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Timeshare Presentations: How to Get Cheap & Free Vacations

If you’re planning to visit some of the world’s most popular destinations, you can run into some hurdles if award availability is scarce and cash prices are high.

Sure, points can help offset the cost, but that means it will cost you a lot of points. What if I told you there’s a way to save those points and snag an awesome deal on your accommodation?

Well, there is – welcome to the world of timeshare presentation packages.  

What Is a Timeshare?

In a nutshell, a timeshare is a shared ownership program in which you may use a vacation property for a set time period every year.

Timeshare properties can range from resorts to condominiums to campsites. They can be a good option for travellers who have a favourite destination they like to vacation at every year.

With timeshares, these travellers will  have familiar accommodations to return to each time without the hassle of having to manage a fully-owned property while they are away. 

Most of the big hotel brands that we’re familiar with have their own affiliated timeshare division. A few well-known examples include the Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Holiday Inn Vacation Club, Hyatt Residence Club, and even Disney has their own Disney Vacation Club.

Generally speaking, there are two types of timeshares: those that are points-based and those that give you deeded weeks.

• In a points-based program, you have a certain number of points each year that can be redeemed against nights at your timeshare.
• In a deeded-week program, every year, you have a “week” of the year that you can use your timeshare.

You do not necessarily need to stick with your timeshare property either. Usually, there is a system or program for owners to swap their property for another destination or property for any given year, building some flexibility into the program.

Despite the perks of timeshares, many people choose not invest in one, as they can be a money drain if you don’t make good use of them.

There are annual maintenance fees for the upkeep of the property that have to be paid, the process of swapping properties can be quite complicated, and it can be a pain to get rid of them or resell them as they don’t hold much value in the reseller’s market.  

What Is a Timeshare Presentation?

Whether you feel like timeshares may be a good fit for your travel patterns or not, you should consider attending a timeshare preview presentation.

The timeshare market is a competitive one, and most timeshare vacation clubs will offer some form of incentive for an opportunity to introduce you to their program in the hopes of enticing you to purchase one. 

What is offered as part of the package varies by the club and even the property, and it can be anywhere from tickets to a theme park or a show, to accommodations at one of their properties for several days at a huge discount, plus maybe even some bonus points for their respective hotel award programs.

If it’s the accommodation you’re after, keep in mind that usually the package will cover a “standard” room; however, there is a possibility for upgrading, as we’ll discuss later.

What’s the Catch with Timeshare Presentations? 

To take advantage of these fantastic offers, you (and your spouse, if you’re married) need to attend a 1.5- to two-hour sales pitch about the timeshare program while you’re vacationing on your timeshare package.

During that time, they’ll introduce you to their program, how easy it is to use the timeshare, the flexibility it provides, the years of enjoyment you will get out of it, and even give you a tour of a potential timeshare unit. 

Easy enough, right? Most of the time, yes.

Some sales representatives can be pushy and will pull out all the stops to get you to sign on, because that’s how they earn their commission. You may feel pressured to buy, and they may spend a lot of time negotiating a better offer for you.

Most sales reps, however, are quite reasonable. If you’ve put in your time and made it clear you’re not ready to buy, they’ll send you along your merry way. And if you do happen to cave under the pressure and buy the timeshare, it’s not the end of the world (more on this later).

During the pandemic, some timeshares like the Marriott Vacation Club opted to do virtual sales presentations, and in lieu of a vacation deal, you’d earn Bonvoy points instead.

There have been recent offers of up to 20,000–25,000 Bonvoy points; however, you have to be a US resident to take advantage. For the in-person presentation packages, there are no US residency requirements. 

How to Book a Timeshare Presentation

Now that you might be considering taking advantage of a timeshare presentation, let’s go over how you find these offers and sign up for them.

The easiest way is through each respective club’s website. Usually, there is a phone number or online form to complete for additional information. 

Hyatt even allows you to book the package online if you reside in the USA.

Once you purchase the package, there is quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to booking. Although the terms specifically say that the timeshare has to be booked within 12 months of purchase, it is not uncommon for them to extend this deadline. I have done this on a couple of occasions myself, even prior to the pandemic.

Once you book your package, you can still change the dates, although some programs will charge a change fee. During the pandemic, there was even more leniency (I rescheduled a Marriott preview package no less than four times), although this may tighten up a bit as travel opens up.

Unfortunately, once you purchase a preview package, they are generally considered non-refundable. There have been scattered reports of people receiving refunds if they no longer fulfill the eligibility for the package, but as always, your mileage may vary and this should not be the expectation.

My Experiences with Hilton Grand Vacations

Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) has over 50 properties spread across the United States. Their properties differ from the regular Hilton-branded hotels in that they generally offer accommodations with more space, larger and a greater number of bedrooms, and ensuite kitchen and laundry amenities.

Note that not all HGV properties are bookable through timeshare presentations, and some properties are only made available at certain times. 

Thus far, I’ve done a couple of packages with Hilton Grand Vacations in Orlando , and another in Honolulu . Here’s a recap of my experiences so far with HGV. 

Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations

View on the Hilton Grand Vacations website.

2017 Package Deal: Three nights / four days for US$199 and a US$200 “Stay a Night On Us” rebate voucher; upgraded to a two-bedroom suite for an additional US$50

A few years back, I had to call Hilton reservations to change an existing hotel booking I had. At the end of the call, they thanked me for being a loyal Hilton Honors member and asked if I would be interested in hearing about a “great offer” they currently had. I accepted, and so began my journey down the rabbit hole of timeshare packages. 

I was forwarded to another agent, who offered me the above timeshare package. I was considering a trip to Disney for my son’s fifth birthday anyway, and this would definitely help bring down the trip’s cost, so I bought the package.

When we decided on our dates, I called back, and they confirmed availability and booked our accommodation and the timeshare presentation to be done during our stay – and that was it! 

At the time of booking, my youngest was only a few months old and wasn’t the greatest sleeper, and so extra space to accommodate her sleeping situation was desirable. When I inquired whether our one-bedroom suite could be upgraded to a two-bedroom suite, the agent advised that we could do that for an additional US$50, which seemed more than reasonable to me, bringing our grand total to US$249 plus tax. 

We stayed at the HGV Parc Soleil, which is a 15-minute drive into Disney. Other than being a bit further out from Disney, it was a fantastic accommodation option for families.

It had two beautiful outdoor pools, one that was zero-entry with a water slide and another for adults only. They had a kids activity centre and some organized activities throughout the day. There was also a basketball court, tennis court, and outdoor playground for the kids.

The suite itself was spacious, modern and clean with a full kitchen and an in-suite washer and dryer. There was also a paid shuttle service ($10 round trip per person) to the surrounding amusement parks, but times were rather limited. 

We attended the timeshare presentation on the second day. It was located at the Parc Soleil, which made it convenient.

At check-in, they ask for your ID and credit card, then invite you to enjoy snacks and non-alcoholic drinks while you wait for your sales representative. You can also drop off your kids at a small, supervised children’s room (with toys, colouring, and a TV) while you attend the presentation. 

Since it was our first timeshare presentation experience, we did not know what to expect. We were also genuinely interested in learning more about timeshares, which didn’t work in our favour.

They started off with some general questions about our travel habits and destinations we wanted to visit, and then went onto discuss how HGV could make it all happen at a fraction of the cost. 

Once the sales representative realized we actually had some interest, he turned the pressure on. He would show us how he had booked various destinations at fantastic rates and began negotiating on the amount of initial investment required to purchase, while offering additional Hilton Honors points to sweeten the deal.

Each time we declined, he would go back to his manager and come back with a better deal.

This went on for a bit until he finally came back with what seemed to be a decent offer at the time, and we actually signed the papers and walked out with a timeshare after the two and half hours.

The agent offered to refund our US$199 package cost, probably as a kind gesture given that we had just bought a timeshare with him, and then sent us to the front desk to obtain our US$200 “Stay a Night On Us” rebate voucher.

Suffice to say, purchasing a time share was not our initial game plan. Luckily for us, there is a cooling-off period built into the contracts, whereby you have 10 days to rescind a timeshare purchase agreement.

With some time and space to actually think about our impulsive decision, we decided it really wasn’t for us and the next day, we rescinded.

The staff were very kind about it and it was an easy enough process, but lesson learned: do not show any interest in a timeshare if you are in it only for the cheap accommodations.

Hilton Grand Vacations at Tuscany Village

2019 Package Deal: Four nights / five days in a one bedroom suite for US$299, refunded after presentation, one $200 “Stay A Night On Us” rebate voucher OR 10,000 Hilton Honors points

A year later, my husband had a conference in Chicago at the Hilton. HGV had set up a booth in the lobby, where they offered everyone 1,000 Hilton Honors points just for listening to what they had to offer.

Jon took them up on the offer, and this time he was offered packages to either New York City, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, or Orlando. They were two- to four-night packages ranging from US$199 to US$399.

Now, you might be wondering: how often you can purchase a timeshare presentation package? As per HGV’s terms, as long as you have not attended another presentation in the last 12 months, you are eligible to purchase another. 

We were just over a year since our first package, so we bought another, back to Orlando. This time around, the offer was four nights for US$299 plus tax, so we were a little hesitant as our previous offer was better.

The sales agent, sensing the hesitancy, sweetened the package by offering either a US$200 “Stay a Night On Us” rebate voucher or 10,000 Hilton Honors points, and to refund the US$299 after the presentation. That sealed the deal for us. 

This time, we chose to stay at the Tuscany Village, located about 15 minutes from Disney once again. The décor was a bit more dated, but it still had an outdoor playground and a few pools that would satisfy most young kids.

There were also complimentary DVD rentals and a children’s activity centre, albeit a bit smaller than the one at Parc Soleil.

I enjoyed the fact that it was right beside the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, which meant some retail therapy for me between theme park days. They also had a paid shuttle going to the amusement parks, but once again, the times were limited. 

Our presentation was back at the Parc Soleil. This time, my husband and I had a different game plan: we would tell them that we weren’t ready to buy a timeshare and to let them know early on.

This was working well for us initially, and at the one-hour mark the agent was pretty much finishing up. As we were just about to leave, he advised us that his manager had one last offer for us, which got us our third package… 

The Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Vacations

The manager came out and offered us a trial membership to the HGV program. Now this was different.

There was no set destination for the package; instead, for $1,599 (USD), we would be given enough points to redeem for seven nights in up to a two-bedroom suite at any of the HGV properties in North America, including Hawaii.

We did the math and worked out that it would be less than $230 (USD) a night. If it were any other destination, we would have left it. After looking at the current rates for Hawaii for a Hilton property in Honolulu for March Break, we came to see that it was a great deal.

Keep in mind that these are rates for two adults and two children. If you have more than four in your family, like myself, either you’re paying more, or you’ll find that most hotels won’t even be able to accommodate. The fact that we could book a two-bedroom suite was a big selling point for us.

HGV has quite a few properties in Hawaii, with the Grand Islander by HGV being one of the newer ones. We booked at the Grand Islander for four nights in Honolulu over March Break . 

That leaves us with three nights remaining, which we could have used to extend reservation to seven nights… 

…or book three nights at their New York property, West 57th Street by Hilton Club at the south end of Central Park, another otherwise pricey accommodation option. 

Either way, you can see that our $230 (USD) per night beats the above rates by a long shot. 

An Even Better Offer…

Sticking with Hawaii as our theme destination, HGV currently has an offer on their website for five nights in Honolulu or Waikoloa for $799 (USD) in a standard room, which brings the nightly rate to $160 (USD) – an incredible deal for a night in Hawaii.

Granted, it’s for a standard room, but I’m pretty sure you can request an upgrade offer to a bigger suite at a decent cost when you call in. 

My Experience with Marriott Vacation Club

We originally purchased our Marriott Vacation Club Preview Package back in 2019. This package offered a five nights at Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club for $799 (USD).

After numerous delays and postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we finally enjoyed our stay in March 2022 . 

We rescheduled our timeshare presentation after our arrival, and there were no issues with moving it to a different day. When it came time for the actual presentation, it took place in a cubicle in their outdoor Sales Centre.

We wound up going over the 90-minute allotment, and spent closer to two hours there. I was genuinely interested in the program, so it was more my fault than theirs.

Marriott Vacation Club uses a points-based system. Our sales agent offered us the base-level 1,500 points at $15.84 (USD) per point, totalling $23,760 (USD).

As a signup bonus, they were willing to throw in another 3,000 points for the first year.

To put things into perspective, a one-bedroom villa in Maui at peak season could cost up to 4,500 points per week.

We didn’t show much interest in this, and they tried to sweeten the deal with some more offers, but we kindly declined. As we had an exit interview, another sales agent came in to offer us yet another timeshare presentation package.

The first offer, which was good for the next two years, was five nights at the same property for $1,295 (USD). We weren’t sure when we would be back to Maui again, so, again, we declined.  

They approached us with one last offer: $995 (USD) for four nights at any of their North American properties, including another property in Hawaii for a $300 (USD) add-on fee.

Our family wanted to visit Kauai in the near future, and after a quick check for a four-night stay in the winter revealed prices at around $2,600 (USD) for four nights, we accepted this last offer.

It goes to show that sticking around for more offers can result in some pretty great rates!

If you’re not familiar with timeshare presentation packages, now’s the time to take a look at them as a means to very cheap accommodations in many popular vacation spots.

Timeshare presentations are a great option in areas where points redemptions are either not worth it (e.g., Orlando, where hotels are generally quite cheap to begin with), or in places where redemptions are difficult to make (e.g., Hawaii where the cost of redemptions are high).

It does require a small time commitment and perhaps a bit of finesse in talking down a sales representative, but in my mind, the savings are definitely worth it. 

• Earn 80,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  40,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
• Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
• Annual fee: $799

30 Comments

Amy, please clarify — you said “no” to buying the timeshare BUT they offered you another timeshare presentation elsewhere?

That’s correct!

Thanks for the great information!! Do any of them ask for income verification?

No, they didn’t.

Thank you VERY much, not even the fancier ones like Wyndham or Marriott presentations?

As a previous owner of timeshares and an attendee at multiple presentations I’ll add some comments which may be helpful: -if you buy, it is difficult to recover your purchase price because of the heavy marketing costs built into the price -I have sold my timeshares and currently have some fractional ownership properties to which I have title, which may not be subject to the same haircut on sale -my trading options (including my Hyatt property) are through Interval International which has a network of thousands of properties around the world -Resorts Condominiums International is another trading network, so you are not stuck with a specific hotel program -if you go to a place like Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas, you are swarmed at the airport, sometimes car rental places or Walmart, by sellers of these packages -I have a friend who used to fill her PV trips with different presentations, and she was often able to negotiate improved perks for the presentations themselves; she did this for a fair number of years, without buying, before they caught on to her -If you decide to buy, wait, wait, wait; I’ve seen people buy in the initial large presentation with cheers and champagne, only to see deals offered that were a fraction of the cost in later iterations -often you have to see multiple people before you escape, the deals keep getting better, but the original 90 minutes is substantially exceeded -the last one I went to took about 4 hours and I finally walked away abandoning my promised perks

Thanks for the article Amy. I was attempting to book an Orlando offer in my Hilton App yesterday but they only permit USA addresses. When I went to the International website the offers weren’t as good. Do you know of a way to get the same offers advertised on the App?

I’m not sure but you can try calling in and requesting.

Amy, do they ask to see both adult’s ID or license? We are common law marriage different last names. Can we just show 1 ID card?

When you sign up for the package they will usually ask if you are married, etc. If so, they will ask for your partners name. It doesn’t matter if the last names are different. At Hilton, they checked both ID’s but Marriott only checked my husbands (not sure if that was intentional though).

Hi Amy, thanks for the article (and love the family-geared content!). When I click through the link for the current HGV Hawaii offer and put in my zip code, I get a message basically telling me this offer is not available to me. Any idea why?

Hmm that’s interesting. I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps certain states have different offers/restrictions.

My family has an Embarc timeshare bought maybe 20 years ago… from our experience… currently there is not enough money and points in the world to suffer the presentation. Long story but about 8 years ago, had to lawyer up to deal with them.

I have reached on Marriott Vacation Club for further information and was told there is no timeshare deal for canadian résidents at the moment but if I visit à proporty I can ask over there… not really convenient

Hi Amy, great article and tips! Just a question: is there a limitation on the number of times you can book (the rules seem to say once per year but is this per individual or per family (so a family of 2 adults could do this twice per year))? Thank you!

Hi Amy, Thank you for the great information. You mentioned you were given a trial membership of HGV. Is the $1599 USD a yearly fee? Are there any other fees associated with owning HGV timeshare? Do you plan on continuing with the HGV membership or will you likely cancel. Thanks!

It was $1599 one time fee for 7 nights. Once you use up the 7 nights, the trial is done.

I have used this strategy successfully. As a family of four, we will only stay in a one bedroom or two bedroom if it’s for any stretch of time. Having a kitchen to cook your own meals is a cost savings and easier than having to coordinate eating out all the time. In November 2019 we stayed in a one-bedroom at Maui Ocean Club Napili for only 450,000 bonvoy points. My wife and I attended a 1.5 hour timeshare presentation and received 40,000 bonvoy. The retail value of the room was $7,500 USD. Unfortunately, any type of room at Maui Ocean Club is very difficult to book on points.

I will likely have to cancel due to Australia’s continued strict lockdown, but I booked two 2 bedroom suites at the Surfers Paradise Marriot Vacation Club this December for seven days and 292,000 points each (total 584,000 points). The retail value was 14,500 Australian Dollars. You have to really hunt but can find some gems occasionally.

Thanks for the info Amy! Is there a website for all the Hilton offers available? I was able to find Orlando/Las Vegas by searching on their site, but could only find the Hawaii deal by using the link in your article. And similarly for Marriott, do they have a webpage that describes their offers? I was recently invited by a Marriott CSR to call a 1-800 number to get a similar deal, but would much rather check it out first on a website rather than have it described over the phone by a salesperson.

Unfortunately there’s no central page where all the offers are located for HGV. If you click on the various destinations they have you may see a banner at the top with an offer for whichever destination you selected. If you can’t find a particular destination offer, best to call or email them. Same applies for Marriott.

