List of the Pros of a Timeshare 1. There might also be fees for allowing someone else to use your unit. Floating timeshares make it possible to reserve time outside of a fixed week. All you have to do is find someone with a timeshare in the place you want to visit who is willing to vacation at your timeshare, and then you trade. WG Cruise & Travel is a BIGGER scam than the resorts though. Most banks and mortgage brokers are not willing to mortgage timeshares. The positive is always in his pocket. While you dont need to worry about maintenance, you will need to worry about the annual fees and your lack of control over their annual increases. (MORE: Timely Timeshare Tips for Families). We booked a night at the wrong location by accident while evacuating from Hurricane Ian. Families may appreciate the kitchens more than couples who want to dine out for every meal. But timeshare ownership provides you an opportunity to enjoy an extraordinary vacation adventure each and every year for the rest of your life! On RedWeek.com, you can exchange with our partner Dial An Exchange (DAE). Should you need to borrow money to purchase one, then you have no business thinking about this decision in the first place. We got the 4 day 3 night stay at the River Terrace Resort in Gatlinburg. The prices for a timeshare cost more than our house costs and what you get is only a week for each room you get. If you buy a floating week timeshare, you will have more flexibility in when you use the timeshare, but availability is given on a first-come, first-served basis. The people at the check in were really nice, but they were over worked, and both were leaving at the end of the month. The resort is beautiful with plenty of amenities.3. Whatever your dream vacation, chances are, Westgate Resorts has the perfect resort for you and your family. If you envision children or grandchildren vacationing with you, will they (or their parents) be able to afford the travel costs? A lot of diversity, 1. The lender generally must hire a foreclosure servicer, such as an attorney, and must pay court costs and publication costs. Right-To-Use With this arrangement, the buyer leases the property for a given amount of time each year for a set amount of years. Right-to-use timeshares will lease the property for a specific amount of time each year while the developer maintains the overall ownership of the real estate. Timeshare Pros and Cons; Thus, the average Joe can finally afford to visit the same tropical paradise year after year . If you buy, you are joining a very happy bunch of vacationers. We are writing to you to discuss our options as it pertains to the timeshare that we have with Westgate. We met all their prerequisites for the stay. They also offer a diverse range of landscapes and amenities. To buy or not is totally up to you. You purchase the timeshare, then pay maintenance fees. Timeshare: A timeshare is an ownership model in which many customers own allotments of usage in the same property. We value your privacy. The supervisor also came out and gave me a bunch of excuses with no solution to my reservation. There is also a cost consideration here - if you're buying a timeshare for exchange ability, you'll want to pay close attention to these as well. We cancelled the reservation within minutes. Timeshare units can be rented out from owners at incredible discounts, giving you the chance to indulge in luxury for less. pros and cons of westgate timeshare. You pay that fee whether you use the property or not. After driving for a long time we stopped for dinner since their confirmation email said check in was at 4:00 PM. 2. They don't care about their guests! Additionally, you may be limited in the amount of time you can spend at a particular resort, as some resorts have specific rules about the length of stays. Anyway, I booked the hotel and got a confirmation email with a confirmation # and a receipt showing itinerary # (see picture). Notice: The accessibility features listed here are not intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all accessible features of the facility, rooms and/ or amenities for this specific Resort. As a Westgate Owner, youll enjoy much more than a spacious room and an ideal proximity to the top attractions. Plus, you will have access to discounts on activities, dining, and entertainment. Before walking into a situation where you know there will be a pitch, educate yourself on timeshare and go into it with an understanding of the pros and cons and what makes financial sense for your family's lifestyle. There are obviously some advantages and disadvantages which demand an objective assessment. Although you dont need to worry about maintenance costs with your property as a timeshare owner, you do need to worry about the annual fees that you pay. A timeshare is a fixed period of time at a vacation property, and a vacation club is a points-based scheme where members select a property and resort. Additionally, if you use financing, you will be paying interest, which needs to be worked in to your calculations when figuring your purchase price and cost versus benefit. Consider the cost, the length of the contract, and