To TUG or not

[Dis Hawk]

Being new to DVC and timeshares in general, I was wondering if anyone belongs to the "Timeshare User Group" (TUG)? If so what are the benefits. Will membership help if booking through BVTC or II?

Thanks for all your advice!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, Dis Hawk. Just my opinion, but TUG is a general timeshare site that is not overly DVC friendly.
If you are interested in timeshares in general I guess it would be a very good site. As far as DVC goes, this is the place to be.

MG

 

[jmatias]

I'm a Marriott owner and new DVC owner and have been a member of TUG for about 3 years now.

TUG is full of tons of great information about timesharing. Some of the things I really find helpful are the resort reviews, trade tests, and the sightings forum.

Members of TUG are really knowledgeable and helpful with whatever question you may have.

I really recommend you join. TUG is to timesharing what the disboards is to WDW.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Have not yet assessed whether it is worth the $15 it cost me to join, as I just joined last week and have yet to go to the members only sections. I expect TuG will give you better information on possible World Passport collection trade-outs, since it has member ratings of various non-Disney timeshares. I joined bcs we inherited another timeshare from my late FIL, which we intend to trade-out for the most part until we sell it (both of which I will need TuG information for).

But hey, it's all of $15 to join.

 

[NCRedding]

I joined TUG to research other timeshares that I might possibly buy. I have found the people knowledgeable and friendly.

 

[BeckyV]

Tug is worth joining especially if you are planning trips to other areas or timeshares. The wealth of information has really benefited me.

NCRedding-I see that you are from NC. Email me if you are interested in some other timeshares. Our other resort HOA has some good foreclosure buys.


Becky

 

[borncinderella]

I joined TUG 3 months ago after I got home from WDW and had joined SSR. Best $15 I ever spent. For one thing, it really made me thankful for buying into DVC. It helped me to evaluate DVC compared to how other timeshares worked, as well as compare ratings of the DVC resorts compared to resorts around the country.
The second thing TUG did was introduce me into the world of timeshare. I am decades away from retirement (OK, that sounded awfully grim, didn't it?), but we had been looking into buying a cabin (wow, expensive). "Timeshare" was a dirty word growing up, and everyone had a cabin (anyone else feel like this is a midwest thing?). However, in Colorado, a "cabin" is a six digit undertaking -- nevermind the lost weekends in upkeep. I knew nothing about timeshare. Now that I do, it is a much less expensive way to travel to the places we want to go -- and so much more flexible than I ever realized. Puchasing timeshares are much less expensive than buying a second home (I don't have a lot of vacation time, anyway), and no upkeep! Still shopping in my own backyard, but having joined TUG I am THRILLED to be in DVC! Yes, there are a lot of TUGers who are not DVC's greatest fans. That was why I joined, though -- to get the other side of the story. (My conclusion? Most either are not interested in going to WDW, or feel DVC is just plain too expensive; if it were $2500 or under, now you are talking! . Seriously, it is a nice balance to the DIS Boards. I will say, however, that logging in here is a huge to my day.)

My advice? Particularly if you are new to timeshare, join TUG before you spend any money. It will give you the whole story on all of timeshare, and bring up topics you might not even imagine existed. My $0.02. Hope it helps.

 

[Dean]

I agree that TUG is a great resource but it is somewhat anti DVC. But many DVC members are anti "timeshare" as well. It is invaluable for checking out exchange options and other possible timeshare purchases. At $15 for year one and $10 per year after that (or $25 for 3 years), it's quite a bargain. Same could be said for DIS as well.

 

[TnRobin]

I joined TUG about 2 years ago. I have found it to invaluable at rating the possible DVC exchanges into II. I like to look up the II exchanges on the TUG to see if they are rated at the same or near same quality as DVC. From it I have narrowed my request through MS.

 

[bynum66]

I too am a member of TUG. When I joined, I didn't know much about timeshares and like most people thought timesharing was just a scam. I read those boards for months, and still do, before I purchased 3 inexpensive timeshares and have never looked back. Purchasing a timeshare was one of the best decisions I've made. Especially when my daughter who was 4 when we took our first trip, watches TV and I ask her where is that and she tells me it's the Grand Canyon and says "Mommy remember when we went there" and I look at her and smile. Best $15 dollars I've ever spent.

 

[JudyS]

I'm a TUG member, too, and really like TUG, apart from its antiDVC bent.

You don't have to pay the $15 to post on most of the forums there. The $15 gets you access to the resort review and ratings databases, and to the "sightings" board, where people post really good exchanges as they pop up on II or RCI. I think the $15 is well worth it if you plan to exchange or to buy a non-DVC timeshare.