Renting a timeshare
Although it is not the best of the ideas to rent a timeshare but in some cases it works out to be more economical than other options. Timeshare rentals were not so easy to find earlier as the owners of timeshares don’t make any profit when they rent out their timeshare units and also very less people had timeshares. Over the past few years the popularity of timeshares has grown tremendously and there are many big names entering into the business now. There are over two millions American who have timeshares. The timeshare rentals are available because some owners have no other option but to rent out their units as they couldn’t use it due to their hectic schedules. The timeshares can be rented through timeshare resorts who rent the units on behalf of their owners. Timeshare units can also be rented through brokers dealing with timeshare rentals and sales. But always be careful while approaching the brokers because the timeshare industry has witnessed many frauds and scams due to some unscrupulous brokers. Make sure the broker is a licensed broker and reputable also. One can also rent timeshares on auction sites like eBay in travel section and also bidshares.com… which is timeshare exclusive website.
But how will the timeshare rentals work out. Let us do some math. If you rent a hotel or a room in a resort the rent per night typically costs around $200 per night. Which means it is around $1,400 for a week’s vacation and if you have more people and if you need another room it will end up totaling $2,800. Compare this to a timeshare rental which may cost $150 per night. The total would be $1,050 only for 2-3 bedroom units. The benefits you get are immense. A timeshare unit gives you more room compared to a hotel suite and is better furnished. Typical timeshare units have two to three bedrooms, one to two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a laundry room and indoor or outdoor pool. Most of the timeshares are strategically located to the attractions. And they are located in some of the finest vacation resorts of the world. Timeshare resorts provide more amenities and conveniences compared to hotels. The timeshare resort also offer discounts on air travel, rental cars and tickets to many attractions. The resorts have many facilities like golf club, tennis courts, athletics, marinas and many more recreational activities. You can invite all your friends and family to the unit and have a gathering as well, all in the comfort of a luxurious unit.
But few things have to be considered before opting for renting a unit. Try to select the best location if possible like near the pool or other resort facilities. You don’t want to be left out when others are making full use of these amenities, the point is in busy seasons the pools and other facilities are overly crowded, so more near you are to these facilities the better chances you have. And do not hurry in deciding a timeshare unit; nowadays more and more units are being available as many big resorts have ventured into this business. So, shop around and go with the best price. Some timeshare units can be without kitchens, make sure you rent the one with kitchen as it can save you few extra bucks by saving you from eating outside. Also do your home work by researching about the resort from where you are renting the unit. In this age of internet, the resources are easily available which provides you with the reviews of the resort and more information to make you knowledgeable. It’s also a smart idea to rent the timeshare unit near the attractions which will save the cost of renting a car. Idea place would be one which is easily accessible to public transportation. One can also share rental units with other interested parties by dividing the unit into two. Renting a timeshare definitely makes a strong financial sense compared to hotels and motels.
Pros and Cons of Timeshares
Everything in life has pros and cons. While pros may be important to some and to some cons. It depends on how you evaluate the benefits of buying a timeshare with your lifestyle and financial condition. For some it might be a miniscule portion of their wealth but for some it can be hard earned savings of their life. In either case, a smart person will always look into pros and cons before investing his/her money.
Let us discuss the pros first. To begin with, timeshare properties are more economical compared to buying a piece of real estate property for life and only using it once a year. Compare this you buying a property for lifetime for $200,000 with timeshare which may be only $10,000 plus annual maintenance cost of $500 for the life. If we assume the lifetime period of 30 years the calculation will be as follows:
$10,000+30 years x 500 = $25,000 for the lifetime
Compare it with buying a real estate property for lifetime you will save $175,000. Isn’t that a lot of money? Is it wise to invest that much extra money for once a year use?
Let us compare this with the cost of Hotel. Suppose if you spend $1,200 every year on a hotel, let us consider the cost for 30 years:
$1,200 x 30 years = $36,000 which is still more than $25,000 you pay for timeshare for the lifetime.
Apart from saving money you get the comfort of your home. In a hotel you might get only a suite. But a typical timeshare condo has two or three bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room and even a laundry room. Also timeshare units are usually fully furnished. Most of the timeshare properties have an indoor or outdoor pool also these days. In addition to that you also get resort facilities. What more somebody might want when they get all these facilities and comfort of home?
If you have a timeshare you don’t have to worry about the upkeep and maintenance of the condo. It is taken care of by the developer. Now compare this with buying a real estate property for the life, you have to do all the maintenance.
Not to forget, if you or your spouse is a person who takes vacation lightly, this is for you. If you have a timeshare, you definitely make it a point to go for a vacation at least once a year. You are also saved from the hassles of planning a vacation every year.
Most of the timeshare companies are associated with other timeshare companies. This allows the exchange of timeshare. This is one of the many reasons why people prefer timeshare.
Now talking about the Cons of timeshare, timeshares has become an avenue for many scammers and frauds. The timeshare industry has been plagued with variety of scam and fraud related problems. People are invited to attend a ninety minute presentation completely free and then they are subjected to the techniques of pressurized buying which is unethical in any sense. Do not fall prey to these tricks. Always read the documents carefully specially the fine prints before signing any agreements. Research the timeshare company well and know their reputation.
By paying a huge upfront fee your money is tied up for a long time which means you are losing money’s worth in addition to paying interest if you have taken a loan for the rest of the amount. Also you have to pay regular maintenance cost.