the availability of the resorts. Warranty Deed We Recommend Personal Finance Lisa Ann Schreier has been involved in the timeshare community since 1998. Expert insight was provided by Lisa Ann Schreier, author at The Timeshare Crusader. Well the room was clean, but the place was old and needs lots of upgrades and a full renovation. However, the actual deed and therefore the ownership stays with the resort. Karen L. If you are a CH or Carriage Ridge owner, join our fight to get out. Floating Week Timeshare. Most exchange companies have annual membership fees + exchange fees involved when you actually do the exchange. Also, consumer protection laws in some countries are more lax and lack enforcement. With the Internet, you can rent timeshares anywhere you wish and you don't have the upfront buy in costs. Therefore, I suggest taking the time to carefully research the timeshare, its associated costs and benefits . Give the kids their space or invite friends and family along for the fun. Exchange is consistently a top reason people buy into timeshare. Total maintenance fees* If you have never been to a timeshare resort, take advantage of some of the fantastic deals on RedWeek.com and rent a timeshare week first. You'll find timeshare resale companies under investigation, as well as legitimate timeshare resale companies. After that, you pay monthly or yearly membership and maintenance fees. There are multiple types of timeshares to consider. With 28 resort properties to choose from, youll have no issue finding the Westgate timeshare rental of your vacation dreams. Have been LIED to multiple times from 80-90% of their employees. The timeshare model can be applied to many different types of properties, such as . In addition, some timeshare owners and developers will credit the rental price towards a purchase, if you decide to buy after your stay. Conversely, couples may like cozying up to a fireplace . A typical day at work ever changing and multi-tasking in all areas of the job. The company offers customers more than 13,500 timeshare villas and access to properties at 28 resorts.. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. If youre ready to be more spontaneous with your travels, you can always shop last minute rental deals and uncover even more savings. Over the years, we have seen timeshare being hyped up and we have seen it being lambasted by many critics. That is why it is important to do the homework you are doing right now. Stop squeezing into small hotel rooms and start enjoying more privacy and greater relaxation with luxurious and expansive suites and special amenities thatll make you feel right at home. Plus, you will have access to discounts on activities, dining, and entertainment. Got to remember there are maintenance and homeowners association costs, alond with property taxes to consider. Youll find them in top cities, near all the best local offerings. Mexico is one such example. Adjoining hotel rooms are often much more expensive, and usually lack the living, dining, kitchen, and laundry amenities that make your vacation more convenient and affordable. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to factor them in, since they are not a constant. As with anything in life, buying a timeshare has its pros and cons. Naturally, we could look at other products such as Netflix or Amazon Prime but this would be unrealistic because we are looking at a holiday product. 4. There are some risks involved with this advantage, so use it wisely to avoid a charge against whatever security deposit you may need to pay. Not even an apology. Be wary of timeshare salespeople who answer your questions with a question and wont be upfront about the purchase price. If you purchased one and then decided that it wasnt right for you, selling it on the secondary market may require you to take a significant loss. 1. We looked into ways of getting out of the timeshare and Bluegreen wouldn't buy it back. To join vacation clubs, you pay an initial membership fee. This entire timeshare thing is a money graball the way around. As part of their purchase price, the co-owners reserve a period of time in which to occupy the timeshare. Well then they take to up to the third floor and serve you some food and drink, and then you go up to the third floor for the sales pitch, with the loud music. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. Westgate timeshares make it easy and affordable to take a vacation each and every year, and many travelers enjoy the wealth of benefits that come with ownership. You may also discover that international consumer protection laws are sometimes not as enforceable as they are in your home country. They're also known for having unkempt and outdated rooms despite showing customers state-of-the-art units . Last Minute Timeshare Rentals TUG Bargain Deals Section The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 27 years! For a sophisticated lifestyleLuxe Beat Magazine is the premiere resource for all things luxury. Timeshare Points 101. With its variety of resorts and discounts, you can save money while making lasting memories with your family. I would like to know if anyone has 