The Everything Family Guide to Timeshares,9781593377113

The Everything Family Guide to Timeshares

by
ISBN13: 9781593377113
ISBN10: 1593377118
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2006-08-01
Publisher(s): Adams Media Corp
List Price: $16.00

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Summary

- More than 3 million households own timeshares in the U.S. - There are more than 5,400 timeshare resorts in more than 200 countries and territories--an increase of 32 percent over the last 30 years - The Everything Travel series has sold over 200,000 copies! There are more timeshare options available now than ever before, from waterfront condominiums to luxury villas to hotel suites. With The Everything Family Guide to Timeshares, readers have the perfect tool to sort through these many options to find the timeshare that best suits their individual needs. Readers learn how to: - Separate the deals from the scams - Choose the right timeshare location for their needs - Negotiate a successful contract - Swap timeshares with other owners This all-inclusive guide also includes information on exchange companies, free timeshare vacations, top properties, and unique timeshare opportunities, such as yachts and recreational vehicles. With The Everything Family Guide to Timeshares, choosing, purchasing, using, and selling the "perfect" timeshare is easier than ever!

Table of Contents

Top Ten Things You Can Do at Timeshare Resorts x
Introduction xiii
CHAPTER 1: What Is Timeshare? 1(24)
History of Timeshares
1(2)
The Early Days
3(1)
Modern-Day Timeshares
4(2)
Exchange Companies
6(4)
Brand-Name Developers
10(6)
Smaller Exchange Companies
16(9)
CHAPTER 2: Is Timeshare Right for You? 25(16)
The Ideal Timeshare Owner
25(2)
What You're Buying
27(2)
Beyond the Sales Pitch
29(2)
Types of Timeshares
31(5)
Fractional Ownership Programs
36(1)
What's Not Included
37(4)
CHAPTER 3: What Kind of Property Best Suits Your Needs? 41(24)
Consider the Location and Amenities
41(2)
Beachfront Timeshare Resorts
43(3)
Golf Course Timeshare Resorts
46(2)
Skiing Timeshare Resorts
48(2)
Spa Timeshare Resorts
50(1)
Wilderness Timeshare Resorts
51(2)
Theme Park Timeshare Resorts
53(2)
Urban Timeshare Resorts
55(3)
Other Timeshare Resorts
58(1)
Typical Timeshare Unit Layouts
59(6)
CHAPTER 4: What Do Timeshares Cost? 65(18)
General Prices
65(2)
Key Cost Factors
67(4)
High Versus Low Season
71(3)
Official Resort Ranking
74(2)
Unofficial Resort Reputation
76(1)
Remember Those Extra Fees
77(2)
Long-Term Cost Factors
79(4)
CHAPTER 5: Buying in the United States 83(24)
Red-Hot Regions
83(3)
Top Properties in the Northeast
86(3)
Top Properties in the Southeast
89(4)
Top Properties in the Midwest
93(3)
Top Properties in the South
96(4)
Top Properties in the West
100(3)
Top Properties in Puerto Rico and Hawaii
103(4)
CHAPTER 6: Buying Outside the United States 107(32)
Understanding the Worldwide Marketplace
107(7)
Finding International Timeshares
114(1)
The Caribbean
115(4)
The Bahamas/Bermuda
119(3)
Mexico
122(3)
Western Mediterranean
125(4)
Eastern Mediterranean
129(3)
More Exotic Locations
132(7)
CHAPTER 7: Your Timeshare Contract 139(12)
The Cold, Hard Facts
139(5)
Your Single Most Important Question
144(1)
Sweat the Small Stuff
145(2)
Addendums and Other Documents
147(1)
Differences from State to State
148(3)
CHAPTER 8: Free Timeshare Vacations 151(20)
The Pitch
151(1)
Are They Scams?
152(2)
What Happens When You Get There
154(10)
How to Protect Yourself in Advance
164(4)
How to Protect Yourself During the Sales Pitch
168(1)
If You Want to Buy
169(2)
CHAPTER 9: Buying from a Developer 171(14)
What's a Developer?
171(2)
The Pros
173(6)
The Cons
179(4)
How to Find Units
183(2)
CHAPTER 10: Buying a Resale Timeshare 185(18)
Buying New Versus Buying Used
185(2)
The Pros
187(5)
The Cons
192(5)
How to Find Resale Units
197(6)
CHAPTER 11: Maintenance and Ownership Issues 203(12)
Developers and Management Companies
203(3)
Homeowners' Associations
206(2)
Maintenance Fees
208(3)
Unit by Unit
211(1)
Special Assessments
212(3)
CHAPTER 12: Your Home Resort Unit 215(28)
Using Your Timeshare
215(6)
Making An Exchange
221(6)
Other Exchange Company Services
227(3)
Additional Exchange Options
230(5)
Working Without the Exchange Company
235(1)
Potential Pitfalls
236(5)
Travel Insurance
241(2)
CHAPTER 13: Renting Out Your Timeshare 243(12)
Market Demand
243(2)
Setting Your Price
245(5)
Advertising
250(1)
Rental Agreements
251(1)
Potential Pitfalls
252(3)
CHAPTER 14: Selling Your Timeshare 255(18)
When to Sell
255(4)
Realistic Versus Unrealistic Expectations
259(2)
How to Set Your Price
261(4)
Advertising
265(6)
Using a Resale Broker
271(2)
CHAPTER 15: Timeshare Scams 273(18)
It Can Happen to You
273(1)
Top 10 Danger Signs
274(8)
Protecting Yourself
282(6)
If You Think You're a Victim
288(3)
CHAPTER 16: When You Just Can't Sell 291(10)
How Many Timeshares Are "Unsellable"?
291(1)
Rethink Your Price
292(1)
Use Auctions
293(2)
Donate Your Unit to Charity
295(1)
Return Your Unit to the Developer
296(1)
Arrange a Permanent Swap
297(1)
Give Your Unit Away
298(1)
How to Recover from a Loss
299(2)
CHAPTER 17: Unique, Nonproperty Timeshares 301(12)
You Have Options: Beyond Resorts
301(2)
Boats
303(2)
Campground and Recreational Vehicle Sites
305(5)
Recreational Vehicles
310(3)
CHAPTER 18: If They Had It to Do Again 313(10)
Buying New Timeshares
313(2)
Buying Resale Timeshares
315(1)
Using Timeshares
316(1)
Exchanging Timeshares
317(2)
Renting Timeshares
319(1)
Selling Timeshares
320(1)
The Bottom Line
321(2)
CHAPTER 19: Consumer Groups and Additional Research Options 323(12)
United States—Based Consumer Groups
323(3)
United Kingdom—Based Consumer Groups
326(3)
Industry Organizations
329(2)
State and Federal Government Organizations
331(1)
The Better Business Bureau
332(1)
Chambers of Commerce
333(2)
APPENDIX A: Timeshare Developers, Exchange Companies, and Resale Brokers 335(6)
APPENDIX B: Vacation Calendars 341(6)
INDEX 347

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