When we talk about timeshare rentals, we usually deal with two major issues. The first goes something like this: “ we don’t own a timeshare and would like to try renting one.” The question really is, ” would we be better renting a timeshare or should we look around to buy?” The second issue is: “ we have more timeshares or points than we can use in a given year and we would like to rent it to help pay for some of the maintenance fees.” Let”s take a look at these two areas and explore some of the pros and cons of each.
The first question is “ should I rent a timeshare?” If you have never stayed in a timeshare, then it would be a good idea to rent one and try it out. That way you would have a feel for the timeshare vacation. You also get to meet other folks who own timeshares and you can ask them what they think about owning and using their timeshares. Also if you can’t take a vacation every year, it probably would be more cost effective to rent when you want to vacation, than to buy and not be able to use it. Over the long haul we think it is better to buy timeshares through the resale market and use them every year. The overall cost would be lower if you own and use it every year versus renting every year. You can read some of our other posts about using and buying timeshare on this site.
Those people interested in renting often need help on where to find rental timeshares. First, check with family and friends. Many times you might know someone who owns a timeshare and would be happy to rent it to you. They often will give you a good price and you have first hand knowledge from them about the resort you would be renting. There are also a number of sites on the internet that have sections where timeshare owners can post a resort that they are interested in renting. So check some of them out: TUG, Red Week, Wyndham user group.
You can also do a google search for timeshare renting. EBay has numerous listings for timeshare rental. Be sure to check the feedback on the ad. You can also check directly with a timeshare resort. If you know of one that you want to go to, call them, as they often have programs in place to rent out weeks for owners that cannot use their weeks.
The second area that we want to examine involves having extra points or timeshare weeks that you would like to rent out. If you want to keep it simple, check with family, friends, coworkers, etc. and see if any of them would have an interest in renting. You can work out the costs, dates, etc. with little problem. If you are sending someone to your timeshare, you need to check with the resort to see what is needed for your guests to check in. Some will want something in writing while others require you to purchase a guest certificate.
You could also use the same suggested sources above to list your timeshare for rent. Some charge a fee to list your rentals, but many people have good luck using these sources to rent their timeshares. Also, use these sites to get an idea of what you can charge based on your resort, size of unit and time of year that you will be renting. Keep in mind that renting will take some work and time, but it should generate some money to help pay your maintenance fees.
Good luck with either renting a timeshare for your vacation or with renting out a timeshare you cannot use.
