Timeshare or Hotel?

Hoping to check out a couple of timeshares during our next trip in late April/early May. Any suggestions or is timeshare ownership still risky in St Martin?

I'd sooner pull out my toenails than buy a timeshare in SXM. But then, that's just me. YMMV. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Ed

Gave my timeshare back about 5 years ago.
To me its easier to rent prices are pretty close to owning with out all the headaches.

A few timeshares have good reputations and the "owners" are basically pretty happy.

Many others have very unhappy "owners" who eventually get tired of fighting the "system" and walk away.

I will let the "happy owners" chime in with their recommendations as it only about 3 or 4 properties that have overall satisfied the majority.

We are not timeshare owners, but from what I have read on this and other forums, and in the local paper (Daily Herald) timeshare investment is very risky at the moment. There seems to be no protection or guidlines from the government of sxm. There was a letter to the editor in today's Herald from a timeshare owner from the states stating that they will not be returning to the island. If I were you, I would do a lot more research and hold off for a while. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I'm one of the happy timeshare owners. We own three weeks at La Vista Beach resort, which is owned and operated by a local family. It is well-maintained, our maintenance fees are reasonable, and we have not had a special assessment in the nearly ten years we have owned there. If you have specific questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

Thanks, just checked their web page. We will have to check it out in person.

Georgia,

Like you we are happy timeshare owners, but of the Towers, since our pre-construction purchase over twenty-five years ago, the only difference being we started out with one week back then and currently have four, all with no regrets and a lot of enjoyment.

We've never experienced a special assessment and we've never lost a week due to storm damage or other issues that many timeshares have experienced. There have been some bumps in the road, like our once upon a time parent/host resort being destroyed in a hurricane, but like the Timex watch, we kept on ticking.

That said, given the current climate of timesharing in general and on St. Maarten in particular, and given the passage of years and my own age, I don't think I'd buy timeshare anywhere if I were starting all over again. But I have no regrets and have enjoyed every week we've ever spent at our timeshare.

And if the OP is really serious, I'd suggest he/she know absolutely that they love the property and the rooms and weeks they buy so they might assure themselves they'd be happy with what they have years from now. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I completely agree, Pat! Every time I read about the horrors experienced at some of the other timeshares on the island, I comment on how lucky we were, and I do mean lucky, to have chosen La Vista. We did no research, zero! We liked La Vista's slogan "Timesharing Done Right, No Gifts, No Gimmicks", drove there one day, and signed contracts to purchase two weeks. A few years later we purchased the third.

Would I make the same decision now? Probably not. Am I glad I did then? Absolutely!

Thanks all for you thoughts. We bought a timeshare in Aruba for our fall vacation a few years ago and absolutely love it with zero regrets. Our thoughs for our yearly spring vacation was St Martin, but with all the horror stories on this BB and others, I'm glad we asked the some long time owners. We love Orient Beach and will continue our yearly visit trying new hotels until we find the right place for us. Thanks

and another VERY happy timeshare owner. We own weeks 11, 12 and 13 at Royal Islander LaPlage. If you are interested in buying there...do NOT buy the weeks directly from the resort...but go to the homeowners site for much better pricing. I bought my third week from them a couple of years back...for a fraction of the price i was given at the resort itself!!! If you want more info on this...send me a private message.

We bought our first timeshare in SXM from Suntarra called the Flamingo. That was bought out by Diamond which made many improvements. We then bought three more weeks and now enjoy four weeks at the Flamingo and have no regrets. We are in the happy SXM timeshare group.

We bought 2 weeks at the Royal Palm and then a 3rd week, all privately. Yes, we pay an huge maintenance fee for owning here, but we love it and have made wonderful friends here. The staff is more than helpful; the units are fairly new and comfortable and when we start our stay, we feel like we're "coming home'. No, it's not an investment, but a yearly pleasure to look forward to. No, I don't think I'd do it again, but this is a wonderful yearly happening that keeps our perspective positive through some of the year's trials and tribulations. Just go in with your eyes open.
Do your due diligence. Enjoy yourself. Life is unpredictable. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

My sentiments too. Its nice to be able to look forward to your home away from home knowing you'll be there the same time period and in the same unit each year. Makes it real easy to make air travel arrangements.

We own at La Vista and Towers, we also own a week every other year at Atrium. All good purchases, we look forward to them each year and have had no issues with these properties. The other we presently own but have sold is at Royal Islander La Plage. All of these properties have been stable and well maintained with out any hassles. These are the only four properties I would strongly suggest but to each their own.

