Timeshares on Sale

How to find a bargain in the most popular locations.

By Jessica Anderson
From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, October 2007

Bruce and Nancy Robinson were on vacation in Hawaii in 1992 when they attended a timeshare presentation in exchange for luau tickets. By the end of the pitch, the Huntsville, Ala., couple had agreed to pay $16,000 for one week in a two-bedroom unit at the Kona Coast resort that they could trade for properties around the globe.

Then, five years ago, while scanning timeshare listings on eBay, they noticed a highly desirable week for sale in a Key West resort that they had unsuccessfully tried to trade into in the past. The asking price was more than $20,000, but the bidding had stalled at less than a third of that. They ended up buying the week for just $6,000.

The Robinsons have made good use of both timeshares — trading them for other units and renting them out when they’re unable to go themselves. But the Key West deal was definitely the better value. “Knowing what I know now,” says Bruce, “the only way to buy is resale.”

When you can buy a resale timeshare at a discount of 50% or more to the developer’s price — and without sitting through a high-pressure sales presentation — you have to wonder why more people aren’t buying this way. [Read More]
Do you have a particular timeshare destination in mind? Check out Holiday’s resale selection and save from 60% to 80% off retail prices.

Destination Las Vegas: An Outdoor Playground

National Geographic Adventure magazine recently named Las Vegas, Nevada, the best place to live and play in the United States.

Huh?

Indeed, Sin City–known for its glitz and glamour, bright lights and decadence, casinos and mega-resorts–has plenty to offer the outdoor enthusiast, too. In fact, NG Adventure determined that it has “more outdoor action in a 200-mile radius than any other town in the nation.”

And that’s what makes it so appealing to Las Vegas timeshare owners. On each visit to this desert city, vacationers can combine fine dining and Broadway-caliber entertainment with outdoor sports like mountain biking, hiking and skiing.

Where to have your ultimate outdoor adventure in Las Vegas? Here are four options, each less than an hour’s drive from the Las Vegas Strip:

Mount Charleston
In the summer months, nearby Mount Charleston is about 20 to 30°F cooler than the stifling city streets of Las Vegas. That’s because it’s the third highest peak in Nevada; at the base it’s about 2,000 feet above sea level, and it reaches 11,918 feet at its apex. Opportunities abound for hiking, camping, mountain biking and horseback riding. Wintertime brings skiing at the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. Or embrace your inner child and go sledding or tubing on the snowy hills.

Red Rock Canyon
Nearly 200,000 acres of open space make up this National Conservation Area that is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. The area includes a 13-mile scenic drive, more than 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and a visitor’s information center. It’s also revered among rock climbers for its challenging traditional and sport routes on the sandstone crags.

Valley of Fire State Park
This state park is so named because its intriguing rock formations appear to be on fire when they reflect the sun’s rays during certain parts of the day. The park’s buttes, spires and arches were formed by wind and water millions of years ago, and visitors can learn all about the geology at the Visitor Center. Hiking, biking, picnicking and camping can all be enjoyed here.

Lake Mead
Created when the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s, Lake Mead is a paradise for boaters and anglers. Then there’s water skiing, swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Also in this National Recreation Area you’ll find loads of hiking trails. One route that sounds especially appealing is the three-mile trek to Arizona Hot Springs. Here you can soak in the heated groundwater before heading back to the trailhead-or back to the Strip’s gaming tables!

At Ease! Timeshare Webinar Invites Consumers to Boot Camp

SEATTLE — Holiday Resales, a division of Holiday Group, is preparing for its fourth virtual seminar, “Timeshare Boot Camp 101,” which promises to get timeshare consumers in shape by training participants on the basics of timeshare. Push-ups are optional.The seminar will take place at 5:30 p.m. PDT on Thursday, September 27, 2007. Participation will be open to the public. Please visit here for information on registration.
The Timeshare Boot Camp 101 webinar will feature vacation lifestyle expert and writer, Lisa Ann Schreier. “If you’ve shied away from timeshare sales pitches, or have ever wondered why someone is selling their timeshare on eBay for five dollars, this webinar is for you,” said Schreier, author of “Timeshare Vacations For Dummies.”
Web seminars, popularly referred to as webinars, are a convenient alternative to traditional seminars, allowing people to participate via their personal computers from work or in the comfort of their homes. Attendees can both see and hear the seminar as it’s in progress, and can interact with questions or comments of their own.

