Timeshare Vacation packages?

[karenbaco]

Has anyone done one of those insanely inexpensive timeshare vacations that you have to commit to 90 minutes for the presentation? There is some great deals on book vip website for all inclusives for $499 total for a family. Is it a scam?

 

[Marionnette]

Has anyone done one of those insanely inexpensive timeshare vacations that you have to commit to 90 minutes for the presentation? There is some great deals on book vip website for all inclusives for $499 total for a family. Is it a scam?

Depends.

I wouldn't jump on one that is in a foreign country because the laws governing those transactions will not be the same as in the USA.

Make sure that you read the fine print. Sometimes they require you to use their booking agent for airfare. You end up paying a fortune to fly.

I wouldn't count on it taking just 90 minutes. More likely it will last at least half of your day.

The pressure to buy can get pretty intense with some sales people. They have even been know to turn verbally abusive on customers when the customer turns them down repeatedly.

 

[tinkerone]

its a weekend of pressure. the whole time your there they are at you in hopes that it will wear you down. 90 minutes is what you commit to but the reality is they are going to be at you and at you and at you and you will be at their mercy. its not much of a vacation.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We did one in August 2012. Got a fantastic two bedroom, two bathroom villa at Westgate Lakes for about $60 a night, all-in. We did not need Disney tickets so they gave us week-long passes to all their rec facilities which normally have a charge (paddle boats, mini golf, etc.). We really enjoyed the resort and had a marvelous time.

But...

We had to attend a "90 minute" (in reality, almost 4 hour) timeshare presentation. Very hard sell. Very aggressive sales staff. Started the "tour" at one end of the huge property and they left us stranded at the other far end of the resort when we didn't buy. Would not arrange for transportation back to our car, and we had to hail a golf cart to give us a lift. It was maddening.

 

[roflclaw]

In 2005 my parents gave in to the "short" presentation in Cancun. It was more like all day to my 14 year old self. I thought it was the WORST part of our vacation because I was stuck in this room with nothing to do. (I wouldn't leave alone... not because it wasn't safe or anything, just the sort of person I am).

But... now I love that they gave because we've taken great trips at great prices. And when my parents divorced in 2012 my mom and I had a GREAT two week girls only vacation to Puerto Vallarta.

But I would definitely cross most of that day off your list because it really does take forever. They just tell you 90 minutes so you don't think it'll be all that bad.

 

[floridacrazy]

Hi everyone. Two years ago I went on a vacation with a friend who owns a timeshare. We spent a week at Star Island. When she signed in they convinced me to sign up for a 90 minute meeting and I would get a discount on tickets or a $100 amex card.

I went to the meeting with the intentions of just spending the 90 minutes and saying "No." They wouldn't accept "No." I went to the meeting with my niece who is an adult and my nephew who was very young at the time. I thought having a young kid with us who would get bored right away would help get me out of there. It didn't. They had a play room set up for kids.

They are very smart. They show you the nicest timeshares. They try to convince you on how much money you will save by not renting hotels. They pushed and kept pushing. They showed us a picture of Bonnet Creek and my niece and nephew fell in love with it. So I had my niece and nephew trying to convince me too.

My credit was shot and I told them that. I couldn't afford buying a timeshare. The person went out and I thought it was over - I would get my gift and leave. It was far from over. He came back with someone else. This person wouldn't accept "No" either. They kept pushing and pushing. They figured a way that I could sign up for their Discover program. I was going to pay $1500 and get 154,000 points. They lied and told me that I could get a 2-week vacation with 154,000 points.

I told them that the only time I could go on vacation was during the summer months, They didn't show me the book where I would actually see the cost - point value of the timeshares during the summer. He said we could get a 2-week vacation at Star Island during the summer. What a liar he was.

I ended up signing up for it. He said I had 10 days to cancel. I should have cancelled the following day, but we were enjoying our vacation. By the time I got home and tried to cancel it was too late. I was stuck with the Discover program with 154,000 points.

We ended up using the 154,000 points for one week in a 2-bedroom at Governor's Green. That was the only timeshare in the Discover book where I could get a 2-bedroom in the summer without needing more points.

These people are sharks. I would never go to a meeting again. The gifts aren't worth it. They never give free Disney tickets at the Florida timeshare presentations.

It is cheaper renting from a person who owns a timeshare. I did that last year and had 2 wonderful weeks at Bonnet Creek and this year I am doing the same thing, but I'm going for 3 weeks at BC.

 

[HM]

I did one for a Fairfield place in Williamsburg once. I think we paid $99 and got two nights hotel lodgings and a couple meal vouchers. The tour was fine until we started asking questions and they thought they had us interested. We ended up being there for four hours. I ended up in tears and demanding our vouchers. My sister was caring for our two kids at the hotel and was frantic about what took us so long. (no cell phone back then). While we had a great place to stay (Williamsburg Inn) many of the other people waiting for their appointments talked about being put up at a Red Roof Inn and a Holiday Inn. It was a real turn-off to these things.

We do recommend Marriott as a more low-key timeshare sales program. We did two tours (a couple years after the above incedent) and weren't ready to buy. No problem. We did buy eventually, and have loved our purchase.

 

[happymommy]

I agree about if you're going to do one, go with Marriott.

You can even call them and see what they have to offer. We own at Marriott (Ko Olina). They are less pressure, but still you have to go in with the right mindset if you're not going to buy.

They are not a scam at all with that company. Just understand the details, cancellation policy, etc... ahead of time.

Also, if you have any friends that own timeshares that trade with II, you can have them look into getaway weeks. All of the ones I've done in Orlando have been getaways, even over spring break. Typically I've paid about $350 for a week on those. They are prepaid, and you are treated like an owner (no maid service, but I don't want that anyway in a condo), but a great deal! That was how in 2012 we did 15 nights (overlapping weeks) for less than $800.