I got a fax at work claiming 7 days 4/5 star resort accommodation at a number of places in Thailand, Fiji and Bali for $99. Sounds incredible, but I did a bit of research and found that it requires one or more promotional sessions where they try to sell you business ideas or something, which is supposedly non-obligational.
So….. I wanted to know if anyone has done this before, or knows someone who has, and can share their thoughts on whether I should do it or not.
Cheers!
Thanks Alice.
I think I should be fine with not getting sucked in. I reckon I'll play the part of the businessman who knows the market well and can 'figure it out for himself', even though I really have no idea.
Another point that I'm wondering about is the person you take with you. I think they said they have to have lived with you in a relationship for 2 or more years and be 25-65. The girl I was thinking of taking is not yet 25, and I haven't been living with her. Do you feel like they are rigorous with checking age and financial and relational details beforehand?
I've had to hand over my passports at check-in at the timeshare resorts in Bali so I'm thinking they might ask for your passports as ID.
If it is the Royal Bali Beach Resort at Candidasa, you could always email/phone them and ask. Be upfront and ask what they require of you. Last I heard, the staff were pretty cool, the resort staff don't do timeshare sales so they wouldn't care about your details. To get the latest info, head over to the Bali Travel Forum and ask the regulars there.
If it is Worldmark Denarau Island in Fiji, my guess is that they would be on the ball.
There are a few timeshare places in Thailand and I'm not sure which one it would be.
A lot of accommodations in Asia sell your details to timeshare sharks for extra income.
I own timeshare- bought resale as Alice recommends and it's at a place where I would like to holiday. We even got conned to come in and change our weeks to points for only $8k or some such rot, and got the hard sell.
So be very vary as there's no such thing as 'a free lunch'. Avoid points if you are at all thinking about it as a week is always a week, whereas points can just keep going up and where 10k points may get you a week in a 2BR place this year, it may be 11.5k next year.
Some recommendations from some knowledge people was to go along, then when it comes to the committing to buy, create a scene along the line of, "But you promised me a new car!" and apparently they can't wait to get rid of you if you are supposedly fighting with each other.
Also watch the time. If the presentation is supposed to go for 90 mins, tell them that's all the time they will have and you are leaving, because that is all your obligation.
Even tell them from the start you are not interested and will not be purchasing and are only there for the cheap accommodation.
Finally be wary of the information they require. They will want to know your earnings, money you owe etc. Why be totally honest with them??
Hope this helps.
Good luck and enjoy
This is hilarious! I love the idea of the fake fight - I hate high-pressure sales situations, but now, thanks to this advice, if I ever get into one I know what to do! :)
a few years ago i twice attended their speils in adelaide where they promised 1 weeks accomodation just for attending. Walked in first question "how much do you normally spend on accomodation" answer "zero to $20" second question "where do you normaly stay "we sleep in the back of the ute or in a small tent in road side rest stops,national parks and sometimes caravan parks" then showed them photos. "Here are your vouchers xxxx you will not be interested in what we are offering"
Hahaha, there should be an ozb badge that you can flash at people to explain the frugality of our nature.
Maybe a new sideline for Scotty or an ozbargain tee shirt with the lmportant parts of consumer laws printed on it?
They could have told you that owning a timeshare gives you access to Bonus and Rental weeks with timeshare exchange companies, some of which are free to join. Currently there is accommodation in Queensland in a studio unit, sleeps 2, for the grand total of $119 for 7 nights.
not when the photos were of the central desert areas of australia ie coopers creek,birdsville etc.
You will be required to attend the timeshare sales presentation in the location of the holiday. The Bali sales staff are often British backpackers, not sure what is happening in Thailand or Fiji these days. Timeshares can be costly and the sales staff commission is quite high, hence the high pressure.
Can be costly buying through these presentations, but as you said earlier through resales it's a different matter. We own three weeks on the Gold Coast in two different locations and always use them. Paid between $3-4,000 for each week and have owned these weeks now for 7 years. In this time we have only paid maintenance of $600 per week and for this we have a weeks accommodation in a beach front 2 bedroom apartment which sleeps six people in a prime location with everything supplied and this has been in school holiday times. We could not get any other accommodation anywhere nearby for this amount and have easily paid off the original outlay in our savings. It is like any other real estate, buy in a location which suits you and look into it very carefully before purchasing anything.
I like mine too. Bought a couple of weeks in Fiji 30 years ago, sold them, bought one of the new points systems (resale), 7 years ago (21 resorts around Australia, New Zealand and Bali). Definitely winning by using it every year for high value accommodation at ski resorts in Australia and New Zealand.
I've been to loads of them since 1989, most are very pushy. They claim it to be 90 minutes but always try to string it out.
They are all too expensive (to buy "new").
I actually do own at 4 resorts (all in USA) because I take advantage of their "lock off" system that (at least) doubles the amount to time. Buy/maintain a week, value = 2 weeks. The last one I bought cost me US$17.
I haven't been to USA since 2010, I mostly exchange these days.
If you do every think of buying one, make sure it's not any form of lease or time associated (ie own until 2064)
The USA ones are treated like buying "normal" freehold property, deeded through courts/law.
my father in law bought worldmark points. he arely uses them. we are in QLD so there are a few resorts and have had some great accomodation for very little $$ through "fun time" - (it's like a last minute deals system).
went to a couple of their presentations. at first they were good - they'd entice you with a $100 coles voucher -not bad for 90minutes of boredom. but they seem to have dropped off. now it is hard sell and a bottle of wine in return.
definitely hardsell.
You will be required to attend a presentation where they will do a really hard sell and want you to purchase a timeshare. You should know that the sales staff are often very aggressive, rude, often bullies and it can be very intimidating. The sales pitch often goes for 2 or more hours even though they say it will be an hour or 90 minutes. A great part of the pitch will be one on one, if the first person can't wear you down, they will send in the next sales staff. No-one should buy a timeshare without doing a lot of research first to see how they work and whether they suit your circumstances. Additionally, there is no need to pay full price from the developer because there are plenty for sale on the secondary market at a fraction of the price. Never take out a loan to purchase a timeshare they are not a financial investment, they can be a lifestyle investment for some people.
If you think you can cope with an intense sales pitch and get yourself out of one, go by all means. I've done it a few times.