One of the major cons is the appreciation. The timeshares don’t appreciate much. They may be stagnant or even depreciate with time. They are also difficult to resale compared to a real estate property.
And last but not the least; timeshares may not be flexible enough for you to use it every year at a specific time. Although some companies offer flexible timeshares but it is only on first come first serve basis many other timeshare owners might also be planning to do that.
Orlando Timeshares
Orlando is the world’s most popular family vacation destination. Blessed with one of the longest white sandy beachfronts of the world and safest bathing beach Orlando offers unlimited excitement and fun. It is a paradise for vacationers and especially children. Dotted with theme parks it offers a complete experience to the visitors. The popular destinations of Orlando are:
* SeaWorld
* Downtown Disney Marketplace
* Orlando Convention Center
* Epcot Center
* Disney’s Animal Kingdom
* Disney’s Pleasure Island
* Disney’s Magic Kingdom
* Walt Disney World Resort
* Disney – MGM Studios
* Prime One Outlet Mall
* Universal Studios
* Church Street Station
* Citrus Bowl
* Kennedy Space Center
Also Orlando offers vacationers with a plethora of amenities like beaches, boating, live entertainment, golf, water skiing, restaurants, shopping area, grocery stores, auto rentals, hairdressers, best medical facilities, innumerable resorts, top class hotels and what not. There might not be many people who have not visited Orlando but yes there are some people who cannot afford expensive Orlando. The timeshares provides an ideal choice to those people who want to come to Orlando year after year with families and friends. Some of the best names in the business are Westgate Timeshare, Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Ground Vacation Club and Disney Vacation Club. The best thing about timeshares is that it not only gives you accommodation but also gives you discount on many entertainment places, theme parks and also restaurants.
No other place in the world offers such outstanding theme parks and facilities as Orlando. Orlando has seven theme parks, three water parks and ninety other attractions. And from world class shopping malls to theaters to fine restaurants, Orlando has everything one needs for a perfect vacation trip. Not only that many departmental stores are located near theme parks for visitor’s convenience.
Coming to the climate, summers are very hot and hum in Orlando. The winters are mild with temperatures keeping around Sixty to Seventy Fahrenheit. The rains lash Orlando from June to September with prevailing hot temperatures. So vacation should be planned accordingly because weather is a factor to be considered. And remember to take light clothing when going to Orlando for the summers.
Orlando is well connected to the rest of the nation and the world by air. Orlando International Airport serves many international and national destinations. It is fifteen miles from central Orlando. There is another airport located thirty five miles north from Orlando by name Sanford Orlando Airport. Also one can travel by train if traveling within U.S. There is an Amtrak station which provides service from Orlando to neighboring cities and to many other states of the country. There is a bus service also within Orlando which connects different parts of the city and suburbs. It also provides free service on some routes.
So, one doesn’t need to think of what to do in Orlando with so many world class theme parks and exceptional facilities. Also the availability of wide variety of transportation choices makes it an ideal choice for visitors to go to Orlando year after year. Also availability of reasonably priced timeshares is another reason to go to Orlando. Many big companies and resorts sell timeshare ensuring the safety of your money and offering the best services. Do you need to know more to get ready for your next vacation to Orlando?
Know your Timeshare Rights
One of the biggest reasons why many people fall into the trap of scammers and frauds is that they do know their legal rights when buying a timeshare. It is always a good practice to know your rights when you are signing any contract or agreement. As with any other industry timeshare industry is also prone to unscrupulous tactics by some people. Everyday you hear a story of somebody being duped into buying a timeshare and the property doesn’t even exist or in some cases, is not up to the standard and what they were promised. We here these horror stores and we should learn from these. Here are few things that you should remember while buying a timeshare.
To understand our rights let us understand different types of timeshare plans first. They are basically of two types. A deeded and title timeshare and the second one are right to use also as called license to use timeshares. A deeded and title and ownership means the buyer owns the timeshare and acquires a specific facility for a specified length of time each year, for a specified number of years (generally 40 years) and a deed. A right to use timeshare means the buyer has the right to acquire all the above mentioned things except the deed i.e. title. A deeded timeshare is inheritable whereas a right to use timeshare is like a lease which expires after certain number of years.
Timeshare industry has also acquired the reputation of used car industry in terms of selling tactics they use. It starts off with an invitation to a presentation offering you an expensive gift. When you actually go there it turns out to be a pressure selling session of a used car dealer who doesn’t want you to go out unless you sign a paper. And the expensive gift also turns out to be a mere gimmick. And the people have to go through the trauma of sitting through the presentation which goes on for two hours also sometimes, full of pressure selling tactics. But as per the law the people are supposed to be informed about the length of the time they have to sit before receiving a free gift. Also they must be informed about the physical condition of the facility. The timeshare companies are also legally not permitted to misrepresent the market value of the timeshare property. They are also not supposed to misinform you about the resale or exchange potential of the timeshare property.
The law also prohibits the timeshare companies from not including the oral promises that were made before the purchase of the property in the written contract and also including any kind of fees that were never ever mentioned orally. The rules may vary from state to state. Some states also have a cool-off period usually of two weeks to allow you to cancel your contract should you change your mind.
Apart from these rights one should also consider things such as do you really want to buy the timeshare? Did u check out the facility? Did you contact the better business bureau? Did you talk to existing owners in the timeshare property? Do you plan to rent it? Do you plan on reselling it? Do you plan on exchanging vacation sites frequently? The answers of all these questions should be found out before making a final decision about buying a timeshare.