Is Buying a Timeshare Right For Me?

"Is buying timeshare right for me?" this has to be the million dollar question - the one, if answered successfully could help remove some of the bad reputation that timeshare resale has earned since the 1980's. This is not to suggest that all of the complaints surrounding timeshare are because they have been sold to the wrong people, but it is certainly a large part of it.

What is a timeshare good for?

Timeshare is a relatively inexpensive way of buying into a luxury vacation resort in the location of your dreams. Typically this will mean that you can return year after year and get that "home-from-home" feeling whilst getting away from it all. Of course, there is always the comparison drawn between timeshare ownership and the package holiday - typically most bargain package holidays can work out cheaper if you think of it in terms of "a week on the Costa del Sol", however, until you compare them on a like-for-like basis package holidays can seldom keep up. Most timeshare apartments are larger, have more luxuries and the resorts have many more amenities and activities for you to enjoy. If you buy timeshare resale instead of directly from the resort you can look to save up to 60% of the list price, making it cheaper still.

What is a timeshare not?

A cheap one-off holiday, pure and simple; timeshares are not that type of product, and if you are thinking of them in terms of the package holiday or something similar, then they're probably not for you. If you do want somewhere you know and love to return to every-year, somewhere you can get to know everyone and grow into the community, timeshare was made for you.

But doesn't that mean a Timeshare is not flexible?

It is true that some people feel that there is a lack of flexibility with timeshare, that they will just be stuck with it with nowhere else to go on vacation. Well, the idea that timeshares aren't that flexible is missing much of what you can get from different resorts and of course, exchange companies altogether. Exchange companies like RCI (Resort Condominiums International), II (Interval International) and Dial an Exchange all have systems where you can bank or trade in your timeshare week for comparable weeks at different resorts across the globe. In addition to this, many developers like Diamond Resorts International and Club la Costa also have points schemes where you don't have a fixed week, but rather the points to spend in one of the many luxury resorts throughout the year.

So is a timeshare right for me?

If you are looking for a way of taking luxury holidays in some of the world's top resorts and are aware of the financial commitment you are making with the maintenance fees then you can really get a lot from timeshare resale. The best thing you can do is do your own research on it and really weigh the pros and cons; thousands of people a year swear by their timeshares, why shouldn't you?

James Howson is a timeshare and travel expert with over a decade of experience reviewing top resorts. He owns several timeshare properties and can offer expert advice to those who may wish to buy timeshare.

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Top 5 Steps in Buying a Timeshare

Buying a timeshare can be a large commitment which lasts for years to come. Despite the largely negative press timeshare has received over the years, the actual product itself isn't a bad one, at least not if you approach it knowing what you want and what to expect.

1. Which Timeshare right for you?

So first you have to ask yourself which timeshare is right for you. This will depend on many different aspects really, do you want to stay in one location and build a home-from-home? Perhaps you'd rather buy into a vacation club and have the flexibility of having your vacation in a different location all year around? In some instances a vacation club scheme such as those provided by Diamond Resorts International or Club La Costa can provide the flexibility a fixed timeshare can't. Either way, first establish which would suit you best.

2. What sort of experience do you want?

So what you do you want to do while you're away? Spend a week on the golden beaches of the Costa del Sol or skiing in the Alps? This will obviously influence your decision greatly, from the country you choose to the resort you pick. Marbella is a great destination for sun seekers and has the Marriott Beach Club amongst other top resorts, whereas if you want a highland experience Macdonald is sure to be a better option.

3. Which country do you want to stay?

So you know what sort of experience you're looking for, now it's on to choosing the country. For example, a beach holiday in Marbella is going to be different from a beach holiday on Gran Canaria. The basics are there, but exploring the Canary Islands and mainland Spain is very different. There's the temperature, culture, cuisine, cities, nightlife etc to think about here. Have you been to the country before? Do you have relatives there? Pick wisely and you can't go wrong.

4. What time of Year do you want to go?

This is a very important point, but something people overlook all too frequently. Not only do you have to pick a time which is easiest for you and your family to travel to, but you need to keep in mind a whole host of other factors. Cost of flights, can you get flights which will suite your budget? Holiday seasons - if it's easier for you to get away during the Easter or Summer holidays, the chances are it'll be easier for others to do this too. You also must think about what other national holidays might influence how busy the resort is.

5. Which resort do you want to stay at?

So you may have already fallen in love with a specific resort, or heard only good things about it - but there's much more which will dictate which resort you stay at. First thing is cost; whilst timeshare resales have made many timeshare weeks much, much more affordable, you'll still find that some resorts cost more than others. Beyond that, think about the maintenance costs - the majority of the times these are required yearly. What are the check-in days and times, are the facilities in the resort all you need, is there enough to do within the local area? There are a whole host of questions here which you really must find the answers for first. If you can seek advice or even try and visit first, that way you can see things first hand.

