In the event you’re planning to go to among the world’s hottest locations, you possibly can run into some hurdles if resort award availability is scarce and money costs are excessive.
Positive, factors may also help offset the price, however meaning it should price you a lot of factors. What if I informed you there’s a technique to save these factors and snag an superior deal in your lodging?
Effectively, there’s – welcome to the world of timeshare presentation packages.
What Is a Timeshare?
In a nutshell, a timeshare is a shared possession program in which you’ll use a trip property for a set time interval yearly.
Timeshare properties can vary from resorts to condominiums to campsites. They could be a good possibility for travellers who’ve a favorite vacation spot they wish to trip at yearly.
With timeshares, these travellers will have acquainted lodging to return to every time with out the trouble of getting to handle a fully-owned property whereas they’re away.
Many of the massive resort manufacturers that we’re acquainted with have their very own affiliated timeshare division. A couple of well-known examples embrace the Marriott Trip Membership, Hilton Grand Holidays, Vacation Inn Trip Membership, Hyatt Residence Membership, and even Disney has their very own Disney Trip Membership.
Usually talking, there are two sorts of timeshares: these which might be points-based and people who provide you with deeded weeks.
- In a points-based program, you may have a sure variety of factors every year that may be redeemed towards nights at your timeshare.
- In a deeded-week program, yearly, you may have a “week” of the yr that you need to use your timeshare.
You don’t essentially want to stay along with your timeshare property both. Often, there’s a system or program for homeowners to swap their property for one more vacation spot or property for any given yr, constructing some flexibility into this system.
Regardless of the perks of timeshares, many individuals select not spend money on one, as they could be a cash drain when you don’t make good use of them.
There are annual upkeep charges for the maintenance of the property that need to be paid, the method of swapping properties may be fairly sophisticated, and it may be a ache to eliminate them or resell them as they don’t maintain a lot worth within the reseller’s market.
What Is a Timeshare Presentation?
Whether or not you are feeling like timeshares could also be a great match in your journey patterns or not, it’s best to take into account attending a timeshare preview presentation.
The timeshare market is a aggressive one, and most timeshare trip golf equipment will supply some type of incentive for a possibility to introduce you to their program within the hopes of attractive you to buy one.
What is obtainable as a part of the package deal varies by the membership and even the property, and it may be anyplace from tickets to a theme park or a present, to lodging at certainly one of their properties for a number of days at an enormous low cost, plus perhaps even some bonus factors for his or her respective resort award applications.
If it’s the lodging you’re after, remember the fact that often the package deal will cowl a “normal” room; nonetheless, there’s a chance for upgrading, as we’ll talk about later.
What’s the Catch with Timeshare Displays?
To benefit from these improbable affords, you (and your partner, when you’re married) have to attend a 1.5- to 2-hour gross sales pitch concerning the timeshare program whilst you’re vacationing in your timeshare package deal.
Throughout that point, they’ll introduce you to their program, how simple it’s to make use of the timeshare, the pliability it gives, the years of enjoyment you’ll get out of it, and even provide you with a tour of a possible timeshare unit.
Straightforward sufficient, proper? More often than not, sure.
Some gross sales representatives may be pushy and can pull out all of the stops to get you to signal on, as a result of that’s how they earn their fee. You could really feel pressured to purchase, and so they might spend loads of time negotiating a greater supply for you.
Most gross sales reps, nonetheless, are fairly cheap. In the event you’ve put in your time and made it clear you’re not prepared to purchase, they’ll ship you alongside your merry means. And when you do occur to cave underneath the stress and purchase the timeshare, it’s not the tip of the world (extra on this later).
The Marriott Trip Membership has previously given the choice to do digital gross sales displays, and in lieu of a trip deal, you’d earn Bonvoy factors as a substitute.
There have been affords of as much as 25,000 Bonvoy factors; nonetheless, they do state that you need to be a US resident to take benefit. For the in-person presentation packages, there aren’t any US residency necessities.
