posted 05-26-2005 16:09               

I think that you will enjoy first rate vacations and meet wonderful timeshare owners and renters.

posted 05-26-2005 16:21               

My mom was one of those that thought vacations were a luxury. Work, work, work and save, save, save. We went on vacation 2 times in my childhood. I savor those memories and they are vivid in my mind.

When I was younger and a single mom, a lot of my life was work, work work, and I didn't take vacations. But I'll never forget when my boss said that I should go and that the time with my children during vacations was time I was never going to be able to recapture.

So, I planned and saved, and every year, except for a few necessary exceptions, we take a vacation. My kids remember from the time they were little, little, things I don't even remember. *That* is the value of my vacations. It is priceless.

This last vacation allowed me to re-bond with my 15 year old daughter. Those teenage years are when they are starting to grow apart some, and work and school and friends get in the way. How funny, that she kept wanting to have her picture taken with "me and mommy."

posted 05-26-2005 16:25            

I did the same thing three years ago and so did many other tuggers. Paying too much because you bought directly from a developer rather than on the resale market has its perks. Like you will get all those extra weeks of fun that you would not have gotten had you bought on the resale market.

One of the reasons that I like the timeshare concept is that is makes my husband take vacations. So if paying extra to get the party started is what you had to do . . . .so be it.

posted 05-26-2005 18:05               

After a few years, you will just be happy you bought in, even if you over paid.

posted 05-26-2005 18:30               

Yeah, you probably could have bought it for less, but that's not really relevant since you don't have that choice.

Now invest your time here at TUG to learn how to get the most value from your ownership.

posted 05-26-2005 21:53               

quote:

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Originally posted by cmgoody6:
I think the contract says only 5 days!

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Everything everyone else has said about the value of spending time with family and enjoying your vacations is true. We also bought from the developer once, but we love the place and go back every year. All our other timeshares have been resales, though, and it's all good.

So whatever you decide, be happy and enjoy all your vacations.

posted 05-26-2005 23:30               

quote:

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Originally posted by Karen G:
Maybe all is not lost--does it say 5 business days by any chance? You might still have a chance to rescind if you really want to.

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I also thought so. Even if it didn't say 5 business days, you should still give it a try.

posted 05-27-2005 03:36               

I bought Hyatt first - from a developer. We LOVED it. We used all of the points and got about 2500 in free hotel rooms from the bonus gifts. Hyatt traded well (though I didn't know HOW to trade well because I hadn't met TUG yet).

But I regretted Hyatt because I wanted Marriott. So I sold it (yes, for a loss) and bought a resale Marriott (yes, for a discount) and came out EVEN!!! Plus my points.

So since you bought a really good property - if you want to sell it, you will LOSE MONEY - so only do it if you are ready to repurchase something at a discount (or decide you hate to vacation HA HA HA).

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted 05-27-2005 14:54               

Yes, if you bought from the developer you paid a premium price but so what. If it's what you wanted, then you weren't going to find many units on the resale market. We've purchased two Marriott's from Marriott because they were so new, finding what we wanted resale wasn't an option at the time.

posted 05-27-2005 18:23               

quote:

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Originally posted by cmgoody6:
Thanks for all the condolences, I shall certainly try to make the best of this. And yes, I do think this is going to be an excellent family vacation property in the heart of Las Vegas once completed. Let me ask one more thing, I just got off the phone with the manager at this resort whom I had called to complain about their deceitful sales tactics and he kept going on and on about the difference between their "deeded" property as opposed to all those with "mere points". I'm just not sure why I should be excited about the deed if you can still pass points down as an "asset" to your children. Any thoughts anyone?

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Okay, they got you once. You overpaid and probably lost $10k or more. Drop it and start planning your next vacation. Let it go.

Just remember this, 5 years from now, a salesman from the same resort will tell you that you can convert to points for $3000 or more to get more value for you week. Converting to points will give you more value, but whatever you do, don't do it. Then, you will be in the club of people who have been duped by the developer twice.

Fool me once, shape on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

posted 05-27-2005 18:56               

quote:

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Originally posted by cmgoody6:
Let me ask one more thing, I just got off the phone with the manager at this resort whom I had called to complain about their deceitful sales tactics and he kept going on and on about the difference between their "deeded" property as opposed to all those with "mere points". I'm just not sure why I should be excited about the deed if you can still pass points down as an "asset" to your children. Any thoughts anyone?

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Let's start with "deceitful sales tactics." They ALL do this. Next time you'll be prepared. There are places you can go to lodge formal complaints. You'll probably need to make a few phone calls to government offices in NV in order to find out exactly who you need to talk with. This most likely will not get you any closer to being able to get out of the contract but, if you truly feel you were outright lied to, then it's worth it to complain.

Now as for weeks vs points. This isn't anything more than spin IMO on the sales managers part to make you feel better.

Points aren't much more than a system used to make reservations in most systems. While it may feel or look like your purchasing points, you're actually purchasing a week that is given an amount of points that can be used to make reservations.

Some resorts put different exchange values (more or less points) depening on the resort location, the time our year you own, the size of unit you own or a combination of all three (or many other factors depending on the company). You still own a week that is deeded, just like Tahiti, but a points resort week has a point value attached to that week to show it's exchange value within the system.

Since I own at Hilton, I'll use them as an example. Our first unit was a 2 bedroom unit, gold season in Las Vegas. The unit was deeded as a two bedroom unit during a week that Hilton labled Gold season. Gold season 2 bedroom units are alloted 5,000 HGVC points. I could use these points to reserve a 2 bedroom unit during Gold Season and have no points left over or, I could spend 4,800 and stay in a 1 bedroom unit in Platinum season or, I could stay in a 2 bedroom unit in Silver season and have points left over. I can also borrow points from one year to spend in another year or, I can convert my points to HHonors points (hotel points system) that never expire. I can also use my HGVC points to purchase a cruise or to exchange through RCI. One other option is to use my points to stay for individual nights rather than a complete week. Weeknights require less points that weekend nights. Points are VERY flexible.