While staying at an Hilton in Washington DC 3 years ago, we were offred a timeshare presentation and visit for 10k HHONORS points. I said I wasn’t interested unless it was for 30k points which they agreed. The visit went smoothly and interesting, when we sat down to discussed the prices at one point I said it wouldn’t work out since I’m earning lots of miles and points from business travels. And that was it a total of 90 minutes of our time.

Hi Amy, how can you book the Grand Islanders by HGV in Maui? It is opening in September but I cannot find it is available to book yet. I’m looking 5 day accommodation in Maui next year. I really hope we can have the Honolulu’s deal in Maui.

I apologize, we have Grand Islander booked for Honolulu and Marriott booked for Maui. You are correct, the new HGV property opening in Maui is not bookable yet.

Hi Amy, how can you access the HGV in Honolulu? I entered my information and the site says I’m not eligible for the Hawaii deal and instead directed me to Orlando and Las Vegas only.

I would try calling in and requesting. Sometimes they do have eligibility restrictions based on where you’re located or your income. Actually, for my current one with Marriott in Maui, i had to go through a couple of agents before they gave me the offer I was looking for.

Hi Amy – Great article and timely as we’re looking to book a family trip to Hawaii this coming year. What offer did you end up getting for the Marriott presentation?

Hey Mark! $799 usd for 5 nights 🙂

Which property? Offers for me were between $799 and $999 for 5 nights depending on which island.

It’s at Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club 🙂

Nice score! Thanks

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How to Survive a Timeshare Presentation: Tips you Need to Know

• Post author: Scott Fix
• Post published: February 11, 2021
• Post category: Couple Travel / Travel Tips

You are here because you want to know how to survive a timeshare presentation. How do I end the sales pitch? How do I resist timeshare sales tricks and just say “no”? After going through the process ourselves and chatting with a sales insider, we are here to share what we have learned. Read on for all you need to know to escape the formidable high-pressure timeshare pitch.

What’s the Deal with Timeshare Presentations? 

Everybody knows the classic “high-pressure timeshare sales pitch”.  You get offered 3 days and 2 nights at a fabulous resort for free, no obligations – you just have to attend a sales presentation.  They promise the pitch will be pretty short and that there’s no obligation to buy.  Sounds great, right?  But we all know the catch – it’s infamous.  The timeshare presentation is excruciatingly long.  Every time you think you’ve said “no” for the last time, they bring in a new salesperson or take you to a new room to start pitching you all over again.  It’s a high-pressure sales marathon.  To top it all off, if you don’t meet your obligated time at the presentation, you’re on the hook to pay for your accommodations.  So why do people still go to these things?  Well, because a free “3 days and 2 nights” at a resort is just too good of a deal to pass up sometimes! In fact, many travelers are trying to find out “How can I attend a timeshare presentation just for the free vacation?”   Well, we wanted to see what all the hype was about. When we got a call saying we’d “won” a vacation package, we shrugged and signed up.  Worst case scenario, we walk out and have to pay for the hotel stay.  

When we started asking around, so many of our close friends had either fallen for the timeshare pitch themselves, or knew a family member that had. We heard story, after story, of high-pressure pitches, salesmen that were insulting or rude, being led between rooms for hours upon hours, etc.  Hearing stories of people so close to us motivated us to write up everything we learned from our experience. 

The Initial Screening 

Cecilia signed up for a “contest” on Facebook that would enter you into a “drawing” for a free stay of 3 days and 2 nights at a resort and a $150 gift card.  We got a phone call saying we’d “won” while we were driving.  

We were asked some basic “info” questions (i.e., name, phone, address), followed by some “survey” questions.  The survey questions were things like:

When was the last vacation you took?

How much did you spend on accommodations?

How often do you travel?   

They also asked us if we only needed a reservation for 2, or if we’d like to bring anyone else up to 4 total.  Of course, we opted to take the 4-person reservation because the more the merrier, right?  

After all the identity information, survey questions, accommodation arrangements, and a spiel about our vacation/gift-card winnings, then came the hook – we’ll have to attend a timeshare presentation.  We were assured that we were only obligated for 90 minutes to 2 hours of the presentation; and with that, my wife and I looked at each other with a “do we believe that?” stare.  

But sure – in for a penny, in for a pound.  

Two things caught both of us off-guard towards the end of the phone call: 

One, we had to book the dates for our stay immediately.  We had to pull over from driving to frantically look at our calendars and figure out a weekend that worked in both of our schedules. The caller would just suggest a block of days from their availability, and we had to tell him if the range worked out for us.  

Two, we had to pay a $99 “refundable deposit” using a credit card.  When he asked for our credit card information, a giant alarm started going off in my head, yelling at me “this sounds like a scam!!”  I almost put the phone on hold to have a conversation with my wife about backing out of the whole thing.  I took a deep breath and reminded myself that our credit cards have fraud protection on them; and we’d just have to keep a closer eye on our credit card statements for awhile.  

Although we haven’t completely confirmed this, our strong-suspicions are that the initial phone call is really a screening. They want to see how susceptible you’re going to be to the timeshare sales pitch. It felt like a test to see if we were people that would make a fast decision, without much information, and commit money instantly for a “too good to be true” deal.  

Well, whatever we did “worked,” because as we later learned, they put us in the “prime candidate” group for the presentation.  More on that later.  

Arriving at Our Destination 

Because of the Covid-19 policy, only one person from our party was allowed into the lobby to check in to our room; our timeshare presentation was scheduled for the second day of our stay at 8 am. Only the person who checked-in signed any paperwork at all; and the other 3 members of our party didn’t sign anything or give any names. 

8am, bright and early, we drove over to the location for the timeshare talk and waited in a small line for a teller.  The person in front of us was having an unfriendly banter with the teller.  The only thing I picked up from my eavesdropping was that all the members of his party weren’t there so he wasn’t able to get signed in. We got called next and checking in only took a few seconds.  She asked if all members of our party were there, we said yes, and she said to wait in a corner for our “agent” to come and get us.

After a few minutes, our salesperson came out of a room, introduced himself, and walked us outside.  He said because of covid restrictions, he wouldn’t give us a tour of the entire facilities and grounds. Instead, we would drive separately over to a condo where he would give us a talk.  

We loaded up into our vehicle and were on our way without ever signing any official paperwork.  Also, we had been told over the phone, and on our “terms and conditions”, that we needed IDs and a credit card, but we didn’t need anything. I’m not sure if that is normal, or just because we showed up during covid restrictions.  

The TimeShare Pitch

We followed our salesperson’s car to a condo. On the ground floor, they had free continental breakfast and drinks set out on a table behind a rope, and someone with gloves handed us whatever we asked for.  We took an elevator up a few floors and our salesperson took the stairs to meet us at the top, then he showed us to a room and left so we could eat our breakfasts without our masks. We thought the room was stuffy, because we were all in our winter jackets, so we opened all the windows.  It was ~30 degrees outside.  When he came back, he sat in a chair across from our sofa.  I imagine he thought we were trying to freeze him out, but we were just hot.  

For the first 20 minutes, there was some minor small talk about nothing. It might have been to put us at ease?  Either way, we were pretty guarded with personal info.  He probably expected us to talk more about ourselves, and we were expecting him to ask us more direct, pointed questions.  

When he started to transition, I asked for an outline of what to expect for the meeting. How was our time going to be broken down?  What is our obligation?  How many people will we talk to?  Are we going on a tour? What is our time frame?  

He said we were there for a timeshare presentation – “yes, it’s a sales pitch.”  We had to be there for “an hour and a half, or 2 hours – whatever they told you.” Then when it was over, he’d take us back to the main building where we’d get our $150 gift certificate and a voucher that waived the cost of our stay.  

And then our “presentation” began.

He flew through a lot of “numbers” and acronyms. He talked so fast, to the point where none of us absorbed anything. To this day, I have no idea what he was even saying. Either way, as fast as he spat out numbers, the topic would always change.  I’m not sure if it was him, or us, or both; but we talked about movies, Pokemon, shoes, horses … just about everything except timeshares. 

After 40 minutes of struggling to sell us, he took us to a luxury apartment in the same complex. I think the intention was to give us a tour and really sell us, but other families walked in on us. Because of covid, only one group was allowed in at a time, so we left and let them see the rooms; but then we just kind of wandered off, back towards the door of the building.  I feel kind of bad for the salesperson, because trying to keep track of the four of us was like trying to wrangle cats.  He’d try to show us to a room, or tell us to wait for another family to get done, and we’d just wander back towards the exit.  He’d run to cut us off, and we’d just all meander around him, chatting about something else.  

We weren’t intending to be rude or purposefully being space-cadets or anything. There was just random downtime, so we’d do what any group of friends would do – we’d chat amongst ourselves. We also were never given any real clear instructions on what to do, so we’d just assume we were done and start walking back.  It wasn’t until we looked back on our experience that we realized we were probably sabotaging his sales pitch without meaning to.  

We went back to the “pitch room” and by now it’s about 1 hour and 10 minutes in.  Cecilia leaves the room to go to the restroom. (She was 3 months pregnant at the time, so bathroom breaks happened ALOT.) The salesperson looks at the 3 of us and says, “Okay, just be honest with me here. Why in the world are you guys at a timeshare talk?” There’s a pause while we all just stare at him, wondering what we should say and he fills the void with, “if you’re all so scared of covid that you’re even opening the window when it’s 30 degrees outside to get fresh air, why did you come here in the first place?”  I reply,

“… well, you want honesty?  My wife clicked a link on a Facebook contest that said we could win 3 days and 2 nights at a resort.  They called us while we were driving to say we’d won.  My wife was excited, and I wanted her to be happy, so I said sure, I’d go along with it.  The guy on the phone asked if we had 2 friends that would want to go, too, and we said we weren’t sure; so he said he’d put us down for 4, just in case. We asked our friends, they said they wanted to come, and here we all are.”  

He nodded along; looked at the 3 of us; pulled out his phone; and started playing Pokemon Go.  

Once Cecilia got out of the bathroom, he ran through his pitch at lightning speed.  He showed us a piece of paper with numbers on it that had a large down-payment. He rambled on and said, “but you don’t have that much in the bank, do you?”  After a pause, Scott said “no comment” – because the entire morning, none of us gave away any information about our financial situations.  He instantly flipped the paper over and showed us another price, the “only for today” offer with a lower price with financing; and asked if we wanted to buy at that price.  I said “no.” He said “alright then,” and texted his boss, then went back to playing Pokemon Go.  

Related Content: Traveling Alone or With a Companion: Which is Better?

Leisure Suit Larry 

After a few minutes of the party chatting about nothing again, in walks the boss – we’ll call him Larry.  Larry looks the part.  He’s wearing an olive-green suit that has the kind of texture that looks expensive; and a very high-maintenance hairstyle with a lot of gray speckles.  Larry’s entire presence is summed up by the uncertainty of whether his hair was naturally gray, or if it was purposefully dyed to look older.  

Larry has a calm, methodical delivery any time he speaks, like someone reciting a script that’s been rehearsed to perfection but then delivered so many times until it’s lost its meaning. He speaks without pauses, taking a big breath before each section of his ramble. He would emphasize words by deliberately stretching out the word, not by raising his voice.  Every point he made was framed as if the decision has already been made for you – you will lose money if you don’t make this choice because you are already spending money on vacations. 

Larry is what a used car salesman would be if used cars sold for more money.  

Larry ended his spiel with a piece of paper, which had a unit available for “today only.”  They’re always “only today.” 

He passed the piece of paper over to us, and the age of the paper suggested it wasn’t the first time he’s handed it to someone.  

The number on the paper was drastically less than any of the previous offers – it was less than half of the previous lowest offer.  I looked at the paper, folded it back in half, handed it back, and said no.  Larry was reluctant to take the paper, and asked “why?” 

We knew this moment was coming and prepared for it.  We reminded ourselves that we don’t have to justify any of our answers.  Socially, it’s polite to justify yourself; but you’re never under any obligation to justify yourself.  

We answered, “we don’t make large financial decisions that quickly. We talk through financial decisions together.”  Larry gave another ramble – this one I honestly didn’t listen to.  I just zoned out for a moment.  Then Cecilia answered him, “and we have a kid on the way, which makes it more important to spend time on big financial decisions, so the answer is still no.”  

Larry asked, “so … is there anything I can do or say that’s going to change that decision for you today?”  I said “no,” expecting to have to say that a lot at this point.  But then Larry abruptly said, “Okay, thank you for your time,” stood up, and walked out without a second look at us.  It was just an immediate withdrawal.  

The first salesperson, who had been sitting there quietly during Larry’s entire spiel, slapped his thighs, said “okay, I’ll take you back to the main center to claim your prizes” and visibly ripped up the piece of paper he’d shown us earlier.  He started to make some comments about wasting his time, but we were already walking out the door and didn’t really catch them.  

The Final Boss

We drove back to the main center and through a conference room that, in non-covid times, would have been the first room.  He took us close to a receptionist’s desk and asked us to stay put while he went to talk to someone.  We wandered up closer to them, trying to look out of a window to see a pool, which was just close enough to eavesdrop on the salesperson’s conversation.  He was giving her details about the conversation we’d had with him and Larry – that we “don’t make large financial decisions that quickly.”  He was giving her everything she needed so she would know the right angle to close the deal!  

It turns out, the woman he handed us off to was the Final Boss.  She asked us to go into another room, and Cecilia wandered off to the bathroom.   The three of us walked into the room, realized Cecilia wasn’t there, and wandered back out.  When she got out of the restroom, the four of us went in together to see the Final Boss.  She was sitting behind a small table with two chairs set up in front of it.  She said we could sit down, but we remained standing.  There were four of us and only two chairs.  You could tell that having 4 people there instead of 2 really threw their usual gameplans off.  

She asked us what the final price Larry quoted us was, and I told her; then she said “What if I could offer you that same unit at this price?”  She wrote a number on a piece of paper that was, again, exactly half of what Larry had offered.  

We repeated our line, “We don’t make large financial dec–” She interrupted, “Okay, take this slip into the next room and we’ll settle you up.”  

We hadn’t noticed, but there was a slip of paper already sitting on the desk in front of her.  With the paper in hand, we headed into the next room and handed it to an old man who was polite, friendly, jovial and looked like he was having the time of his life at work.  He slapped a stamp down on the paper, handed us a voucher, and we were out in no time.  We managed to survive the timeshare presentation.

Total time: 1 hour and 39 minutes.  

The Aftermath

After we left, we spent a lot of time talking with one another, trying to understand why we’d been let off so easily.  All of us had heard the nightmare stories about high-pressure timeshares – that people spent an entire day being shuffled from room-to-room, the aggressive salespeople, the insults, the good-cop bad-cop routines, etc.  We got none of that.  We were practically shoved out the door at one point.  

One theory we had was that we were a group of 4 that weren’t related to one another.  We were 2 couples, so they couldn’t pin one of us against the other.  They also couldn’t sell to all 4 of us, because we would never buy something together.  

Another theory was that we were just too chaotic for them.  We constantly changed the conversation – but not really on purpose.  We just filled the silent pauses with jokes or comments that became side-conversations.  

Timeshare Presentation Basics: Insight From an Industry Insider

We had to know why our experience was so different from the ones we’d heard about, so we called up a friend that used to be in the industry as a timeshare salesperson.  

Here’s what we found out:  

The reason some salespeople are pushier than others is because if they don’t sell for awhile, they’re suddenly given “one last chance” to sell, and if they don’t sell on that day, they’re fired.   If someone wants to keep their job, they have to sell; and that can lead to a very high-pressure sale.  

Sometimes they’ll get mad if you’re rude or just blatantly not interested from the start of the talk. They’ll toy with you and keep you longer on purpose out of spite. This can happen when you tell the salesperson from the start: “look, we’re just not interested in buying, we’re only here for the free stay.” 

Often, the salesperson lies about their background to identify with the “prospect”, like saying they have kids too; or they will lie about how long they have been selling; or that they have a dog, are also divorced, etc.  When our insider told us that, we all blinked. Had our salesperson lied about everything he told us the entire time?  At one point, he gave us his kids’ names – and now I’m not sure he even had kids.  

If a salesperson makes a sale on the previous day, then they get “first pick” in the morning; and the 8am timeslot is reserved for people they think are absolutely going to buy.  We were the 8am timeslot.  I have no idea why they put us in that group.  

If enough people are lined up that day for talks and they don’t have enough salespeople, they go on rotation.  As soon as a salesperson finishes their talk, they can go back and get another prospect.  The earlier they can pick a prospect, the higher the chances of getting a sell.  That’s why there’s more incentive for them to end a tour earlier if they know you aren’t going to buy and your tour is in the morning.  Tours in the afternoon aren’t so lucky.  

What if someone owns a timeshare and gets someone else to sign up for the timeshare talk? The timeshare owner gets a kickback – usually waived fees. 

But ultimately, why did our salesperson let go of us so fast?  Because Cecilia was pregnant.  At one point, our salesperson asked why Cecilia was going to the bathroom so much.  We told him she was pregnant, and when she came back in the room, he commented, “I didn’t even notice you were pregnant until you said that.”  That’s when he started flying through his presentation.  That was the change.  Apparently, people who are expecting a child don’t make sudden or “big” financial decisions. They’re too focused on what’s good for the baby.  

Tips on How to Survive a Timeshare Presentation

So here we are, everything we’ve learned boiled down to our top tips for surviving a timeshare talk.  

1. Go in prepared .

There is no reason to be mean or rude.  Just know your stance, be assertive, and remember that you don’t owe anyone anything.  It’s not impolite to say “no” without an excuse.  “No” is a complete answer that doesn’t need to be justified.  

2. Remember that you’re in a sales pitch .

For salespeople, ‘being nice’ is part of the sale. Similarly, ‘being relatable to you’ is more important than them telling you the truth. They butter you up in order to get information out of you, and they rely on the information you’ve volunteered for their pitch.  Things like your job, hobbies, or even your last vacation are used to determine your personal wealth and spending habits.  

3. Silence is your strength.

It’s really, really tempting to argue, or to call the salespeople out when you catch them in a ‘blunder’ or ‘ah-HA’ moment.  But just remember: if you argue, you just feed into their pitch and you’ll end up staying even longer.  They want you to argue so they can sell you harder.  Don’t get into a back-and-forth. 