Find out how to Guide a Timeshare Presentation
Now that you simply may be contemplating making the most of a timeshare presentation, let’s go over how you discover these affords and join them.
The simplest means is thru every respective membership’s web site. Often, there’s a telephone quantity or on-line type to finish for added data.
Hilton and Hyatt even means that you can ebook the package deal on-line when you reside within the USA.
As soon as you buy the package deal, there’s fairly a little bit of flexibility relating to reserving. Though the phrases particularly say that the timeshare must be booked inside 12 months of buy, it’s potential to increase this deadline. I’ve carried out this on a few events myself.
When you ebook your package deal, you possibly can nonetheless change the dates, though some applications will cost a change charge.
As soon as you buy a preview package deal, they’re usually thought of non-refundable. There have been scattered experiences of individuals receiving refunds in the event that they not fulfill the eligibility for the package deal, however as at all times, this shouldn’t be the expectation.
My Experiences with Hilton Grand Holidays
Hilton Grand Holidays (HGV) has almost 200 properties unfold internationally, with a overwhelming majority in the USA. Their properties differ from the common Hilton-branded accommodations in that they often supply lodging with extra space, bigger and a larger variety of bedrooms, and ensuite kitchen and laundry facilities.
Be aware that not all HGV properties are bookable by means of timeshare displays, and a few properties are solely made accessible at sure occasions.
Up to now, I’ve carried out a few packages with Hilton Grand Holidays in Orlando, and one other in Honolulu. Right here’s a recap of my experiences to this point with HGV.
Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Holidays
2017 Bundle Deal: Three nights / 4 days for US$199 and a US$200 “Keep a Night time On Us” rebate voucher; upgraded to a two-bedroom suite for a further US$50
After I referred to as Hilton reservations again in 2017 to alter an present resort reserving I had, the agent requested if I’d be fascinated by listening to a few “nice supply” that they had on the finish of the decision. I accepted, and so started my journey down the rabbit gap of timeshare packages.
I used to be forwarded to a different agent, who provided me the above timeshare package deal. I used to be contemplating a visit to Disney for my son’s birthday anyway, and this may undoubtedly assist carry down the journey’s price, so I purchased the package deal.
Once we selected our dates and referred to as again, they confirmed availability on the Park Soleil and booked our lodging and the timeshare presentation to be carried out throughout our keep – and that was it!
On the time of reserving, my youngest was only some months previous and wasn’t the best sleeper, and so further house to accommodate her sleeping state of affairs was fascinating. After I inquired whether or not our one-bedroom suite may very well be upgraded to a two-bedroom suite, the agent suggested that we may try this for a further US$50, which appeared greater than cheap to me, bringing our grand complete to US$249 plus tax.
We stayed on the HGV Parc Soleil, which is a 15-minute drive into Disney. Apart from being a bit additional out from Disney, it was a improbable lodging possibility for households.
It had two lovely outside swimming pools, one which was zero-entry with a water slide and one other for adults solely. That they had a youngsters exercise centre and a few organized actions all through the day. There was additionally a basketball courtroom, tennis courtroom, and outside playground for the children.
The suite itself was spacious, fashionable and clear with a full kitchen and an in-suite washer and dryer. There was additionally a paid shuttle service ($10 spherical journey per individual) to the encircling amusement parks, however occasions have been moderately restricted.
We attended the timeshare presentation on the second day. It was situated on the Parc Soleil, which made it handy.
At check-in, they ask in your ID and bank card, then invite you to take pleasure in snacks and non-alcoholic drinks whilst you wait in your gross sales consultant. You can too drop off your youngsters at a small, supervised kids’s room (with toys, colouring, and a TV) whilst you attend the presentation.
Because it was our first timeshare presentation expertise, we didn’t know what to anticipate. We have been additionally genuinely fascinated by studying extra about timeshares, which didn’t work in our favour.
