traveling with my bwuhs

Let’s talk about timeshares real quick — because everyone has opinions, and there’s no shortage of research out there.

Timeshare ownership is one of those travel concepts that sounds dreamy at first: a guaranteed vacation spot every year, with all the comforts of a condo instead of a cramped hotel room. In reality, though, it’s a mixed bag. You’re essentially purchasing the right to use a property for a set amount of time each year, usually with ongoing maintenance fees that can add up quickly.

For some families, it’s a great way to lock in annual vacations and create lasting traditions (that’s us!!). For others, the costs, scheduling restrictions, and resale challenges make it more hassle than it’s worth. Like most travel decisions, it really comes down to what kind of traveler you are — and how much flexibility you like to have.

For our family, timeshares work. They might not work for you — and that’s totally okay.

If our ownership had been a traditional “use-it-or-lose-it” deeded week, we probably never would have gone for it. That kind of commitment just doesn’t fit our lifestyle. But our membership through an exchange organization (RCI) gives us options. We can deposit our weeks, convert them to points, and travel to different destinations at different times of the year. It gives us the best of both worlds: a sense of stability and the flexibility to change things up when we want to.

We were a little nervous at first about buying deeded fall weeks. Would the weather be too cool? Would our exchange rate suffer? Turns out, we worried for nothing. We were able to trade one of our weeks for a larger unit during peak summer season — perfect for when Hubs’ family usually travels — and we enjoyed our other week at the resort itself. Win-win.

Now, the one real downside we’ve found: the dreaded “Owner Update.” If you know, you know. It’s a 60-minute high-pressure sales pitch disguised as an “informational session.” If you’re a deeded week owner (like us), they’ll try to convince you to switch to points. If you already have points, they’ll try to get you to buy more. They usually tempt you with an incentive (our last one offered $120 in resort cash), and while it is interesting to hear about resort updates, I’d rather not spend my vacation being sold to.

That’s just not how we make decisions — especially big financial ones. It took us years to finally take the plunge into timeshare ownership, and the idea of being pressured into “upgrading” on the spot just doesn’t sit right. We love the travel perks, but not the pushy sales tactics. And something tells me we’re not the only family who feels that way.

Have you ever sat through a timeshare presentation — or even owned one yourself? Did you love it, regret it, or swear you’d never do it again? Tell me your thoughts in the comments!

❤ Jen