Congratulations to us on our one-year anniversary of Timeshare Tidbits!  The year has gone so fast, and it’s hard to believe that we have accumulated almost 70 posts!  We have enjoyed hearing from so many of you, especially those of you that we have actually met at some of the timeshares where we have stayed.  Please keep your comments coming, and your ideas for new posts.  Hopefully our site has been helpful to you, or at the very least, enjoyable to read.

What’s not to like about the Wyndham Glacier Canyon in the Wisconsin Dells? After a 4-night visit with our entire family, including one 87-year old and 2 grandkids, we can answer that question with a resounding, “Not a thing—it was FANTASTIC!!!”

Now, if you’re not excited about waterparks, you might not be as impressed as we were, but you would still enjoy it. The Dells area is beautiful and woodsy, and there are many things to enjoy other than the waterparks. It’s just that we did 7 waterparks in 4 days, and thus did not have time to do any of the other things! Luckily, we had done some of those things on previous trips.

The really neat thing about this resort is that the waterparks are right there. There are 4 indoor and 4 outdoor parks, and admission is free with your stay. The resort is huge, part of the Wilderness Resort, and pretty much a nirvana for kids. However, the thirty-somethings also enjoyed it immensely, as did the sixty-somethings. So not only do you get a rustic unit with beautiful furnishings, you get free entertainment, besides. As far as family value, we think this Wyndham has all the others beat, except for possibly the new one (also with a waterpark) in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Speaking of paradise for kids, they also have 3 arcades with games. The kids earn tickets which they can redeem for prizes—SO COOL! Mini-golf, ziplining and go-karts are also available at the resort. And, of course, this resort would be ideal for winter getaways, as you can get to the indoor waterparks without going outside. Most of them are about a 15-minute walk from the units, but shuttles run all the time.

We had a 2-BR and a 3-BR and had more room than we knew what to do with. The kitchens were well-stocked, the ceilings were high, the fireplace was gorgeous, the beds were comfortable. The furnishings seemed new and we had nice balconies overlooking a grassy area. The large, flat panel TV’s in all the bedrooms and the living room were a nice addition.

There was a small store off the lobby area which was nice for picking up incidentals, small grocery items and lattes. The staff was friendly and helpful when we asked for directions. There are some restaurants on site, but we didn’t eat at any of them, so really can’t comment on those.

And what are those other kid and adult things to do, besides the waterparks?
You can experience the true beauty and uniqueness of the Dells when you embark on one of the amphibious “Ducks,” that travel on land or water. There are Upper Dell and Lower Dell tours, the Upper being the most popular and more interesting. You can also visit the summer home of the Ringling Bros. Circus, where they actually stage small circus shows with live animals, clowns, etc. The Circus World museum is fascinating, and home to many rare circus wagons. A short drive to Baraboo will bring you to the International Crane Foundation, where you can see the 15 different fascinating species of cranes from all over the world.

Downtown Dells has many souvenir stores that are kind of kitschy, but there is a wonderful covered, outdoor outlet mall that has all your major outlet stores. There is an excellent cheese store (this IS Wisconsin!) very close to the resort with free tasting and very reasonable prices. (Where else can you buy blueberry cheddar???) And has anyone ever heard of Tommy Bartlett? A Dells visit isn’t complete without attending one of his amazing water ski shows or the Exploratory, with over 150 interactive science and technology displays. There is also a very nice casino, the Ho-Chunk, for the adults in your party.

And about an hour away is the town of Spring Green, home to Taliesen, Frank Lloyd Wright’s summer home and school. And very close to that is The House on the Rock, which can’t even be explained in print—you have to see it!

So if you’ve never been to Wisconsin, or even if you have, don’t bypass Wisconsin Dells, because it truly is a vacation wonderland! And check out the Wyndham Glacier Canyon Resort, because it is, without a doubt, one of the best! By the way, if there aren’t enough waterparks for you at Glacier Canyon, there are about 25 other ones close by–that’s why the Wisconsin Dells earned the title, “Waterpark Capital of the World!”

I can’t afford to take a vacation!  In this economy how can we go on vacation?  Where has all my money gone– NO vacation this year!

We hear these statements frequently from friends and family and would like to discuss some of the ways you can take a cheap timeshare vacation every year.  You need it and deserve it!