4. Be on guard for the angle.

The salesperson is always fishing for an angle. If they don’t know what is important to you they cant sell you. They’ll try to get you emotionally invested.  They might try to insult you, or dig at your ego, with things like “you can’t afford this, right? This is too much for you.” Don’t defend yourself. Don’t justify yourself. Just say “no” and leave it at that.  

5. Decide on a secret reason against buying and never disclose it .

If they don’t know why you won’t buy, then they can’t give you a pitch or argue against it.  For us, we knew that a timeshare is just a bad financial decision.  The financing is really expensive, and you don’t “save money” in the end.  That was our secret reason; and when the numbers were explained to us, and we saw the paper showing that it was a bad decision, we didn’t go “ah-HA!”  We just nodded along and kept it inside.  They can’t sweet-talk their way around your roadblock if they don’t know it’s there.  

6. If you really want a timeshare, don’t buy at the pitch.

7. and, of course, if all else fails – be pregnant..

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This post has 15 comments.

I like the idea of timeshares—in fact, my inlaws own several—but I hate the high-pressure sales tactics they employ. It’s such a turn off.

That is such a good point. The concept of a timeshare isn’t all that bad, but the high-pressure talk and the difficulty of selling a timeshare should you ever change your mind are huge turn offs.

I love that the title includes SURVIVE, because that’s totally how it feels! We had to say “no” to like 10 different people before they would let us go!

We have heard so many horror stories like this. So glad we survived our first timeshare experience and came out on the other end with some bits of wisdom. Hoping this article can help out a few others so they do not have to endure a situation like yours!

I always wondered about timeshares. I like the concept but the sales tactic is highly annoying . It makes me wonder if it’s worth it .

You definitely have a point. High-pressure timeshare presentations are exactly that, high-pressure. They aren’t necessarily meant to be enjoyable, but I do think the experience depends on the salesperson. If you are assigned to a pleasant and respectful salesperson, then the experience really isn’t all that bad! It’s just playing roulette to see what kind of salesperson you wind up with.

Loved this. Your title caught me and made me laugh. Your last line made me laugh. My in-laws have had a time share for years and have dumped so much into the “maintenance fees”. It is a nightmare now for them to try to get out of it! Moral of the story: Whatever you might spend on the time share, you could simply put toward a nice hotel for your vacations and probably still come out ahead. Don’t fall for the pitch!

That’s such a good point. We haven’t heard of too many people who have been happy with their choice to purchase a time share. I think personally we will stick to the hotels and Airbnb’s as you mentioned!

Ive stayed at friend’s time shares a few times, and they can be really nice, but those pitches are such a turn off! Now I know, mention that I’m pregnant and if we do want to buy, don’t buy it at the pitch!

It’s a pretty good deal for a free holiday for you. 🙂

Great article with good suggestions. I do these as a travel hack to get free stays and freebies in Vegas. The key is to have an ironclad will and not be afraid to keep saying “no.” No matter what the reps try yo say or do, YOU are in control. They are obligated to give you the gifts and you are under no obligation to be polite or give reasons. The worst thing that can happen is you’ll get berated or insulted. There are worse things to endure and you basically get a free hotel stay. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.

I like the Hunger Games reference. Thanks for sharing your personal experience with surviving timeshare presentations. It takes a strong will to make it through without buying anything, but like you said YOU are in control and have the right to say no.

Well they get you drunk in Mexico I bought a timeshare in Cabo and they kept serving me and my friend drinks to loosen me up. I fell in love with my salesman and finally gave in he was so nice and now I am one of the happiest timeshare owners on the planet. Going to Cancun booked a 1700 square foot 2 bedroom 2 bath bringing 3 friends with me. Hotels are soo soo expensive and with a timeshare I am saving a ton of money and it is making me travel more which I love. Life is short live it to the fullest and don’t look back. I was all ways jealous of friends that owned Timshares but now I get to enjoy all the benefits and I am saving a ton of money.

I LOVED your article and learned a great deal! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge. We definitely will do the things you have suggested. I might even buy a pregnancy belly to wear. Lol

Hahaha good luck, let us know how it goes!

Love your angle and how you shared your experience along with your post realization analysis. We’ve done a few many many years ago and found the perks of going to a high-stress 2 hour meeting somewhat worth it, but then again agonizing.

We are about to go to another in the next month and this was helpful to get us mentally prepared.

Thank you for taking the time to share.

Comments are closed.

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Koala Travel Blog

Timeshare presentations: what to expect, and what to do, attending a timeshare presentation from tours to pitches, here’s what you need to know..

The world of timeshare ownership can seem mysterious and the idea of attending a timeshare presentation may seem downright…daunting. Historically, the dialogue surrounding timeshare presentations has often been fraught with skepticism, which may leave you wary of engaging.

If you’ve signed on for a free vacation, it’s understandable to feel that a presentation is just a stumbling block to getting back on to the beach. If you’re truly interested in pursuing vacation ownership (or simply curious, for that matter) attending a timeshare presentation can serve as a prime introductory first step.

A timeshare, also called vacation ownership , is an arrangement where owners secure the rights to a yearly resort stay, usually for one week. Various arrangements are available, offering opportunities to travel during different seasons and to destinations around the world.

We’ll walk you through what to expect from your presentation and how to prep in advance to gather helpful information and make the most out of your meeting.

What Is a Timeshare Presentation?

Also known as a discovery tour, a timeshare presentation is an opportunity to explore vacation ownership, and speak one-on-one with an industry representative. There’s definite benefits to attending a timeshare presentation, but it does require some planning. As any avid traveler knows, even setting aside a couple of hours can be a lot to juggle when you’re on vacation with family. 

Most likely your resort will want you and your spouse to attend the timeshare presentation together, while providing activities and snacks outside the presentation area for your little ones. And if your agent has spoken to you about vacation packages or promotions included in your presentation, you’ll need to stay for its entirety in order to secure those offers.

Why Would You Attend a Timeshare Presentation?

There are two major reasons why thousands of people attend timeshare presentations every year. There are certainly many owners, existing or interested, who either schedule a presentation or agree to attend one in order to learn more about the benefits of ownership – whether they’re looking to upgrade or own for the first time. The majority of potential owners, however, attend because the brand offers them incentives, ranging from a free dinner to a free weekend stay at the resort. 

No matter which of these scenarios describes you, your first timeshare presentation may make you feel apprehensive – stirring up expectations of shady sales pitches or presenters out to get your money. Online forums are replete with owners highlighting tactics that are aggressive or misleading. On the other hand, there are plenty of authentic agents out there who genuinely want to help you travel. Frankly, it’s hard to know ahead of time whether you’re in for a high-pressure pitch or an honest and informative conversation.

With that in mind, it’s best to attend your presentation with an open but cautious outlook. Arrive hoping to gain valuable insight from an industry expert. If there’s a tour, carefully evaluate the property. During the presentation, ask questions and express concerns. If you have a certain week in mind, ask clear and specific questions about your obligations for owning that week. If you’re discussing points, offer a few examples of vacations that you’d like to take and get specific numbers for the costs of taking such vacations. And remember, you don’t have to make a purchase if you don’t want to!

Prepare in Advance

Your session will likely open with a video or presentation highlighting the brand’s destinations and features, as well as testimonials from happy timeshare owners. A tour of the property may follow, where you’ll learn more about the villas and amenities.

As you sit down with your agent, it’s likely they’ll ask you a series of questions about your travel preferences and interests, in order to curate an offer that will most appeal to you. As you consider vacation ownership, realistically think about the following: 

• Your long term travel goals; how will plans change over the years?
• Your obligations; what are your expected maintenance fees? Would you save significantly over booking your preferred unit each year? What about when you factor in purchase price?
• What are the specific benefits to purchasing directly from the developer or brand? Would purchasing on the resale market save you money? If so, are there any downsides?

If there’s a tour, carefully evaluate the property. During the presentation, ask questions and express concerns

We’ve put together some helpful resources to help you break down the terminology of timeshares and get a grasp on if one of the various timeshare arrangements will work for you . Vacation ownership can be a great way to amplify your travel dreams, but it’s a financially significant purchase. It’s also one you don’t have to commit to in the moment! Carefully consider the above; it will go a long way to making sure you’re happy with your decision.

Stay on Schedule 

Typically, your timeshare presentation should last from 90-120 minutes. However, as the process rolls along, it’s not unheard of for these presentations to stretch out to several hours. Be aware of those details going in and also hold firm to your availability.

You’re on vacation. You have activities on the schedule. You may have kids waiting on you. As the end of the allotted time frame draws near, feel free to politely remind your sales representative that it’s time to start closing the meeting. A professional and empathetic agent should honor that request. 

Make an Informed Decision

As the session comes to a close, the final step, of course, is the pitch. And whether you’re considering timeshare ownership for the first time or upgrading, if you feel you need more time for this decision, that’s totally fine . You might be told this is a same-day-only offer. This is more than likely not the case. And your agent should understand why you deserve more time to consider a purchase like this one carefully. That said, if you’re really interested in making a purchase, there may be ways to leave a good faith deposit to hold the deal in place – don’t be afraid to ask!

A 2018 study found that 78% of recent timeshare purchasers attended at least one presentation at the resort where they now own, with 21% attending two or more.  So take the time to further explore the resort and do any necessary followup research. If vacation ownership is a lifestyle purchase you’re ready for, making a thoughtful and informed decision is key to starting your vacation ownership journey with confidence and peace of mind.

Not Ready to Own a Timeshare?

Love what timeshares offer, but not sure you’re ready to own one? Renting on KOALA gives you access to the space, amenities, and service of timeshare properties without the obligation of owning. Better still, renting on KOALA gives you access to direct-from-owner deals of up to 70% off.

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Share this article, join the world’s fastest growing community of, timeshare owners and vacationers, resort stays up to 70% off that’s something to chew on subscribe now for exclusive deals straight to your inbox, timeshare owner get the inside scoop on all things timeshare, too..

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Basic Guide to Timeshare Presentations

• February 17, 2021
• No Comments

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We have all seen the old Timeshare pitch. Typically it goes something like “earn a discounted stay by learning more about our program over 90 to 120 minutes”. Often there are additional freebies thrown into the mix. This can be complimentary food such as breakfast or lunch, excursion vouchers, or even a visa gift card. As a result, the timeshare promotions seem too good to be true which can lead to skepticism. Is it a Scam or travel strategy? Learn more about this lesser-known topic in the Basic Guide to Timeshare Presentations & using them for travel .

In this Basic Guide

Timeshare properties.

• Checking in
• Say No (or Yes)
• Collecting Compensation

Examples of Timeshare Presentation Promotions

My experience participating in the promotions, where to find a timeshare presentation, timeshare restrictions and pitfalls, list of timeshare companies (and website links), what is a timeshare.

A timeshare is a form of travel that incorporates a shared approach to real estate. The vacation property is purchased and owned by multiple individuals who agree to split the time allocation. Traditionally, timeshares were sold in week increments. However, most companies have transitioned to point systems. Because of this, you can enjoy shorter trips throughout the year instead of using all the points at once. Similar to credit card points, the timeshare points can be used towards nights at a variety of properties within a portfolio.

A timeshare property often comes in the form of a studio equipped with a kitchen. Sometimes timeshares are located within condominiums or apartment complexes. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that some timeshare properties are actually shared by larger-scale hotel chains like Marriott or Hilton.

How does a Timeshare Presentation Work

Step one – signing up.

The first step to participating in a timeshare is signing a contract. Basically, the contract states that you agree to learn more about the property. This “presentation” will be set for a predetermined time. Typically they last for 90-120 minutes. Lastly, will be compensated with “x” for your time.

Step Two – Checking In (Sometimes Required)

The second step of checking-in is typically required when an overnight stay is involved. Usually, the terms will indicate that the guests’ must check-in at a predetermined location the day before the actual presentation. Often this will be at the hotel you are staying at. However, sometimes it can be at a location in close proximity to the hotel. There have been a handful of times that this step wasn’t required with the timeshare promotions I’ve participated in. Typically the staff would confirm the details of the sales pitch such as the date, time, and location. Afterward, I would be on my way for the duration of my stay.

Step Three – Attending the Presentation

One great aspect of actually attending the presentation is the free breakfast or lunch. In my book, this is an additional factor that leads to even greater savings while traveling. At this point, typically the timeshare salesperson assigned to you will introduce themselves and the shmoozing will begin. One rare occasion in Mexico, the salesperson actually joined us for breakfast which made for a long day of being pitched.

Note the Time –

Legally, since you signed a contract to attend the timeshare promotion. Because of this, the time commitment cannot be extended without your consent. I’ve met some other travelers who actually will set an alarm on their phones. Personally, I haven’t taken it to that extreme but noting the time has saved me a few times from unnecessary tours of hotels or additional sales pitches, etc.

The Presentation typically includes a sales pitch on travel in general. I recall one pitch actually selling the point that not traveling was harmful to one’s health due to the epidemic of increased stress levels. Eventually, the presentation will cover how the program works and the general cost of participating. Finally, the agent assigned to you will conclude with a hard pitch based on the income you provide and what he or she thinks you can afford.

Is a Hard Credit Pull Required?

It’s hit or miss if the timeshare presentation requires a credit check. Sometimes it is written in the contract that they need to perform the hard pull in order to provide the correct financing numbers based on your credit score. A hard inquiry won’t destroy a credit score nor will it be a primary determining factor in being eligible for future lines of credit. Ideally, it is not wise to add unnecessary pulls if you don’t have to.

Step Four – Saying No (or Yes?)

Remember your only commitment was to participate in the presentation. Nothing more, nothing less. However, if you are reading this blog, you are most likely already a savvy points and miles traveler . Most likely, you won’t find a benefit from being contractually obligated to a specific timeshare. Now of course, if you find value from what is being offered and it makes sense financially then by all means. In my experience, the financial commitment has never made sense for me. Personally, I don’t like the idea of contractually being obligated to pay into the program long-term for the rest of m life.

Step Five – Collecting what was promised

Finally, sometimes the 90-120 minutes drag on. You literally are counting down the seconds to get back to vacationing. Don’t get so caught up with leaving that you forget about what is promised to you. This can range from vouchers to cash, gift cards, or other random items. Typically the ‘gifts’ are provided upon completion of the presentation. Be sure to collect these before leaving or at least inquiring about how to go about receiving them!

Timeshare Presentation promotions come in all shapes and sizes. Usually, the company starts with a base-level deal. However, they could have a handful of additional perks which can be added by directly asking or being apprehensive. It is also important to note that many of these perks can be added together for a single timeshare promotional experience. For instance, here are examples of promotions I have participated in.

• 2, 3, 4, or 5 night stays for a heavily discounted rate
• Visa, Amex, and Mastercard pre-loaded debit gift cards
• Free shows and buffet vouchers in Vegas
• Excursions and massages in Mexico
• Pre-loaded Debit Cards and lunch vouchers in Hawaii
• Certificate for a future complimentary night stay
• $100 towards dinner at a handful of restaurants in San Francisco and New York City
• Hotel Rewards Points. I’ve seen Wyndham and Hilton offer bonus points for participating in a timeshare presentation. This is a great negotiating point when booking a timeshare presentation.

Overall I’ve had some very good experiences with the timeshare presentation travel strategies. My only regret is not documentation the experiences better. However, we do have a few reviews here on the website. For instance, we took advantage of the Hilton Presentation when I ran the NYC Marathon . In the future, I will continue to add more articles.

• New York City Hilton Timeshare Review
• Small Wyndham Timeshare writeup mixed into this Las Vegas Rewards Trip Review
• Grand Caribbean Vacations Mexico Timeshare Trip Review

Finding timeshare presentations can be completely random. I’ve been solicited for Timeshares in Airports, Casinos, Hotels, and even at the New York Times Travel Show. Periodically I’ll receive targeted emails from Wyndham, Hilton, and Marriott with a new Timeshare Promotion they are running. Additionally, once or twice each year I’ll receive a cold call. Typically, I am most skeptical about these as they often require up-front purchases.

There are a few strategies you can take to be targeted for these sorts of promotions.

• First, make sure you are signed up for the loyalty awards accounts with each hotel chain. Wyndham , Marriott , and Hilton are the ones that seem to send out the majority of the timeshare promotional trips.
• Next, keep your eyes peeled while traveling. Usually, you can find representatives pitching timeshares in high-traffic areas like entrances or exits. Sometimes hotels will have separate desks set up with signage about stopping by for a free gift.
• Lastly, call the general number of a hotel chain. Then inquire about owning a timeshare in the future. The customer service representative will transfer you to the right person.

How do you get the best Timeshare Presentation Promotion

One word: Haggle . I know that the thought of haggling is very polarizing. Some people love to haggle while others avoid it. Just know that the first offer that is presented is most likely not the best one you can get by saying no or being apprehensive.

In Mexico once, the sales representative initially started the hard in-person pitch with one five-night vacation per year for purchasing into the program. An hour later and a whole lot of “No Thank Yous”, he had steadily moved up in one-week increments. Lastly, he offered unlimited. visits. Clearly, there had to be a large catch with the promotion and I was not purchasing to find out.

Ultimately when negotiating the terms of the Timeshare Presentation it doesn’t hurt to ask for more. If they say no and you are still interested in the trip take the current offer. If they say yes, you earned more by taking a minute to ask. It’s a win-win situation.

There are a few restrictions and pitfalls to be aware of when considering a timeshare presentation.

Certain jobs are restricted from participating. I remember reading in one contract that travel-related jobs like working in aviation could disqualify you.

Relationship

Oftentimes, timeshare promotions are only open to couples who are married or at the very least living together. The timeshare representatives will verify that the addresses match your driver’s license.

Most timeshare presentations require the participants to have a certain household income in order to participate.

Room Occupants

If there is a discounted stay at a hotel, there is typically a restriction on who can actually stay in the room. It is usually limited to just the couple who is participating in the presentation. If you are planning on traveling with friends, they may be required to book their own room or participate in their own presentation. Sometimes there are even restrictions on traveling with others in a group and participating in a presentation.

Lying about income (or anything else)

If you are caught fabricating a higher income in order to be “eligible” to participate in a timeshare promotion it is likely that the company will charge you the standard room rate and deny and perks that were included in the contract. Don’t do this!

