Hotels vs. Timeshares – What’s Your Choice?

This guest post was provided by Tom Tessin. He runs FindAirlineCards, an airline reward / travel blog helping travelers save on a daily basis.

When I first heard about timeshares, I always thought about scams. I thought about the hard pushing salesperson, as well as if it’s really worth it with all the fees. After doing some research, I have found that there are some great opportunities out there when it comes to timeshares.

Today, I wanted to showcase on some comparisons with hotels vs. timeshares. They both have their advantages, but I will let you be the judge on what is going to work best for you and your vacations.

Timeshares
  • Cheaper in the Long Run
    A timeshare is going to be an upfront payment, which many people don’t like, but if you buy them second hand on the timeshare resale market, you can find that you can get up to 80% off, which is a fantastic deal. From my studies online, it looks as if as you can recoup your money over 10 years time, making it a worthwhile investment, seeing a hotel will increase in price over time.

  • Nice Amenities with a Timeshare
    Yes, there are nice hotels that allow you to have a kitchen and everything else, but generally they are hard to come by. What you’re going to find with a timeshare is that you’re going to get some of the best hotels when it comes to traveling. If you book early enough, you can get the hotel stay during peak times. You will find that many of your timeshare condos have full bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, balconies, washer / dryers and more.

  • You’re not Limited
    While at first you may think that you are limited to just the resort you purchased, you actually have a wide range of choices through timeshare exchange. If you want to visit different places, simply choose a web site, such as RedWeek.com, to post your property up for exchange and browse their selection to find your new travel destination for just one vacation or do it every year and see the world.
Hotels
  • No Annual Recurring Fees
    Something that could be considered a drawback with a timeshare is the recurring annual fees. You’re going to have to pay taxes, maintenance fees, as well as a transfer fee (in some cases) if you do decide to sell in the future. If you travel each year, you will find that these fees will be worth it, but if you skip a year here and there, a hotel stay might be better for you.

  • Flexibility of Days
    With a timeshare, you have to travel weekend to weekend with a full 7 day stay. Often times airfares are cheaper when you fly mid-week so with a hotel stay, you can be much more flexible in choosing which days and how long you’d like to stay. Plus, you can be more spontaneous in your travel arrangements by using a hotel. Ready to take a trip? Just make a reservation at the drop of a hat. Even with timeshare rental, it would be hard to make a quick reservation with only a few days notice.
If you are considering buying a timeshare, always make sure that you do your research. They more you know, the better educated and informed decision you can make that will suit your vacation needs now and for years to come. And, if timeshares are something you’d like to try, rent one first at your favorite resort and make sure it’s a good fit before you put your money down.
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