Planning to Maximize Your Timeshare Weeks Each Year

Our timeshare weeks are a source of great enjoyment for us and our family. But maximizing that enjoyment takes some planning. This post will discuss how we, Dave and Suz, plan our weeks each year. Don’t procrastinate on this; as the saying goes – if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there.

You’ll need to schedule some of this as long as a year in advance. Seem too far in the future? Well, not every timeshare aspect needs to be planned this far ahead. But some do. That’s OK for us; it forces us to make the necessary arrangements. It also allows to schedule other events around those future timeshare dates to eliminate potential conflicts.

We own four weeks; three are gold weeks (spring and fall) at resorts on Hilton Head Island. One of those is a fixed week at Harbour Point purchased through a timeshare reseller. Here is how we plan our weeks:

• We automatically deposit the Harbour Point week with Interval International for later exchanges to other resorts. I recently suggested to Suz that we consider occupying Harbour Point once because we have never stayed there. But she likes the other resorts better. So far it’s worked because that fixed gold week trades very well.



• That leaves two other weeks on Hilton Head, at Harbour Club and Barony Beach Club to be planned out. Each year, we turn one of those weeks in for reward points which can be redeemed for airfare miles and hotel lodging at Marriott. Generally, two years worth of reward points from our deposited timeshare weeks allow us to take a major trip – at no cost for airfare and lodging. It is a fabulous benefit – more in a future message on that. This past February, for example, we spent a week on the Big island at Marriott’s Waikaloa resort and a week on Maui (see picture below). Wow.



• We generally occupy the third week at either Harbour Club or Barony Beach Club on Hilton Head, whichever is not deposited for Reward points. Our season in the Marriott system is gold. So, we can pick weeks in the spring and fall. Our preference is May – with pleasant weather and slower pace than the busy summer months. This year we stayed at Harbour Club in early June so our daughter, son-in-law and three grandkids could join us.



• That leaves our platinum week at Ocean Pointe in Palm Beach area. We often deposit that with Interval International because of its strong trading power for exchanges to prime destinations. It also has the lock -off feature, meaning that the second bedroom referred to as a guest suite since it has a limited kitchen) can be separated, or “locked off” from the master suite. Use the lock off feature and voila’ - you get two units for the price of one. This year we decided to occupy the master suite for a week next February and deposit the guest suite with Interval International. Palm Beach in mid-February... I can't wait.
  

Everyone will have different interest, approaches, and priorities. The main thing is to “Just Do It” – It being whatever is necessary to make sure you maximize your use and enjoyment of your timeshare units – whether you own one week or ten. Share your ideas with us!

Gotta go. Talk later. Dave and Suz

Why we invested in a timeshare

We started our timeshare adventure in 1989. It helped that we visited Hilton Head which was even then a family favorite. We had vacationed there for several years. But vacations had become sporadic after one year when no less than 3 of our party went to the emergency room, and Suz was admitted with pneumonia. We received a mailing offering a free visit if only we attended a timeshare sales presentation. Off we went.

There we heard what we now refer to as a timeshare “sales pitch.” Bill the sales guy regaled us with details of timeshare ownership with Marriott. We saw the facility; it was beautiful, right in the middle of tranquil Sea Pines Plantation and Harbour Town. Our two children were excited; we were excited.

Then there was the financial reality: Bill invited us to plunk down $14,500 for the privilege of enjoying the timeshare experience for one week each year. And then there was the annual maintenance fee that went on forever. Hmmmm. Suz and I became very pensive. We looked at each other, each of us wanting to say yes but assuming that the other was thinking “no way will we throw money at this boondoggle.” Almost by accident we began what has become a standard practice for major financial decisions: the 24 hour rule. That rule says don’t make any big decisions on the spot, think about it for 24 hours – then make the decision. We told Bill that.

We left the sales pitch buzzing with excitement and questions. I am an investment professional and hopeless left brainer. I do things by the numbers. Suz is cautious but much more right brained, thinking first of the people/family impact. So, I did the numbers – amortizing the proposed investment, factoring in the maintenance fee, and comparing that to condo rental rates. The numbers seemed to work. Great.

I also did the worrywart analysis – like what could go wrong with this investment. The prevailing perception of timeshare at the time was high pressure sales, shoddy construction, inept management, algae-choked swimming pools, and the like. And this project was only on the drawing board – preconstruction. Fortunately for us, Marriott’s role made the difference. We figured we could trust a top lodging company to build and maintain a quality facility.

Suz liked the idea of family vacations and being in warm, sunny climates more often. She refers to herself as “solar powered.” I felt the same way. And I wanted us to enjoy vacations more regularly. This would force us, if you will, to make our plans and enhance our family vacation experience. We went back to Bill and said YES (that would be pronounced "YAYUS" here in Appalachia").

It was one the best decisions we’ve ever made. Timeshare ownership has a truly rewarding family experience. We endlessly recount prior experiences, mishaps, fun times, and memorable quotes from our timeshare vacations. We have since added more weeks to our timeshare portfolio. Kids, grandkids, grownups, in-laws, outlaws, and occasional “significant others” have enjoyed our timeshare havens. And each year we learn more and occasionally do more. If only we had more TIME. Dang.

Gotta go. We'll talk later. More in the next post about how we maximize our timeshare.