Be careful about what and how much you choose to drink during the hard-pitch of the timeshare presentation. There are some shady companies that will intentionally feed guests stronger drinks in order to make them more likely to sign a contract.

• Extra Holidays (Wyndham) and Wyndham Trips (Wyndham)
• Hilton Grand Vacation (Hilton)
• Hyatt Residence Club (Hyatt)
• Holiday Inn Vacation Club (IHG)
• Marriott Vacation Club (Marriott)
• Bluegreen Vacations (Choice Hotels)
• Westgate Resorts

Basic Breakdown

In conclusion, I’m a big fan of timeshare presentations and certainly will be looking to book more presentations in the future. The best experience of ALL TIME took place in Oahu Hawaii. At check-in, we received a card that said to bring it down to the concierge for a free gift. This led to an invitation for a $200 Amex Debit Card and two lunch vouchers (valued at $80) for attending the presentation.

There was a short presentation, maybe ten minutes long followed by a sitdown with the sales rep. She asked us why we were there today and I said for the free $200 and lunch vouchers. Then she asked if we had any interest in purchasing a timeshare, Lisa and I both shook our heads no. Five minutes later we had our $200 debit cards and were eating a delicious comped lunch at the hotel restaurant. I’m sure that was a huge fluke but this is what I love about these promotions!

Let us know!

Have you participated in a Timeshare Presentation? How did it go?  

I’d love to hear in the comments below or over in our 8,200+ Member Basic Travel Facebook Group !

More basic reading.

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Decoding TIMESHARE PRESENTATIONS: A Step-by-Step Guide and How to Protect Yourself

Schedule your free consultation to cancel your timeshare here, what is a timeshare presentation.

Timeshare presentation vacations  are long-lasting and hard-selling, similar to walking into a used car dealership. Know the timeshare presentation  process to avoid becoming a new victim of these so-called "vacation homes"

Timeshares have been a boom over the last twenty years; however they have changed and evolved to give a better service. As a result, the name of this type of memberships were changed for “Vacation Club”.

Importantly, these memberships are not an investment because they are not real estate; you are buying a service to enjoy leisure time with family and not to do business, and that is how it should be seen. In some countries, these types of memberships are for life (deeded) and can be inherited by the relatives of the owner of the membership.

In the sale of Timeshares or Vacation Clubs participate different persons participate, like LINER (the person who shows the product and tries to convince the customer to buy), CLOSER (this person comes after the "liner" and, as its name implies, comes to closing the deal), and FRONT TO BACK (this makes the work of "liner" and "closer").

  Timeshare presentation deals

Most people would not want to attend a timeshare presentation  on their vacations. Resorts know this and give away incentives to tourists to attract them to their sales floors, some of the gifts they give away are:

Free breakfast Tours around the city Fishing trips Flying certificate 3 Nights, 4 Days stays Discounts during the stay if the client is staying at the resort.

Timeshare presentation steps

Such memberships are sold to consumers following a "step-by step" guide, which we inform you of here:

a) GREETING:  in this first step, the seller meets the family or the people who will participate in the presentation of the product. Here; the seller has a great smile and is introduced to all members of the family without ignoring the young children, which will influence the decision of parents to buy his product. This step is usually done outside the showroom and does not last more than 3 minutes.

b) INTENT STATEMENT here will be so noted and explained that the presentation will last no more than 90 minutes or less, depending on customer interest, and this is where the seller makes guests feel relaxed and not feel pressured to buy. This step takes 2 to 3 minutes.

c) WARM UP:  At this time, the guests and the host usually have breakfast that is provided to prospective clients; you talk about everything but the product that will be presented; the seller, by training, searches for customers something that "clicks" with them and so gains their trust.

d) DISCOVERY  While eating breakfast, the sales representative asks questions regarding their way of vacationing. Due to his training, this information is, necessary, to "qualify" the customer and get an idea of the kind of package that you may be offered later, so there is always something for the buyer.

e) TOUR (PRODUCT PRESENTATION) Once breakfast is finished, the seller must make the presentation of the product. This could be done by computer or in the traditional way, which would be on paper, sometimes using pens or colored markers due to the fact that our brain perceives these colors, and it is easier to persuade the customer to buy (part of their training). During the functioning of the holiday program, prospects are invited to stroll through the resort's facilities and learn about the different areas of the resort. The salesman  then takes his guests to see the rooms they will enjoy in the future. Once in the rooms, salespeople know how to "put in the movie" the customers, and have their emotions flow, and want to keep the membership. After the  timeshare tour through the rooms, resort salesmen and get to go back to showroom

f) CLOSING  When they return from touring the facility, the seller asks customers questions with the sole intention of passing them to the "closer". Sometimes the "liner" shows the prices of the memberships, and most of the time, customers cannot pay these prices, so it is time to request assistance from the "closer" which is about the intention to clarify the questions that were previously done by customers and, in turn, he makes what is called "Drop" is a "discount on price” shown previously, this is where begins the work of "closer" who have been trained to refute all the objections that the customer can give and get the sale.

How to survive a timeshare sales pitch

If you are not interested in purchasing a timeshare, do not attend a timeshare presentation ! The  gifts are not worth wasting a day of your vacation and putting your hard-earned money at risk of being scammed by the timeshare salespeople. If you have already purchased a timeshare, contact us at Mexican Timeshare Solutions . We offer professional and efficient services to cancel your timeshare contract as soon as possible. At Mexican Timeshare Solutions, we will work hard on your behalf with no upfront fees. Contact us today for a free consultation!

To receive more information about timeshare presentations and how to cancel your timeshare, send a WhatsApp to +52 1 333 239 6589, fill out the contact form,  or call us at +1 714 277 3662.

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If you liked this article, please help us to share this information to more people in order to avoid more timeshare scams victims, how?

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Leave your comment below and share your opinion with us. To know more about timeshare scams go to: Timeshare Promotions: Are they good deals?

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What is a timeshare presentation, and things you need to expect?

• December 21, 2022

There are various methods to have a presentation; the Timeshare Presentation is one of the unique, and also, it could be a challenging type of Presentation design service . Salesmen mostly use it to sell their product to you; they may spend hours or even days to convince you to buy it. In our article, we are exploring what is a timeshare presentation , how it works, and what you should know about it.

Table of Contents

Timeshare Presentation Meaning

A timeshare presentation is a type of presentation designed to sell Timeshare. Timeshare salespeople use this type of presentation for potential customers. Typically, a timeshare presentation will cover the benefits of owning a timeshare. One good example is the ability to vacation for different targets, to be flexible about the date you prefer to choose, and the possibility of saving money on vacation costs. Moreover, Timeshare can explain various types of available timeshares to you and guide you to choose the suitable one among them for you.

Timeshare tours always come with high-quality designs and mostly contain various content like video, photos, and other elements.

How does the timeshare presentation work?

First, the timeshare salesperson will introduce themselves and their timeshare company.

Next, a short introduction is given about timeshare resorts, describing what they are and the various types that exist.

Afterward, they will talk about the advantages of having a timeshare, including the option of visiting various resorts worldwide, choosing your own date, and sometimes it could be cheaper than any other vacation.

They will then detail the particular Timeshare for sale, giving the name and location to the hotel, the kind of unit sold, and its value. Lastly, they will respond to all the questions of the probable customer.

The benefits of using a timeshare power presentation

This can be a highly efficient strategy of selling and marketing timeshare.

This may also enlighten any prospective customers who are not aware of what a timeshare is all about.

This helps in overcoming objections by prospective buyers and assures them if they are interested in holiday homes or vacation property timeshares.

This can also be used for advertising, promoting interest and enthusiasm towards timeshares.

What happens in a timeshare presentation?

Many times, you will encounter some salespeople who represent those different sides that constitute any given pitch. Take for instance, a greeter that is supposed to take in your personal details and help you settle in by making you feel at ease while a tour guide who acts just like they have become friends with you strives to win your trust.

He will take you on a guided tour to the best areas for relaxation in the resort, and he will ask about the places that you love to visit or tell you about get out of timeshare presentation . This enables them to customize the pitch so as to fit into your requirements and also facilitate passing your information to other teammates.

Timeshare presentation tips

• Ensure that you do your research about it before heading out because it can help you to have a better understanding of all types of Timeshare presentations and their pros and cons.
• Make sure you set the right budget and stay within it. Do not get yourself to such an extent that you would be forced to acquire a timeshare that is outside your budget.
• Do not sign until you’re 100% sure about purchasing a timeshare.
• Be prepared to walk away. If the offer does not satisfy your demands, you should not hesitate to quit or leave.

A Timeshare presentation would serve as an effective way of selling the product by a timeshare salesperson. It should be highlighted, though, that there are always risks associated with timeshares. A buyer should always be willing to research any product to know how to go about it prior to purchasing the Timeshare. There are some other additional expenses attached to Timeshare, which include maintenance fees and closing costs.

Is it worth sitting through a timeshare presentation?

Can the following timeshare presentations offer a fair deal? Even still, there are moments when sitting via a timeshare presentation could be worth your while. You can find the right timeshare deals on offers for discounted stays, gratis nights, and more online or get suggestions through phone calls or emails.

Can you walk out of a timeshare presentation?

You can say ‘no’ through the whole timeshare presentation. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, you have complete agency. If you want to leave at any point during the presentation, no matter how pressured you feel to stay, you are free to do so.

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Why you should attend a timeshare presentation (hint: free stuff).

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Those who know me well already know I’m obsessed with earning points and miles. My wife and I have traveled far and wide — and gotten some pretty sweet rewards from the best travel rewards credit cards .

In addition to making the most of our  credit card points and miles, my wife and I like to seek out and attend timeshare presentations as a way to maximize our travel experiences (and get free stuff). The presentations are not as bad as they may seem to sit through — we’ve come away with some pretty sweet things.

In fact, a lot of major hotel chains have timeshare properties, and it’s pretty normal for these chains to offer incentives to people like you and me to attend presentations and listen to sales pitches.

Intrigued? Let’s take a look at what timeshares are and how they work, what you can earn by attending a timeshare presentation, how to get invited to a timeshare presentation, and how to make the experience worth it.

What is a timeshare, and how do they work?

What happens at a timeshare presentation, gifts you can earn from attending a timeshare presentation, how to get invited to a timeshare presentation, hotels that offer timeshares, how to decide if a timeshare is right for you, why a timeshare may not be right for you, bottom line.

A timeshare is shared ownership of vacation real estate. For example, multiple people might own 1-week increments of a vacation condo near Disney World in Orlando. Some timeshare programs allow you to lease the property for a period (usually several years) without actually owning it.

A timeshare can be located in a resort, condo, apartment building, or campground, just to name a few. Owning a timeshare guarantees you that amount of time each year in the property you own.

Many timeshare programs work on a point system, which allows you more flexibility to choose when and where you go, rather than being locked into one property for a specific week of the year. For example, instead of going to that condo in Orlando for a week, you could use the points for a week in an apartment in Las Vegas.

At a timeshare presentation, it will typically start with a check-in to confirm you attended. There will likely be refreshments, and the sales pitch will start with a video. 

After that, you'll sit down with a sales rep who will do a timeshare sales pitch that includes information about the property, location, and amenities. If you’re buying into a company that allows you to use your allotment for multiple properties, you’ll learn more about the types of properties the company owns.

And, of course, they'll sell you on the idea that timeshare ownership will save you money over booking hotels. Keep in mind that these are timeshare sales professionals who know sales tactics in and out. You might find the sales presentation more compelling than you expected. If you walked in not wanting to buy, it's likely best to walk away. 

The company will likely offer an incentive or discount if you sign up for the timeshare on the spot. That doesn’t mean you should. You could negotiate for a better offer or simply walk away, especially if they're doing a high-pressure sales pitch. If the main reason you’re attending is to get the incentive for attending, then you’ve fulfilled your obligations by attending.

If you find yourself interested, keep in mind that you don’t need to decide right then and there. If you don’t already have a spending plan in mind, walk away and take more time to crunch the numbers and make sure the timeshare fits into your budget and your vacation plans for years to come.

Even if you don’t sign up for a timeshare (I never have), the incentives offered can totally be worth your while. These can include cash, points for hotel loyalty programs, free passes (like Disney), and free or heavily discounted rates on hotel stays, which can essentially amount to a free vacation. What’s more, you may be able to combine incentives — think points plus a discount for a hotel stay to attend one presentation.

Here are a few examples of the perks you get:

• Stay in a villa studio in Hawaii, receive points for the hotel’s rewards program, and even get to do free activities on site. This could include dining credits, sightseeing tours (yes, it could be on a sailboat), a car rental voucher, and luau tickets.
• Head to Orlando and not only will you get discounts on resorts or special accommodation packages, you could get Disney FastPass+ and even free tickets to Disney World itself.
• Some timeshare presentations in Las Vegas offer discounted hotel stays, vacation certificates, resort credits, and even free concert or show tickets.

I don’t know about you, but all of these incentives sound pretty good to me — that is, if you’re willing to sit through a hard sales pitch. If you are, let’s move onto how you can get invited to one.

You may have already been invited to a timeshare presentation — maybe you received a phone call or a promotional offer in the mail. In some cases, you’ll get an offer in your email inbox just because you’re a member of a hotel’s loyalty program.

But if you’re impatient like me and hate waiting, here are a few ways to get yourself invited to a timeshare presentation.

Approach timeshare reps when you reach your destination

Also known as taking advantage of an on-site offer, approaching timeshare reps is a great way to get an invite. What salesperson wouldn’t want a potential customer walking up to them without any effort on their part?

Don’t worry. Once you arrive at your timeshare destination, there should be no shortage of reps, especially if it’s a touristy destination. All you need to do is approach a rep and express an interest in attending a timeshare offer.

This is important, though: Confirm what the incentive to attend will be before you agree to go to the presentation — some of the best points offers or other desirable perks are earned by going this route.

Reach out to the timeshare department ahead of time

If you want to make sure you’re guaranteed a timeshare presentation with incentives, you can call ahead — ask to be put through to the timeshare department. Again, this just makes getting you in as a potential customer easier for reps, so they’re going to take you up on it.

Of course, just because you commit to attending a presentation doesn’t mean you have to buy anything. It’s OK to earn your incentive and walk away.

Get referred by a timeshare owner

Do you happen to know anyone who owns a timeshare? If so, ask that person to refer you. It doesn’t have to be the timeshare they bought into — it could be somewhere else within the company’s timeshare portfolio. For example, if your friend is a timeshare owner at Club Wyndham’s Shawnee Village, they could refer you to a presentation at any Wyndham timeshare property.

Making timeshare presentations worth it

We polled members of the  FBZ Elite Travel and Points Facebook group on whether they would sit through a four-hour presentation to get 45,000 Wyndham points. Most people said no, that their time was more valuable.

One commenter, Elana S., said it best:

I need to work for 1.7 weeks in order to earn my PTO (paid time off) for 4 hrs that turn into 5-6. On the other hand, I need to work 0.2-0.4 week to cover the cost of the future nights this presentation gives me. Mathematically, it doesn't make much sense. My PTOs are hard earned and I have to jump through hoops to secure my vacation due to the nature of my job. My time is more valuable than money.

That’s totally fair. And, yes, time is more valuable than money. However, there are ways to make these presentations worth it — or else I wouldn’t have attended a few of these in the first place.

If you do attend one, do your research. Typically the big players — most major hotel chains — offer the best incentives and are the least likely to be scams. When getting an offer, don’t be afraid to negotiate your incentive or gift. Seriously.

Think about it: As Elana said, you’re trading your precious time to attend a sales pitch (that you may want to nap through). So don’t feel nervous about asking for a bigger incentive that will make it work for you, like asking for a Visa gift card instead of rewards points.

Whatever you’re negotiating for, make sure you’re getting the most value out of your commitment.

• Choice’s timeshare partner is Bluegreen Vacations , and it has 71 resorts in many destinations, including Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 
• Hilton Grand Vacations is Hilton’s timeshare brand, and there are resorts in a variety destinations, including Hawaii, the Smoky Mountains, and on the Las Vegas Strip.
• Hyatt’s timeshare brand is called Hyatt Residence Club , and it has resorts in many different destinations, including Puerto Rico, Lake Tahoe, and Key West, Florida. 
• IHG’s timeshare brand is Holiday Inn Club Vacations , with resorts at domestic and international destinations, including Orlando; Cancun, Mexico; and Sheridan, Illinois. 
• Marriott Vacation Club is Marriott’s timeshare brand, and it offers more than 1,000 resort locations, including Maui, Hawaii; Bali, Indonesia; and Aruba. 
• Club Wyndham is Wyndham’s timeshare partner and has over 45 destinations in myriad resort locations, including Taos, New Mexico; Branson, Missouri; and San Antonio, Texas. 
• Disney Vacation Club offers stays at Disney-branded resorts around the world, including those near Disney theme parks. 

If you’re tempted by a timeshare company's presentation, here’s how to decide if it’s right for you:

• Consider your travel habits . If you tend to visit the same place every year, or if the timeshare offers flexibility that makes sense for you, a timeshare purchase might be a good investment.
• Look at the costs . Make sure you understand all of the fees associated with owning a timeshare, including annual maintenance fees and property taxes.
• Think about your long-term plans . If you’re not sure where you’ll be in 5 or 10 years, it might not make sense to invest in a timeshare.
• Research the company and the property . Make sure you’re comfortable with the company’s reputation and the location of the property.
• Talk to other owners . Ask other timeshare owners about their experiences to get an idea of what owning a timeshare is really like.
• Consider the resale market . If you're really interested, you might find a better price on the resale market rather than buying directly from the timeshare salesperson. 

A timeshare definitely isn’t a good fit for everyone, so it may be best to walk away from the presentation. Here are a few reasons why.

• High upfront costs . Timeshares can be expensive to purchase, and many require a large down payment.
• Ongoing fees . In addition to the initial purchase price, timeshare owners are typically responsible for ongoing maintenance fees and property taxes.
• Limited flexibility . Timeshares are often located in specific destinations and may only be available during certain weeks of the year.
• Difficulty reselling . It can be difficult to sell a timeshare if you decide you no longer want it.

Attending timeshare presentations isn’t for everyone. But if you’re interested in discounted (or even free) trips and incentives like free points and cash, showing up could be worth it.

