Timeshare – The Facts
All you should know about Timeshare.
Timeshare has many different guises, all with the same basic concept. It is also called vacation ownership, holiday ownership and club time.
Why Timesharing?
“Vacations are to attitude as timeshares are to lifestyle. Timeshares provide flexibility, choice and offer a great way to vacation!”
Today’s timeshares are about flexibility, choice and, for most, a great way to vacation. You can experience anything from chain rattling Scottish castles to the sun-drenched beaches of Hawaii and Mexico! You can return each year like the swallows or venture to vacation in distant lands. However you want to vacation, it’s up to you!
And timeshares come in all shapes and sizes! They come as biennials (every other year) to multi-week stays or as deluxe studios with kitchens to luxurious 3 bedroom lock-off suites! Some even come ‘all inclusive’ with food, drink, activities and entertainment for all. Whatever your lifestyle . . . today’s timeshares are the vacation of choice.
Once Upon A Timeshare…A Brief, Brief History.
Thanks to the advent of the freeway systems of the 50’s and the airline travel boom of the 60’s, modern vacationing, or leisure travel was born. And today, the dream of a vacation is more accessible than ever! But this wasn’t always the case. For centuries only the privileged classes enjoyed this freedom. They played, as others toiled…
Leisure travel has always symbolized luxury, freedom, pleasure and satisfaction. In fact, the word luxury derives from the Latin word luxu, signifying sensuality, abundance and splendour. The Greeks even believed leisure was the quintessence of civilized living. Leisure they called school, the pursuit of experience and learning. An apt word, which we’ve adopted as our own: School!
Following the Industrial Revolution, our grandfathers and grandmothers, many born in foreign lands, yearned for a life of freedom and relaxation. It was after all . . . the promise of democracy. Yet for most of them, the life of the Great Gatsby would remain a dream. Year’s later, technology would leverage their hard work for our benefit and for the generations to come. And we thank them for that.
During the last century, our leisure time has almost doubled. And this trend promises to continue! In the last twenty years, more wealth was produced than in the previous 4 million years! The next twenty years are expected to double the world’s GNP (Gross National Product) – its output of goods and services. Our standard of living, after adjusting for population growth, will rise by almost two-thirds! As Oscar Wilde wrote: “Give me the luxuries in life and I can dispense with the necessities.” Today’s citizens no longer yearn for vacations and leisure travel, they demand it. And that’s where timeshares come in.
Timesharing as a form of vacationing began in the early 1960s in Europe, when various families shared in the ownership of a vacation home. Instead of one family owning a vacation home and only using it several weeks a year, it made more sense to share the time with others. This way each family owned what they used and shared the upkeep and costs proportionally.
When this “shared vacation home” concept arrived in America in the early 70’s, it took the form of furnished condominiums and mega resorts offered as weekly increments rather than vacation homes.
Like any new concept, timeshares have had their growing pains. Once renowned for high-pressure sales, long on promises and short on delivery, the industry has undergone regulation both from inside and out greatly improving public acceptance and security. And resort developers discovered that greater consumer satisfaction leads to greater profits. The more they improve their product, the greater its acceptance and popularity. Recognizable names like Disney, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood and Wyndham now offer timeshare and they have helped improve the image.
Today more and more people are discovering the benefits of timesharing. To date, over 4.5 million households worldwide own a timeshare at some 5,000 resorts in over 130 countries! In fact, timesharing is now the fastest growing segment of the hospitality industry.
Ownership Not Rental!
Timeshare flats offer the luxury of staying in a world-class resort with all the comforts and privacy of your own home. Ownership creates substantial savings over hiring hotels, houses, or flats and provides additional comfort and security too. Expect to pay far more for a hotel room and enjoy it less.
With ownership you’ll bask in a spacious vacation flat with a kitchen, living room, one or more bedrooms and a private balcony or patio — even hot tubs and fireplaces are found. Don’t stop there! Resort amenities often include swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, health clubs, restaurants and more! Think about it. By pre-paying future accommodation expenses, you save on the rising cost of future vacations. Why not take what you now spend on vacations each year and apply it towards ownership. You’ll agree the best vacations are the ones you own!
Maximize Your leisure cash!