First, let’s talk about buying a timeshare week.  Do NOT purchase a week from the developer, as they are very expensive and you will get very little of your money back when you go to sell.  We have bought several of our timeshares off eBay.  You need to follow several auctions that are going on and only bid on ones that are using a closing company.

The closing company will take care of everything needed for the closing and the transfer of the deed.  They will hold the money in an escrow account until you have the deed, before they will release money to the seller.  Also, expect to pay a closing fee of around $300.00 to $500.00; sometimes you can split this with the seller.  We also call the resort on any listings we are interested in (before we bid) to make sure it is a free and clear week with no back taxes, special assessments, etc.

You can also check with friends, co-workers, etc. in reference to weeks they are not using.  Perhaps they would be interested in selling.  Right now, with the poor economy, people are even willing to give a week away for free just to get out from under the maintenance fee. You can also talk to a resort and possibly pick up a week that is in foreclosure.

Look closely at the maintenance fees that you will be required to pay every year.  Our cheapest one-week maintenance fee is only $411.00 per year. Some can run over $1000.00 per week.  This makes a week fairly expensive if you are trying to take a cheap vacation.  In the long run you will save a lot if you can get a week with low fees, and if the week trades well (if it is in a good location) you can trade into more expensive resorts.

Once you have a week, you can begin to plan your vacation.  If you bought a fixed week at a resort, you simply go to the resort the week that you own and enjoy your vacation. If you want to trade the week, you need to join RCI or II to trade– which one will depend on the resort you purchased at.  You can then trade your week to go to different resorts and/or at different times of the year.  You can often take a one bedroom week and trade it for a larger unit.   We just recently traded a studio for a three bedroom in Myrtle Beach during spring break, using RCI.

If you bought points in say, the Wyndham system, you can trade these points through RCI for another week.  You can also use your points to stay at any Wyndham Timeshare and they have a lot of resorts all over the country.  You use more points for weekend stays vs. weekday stays. You use more points for a larger unit, like a three bedroom, vs. a small unit, like a studio.  Finally, you use more points for travel in a high demand season vs. off-season. So look at the resorts and plan to get the most out of your points.

Now that you have your vacation scheduled, let’s cover some of the ways to save money on your cheap timeshare vacation.  First of all, if you drive, it is almost always cheaper than flying and renting a car. Sometimes you have a large enough unit that you can invite friends along and charge them to cover some of the cost.  Also, because most timeshares have a kitchen, you can save a lot of money by fixing meals rather than going out for every meal.  We usually do a little of both, which cuts costs.

Most timeshares have excellent amenities, so you can save money by enjoying the resort rather than spending money on local attractions. The resort usually provides activities for kids, and that  helps out with planning entertainment.  In addition, they frequently offer discounts to area attractions or activities that also save money.  Many resorts offer tours of the area or sights, and they provide transportation for a fee.  Instead of paying so much per person to do this, simply drive your group to the site and tour by yourselves.

We travel a lot and enjoy cheap timeshare vacations.  You can too!

If you can ever manage to trade into a timeshare on Sanibel Island, by all means, do it! Unfortunately, that is not an easy thing to do, as most Sanibel owners use their weeks. Not surprising, as it is a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily demands and urban living. Of course, if you’re into night life, malls, theater, etc. then Sanibel is not for you.  Actually, one of the most popular activities on the island is shelling.

On the Southern Gulf in Florida, this resort island has access by a toll causeway costing $6.00. The charge is only for the trip onto the island– it’s free to leave.  Sanibel is a barrier island best known for its seashells.  Each tide brings in new shells for one to explore and find.  The best time to go shelling is in the early morning, and the islanders have coined the term, “Sanibel Stoop.” This refers to people who are looking for shells who are, of course, stooped over.  The island is also known for its lush green vegetation, bird life, lighthouse and fine sand beaches.  What more would you need for a great vacation destination?

It has numerous paved paths for bicycling and this is a favorite activity of visitors.  Also it’s popular for all the usual water activities like swimming, boating, fishing, sailing, etc.

You will find on the island the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. This is an excellent museum with displays showing the history and art of shells.  An excellent children’s area with hands- on learning is great for the young ones in your party.

