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HELP-Orange Lake Timeshare Decision to Make
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Question: I'm considering a time share for the first time. My wife and I like to take
a couple of significant trips per year (1 scuba, 1 snow skiing) plus a few
small ones. We are near 50 years of age and plan to retire in about 12
years.
We're considering purchasing a Orange Lake timeshare on Kauai for
around $20K. They offer on bonus week for exchanging out of Kauai, a lockout
option, and Orange Lakes point system that can be used in lieu of the timeshare
every other year. They also emphasize a number of "getaways" offered by
Interval International (the exchange group).
These things all seem to add up to more travel than I usually budget for, so
perhaps it's not really a bargain. Does anyone know if Interval also offers
substantial savings on air fares or associated "packages" like air fare and
lift tickets?
Can anyone share their timeshare experiences?
Answer: we don't have *that* much experience with time shares, but I can
offer a little advice. Last year, we purchased one week of vacation from
Orange Lake Country Club in Orlando, FL. They are a 'Gold Crown Resort'
(the best of the best) in the vacation exchange group, RCI. We have the
33rd week of the year, mid-August, and have no intention of ever spending
that week in that resort...especially during that time of year. The rest of
the tourist world seems to have a different opinion, as the entire year is
Red-time for that resort, and we have optimum trading power. In our
opinion, the investment is more in the exchange than the actual property.
One thing I highly recommend is, especially if you are doing this to
exchange, is to purchase the smallest unit you can. As far as my husband
and I are concerned, the places we would be visiting would always be more
interesting than the hotel room... We lucked out and got a Studio Unit (the
smallest available at OLCC), and it was only $8,000. We can then exchange
it for other hotels and resorts, and if the other place only has 2 and 3
bedroom units, and everything else is a match...then WE get a 2 bedroom unit
for our studio unit exchange...cool huh?
One thing I will say, if you are ever going to do this, you should do it
now...don't wait another year....the younger you are, the better the
investment. -Although, at least at Orange Lake, these time shares are
deeded and may be passed down to other family members...
Good luck, I can't wait until my husband is out of college so that we can
start using our exchange week, and buy up the other bonus and add-on
weeks...
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