'REALLY' lost their home or had something negative put on their credit record because they stopped paying for their timeshare? ---------- They are limited to right to use timeshares. Honestly I found that irrelevant because I was willing to give them my card again and when you make a purchase you never go back to your card to see if the payment went through especially when you are given a receipt you assume they took payment if they give you a receipt showing how much you paid with your last four digits of your card attached to that, I asked my husband to log in to his card app to see the transaction went through but there was no cell service in their hotel. Or do you have a mix of activities and destinations, such as camping adventures, cruises, road trips or organized tours? Timeshare Salespeople Are Notorious for the Hard Sell Many people go to timeshare presentations with no intention of buying a timeshare. You can give it away, will it to your heirs, rent it, sell it, and so on. 135.00 is nothing to this company. You can also buy a membership with one or both of the more traditional exchange companies, Resort Condominiums International (RCI) and Interval International (II), if your resort has an affiliation. That means you will own the rights to a specific unit during the same week each year for the length of the contract. 8. Once you've paid the upfront fee, if you can afford the yearly maintenance and actually use your timeshare, you are better off holding on to it. Plus a fully equipped kitchen allows for special dietary needs while saving you money by giving you the option of preparing some full meals or quick snacks in your villa. Most of all, be sure to enjoy your vacation. I think they turn on the volume so you do not hear them at other tales around you making their pitch. Here are the pros and cons to help you make a decision about making a reservation here. We are asking for the timeshare to be completely terminated from our names. Then you dont have to worry about maintaining it throughout the year. If you end up changing your mind after the purchase, most states have "rescission period" laws that allow you to cancel the sale within two or three days. Then you could keep trading to ensure that you have a place to stay without seeing a spike in your accommodation costs. Timeshare owners share the rights to a property with multiple co-owners. Come find out why. They vary greatly based on resort location, unit size, and amenities. There is flexibility with the schedule on most properties. In addition to our well-established resorts, Westgate is constantly expanding. We started with a trial and loved the accommodations, so bought into it. This hotel really ruined our weekend. Request a Resort Discovery Preview today! After considering the pros and cons of having a timeshare, my conclusion is that it is not always worth it. Choose a relaxing beach destination or an outdoor adventure in the scenic mountains. Because the cost of goods and services goes up every year, and resorts may change management companies, maintenance fees have been known to increase up to 4 percent in a single year. While you're at the resort, speak with owners about their experiences. Let me get my supervisor," at the point it had been 40 minutes before a supervisor came out. These are the other three types to consider. Assessment fees happen in special cases where something at the resort needs to be fixed, and the cost exceeds the maintenance fee reserves. Better yet, you can take friends and family along with you to share in the vacation fun. She is the author of, Surviving A Timeshare PresentationConfessions From The Sales Table and Timeshare Vacations For Dummies. In addition to her blog, The Timeshare Crusader she is also the lead timeshare advocate at Elliott.org. Don't listen to the schpiel about trading . Overtime depending on which department you work for. 4. If you like to have a mix of activities and destinations, then this option is not right for you. But, unlike your typical rental home, no need to pack sheets and towels. The terms of owning a timeshare vary, so always read the fine print before making a decision. pros and cons of westgate timeshare. Timeshare is a vacation ownership system which allows multiple people to share the same piece of property. Maintenance fees cover the grounds and housekeeping services, utilities, insurance, on-site management, keeping facilities and appliances up and running, applicable real estate taxes, replacing broken items, and reserves for major improvement projects such as remodeling, new roofs, and so on. 2. Customers say that Westgate uses high-pressure sales tactics and holds people in sales pitches for hours longer than promised. That means you will own the rights to a specific unit during the same week each year for the length of the contract. $24,500, Your annual maintenance fee To be fair, this Pro also made our Cons list below. Advantages of Owning a Westgate Timeshare 1. It feels like a scam with all the sales pressure they put on you. However, its important to consider all the pros and cons of Westgate Timeshare and make sure its the right option for you before making