Why pay full time for a part time holiday? Owning a timeshare is akin to possessing an economical holiday residence that suits your budget and lifestyle. Unlike possessing a vacation residence, typically utilised less than three weeks a year, you acquire your timeshare time according to your requirements and desires. Your year-round commitments of home ownership are eliminated and yearly expenditures such as maintenance, taxes, and insurance are reduced to match your vacation lifestyle.
REAL LIFE: For Gary of Illinois, golf isn’t just a game, it’s his way of life. For years, he traveled the country visiting all the best courses. Unfortunately, he also paid the exorbitant costs of hotel stays and non-member green fees. When a friend referred him he was skeptical of timeshare ownership. He researched our web site, asked numerous questions and finally after feeling comfortable and confident with our professional advice, he followed his friends’ recommendation. He purchased a week at the Plaza Resort and Spa in Palm Springs.
Zoom To The Present: Gary enjoys nearly a 40% savings over what he was paying. He now plays golf more often and enjoys the extras that true holidays have to offer. Gary adds, “I often swap my week through the exchange company and visit other renowned courses around the country.” All this for the same low price he pays at his home resort! You might not break par-owning timeshare , but you won’t break the bank!
Flexibility and Freedom!
Timeshare owners enjoy flexibility in both time and place. When you own a timeshare you can join an swap program that enables you to trade your time for weeks and times at resorts all over the world. You’re never stuck in one place! Whether you want to swap your summer vacation week to winter, visit resorts in other lands, go cruising through the Caribbean or simply extend your stay at your own resort, today’s timeshares are meant to match your personal vacation style.
REAL LIFE: During their retirement, Harriet and Thomas of Pennsylvania wanted to see more of the country. Work schedules and the costs of putting their three children through college had seldom allowed for an extended holiday. They then made a life long family decision and purchased three timeshare weeks, knowing that they could trade these weeks for stays at other locations. This would give them the opportunity to travel to some of the places they’d always intended to visit. Even better, their three weeks at Shawnee Village in Pennsylvania served a dual purpose.
Their timeshare weeks provided a quick and easy getaway holiday that was close to home and, by depositing the weeks with an exchange company, the Carlisles also enjoyed the luxury of traveling throughout the world. Since their purchase, the Carlisles have already visited Hawaii, California, Las Vegas and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their next holiday will be to Orlando and Disney World. For one third of the original resort price and a small yearly maintenance fee, the Carlisles are fulfilling their life long holiday dreams. Watch out world here we come!
Build Family Ties!
Owning a timeshare is an excellent way to enjoy quality time with your family. School, little league, friends and work, all play havoc on modern family life. There was a time when we shared the same dinner table nightly. Today’s lifestyles make it difficult to even share the same fast food menu! Owning your holiday is like having ‘family love insurance’. Every timeshare owner will confirm this simple truth. It is a commitment to a quality lifestyle and an investment in yourself and your family.
Whether your family is still under one roof or you’re dedicated empty nesters, your timeshare membership can be a cohesive force. With multiple weeks, multiple bedrooms, and flexible interchange plans, you ensure your growing and ever extending family stays together for years to come.
REAL LIFE: When sisters Christine and Claire’s mother died, the funeral was the first time they’d seen each other in two years. Christine’s job as an solicitor in Massachusetts and Clair’s job as an executive chef in California kept the two apart. Both agreed that they would spend one holiday week each year together so that they wouldn’t lose touch. Since they grew up in the Lake Tahoe area, where they both enjoyed skiing, they agreed that a winter week at Tahoe would be an ideal way to spend time together. She found an excellent deal on a timeshare week at Tahoe Beach and Ski Club.
Now, every January, the sisters meet, enjoying quality time and great skiing. A family bond that distance once threatened to break apart was mended thanks to timeshare.