“This seminar isn’t about sales hype,” Schreier said. “We’re not pushing timeshare on anyone, but I will be giving consumers the relevant information they need in order to make educated choices about timeshare. It’s just a start to what we have planned in the future to provide consumers with in-depth basic training. I’m excited about this venture.”

Holiday’s Director of Sales, Gail Bennett, will host the webinar. “This is Holiday’s fourth webinar, and our audience continues to grow,” Bennett said. “I think it’s because of the knowledge we’ve been able to give them about how timeshare works, so that it’s no longer a mystery. If people feel they’ve learned something of value, then we’ve achieved our goal and it benefits the whole industry.”

Holiday’s webinars offer real-world knowledge about timesharing in a low-pressure, consumer-friendly environment. The Timeshare Boot Camp 101 webinar will last about 30 minutes and be followed by a question and answer session.

“When I was a salesperson,” Schreier noted, “I observed salespeople inadvertently confusing consumers simply by the way they interacted with them about timeshare. After all, it was familiar territory to us. I want to clear all of that out and just talk with people in a way they can understand.”

Related Information
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PDT
Webinar registration
Email: webinars@holidaygroup.com
Webinar home page

About Lisa Ann Schreier

Lisa Ann Schreier a/k/a “The Timeshare Crusader” is the founder of Timeshare Insights, an independent consulting firm. She is the author of both “Surviving A Timeshare Presentation…Confessions From The Sales Table,” and “Timeshare Vacations For Dummies.” In addition to contributing to more than 175 major media outlets in the past few years, she is a sought-after speaker for convention groups. Timeshare Insights does not rent, buy, broker, or sell any timeshares, choosing to focus on consumer education, and in turn forcing positive changes within the timeshare industry.

About Holiday Group

Holiday’s online timeshare business connects thousands of vacation buyers with discount timeshares every year. Founded in 1992, Holiday was one of the first timeshare companies to host a comprehensive Web site. Holiday is headquartered in sunny Seattle. Please visit http://www.holidaygroup.com for more information.
Link

Destination Mazatlan: Attractions for Families

Families who already own timeshares in Mazatlan know that most of the vacation properties are destinations within themselves-with swimming pools, organized poolside activities, restaurants and nightclubs, various sports and fitness options, spa services and more.
For example, folks who buy into the El Cid Vacation Club have annual access to at least three different El Cid resorts in Mazatlan, all with some amazing amenities. Kids have fun frolicking in the man-made caves and slides in the multiple swimming pools, Mom can easily book an on-site massage through a friendly concierge, and Dad can play up to 27 holes of golf at three different resort courses. At the end of the day everyone can gather together to watch the entertainment staff put on a nightly song-and-dance revue.
And when it’s time to venture off Mazatlan’s timeshare properties, there’s plenty for families to do in this bustling resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Consider the half-day city sightseeing tour that stops at Old Town to watch the famous Mexican cliff divers jump from a perch high above the ocean into crashing waves below. Families who want to bypass the bus tour can stop by the cliff-diving platform at lunchtime or in the late afternoon to watch the show.
Many snorkeling outfitters offer catamaran rides to nearby Deer Island for snorkeling, kayaking and the opportunity to get pulled on an inflatable “banana boat.” The crews on these excursions are typically ultra friendly, with plenty of advice on local restaurants and bars and other sightseeing excursions. The trips usually offer an all-you-can-drink bar on board (with juice, soda and water for the kids), and include a Mexican lunch once you reach the island.
Two other kid-friendly attractions: MazAgua, Mazatlan’s water park, featuring water slides, tub rides and a wave pool. And Acuario Mazatlan, with dozens of marine-life tanks, live dolphin shows, a small zoo for mammals and a botanical garden.
Here are some of Holiday Group’s Mazatlan timeshare properties currently for sale.

