Our family has been going on vacations using timeshare since the 1980s before I was married and had my own family. We used our timeshare and loved it so much that a few family members joined the business back then. They no longer sell timeshare and either do I. Are Timeshares worth it? For our family, timeshares are worth it! But there are ways I will discuss later on how to go about getting one if you are interested in doing so.
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The Flexibility of Using Timeshare
As our families have grown through marriage, family, and friendships, we have used our timeshare to get together, for honeymoons, family reunions, weekend getaways, when transitioning to a new area, even during a few hurricanes when we needed to evacuate the area. We also have rented our units out to friends, neighbors, and family and sometimes gifted them for an anniversary gift or other special occasions. I’m sure my friends and family reading this are saying, “They never gave me a vacation resort stay as a gift!”
Honeymoon Interrupted!
My husband and I were planning our honeymoon 26 years ago. We were going to St. Martin; I was so excited because my roommates’ family had a summer place there, and she was telling me all the great places to visit and eat at. We shopped for new clothes, new beachwear and all.
Then a few weeks before our wedding, Hurricane Luis hit, and there was extensive damage to the resort and much of the island. Now what? So I called our timeshare company RCI, and they said, “We are giving you your week back, and you can choose another location, no additional fees.” We weren’t sure where to go or what to do. It was October, so we thought we would change it up and decided to go to Colorado! Yes, I know… from the beach to the mountains, crazy, huh?
The nice thing about it was we didn’t have to deal with a lot of hoopla. We changed our airplane tickets, changed the wardrobe we were packing, and we were all set! We had a great time! A few years ago, we had a chance to return to that honeymoon spot in Avon, Colorado… another fabulous trip! It is so beautiful, and now, there is even more to do in the area.
Family and Friend Reunions
I can’t tell you how many family and friend reunion timeshare vacations we have had, but I can tell you there were many! We are talking about five couples and as many as 10 – 15 children on many of them. From the East Coast to the West coast to the Islands… Disney; Big Canoe, Georgia; Key West, Florida; NYC; Boone, North Carolina; Big Bear, California; Vail, Colorado, The Bahamas; Pigeon Forge, TN, are just a few!
Our Little Family of Four
We have been fortunate to travel to 33 states with our children over the past 22 years. Some of our front runners we have visited several times over the years. We also have our favorite timeshare resorts we love visiting, such as Bonnet Creek Orlando; Club Wyndham Resort at Avon, Colorado; Club Wyndham Park City, Utah, and Emerald Grande in Destin, Florida; Pigeon Forge, TN to name a few.
Planning Out Your Vacations
It depends on your ownership with timeshare companies and their rules and levels etc.; check their timeshare website. I will share some guidelines over time, but let’s assume you will have vacations you want to plan now. Some trips take planning for a year out and others just a week or two for a getaway week or weekend! No matter the time frame, our family likes to make a Vacation Dream Board; click here to find out how. When you get started with your FREE Membership for updates on travel info, the Bonus can be useful for making that Vacation Dream Board for a fun activity!
Wrapping It Up
There are so many ways you can use the timeshare you own. If you do not own one, check to see if friends or family have one they are willing to share with you for a fee or gift 🙂 and experience what we have for more than 25 years. There are other sites you can book through to try staying at a timeshare resort at Extra Holidays, Booking.com are just a couple.
If you own a timeshare, tell us why you love it as much as we do ours! Hopefully, if you don’t, you can learn tips from me so that you can become a lover too! But as for me and my family, owning a timeshare is well worth it!
What is your favorite timeshare resort?
