Non DVC timeshares?

[tammymacb]

*First and foremost* Administrator, if this thread can't be posted, let me know. I'll hope for a lesson via PM from more experienced TimeShare(ers).
Thanks!

OK all you intheknow time share folks. I have lots of questions. I've checked out TUG, but am so green, I'm hoping one of you will take me by the hand and help a girl out.

As a Disney fan, yet not fanatic, I travel a lot to places other than WDW. Most of my trips are Carribbean Dive trips and we take at least one big one a year. When I bought our BWV points, DH ( who isn't so much of a WDW fan ) was supportive, AS LONG AS we didn't take all of our trips to WDW. Don't worry, honey! I quipped. We can trade through II! Look, The Royal Sea Aquarium! We've discussed staying here before! Oh, and Belize! And we could easily find something in Playa or south of Playa!

Well, from reading you alls POVs I realize that I can get better deals ( with much less hassel ) renting points and using that to pay for trips.

I'm also considering buying an inexpensive trade through II that I could use in the Caribbean.

One option that's far up the list is Morritts Tortuga on Grand Cayman. DH and I go once a year ( though we're skipping this year for 2 weeks on Bonaire and we're already not sure if we made the right decision ) I understand it's available to trade on II if we didn't want to go to GC, and then we could trade out for Curacao, Barbados, Central America etc.

I guess my question is ....How do I do this? :help: I have no idea how to start up the process, how to check to make sure I'm buying the right trade, etc. We don't travel much in the US, I want something mainly for Caribbean travel.

Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Colorado Belle]

My 2 cents:

For trading purposes, you ONLY want to buy on EBAY where you can stop bidding if the price gets higher than a couple grand.

Second, look for places that have very low maintenance fees. To trade, you'll need to pay to join RCI or II or Trading Places, you'll need to pay your maintenance fee plus a trading fee...this all adds up of course, so don't get yourself into a position where you'll be paying more to trade than you would just paying for a rental.

Finally, the best deal is to find a place you actually enjoy staying at...I think there is a timeshare on Little Cayman or Cayman Brac for example, tho I'm not panning Morritt's and I do see that one on ebay a lot. (I think it's only problem is that it's on the 'far' side of GC ). That way, if you can't trade out or it gets too expensive to trade out, you are left with something you like anyway. Of course if you find it on EBAY, you won't have a whole lot invested, so it won't matter as much.

Just so you know, I've bought 3 contracts on ebay...all in or near Puerto Vallarta because I love going to PV and can get there fairly easily from Colorado. I met some people last trip who traded three times into the Maui Westin with no trouble....and they only had a studio so were upgraded into a 1 bd. Since Hawaii is the best for trading place...they were supremely happy!

[Laxmom]

One thing to consider Tammy, is that most, if not all, carribean timeshares are right to use. In other words, they exsist at the whim of the local government. They can end it and I am not sure what notice is required. I guess it would depend on the contract with the resort. This is what we were told when we toured the Marriott in Aruba. The resorts in the carribean also have higher mf's than the resorts on the US mainland. Just a couple of things I thought you might want to check out if you haven't already.

Be extremely careful what resort you purchase. There have been some nightmare stories about resorts in the carribean in the last couple of years. One has changed hands numerous times with one of the companies taking the owners money that was supposed to be MF's. Those owners cannot give those weeks away to get out from under the maintenance fees. There are a couple of lawsuits from owners that are still in process. It is some of the same stuff that happens here but it is harder to fight that far away.

Not trying to discourage you, although it may sound like it, I just want to make sure you go in with your eyes wide open. Keep hanging around Tug. That is where I heard about this stuff.

[tomandrobin]

I'm also considering buying an inexpensive trade through II that I could use in the Caribbean.

One option that's far up the list is Morritts Tortuga on Grand Cayman. DH and I go once a year ( though we're skipping this year for 2 weeks on Bonaire and we're already not sure if we made the right decision ) I understand it's available to trade on II if we didn't want to go to GC, and then we could trade out for Curacao, Barbados, Central America etc.

We don't travel much in the US, I want something mainly for Caribbean travel.

Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Tough, tough, tough requirements to fulfill. A cheap, all purpose timeshare, with low fees to trade throughout the Caribbean. I don't think a unit like that exists. First, buy resale, second buy where you primarily want to travel. Ok, now that the standard timeshare speech is done, on to the show.

When are you looking to travel? Summer time and Spring time are almost impossible to trade into Caribbean resorts, especially the nice resorts.
Atlantis and St John. Both are Starwood properties. We also own a couple of other Westin (Starwood) properties for trading/points. One of the best things that we like with Starwood is the ability to use their Hotel system as a compliment to their timeshares. For example, we are planning to go to St Lucia in a few years. Westin does not have a timeshare their, nor does anyone else. But we are planning on converting to points and staying at the Westin Hotel on St Lucia. So between the Starwood timeshares and Starwood Hotels, we have access to alot of the places we want to travel. Marriott can go between the timeshares and hotels to extend their coverage.

But honestly, I do not think you can find one timeshare to fill all of your needs for the Caribbean.

[Laxmom]

But only when you buy direct from Marriott. You don't get the option of converting to Marriott Reward Points if you buy resale. And frankly, I would not let that stop you. Marriott has consistently raised the points necessary for hotel stays while leaving the point value of the vacation club resorts the same. For the money you would save buying resale vs. direct, you could buy enough points for your trip or pay cash several times.