Time share problem

[Jermy]

depends on the points u wish to purchase. if i dun remember wrongly, its min 10,000 pts which translate to about USD10k.

on top of that, u have to pay a yearly maintenance like around USD300 for every 10k points.

 

Yup, abt there. I got the 20,000pt package in 2005 for USD20k paid by monthly installations. Whoever is interested, lemme know & I can get u in touch with the rep to understand more. Currently they have a 4-day/3-night complimentary vacation in a 2-bedroom villa suite apartment at Marriott Vacation Club in Phuket (a weekend surcharge will apply) for interested parties. The conditions of participation are indicated below:

 

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: In order to qualify for this referral package, participants must be married couple age between 30 and 65 years old with combined annual income of at least US$65,000, vacation annually and spends an average of over USD 100 per room night, and must attend a 90-minute sales presentation on Marriott Vacation Club, Asia-Pacific. Both partners must travel together and attend the sales presentation together. Individuals may purchase separately. Presentation will be in English (special languages are on request). Presentation times will be pre-assigned by Marriott Vacation Club on the day before departure only. Failure to satisfy these conditions will result in the participant being charged the full retail value of the accommodations, up to US$1,500. The package is not transferable and non-refundable. Excluded from this offer are previous participants in a Marriott Vacation Club, Asia Pacific presentation in Phuket, Thailand, Marriott Vacations Worldwide employees, existing members of Marriott Vacation Club and groups of more than one couple travelling together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hydrocarbon]

depends on the points u wish to purchase. if i dun remember wrongly, its min 10,000 pts which translate to about USD10k.

on top of that, u have to pay a yearly maintenance like around USD300 for every 10k points.

 

So after purchasing the points, I can use the points to exchange for vacation? Overall, is it cheaper than just going for the vacation through travel agency instead?

[Yeshe]

So after purchasing the points, I can use the points to exchange for vacation? Overall, is it cheaper than just going for the vacation through travel agency instead?

 

it depends on what u define as cheaper.

some people prefer to save the $$$ and when have enough will budget for an amount for vacation. however, such budget constraint will usually limit u to class of travel n hotel. now considering i have this package with me now, do i need to bother about quality of vacation? not exactly because i have already ( some of u might say ) pay upfront already and i get to enjoy staying in any marriots grp hotel around the world for the next 42yrs.

 

by the way, i do not travel with any travel agencies. free n easy is the best way to go with online bookings on travel n accomodation so easily available.

[Ingenius]

I disagree , on the contrary , signing up a time share programme is limiting oneself to the destinations offered by the firm, e.g. only marriot hotels. if one uses the money he saved up he can choose to stay or go anywhere . Also, paying $10k to $30k upfront plus yearly maintenance fee, doesnt seem worth it at all. Plus you have to factor in the air fair, and have to book early and so on. MIght as well use the money spent for travel packages. Nowdays book flight ticket and hotel online is so much cheaper than before, makes time sharing less attractive already.

Edited June 2, 2013 by Ingenius

[Yeshe]

I disagree , on the contrary , signing up a time share programme is limiting oneself to the destinations offered by the firm, e.g. only marriot hotels. if one uses the money he saved up he can choose to stay or go anywhere . Also, paying $10k to $30k upfront plus yearly maintenance fee, doesnt seem worth it at all. Plus you have to factor in the air fair, and have to book early and so on. MIght as well use the money spent for travel packages. Nowdays book flight ticket and hotel online is so much cheaper than before, makes time sharing less attractive already.

 

ehh... u might be mis informed. the points can also be used for cross hotel partners like hilton etc as well as frequent flyer points to redeem air fare.

anyway, to each for his own because one man's meat can be another's poison.

 

its like some people can spend 10k above on a watch while others might see that stupid waste of $$$

 

[Hydrocarbon]

it depends on what u define as cheaper.

some people prefer to save the $$$ and when have enough will budget for an amount for vacation. however, such budget constraint will usually limit u to class of travel n hotel. now considering i have this package with me now, do i need to bother about quality of vacation? not exactly because i have already ( some of u might say ) pay upfront already and i get to enjoy staying in any marriots grp hotel around the world for the next 42yrs.

 

by the way, i do not travel with any travel agencies. free n easy is the best way to go with online bookings on travel n accomodation so easily available.

 

Thanks for your information. I also dislike travelling with tour agencies / fixed tour route. Though probably can see more things that way, I feel that tour groups are very rushed, from place to place, just to see the attraction, take a few photos, and scoot off to the next destination. Plus, the thing I hate the most is that the tour groups will bring you to a shop that sells souvenirs for higher price, and give commission to the tour guide. I rather lepak lepak, go wherever I want, whenever I want. Just need to do some research online and settled.

 

[Celicar]

ehh... u might be mis informed. the points can also be used for cross hotel partners like hilton etc as well as frequent flyer points to redeem air fare.

anyway, to each for his own because one man's meat can be another's poison.

 

its like some people can spend 10k above on a watch while others might see that stupid waste of $$$

I think so long as linked to reputable hotel chains like your Marriott cross-tie with Hilton then maybe can be worth, but majority of time share is not at that level. I have attended talks by those dubious ones (those sessions with blasting music kind). I will straightaway flip to the section on the participating hotels in Singapore so that I can gauge the quality. From there I know those are cmi kind and I just switch off.

[Yeshe]

Thanks for your information. I also dislike travelling with tour agencies / fixed tour route. Though probably can see more things that way, I feel that tour groups are very rushed, from place to place, just to see the attraction, take a few photos, and scoot off to the next destination. Plus, the thing I hate the most is that the tour groups will bring you to a shop that sells souvenirs for higher price, and give commission to the tour guide. I rather lepak lepak, go wherever I want, whenever I want. Just need to do some research online and settled.