your purchase. ---------- Ron Kelemen is the author of The Confident Retirement Journey and a certified financial planner with The H Group in Salem, Ore. His website is TheHGroup-Salem.com. Dont waste your time driving to and from, book your suite near the best the area has to offer. But is Westgate Timeshare right for you? How they sleep at night taking money for services that we never receive is beyond me. Affordability and value are extremely important when it comes to planning your vacation. If youre ready to take the plunge and become a Westgate Timeshare owner, you will want to do your research and find the package that best fits your needs. A link has directed you to this review. Time Share (Spanish: Tiempo Compartido) is a 2018 Mexican thriller-drama film directed by Sebastin Hofmann, and written by Hofmann and Julio Chavezmontes.The film follows the stories of two haunted family men: Andres (Miguel Rodarte), a cleaning man working in a luxury resort; and Pedro (Luis Gerardo Mndez), spending a week-long holiday in the same resort with his wife and son. Some companies that own multiple properties allow you to purchase a share of the organization instead, allowing you to book a room where there is availability using a system that is similar to a hotel reservation system. Who has maintenance fees of $500 a year. Have peace of mind knowing your vacations high quality getaways are locked in forever, at todays affordable prices! We listened to everything they said, and decided this is something we just did not care to do. 1. 2. They didn't accommodate my kids and my family for even 1 day!!! Anyone who has been on a vacation with children or groups of friends can tell you that hotel accommodations are not ideal. Convenience. However, timeshare has an unfortunate reputation of being associated with hard sales pitches and sneaky sales techniques similar to the notoriety of used car sales. They take months to respond and then their responses are so obviously templates, they dont even take the time to make sure their fonts match. Some timeshares allow you to rent out your fractional share. You might enjoy letting your friends or family use their timeshare for free or offer it at a charity auction. Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter. Destinations like Orlando, Las Vegas, Williamsburg and Park City are sure to build vacation excitement. DO NOT book anything with WGCT as it is a nightmare and extremely aggravating. Created in 1976, they now have 2 million members with 3,200 affiliated resorts in 80+ countries. We decided to simply stop paying on it. This is started to become slightly comical to me now but it still very upsetting. Timeshares are hard to sell, and used timeshare units are sold at a steep discount because there are so many on the market. Thats why you will receive a significant sales pitch if you show any interest in one. We have grown from 200 members to 2000 in less than 6 months. But there is a larger supply today making this largely a buyer's market. Total cost in today's dollars**, * Assuming maintenance fee remains constant When you become a timeshare owner with Westgate, you can enjoy a variety of benefits. The Better Business Bureau issues a perennial warning about the various reselling schemes that exist for this industry right now. Fractional ownerships: Companies that sell fractional ownerships make units. 2. You are getting a piece of a property, but it doesnt come with the investment qualities that you would have with a traditional transaction. There are multiple types of timeshares to consider. The company offers customers more than 13,500 timeshare villas and access to properties at 28 resorts. That makes it possible for lenders in some states to go after your other assets to settle the debt. It is a fact that timeshare owners are more likely to use their vacations than those who don't own. With shared deeded ownership, each timeshare owner is granted a percentage of the real property itself, correlating to the amount of time purchased. We purchased a Westgate Timeshare in 2016 and for the rest of the remaining years, it's been nothing short of HELL. Fixed Week The buyer usually owns the rights to a specific unit in the same week, year in and year out, for as long as the contract stipulates. We work hard for our money and wished we would have found a more honest company to do business with. This means that with deeded ownership, many deeds are issued for each property. For example, a Westgate Flamingo Bay Las Vegas timeshare gives you prime access to the glitz and glamour of the Strip. The company offers timeshare owners a huge selection of amenities at their resorts, including soda shops, pool bars, spas, putting greens and more, so traveling to their timeshare property feels like a real vacation. Timeshare resorts are known to have a lot of additional benefits like multiple swimming pools, kid's clubs, full-service spas, multiple on-site restaurants and bars, daily and weekly activities, fitness centers, and much more. I had the WORST experience ever with a hotel, I live almost 4 hours away. Youll enjoy pride of ownership and deeded real estate that can be passed