I do suggest watching EBAY but before purchasing do your research and even if it is free the condition, history or AMF's may make it a loser.

Good luck,
T

Same story, same resort and no regrets either.

We own at divi and are very happy. They keep the property in great shape. One nice thing is they are a us company so you have recourse in the us courts if there is a problem.

Agree. We own at Divi and have had great vacations with no issues. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

We have owned 2 weeks at Belair for a long time. TS, risky? Absolutely. Not just in SXM but anywhere. The attraction of SXM TSs waned when hurricanes hit and unscrupulous resort owners screwed TS owners (remember Dawn Beach?). When maintenance fees exceed ordinary hotel rental cost it is obviously a bad idea.

Are we happy TS owners, mostly yes, but would we do it now? Only, as suggested, buy from an owner that wants out for pennies rather than thousands of dollars.

Yes, it's our "home away from home" too, but not because it's a timeshare. It's Sint Maarten.

Check out the few that were mentioned and maybe add SBR on your trip to La Vista...

What ever you do DO NOT buy from the developer. There are MANY units out there available for just the yearly AMF or a pittance more.

The specific unit is extremely important to us so staying at a great resort in a sub-par unit just won't cut it. We have a 5th floor view (SBR) to die for and would add weeks to our stay if they were available for just the AMF (renovated unit surcharge paid 2 years ago)...points and a random unit won't work for us.

As was mentioned, Ebay has a decent amount for next to nothing and should be looked into AFTER you wander the facilities...most ads state what the AMF is and which unit is up for sale. Our unit (B574) has been listed twice for 99 cents with no takers. If it was in January it would be mine but it is the last week in April...

Good luck and, again, don't buy from the developers....

If you are asking whether to buy a timeshare or stay in a hotel we take the middle ground by renting a unit in a timeshare through Expedia, Travelocity or similar sites. The cost is quire reasonable and the unit you get is larger than a hotel room but I don't think that it's as expensive as a time share when you figure in the initial cost, the maintenance fees and being locked into a specific time period. We have stayed at the Flamingo, Royal Palm, Divi, Sapphire, Palm Court over the years and find that the ability to pick and choose the property and the dates according to our schedule is much better than being locked into a specific time period.

As a bonus if you aren't using FF miles there can be a significant saving over booking the flights and lodging independently.

With us having a specific time period every year allows us to book our FF air tickets way in advance when they first come out for the best flights with low miles.

anyone can book FF air tickets when they first come out, regardless if they own a TS or not <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Not the point. Knowing the exact dates and being assured you have a place to stay on those dates is important BEFORE you make travel arrangements. Pretty simple to grasp.

Why be locked in for the same week, same place 20 years later. Why chance it? Is it to save money? Use HomeAway or VRBO and rent from a reputable owner at a newer building or home. Stay at Club O, Club Fantastico, Cliffs. Your tastes change, maybe you can afford something better, maybe you want to go cruising or St.Barts in the furure. Just doesn't make any sense having to worry about increased fees, crooked management, no AC, poor upkeep especially after what's happened in St.Maarten recently. I am happy for those who have and do enjoy their weeks but would not recommmend purchasing any TS unless you follow Borchada's advice.

Actually, no. It's much easier to find a place to stay than it is to get a great price on airfare.. Being locked into the exact dates picked by the timeshare is one of the big disadvantages of t/s, in my opinion.

I have thought the same thing for a long time.

With Divi, we have week 13. However, only once have we used week 13. We always do an internal exchange within the Divi Resorts and have always gotten the week we wanted at the Divi Resort we requested. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Agreed. We hold weeks 15, 16, 17 and 48 and we can basically go whenever we want which for us, often means using our week 15 with 48 and adding on days to either trip as we desire. I don't feel 'locked in' to anything and had been visiting the island for fifteen years at that same time long before we bought that first week of timeshare. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I beg to differ. We love going in May for our owed weeks. We enjoy visiting with friends that go the same time of year as we do. We know our unit and love our units as we were very selective when we bought. Knowing this we book our flights 331 days out and get the best bang for our FF miles. I've seen many posts on people inquiring about this and that on a resort room wondering what they are like inside. We know our unit and it's ours every time we go. We also have the ability to change weeks if we elect to but we like what we have so there is no need to. No guess work involved and we like that. Our weeks aren't "picked by the Timeshare". We picked our own.