Wisconsin Dells: Wyndham Announces Wyndham Vacation Resorts at Glacier Canyon

THE DELLS: Wyndham Vacation Ownership announced Sept. 11 the opening of Wyndham Vacation Resorts at Glacier Canyon in Wisconsin Dells. The new, 102-unit resort is the only vacation ownership property located within the complex. It will operate in the company’s Wyndham Vacation Resorts portfolio (formerly Fairfield Resorts).

Adjacent to the Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort, the property offers owners a chance to experience the exciting indoor and outdoor activities found in this popular vacation destination. Due to high owner interest for the area, Wyndham Vacation Ownership already planned for a 99-unit expansion at the resort. Construction of the expansion began in summer 2007. [Read More]

Boomer

History may record 2007 as the year Boomer Web sites boomed. (We suspect 2008 will be known as the year many of them busted, but that remains to be seen.)
As a public service, herewith are sites we’ve found that are attempting to woo Boomers online. So as to not sway your opinion, we’re only listing the site name and tagline — no logos.
If you know or hear of one not yet on the list, please let us know. We’ll update the list as needed. [Read More]

Timeshare Blog Puts Consumers First

Press Release
Thursday September 6, 7:00 am ET
SEATTLE, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Holiday Resales, a division of the Holiday Group, announced today the launch of its new timeshare blog, an in- depth news and vacation lifestyle resource for timeshare owners. Please visit http://timeshare.holidaygroup.com to view the blog.

Timesharing is more popular today than ever. Currently, over four million Americans enjoy vacation ownership, with nearly three million more international owners. But the world of timeshare can be a confusing place to navigate for new owners. Even seasoned timesharers find it difficult to stay current with all the news and changes that occur daily in the timeshare and travel industries.

In keeping with its focus on customer service and innovative consumer education, Holiday’s blog provides timeshare enthusiasts with a central information resource, and gives them the tools they need to get the most out of their vacations.

“We’ve been busy working on the blog, fine tuning, and getting it ready for prime time,” said Holiday’s Marketing Director, Geoff Klein. “We want to not only make it entertaining, but educational as well, so that our readers stay informed on timeshare trends and products. I’m excited about the new categories and features we plan to add over the next few weeks.”

Topics covered by the blog will not only relate to timesharing, but also to anything of interest having to do with travel, including current timeshare news stories, travel tips, destination guides, resort reviews, and travel gadgets and accessories. It will also feature a question-and-answer column and guest articles by timeshare experts, such as Lisa Ann Schreier, author of “Timeshare Vacations for Dummies” (http://www.timeshareinsights.com).

“It’s nice to have a source where you can find current information that relates specifically to timeshare owners, not just the industry,” said Klein. “In other words, how will the news and events of the day affect the ways that people use timeshare?”

Given the profusion of content available on the Internet, Holiday’s timeshare blog lets readers view the information that is most pertinent to their interests and concerns, without having to sift through pages of irrelevant material to find it.

“We don’t want to take creative liberties as some other blogs might do, when they find ways to use news stories that have nothing to do with timeshare,” said Klein. “The blog will be fun to read, but also relevant. The bottom line is we want it to relate to timesharing as a lifestyle.”

Related Links:

http://timeshare.holidaygroup.com/

About Holiday:

Holiday Group was founded in 1992. Its headquarters are in sunny Seattle, Washington. Holiday was a pioneer in online travel services, and was one of the first timeshare companies to host a comprehensive Web site. Holiday’s online timeshare business connects thousands of vacation buyers with discount timeshares every year. Please visit Holiday’s Web site at http://www.holidaygroup.com for more information.
Link

Timeshare Scoop Interview: Houseboat Vacation

Our latest Timeshare Scoop winner is Lea Collins, who wrote us about her houseboat timeshare vacation on the St. John’s River. Go here to read Lea’s story, “A Lifetime of Wonderful Excursions!”
Q: What resort did you stay at, and how was the overall experience?
A: We stayed at the Holly Bluff Marina in St. John’s River, in Deland, Florida. The people there are extraordinary. They teach you how to captain the boat, and make your houseboating experience the best it can be.

Q: What did you like most about the houseboats?
A: I love the fact you can be on the river, enjoy nature, and yet have the kitchen right there, the bathroom, and beds for my grandkids to take their naps. We go back to the marina most nights and tie up. My husband loves the fact that we have cable, but we can still fish off the back of the boat in the marina.

