Timeshare?

[maymom96]

I hope I am posting this in the correct spot. Has anyone stayed at a resort or condo for a reduced rate in exchange to taking an "informative" tour of the hosting resort? If so, what did you think of it? If you did't buy into the timeshare, was it worth your time in order to get the lodging you did?

 

[Brian Noble]

You should figure that, generally, the cash value of anything you get is giong to be not much more than $150 or so. It will take at least three hours, and if you are married, your spouse must attend with you.

So, the question is, what's an hour of your time worth? If the answer is $25, or more, don't bother with the timeshare tours.

 

[larry12468]

I hope I am posting this in the correct spot. Has anyone stayed at a resort or condo for a reduced rate in exchange to taking an "informative" tour of the hosting resort? If so, what did you think of it? If you did't buy into the timeshare, was it worth your time in order to get the lodging you did?

I have and I think it is worth it.

I have taken several of the timeshare resort tours that I found online .


Saved me a lot of money on the accommodations and actually some of the tours are pretty interesting.

Larry

 

[HeatherC]

I'm of the opposite opinion. We have gotten such great deals on timeshares in Orlando that I can't even imagine taking the time sit in on one of these presentations.

Check out skyauction....you can get a timeshare for around $250 for a week total and no presentation! Only $50 more sometimes than those 3 days for $199 deals.

That being said, I know a lot of people do them and don't mind it. So I think it is a personal preference.

Heather

 

[Mari annie]

Happy trips!

 

[CarolA]

I won't do it.

I have done the DVC and Marriott tours. They were very low pressure and you don't get as much in the way of "free" gifts.

I don't want to have to deal with the manager's manager on the "Final offer" The way those salespeople treat you is just insane. Not worth me having to be rude and mean while I am on vacation..... If you can get out in 90 minutes you are a genius. And remember the time they spend giving you "free breakfast etc" does not count towards their 90 minutes.

I have read enough posts and talked to enough folks who have done these tours in the past few years to know the ONLY way you get out in 90 minutes on most of these is to keep DEMANDING to be given whatever they promised and quoting the law. Not my idea of a good time!

 

[Mari annie]

4/10 FL SUNSHINE can't wait.

 

[DBC]

We just got back from the Sheraton Vistana Resort. We took their 4 night 2 bedroom for $150 deal ($250 plus $100 cash back). We were in the old section, but the room and grounds were immaculate.

At first glance it's kind of intimidating because it's so damn big and everything is so close together. But once you move in and keep to the area around your pool and clubhouse it's quite easy to deal with. They had a really nice basketball court too, which my son loved.

They asked if I was interested in getting an additional $70 back by attending a breakfast seminar and I said "no thanks" and that was that. I was never approached again.

I'd take that deal again next year in a second if it's offered. We had a HUGE clean room and the pools, health club & location were fantastic.

We are considering this deal for next year:

http://www.marriottvillas.com/affiliates/getawaynow/offer_gv.jsp

I'm sure the 90 minute version won't be a picnic but there's no way they can sell me a timeshare so it doesn't worry me, I just don't want to waste the 90 minutes.

Does anyone know of any similar offers out there at other places?

 

[Mari annie]

Happy Vacations to all!

 

[kennyfan]

We've set through several presentations in different areas and it is worth it. You usually get tickets, dinners, extra spending money. Just depends on what you feel like doing. Sure their goal is to get you to purchase the timeshare, but if you don't want to they can't make you. So if you're comfortable saying no, it's not a big deal.

 

[tiff211]

We have done quite a few for the "perks"! Dh and I actually started making a game out of it. Role playing and being creative with our answers. I do it again since we tightened our vacation budget but we cut up our credit cards and I think you have to use it to book a timeshare. Anyone know of any that you don't?

 

[bbump]

On 2/26/07, I went with a friend to FL because she purchased a "timeshare" package that included 3 nights hotel and 2 theme park tickets.

The Timeshare resort was "Vacation Villiage at Parkway"

On 2/26 we had to check in at 9pm to a Ramada hotel on Hwy 192.
After we checked in, they told us we had to drive in the opposite directly on 192 to the "Welcome Center".
We got to the Welcome Center at 9:20 am.

We were introduced to our "guide" at 9:30 and he told us we were going for a sit-down breakfast. I asked if we could skip the breakfast and just go on with the tour, but he said the breakfast was a mandatory part of the tour and if we skipped it, we would not receive our tickets.
I also asked how long the whole thing would take and he said "A little over 2 hours"

So, we drive to Celebration with our guide for a sit down breakfast, which was nice because we chose to sit outside on the patio.

Then our guide told us the presentation would start at 10:30 pm. (an hour and a half past our 9am check in time)

We get to the conference room at 10:30 and were the only ones in the room, so we had to wait until 11am for the room to fill up with other guests!!!!!

Then we view the group presentation which lasted a half hour.

Then we tour the condo and pool area.

Then we are directed into a packed room with tables and many people who are getting talked into trying to purchase a deeded timeshare.

We said no to 3 people total and then we went back to the welcome center to pickup our tickets.
We left the Welcome Center at 1:30 Pm!!!!!!!!

The total amount of time wasted was 4.5 hours!!!!!!
This was not worth wasting half a day to me.... we could have bought our own tickets and been on half the rides by that time.

That's just how my experience went.
It was my 1st timeshare experience and perhaps my last.

 

[Mari annie]

enjoy your trips

 

[CarolA]

Oh good grief. This is way too much work. Just don't go LOL!

Then you avoid spending untold hours researching the law, fighting with them, complaining when they don't play by the rules and generally wasting your time.

 

[Mari annie]

4/10 can't come soon enough.

 

[Brian Noble]

I am very outspoken anyway

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