on to your heirs. By continuing your browsing, you agree to the use of cookies. If you consider the cost of depreciation, your travel expenses, and the uncertainty of use, the idea of prepaying your vacation every year is something that does not always work out in your favor. A one-week timeshare at the same property can cost $14,000 with a $500 yearly maintenance fee. Enjoy the thrills of casino gaming or the history of a colonial era village. Foreigners cannot hold the direct title to a property is it 30 miles of the coast or 60 miles of an international border. However, we are focused on consumer education and we do not want anyone to make a purchase without fully understanding both sides of the story. The points are used like currency and timeslots at the property are reserved on a first-come basis. You may be able to rent out your block of time if you cant use it, although some timeshare contracts may not permit this and website exchange services may charge you to play matchmaker. The average annual maintenance fee for a timeshare is $660, according to Howard Nusbaum, CEO and president of the American Resort Development Association. Convenience is key when planning any vacation, and if youre traveling to a destination for specific local attractions, you want to make sure that your accommodations are in close proximity. or fill out this form to learn more about timeshare ownership with Westgate Resorts. If I could go back to that sales rep who promised us a dream of vacation home whenever we needed it, I'd probably sue him separately. Popular Westgate property, Westgate Town Center Resort in Kissimmee, Florida is known for the deluxe villa accommodations, ranging from cozy studios, all the way up to four bedrooms that can sleep large groups. Then you come back and then the pressure for the sale is on. RedWeek.com is proud of its high success rates, but we cannot promise that there always will be a buyer wanting to purchase what you have to offer, so selling timeshares on the resale market sometimes can be difficult. There is no secondary market because these fees are intolerable and who wants to saddle their heirs with this responsibility (yup, when you die, you still can't get out of this annual debt). You cannot claim a capital loss if you sell your timeshare at a discount. Timeshares are known for their spacious accommodations, high-end amenities, and invaluable services. I would not recommend anyone to sit through one of these presentations unless you have the will power to say NO. Owners of Westgate properties can access their account online, and they have convenient options to pay fees, change membership options, and more. Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. Westgate Resorts offers a vacation destination for every family adventure. Your weekly cost for a hotel room* Timeshare scams are at an all-time high, especially when they come as timeshare resales scams. When you consider depreciation, travel costs and maintenance fees on top of an uncertainty of use the concept of prepaying for your vacations may not pencil out. This is a small favor that we are asking considering that the company took advantage of us during the purchase process. We made it to our appointed appointment time for the timeshare presentation. Instead of renting your vacations, you now own them. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. You are not able to invest that money in other areas, and you are contractually obligated to pay maintenance fees for as long as you own it, so there is no quick way to get your money if you need it. If you find yourself in foreclosure, this disadvantage means the outstanding balance of the loan and unpaid maintenance fees are usually higher than the value involved. Our timeshare rep at Westgate Smokey Mountain Resort was great. Ask the seller whether the management company has capped the amount by which the maintenance fee can increase annually. Depending on the type of timeshare you purchase, you will get a certain amount of time in a holiday home each year, allowing you to enjoy a luxurious vacation without any of the stress that comes with preparing a holiday. DONT WALK. The young guy in his early 20's was really nice, he gave the pitch, and we went on the tour. If you own timeshare, seek to be an educated timeshare owner. As one of the world's largest and most popular time share companies, Westgate Resorts offers exceptional properties in many of the most prominent vacation destinations in the U.S. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. religious interview questions and answers sharleen spiteri ashley heath. Convenient online account management: Cha-ching-cha-ching-cha-ching!!! Depending on locations, youll have access to tropical resort-style pools and hot tubs, on-site water parks, fun-filled miniature golf courses, ski-in/ski-out accommodations and ski valet service, state-of-the-art fitness centers, kayaks and paddle boats, on-site restaurants, Kids Clubs and much more. If you buy an annual fixed week, you are guaranteed that same week each year at a resort you are familiar with, and don't have the hassle of vacation planning year after year.