They began off with some basic questions on our journey habits and locations we needed to go to, after which went onto talk about how HGV may make all of it occur at a fraction of the price.
As soon as the gross sales consultant realized we truly had some curiosity, he turned the stress on. He would present us how he had booked numerous locations at improbable charges and started negotiating on the quantity of preliminary funding required to buy, whereas providing further Hilton Honors factors to sweeten the deal.
Every time we declined, he would return to his supervisor and are available again with a greater deal.
This went on for a bit till he lastly got here again with what gave the impression to be a good supply on the time, and we truly signed the papers and walked out with a timeshare after the 2 and half hours.
The agent provided to refund our US$199 package deal price, most likely as a sort gesture on condition that we had simply purchased a timeshare with him, after which despatched us to the entrance desk to acquire our US$200 “Keep a Night time On Us” rebate voucher.
Suffice to say, buying a time share was not our preliminary sport plan. Fortunately for us, there’s a cooling-off interval constructed into the contracts, whereby you may have 10 days to rescind a timeshare buy settlement within the USA.
With a while and house to really take into consideration our impulsive choice, we determined it actually wasn’t for us and the following day, we rescinded.
The workers have been very variety about it and it was a simple sufficient course of, however lesson discovered: do not present any curiosity in a timeshare you probably have no intention to purchase.
Hilton Grand Holidays at Tuscany Village
2019 Bundle Deal: 4 nights / 5 days in a one bed room suite for US$299, refunded after presentation, one $200 “Keep A Night time On Us” rebate voucher OR 10,000 Hilton Honors factors
A yr later, my husband had a convention in Chicago on the Hilton. HGV had arrange a sales space within the foyer, the place they provided everybody 1,000 Hilton Honors factors only for listening to what they needed to supply.
He took them up on the supply, and this time he was provided packages to both New York Metropolis, Las Vegas, Myrtle Seaside, or Orlando. They have been two- to four-night packages starting from US$199 to US$399.
Now, you may be questioning: how typically you should buy a timeshare presentation package deal? As per HGV’s phrases, so long as you haven’t attended one other presentation within the final 12 months, you’re eligible to buy one other.
We have been simply over a yr since our first package deal, so we purchased one other, again to Orlando. This time round, the supply was 4 nights for US$299 plus tax, so we have been slightly hesitant as our earlier supply was higher.
The gross sales agent, sensing the hesitancy, sweetened the package deal by providing both a US$200 “Keep a Night time On Us” rebate voucher or 10,000 Hilton Honors factors, and to refund the US$299 after the presentation. That sealed the deal for us.
This time, we selected to remain on the Tuscany Village, situated about quarter-hour from Disney as soon as once more. The décor was a bit extra dated, nevertheless it nonetheless had an out of doors playground and some swimming pools that will fulfill most younger youngsters.
There have been additionally complimentary DVD leases and a kids’s exercise centre, albeit a bit smaller than the one at Parc Soleil.
I loved the truth that it was proper beside the Orlando Vineland Premium Retailers, which meant some retail remedy for me between theme park days. In addition they had a paid shuttle going to the amusement parks, however the occasions have been restricted.
Our presentation was again on the Parc Soleil. This time, my husband and I had a unique sport plan: we’d inform them that we weren’t prepared to purchase a timeshare and to allow them to know early on.
This was working effectively for us initially, and on the one-hour mark the agent was just about ending up. As we have been nearly to depart, he suggested us that his supervisor had one final supply for us, which bought us our third package deal…
The Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Holidays
The supervisor got here out and provided us a trial membership to the HGV program. Now this was completely different.
There was no set vacation spot for the package deal; as a substitute, for $1,599 (USD), we’d be given sufficient factors to redeem for seven nights in as much as a two-bedroom suite at any of the HGV properties in North America, together with Hawaii.
