they became members of some sort of club or something, they get to use the golf course, gym/spa and other leisure facilities near enough free of charge pretty much when they want. And they can also use the golf course of other such places in the same scheme for a similar nominal fee.

My uncle reckons that this paid for itself within 6 years even with the maintenance charges/loss of interest etc, but he does spend an unreal amount of time playing golf.

strawberries1

Hi, I'm trying to help my sister in the states get out of her RCI timeshare. I've just had a conversation with her about it and she thinks it drains too much money. How can she sell it please?
Thanks.