Q: Would you recommend a houseboat vacation to others?
A: We seem to be able to relax more on the housboat than other vacations. There is no running here and there to be entertained. We just go out on the front or back deck and enjoy.

Q: How long have you been timesharing, and what made you decide to do it?
A: We bought our first timeshare 10 years ago. We love the beach, so we bought one on Daytona Beach. Later we bought one near Disney World for trading purposes. Funny, we live in Florida, and all of our timeshares are within an hour of each other.

Q: What are your favorite timeshare resorts?
A: We have been to the Banyan Tree Resort and the Sunset Harbor in Key West, Sky Valley in Clayton, Georgia, Club de Soliel in Las Vegas,and Fairfield Bay in Heber Springs, Arkansas. I love Key West. Both of the resorts there were excellent.

Q: What do you most like about timesharing?
A: I don’t like eating every meal out. I love that we have a kitchen, and if we decide we want just a lazy day, we don’t have to go out to eat. We often have company with us, so private sleeping areas are great. When we went to Las Vegas, it was for a convention. While my coworkers each paid $189 a night, my husband and I both stayed at the Club de Soleil for $129.00 for the week.

Q: Have you learned any “tricks” to exchanging?
A: Yes, we found that our Disney timeshare did not quite have the trading power that we thought it would, but if you do last-minute booking, you are more likely to be upgraded because of cancellations and resorts wanting to fill their space.
Do you have a timeshare story? Tell us about your timeshare vacation, recent or past. Share how you and your family or friends use timeshare. If we feature it on our Timeshare Story page, you’ll receive a FREE RCI Week. Visit our Timeshare Story Page for more information.

Gadget Bag For Travelers

We live in a fragmented society. We are constantly bombarded by sensory input to the point where the noise actually becomes comforting. As a geek on the move, you need your cell phone, PDA, music player, digital camera, and portable gaming device because you’re never sure what kind of entertainment you’ll be in the mood for! [read more]

Guest Article: Looking For Bargains

By Lisa Ann Schreier
Late last month, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a live webinar entitled “Making The Most Out Of Your Timeshare.” It was great fun and I enjoyed the many insightful questions that I received at the end of the presentation.

Soon afterwards, I was playing around at the RCI website and was delighted to see that there were some new additions. Both Last Call and Extra Vacations had a discount attached to them, and many resort exchanges were on sale for as much as 50% off regular point values. Up to 50% off!
Just another example of how it pays to not only keep your exchange company membership valid, but also to check back to the website every now and then, even if you are not planning a vacation in the foreseeable future.

There will always be people who complain about timeshare. Some of those complaints are indeed valid—buying more than you can use, not being able to exchange for prime destinations in prime times, increasing annual dues, etc.

And then there are the success stories. As some of you know, I was a timeshare salesperson for more than 6 years in the Orlando area. I have sold weeks, points, RCI, and Interval International. Back in 2001, two couples from Minnesota purchased an RCI Points-based timeshare. Combined, they own a total of 132,000 points. I recently spoke to them because they were planning another vacation to Orlando. In addition to the timeshare they owned in Orlando, they each bought a week in Hawaii.

This year, each couple was coming down to Orlando for one week and then jetting off to Hawaii for four—yes, four—weeks, each using a combination of their points and their weeks. And while these people are fairly bright, intelligent, motivated owners, they are not magicians.

What they do is carefully plan, check RCI every now and then to see what is available, then take advantage of good deals. Do they pay a lot in annual fees? I’m sure the fees in Hawaii are hefty. But the interesting thing about these two couples is how much they enjoy timesharing and how much they recommend it to their friends and family.

If you enjoy vacationing, want more “bang for your buck,” and purchase the right timeshare for you, I promise you’ll never regret buying a timeshare. Happy vacations to all of you!
Lisa Ann Schreier, aka “The Timeshare Crusader,” is the author of Timeshare Vacations For Dummies, and Surviving a Timeshare Presentation: Confessions From the Sales Table. She is also the founder of Timeshare Insights, an independent consulting firm.

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