| Until recently, timeshares have been the way to go | | | | to travel and join the club, you've just erased your |
| when someone wanted to get a good deal on yearly | | | | annual costs! That is something to consider, but let's |
| vacationing, but with the recent rise in discount travel | | | | pay the monthly fee for the sake of the exercise. |
| clubs is it still a a smart move? I will compare the | | | | Over 10 years, club costs are $7,191.60. There are no |
| two vacation plans and show how discount travel | | | | additional costs for staying at resorts or hotels |
| clubs are the better choice for people who want to | | | | around the world, but vacation packages are bought |
| save on their vacations. | | | | in bulk and offered to the members at cost. Other |
| 1) Initial costs- Purchase a timeshare at a resort or | | | | advantages with travel clubs include discounted rates |
| second hand from the original owner and you will pay | | | | for air travel, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, |
| anywhere from say $6,500 to $20,000 depending on | | | | and travel insurance that can be used any time of |
| where your unit is and how good you are at haggling | | | | year as many times as you need. There is even |
| when they try to close on you. Paid either in a lump | | | | concierge service which you can use anywhere and |
| sum or over time, you now own a week of time at | | | | anytime to get information on just about anything |
| a resort that you can exchange with others looking | | | | you need while home or abroad. I'll give this one to |
| for something in your area. Let's go midrange for a | | | | the timeshare with an asterisk just using the base |
| buying price of $13,250. | | | | numbers, but there is more value built into the |
| If you joined a discount travel club, you paid | | | | vacation club membership. |
| somewhere between $199 and $500 to get access | | | | 3) Variety of vacation experience- Timeshares give |
| to vacations around the world... Gotta give that win | | | | you the same vacation every year staying in the |
| to the vacation club for a more affordable initial price. | | | | same unit or a similar one every time and swapping is |
| 2) Recurring costs- According to | | | | only available at participating resorts in their network. |
| memorable-beach-vacations.com, ownership has its | | | | Travel clubs offer you many different experiences all |
| privileges because you now are responsible for | | | | over the world- you don't have to repeat the same |
| ongoing maintenance fees, upkeep, furniture and | | | | trip twice (unless you want to). Over 60,000 vacation |
| appliances, roof and pool replacement, and of course | | | | and rental properties available in over 160 |
| insurance and property taxes. We'll use their figures | | | | destinations. World Ventures even has a program |
| for time share resorts in Virginia Beach, which they | | | | called DreamTrips where all the reservations and |
| found range from $390-$550 a year, and use a | | | | planning are taken care of for you. You have your |
| midrange figure of $475 a year. This annual fee | | | | choice of event, cruise, sport, or theme packages at |
| would be adjusted for inflation and probably increase | | | | deeply discounted prices- examples from 2009 include |
| over time. Your total annual timeshare costs over 10 | | | | a Cozumel cruise, 5 day/4 night for $179 per person |
| years, barring any roof or pool rework, is $4,750. If | | | | including taxes and fees, trip to Madrid, Spain for |
| you trade for other units around the world, there are | | | | $150 per person taxes included, and so on. Get |
| other costs involved that vary from group to group, | | | | lodging and tickets to the Masters, the final four, |
| so it would be hard to determine the exact costs | | | | even the World Cup in South Africa for hundreds less |
| other than to say they would be at least several | | | | than you can find online. The vacation club gets this |
| hundred dollars more expensive a year. | | | | vote easily. |
| Monthly fees vary between vacation clubs, so we will | | | | So while the timeshare won the recurring cost |
| use World Ventures number for accuracy. Lets say | | | | section with a handicap, the best overall bargain is |
| you liked the presentation and went with the most | | | | the travel club membership for its low initial cost, |
| expensive package that makes you a representative. | | | | variety of vacation experiences offered, and the |
| You would pay $59.93 a month for an annual rate of | | | | abilities to save on all travel expenses and make |
| $719.16, but there is a way to not have any monthly | | | | money by becoming a representative. The numbers |
| fee by bringing in four people who buy any package | | | | aren't exact, but do represent a fair comparison |
| that is offered. So if you know four friends who like | | | | between the two vacation choices. |