Make sure you have a game plan before you attend — will you be open-minded to the sales pitch, or are you dead set on saying no? Whatever you do, don’t feel pressured to make a purchase you’re not ready for — it’s OK to take their incentives and walk away. If you decide the timeshare approach isn't for you, you can still get free perks and rewards by using one of the best travel credit cards to book your trips. 

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5 Timeshare Presentation Tips to Be Empowered, Not Pressured

Who doesn’t love a travel deal? In your search have you seen promotions that seem too good to be true? For example, how can a hotel offer 3 nights accommodation plus water park tickets and a $100 restaurant gift card for $129? That’s because these promotions are from timeshare companies looking to introduce their resort, and timeshare ownership , to new people via a timeshare presentation. It’s totally true – Two hours of your time can “fund” vacations to resorts across the country!

I’m a happy timeshare owner of 15 years, sharing tips and advice for timeshare vacations whether you own one or not! If you’re not a timeshare owner and thought about taking advantage of these travel offers, I’m here to give you the ins and outs of attending a timeshare presentation so you’ll feel confident and empowered and never talked into buying something you don’t want or can’t afford.

It’s important to know that timeshares are more complicated to sell than a home or vacation condo, and it’s overwhelmingly a buyer’s, not a seller’s, market. So never let yourself be talked into buying a timeshare or any other serious, large purchase!

Wait, What is a Timeshare?

If you’re thinking to yourself “What is a Timeshare Exactly?!?” Timeshares are partial vacation ownerships of condo-like units in resort developments. They are owned, operated, and maintained by independent resorts, small chains, and large timeshare companies like Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Club Wyndham, Marriott Vacation Club, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Hyatt Residence Club and Disney. You might have stayed in a timeshare rental before without realizing it! 

Timeshare sales is big business! In 2019, there was $10.2 billion (yes billions!) in timeshare purchases in America. That’s almost twice as much as Sephora’s sales. The global vacation ownership market is expected to reach $40 billion in 2023. In order to grow their business, they need to sell timeshares to……. You! Remember, just like Facebook, if something is free, YOU are the product being sold.

As with any large commitment, it is important to consider the legally binding financial relationship that you are entering when purchasing a timeshare. This is not the type of decision to make on a whim, three margaritas deep while on vacation at the resort.  Can your budget (and your emergency fund) comfortably cover all of the costs? Even the annual maintenance fees during job loss, retirement, or a pandemic? 

Where are these Timeshare Presentation Promotions?

These timeshare presentation promotions can be found both online and in person. While I’ve personally never seen them in person, fellow timeshare owners have reported timeshare promotion kiosks in destinations with tons of timeshare resorts like Las Vegas, Orlando, and Branson offering a free vacation in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation. If you’re looking to build an entire “free” vacation, you can credit card hack your way to free flights, too!

If you’re looking online these cheap vacation packages can be found via a simple Google search. For example, the website Timeshare Orlando (at the time of this publication) had 12 different resort promotions listed. Here’s a flavor of the type of promotions that are offered. They often come with a gift card covering most or all of the price of the booking cost.

Last year Karee Blunt from our Woven Journey took advantage of one of these timeshare presentation travel deals at Tahiti Village in Las Vegas. In her experience , it was worth it to sit through a presentation to score free vacation accommodations.

“We took a chance on a free timeshare presentation deal and are happy to say it worked out just fine. For 90 minutes of our time, we enjoyed three free nights at a family-friendly resort in Las Vegas with a lazy river and beautiful pool! Even though we knew we weren’t planning on buying the timeshare package, we are interested in traveling and looked at it as a chance to learn more about our options. In the end, we said no thanks and simply went on our way.”

If you want to score these hotel promotions like Karee, and rock attending these timeshare presentations it’s important to educate yourself so you don’t get pressured into buying something on a whim. Here’s are my 5 Tips to Attend Timeshare Presentations Empowered!

Tip#1: Double Check that You Meet Their Qualifications

These deals can be an amazing way to travel on the cheap, but you have to meet the qualifications outlined in the Terms and Conditions.  Remember, by making this type of promotional reservation, you are confirming that you meet their requirements and promise to attend a timeshare presentation.  Here’s a variety of conditions found in the fine print to give you a sense:

• Couples living in the same household with a combined income of $50,000; Must have the same address on their ID; Must attend the timeshare presentation together
• Single people 30 years of age and older with an annual income of 45K or more may qualify
• Must be currently employed
• Must be creditworthy (no bankruptcies, foreclosures, or liens in the past two years)
• Cannot be in the process of home loan modifications/refinance
• Must pay 13% room tax and $20.00 daily resort fee due at check-in
• Must have a credit card that is not connected to a debit account
• Only for the U.S. Residents that reside in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KT, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY.

Tip #2: The Timeshare Presentation is Required. Seriously

By booking this reservation, you agree to go to a timeshare presentation and cannot skip it. The reason they are offering room accommodations for free, or close to it, is to get people to attend these meetings. A majority of timeshare purchases are made during these presentations, so timeshare companies know the more people who attend, the more sales they can make.

Listen, they are not playing around with this requirement. If you do not go to a timeshare presentation your credit card will be charged the full retail price of the accommodations, or a flat fee of around $300, depending on the resort. You have to hold up your side of this travel deal and can’t get out of it. 

Tip #3: Set Your Phone Timer

You agreed to attend a timeshare presentation to get this offer, but only for the amount of time listed in the promo fine print – and not one second longer. You’re on vacation, don’t waste half a day in a hotel conference room.  If the promo you booked says a 90-minute timeshare presentation, start your phone timer the minute the meeting begins. Once you’ve given your time, your obligation is fulfilled. Period. 

Do not let them tell you otherwise, make you feel bad or talk you into spending any more time with them.  Something as simple as, “Thanks for sharing this information with me. The required 90 minutes is up. Take care!  Get out of your seat and go back to enjoying your vacation. 

Tip #4: Keep Your ID and Credit Card in Your Own Hand

Yes, you are required to “present” an ID or Credit card, but present it in your own hand. Do not let them keep it or take it anywhere. If I was at a car dealership shopping for a car I’d do the exact same thing.  If they give you a hard time, play their fine print language back to them, and stay friendly. “I’m presenting you my ID. I only give my ID to customs at the airport. Or when a police officer pulls me over for speeding.” Laugh, and smile! A little light-heartedness goes a long way!   

This piece is critical because if they have your ID or credit card, it will be tough to get it back once your phone timer goes off. If you have all of your items in your wallet, you can leave once your part of the deal is done.  If they have your stuff, you’re kinda a hostage in a timeshare presentation. I’ve been there at a car dealership and it’s not fun.

Tip #5: Arm Yourself with a Resale Listing

Are there some bad apples in a barrel? Yes. Are there some high-pressure sales tactics? Yes. If you find yourself in a very uncomfortable timeshare sales pitch, show them a printout of a resale listing for their exact resort and ask them if they can match the price.  Spoiler: They can’t. You’ll be at the pool before you know it. 

What Is a Timeshare Resale Listing?

Did you know there is a resale market for timeshares where existing owners sell their unwanted timeshares to other people? You can save 75 to 99% of resort sales price by buying a timeshare in the resale market. These are the timeshare deals that the salesperson won’t tell you about! Timeshare Users Group (TUG), the oldest and largest timeshare owners group and advocacy organization hits it right on the head when they say, “Why would anyone buy from a resort if they could get the exact same “used condo” week, at the exact same resort property, for pennies on the dollar from an existing owner?”

Where Can You Find Timeshare Resale Listings?

One of the best places to find timeshare resale listings is TUG’s owner-to-owner marketplace.  It is one of the largest and most visited timeshare classified ad sites on the internet, with $30 million in timeshare sales, $18 million in owner direct timeshare rentals, and one-week vacation exchanges between timeshare owners. If you can’t find the resort you are visiting there, check out Redweek.com, the largest online marketplace for timeshare sales and rentals. Both sites are fantastic, reliable resources to arm yourself with information for timeshare presentations.

To receive more travel tips, activity inspirations, and some personal finance tips to fund those bucket list vacations subscribe below for monthly emails.

Monica Fish helps her fellow adventurers live a financially savvy life so they can travel and explore our beautiful world no matter their budget. She writes about smart timeshare ownership, vacation tips and tricks, NYC Metro Area trips and activities, and frugal, yet rich, living at PlannerAtHeart.com.

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Realities of the Timeshare Presentation Process

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard a story or two about a disastrous timeshare presentation experience someone’s had. You yourself might have had one and are now stuck in a timeshare that you do not want. 

When we think about it logically, why would we agree to a multi-thousand-dollar purchase after a few hours of talking to a salesperson we barely know?  It seems like the worst possible investment to make on a vacation, yet millions of people have fallen victim to it. What about timeshare presentations gets people to sign away their lives?

The timeshare presentation process is a science. It’s meant to fool you and prevent you from logical trains of thought. Developers like Hilton Grand Vacations , Wyndham , and Marriott Vacation Club do an excellent job at training their salespeople to wine and dine you. They don’t just give you a sales pitch ; they give you a fantasy. Their job is to paint a picture of how luxurious, convenient, and affordable owning a timeshare can be and how it’s simply not an option to say no to this deal. 

But as you already know, these presentations are manipulative. They tell you everything you want to hear and disregard any information that might make you hesitant about purchasing a timeshare. They wear you down with exhaustingly long presentations that you can’t escape, making you more likely to comply just to put an end to the presentation. They won’t tell you about the hassles of owning a timeshare — they’ll leave it up to you to discover these things once it’s too late to cancel. Let’s break down the timeshare presentation process and all the tactics that developers use to get you to hand over your credit card and sign their contract. 

Sales Tactics of a Timeshare Presentation

Whether you are purchasing a timeshare in Mexico , New York , or Hawaii , most timeshare companies use the same formula for getting people to come to their sales pitch . They’ll offer attractive perks like fancy breakfasts, free hotel stays , or Visa gift cards in exchange for attending their sales presentation . Developers know that many people attending are not necessarily interested in purchasing a timeshare yet, so they’ll place emphasis on these freebies rather than the timeshare presentation itself. Once they get you into the sales presentation, here are some of the tactics they’ll use to get you to sign on the dotted line.

Getting to Know the Customer

The initial tone of a timeshare sales pitch is always low pressure and casual. After all, timeshare companies want you to feel relaxed and trust that they have your best interest in mind. They’ll send over a friendly, engaging salesperson to get to know you and ask you about your trip. By learning what you look for in a vacation, they’re forming a plan on how to pitch the idea of timeshare ownership to you. 

Selling You on a Dream

Once you’ve built up a rapport with your salesperson , you’ll probably be sent to a group presentation with other prospective buyers. A charismatic sales lead will then guide you through a timeshare presentation slideshow or speech. They usually start off by sharing an anecdote on how expensive hotel costs, limited vacation time , and the perception of travel as an inaccessible luxury often stops people from vacationing as much as they’d like to. 

Then, the salesperson will engage with prospective buyers by asking them about their ideal vacation getaway . They’ll follow this up by asking the audience whether they think this dream could be a reality or not. Once they’ve got the audience thinking about all the limitations that prevent them from traveling, they’ll present them with a solution: timeshares. 

At this point, the tone of the timeshare presentation will switch to making your vacation dreams a reality. The salesperson will try to make you believe that vacation ownership will make it possible for you to travel wherever you want for extremely low costs. They’ll highlight all the benefits of the timeshare plan they are promoting. 

If this particular timeshare company works on a points exchange program , they’ll emphasize how flexible this system is for people who want to change when and where they vacation every year. If the timeshare company works on a fixed- or floating-week system, the salesperson will probably emphasize how convenient it is to have a reliable location to come back to every year. Once they have their audience hopeful, they’ll start showing them the type of luxury units they could potentially own. 

Touring the Facilities

Once the timeshare company has convinced you that ownership is possible, it’s time for a tour. If they’re trying to sell you on the timeshare resort where the tour is taking place, they’ll most certainly show you the nicest rooms on the property. They want prospective buyers to visualize the life they could be living if they were to invest in a timeshare . For example, they’ll paint the picture that you could stop renting cramped hotel rooms and have a spacious, upscale unit to enjoy an entire week of vacationing in. 

The catch with tours is that if you are looking to buy a timeshare at a different location, there’s no guarantee that the units will look anything like the ones they are showing you. And if the resort you’re touring is where they want you to purchase, the units they are showing you may not even be in your budget or up for sale at all. They want to show you the best that the resort can offer, even if it’s not what the actual unit will look like once it’s sold to you.

Crunching the Numbers

Now you’ve come to the part of the pitch where the salesperson starts tackling the financials of owning a timeshare. At this point, they hope spending hours of your time showing you all the amazing perks of owning a timeshare will lessen the blow of how much they really cost. 

This part can be tricky to navigate without scaring away customers, so they tread carefully. They’ll name the upfront cost of the timeshare, which for brand-name developers can average around $25,000 to $60,000 . If you start resisting their offer, the timeshare salesperson will put pressure on you and even bring in a closer to try to convince you that this is a once-in-a-lifetime deal that you cannot pass up. 

Bringing in a closer is one of the most manipulative tactics timeshare companies use to convince people to buy. These closers are gifted salespeople who make you question your judgement by asking you to justify why you aren’t interested in purchasing a timeshare. They are trained to make you seem irrational for refusing such an amazing deal. 

If they still can’t pressure you to sign the contract, the closer will start presenting you with one-time incentives like lower-than-usual rates on timeshare properties and free vacation packages . To put added pressure on you, the closer will reiterate that these deals are only available today and will go away should you choose to exit the presentation without signing a contract.

Outsmarting a Timeshare Presentation

Timeshare salespeople know how to develop a friendly rapport with you, sell you on making your vacation dreams a reality, give you a captivating tour of their timeshare resort , and talk you into making a huge financial decision on the spot. But no matter what salespeople tell you, great deals within the timeshare and vacation industry are not going away. There will always be more affordable lodging options than a timeshare with a hefty upfront cost and pricey annual fees .

Unfortunately some people learn this lesson too late. They attend a timeshare presentation , get a free breakfast, see some luxurious timeshare units, and are convinced to sign their contract right away. Not until their rescission period ends do they realize what a huge financial mistake they’ve made. 

If you’ve found yourself a victim of a scam timeshare presentation , reach out to Centerstone Group . Our team of experienced timeshare experts may be able to find you a solution for escaping your timeshare contract. Contact Centerstone Group for your free consultation.

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The Ins and Outs of Timeshare Presentations

• 4 years ago

Timeshare presentations are commonly offered by top developers at popular resorts. Many of them will offer families special getaways or freebies for simply attending and staying throughout the entire presentation. If you are going to a timeshare presentation, read up on some of our helpful timeshare presentation tips.

What is a Timeshare?

Simply put, timeshares (also known as vacation ownership ) are arrangements where people own the right to use a shared property for a designated period of time. Usually one or two weeks per year. Nowadays, many timeshares are bought and sold in the form of points. The points then translate to different sizes of timeshare suites, different locations and resorts.

Many families love their timeshare because it guarantees their vacation time every single year. Not to mention, some of the best timeshare resorts offer luxurious amenities and spacious accommodations. To buy a timeshare, many people will attend a timeshare presentation to learn more about the benefits of ownership. The sales representative will also help determine if ownership is right for you.

Are Timeshare Presentations Worth It?

A lot of timeshare presentations offer discounts on resort stays , free weekend trips, shows to events, or even free gifts. While these are great incentives to attend, you may be wondering if going is worth it. Before heading to your presentation, make sure you clearly define what you want out of your vacations. Decide your budget, as well as if you want to travel every year or every other year, where you want to go, and how many rooms you want. Clarifying your vacation goals will help you make the most of your presentation. It’s totally up to you whether or not going to one is worth it.

How Long Do They Last?

Before you attend, make sure you know the time allotted for the timeshare presentation. It’s easy to call ahead and double-check on the time frame or look online. The standard is 90-minutes. It’s hard to say for sure how long any specific presentation will last, so calling ahead is the best way to make sure it fits into your schedule!

Timeshare Presentation Tips

It’s important to prepare questions you have especially if you are interested in buying a timeshare . Even if you’re not convinced you’re ready to buy a timeshare yet, a presentation is a perfect opportunity to have your burning questions answered. If you’ve ever wondered about timeshares, you can ask your representative to break them down for you.

Like we mentioned before, knowing what you want will make your timeshare presentation work in your favor. You may have heard timeshare presentations are scary or scammy, but the more prepared you are, the more it will feel like an open conversation and less like a presentation altogether.

If you go into a presentation looking to just get your free gifts, make sure you stay firm in your decision to not buy a timeshare. If a representative changes your mind during the presentation, it’s okay if you tell them you need more time to think about it. Chances are, “today only” offers will still be available in a couple days. You may also want to go home afterward to do some more research, and that is okay! You do not need to buy a timeshare during your presentation if you have not had the time to weigh out the pros and cons . There are many great reasons why people buy timeshares , but making a big financial decision shouldn’t be done in any rush.

Another tip for timeshare presentations is to also check the resale market! You may be able to find exactly what you’re looking for on the timeshare resale market for much less than when you buy directly from the developer. Just also make sure if any resale restrictions will hinder your travel preferences.

How To Get Out Of A Timeshare Presentation

If you find yourself with an invitation to a presentation you don’t want to go to, let your resort know. Simply being honest is the best way to get out of a timeshare presentation. Similarly as above, knowing and defining your goals early on will help you be a stronger advocate for yourself when the time comes. If you do decide to head out of a presentation early or cancel before attending, consult with the resort about the gifts you were hoping to secure. Oftentimes, the free trips and events offered to those who go to presentations won’t hold up if you don’t actually go to or finish the presentation.

How to End A Timeshare Presentation

Many new vacationers wonder, “do you have to stay for the entire timeshare presentation?” The answer is simple! No, you don’t. Receiving the gifts offered at a presentation may be contingent on you staying for the entire time, but anything that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy is not worth a gift, or your time. If at any time during your presentation you feel uncomfortable or feel that the timeshare isn’t for you, feel free and confident to let your agent representative know.

Buy A Timeshare Resale

Obviously, most timeshare presentations aren’t meant to make you feel trapped or like you need to have a survival guide. You can definitely find legitimate deals that follow through on great vacation experiences . You just have to be smart about the sales tactics. There may be times where you feel confused or unsure, but make sure to take your time and get the best deal possible. You won’t regret it!