The J.D. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is found on the island.  This refuge has more than 6,400 acres and is great for bird watching, canoeing and wildlife tours.  You can also take nature and sea life cruises from the refuge which gives background of the area as well as excellent viewing of wildlife.   They last 90 minutes with several viewing opportunities.

The island also has many great dining locations; over 25 restaurants are located around the island.  You can find great seafood and several sandwich and burger places to meet everyone’s taste.  One of our favorites is Cheeburger, Cheeburger, where you can be in their exclusive club by downing a “Pounder” burger. They take your picture next to a fabric “Pounder,” and put in on their Wall of Fame. (No, we didn’t do it!)

For accommodations, there are numerous timeshares on the island as well as hotels and inns to number about 20 other places to stay.

There are a number of areas for shopping for local gifts as well as gifts of the sea that are great fun to look at and wander through.  For a restful, laid-back getaway, Sanibel is a great island that should provide days of great vacationing!

As always, the answer to that question depends on circumstances, and your particular vacation needs.  We own 5 weeks in Traverse City at Pinestead Reef, an RCI Resort.  It is approximately a 3-hour car drive from our home, right on the beach of Lake Michigan.  Because it is so close, and 4 of our 5 weeks are Flex Weeks, we can break it up into 1-6 day intervals if we don’t care to stay an entire week.  Often it can be fairly last minute.

This is an older, Silver Crown resort, built in the 1980’s, that has an excellent manager.  There are 46 units that are re-furnished every 5 years, and while it is not elegant, it is homelike and cozy. Traverse City is a thriving area with great restaurants, good shopping, 2 casinos, many wineries, and close access to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, Sault St. Marie, Mackinac Island, and other tourist destinations.  Since it was sold out long ago, only resales are available.  The prices are amazingly low, compared to our other timeshare purchases, and it trades very well.

So for us, this was a no-brainer.  We deposit our red January week into RCI Points, use our fixed early September week, use our 2 June weeks when the weather is great, and use our early May week as flex. If we have extra days when we can’t be there, we rent them through the resort and use the money for maintenance fees. Also, if you are interested in being on the Board of Directors for your timeshare, living close by would make it easier to attend meetings. So our reasons for buying a timeshare close to home include:

• Short travel times
• Quick getaways
• Love of the area
• Reasonable cost of ownership
• No expensive airfare needed

Here are some other scenarios that illustrate how buying a timeshare close to home might work for you:

Let’s say you live in Knoxville, and own a timeshare in Gatlinburg (about a 40 minute drive).  Your middle school daughter wants a sleepover birthday party, but wishes it could be more special than the usual.  So you use your points, or rent, 2 very large units that maybe sleep 6- 8 people, making sure you have at least one adult sleeping in each unit, of course! The kids can use the pool and sports facilities at the resort, and you can order pizza for dinner.  You can use your timeshare kitchens to make breakfast (maybe, Baggie Omelets?)  Buy a cake, see some of the sights, and you have a party!  And, you save wear and tear on your own home!

Similar scenario:  You live in Las Vegas, and egad! Guess who’s in charge of the 5-year Family Reunion this year??? Use your points, or better yet, rent units and charge everyone!  With resort activities, pools, saunas and fitness rooms, you have lots of built-in entertainment for everyone (and you don’t have to clean your house before they come!)  Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have all those casinos around, either.

Last one:  You’ve just found out that Uncle Harvey and Aunt Nadine are coming to visit for the weekend.  But your house is a dusty mess because you’re remodeling the kitchen, and right now you can’t even cook in it.  If you live close to your timeshare, why not put them up in it for the weekend? You might even have a more enjoyable visit, because everyone will have more privacy.

Of course, buying a timeshare close to where you live might not even be an option for you in certain parts of the country, because there might not be any nearby!  But if you are committed to timeshare travel, you might want to consider this option. We know of several people (besides us) who have done it!

Technology is supposed to make life easier and help us to be more productive and organized. I don’t always think that is the case, but we can have a lot of fun working with it and trying to use it to make our timeshare travels more enjoyable.  Let’s take a look at the iPhone and iPod and see how we use it before, after and during our timeshare travel.