We did the mathematics and labored out that it might be lower than $230 (USD) an evening. If it have been another vacation spot, we’d have left it. After trying on the present charges for Hawaii for a Hilton property in Honolulu for March Break, we got here to see that it was an ideal deal.
Remember that these are charges for 2 adults and two kids. You probably have greater than 4 in your loved ones, like myself, both you’re paying extra, otherwise you’ll discover that the majority accommodations received’t even have the ability to accommodate. The truth that we may ebook a two-bedroom suite was a giant promoting level for us.
HGV has fairly a couple of properties in Hawaii, with the Grand Islander by HGV being one of many newer ones. We booked on the Grand Islander for 4 nights in Honolulu over March Break.
That left us with three nights remaining, which we may have used to increase reservation to seven nights…
…or ebook three nights at their New York property, West 57th Road by Hilton Membership on the south finish of Central Park, one other in any other case expensive lodging possibility.
Both means, you possibly can see that our $230 (USD) per night time beats the above charges by an extended shot.
An Even Higher Provide…
Sticking with Hawaii as our theme vacation spot, HGV at the moment has an supply on their web site for 5 nights in Honolulu or Waikoloa for $1,199 (USD) in a normal room, which brings the nightly price to $240 (USD) – an unimaginable deal for an evening in Hawaii – plus you get some bonus Hilton Honors factors!
Granted, it’s for the standard room, however you could possibly request an improve supply to a much bigger suite at a good price once you name in.
My Expertise with Marriott Trip Membership
2019 Bundle Deal: We bought a Marriott Trip Membership Preview Bundle again in 2019 that provided a 5 nights at Marriott’s Maui Ocean Membership for $799 (USD).
After quite a few delays and postponements because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we lastly loved our keep in March 2022.
We rescheduled our timeshare presentation after our arrival, and there have been no points with shifting it to a unique day. When it got here time for the precise presentation, it happened in a cubicle of their outside Gross sales Centre.
We wound up going over the 90-minute allotment, and spent nearer to 2 hours there. I used to be genuinely fascinated by this system, so it was extra my fault than theirs.
Marriott Trip Membership makes use of a points-based system. Our gross sales agent provided us the base-level 1,500 factors at $15.84 (USD) per level, totalling $23,760 (USD).
As a signup bonus, they have been keen to throw in one other 3,000 factors for the primary yr.
To place issues into perspective, a one-bedroom villa in Maui at peak season may price as much as 4,500 factors per week.
We didn’t present a lot curiosity on this, and so they tried to sweeten the take care of some extra affords, however we kindly declined. As we had an exit interview, one other gross sales agent got here in to supply us one more timeshare presentation package deal.
The primary supply, which was good for the following two years, was 5 nights on the similar property for $1,295 (USD). We weren’t certain after we could be again to Maui once more, so, once more, we declined.
They approached us with one final supply: $995 (USD) for 4 nights at any of their North American properties, together with Hawaii for a $300 (USD) add-on charge.
I’ve at all times needed to go to Kauai. After a fast verify revealed costs at round $2,600 (USD) for 4 nights, and realizing Kauai wasn’t a vacation spot that’s routinely provided as a timeshare presentation package deal, we accepted this final supply. We ended up reserving our keep for March Break 2024, and loved an ideal keep at Marriott’s Waikoloa Ocean Membership.
It goes to point out that sticking round for extra affords can lead to some fairly nice charges!
Conclusion
In the event you’re not acquainted with timeshare presentation packages, now’s the time to try them as a way to very low cost lodging in lots of standard trip spots.
Timeshare displays are an ideal possibility in areas the place factors redemptions are both not value it (e.g., Orlando, the place accommodations are usually fairly low cost to start with), or in locations the place redemptions are troublesome to make (e.g., Hawaii the place the price of redemptions are excessive).
It does require a small time dedication and maybe a little bit of finesse in speaking down a gross sales consultant, however in my thoughts, the financial savings are undoubtedly value it.
