Spin off thread: How do you handle sharing your room with extended family/friends?

[cruisehopeful]

Spinning off from the thread regarding help deciding on a new purchase.

Seems like it's not uncommon to invite extended family/friends to stay and then they act like it's their vacation and don't contribute to anything and/or complain about stuff. It's been my experience that people don't always value things that they don't pay for.

I developed a strike one policy. Creating excessive work or spending for me once is a final straw. I'll still go places with them, but they aren't allowed in my room and I will only pay for my own food.

On a positive note, I had a couple friends stay with me in a Residence inn last week. I booked the room on nominal costs and used rewards points and Chase travel points to cover most of it. The three of us ate out and took Lyft often and whoever pulled out their wallet first paid. We had a good time and I think we likely all evened out. When we were at the airport heading home, we talked about how it worked nicely, but if we had more people, it might have been more work. I suggested an app called Splitwise that keeps track of what we spend. We wouldn't have to pay each other or split bills, but we'd enter what we spend and everyone can see what everyone paid and who's turn it was next.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The app is a cool idea!

The thing with inviting people on a timeshare stay, so many people don’t realize the true cost and maintenance costs of timeshares and they tend to think it somewhat free.

 

[CarolynFH]

When we invite someone to share our DVC timeshare, it's almost always family. When we issue the invitation, we tell them we'll provide the lodging and one table service meal a day. They're responsible for their own park tickets, transportation, other meals, and of course souvenirs. That has worked well for us. Frequently our guests will treat us to a meal, pick up the cost of groceries for the room, or otherwise contribute financially on a voluntary basis, but we don't expect it or ask for it.

We haven't had anyone ask to use our membership otherwise, and we haven't offered it to anyone other when inviting them to come with us. If you search this forum you'll find multiple other threads reporting other owners' experiences, and unfortunately there are some very sad stories of owners being taken advantage of.

 

[zavandor]

The app is a cool idea!

The thing with inviting people on a timeshare stay, so many people don’t realize the true cost and maintenance costs of timeshares and they tend to think it somewhat free.

Yep, I had that experience. Still had a good time with friends traveling with me, but a little bit of appreciation would have been nice (and I mean a thank you, not money).

 

[VGCgroupie]

Yep, I had that experience. Still had a good time with friends traveling with me, but a little bit of appreciation would have been nice (and I mean a thank you, not money).

Was it my adult daughter who joined you? Sounds like it.