Member-only story
Prepay your vacation travel
Timeshare 101 — Yes? No? Maybe!
It’s no longer the annual week-in-the-same-place-and-time experience
After I wrote my piece on why I bought into a timeshare (for the third time), someone asked me how they might get started exploring this. So here is MY perspective on researching what is commonly called, “buying a timeshare.”
While timeshare properties still exist, what I discuss here is timesharing with a twist — they are better called “vacation clubs.” Along with describing my experience and thoughts on this type of vacation, I also list five considerations you need to make before getting involved.
NB: I am neither a professional in the timeshare/vacation club field, nor do I represent in any way the vacation club we joined, nor am I a financial advisor. I am sharing my personal thoughts and experience. You need to do your own due diligence before deciding whether this is for you.
In a traditional timeshare, you buy the rights to use a specific piece of property for a specific length of time, typically a week, at a specific time of the year. You can use it or skip going. If you want to go somewhere else, or use your property at a different time of the year, you need to find someone to “swap” with, though it may also cost money…