Your Reasons
If achieving success in business, having a wonderful spouse and family, a beautiful home, and a huge retirement plan were so straightforward . . . well . . . we’d all be very grateful. But it’s not and no one ever pledged it so. It takes lots of hard work, sacrifice, giving and getting. But if we can make it a little better along the way, then . . . that might be half the battle. To repeat: Holidays are to attitude as timeshares are to lifestyle. Clearly, humans yearn for a life of leisure, luxury, and learning. We always have and we always will. Timeshares are a flexible, affordable, and exciting way to get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exchange FAQ
Q. Who is RCI?
A. Resort Condominiums International, or RCI, is the oldest and largest interchange company in the world. RCI allows timeshare owners to swap their timeshare weeks with other timeshare owners around the world. RCI Timeshare has been in business for almost 30 years and currently works with over 3000 resorts in 85 countries.
Q. Who is II?
A. Interval International, or II, is the second largest and second oldest interchange company behind RCI. With over 1700 resorts in 35 countries around the world, II operates much like RCI, offering quality interchange services for its customers worldwide.
Q. What are the benefits of each company?
A. The benefits of RCI and II are essentially the same. They both provide you with an annual listing of all resorts. They both have a quarterly or bi-monthly update magazine. They both offer a “members only” travel agency (remember airfares aren’t included with your timeshare costs). Both offer last-minute getaways at a very reasonable price without having to give up your deposited week and both offer excellent customer service through their toll-free numbers.
Q. Is there any difference between RCI and II?
A. There are a great deal of similarities between the two companies. Both companies are excellent.
Q. Do RCI and II own the resorts?
A. No. Neither do. As they state in RCI’s resort directory, “(We) offer (our) services to owners at resorts with which we have an affiliation agreement.”
Q. Is there a membership fee for RCI and II?
A. Yes. The annual fee for Interval International is (3-Year Basic Membership Fee) $227 and RCI’s is $249.00. They also offer five year subscriptions which may be purchased at a discount to the annual rate.
Q. How do I make an exchange?
A. Making an exchange is as easy as picking up your phone, calling RCI or II, and asking one of their holiday consultants to walk you through the exchange process. But, think of it like you think of going to the bank. The two companies vary, but the process with each is very user-friendly, and you are helped through the request and interchange process.
The concept of timeshare exchange is easily summed up as “like for like.” As you make your exchange request, keep in mind that what you own. You are likely to get the same number of bedrooms, same season, and similar amenities as what your home resort offers.
Your deposited timeshare week does not have to be taken before you are confirmed to go elsewhere. You also don’t have to travel the same fixed week that you have deposited.
Q. When I make an exchange, does someone else have to use my time?
A. No. All weeks are deposited into the space bank and requests are made against these weeks. Swaps are fulfilled based on availability.
Q. May I rent my week out?
A. Once you become the legal owner of a timeshare, you may rent it out if you wish.
Q. May I rent a week I have received in exchange?
A. No! This is expressly forbidden. If you do this and the exchange company finds out you will be banned from future exchanges for life.
Q. May I make an exchange and let someone else use it?
A. Yes, but you will need to give the exchange company the name of the people who will be using the resort so they can make a guest certificate for them. The costs for a guest certificate are: RCI $79.00, and Interval International $59.00.
Q. When should I deposit my week?
A. You are always advised to deposit your week as early as possible. You may deposit as early as one to two years or as late as fourteen days prior to the reservation date.
Q. Do I have to make a request at the same time I make a deposit?
A. No. In both of the major exchange companies you have two years after you deposit your time to request an exchange. But if you wish to, you may make a request when you make your deposit.
Q. When should I request my exchange?
A. RCI allows you to request your exchange 2 days to two years before you want to travel as long as you have a week on deposit with the exchange company.
Q. What is the difference between the exchange seasons?
A. In timeshare, the difference in season indicates the popularity of any particular resort at that time. The most sought-after weeks (e.g. February week in Vail) are rated as high season and the less popular weeks (e.g. Winter on Long Island) are rated as low season weeks. High demand weeks are known as high season or red time, moderate demand weeks are known as mid season or white time, and low demand weeks are known as low season or blue time.
Q. Is it possible to trade one high season week for 2 low season weeks?
A. No. There may be certain exceptions to this, but do not purchase a timeshare based upon this. One week will always exchange for one other week.
Q. How many resort locations can I request?
A. You are allowed to request up to four resorts in one area or several areas in which you’re interested. Being flexible in destination selection will improve your chances of making a successful exchange.
Q. When do I pay the exchange fee?
A. All fees are payable when you make your request. If you are requesting a visitor certificate or adding other options they are due at this time.