We recommend searching the timeshare resale market to find a timeshare in the comfort of your home, and oftentimes, at a lower price. As experts in the industry, we do our best to keep owners and new buyers in the loop about all things timeshare, including timeshare exit companies , important cases, and news on timeshare industry happenings. We also have a helpful guide available to download. The Ultimate Timeshare Buyer’s Guide can answer any of your timeshare related questions.

And, if you’re still considering buying a timeshare , browse our timeshare resales available. We recommend you also check out our timeshare rentals available, so you can try before you buy ! You can make an offer online, or call us at 1-800-610-2734 .

Hannah O'Brien

Hannah O’Brien is a creative digital marketer with a passion for writing. She manages the social profiles at Timeshares Only as well as publishes weekly blogs about the timeshare and travel industry. She is a graduate of Rollins College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. Hannah loves spending time with her friends, cats and family. Her favorite places to travel are Washington D.C. and the beaches of Florida.

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Would you sit through a two-hour timeshare sales presentation to get three nights at a hotel in Orlando, plus 15,000 Hilton Honors points — all for $199? How about for dinner or a spa voucher at a Marriott hotel in Dubai? Would three nights in Tahoe plus 10,000 IHG points for $249 be worth enduring a long sales pitch?

Companies dangle generous perks to try to sell you a timeshare, with offers ranging from free parking to free hotel nights to deeply discounted hotel stays — provided you sit through a timeshare sales presentation of 90 minutes or more.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering a timeshare sales presentation offer.

How timeshares work

What is a timeshare.

A timeshare is a fractional ownership of a vacation property or vacation property lease — usually at a popular travel destination or resort. It’s a lifetime commitment, although it’s possible to resell it. You’re basically investing in the opportunity to spend a week or more at select properties every year.

Many hotel chains have timeshares, including Hilton , Marriott and IHG .

The question "Is a timeshare a good deal?" is different from the question "Is this timeshare presentation offer a good deal?" Timeshares are often pitched as ways to save money on future vacations. Depending on your travel habits, it’s possible the timeshare pros and cons could tilt in your favor. But in most cases, collecting points and miles redeemable for travel is a better way to save.

But even if you know the timeshare route isn’t for you, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should skip out on the timeshare presentation offer. The perks could be well worth your time.

» Learn more: Are timeshares worth it? Possibly, if you buy smart

Timeshare presentation offers

A timeshare presentation offer is any benefit or discount — like free or reduced hotel stays, bonus points or free spa treatments — that you can receive by agreeing to sit through a timeshare sales presentation. These offers can include things like free parking at a resort where you’re staying, free hotel nights or deeply discounted hotel stays and resort experiences.

To determine whether it’s worth sitting through a presentation, consider the value of the perk being offered. In the case of free parking, you would probably be better off spending $50 to self-park and skip the sales pitch.

Can attending timeshare presentations offer a good deal?

Even still, there are times when sitting through a timeshare presentation can be worth your while. You can find good timeshare deals on offers for discounted stays, free nights and more online — or get offers through phone calls or targeted emails. In some cases, you might decide the savings are worth it.

Tip: Watch out for blackout dates, hidden charges and more

Depending on the hotel chain, your offer could be subject to blackout dates, high-season charges and package expiration dates. Read the terms and conditions carefully.

» Learn more: Find the best hotel credit card for you

Worthwhile timeshare offers, by chain

Here are a few offers from major hotel chains that, depending on how you feel about sitting through a sales pitch, might be worth grabbing.

Hilton has a timeshare presentation offer that gets you a three-night stay in Orlando or Las Vegas, plus 15,000 Hilton points for $199. That’s a pretty decent deal considering that rooms normally cost $175 to $500 per night.

This offer is good at several hotels, including the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista — an official Walt Disney World hotel. This means it gives its guests additional benefits, such as extra magic hours and access to FastPass. (Note that both services are currently on hold).

Other Hilton offers include a five-night stay at a resort in Hawaii for $649 plus taxes. The online offer includes 15,000 points. But a recent phone call to Hilton proved that sales representatives have some leeway to negotiate, in this case switching the offer to 5,000 Hilton points and a $200 Hilton gift certificate.

There are two different Hilton packages available for Hawaii — you can pick either Honolulu or the Big Island. Considering room rates here often hover around $500 per night, you can save a bundle by sitting through a timeshare presentation. For example, five nights in September 2021 at the Ocean Tower at the Hilton Waikoloa Village cost about $1,891.

That’s a big discount, not counting that $200 gift certificate and the value of those points, at a sprawling oceanfront resort featuring a saltwater lagoon.

Marriott Vacation Club has a number of specials for travelers willing to attend a timeshare presentation. In Dubai, for example, you can score two free nights at a number of hotels throughout the Middle East.

You can also participate in timeshare presentation in exchange for a dinner or spa voucher at select Marriott hotels in Dubai.

IHG’s vacation club is extending offers for properties in Gatlinburg, Tennessee; New Orleans; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Lake Tahoe, Nevada; among others.

At the Lake Tahoe resort, you can pay $249 plus tax and get three nights in a one-bedroom villa at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations: Tahoe Ridge Resort, as well as 10,000 IHG points .

Considering three nights at that resort can cost upward of $1,000, the timeshare presentation offer may be well worth it.

Some IHG hotels cost as little as 8,000 points per night, which means you can turn those 10,000 points into another free night.

Who qualifies for timeshare presentation offers?

Not everyone will qualify for these offers. Requirements vary by chain, so check the details of your offer before committing to one of these packages.

In the case of Hilton, you must not have attended a timeshare presentation within the past year at the property where you’ll be staying or within the last six months at any other properties. You’ll also need to meet certain other criteria, though they don’t publish details about what these are.

For Marriott’s Vacation Club offer in Dubai, you must be a married couple 30 to 65 years old with a joint income of over $130,000 who has traveled to Europe at least once in the past three years.

IHG’s Holiday Inn Club, meanwhile, requires that you be older than 25 with a minimum income of $50,000.

If you’re tempted by a timeshare presentation offer

Are all timeshare presentation offers a good deal? No, especially if you’re staying somewhere cheap or they’re just handing out free parking. But if you do some research, you can score serious discounts in truly exciting locations.

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How to get a deal by attending a timeshare presentation

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Booking hotels with points earned from the best hotel credit cards is a great way to save your hard-earned cash.  But did you know there’s another way you could score a great deal?

Many of the major hotel chains offer timeshare properties under a different brand, and they often have huge incentives to get you in the door to listen to their sales pitch!  These incentives could include certificates for free hotel stays, gift cards, bonus points, and more!

Getting your hands on these incentives just for sitting through a timeshare presentation might sound too good to be true.  In many cases though, there’s not much more to it than just that.  Hotels build the “giveaway” of these incentives into the cost of doing business.  They know that these sales pitches are a numbers game, so they wouldn’t be doing it if wasn’t profitable for them in the long run!

In many ways, it’s a win-win for everyone. They spread the word on their timeshares, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn about whether it might be a good fit for you. Check out team member Meghan’s experience with a Hyatt timeshare sales pitch in Arizona , and another timeshare presentation in Belize .

If you’re curious about whether timeshare ownership might be worth it, we’ll go through how you can get invited to one of these presentations, what to expect, and which major hotel brands offer timeshares. Worst-case scenario, you’ll find that timeshare ownership is not for you, and you’ll still walk away with a gift card, bonus points, or some other incentive.

How to save money by attending a timeshare presentation

Hotels often give folks lucrative incentives to get you in the door to their timeshare presentations.  You’ll know what the incentive is before you attend, of course, and they’ll usually offer things like certificates for free hotel stays, bonus points, and gift cards.

Sometimes, you might even be able to negotiate a better deal! I was able to find reports online that stated different people were given different incentives for attending the same timeshare presentation.  So the lesson here is that if you’re speaking with one of their representatives and the incentive isn’t enticing enough, ask if they can offer something better!

You usually won’t have to pay anything to attend one of these timeshare presentations, so your only “cost” will be the several hours it takes to sit through their presentation. And even if there is a fee for attending, the value of the incentive oftentimes outweighs the initial fee. 

For instance, I found a report from Stephen at Frequent Miler who stated he paid $150 to attend a timeshare presentation, and in return was awarded 45,000 Wyndham points (enough for 3 nights at any Wyndham hotel) and a 7-night stay at a timeshare resort. I’d say those incentives were well worth the $150 fee!

How to get invited to a timeshare presentation

Many of the major hotel chains, like Hyatt, Hilton, and IHG, offer some sort of timeshare brand.  If you’ve ever stayed at these hotels, you could be targeted either by phone or mail.  Being a member of the hotel’s loyalty program could also get you targeted at some point.

If you end up staying at one of their timeshare brands on a trip, you may also see some promotional materials around the hotel, so keep your eyes open!  For instance, team member Meghan took advantage of this on a trip to Arizona .  When she was checking in at the Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Pinon Pointe, she saw a sign in the lobby that mentioned something about a $100 gift card in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation!

The most direct way of getting an invitation though is to simply call the general number of the hotel chain you’re interested in, and asking about timeshare ownership.  They’ll transfer you to the right department at which point you can ask if they have any presentations available in your area, or if there are any promotions you might be eligible for.

What to expect out of a timeshare presentation

Before you attend a timeshare presentation, be aware that they can be VERY aggressive in their tactics!  I’ve been on the receiving end of a very high-pressure sales pitch and realize how difficult it can be to say no, even when I know it’s not something I want to sign-up for!  The best thing to remember though is that you can always say no, very firmly, but politely.

Also, be aware that attending these timeshare presentations can take several hours out of your day, so you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it, especially if you’re on vacation!

Tips for getting out of timeshare presentations quickly

You’ve got an appointment.

This is probably the oldest trick in the book. But if you’re looking to get out of a timeshare pitch, set a deadline for yourself by telling the salesperson that you’re meeting someone for plans (drinks, dinner, etc.) at a certain time. 

Don’t show any interest — at any price

This trick is only good for those who aren’t easily swayed. But if you can, try not to engage in the pitch. Be firm in your decision and let the salesperson know that the deal doesn’t make sense for you and your family.

Just be aware that they’ll try to push you on the price. There are reports from some readers that salespeople can sometimes lower the price by as much as 75% less than the initial offer. Again, they’re trying to make the sale. And these are tactics used to make it appear as though you’re getting a good deal.

Mention that you prefer using travel rewards

This is another trick that’ll be pretty hard for the salesperson to argue with. Simply tell them that buying a timeshare doesn’t make sense for you because you prefer to use miles & points for your travel . Why would you pay for lodging when you could stay at a hotel for free? There’s really no counterargument to that point!

Bring your children along

We all know how well kids behave when it comes to sitting still for long periods of time (HA!). And there’s arguably no better excuse to getting out of something than when you have a cranky child to attend to. So bring your kid(s) along to the presentation and make your escape when their patience has run out.

Hotel Chains With Timeshares

Hilton .

Hilton’s timeshare operates under the name Hilton Grand Vacations.  To give you an idea of the size of their timeshare operations, if you decide to join as a Club Member, you’ll be joining over 300,000 other members worldwide, and have access to vacation exchange options across over 4,300 resorts globally.

Most of their timeshares are located in the US, although they do have 3 international locations as well:

• South Carolina

Hyatt’s timeshare goes by the name Hyatt Residence Club.  Although they don’t offer nearly as many locations as Hilton, they do advertise and market luxurious stays at 16 locations in the US.

One of the neat things Hyatt offers right on their website is a section for “ Featured Vacation Offers. ”  Some people online have reported getting even better deals by calling in and referencing these offers, stating that they’re interested in timeshare ownership but want to get more information.

• Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Pinon Pointe

California:

• Hyatt Residence Club Carmel, Highlands Inn
• Hyatt Residence Club Lake Tahoe, Northstar Lodge
• Hyatt Residence Club Grand Aspen
• Hyatt Residence Club Beaver Creek, Mountain Lodge
• Hyatt Residence Club at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
• Hyatt Residence Club Breckenridge, Main Street Station
• Hyatt Residence Club Bonita Springs, Coconut Plantation
• Hyatt Residence Club Key West, Beach House
• Hyatt Residence Club Key West, Sunset Harbor
• Hyatt Residence Club Key West, Windward Pointe
• Hyatt Residence Club Sarasota, Siesta Key Beach
• Hyatt Residence Club Maui, Ka’anapali Beach
• Hyatt Residence Club Lake Tahoe, High Sierra Lodge

Puerto Rico:

• Hyatt Residence Club Dorado, Hacienda Del Mar
• Hyatt Residence Club San Antonio, Wild Oak Ranch

IHG calls their timeshare brand Holiday Inn Club Vacations.   Similar to Hyatt, they also have a section on their website for “ Special Timeshare Offers, ” so if you call in asking about timeshare ownership or their special offers, you might be able to land an even sweeter deal and possibly an invite to a timeshare presentation with more incentives!

IHG has timeshare locations within the US in several different states.  They also have a number of locations designated as part of their “ Signature Collection ” for an even more luxurious stay.

You can find a full listing of their timeshare locations here , and you’ll see they’re located in quite a few different states:

• Massachusetts

Marriott’s timeshare brand goes by Marriott Vacation Club.   According to their website, they offer over 50 resorts, 4,000+ Marriott hotels, and 3,000+ affiliated resorts.

You receive an annual allotment of Vacation Club Points when you join this program, which you can then use to book a stay at one of their locations worldwide .

Choice Hotels

Back in 2013, Choice Hotels ventured into the timeshare ownership segment by partnering with Bluegreen Vacations as their preferred vacation ownership provider.

You’ll be able to book a stay at any of their 60+ resorts in over 40 unique destinations .  The vast majority of them are located in the US, although they do have 2 international locations as well.

• North Carolina
• New Hampshire

Wyndham’s timeshare brand operates under the name Club Wyndham.   You’ll have the flexibility of vacationing in different areas each year through their Club Wyndham Plus program, where your ownership is translated into points deposited annually into your account.  Depending on where you want to stay, accommodations are assigned different point values and you can redeem them throughout the year.

Wyndham has a number of timeshare resorts available both within the US and internationally :

• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island

International Locations:

• New Zealand

You have other (better) options for saving big on hotel stays!

If you’re nervous about sitting through a high-pressure sales pitch, keep in mind it’s not the only way you can save big on traveling!  There are still many amazing hotel credit cards that can get you free nights at your favorite hotels.

Here are a few of our favorites:

• Most valuable welcome bonus for hotel stays: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Best hotel credit card for value and comfort:  World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Best hotel credit card for big spenders: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Best hotel credit card for elite status:  Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• Best hotel credit card for road warriors: IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card

The information for the Hilton Aspire card , and the Hilton Surpass has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For instance, with the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you could earn enough points for as many as 10 nights in category 1 Hyatt hotels!  The card is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 60,000 bonus points – earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points with 2 bonus points per $1 spent on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point up to $15,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.

Or if you apply for a card that earns flexible points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards points , you can also transfer the points to a hotel partner for free nights as well.

Bottom line

Attending timeshare presentations can be a lucrative way to save a lot of money on your trips.  That’s because many hotels offer incentives like certificates for free hotel stays, bonus points, and gift cards, to motivate you to attend one of their timeshare presentations.

Many of the major hotel chains have some sort of timeshare brand.  If you haven’t been cold-called or targeted for a specific timeshare offer, you can always call the general number for the hotel and ask about timeshare ownership.

If you do attend a timeshare ownership presentation, be prepared for a very high-pressure sales pitch, and don’t be afraid to say no.

If you’re not sure if you can make it through their tactics, remember that you can always focus on earning miles and points from the best hotel credit cards to redeem for free hotel stays instead.

What are your thoughts on timeshare ownership, and have you sat through a timeshare presentation before?

Contributor

Andrew Wan is a contributor for Million Mile Secrets where he covers points, miles, credit cards, airlines and hotels. His work has also appeared in The Simple Dollar.

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How do timeshare presentations work?

Timeshare presentations can be a nightmare..

Many of our readers asked us to give them insight into how timeshare sales presentations work. The reason it is so fascinating is that many people bought their timeshare when they originally had every intention of saying 'no' and then went on to regret the purchase. Inside this post, I will cover the basics of timeshare presentations and how to avoid falling victim to timeshare sales tricks.

Remember: The best method to get out of a timeshare is to never buy one.

In-House Presentations (Owners)

These presentations are more deceptive in nature, have tougher salespeople, and are the bane of existence for 99.99% of timeshare owners. These presentations have a very obvious sequence of events that go something like this -

Upon checking into the resort you will be made to get a parking pass and will get pitched by the 'concierge' that some MAJOR changes are happening and that you need to get the deets...and as a token of the company's appreciation for taking the time, you'll get some sort of free gift.

The timeshare owners show up to the presentation and go through a fluffy presentation that lasts about 15 minutes and loosens them up. Although the content is not new, the presenter is likable and slightly funny and has the sole job of opening up the guests to ensure they will be somewhat receptive during the hard sell.

Next, you're moved into a little cubicle that has a slick salesman who is wearing a $20,000 watch and has pants that look like he bought them from Baby Gap. He then asks you questions about your timeshare - what you like, what you would change, and some other softball questions.

The biggest turn of events is that at some point during the first 15 minutes together the salesman will throw out a 'hook' which is a statement or question that is designed to grab your attention.

If you take the bait, you'll now be in for the pitch where he tells you all the money you could have saved, or all the resorts you could have visited. The reality is that almost all of what you hear is highly inaccurate (if not completely false). You start to feel like you're being sold to so the rep says "don't worry you won't have to make a decision today" and "I am going to give you an option to take with you."

Then they show you what's referred to as a "puke sheet" or a proposal that's designed to be so expensive that you throw out all the objections to buying it. This way the salesman knows the pressure points to overcome for the next phase > the takeaway.

Without the Takeaway no timeshare owners would ever buy. This is when he will bring in a manager or authority figure (known as a TO for Turn Over as in turn over the table). The TO or Mr. Big will ask you "why didn't you do it when you could have? Why did you decline it?" This past tense option would have resolved all your problems. He or She may ask you to write a letter to ask for your option to be reinstated. This is all a game meant to get you into a fear of loss mindset - you cannot say no to an offer that isn't available after all.