 

tats the point, a vacation is to relax and do NOTHING

[Yeshe]

I think so long as linked to reputable hotel chains like your Marriott cross-tie with Hilton then maybe can be worth, but majority of time share is not at that level. I have attended talks by those dubious ones (those sessions with blasting music kind). I will straightaway flip to the section on the participating hotels in Singapore so that I can gauge the quality. From there I know those are cmi kind and I just switch off.

 

yes i agree. in general alot of fraudent time share companies have put a bad name to "vacation ownership" and i have been to one of those before. total waste of time.

[Azhiwen]

Worse thing is they waste alot of your time trying to hardsell you their packages and not let you leave.

[Darryn]

I disagree , on the contrary , signing up a time share programme is limiting oneself to the destinations offered by the firm, e.g. only marriot hotels. if one uses the money he saved up he can choose to stay or go anywhere . Also, paying $10k to $30k upfront plus yearly maintenance fee, doesnt seem worth it at all. Plus you have to factor in the air fair, and have to book early and so on. MIght as well use the money spent for travel packages. Nowdays book flight ticket and hotel online is so much cheaper than before, makes time sharing less attractive already.

 

Different strokes for different folks -

 

Everybody style is different

[Vivant511]

we have vacation time share with a reputable chain.

 

At first, I was sceptical, but found as long as you purchase a package from a REPUTABLE and LARGE hotel chain, then it actually all works out quite nicely.

 

Knowing that when you travel, all you've left to pay is air-fare and things like room service, etc, makes it easier to deal with. And the facilities is always at a high standard.

 

This I know doesn't mean that what've you've prepaid is guaranteed for life (even the largest of banks fail), but our family has found it to be very good and happy we have it.

 

But yes, horses for courses, strokes for folks, it would be too much for some/most to pay upfront. And the argument is always there limiting choices, etc...but do your homework and you'd determine if it's right for you or not.

[Hydrocarbon]

At first, I was sceptical, but found as long as you purchase a package from a REPUTABLE and LARGE hotel chain, then it actually all works out quite nicely.

 

But yes, horses for courses, strokes for folks, it would be too much for some/most to pay upfront. And the argument is always there limiting choices, etc...but do your homework and you'd determine if it's right for you or not.

 

Most of the time when I travel, it'd be 3-4 star hotels, so actually, the facilities don't concern me so much as long as the place is clean. I travel more to see the sights and experience a different culture.

 

As bro Yeshe has shared, we'd need to pay about 10k upfront, and he gets guaranteed facilities. Thanks for all your information, I'll do some more research to see if it's worth it for me, and if bro Vivant511 can share which company / hotel he's purchased the timeshare from, it'd be great too. Once again, thanks.

[Acemundo]

so far a lot of dud timeshare in Singapore.

 

but I have to say Marriott is the respectable one. try also some linked with the Wyndham group, they are quite respectable business

[Vivant511]

Most of the time when I travel, it'd be 3-4 star hotels, so actually, the facilities don't concern me so much as long as the place is clean. I travel more to see the sights and experience a different culture.

 

As bro Yeshe has shared, we'd need to pay about 10k upfront, and he gets guaranteed facilities. Thanks for all your information, I'll do some more research to see if it's worth it for me, and if bro Vivant511 can share which company / hotel he's purchased the timeshare from, it'd be great too. Once again, thanks.

 

My travels are mixed - sometimes for new activities and exploration which I dont care much about where I stay. Others is for a complete unwind with wifey so pampering amenities are high on the agenda.

 

I'm happy to share that I went with Marriott. Through the dozen times we've travelled so far to differing locations I've never been disappointed. Another chain a close family friend is with is Anantara, which is also very good according to her.

 

I think a rule of thumb is...is you haven't heard of the hotel before, or they say are affiliated with hotels X,Y and Z but not so many of their own, safer to stay away. A lot of the time, they say we have this location, that location, but truth be told many of them are not built yet!

[Hydrocarbon]

My travels are mixed - sometimes for new activities and exploration which I dont care much about where I stay. Others is for a complete unwind with wifey so pampering amenities are high on the agenda.

 

I'm happy to share that I went with Marriott. Through the dozen times we've travelled so far to differing locations I've never been disappointed. Another chain a close family friend is with is Anantara, which is also very good according to her.

 

I think a rule of thumb is...is you haven't heard of the hotel before, or they say are affiliated with hotels X,Y and Z but not so many of their own, safer to stay away. A lot of the time, they say we have this location, that location, but truth be told many of them are not built yet!

 

I see. My travels are more in the first section, for new activities and exploration.

 

Thanks for the tips, will look out for more well known / better reputation hotel chains. Though the sian portion is paying upfront, the money is locked up somewhere, cannot be used for other purposes already.

[Vivant511]

yes I know what you mean about money locked up.

 

speaking on a practical sense and making no judgement, if you have the money upfront to comfortably purchase, then it's a great idea :)

 

If it's not then I think from a cashflow perspective it would be wiser to try to score cheap deals on Stayz.com, Kayak, Agoda, etc.

 

As you say you're more into the activities outside the hotel, so why plush it up and not use it?

 

Good luck with your choice bro

 

[Hydrocarbon]

yes I know what you mean about money locked up.

 

speaking on a practical sense and making no judgement, if you have the money upfront to comfortably purchase, then it's a great idea :)

 

If it's not then I think from a cashflow perspective it would be wiser to try to score cheap deals on Stayz.com, Kayak, Agoda, etc.

 

As you say you're more into the activities outside the hotel, so why plush it up and not use it?

 

Good luck with your choice bro

 

Currently, not very practical for me, so will give it a pass. But will keep in mind the advice given by you guys, so if I do take it up in future, will be more prepared.

 

Thanks for everything!