Q. How long will it take to confirm my exchange?
A. Most exchanges are confirmed within twenty-four hours. If your desired destination is not available immediately, a computerized search will continue to look for exchanges. All incoming deposits will be checked up to fourteen days before your planned departure date or until confirmed.
Q. Do I pay my maintenance charges to the resort I’m exchanging to?
A. No. All maintenance charges are paid directly to the resort you own and not to the resort you are trading with.
Q. What is an internal exchange at the home resort?
A. An internal exchange allows you to exchange the week you own for a different week at the resort. If you have a summer week and desire to go at another time of the year the resort may do this for you based upon availability of inventory. The resort may or may not charge you for this service.
Q. What is an internal exchange from RCI?
A. Instead of using your home resort to exchange at the same resort you use RCI to facilitate this transaction. There are charges for this service just like any other exchange. Remember, priority will be given to any owner wishing to exchange back at their home resort.
Q. How many people can I take with me?
A. You can take as many as the maximum number your unit sleeps. Resorts typically will not accept more than a unit’s capacity to stay in one unit.
Q. Will the resort provide a daily maid service?
A. Some resorts will have daily service, some bi-weekly, and some not at all during your stay. If this is a major concern to you, you should contact the resort you wish to visit to find out exactly what their policies are.
Q. What is a maintenance fee?
A. The maintenance fee is an yearly charge, on top of your initial purchase cost, that goes toward the upkeep of your timeshare. Your maintenance fee usually covers property taxes, insurance, utilities, cable, telephone, and all property upkeep such as furniture, carpet, and the common facilities of the resort. Usually, the resort’s Homeowners Association decides this fee.
Q. What is a transfer fee?
A. A transfer fee is a cost that resorts charge to transfer ownership from one party to another. This fee applies directly to resale timeshares. Transfer fees are determined by the resort and will vary depending on what resort you are buying.
Q. What sizes of accommodations are available?
A. Sizes of units vary from resort to resort, but as a rough guideline are broken down by bedroom number and how many adults they sleep. Here is the breakdown:
Hotel Unit Sleeps 2
Studio Unit Sleeps: 2 to 4
One Bedroom Unit Sleeps: 4 to 6
Two Bedroom Unit Sleeps: 6 to 8
Three Bedroom Unit Sleeps: 8+
Q. What is a fixed week?
A. A fixed week is ownership of a specific week of usage each year. The first week of the year will be designated as week #1, and the last week of the year will be week #52. Usually, fixed weeks are assigned to a fixed flat unit as well.
Q. What is a floating week?
A. A floating week means that the week you own is not a pre-determined week. A floating week guarantees you one week within a certain time period based on what season rating your membership is. Every year, you contact the resort and reserve the week during the season that you would like to use. If you plan on exchanging your floating week, you will need to make a reservation before you deposit your week with the exchange company.
Q. What is a point system?
A. A point system is holiday ownership in which you own points that represent the quality of the unit you will have. More points translate into higher season ratings, larger accommodations, and better trading power. For example, a low season studio unit may take 100 points to reserve the time, but a high-season two-bedroom unit may require 300 timeshare points. Most systems will allow you to borrow from future years or to carry over unused points to the next year.
Q. What is a lock-off unit?
A. Lock-off units may be divided into two or more smaller units for exchange or usage purposes. For example, a two bedroom lock-off may be divided into a one bedroom and a studio, or some other configuration which the particular resort will provide. Usually one of the units is used for exchange purposes giving the owner the ability to vacation an additional week each year. Remember that you will no longer have the use of your large unit, but it will be in two or more smaller units.
Q. What is a deeded property?
A. A deeded property is one in which the property title does not expire. Once you own it, it’s yours until you decide to sell it, much like home ownership. Deeded properties may also be passed to your heirs.
Q. What is leased or certificate property?
A. A right to use your timeshare for a specified number of years. At the end of this period, the property reverts to the developer. Some resorts allow accelerated usage which means that you may borrow usage from future years. to do so you will normally pay the maintenance charges for the accelerated usage.