Non-Owner Presentations (aka Frontline Sales)

These sales presentations are mostly emotional sales and are usually less deceptive. These presentations have a very structured script and agenda -

These events are marketed through discounted trips (warning - you'll usually end up staying at a roach-infested hotel vs. what you were promised), ticket booths at major tourist areas, and sometimes through referrals from friends or family who own with the timeshare company.

The time commitment is roughly 120 minutes for most major timeshare companies and consists of a group presentation, a property tour, and lots of cheesy emotional stories about how vacations are super important.

The basis of the pitch is that it's cheaper to own your vacation instead of renting. This couldn't be further from the truth. When you calculate the upfront cost to buy a timeshare from a developer ( Resale Timeshare is a different story) and the added carrying cost of maintenance fees (Check out our Timeshare Maintenance Fee Calculator ) the math is absurd. Plus the bigger consideration > you don't have to travel if you're financially unable one year or if something else comes up.

Timeshare Lies and Deception

One common thing about timeshare sales is that the sales practices are at best deceptive and at their worst - fraudulent. Here are the ways salespeople bend the truth, lie, or omit facts to deceive you into buying.

Timeshare Usage: This typically happens in non-owner presentations. Sales reps will misrepresent how many points you will need to stay at their resorts. They will hide their timeshare club reservation booklet at all costs.

Timeshare Rental: The main objection salesman get from non-owners and timeshare owners is that no one wants to pay maintenance fees. The salespeople get trained day in and out on how to overcome that one major objection. The easiest way for them to overcome this objection is by suggesting you rent your timeshare. They will lead you down a garden path of greed and illusory dreams you can make money with your timeshare. While there are a few folks out there who know how to win at the timeshare rental game, you must have a tremendous knowledge of your timeshare developer's reservation system to have any chance at making money with renting your timeshare.

Timeshare Refinance: Another major objection salespeople get is that the interest rates are insane when prospective buyers look at the financing options from the timeshare developer. Naturally, no one wants to pay double-digit interest rates for anything, much less purchase in the tens of thousands of dollars range. Don't fall for it. You have a very slim chance that you'll be able to refinance the timeshare and can only do with limitations (read more about refinancing a timeshare ).

False Sense of Urgency: These are lies that you won't be able to purchase the timeshare or points in the future for the price they are today. Sometimes taken one step further - you will be told that you missed out on an opportunity to buy the timeshare/points in the past for much cheaper.

I hope this has helped you prepare for your next timeshare sales presentation. Although I really hope you'll use your time for something way better ✌️.

Ready to cancel your timeshare?

Start with your free copy of The Cancel Timeshare Handbook .

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How to End a Timeshare Presentation

How Do You Avoid Timeshare Pressure

What is a timeshare pressure sales tactic, what should i do if i am feeling pressured to buy a timeshare, what should you do if you feel uncomfortable in a timeshare presentation, what kind of questions should you ask before making a timeshare purchase, what are the most common examples of timeshare scams, how can i protect myself from timeshare pressure, avoid the timeshares sales pitch, or, only stay for the agreed-upon time frame, present as little personal information as possible, do not disclose bank or credit card data, refuse to sign documents on the spot, just say no, keep saying no, leave if the situation becomes uncomfortable, what is a timeshare property, how much does a timeshare cost, can i cancel a timeshare purchase, what are some red flags to look out for when buying a timeshare, are there any legal protections i should be aware of before buying a timeshare, what should i do if i feel like a timeshare representative has misled me, wesley financial group, llc*.

Some say the only way to get out of a timeshare presentation is by leaving as timeshare buyers. To the contrary! There are several ways to avoid the pressure of resort salespeople and leave the same way you entered, without the burden.

In this guide, you'll find a step-by-step guide on surviving timeshare presentations and answers to the question that everyone has, how do you avoid timeshare pressure? 

How Timeshare Presentations Work

A timeshare presentation is nothing but a sales pitch. The number one goal of these presentations is selling timeshares. Resorts lure their guests into attending by presenting gifts and prizes like a discounted weekend stay, a cruise trip, tickets to a local event, a free meal, or whatever else they can offer. However, you must attend their 90-minute presentation to receive the gift.

Be advised that these presentations seldom end on time. Former attendees have claimed they went on for four hours. During a timeshare presentation, aggressive salespeople will use high-pressure tactics. They may use multiple salespeople to break down your defense or make misleading statements to play with your emotions. It should be evident by now that it's a pitch.

There are two ways to get out of a timeshare presentation: buy one or just leave. While leaving sounds easy enough, the salespeople will do everything possible to prevent that.

A timeshare pressure sales tactic is a strategy used by sales representatives to pressure potential buyers into making decisions and signing contracts on the spot. Tactics may include using high-pressure sales techniques, providing limited-time offers, or presenting false information.

If you feel pressured to buy a timeshare, it is crucial to take a step back and evaluate your decision. Consumers should never feel obligated to decide on the spot and should take their time to make sure they are making an informed decision. It is also important to remember that a sales representative cannot guarantee a return on investment.

If you feel uncomfortable in a timeshare presentation, you should consider asking for a break or leaving the presentation entirely. Bring a friend or family member for support and a second opinion if possible.

Preparing For a Timeshare Presentation

Before attending a presentation, remember that getting out is more complicated than getting in. Following are a few suggestions on how to prepare to handle the pressure of timeshare companies without making a regrettable mistake:

• Find Out If You Will Be Speaking to Timeshare Salespeople:  The typical timeshare salesperson is sneaky. So, find out who you're dealing with before taking them up on an offer. If you're suspicious about their intentions, outright ask if they are, in fact, part of the sales team of the resort in question. Their answer should be a clear indicator of their interest.
• Research the Timeshare Company Beforehand:  Sometimes, the offer seems too good to pass up, like a trip to Disneyland. If you're tossing around the idea of attending a timeshare presentation, do research before making the trip. However, some resorts avoid mentioning the words "timeshare presentation". They often get referred to as resort tours, vacation promotions, gift opportunities, etc. Nonetheless, always research a company that reaches out and makes grandiose gestures. 
• Know the Requirements to Be Eligible for a Gift (if applicable): Many timeshare guests attend presentations as a prerequisite to receiving a gift from the resort, such as free or reduced stays, bonus points, or free excursions. However, sales representatives may use it against you to influence your decisions. Knowing how long you need to stay to be eligible for a gift is critical. Don't get misled in the heat of the moment.

Before making a timeshare purchase, ask questions such as how long the purchase is binding, what the maintenance fees are, and how the timeshare can be resold or exchanged.

Common timeshare scams include bogus offers of free vacations for attending a presentation, high-pressure sales tactics, and misrepresentations of the timeshare's value. It is vital to research and thoroughly understand the terms of the deal before signing any agreements.

Consumers can protect themselves from timeshare pressure by educating themselves, taking their time to make decisions, and always getting everything in writing. It is important to remember that sales representatives are trying to make a sale, so it is up to the consumer to stay informed and make an informed decision.

A Step-By-Step Guide On How to Survive a Timeshare Presentation

Knowing how to avoid the pressure of timeshare vendors if you plan on attending is important. The presentations can sometimes go on for hours as they hope to wear you down into making a sale. To leave a timeshare presentation with no obligation, study this step-by-step guide!

The best way to avoid timeshare pressure is to bypass timeshare offers. However, the resorts make that challenging at times. You may have received such requests before. Whether it's unsolicited phone calls announcing a free vacation or encounters with dubious sales representatives giving out tickets to a popular tourist attraction. Remember, there's always a catch. And that catch is attending their presentation. If you have no desire to listen to a timeshare pitch, do not accept these offers.

Timeshare presentations are perhaps best known for how long they last. Sure, they say that it is 90 to 120 minutes long, but before you know it, several have passed. The best advice to prevent that from happening is to get in and get out! If you attend the presentation to meet eligibility for a gift or prize, stay for the time frame initially set. Have an alarm on your watch or phone as a reminder. 

Are you not planning to buy a timeshare but attending a presentation anyway? Then don't give the timeshare sales staff your personal information. That goes for phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, names of family members, and whatever else they ask for that you're uncomfortable with sharing. The salespeople will be persistent but hold your ground and don't engage.

The last thing to share with a greedy salesperson is financial information. Under no circumstances should you provide your bank or credit card information. They may say it's a once-in-a-lifetime deal but only available today. Don't fall for it. There are thousands of timeshare properties, and they're not going anywhere. Keep your finances to yourself, and if you are interested in buying a timeshare, don't rush into it at a presentation. 

No matter what the salespeople put in front of you, don't sign it. You are bound to uphold its terms and conditions as soon as you sign your name on a timeshare agreement. You're better off taking the documents home to review yourself or with a trusted financial advisor. 

In the end, just say no. Tell the first salesperson no, tell the second salesperson no, and so on! You are by no means obligated to buy a timeshare to accept a gift offered by the resort. Nevertheless, the salespeople may still make you feel that way. If you are not interested in timeshare ownership, do not lead them on. Let them know your feelings from the beginning of the presentation.

The timeshare industry is home to some of the most highly-trained salespeople in the world. Therefore, just saying "no" is not always enough. It's ok if you have to get crass with the salespeople. If not, they'll keep pushing you into a sale, so you may have to push back. 

Although it may feel like it at times, you're not locked in that room. Feel free to get up and leave if the experience becomes unbearable. But if you leave before the agreed set time (90-120 minutes), you may have to forfeit the gift promised to you for attending. A free vacation trip is tough to give up in the heat of the moment, but, in the long run, leaving will be the best decision. 

Timeshare Frequently Asked Questions

A timeshare is a vacation property under fractional ownership –meaning multiple owners share the use and expenses of one unit. Timeshares are often found in resort condominiums in high-tourist areas and are marketed as money-saving vacation homes. Whether timeshares are good or bad, they are popular within the travel industry. Yet, how do people come to buy timeshares in the first place? Well, that all transpires at the sales presentations.

The expenses are divided among the shared owners. The costs associated with a timeshare can be separated into that paid upfront (e.g., a deposit) and those paid ongoing (e.g., mortgage and maintenance fees).

According to the American Resort Development Association, the average price of a timeshare interval in 2022 is $24,140, though some resorts charge more. In addition, the annual maintenance fee will average more than $1,000. Although many resorts will market these expenses as great deals, these so-called savings are often only temporary.

Timeshare agreements are subject to the rescission laws of the state in which they are purchased. Most states only provide a brief cooling-off period of three to fourteen days. Once that time has passed, exit options become limited and risky. However, some aggrieved owners may find relief in the resale market or by hiring a timeshare cancellation company.

Some red flags to look out for when buying a timeshare include offers that seem too good to be true, high-pressure sales tactics, and sales representatives who try to pressure you into signing but cannot provide proof of a return on investment.

Before purchasing a timeshare, it is crucial to consider the length of the agreement, the fees associated with it, the terms and conditions of the deal, and the availability of the timeshare.

Yes, knowing any legal protections is important before signing a timeshare agreement. Consumers should research all state and federal laws related to timeshares, as well as the Consumer Bill of Rights and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Additionally, asking questions and seeking legal advice before signing a timeshare agreement is critical.

What If You Buy a Timeshare and Regret It?

Not everyone can avoid the pressure of a timeshare presentation. That's no fault of yours, but instead at the hands of the greedy salespeople. However, it is up to you to resolve it. If you're proactive, getting out of the timeshare agreement shouldn't be an issue.

What you need is to rescind the timeshare purchase. Doing so will make it as if the sale had never happened, and you'll receive a full refund. The only catch is that you have less than two weeks from the purchase date. Find out more about timeshare rescission and the related state laws here.

So what happens if you miss that window of opportunity? The options become limited and are less favorable from a financial standpoint. You might have to give up on recouping what you paid and, instead, focus on stopping further timeshare expenses. Here's what the options are:

• Ask the Resort to Take It Back
• List it in the Timeshare Resale Market
• Hire a Timeshare Cancellation Company

If you feel like a timeshare representative has misled you, it is essential to contact the state attorney general's office or the Federal Trade Commission. Consumers should also report any fraudulent or deceptive practices to the Better Business Bureau.

Wesley Financial Group, LLC  (WFG)* is a perfect example of a timeshare cancellation company. Founded in 2011 by a pioneer of the timeshare cancellation industry, Chuck McDowell, WFG has since canceled tens of thousands of timeshares. WFG specializes in timeshare termination for owners who are victims of fraudulent activity by salespeople.

If you were lied to or misled into buying your timeshare, then WFG may be able to help.  Schedule a free consultation  to learn more!

Recommended Reading

About the Author

Chuck mcdowell.

Chuck McDowell is the founder and CEO of Wesley Financial Group, LLC, an Inc. 500 company, which specializes in complete timeshare termination and timeshare debt elimination for individuals and families that have experienced fraud, misrepresentation, and/or lies during their timeshare sales presentations.

Although Chuck is one of the pioneers of the timeshare cancellation industry, Chuck McDowell was a timeshare salesman before realizing the timeshare industry is not what he thought it was. After discovering the many deceitful tactics the timeshare industry uses on unsuspecting people, Chuck left the industry to work on the other side, fighting for consumer rights. He served as the CEO for a timeshare advocacy group before deciding to take timeshare cancellation into his own hands. Wanting to help good people get out of bad situations, Chuck founded Wesley Financial Group, LLC in 2011. Wesley Financial Group, LLC is dedicated to providing legitimate aid to those who feel helpless and Chuck’s unique background acts as a special motivator to be honest and fair to those that so often feel cheated.

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• In & Out In 15 Minutes! My Unique Hilton Timeshare Presentation Experience

• October 11, 2023
• Mark Ostermann

Travel on Point(s) is an independent, advertising-supported website. This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites like Cardratings.com. This compensation does not impact how or where products appear on this site. Travel on Point(s) has not reviewed all available credit card offers on this site. Reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any partner entities.

Hilton Timeshare Presentation Experience

Last week I finally had my 150,000 point Hilton timeshare presentation offer meeting in New York City. This is the second time we have done one of these offers with Hilton, but this one was very unique. I doubt many will be able to recreate my Hilton timeshare presentation experience fully, but I think there are things that can be learned from it. Because of that I figured it was worth sharing with all of you.

Table of Contents

Booking The Hilton Timeshare Offer

This amazing offer was available earlier this year. Believe it or not it was actually one of my first articles at ToP. We wanted to take the kids somewhere for their birthday so I let them pick from the destination list. They decided on New York City and I booked it for October (right around both of their birthdays).

The deal was we would need to go to a 2 hour, or less, sales presentation put on by Hilton Grand Vacations . For doing that we would receive a great reduced rate on a three night stay and 150,000 Hilton Honors points upon completion.

We did a similar offer in Orlando back or 2019 and it took about the full two hours to complete. This time around was completely different though.

Sharing My Hilton Timeshare Presentation Experience

There were several things that were a bit different with this Hilton timeshare presentation experience compared to last time around. I'll go through each of them with you.

The Presentation Center Was In The Hotel

The first thing that was different was that the Hilton Grand Vacations offices were in the Hilton Midtown hotel . They had several timeshare presentation offices within the same building. I believe there were three in all where you could be sent. Our meeting area was the one located on the top floor. It was wasn't the easiest to find, it required riding an elevator to the top floor of the hotel and then walking down a hallway to another small elevator up the last level. This was one of those small one floor elevator types.

From what I could tell there was a Hilton Grand Vacations property on the top few floors of the Hilton Midtown hotel. I have to imagine those rooms were better than what we had below, since the hotel was not great.

There Was No Big Rah Rah Room

This could be a change since covid, or it could just be the limited space of New York City, but there was no rah rah room. In Orlando we were grouped together with like 30 other attendees and the head salesperson went through some things with us and got us in the habit of saying yes. Then we broke off with our individual reps for the one on one sales pitches portion at the same time.

This time around our rep promptly met us upon arrival and took us straight back to her desk. I prefer this set up so that there isn't a needless 30 minute pep rally. I think this set up works to our favor as well, but more on that in a bit.

We Were Done In Under 15 Minutes

This is where things got interesting. We sat down with our representative for some small talk, and the normal chit chat. She seemed super nice and from what I could tell we got one of the more straightforward, honest people in the business. I think she really believed in the program for the right person and that showed.

While chatting, how we found out about the presentation offer came up. I informed our rep that I wrote about it for work and then decided to take advantage of it. That is when we got into miles and points and the fact that I would write about my experience during the meeting as well. I also told her were mainly there for the points bonus.

You could tell this threw her for a curve. She immediately understood that I was not a person that this program would mesh with. I told her I pay next to nothing for my trips, thanks to miles and points, and that is when she said hold on for a few minutes. I assume she left to speak to a supervisor and came back to the table about 5 minutes later. That is when she told me we could leave if we wanted to or we could ask any questions we had. She said there was no point in going through the presentation with us etc. I appreciated this bluntness and we were free to leave after around 15 minutes of entering the sales room.

She was very open about the fact that selling these were her job, and time spent pitching me was wasted and wouldn't benefit her much. I totally agreed with this.

Asking Some Timeshare Questions That Had Been Bothering Me

I didn't leave right away because I actually enjoyed her company and I had a few questions I was interested in hearing the response to for timeshare offers / companies. We also talked about miles and points for 5 – 10 minutes. During that time I encouraged her to get into it a bit more for the airfare side of her travel even if she owned some timeshares. I can not stress enough how open she was and willing to discuss anything, which I found super refreshing. Here are some of the things we discussed:

They Offer A No Fee Credit Card – The Hilton Amex

While we were talking about my work, and using credit cards for discounted travel, she brought up that they have one they offer people. She wasn't sure if it was unique to them, but it was mainly for people that want to buy a timeshare but weren't prepared to do so. She said everyone comes in here expecting to say no, and that all they ask is they have an open mind. The reason for the card offer is the 0% APR it has. The card ended up being the no fee Amex Hilton card. I forgot to ask if they get any bonus etc. for card sign ups, but I assume they do.

