Should you’re planning to go to among the world’s hottest locations, you possibly can run into some hurdles if lodge award availability is scarce and money costs are excessive.
Positive, factors may help offset the fee, however which means it is going to price you a lot of factors. What if I instructed you there’s a method to save these factors and snag an superior deal in your lodging?
Properly, 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 will 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 choice 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.
A lot of the large lodge manufacturers that we’re accustomed to have their very own affiliated timeshare division. A number of well-known examples embody the Marriott Trip Membership, Hilton Grand Holidays, Vacation Inn Trip Membership, Hyatt Residence Membership, and even Disney has their very own Disney Trip Membership.
Typically talking, there are two sorts of timeshares: these which are points-based and people who provide you with deeded weeks.
- In a points-based program, you’ve a sure variety of factors annually that may be redeemed in opposition to nights at your timeshare.
- In a deeded-week program, yearly, you’ve 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. Normally, there’s a system or program for homeowners to swap their property for an additional vacation spot or property for any given yr, constructing some flexibility into this system.
Regardless of the perks of timeshares, many individuals select not put money into one, as they could be a cash drain for those who don’t make good use of them.
There are annual upkeep charges for the maintenance of the property that should be paid, the method of swapping properties might be fairly difficult, 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 superb match to your journey patterns or not, you need to take into account attending a timeshare preview presentation.
The timeshare market is a aggressive one, and most timeshare trip golf equipment will provide some type of incentive for a chance to introduce you to their program within the hopes of attractive you to buy one.
What is obtainable as a part of the bundle varies by the membership and even the property, and it may be wherever from tickets to a theme park or a present, to lodging at one in all their properties for a number of days at an enormous low cost, plus possibly even some bonus factors for his or her respective lodge award applications.
If it’s the lodging you’re after, remember that often the bundle will cowl a “normal” room; nevertheless, there’s a chance for upgrading, as we’ll talk about later.
What’s the Catch with Timeshare Displays?
To make the most of these incredible affords, you (and your partner, for those who’re married) have to attend a 1.5- to 2-hour gross sales pitch in regards to the timeshare program when you’re vacationing in your timeshare bundle.
Throughout that point, they’ll introduce you to their program, how simple it’s to make use of the timeshare, the flexibleness it offers, the years of enjoyment you’ll get out of it, and even provide you with a tour of a possible timeshare unit.
Simple sufficient, proper? More often than not, sure.
Some gross sales representatives might 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 a whole lot of time negotiating a greater provide for you.
Most gross sales reps, nevertheless, are fairly cheap. Should you’ve put in your time and made it clear you’re not prepared to purchase, they’ll ship you alongside your merry approach. And for those who do occur to cave below the stress and purchase the timeshare, it’s not the tip of the world (extra on this later).
The Marriott Trip Membership has prior to now 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; nevertheless, they do state that it’s important 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 E-book a Timeshare Presentation
Now that you simply is perhaps contemplating benefiting from a timeshare presentation, let’s go over how you discover these affords and join them.
The best approach is thru every respective membership’s web site. Normally, there’s a cellphone quantity or on-line kind to finish for added info.
Hilton and Hyatt even lets you guide the bundle on-line for those who reside within the USA.
As soon as you buy the bundle, 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 doable to increase this deadline. I’ve performed this on a few events myself.
When you guide your bundle, you possibly can nonetheless change the dates, though some applications will cost a change payment.
As soon as you buy a preview bundle, they’re usually thought of non-refundable. There have been scattered studies of individuals receiving refunds in the event that they now not fulfill the eligibility for the bundle, however as all the time, this shouldn’t be the expectation.
My Experiences with Hilton Grand Holidays
Hilton Grand Holidays (HGV) has practically 200 properties unfold internationally, with a overwhelming majority in america. Their properties differ from the common Hilton-branded resorts in that they typically provide lodging with extra space, bigger and a higher variety of bedrooms, and ensuite kitchen and laundry facilities.
Observe that not all HGV properties are bookable by means of timeshare displays, and a few properties are solely made out there at sure occasions.
So far, I’ve performed a few packages with Hilton Grand Holidays in Orlando, and one other in Honolulu. Right here’s a recap of my experiences thus far with HGV.
Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Holidays
2017 Package deal Deal: Three nights / 4 days for US$199 and a US$200 “Keep a Evening On Us” rebate voucher; upgraded to a two-bedroom suite for an extra US$50
After I referred to as Hilton reservations again in 2017 to alter an current lodge reserving I had, the agent requested if I might be concerned with listening to a few “nice provide” 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 supplied me the above timeshare bundle. I used to be contemplating a visit to Disney for my son’s birthday anyway, and this may positively assist convey down the journey’s price, so I purchased the bundle.
After 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 performed throughout our keep – and that was it!
On the time of reserving, my youngest was only some months outdated and wasn’t the best sleeper, and so additional house to accommodate her sleeping scenario 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 an extra US$50, which appeared greater than cheap to me, bringing our grand whole to US$249 plus tax.
We stayed on the HGV Parc Soleil, which is a 15-minute drive into Disney. Aside from being a bit additional out from Disney, it was a incredible lodging choice for households.