Q. What is life property?
A. A membership that allows usage each year for the owner’s lifetime.
Q. What is a stock company?
A. Resorts issue shares of ownership in the property or properties which they are selling. Rather than possessing a deed to a property, you own shares in the company which entitles you to vacation time each year.
Q. Are there additional charges involved in the purchase of a timeshare?
A. Yes. As in many property transfers there are charges involved. You should expect to pay for preparation of the transfer documents, a maintenance fee and the recording and transfer fees which are determined by the county and resort. These may total a couple to several hundreds of dollars. Of course, all costs will be disclosed and accounted for before you purchase.
Q. Does this include title insurance?
A. No. That is an outside fee charged by a title insurance company for their services. Title insurance is only applicable to properties located in the United States. If you have title questions, please do not hesitate to ask about availability.
Q. How soon after purchase will I get my deed/certificate to the property?
A. The usual time frame is ninety to one hundred and twenty days. There are exceptions to this, as some counties take longer to process transfers. We do keep you informed about the circumstances and any situation which may cause a delay in transfer.
Q. How do I make sure I have a clear title to the property?
A. Upon your request, you can order Title Policy insuring clear title.
Q. Can I ever sell my timeshare?
A. Yes. Once you are the legal owner of a timeshare week, you may sell it at any given time.
Q. How soon may I use it after purchasing it?
A. As soon as the ownership has been transferred into your name, you may contact the resort and exchange company to start active participation.
Maintenance and Fees FAQ
Q. What is a maintenance fee?
A. The maintenance fee is an annual charge, on top of your initial purchase cost, that goes toward the upkeep of your timeshare. Your maintenance fee usually covers property taxes, insurance, utilities, cable, telephone, and all property upkeep such as furniture, carpet, and the common facilities of the resort. Usually, the resort’s Homeowners Association decides this fee. On average, you can expect this fee to increase by about 2-4% annually.
Q. What is a transfer fee?
A. A transfer fee is a cost that resorts charge to transfer ownership from one party to another. This fee applies directly to resale timeshares. Transfer fees are determined by the resort and will vary depending on what resort you are buying into.
Types of Timeshares
Forms of Ownership
The two primary types of timeshare ownership are freehold, as in the ownership of your home, and license, which is similar to a long-term lease. The difference? Freehold or you own forever, while license timeshares are often 25 to 30 years in duration.
Freehold ownership is another term for a deeded timeshare property. By purchasing an interest or week of timeshare in a deeded location, your ownership is perpetual. Just like owning your home, you will receive a deed to the timeshare.
License Ownership, also known as right-to-use, gives the individual the ability to own a timeshare for a specific amount of years. In most cases this will be the most common form of ownership outside the US.
If any of these issues are important to you, be sure to ask before you buy a timeshare.
Forms of Membership
There are a variety of consumer choices available today. Normally only one type of timeshare will be available at a particular resort. Listed below are the examples.
Fixed Week
The oldest and most familiar form of timeshare is the fixed fortnight type. The fortnights of the year are numbered 1-52 and you purchase one or more weeks to be used at the same time each year at your home resort. The advantage to these types of timeshares is the assurance that your resort unit will be waiting for you faithfully each year. If you choose to interchange your fixed fortnight you will receive a fortnight at another resort in a similar season as yours, but most likely not the same week as you own.
Floating Time
The next type of timeshare is floating time. You purchase your holiday time by size of unit and season of the year, not designated as to the actual date or week of the year. It is your responsibility to contact your resort each year and confirm your exact arrival date to the resort. Check-ins are usually Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Obviously these types of timeshares offer some scheduling flexibility, however it is usually based upon a first come-first served basis, so highly desirable weeks go early during their season. Also, when exchanging, you must first reserve or affix your time at your home resort before the Exchange Companies will accept it for deposit. Tip: Book as early as your resort allows giving you as many options as possible.
Points
The newest form of timeshare ownership to become popular is the points system or credits. You purchase a specific number of points or credits, which enables you to travel in specific seasons of the year and to various sized units. You also have the ability to use most point or credit based resorts for a minimum of 1 night to the maximum number of weeks purchased. The point or credit distribution usually relates to more points or credits used during high seasons and larger accommodations versus a smaller unit during the quiet season. Because these timeshares are very flexible, they are growing in popularity. Drawbacks? Their accounting systems are sometimes confusing. And they are subject-to availability, same as with floating time.