James Howson is a timeshare and travel expert with over a decade of experience reviewing top resorts. He owns several timeshare properties and can offer expert advice to those who may wish to buy timeshare.

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Thinking About Buying a Timeshare in Spain?

Have you been holidaying in Spain regularly? Is the allure of the beautiful beaches in the Costa del Sol too strong to keep from your mind? Can you not get enough of the weather and sites you cannot find elsewhere? Very often, buying a Timeshare is the best choice for some, cutting the cost of repeat package holidays whilst only being a fraction of the price many resorts may charge.

It hardly needs saying but the Costa del Sol is one of the most highly sought after holiday destinations in Spain, if not all of Europe. For the British especially, the Costa del Sol is the sunning destination with beaches that the UK could only but dream of.

Club playa Real is paradise for many, made with your relaxation in mind, situated on the beach within a few moments travel of Marbella town and the famous Puerto Banus. On site is a magnificent outdoor poor with poolside bar, miles of beautiful beaches and "chiringutio" bars all within minutes travel, how could you refuse?

Staying within the Marbella area, why not try Marbella Beach resort? It sits adjacent to the Club Playa Real clubhouse and members have full access to the indoor leisure facilities. Topping things off is "Le Papillon" Beach Restaurant, located ideally next to the sea providing stunning evenings and delicious food.

If you're looking for a destination with your family in mind, why not try Marbesa Club instead? With access to Club Playa Real's clubhouse facilities and located right next to the beach it provides everything you need for the perfect family holiday. If you don't want to spend the majority of you time away on the Spanish roads, Marbesa club is close to local public transport routes giving you free roam of the surrounding areas.

Maybe lazy around on the beach does not suit you, you can still choose one of the Costa del Sol's idyllic hillside clubs, Mi Jardin. But don't mistake the quite surroundings for being too far from the interest, Mi Jardin still benefits from the golden beaches only 10 minutes walk away. The location of Mi Jardin is wonderfully complimented by its gardens, landscaped swimming pool and barbecue terraces - everything you need for relaxing days in the sun.

A glorious area of Spain, the Costa del Sol has plenty to offer for those looking for going into timeshare ownership without the need to pay higher resort prices or the repeat package holiday costs.

James Howson is a timeshare and travel expert with over a decade of experience reviewing top resorts. He owns several timeshare properties and can offer expert advice to those who may wish to buy timeshare.

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Buying Timeshares at Anfi Beach Club

Buying a timeshare is often a daunting endeavor to start with; there are numerous ideas about the best timeshare to buy and which is the best location to buy into. For many located in Great Britain and Europe, probably the most popular destination is part of Anfi Del Mar in Gran Canaria, and this is the Anfi Beach Club.

Anfi Beach Club timeshares are highly regarded due in equal parts to the trustworthiness of Anfi as a holiday company and the prize position in which the resort is found. Certainly one of Gran Canaria's biggest attractions is a result of its year-round wonderful climate, or as those who work in the timeshare business define it, "red week" status. This constant red week standing means that the activities you can enjoy in the resort aren't being restricted by a seasonal climate.

If you want to spend a week around the beach, April through to mid-October is practically always hot with hardly any rain fall. The "winters" tend to be marginally less hot, with the temperature throughout the mid-20s along with a minor possibility of rain, but if you are located in Great Britain or the more upper regions of Europe, you'll soon observe that you can barely consider this as winter.

In terms of activities, people looking to buy timeshares at Anfi beach Club, have their thoughts centered on a single element, the beaches. Many people who think about buying timeshares are looking for someplace that they may revisit each and every year, with the knowledge that they're staying in an apartment they know and love as well as having use of everything they'd possibly want while they are on holiday.

The beaches at Anfi are rather unique, the white sands, palm trees and encircling tropical gardens present you with the feeling of a Caribbean marvel on your doorstep. Needless to say the majority of the beaches on Gran Canaria have been transported to the island with sand from the Sahara being shipped in especially to ensure that visitors have access to the very best beaches possible.

Of course, with the Canary Islands being created largely out of volcanoes, there was little to see on the island but volcanic rock, however the islands were developed by the tourist and timeshare sectors and became the perfect beach-heaven you'll find today.

The actual means of buying a timeshare on Gran Canaria is straightforward if you use a respected source, nevertheless for the best possible deal timeshare resales is thought of as the most cost efficient way to do it. In fact there's never been a greater time to buy timeshares; it is a buyer's market at present therefore you can buy your own timeshare under the sun for a fraction of what the resorts can sell it for. For £2,000 (plus legal fees & maintenance) or in some cases less, you can purchase a premier week that can be yours forever.

James Howson is a timeshare and travel expert with well over 10 years of experience writing about top resorts. He owns several time share weeks and will offer expert advice to those who may want to buy Anfi Beach Club.

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