First some background: The iPhone has been around for a while and has gone through four generations of upgrades. It is first of all a phone.  You must sign a two-year contract with AT&T, the only company that Apple has licensed to use it as a cell phone. The contract is expensive and many areas do not get a good AT&T signal. It would not be my choice for a cell phone.

Shortly after the iPhone was launched, Apple came out with the iPod. The iPod does NOT work as a cell phone, nor does it have a camera built into it, like the iPhone does. The cost runs around $200.00 and can be purchased in several  different stores. The new iPad is larger, but works much the same as the iPod.  I don’t like the size of the iPad, but enjoy the portability of the iPod. You do NOT have a monthly charge or any contracts to deal with.

The iPod it what we own and use on a daily basis, as well as what we use when we timeshare.  We would like to take a look at some of the applications (often called apps) we use and enjoy.  All of the applications we use either came with the iPod or we have purchased them for a small fee from Apple, using the iPod itself. Most of the applications run $.99 and can be purchased for both the iPod or the iPhone.

Internet use: If you have a wireless connection in your home, or if you get to a WiFi hotspot, you can use the iPod and access the internet. Many resorts have free connections in the rooms or the lobby. We also find free hotspots at McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Panera’s, as well as several other restaurants. You can use the iPod to check and send eMails, check the news (both national news as well as news back home), check the weather (which is great for planning your weekly activities), get maps and directions,  look for attractions in the area you are traveling to, as well as anything you normally might use the internet for.  It’s great!

iXpenselt-This is a finance app which tracks monthly and daily expenses.  You set up a budget and then input what you spend and it keeps track of everything.  It is very useful in seeing what you spend on your vacation and in what areas you are spending.  We also use it to plan future trips, and year-round to keep us on track with our finances.

Music-You can download music off your CD’s as well as buy music from the Apple iTune store. Then you can play your music over speakers or with headphones.  We carry a cord which hooks the iPod up in the car as well as to most CD players at the resorts.

Urbanspoon-This app can help you select a good restaurant. It gives you a list by type, cuisine, price or neighborhood.   It also has ratings and reviews from fellow eaters.

Tripit-This is an organizer for all your travel plans. You eMail your plans and it takes care of the rest. It is great for the frequent traveler. It shows your schedule, and keeps you on track for your trip.

Games-There are thousands of games you can install and play all day long. Many are free and some cost $.99. There are games of every kind and for every age group, and are great for traveling. Kids can spend hours playing in the airport, airplane or car. It’s a great device for adults to keep you entertained when you have to wait, just like the kids.

General travel-There are all kinds of additional travel apps.  They have apps for many of the major cities which give you attractions, maps, etc. There are apps for the National Parks, Flight Tracker, Disney World, Universal Orlando, eCurrency, Translator, and on and on. RCI has come out with its own app. It’s nothing great, but does have some useful features.

It should be obvious that we enjoy the iPod and find it very useful when we travel. There are hundreds of additional applications that you can download based on where you are traveling and your interests.  We highly recommend that you get one and start having fun!!!

It seems that the timeshare world is surrounded by negativity. Recently, USA Today did an extensive article that pretty much dumped on timesharing.  A financial “guru” that writes a column that runs in our local newspaper has also warned of the dangers of timesharing.  Even some of our close friends question the wisdom of our timeshare purchases based on what they have heard, rather than their own actual experience.  The following cartoon, courtesy of GoComics, says it all:

The Flying McCoys by Glenn and Gary McCoy

When we talk to people that we meet while timesharing, this negativity does not seem to be present. Yes, there is sometimes frustration and confusion surrounding the usage of their timeshares, but overall they are happy with the vacations that owning timeshares provides. So, we decided to accentuate the positive aspects of timesharing  in this post. Here are 21 reasons why we like timesharing:

1. Timeshares allow you the flexibility to travel all over the world.

2. Timeshares force you to take vacations yearly.

3. Timesharing is cheaper per night compared to most motels.

4. Timeshares provide deluxe accommodations.  Staying in a timeshare unit is like a home away from home.

5. Timeshares provide plenty of room so that you can invite family and friends.  Most timeshares sleep at least 4.  Some can sleep as many as 12, depending on the size of the unit.