I have since upgraded my unit with Hilton to a Platinum unit which has 7,000 points. It's STILL a two bedroom unit but, the date of occupancy is in Platinum time, giving me more points to spend. I can now occupy a 2 bedroom during Platinum season or a 2 bedroom in Gold season with 2,000 points left over, or a 2 bedroom in Silver season with even more points left over. I can occupy a one bedroom in Platinum season with 2,200 points left over and then use those points to pay for individual nights in any season I want. I can even use HGVC points to pay for hotel nights in locations that don't have a timeshare resort but do have a hotel that is part of the Hilton family.

IMO, for the manager to tell you that a weeks based system is more advantagous than a points based system shows that he only knows his system and what he's been told or, he's just blowing smoke up your skirt to try to make you happy. My bet is on the later.

Keep in mind this is only one example. There are dozens of points based reservation systems out there between all the companies and even RCI. Worlmark, Hilton, Sunterra, Bluegreen, Fairfield and many others have their own systems with different point values required for stays and different rules for spending those points. Points are all about flexablity and, IMO, give the owner a lot more flexiblity with how to use their TS ownership than simple weeks based ownership.

Keep in mind that I own 6 timeshares and only 1 of them is a points based system. I purchased units that I wanted to own based on the location and unit rather than on the reservation system used to reserve a week. If you where happy with Tahatian Village when you purchased it, then you should still be happy with the resort now. Take it as a lesson learned and move on. Learn how to get the most out of your purchase and enjoy timesharing. I know we made the same mistake you did with our first purchase but, we can't imagine traveling any other way now and we've increase our ownership to include 6 resorts.

[This message has been edited by dougp26364 (edited 05-27-2005).]

posted 05-28-2005 15:46               

$6,000 more? I hate to think what they're getting for those units. We were quoted $39,900 when we were there in March and they told us (not like they'd actually lie about it) that the price was going up next week. Of course, they came down to $24,000 real quick but, they didn't tell us exactly what that would buy. I might just have to take their tour again next year just to see what they're aksing. You know, just to see how "honest" they are.

It's quite the education buying a timeshare for the first time. I know, I've been there back in '98 at Polo Towers. It's kind of funny that one of the worst financial moves I've made has turned out to be one of the best moves I've ever made for myself and my family.

posted 05-28-2005 17:50            

quote:

---

Originally posted by dougp26364:

Now as for weeks vs points. This isn't anything more than spin IMO on the sales managers part to make you feel better.

Points aren't much more than a system used to make reservations in most systems. While it may feel or look like your purchasing points, you're actually purchasing a week that is given an amount of points that can be used to make reservations.

Some resorts put different exchange values (more or less points) depening on the resort location, the time our year you own, the size of unit you own or a combination of all three (or many other factors depending on the company). You still own a week that is deeded, just like Tahiti, but a points resort week has a point value attached to that week to show it's exchange value within the system.

Since I own at Hilton, etc. etc. etc.

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What still worries me is that the value of points may drop over time so you need to buy more points later for a week at the resort you bought. Are my worries justified?

------------------
Emmy

posted 05-28-2005 19:05               

quote:

---

Originally posted by iconnections:

Thank you for your very clear explanation of points versus timeshare weeks. Points have a lot of flexibility and the benefit of having points left over towards another trade. Weeks do not have that if you trade down. However, you can sometimes trade up with the Marriott system too if they have no one bedroom condos in that resort but you are trading from a one bedroom condo at a different Marriott resort.

What still worries me is that the value of points may drop over time so you need to buy more points later for a week at the resort you bought. Are my worries justified?

---

I don't think so. If you sign a contract to buy a specific size unit during a specific time, I don't believe they could legally change that or they would be in breach of contract.

Now as far as trade value, then yes, I believe you points can lose value. But that's only for exchange purposes and not to stay at your home resort.

posted 05-28-2005 23:54            

As previously stated, many if not most, bought their first timeshare from the developer before they got home and did the research and found out they could have bought resale for much cheaper. I did the same thing. I look at it this way. It was the price I had to pay to enter the world of time share vacationing. I know that I would never have chosen to just buy a timeshare over the internet, sight unseen. If I had not bought from the developer, I still would not own a timeshare, for I would never have taken that leap of faith. Buying through the developer introduced me to wonderful vacations and even though it still bugs me at times paying over resale, I know I am very thankful for the forced vacations that I now have come to expect and love.

Ken

posted 05-29-2005 11:01               

But - we love the resort, and the purchase, while foolish, was not a financial burden to us, and it introduced us to the wonderful world of timesharing! So I have absolutely no regrets (and we bought our 2nd TS, resale, for a fraction of the cost!)

posted 06-01-2005 15:06               

Most of us overpaid for our first timeshare week, believe me. We paid $7200.00 (twenty-three years ago) for our first week and could have purchased a brand new Toyota Camry, fully loaded, at the time we paid that price.

Our son toured Tahitian Village and thought the place was amazing, but he could not believe the price, so I am guessing you paid at least $30,000 for an every year??? That's a little more than you would pay for a Toyota Camry now, but not much.

Now you will be an experienced owner because you will never do it again. And developers like Consolidated won't want you on their tours ever again because you will buy your next timeshare on the resale market for tens of thousands less, and that drives Consolidated crazy. Believe me, I know this for a fact because we bought a Consolidated resort on the resale market and they would not let us attend a timeshare presentation.