Knowing what your unit looks like inside and knowing what you're getting from accomodation is a whole different thing than getting the best price for airfare, because you are totally flexible as far as when you can go, which you are not.

I would never book airfare unless I had a place to stay. And since I know my dates and have a guaranteed place then there is no risk in booking airfare at the best price or FF mile charge we see. Do you book airfare and then look for a place knowing that most of the cheaper air rates are non refundable knowing that you have the risk of not getting favorable accommodations?

It really is not difficult to find a great place to stay, if you are at all flexible. You are the one who is locked in, staying at the same place every time, and for the same time period.

Yes, and I love my Penthouse in May. Friends come the same time and I feel like it's home away from home with the friendly staff that know me. I don't feel "locked in" but pleased to be able to plan ahead and know what I have when I get there. That might not be important to you but it is to me.

We always book airfare first, especially when the price is right, then look for a place to stay. We have rented timeshares, especially in the Flamingo for almost peanuts from owners. It's a no brainer for us, I would never want to be locked into certain dates. And if the Flamingo is not available, there are so many other places to stay. We like variety! IMHO, the villas at Flamingo are outdated and not what I would even consider renting compared to the newer rentals all over the island. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

SKJay

By all means do take a look but no need to buy direct from the resort. The secondary market (internet) have many resorts available for purchase or rental at better prices.

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Renting first to see if you really like the place may be the way to go here.

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Rentals from RCI affiliate available with 25% for AARP members (35% off for bookings by 2/12/2015) - many choices availale.

I do not consider it a disadvantage to be "locked in" to a unit and week that I thoroughly enjoy. I look forward to my 2 weeks in January.. in the same unit.. with the perfect view..meeting the same people I have seen for years.

It is not our only vacation and we travel many times during the year but those January weeks are special. It would be a different situation for the 2 vacation weeks a year people.

...and I would NEVER book airfare before getting a place to stay. It adds an unnecessary limit to availability choices. I guess if you don't care where you stay or what kind of unit you get then it definitely would not make a difference.

I should also add that our other trips during the year (usually 4-5) are mostly booked through VRBO or an exchange for our Las Vegas weeks..again booking the place before the flight....always

These are OUR preferences and not meant to be a rebuttal to the choices of others. It works for us...

I agree and feel the same way.

Ditto

You are correct Carol, it is not difficult to find a place most weeks, and sometimes a great deal as well. Certainly I have worked the bargains over the years and gone place to place, I did a quick count and we have stayed at 26 different places on island and we do look forward to trying new places. But with that said, I really like having our places at Towers and La Vista where we know where we are going to be and when and what to expect. Low hassle, low cost, very relaxed. If our flights do not work perfect then we end up with a few days extra at the beginning or end but we get to spend time with the November crowd that I would not change and the timing works for us each year.

I do not book my flights first, they just have a way of working out.

I do not suggest to anybody to purchase at the resorts, I suggest resales on places that you want or like and know about.

Cheers,
T

Time share is a risky business in SXM now. that said, we love having 5 weeks in a row at the Towers. It is like coming home every year to the same staff and the friends we have made in the last 20 years. But if I couldn't take an occasional trip elsewhere as well, I would not want to be locked in to this one place. There are many units for sale by owners here at the Towers as well as other places. The timeshare population is aging and we all know you never get back what you paid, so many are going for "a song".

We have always booked our flights first and have never had difficulty finding a place to stay. We enjoy going when the urge hits us, not being locked into certain weeks, and trying different resorts. Each to their own, of course, and everyone is different. What I never understood about timeshares is why anyone would want to take a chance on what 'might' happen 10, 15, 20 years down the road with any resort, especially in St. Maarten, where there is little protection. Like those folks who bought at Pelican thinking they had a great view of the water, only to have huge new buildings go up in front of them. That, plus the often ridiculous maintenance fees. We have always gotten good deals on places to stay without the hassle and worry of what might come. But, as I said, each to their own. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Ed

Thank you one and all for your comments, replies and experiences. I think that we will take a look around, with eyes wide open, during our next trip, but it appears that the risk is much greater in SXM than with our Aruba TS. In the mean time, we will continue to visit this awesome island, hang out on Orient Beach and stick with the smaller hotels near Orient Village until the right opportunity presents it self. Thanks!