6. Timeshares are good for your health.  See our previous post—–

7. Timeshares have cooking facilities so that you can save money by not eating out as often.

8. Timeshares allow you weekly stays which give you more time to explore an area.

9. Timeshares allow you partial week stays if that is your desire.

10. Some timeshares allow you nightly stays.  This comes in handy if you are traveling or need a “tweener.”  A tweener is a night in between—for example, if your timeshare accommodation ends on a Friday and your next timeshare week doesn’t begin until Saturday.

11. Timeshare resorts generally have more amenities than motels.  Most have pools, hot tubs, playgrounds and exercise rooms.  Some have basketball and tennis courts, mini-golf, etc.

12. Most timeshare resorts employ an Activities Director, who organizes games, crafts and social opportunities for kids, teens and adults.

13. Because of all the social opportunities and activities, it is easier to meet people at a timeshare resort.  This allows for sharing travel experiences and information about the area.

14. Timesharing allows you to plan ahead.  (Not everyone would see that as a positive thing, but it works for us!)

15. Owning a timeshare is much easier than owning a vacation home.  Someone else has to do all the maintenance work, yard work and upkeep.

16. Timesharing allows you to vacation in numerous, different locations, rather than returning to the same vacation home again and again.

17. If you buy resale, timesharing is a lower cost investment than buying a second home.

18. Timesharing wins over RVs—see our post —

19. Most timeshare resorts offer informative talks about the area—what to see and do.  They often provide discounts to area attractions.

20. Most timeshares consist of deeded property that can be passed down to family or friends.

21. Timeshare resorts lend themselves to special events like birthday celebrations, reunions, etc.  They provide a comfortable, home-like and fun atmosphere for extended family or friends.

As you can see, we are positive about timesharing, and hope that you are, too.  These are just some of the reasons that we love traveling this way—probably you can come up with others that we haven’t mentioned.  What do ‘ya say? Should we design a bumper sticker that says “HONK IF YOU LOVE TIMESHARING!!?

Probably about once a year, our timeshare travels take us back to the Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg. We never seem to tire of the area and all that it has to offer.  We have been there in just about every season.

One year, we spent a week there in August, and then turned around and spent 4 more days there in September when a hurricane devastated Florida and we had to backtrack on our way down. When the 4 days were over, and the Florida resort told us to come on down, we hated to leave!

So what is so irresistibly alluring about the Smokies?  Part of it, of course, is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With its beautiful trees, wildflowers, big boulders, streams, and waterfalls, it is nature at its best. Unlike most national parks, admission here is free. It is also the most visited of all the parks, though many will attest that the grandeur of the majestic Rockies is so much more enticing.  But there’s something about the misty haze, the “smokiness” that surrounds the mountains that draws you back again and again.

For us, this adventure began some 25 years ago, when my principal mentioned that he’d heard it was a really neat place to visit. We set out with various children and relatives to stay 4 nights in a motel right at the town’s entrance.  (It’s still there today, under a different name).  We had a great time climbing up to Clingman’s Dome, hiking to waterfalls, and, of course, shopping in town. My niece fell in love with salamanders and my son and nephew frightened us all by climbing up in back of a waterfall.

My husband and I visited a few times after that, and when we purchased our first timeshare (Hilton) we needed to deposit our week into RCI or we would lose it, as it was so late in the year.  We booked one of those weeks at Tree Tops Resort in Gatlinburg, knowing that it had a Gold Crown rating.  We were so thrilled to be going back, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to buy a timeshare there.  The resort backs right up to the park and sits right next to the Roaring Fork Creek. We have never been sorry.

In addition to the park experience, this area offers something for everyone.  Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg run together along the parkway leading into the National Park.  There is all the commercial glitz with its mini-golf, bungee jumping, outlet malls, go-karts, mini-amusement park for tots, and, of course, Dollywood. Not only does Dollywood feature rides and shows, but there is also a wonderful water park called Splash Country.

In addition, there is a Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, a Wonderworks, an amazing Aquarium, and a just-opened Titanic Museum. If you’re looking for adventure, there is horseback riding, helicopter rides and white water rafting. The winter ski-lift, Ober Gatlinburg, provides rides up the mountain in the summertime.

