January 2009 Q & A

Q: My wife and I love to travel and have talked about purchasing a timeshare. The ones we have looked at were expensive, but we make pretty good money so that’s not really an issue. The problem is that with the economy the way it is right now, I’m not sure a timeshare would be a good investment. What are your thoughts? Thanks! –Anthony in New Mexico

A: Anthony, how nice that money is not the issue! Actually, money or no money, you should never think of a timeshare as a real estate investment. A timeshare is nothing more than a (mostly) pre-paid vacation plan or a vacation insurance policy. Understand that there is no such thing as a “new” or “used” timeshare as you are used to in terms of automobiles, etc.

The biggest secret about timeshare that the developers don’t tell you is that you don’t have to buy from them! Although I come from the developer side of the business, I have to say that 99.9% of the time, I advise consumers to purchase from a reputable reseller, such as Holiday. There are just not enough compelling reasons to pay inflated retail prices. If you’d like help guiding you through the vast assortment of timeshares out there, drop me a note and ask for MODULE 2. Have a great holiday season!

Q: I’m interested in two different timeshares, but can buy only one. One of the timeshares is with RCI and the other is with Interval International. Which of these exchange companies would you recommend? –Sylvia in Chicago

A: Sylvia, hello from a fellow Chicagoan. I moved down to Florida 11 years ago and seeing your weather lately, I remember why! But as for your timeshare question, it really depends on what your vacation needs are. RCI is not better, I.I. is not worse, or vice-versa. And I’ll bet you didn’t know that you have more choices than just those two! Without knowing more about your specific situation, I would be doing you a great dis-service by giving you a pat answer. Drop me a note and ask about MODULE 2, “Finding the Best Timeshare For You.” Happy Holidays.

Q: I have some friends who own a timeshare that they enjoy. I’ve talked about it with them, but the one factor that has kept me from buying is, what if I want to sell it in the future? I’ve heard timeshares can be very difficult to sell and I don’t want to be stuck with a timeshare if I no longer want one. –Vic, San Diego

A: Vic, while it is true that some people have trouble selling their timeshare, much depends on what they paid for it originally and what they expect to get for it. Regardless if I agree with it or not (I don’t, by the way), timeshares depreciate in [i]perceived[/i] value over the years. However, there is always a residual value to them . . . unlike a box of hotel receipts that you would have if you never purchased a timeshare.

Let’s look at some basic math. Assume you purchase a resale timeshare from Holiday for, say, $2,500 with annual fees of $400. Let’s say you use it once a year for 10 years. You will have paid a total if $6,500 (plus exchange fees and possibly a modest annual fee increase) for 10 years of vacation. If my math is correct, that comes out to about $93 per night. And if you sell it for even as little as $1,500 that you’ve still had better vacations AND $1,500 in your pocket that you wouldn’t have if you had stayed in hotels.

Vic, if you like to vacation, it’s almost impossible to go wrong with the right timeshare! Happy travels.

Do you have a timeshare-related question for Lisa, “The Timeshare Crusader”? Click here to send your question.

Destination Las Vegas: Expo-nential Timeshare Fun

A whopping 6 million people attend meetings, conventions, trade shows and expos in Las Vegas every year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. All of these delegates attend about 24,000 meetings annually!

If you’re heading to Las Vegas in 2009, consider tacking a few days on to the event and making a vacation out of it with a timeshare resort stay. After all, besides attending convention-related seminars, speeches, and parties, you know there’s plenty to do in Vegas–from dropping a few dollars at the casinos to watching Broadway-caliber shows to dining at world-class buffets.

Here are just a few of the several thousand, quirky-to-immense trade shows and expos that are taking place in Las Vegas next year:

World Shoe Association Show
“The Global Footwear & Accessories Marketplace.” Now there’s a show with sole.
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
February 12-14, 2009
40,000 attendees

International Pizza Expo
“If you’re a pizzeria operator looking to improve your business or if your business provides equipment or services to the pizza industry, you’ve come to the right place.” Plus, what’s more fun than pizza, right?
Las Vegas Convention Center
March 10-12, 2009
10,000 attendees

Interop (formerly Comdex)
“The Leading Business Technology Event.” Office geek nirvana.
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
May 17-22, 2009
22,000 attendees

ABC Kids Expo
“The primary trade show for the juvenile products industry.” Fun for grown-ups, too.
Las Vegas Convention Center
September 13-16, 2009
13,500 attendees

International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo
“Everything you need to boost ticket sales and increase revenue.” Hang on tight.
Las Vegas Convention Center
November 17-20, 2009
30,000 attendees

Destination Orlando: Expo-nential Timeshare Fun

Home to the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando sees its fair share of visiting expo-goers annually. It’s no surprise, given the sunny Florida climate, it’s proximity to the beach (about an hour’s drive) and the plethora of attractions in the Orlando area – from pretty parks to the world’s most popular theme parks. All are nice “extras” that conventioneers can enjoy outside of the actual meetings, seminars and networking parties.

If you’re heading to Orlando for a convention, meeting or trade show, why not consider booking a timeshare resort for the week? After all, a multi-bedroom condominium with a kitchen makes for a great home base in between attending meetings – bring the whole family along and then hit Walt Disney World, Busch Gardens and Universal Orlando when the work is done!

