One of the really nice things about owning a timeshare is that you can share it with friends and family, if you so desire. We are so used to the wonderful accommodations and comforts of our timeshares, that we are excited to treat those we love to the same experiences. Most of the time this works out very well for all concerned, but occasionally there may be some minor snags that will make for a not-so-great trip. We’d like to discuss some of these, and offer some tips for sharing your timeshares with guests.
- When you extend the invitation, make sure that you indicate exact dates and times. If you are staying in Florida for 3 weeks, but you would only like company for 1 week because you have other things planned or other guests coming, they need to know that.
- Decide ahead of time whether or not you are going to charge them anything for the accommodations. Obviously, you pay maintenance fees and you may have had to pay exchange fees, so be up front if you feel they need to contribute. If, on the other hand, the trip is your treat, let them know that, too.
- Discuss, ahead of time, exactly what the accommodations will be–how much room is in the unit, how many bathrooms there are, where everyone will be sleeping, etc. Address any special needs that your guests might have.
- Talk about how you want to handle meals and food costs. People’s diets and tastes vary, so deal with this issue before you go. Likewise, if you are renting a car or planning activities outside the resort, discuss the costs ahead of time so there are no surprises later.
- Decide on as many activities as you can, beforehand, and whether you and your guests want to spend all of your time together. If you enjoy zoos, and they don’t, you may want to split up some of your time to enjoy individual pursuits.
- Be willing to be flexible. Coordinating six or eight people is much more challenging than coordinating 2 or 3. Be willing to listen and explore different options.
- Don’t expect your guests to love timeshares just because you do. Timesharing is not for everyone. We tend to shy away from activities that include timeshare presentations as part of a “package.” Some companies offer you reduced maintenance fees if you give them names to contact. We’ve always felt that if friends or family are interested, they will let us know.
As you can see, the key phrase here is“ahead of time.” Don’t just expect that things will fall naturally into place, because you know each other so well–chances are, there will be a few glitches even with good planning. But if you sit down and talk about things before you go, you’ll be much more likely to have a wonderful, rewarding vacation together!
If you found this helpful, click the Facebook Like button below or Tweet it.