For those who enjoy live entertainment, there are several shows featuring everything from comedy to gospel to acrobatics to country.  Some of those featured now are Country Tonite, the Smith Brothers, the Blackwoods, Black Bear Jamboree, Dixie Stampede, Comedy Barn, Sweet Fanny Adams and Cirque de Chine. These shows (and many more) are all excellent, and reasonably priced.  All are family-oriented.

Gatlinburg is home to the superb Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, featuring artists who have created everything from paintings and candles to bread dough ornaments and troll dolls.  This historic 8- mile loop trail, established in 1937, is home to studios, cafes, galleries and workshops.

Restaurants abound, featuring fine dining to fast food.  There are 4 Cracker Barrels in the immediate area, and a Bubba Gump’s in Gatlinburg.  There are also several independent restaurants offering good Southern home cooking. Likewise, there are numerous hotels, cabins, timeshares and RV parks as far as accommodations go.

Something like 1/3 of the country’s population lives within a day’s drive of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. If you’ve never been there, we would urge you to add it to your list of future timeshare travel.  It’s fun, educational, naturally beautiful and inspiring—we love it!

Okay, so we all know that not all timeshares are created equal.  But isn’t it reasonable to expect that when you trade into a timeshare, it should be nicer than a hotel , fairly clean and comfortable?  Especially if it’s a Gold or Silver Crown?

Not necessarily.

Most of us who have timeshared for any length of time have experienced at least one place that we don’t ever want to go back to.  One place that, even if someone paid us, we would not return to.  For us, that place is the Storyville Hotel (it’s really a timeshare, despite the name) in New Orleans. At the time, 2 weeks before Katrina hit, this timeshare was rated Gold Crown by RCI.

Before we book a timeshare that we’ve never been to, we always, always, ALWAYS check the reviews on TUG. Except that time we didn’t.  I can’t remember if there were no reviews, or if we just neglected to check, but we reassured ourselves that this WAS a Gold Crown Resort, so how bad could it be?

Pretty bad.

To begin with, the building was on the edge of a questionable neighborhood, so no walking out there at night.  The French Quarter was a 10-minute walk, so we always made sure we were back before dark, or had to take the car (parking was horrendous wherever we went) or a cab.

But that wasn’t so bad compared to the place itself.  The once-beautiful gardens were overgrown.  The unit was large, with a decent-sized living room, small kitchen and one bedroom.  All of the living room carpeting was wrinkled and stained.  There were mouse droppings in the pots and pans. One day, a very large cockroach-looking thing greeted us when we returned. The bathroom fixtures were very old, with splatterings of something all over the wall.  Sitting down in the stained tub was kind of scary, so I didn’t.

The owner, or person in charge, sat us all down the first evening and told us all about things that we could do in New Orleans.  This was nice, although it did go on for about 2 hours or so.  There are only 5 or 6 units, so we’re not talking a lot of people.  The owner lives in one of the units, and he gave us his cell phone number in case we had any questions or problems.  A few days later, we called him about a minor issue, and he acted somewhat put upon that we would bother him.  We never saw him again, after the first evening.

This place is still listed as a timeshare in the RCI Resort Directory, although when I browsed the internet, it actually seems to be more of a rental place.  Some of the reviews were even okay. Apparently the place was sold, or is under new management as of 2008-2009.  Other reviews indicated that it hadn’t changed that much since our 2005 experience.

Our main goal here is not to “badmouth” any resort, but to stress the importance of reading RCI and TUG reviews before you book—and even then, you may have a bad experience.  Obviously, what’s important to one person may not be important to another in your timeshare travel.  Someone might get really upset over small televisions, while we could care less.  Likewise, we prefer quiet accommodations while someone else may like the party atmosphere.  The important thing is to gather as much info as you can before you commit.

Our other goal is to see if anyone else has a “timeshare horror story.” –that way we can alert others. Let us know your vote for worst timeshare and why!

In our last post, we discussed some of the advantages and disadvantages of  traveling to timeshares vs. traveling with RV’s. We discussed amenities, locations, and the differences in accommodations. It really kind of comes down to what style of vacation you prefer, but the biggest issue is the one we’re going to discuss in this post: the issue of cost.

