Need Timeshare Advice/Opinions (Long)

[FayeW]

We are in the very early stages of considering buying into a timeshare (not DVC!). I would like opinions from the owners at Vistana, Orbit One, Silver Lake, Summer Bay, OLCC, etc. Basically any LBV or Kissimee area timeshares will be considered. I would be buying resale, and will probably choose a floating week in Prime season to coincide with the March & Christmas vacations for the kids they get older and it becomes more difficult to take them out of school for a week.

I'd like to know how happy you are with your purchase and the way you are treated as an owner. Are you satisfied each and every time with the quality of your accomodations? How easy (or difficult) is it to get reservations at your home resort, and how far in advance do you have to book to ensure availability?

I considered DVC, but the number of points we would need to spend a full week in a 2bdrm during high season is just out of our price range, and we are too far away to make frequent, smaller trips. My husband is not interested in changing accomodation part way through the holiday to save points, he wants to unpack once.

I LOVE skyauction, have already used them once, and have a RSG auction already paid for to use for our trip in Nov. As mentioned, any future trips will most likely be during March or Christmas, and there is absolutely NO availability for March through skyauction yet, so I can't count that.

Any opinions will be appreciated.

 

[jnl]

My friends bought 2 weeks at Orbit One on a resale for prime red weeks that are set in March. I believe she paid about $2225.00 per week. She is happy with her purchase and feels it a good investment that she could resell for the same amount in the future. I on the otherhand, have gone to florida several times the last few years at different times of the year and have stayed at different timeshares and have always been able to find some kind of deal. We stayed at Polynesian Isles in May (memorial day w/e) for $487.00 for the week. We stayed at Bluetree (Yuck- did the timeshare presintation NEVER AGAIN) for $250.00 4 nights in July. Cypress Point for $67.00 per night in July and this year we are staying at Embassy Grand Beach for $550. for the week in March (easter week). I personally feel that Orlando has tons of timeshares. Someone is always renting theirs out and you usually can find something to rent without having to buy it then pay maintance fees that are almost what I pay for a week.JMHO Some good sights to look at are www.redweek.com , www.condo-trader.com, http://www.condodirect.com, & www.hotelkingdom.com Goodluck

 

[CarolA]

I suggest you go to www.tug2.net much more info there.

 

[FayeW]

I haven't checked all of the recommended sites yet, but thanks so much suggesting www.redweek.com! It looks like I don't have to buy my own timeshare after all, but can rent at just about any time of the year for about what the maintenance fees would cost. Thanks for your help.

 

[spiceycat]

definitely go check on
www.tug2.net

I have Westgate - which is not a good buy at all

I also have a Panama City Beach - Landmark Holiday Beach - it is flexibility and I can get it for any time - except the Summer. this year for the first time I traded it to II - I got a DVC resort!!!! and a AC (accomodation certficiate) for another week!!! this was used for a Marriott's cypress harbour in Sept. I pay $1,500 for it and the maintence fees are between $400 to $500 per year.

I also have a SA (south Africia) that I use for trading only (at this time) - it cost $500 - and its maintence fees are less than $175 a year - so far I have traded into Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Seaworld in Oct (2003) - 2-bedroom, Sheraton's Vistana Resort for THanksgiving (2004) 2-bedroom, and this year is would have been Orange Lake for the July 4 week (starting July 2) - but then I realized that I couldn't do it on July 4 because of work issues (I think I just got carried away) so I changed that one to Plantation Island in Ormond Beach (2005) - why - this timeshares accepts pets. My brother is also using this the SA(2006) this year and staying in Celebration World resort this Sept during their fall break.

Celebration World also accepts pets and my SIL wants to bring her dog.

now the Westgate use to be a good trader - I got Marriott's Manor Club at Williamsburg in May (2003), Marriott's Grande Ocean (2001) at HH in Nov, and a nice trade to Myrtle Beach, SC (1997) in June- (all of these were several years apart) - all 2-bedrooms.
I pay $7,000 for every odd year and the maintence fees are $634. this is a fixed week.

but it is now a horrible trader.

I won't buy in Orlando at all.

you can trade in (see the SA) for much less money!!! (at this time)

You can generally rent in Orlando for the maintence fees.

however you can trade into Orlando for less - see the SA (or for that matter the LHB)

Of course the SA deals aren't out there anymore - but if you want one - send me an email and I will send the broker that I used.