Because we travel often, occasionally we have ended up in a timeshare on a holiday, or during a holiday season. This can be kind of a mixed bag, especially if most of your family is back home and you and your spouse or significant other are alone in a different place. Or maybe part of your family is there, and some of them aren’t. We thought it might be worth it to explore the idea of spending a holiday in a timeshare–the ups and the downs and how to cope.
Back in 2005, we embarked on a trip to Hawaii in November. We did 4 islands in a little less than 4 weeks. Some friends from home joined us for the first 2 weeks and left a few days before Thanksgiving. We had never really thought that Thanksgiving was a big deal–usually I cook for 3 days, we eat the meal in 30 minutes, and it takes 3 hours to clean it all up! Everyone in the family always comes to our house, bringing a dish here or there–but mostly, we do all the work. So when we planned the Hawaii trip, we felt that we could easily miss that holiday and not feel too bad.
WRONG! We were in Honolulu on Thanksgiving and couldn’t even find a place to eat. The restaurant and hotel buffets were extravagantly expensive. We didn’t feel like cooking and none of our Entertainment Book coupons were good for that day. We ended up having a mediocre meal at Tony Roma’s and missing everyone terribly. Phone calls helped a little, but we decided then and there that missing major holidays was a no-no for us. Timeshare travel might be wonderful, but not on a holiday.
We have since then missed a Memorial Day and a Labor Day and didn’t feel too badly. It helped that we weren’t THAT far away from home (like Hawaii) and that the resorts that we were at had cookouts. Also, to us those are holidays that we might not always celebrate with relatives. But as of now, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Mothers’ Day are days that we work around when we plan our trips.
Recently we stayed at Rams Horn Village in Estes Park, CO. They have a delightful resort party on Thanksgiving Day. Had there been something like that at our Honolulu resort, we might not have been so homesick. The night before Thanksgiving the resort manager distributes thawed turkeys to people who have offered to cook them. (Everyone who wants to signs up ahead of time for a committee).
They bring the cooked turkeys to the Activity Center by noon, at which time the carving committee shows up to carve them. Meanwhile, the decorating/set-up committee goes to work and at 2:00 everyone shows up to eat and brings a dish to pass. The clean-up committee is finished in time to attend the town parade around 4 or 5:00.
Leftovers are put out the following day for those who want to eat again. What a great idea! Several of their guests look forward to visiting every year during this special week–they even have a waiting list. Sounds like it would be kind of hard to be lonesome under those circumstances!
Of course, a great way to NOT miss your family when you are in a timeshare on a holiday is to take them with you! Timesharing accommodations are more like a home away from home, thus making it easier to have guests than in a motel. Usually, with some advance planning, you can house everyone either by using your points or renting extra units. Many great family reunions have taken place, and most resorts will bend over backward to help you achieve one.
So you’re in a timeshare on a holiday. What can you do to avoid the homesick blues? Before you go, call the resort and find out if there are any special activities planned for that day. If not, speak with the Activities Department and suggest a small gathering–maybe a wine and cheese party, an ice cream social–something to bring people together. You could even offer to host it if they will do the publicity. If that’s not going to work, try to seek out other guests before the actual holiday. If you meet people at the Welcome Party, find out if they have plans for that day. Even something simple like playing cards or a game can turn out to be more entertaining than sitting alone watching TV.
Before you go, do some research on the internet (and/or check with the resort) to see if there are any holiday activities planned in the area. If all else fails, before the holiday arrives, plan your day. Decide ahead of time on some enjoyable activities, where you’re going to dine, etc. The important thing is to have a plan, so you don’t feel at loose ends.
Happy Holidays!