The first thing you need to look at  is the purchase price.  You can buy a pop-up camper for $4000.00 or a large, top-of-the-line motor home for over a million dollars.  It is also possible to purchase a used RV for a reduced price. When we look at timeshares, you can purchase from the developer at a cost of $15,000.00 to $50,000.00 for a week in prime season in a 2 bedroom.  Just like in the RV world, you can buy timeshares from the resale market at a fraction of the original cost. We have purchased several timeshares for a week in a one bedroom for a few hundred dollars.

Most timeshares are deeded property that you have forever, while the RV does wear out and must be retired or replaced. Of course, if you purchase an RV you could use it 365 days a year, while your timeshare just gives you a week for each one you own.

Another area to think about is your yearly cost.  In the timeshare world, you must pay a yearly maintenance fee which runs from $400.00 to over $1200.00 per week that you own. An RV needs yearly insurance, registration, storage fees, and vehicle maintenance. You must also look at your costs for each trip you take. When you go on a timeshare vacation, you need to get to your destination, and take care of food, either by eating out or cooking in your timeshare.  The RV people have the same decisions about food and they must pay nightly campground fees and fuel for their vehicles.

If you search the internet there are numerous cost comparisons between the RV trip and hotel, car, or flying trip. I think you need to work out the kind of vacations you will take every year and do the math. We timeshare 15 to 18 weeks every year and clearly make out better cost-wise than if we went the RV
route, but that could vary for everyone, depending on your lifestyle.

The last area is about lifestyle and vacations.  Some folks love the idea of having their RV with all their stuff in it when they travel. They enjoy going to parks and meeting people around campfires and the freedom to come and go when and where they want. Others don’t like the idea of camping, even in a motor home, and enjoy the luxury of their timeshares with plenty of room and all the comforts of home.

What’s important is that you take vacations and enjoy yourself. The issue of RV vs. timeshare needs to be looked at keeping each person’s likes and dislikes in mind.  We think you should do the math based on your lifestyle.  List the advantages and disadvantages as you see them and then go for it and ENJOY!!!

Most of us are interested in getting the best vacation for our dollars. We hear many who think they can get more bang for the bucks doing the RV thing. Being timeshare folks, we also hear many who say that they can go more and get a better vacation for their dollars using their timeshares.  We thought we would try to break down some of the numbers and look at both sides of the coin in reference to timesharing and RV’ing.

The first area we might take a look at is the accommodations. RV’s come in numerous sizes, so it can be a little hard to compare with timeshares. Clearly, the larger they are, the more they cost.  Many are well- equipped and provide nice accommodations for a small family, while others are simply a pop-up tent on wheels. Everything is very compact to make use of all the available space.  Some people feel cramped. But on the plus side, you pack it up at home and do not have to hassle moving in and out of a hotel or timeshare. Many have a small kitchen, and you can prepare meals at a savings vs. eating out for every meal.

When we compare this with the timeshare accommodations, there are some clear differences. Timeshares are usually larger, with more square footage. Most come with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, TV’s in each bedroom, large living room and dining area.  There is plenty of room for a family. You can get  1-3 bedroom units that works great for extended families or friends.  We have, on some occasions,reserved more than one unit to include more people.  The timeshare wins in this area with better accommodations.

Let’s look at the amenities and activities at both the timeshare resort and RV park. Many parks and timeshares have pools, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc. They are all a little different but seem to have nice facilities for folks to use as they wish. Some parks and timeshares have very few amenities. You should be aware of what each has and book your stay according to your needs and desires. Some provide all kinds of activities for all ages, and on the other end you can find both parks and timeshares that don’t offer much. I think I would call this one a draw.

Location is another area which we should cover. There are parks and timeshares all over the country. There are also timeshares all over the world, which expands the places you can go as you can trade through your exchange company. It would be hard to take your RV out of the country.  Also, you can fly to locations to get to your timeshare, but your only choice with an RV is to drive. If vacation time is an issue, the RV has its limits when you have a long way to drive. Also, you have the hassle of driving a large rig with the RV and some people might find this difficult. Many have the problem of towing a car along to provide transportation when they reach their destination.  It seems that timesharing wins here.

We’ve just scratched the tip of the iceberg here with our RV and timeshare comparisons. Stay tuned for our next post in which we’ll discuss the financial issues.