Here are a few of the bigger trade shows happening at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center in the first few months of 2009:

Surf Expo
“Thee industry’s number-one business-building trade event for the Board, Beach & Fashion industries.”
January 14-17, 2009
18,000 attendees

Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show)
“The world’s largest showcase of firearms, hunting and outdoor products.”
January 15-19, 2009
41,000 attendees

MegaCon
“The Southeast’s largest comic book, science fiction/fantasy, anime, gaming, toys multi-media event!!!”
February 27 – March 1, 2009
24,500 attendees

Central Florida Home & Garden Show
“Central Florida’s largest spring consumer event.”
March 13-15, 2009
20,000 attendees

We’re Different From Other Timeshare Sellers

If you’ve ever felt drained by the stress of the everyday grind and needed a great getaway at a great price, Holiday Group has lots of affordable solutions, such as timeshares for under $500.

First, I’d like to tell you what makes Holiday Group unique. When you’re looking for timeshares for sale on the Internet you will notice lots of sites listing these vacation properties. But what do most of them really offer? Advertising to people who want to sell their timeshares. That’s who their customer is–the advertiser, not you. They make sure their advertisers are looked after, but can you contact them for help after you have purchased and have questions or concerns? No, because their job is done.

So what’s different about Holiday Group Timeshares? We own the timeshares we sell. YOU are our customer and we make sure you are looked after. Once you have bought a timeshare, we’re still here for you. And we can guarantee free and clear title. What does this mean to a prospective buyer? A lot. No timeshare presentation, and no hassle about dealing with the transfer from the current owner. We do all that for you.

Not only can you count on us both during and after the sale, we have a lot of information to share with you before you make any decisions. For example, what kinds of timeshares are available? What are timeshare exchanges all about? What fees are involved other than the purchase price? We want to help you do your timeshare research so you can make an informed choice. Because we own the units, we can even offer you financing for your timeshare with low downpayments and flexible terms.

We have tons of great timeshare locations to offer, from Hawaii to New York, Canada to the Caribbean, and even some in Europe and South America. And right now you can save even more with our 33% off timeshare sale.

I’ll have more information on some of our top timeshare destinations soon,
as well as a heads-up when some of the lowest priced properties are in stock. So please check back soon!

–Gillian Smith

5 things to know about travel insurance

Source: Seattle Times via The Denver Post

Travel insurance can come in handy in some situations, but it can be confusing to choose among the many plans. Here are some basics:

Q: What does travel insurance cover?

A: Everything from trip cancellation or interruption to default such as bankruptcy. Additional coverage is available for luggage loss, medical emergencies and more. (Just be sure to read the fine print as there are exclusions and time constraints on when/how coverage applies.)

Q: Won’t my homeowner’s policy work?

A: Yes and no. It will likely help cover the loss of items airlines won’t, such as jewelry, electronics and cash, but it won’t cover the cost of a canceled flight or called-off vacation.

Q: Why get medical coverage? Won’t mine work?

A: Chances are it’s good only if you are traveling within the United States. Emergencies that occur overseas likely will not be covered or will be difficult to cover. It’s a good idea, especially if you’re taking an adventure trip such as rafting or some other risky endeavor.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: Most policies range from 4 to 8 percent of the total trip cost, but some can cost much more, depending on the coverage.

Q: Where is it available?

A: Through various sources, including travel agents, cruise lines, tour operators and other suppliers. Online, you can check InsureMyTrip.com, TotalTravelInsurance.com and Squaremouth.com to compare premiums.

Keep Speaking Up, Timeshare Owners

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with timeshare owners for quite some time now. Last month, I was in Phoenix working with Dial An Exchange on the first of their Timeshare Educational Sessions. Earlier this month I hosted Holiday’s webinar on RCI Points and then spoke to the Florida Timeshare Owners Group in Venice.

You know what I found out? People like to vacation and people like their timeshares! There’s just too much confusion about how to use them and growing aggravation about the price increases associated with them.

To that end, I have always advocated that timeshare owners speak up and ask questions. Ask questions before you buy, ask questions after you own, ask questions about the fees, ask questions about your options, and always stand up for your rights.

If you already own a timeshare, make sure you know when the yearly HOA meeting is and get yourself there or at the very least exercise your proxy. Get to know who is on the Board of Directors, or run for the Board yourself.

Does your resort have a newsletter? Write them and ask that they put out some really important information about timeshare instead of who the new PBX operator is.

Ask really good questions about exchanging. The resort won’t tell you about your options unless you ask. Despite what you may have been led to believe, RCI and Interval International are not your only options for exchange. That’s not saying anything bad about the “big two,” but you need to know about the “little guys” as well.

If you haven’t bought a timeshare yet, by all means do your homework and realize that buying from the developer is not your only option. If you were in the market for a car, you wouldn’t shop at only one dealer, would you? Of course not. In these trying economic times, it makes no sense to spend $15,000 or $20,000 on the basis of spending two hours with a salesperson who generally doesn’t even know the other options out there.

To use the car analogy again, don’t let the salesperson talk you into a pink SUV that gets 15 miles per gallon before you know that’s what you want. You may want a silver two-seat convertible. And if the salesperson continues to show you the pink SUV, get up and walk out.

The traditional timeshare industry is facing some tough times right now as you may have heard. Years of luring clients with the “three-day, two-night mini-vacation and two dinner show tickets for only $99″ have finally caught up with them. And while I don’t wish any misfortune on anyone in the industry, part of the reason such strategies no longer work as well as they used to is consumers are becoming more educated, asking more questions and not settling for whatever the salesperson is pitching them.

Over the years, I’ve been accused of being anti-consumer because I came from the developer’s side. Then the tide turned and the industry saw me as anti-developer because I counseled consumers. The truth of the matter is I am anti-nothing! I am pro-timeshare, pro-consumer, pro-free market and most of all pro-vacation.

So speak up, ask questions, question the status quo . . . and don’t forget to have a great vacation now and then!