It had two lovely out of doors swimming pools, one which was zero-entry with a water slide and one other for adults solely. They’d a youngsters exercise centre and a few organized actions all through the day. There was additionally a basketball courtroom, tennis courtroom, and out of doors playground for the children.
The suite itself was spacious, trendy 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 had been quite 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 to your ID and bank card, then invite you to get pleasure from snacks and non-alcoholic drinks when you wait to your gross sales consultant. You too can drop off your youngsters at a small, supervised kids’s room (with toys, colouring, and a TV) when you attend the presentation.
Because it was our first timeshare presentation expertise, we didn’t know what to anticipate. We had been additionally genuinely concerned with 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 fee.
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 incredible charges and commenced 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 appeared to be a good provide on the time, and we truly signed the papers and walked out with a timeshare after the 2 and half hours.
The agent supplied to refund our US$199 bundle price, most likely as a form gesture provided that we had simply purchased a timeshare with him, after which despatched us to the entrance desk to acquire our US$200 “Keep a Evening 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’ve 10 days to rescind a timeshare buy settlement within the USA.
With a while and house to truly take into consideration our impulsive determination, we determined it actually wasn’t for us and the subsequent day, we rescinded.
The employees had been very sort about it and it was a straightforward sufficient course of, however lesson discovered: do not present any curiosity in a timeshare if in case you have no intention to purchase.
Hilton Grand Holidays at Tuscany Village
2019 Package deal Deal: 4 nights / 5 days in a one bed room suite for US$299, refunded after presentation, one $200 “Keep A Evening 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 supplied everybody 1,000 Hilton Honors factors only for listening to what they needed to provide.
He took them up on the provide, and this time he was supplied packages to both New York Metropolis, Las Vegas, Myrtle Seashore, or Orlando. They had been two- to four-night packages starting from US$199 to US$399.
Now, you is perhaps questioning: how typically you should buy a timeshare presentation bundle? As per HGV’s phrases, so long as you haven’t attended one other presentation within the final 12 months, you might be eligible to buy one other.
We had been simply over a yr since our first bundle, so we purchased one other, again to Orlando. This time round, the provide was 4 nights for US$299 plus tax, so we had been a little bit hesitant as our earlier provide was higher.
The gross sales agent, sensing the hesitancy, sweetened the bundle by providing both a US$200 “Keep a Evening 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, but it surely nonetheless had an outside playground and some swimming pools that might 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. Additionally they had a paid shuttle going to the amusement parks, however the occasions had been restricted.
Our presentation was again on the Parc Soleil. This time, my husband and I had a special 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 properly for us initially, and on the one-hour mark the agent was just about ending up. As we had been nearly to depart, he suggested us that his supervisor had one final provide for us, which received us our third bundle…
The Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Holidays
The supervisor got here out and supplied us a trial membership to the HGV program. Now this was totally different.
There was no set vacation spot for the bundle; 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 will be lower than $230 (USD) an evening. If it had been some other 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 a fantastic deal.
Needless to say these are charges for 2 adults and two kids. If in case you have greater than 4 in your loved ones, like myself, both you’re paying extra, otherwise you’ll discover that the majority resorts received’t even be capable of accommodate. The truth that we may guide a two-bedroom suite was an enormous 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 guide 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 dear lodging choice.
Both approach, 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 provide on their web site for 5 nights in Honolulu or Waikoloa for $1,199 (USD) in a regular 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 provide to an even bigger suite at a good price whenever you name in.
My Expertise with Marriott Trip Membership
2019 Package deal Deal: We bought a Marriott Trip Membership Preview Package deal again in 2019 that supplied 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 transferring it to a special day. When it got here time for the precise presentation, it passed off in a cubicle of their out of doors Gross sales Centre.
We wound up going over the 90-minute allotment, and spent nearer to 2 hours there. I used to be genuinely concerned with this system, so it was extra my fault than theirs.
Marriott Trip Membership makes use of a points-based system. Our gross sales agent supplied us the base-level 1,500 factors at $15.84 (USD) per level, totalling $23,760 (USD).
As a signup bonus, they had 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 yet one more timeshare presentation bundle.
The primary provide, which was good for the subsequent two years, was 5 nights on the similar property for $1,295 (USD). We weren’t positive after we can be again to Maui once more, so, once more, we declined.
They approached us with one final provide: $995 (USD) for 4 nights at any of their North American properties, together with Hawaii for a $300 (USD) add-on payment.
I’ve all the time 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 supplied as a timeshare presentation bundle, we accepted this final provide. We ended up reserving our keep for March Break 2024, and loved a fantastic keep at Marriott’s Waikoloa Ocean Membership.
It goes to point out that sticking round for extra affords may end up in some fairly nice charges!
Conclusion
Should you’re not accustomed to timeshare presentation packages, now’s the time to try them as a method to very low cost lodging in lots of fashionable trip spots.
Timeshare displays are a fantastic choice in areas the place factors redemptions are both not value it (e.g., Orlando, the place resorts 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 positively value it.
