| Timeshares | | | | from. So it will take a long time to run out of places |
| Surprisingly, timeshare has been in existence as a | | | | you'd like to visit. |
| concept since the 1960s. A ski resort owner in | | | | Timeshares also offer a quality vacation. Many |
| France decided that owning a set amount of time in | | | | timeshare resorts are of the highest quality, |
| a resort each year was a much more practical way | | | | incorporating luxury features within the |
| to have a holiday than renting. Over time his idea | | | | accommodation itself, and many extra resort facilities |
| became popular, and the timeshare concept has | | | | such as tennis courts and swimming pools. The |
| steadily grown in popularity ever since, particularly in | | | | variety is astonishing, and I've always been impressed |
| the USA. | | | | with the resorts I've visited, both in terms of quality |
| Why do people buy and use timeshare? When you | | | | and facilities. Even in the short time I've owned a |
| buy a timeshare, you become owner a tiny part of | | | | week of timeshare, I've stayed in a luxury Hawaiian |
| the property, and for many people they like the | | | | beachside apartment, a chalet in the Canadian |
| feeling of security and ownership that gives them. | | | | Rockies, by a peaceful lake in New Zealand and |
| Maintenance and other ownership costs are split | | | | beautiful Australian bush setting. |
| amongst all the property owners, and generally the | | | | Sometimes, a timeshare resort will set up an |
| owners will combine to hire a professional manager to | | | | agreement with other timeshares, which means you |
| take care of the resort. | | | | get access to cheap weeks at the other resorts as |
| Once you own timeshare, you're guaranteed to have | | | | well. If you find you don't want to use your week |
| that amount of time in the resort each year, which | | | | one year, you can let family or friends use it. All you |
| can be a big plus if it's a very popular resort. When | | | | need to do is pay the annual maintenance fee. There |
| the resort's a little quiet, they may offer extra | | | | are timeshare resorts available all over the USA, so |
| weeks to owners at a much cheaper rate than | | | | you should be able to find one relatively close by. |
| normal rental weeks. The biggest benefits for most | | | | You can usually arrange a free tour, or even stay for |
| people, however, is that you can exchange your own | | | | the weekend at a reduced rate if you're thinking of |
| week at your resort for a week at an entirely | | | | buying a week at the resort. During your stay it's a |
| different resort. This is great if you don't really want | | | | good idea to talk to other owners and get their |
| to vacation in the same place every year. You can | | | | feedback. Timeshares can be a wonderful vacation |
| exchange into resorts all over the world, which an | | | | option, so do you research and make sure you buy |
| enormous range of places and climates to choose | | | | wisely, if you decide a timeshare is right for you. |