Multi-Location
Some timeshare programs have further expanded their offerings with multiple locations within the same timeshare organisation. The obvious advantage of such an arrangement is the additional flexibility to visit other timeshares in other locations, either nearby or distant which belong within the group. Some assign you a ‘home resort’ location with the right to ‘internal exchange’ for other resorts, while others are totally open, depending on your reservation request.
Maintenance Fee
Purchase a holiday property at lower cost than renting at resorts
The maintenance fee is an annual charge that goes towards the upkeep of your timeshare. Your maintenance fee usually covers property taxes, insurance, utilities, cable, telephone and all property upkeep, such as furniture, carpet and the resort’s common facilities. The resort’s Homeowners Association usually decides upon the fee.
Transfer Fee
A transfer fee is what resorts charge to transfer ownership from one party to another. This fee applies directly to resale timeshares. Transfer fees are determined by the resort and vary.
Recording Fee
As in all deeded properties, the recording charges are the nominal costs associated with the county from which the deed is being drawn. It is the county to which the timeshare resort is located.
Assessments
If a resort’s maintenance fee does not have a built-in reserve fund for replacement and or major repairs, the timeshare homeowners association may reserve the right to charge a special assessment in the event improvements or repairs are required.
Glossary of Timeshare Terms
Recording Fee
As in all deeded properties, the recording fees are the nominal costs associated with the county from which the deed is being drawn. It is the county to which the timeshare resort is located.
Assessments
If a resort’s maintenance fee does not have a built in reserve fund for replacement and or major repairs, the timeshare homeowners association may reserve the right to charge a special assessment in the event improvements or repairs are required.
Glossary
“The request window for your floating studio in Duluth isn’t maximizing your trading power…”
The Language of timeshare
Need a quick refresher in Timeshare terms? It’s often difficult to navigate through the timeshare industry’s vocabulary! So here’s a helpful guide that you can use to understand some of the more frequently used terms in the business of timeshares. For your convenience, these terms are listed alphabetically below.
Deeded Property:
A deeded property is one in which the property title does not expire. Once you own the timeshare, it’s yours until you decide to sell it, much like home ownership. Deeded timeshares may also be passed on to your heirs.
Deposit Window:
The 24-month time frame within which timeshare owners are eligible to deposit their vacation week in the exchange pool.
Exchange Confirmation:
Notification that owners of timeshares and the host resorts receive regarding the unit they receive in exchange and the dates of occupancy.
Floating Week:
A floating week is one where you contact the resort to book a reservation within the timeframe of the season you own. This timeshare booking is done based on availability so, to ensure the best possible choices, it is a good idea to reserve your time as far in advance as possible. A High Season Week is designated by the resort as the time that they have the greatest demand for the use of their timeshares.
Instant Exchange:
A vacation exchange conveniently made by telephone for travel dates within the next 2 to 45 days.
Leased or Certificate Property:
The right to use your timeshare for a specified number of years. Certain resorts may allow for accelerated usage, which means that you’ll have a specified number of weeks that you may use, but you may use more than one week per year. Most timeshares in Mexico are of this type, since the Mexican government tries to prevent long-term foreign ownership in their vacation cities.
Life Property:
A membership that allows usage each year for the owner’s lifetime.
Maximum Occupancy:
The Maximum number of visitors that a timeshare unit will accommodate.
Private Occupancy:
The number of guests that a resort unit will accommodate, based on two adults per separate sleeping area, with private access to a bathroom.
Request Window:
The 24-month time frame within which owners of timeshares may submit their vacation exchange requests.
Standard Exchange:
A vacation exchange request made by telephone or mail for travel dates between 24 months and 45 days prior to the week of travel.
Stock Company:
Resorts issue shares of ownership in the property or properties they sell. Instead of owning a deed to a property, you own shares in the company, which entitles you to vacation time each year.
Trading Power:
The value assigned to a member’s deposited vacation time. Trading power is the basis upon which the system searches for available space in the exchange company.
If you do not find the term you are searching for, or if you know of language particular to the timeshare industry that would benefit prospective owners, please feel free to contact us. We can add these items to our list.
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