The Timeshare Trap

All-inclusive resorts have been a firm favourite of holidaymakers for generations. The Comfort an all-inclusive resort can offer is very appealing to many, especially families. Having everything readily available to you, under one roof and, for a fixed price, is a big plus for holidaymakers. In addition to this, the facilities are often far better than in a hotel or villa, they also offer games centres, kids clubs, evening live entertainment, shuttle services, beach activities, exercise classes and unlimited food and drink. The real benefit, though, is not having to worry about added expenses piling up, and having to face a giant credit card bill when you return home. There won’t be a bar tab to pay or minibar bill, and there are no hidden extra charges. All-inclusive means everything is included, and this is the case for the majority of resorts.

It is a lesser known fact that some timeshare resorts also offer all-inclusive vacations to add to the ever growing list of holiday products. Many of the larger resort companies offer this timeshare all-inclusive holiday product and, if this is something you are considering, there are some important things to Consider before you fall victim to the trap.

When you holiday at resorts that are both a timeshare property and an all-inclusive, you will more than likely be invited to a timeshare presentation during your stay and you may be offered some attractive incentives to do so. For instance, an exciting water sports experience or tickets to an attraction. More than likely, if you do decide to attend a presentation, you will be entering into another sales pitch attempting to upsell you to yet another more exclusive holiday product.

If you do opt for a all-inclusive timeshare vacation you will find that you are limited by the number of properties within a specific resort system and they may in-fact only have one or two properties that are all-inclusive. So if you were sold an all-inclusive holiday product from a specific timeshare company, be aware that you will be very limited in your choice of destination. The majority of all-inclusive timeshare resorts are located in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, South America and a very limited amount in Europe.

The most important thing to remember if you do purchase an all-inclusive timeshare product, and something a seasoned timeshare sales rep may neglect to tell you about, is the additional fees you will be billed every time you visit an all-inclusive resort. These fees will be in addition to your regular annual maintenance fees.

While at first glance, it may seem you are being offered the deal of a lifetime, once all of the fees are factored in, the financial bottom line is drastically different than what was initially presented to you. A sales rep will give you a great price to lure you in and will do everything else but mention the extra fees involved.

People who enter into Timeshare agreements often find it difficult to keep up with the mounting maintenance fees and simply cannot afford it any longer. They may also find that the Timeshare no longer suits their needs and simply want to end the contract. There are too many individuals who are willing to take advantage of Timeshare owners and offer fake products, along with Timeshare exit schemes. Before agreeing to any Timeshare termination or exit procedure with an individual or company, seek independent advise and fully research any company you are thinking of working with.

It is also important to remember that purchasing a Timeshare should NEVER be viewed as a financial investment. Timeshare is an investment in lifestyle, in future holidays and family time together. There is almost no resale value to a Timeshare.

The mis-selling of holiday products is, unfortunately, common practice within the holiday industry and these type of crimes often go unreported by the most vulnerable in our society and criminal convictions are few and far between.

If you have purchased a Lifestyle / Concierge Service, a Timeshare or a ‘Holiday Points’ based product from a resort or company and feel unhappy with the service, or feel you have been mis-sold this product, please get in touch with us to discuss how we may be able to help you with a possible timeshare Conclusion.