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Timeshare getaways: Great values if you are flexible
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Owners Perspective Magazine reports that “Through interaction with our readership it has revealed that half of those who already own timeshare are actively looking to buy again somewhere in the world…”.
Of course a survey of people into timeshare enough to subscribe to a magazine devoted to the industry does not support the headline accompanying the press release, “More than 50% of Timeshare Owners are Interested in Buying More”. It would not be an accurate to predict the thinking of timeshare owners at large, although many do purchase additional time ten years after their initial purchase.
That, however, does not necessarily translate into additional timeshare ownership or usage. Many owners purchasing are upgrading their ownership, not adding to it. They may feel better served by a two-bedroom, and may intend to sell their one-bedroom, or give it to another family member.
In fact, it is not necessary to purchase additional timeshare in order to take additional timeshare vacations; one ownership can offer many opportunities for many owners.
RCI and Interval International offer getaway vacations. Almost all the alternative exchange companies do as well. Another source of additional time would be the management companies.
These getaways can be a week, they can be a night depending on the source; they are always available on short notice. Short notice, in the timeshare industry is usually 59 days or less. The expenses for managing the property are mostly the same, whether a unit is occupied or empty. The staffing is the same, the insurance costs don’t change. The only increase is a little bit more utility usage, which is more than offset if the guest purchases a soda at the snack bar.
Lets look at the cost to the for these getaways. I did a random sampling of the offerings from Interval International, and these are the rates after a $25 discount for Interval Gold Members, all between now and the end of August.
A week in a Caribbean resort, a studio unit for $354. That’s $354 for the week which is shade over $70 per night. A week in a two bedroom would be $774.
Want to take the kids to Orlando instead? One of the 51 weeks available right now includes a one-bedroom at $302 for the week, that’s about $43 per night.. I noted 51 weeks available in Orlando between now and the end of August.
Let’s do Hawaii instead. Of the many to choose from was a week in a two-bedroom for $582. A room two bedroom villa by the beach, about $80 buck a night.
If you are able to be flexible as a traveler, this can work very well for you, especially compared to the cost of owning another week. Forget, for the moment, the investment involved in the initial purchase of a second week. The fixed, ongoing costs include maintenance fees, running between $500-1000 per year. Then there’s an exchange fee, $139 for a domestic trade.
The getaways eliminate those costs. They are not perfect for everyone. A getaway won’t work if you want to string three weeks together for that dream trip to Europe. But you can bank a few years worth of your ownership for that, and use getaways during the years you are banking your week.
Of course, if you absolutely need to be at certain place at a certain time, getaways may not be the answer. But if you just want to go some place nice, and not spend a lot of money, this could work for owners. Incidentally, one of the owner groups that benefits the most from this type of flexibility? Those who own “every other year” programs, giving them one week of timeshare in alternate years. As long as they are members of the exchange company, and their dues are current, they will have access to all the perks from the management company or exchange company.