What Is Her Response To Someone Buying Timeshares On The Secondary Market

I was really intrigued by this question, since I know it is something people say to bring up in your sales pitch meeting. Grizzled timeshare presentation vets say this is a way to give a firm no! Hilton Grand Vacations, and maybe others, figured out a work around for this. They have the right of first refusal if you ever try to sell your timeshare. If the price is too low they will buy it back themselves to keep it off the secondary market. This ensures the public prices stay where they want them to be. If the price is high enough they will pass on buying it back. Pretty smart.

What Happens When You Die And Your Kids Don't Want It?

I was also curious about the stories of people's heirs getting stuck with the maintenance fees after their parents pass away. From what I had heard they need to inform the company they want to forfeit their right to the timeshare, or they get stuck with the monthly dues. She was not 100% sure on this but she said she didn't think they did anything when someone passed away, assuming the no one in the succession line wanted it.

Points Transfer Rates Depend On Where You Buy

One thing I liked about the Hilton Vacations Timeshare program in particular, and maybe others offer it too, is that you can turn your timeshare points into Hilton Honors points if you are unable to use them that year. The rate at which you can transfer (I believe the two options are 16 to 1 or 32 to 1) depends on where you buy. It has something to do with the deeds etc. for those areas. She informed me that where you have your meeting doesn't matter though. She can sell you to any of these. So if you are in Myrtle Beach, but the NYC package works better for you (one of the 32 to 1 options), then they can make that happen. It should be noted that the higher transfer rate is a more expensive package.

She said if you want to just go to the same destination every year then the lower package makes more sense etc. They will tailor your individual package to whatever your travel desires are.

Who Are Timeshares For?

The last thing we discussed is who she thought timeshares were for. She admitted that they are not for everyone. The ideal person is a middle class couple or family that struggles to use their vacation time. Owning a timeshare forces them to make time for a trip. If you paid for it already then you are more likely to use it.

Being able to pass it down to kids is something many people like as well. Once the upfront cost is paid they look at the monthly dues as a reduced cost vacation. That may be more space than they would have gotten for the same price or a discounted rate in an expensive destination like Hawaii.

She admitted that miles and points people did not fit into this box. Really wealthy people didn't either, because they can pay for wherever they want to go. In her view, this program makes more places accessible to the middle class. I can see where she is coming from.

Hilton Timeshare Presentation Experience Main Takeaways

While my experience was unique I still think there are lessons to be learned.

Individual Pitches Are Our Friend

I think getting straight to the sit down with a sales rep portion is helpful to us. That makes me think they keep pulling from the constant flow of people and they don't want to waste time with a lemon such as us. With the old set up they likely didn't have a new pool to pull from until the next pep rally happened. They were stuck with who they got for the duration. I am not so sure that is the case with this set up.

Be Upfront About Your Travels

I think explaining that you travel A LOT, and most of it is for pennies on the dollar, helps you to a quick exit. I tried to do this in Orlando as well, but in a more roundabout way. They didn't really pick up on that though and when I asked questions for work purposes they mistook that for interest. This time I was as upfront and blunt as I could be. If you do the same maybe they will see you are a lost cause and quickly discard you. Tell them you did it for the discounted room and bonus points.

The Points Posted Really Quickly

They said it could take a few days, but the points were in my account within a few hours. This was a huge improvement compared to my last Hilton timeshare presentation experience years ago. Previously, it ended up taking a few weeks and some follow up to get.

It wasn't special blogger treatment either, since multiple people in the ToP Facebook Group said theirs posted within minutes of their meeting. I was really happy to hear that.

ToP Thoughts

Overall, our Hilton timeshare presentation experience was surprisingly pleasant and refreshing. They were okay dropping a losing hand and our rep was very open and up front about everything. I enjoyed speaking with her and it was interesting to get some more color on the program. It was cool to hear about her experience as a salesperson too.

I don't know if this is unique to her, the New York office or if it is a testament to the entire Hilton Vacation Club company, but I was pleasantly surprised. It almost made me feel bad about not buying something, almost.

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I Suffered Through a Timeshare Sales Presentation for a Cheap Vacation

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Timeshares: a word that probably elicits a range of emotions depending on your experience with them. My only knowledge about timeshares, however, comes from what I've read and listened to about the topic. None of my close friends or extended family members have bought or owned a timeshare. (Or, at least, they won't admit to it if they did).

That said, as a travel hacker, I'm enticed by stories from friends and TPG readers about scoring hotel discounts or bonus points for sitting through a timeshare presentation. So, when Choice Rewards emailed about getting a "seven-night resort stay" for 80% off plus a $100 gift card and 10,000 bonus Choice points for attending a "sales presentation and tour," I was intrigued.

Booking the Offer

The pre-Black Friday offer was for seven nights at a Bluegreen Vacations property for $499. The offer clearly stated that both me and my spouse would have to attend a two-hour sales presentation in order to get that rate.

After subtracting the $100 MasterCard and 10,000 Choice points (which TPG values at $60), I figured we'd be paying a net of $339 and four hours of time for seven nights at a two-bedroom property. Besides the sales presentation requirement, the other catch was the nights had to be used by May 31.

After reading pages worth of terms and conditions, confirming we met the qualifications -- minimum income of $40,000, at least 25 years of age, minimum credit score of 575, no bankruptcy in seven years -- and agreeing to the restrictions, I purchased the package.

My wife, Katie, charged the $499 purchase to her Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, both to help her meet the card's minimum spending requirement and also to see if the purchase coded as 3x for travel (it did). We earned 1,497 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which TPG values at just under $30.

Reserving Our Stay

It wasn't until a full month after the purchase I received a confirmation that unleashed the emails from Bluegreen Vacations reminding me to book our nights:

Unfortunately, finding availability isn't easy. While Bluegreen Vacations owners can search for openings and reserve online, this package required us to call to find and book dates. When we did, the calendar was far from wide-open. Ultimately, we booked a three-night stay midweek at Bluegreen's signature property in Orlando, The Fountains.

The call to book took 25 minutes, between finding available dates and reviewing the terms and conditions. Again.

We were able to book a two-bedroom condo at The Fountains that sleeps up to six people. The agent reminded us there would a $125 fee for changing our booking within 14 days -- a term in the original purchase terms -- but said that there would be no other charges or fees to worry about.

A few days after booking, I received a call from Bluegreen Vacations to "confirm" my vacation reservation. The agent again went through all the qualification details. But this time, the agent mentioned $32 of "taxes and fees" required at check-in and a $200 no-show fee. The agent falsely claimed these terms were sent to me in an email.

At the time of the call, my grandmother was in hospice. The agent wouldn't say whether my grandmother's passing would be enough for me to avoid a late change or no show fee, merely telling me I'd need to call them at the time to see.

Frustrated by the additional fees and terms, I asked for a manager. After a 15-minute hold, the manager towed the same line, insisting I was made aware of -- and agreed to -- the fees. She quoted specific terms and conditions she said I agreed to at purchase. I forwarded her the purchase confirmation email and my screenshots to refute those specific terms.

Still, all I got out of the nearly hour-long call was an additional $50 for the gift card to counter the extra fees. After the call, I received a "confirmed" email from Bluegreen reflecting the newly-added terms for the first time:

Enduring the Presentation

When we arrived for our stay at The Fountains, we were directed to check in at the Welcome Center after the 4pm check-in time, but before it closed at 9:30pm. No early check-in, late check-out or other benefits of being a Choice elite would be honored by Bluegreen. When we arrived just after 5pm, the grand Welcome Center was empty, before an agent emerged from the back office.

Upon arrival, we were reminded yet again about the terms of the package and had to sign a Guest Registration Form that noted the increased $150 MasterCard gift and 10,000 Choice points. In addition to our names and addresses, we needed to list:

• Homeowner or renter.
• Marital status (married; married but separated; living with significant other; single; divorced; widowed).
• Age of both the primary guest and the spouse or significant other.
• Combined household income.
• Confirmation that either the guest or the spouse or significant other has a credit score of at least 575.
• Whether or not the guest has declared bankruptcy or insolvency in the last seven years.
• Signature to indicate a credit inquiry would be made.
• Signature to indicate I've read the Details of Participation.

At the bottom of the form, the disclosure makes it abundantly clear that, "This advertising material is being used for the purpose of soliciting the sale of timeshare property or interests in timeshare property."

After filling out the form, the agent seemed surprised by my request for a copy of the forms I'd just filled out, but obliged. From the Welcome Center, we were directed to the Clubhouse to check into our expansive and well-stocked room -- which we are reviewing in a separate post.

Despite all previous correspondence indicating that we needed to arrive for the preview at least 15 minutes early, we were required upon arrival to agree to checking in at least 20 minutes before our 11am presentation.

Not wanting to risk violating the terms, we were sure to show up right at 10:40am. We noticed there weren't many people in the sales waiting room. At check-in, we received our $150 MasterCard gift card and a certificate for 10,000 Choice points. Bluegreen listed a $80 "MSRP" -- which typically stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price -- for the Choice points. That's effectively 0.8 cents per point, versus TPG's 0.6 cents per point value of Choice points.

The rest of our 11am presentation group wasn't as punctual, causing a line to form at check-in that lasted through the top of the hour. While we waited, upbeat music played overhead an d a "refresh" bar offered caffeine and sugar fixes.

At 10:55am, cheery salespeople filed into the room to find their assigned couple. Our agent introduced himself and started off with small talk before leading us to the sales center to brief us about Bluegreen Vacations.

Contrary to what we expected, most of the two hours wouldn't be with this agent. Instead, 24 of us who were there for the 11am presentation were gathered into a small auditorium for a group sales pitch. Our presenter for the 1:45 hour session was Chad Elliott, a licensed realtor who's been selling for Bluegreen for more than 15 years.

Elliott surprised us by addressing the elephants in the room, such as joking about how many people "came in to buy" and referencing how couples had surely psyched each other up to say no.

He also landed some stinging jabs, saying we were all too cheap to pay for a full-priced vacation and how romantic this must be for the wives in the room. Elliott also peppered in some interesting stats, like how we were in the largest sales center of all 69 Bluegreen properties.

Referencing Bluegreen's partnerships with Choice Hotels and Bass Pro Shops, Elliott also noted that Bluegreen pays between $500 and $800 — including the gifts we'd already received at check-in — just to get a couple into the sales center for this presentation. And, he noted, one in three couples sitting through his presentation would become owners.

Whether or not these details were true, his forthright nature was very disarming.

He was also fast and loose with the numbers. He clearly stretched the cost of what a typical vacation would cost, using preset filters to make his live-search of hotel costs serve his point.

He made a big deal about how Bluegreen properties were owned by "nonprofit trusts" of which owners were beneficiaries, implying that we'd only be paying actual maintenance fees rather than an exaggerated number to generate a profit.

But for all the numbers he threw around, he wouldn't mention any specific prices for Bluegreen -- whether it was cost of the points or the maintenance fees -- in the nearly two-hour-long presentation. The lack of transparency on pricing indicated that Bluegreen was likely making individualized offers to sales targets based on our profiles.

The presentation left out other relevant information, too. For example, while Chad often pointed to Bluegreen's partnership with Bass Pro Shops, the outdoor recreation retailer was just 12 days away from ending its partnership with Bluegreen, "unless the Company cures certain alleged breaches to Bass Pro's satisfaction."

The presentation also referenced a Consumer Reports feature about timeshares claiming Consumer Reports said, "Your bucket of points will buy as much in 20 years as it does today," and that, "Eight in 10 timeshare owners said they would happily buy their timeshare again."

While those are exact quotes from the article, Consumer Reports didn't conclude that a "timeshare has a distinct advantage over hotel stays" or that "most timeshare owners would do it again."

The first quote is attributed to Michael Brown, the chief operating officer of Hilton Grand Vacations at the time. The second statement references a study commissioned by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

After a 9-minute-long video full of kids having fun, Elliott launched into the specific benefits for signing up today. One of the more appealing was called Bonus Time, which allows "charter" owners the ability to book any available Bluegreen resort for just $59 for a standard room, up to just $89 for a three-bedroom. He also said we'd be able to access over 150,000 condos across the world from just $269 per week through its RCI partnership.

Comparing the Offers

Elliott wrapped up the presentation around 12:45pm. At this point, Katie and I pushed our salesperson on terms of the benefits: Specifically, how availability worked for the Bonus Time and RCI partnerships.

When we finally got a chance to look at live availability, the Bonus Time perk did seem legitimate, with dozens of properties showing availability. While Elliott said there were no taxes or fees for owners on points stays, that's not the case on Bonus Time properties. Still, there were plenty of one-bedroom options available at $69 per night that increased to under $80 per night all-in.

It wasn't until 2.5 hours into the process that we finally got our first look at the cost of becoming an owner. In Elliott's presentation, he'd listed a variety of point purchase levels starting at 10,000 points per year. So, we asked to see what the purchase price would be for the bottom three packages: 10,000 per year; 15,000 per year; and 20,000 per year.

Our salesperson returned with just one offer at the 20,000 points per year level. The top line price: $48,800. That equates to 2.44 dollars per point, per year, compared to what the salesperson said is the standard price of 3.75 dollars per point, per year. This offer added another $570 of closing costs to finance the purchase and required 20% down. The interest rate for the example was 17.99%.

We said the price was too high and asked about the 10,000 points package. The salesman returned with a more-detailed offer for 10,000 points every other year for $14,520 -- equating to 2.9 dollars per point, per year. This offer listed the maintenance fees as $806 per year.

Looking for another data point, we asked for another offer. He returned with an offer for 7,000 points every other year for $9,910 -- equating to 2.83 dollars per point per year -- with $714 in annual maintenance.

As we prepared to leave, the salesperson added a seven-night cruise for two if we purchased the package.

Overall Impression

I figured the sales presentation would be insufferable, but that it'd be just those two hours we'd have to give up for a cheap vacation. I didn't factor in the hours I'd have to spend on the phone searching for availability, booking, confirming and then reconfirming the stay -- with terms being changed or added along the way.

That said, the sales presentation wasn't as bad as we expected. Elliott was entertaining, and spending most of the time in a group presentation was better than we expected.

We went into the presentation sure that this would be a ripoff and there couldn't possibly be value. But we left the presentation interested in some of the ways we could benefit from the system, whether by staying at properties from Monday through Friday for the cheap points rates or by utilizing the Bonus Time benefit.

However, the purchase price and terms weren't anywhere close to reasonable enough or us to seriously consider buying a package.

Overall, the preview was an enlightening experience about how Bluegreen Vacations timeshares work. And, for those that don't mind spending a bit of time chasing down availability and holding Bluegreen to its terms, a preview package like this could be a way of getting a cheap vacation.

While I don't personally regret doing it, this isn't something for which I'd give a blanket recommendation.

855-338-1069

What is a Timeshare And How Does it Work? - An Insider's Perspective

Dive into "What Is A Timeshare And How Does It Work" with Xtimeshares.com. Uncover timeshare realities and learn to navigate potential pitfalls.

Disclaimer:  Before you talk to any attorney or exit company regarding a timeshare exit, your first step is to contact your resort directly to see if they have an exit program that fits your needs.

Introduction

The allure of owning a vacation home without full-time responsibility is enticing. But "what is a timeshare and how does it work?" and is it right for you? As a leading timeshare exit company, Xtimeshares.com is here to shed light on the realities of timeshare ownership.

The Basics: What is a Timeshare and How Does it Work?

A timeshare is a form of shared property ownership where you can use a vacation property for a specific period each year. But the workings of a timeshare are more complex than they appear.

Decoding the Timeshare Concept

The timeshare concept is simple on the surface - multiple people share the cost and use of a vacation property. But the reality can be far from this idyllic vision, with hidden costs and restrictions often lurking beneath the surface.

Exploring the Different Types of Timeshares

Timeshares come in various forms, each with its rules and potential pitfalls. Deeded timeshares give you a portion of property ownership, while non-deeded timeshares are more like long-term rentals. There are also points-based systems that offer more flexibility but can be more complex to navigate.

Exchange Programs: A Closer Look

Timeshare exchange programs may seem a great way to add variety to your vacations. However, they often come with additional fees and may not offer your expected flexibility.

Weighing the Pros and Cons: What is a Timeshare and How Does it Work?

Timeshares come with a mix of pros and cons. But as a timeshare exit company, we've seen firsthand how the cons can outweigh the pros for many timeshare owners.

Potential Benefits of Timeshares

Timeshares can offer a guaranteed vacation spot and potential savings over traditional hotel stays. However, these benefits often come with strings attached.

The Hidden Drawbacks of Timeshares

The drawbacks of timeshares can be significant. From escalating maintenance fees to a lack of flexibility and resale difficulties, the dream of timeshare ownership can quickly turn into a nightmare.

The Real Costs of Timeshares

The true cost of a timeshare goes beyond the initial purchase price. It's crucial to understand these ongoing costs before you commit.

Beyond the Initial Purchase Price

The initial purchase price of a timeshare can be substantial, and it's just the beginning. You'll also need to factor in the ongoing costs.

Maintenance Fees and More: The Ongoing Costs of Timeshares

Maintenance fees are an annual cost that can increase each year. Whether you use your timeshare or not, these fees are obligatory and can turn your vacation dream into a financial burden. Additionally, there may be special assessment fees for unexpected repairs or improvements.

The Hidden Costs of Exchange Programs

If you decide to use an exchange program, you'll typically face additional fees. These can add up and make your timeshare less cost-effective than you initially thought.

Navigating the Timeshare Buying Process

Buying a timeshare is a significant decision. But it's important to remember that the sales process is designed to benefit the timeshare company, not the buyer.

Choosing the Right Timeshare for You

Choosing the right timeshare can be a complex process. It's important to research and not be swayed by high-pressure sales tactics.

The Reality Behind Timeshare Presentations

Timeshare presentations can be persuasive but often gloss over the potential downsides of timeshare ownership. It's important to take any promises made with a grain of salt.

The Risks and Rewards of Timeshare Resales

Timeshare resales can seem like a bargain, but they come with their own set of risks. And remember, a cheap timeshare can still result in high ongoing costs.

Exiting a Timeshare: Understanding 'What is a Timeshare and How Does it Work?

Exiting can be complex and stressful if a timeshare isn't right for you. That's where Xtimeshares.com comes in.

The Challenges of Selling Your Timeshare

Selling a timeshare can be challenging due to the oversaturated resale market. It's often difficult to recoup your initial investment, let alone the cost of ongoing fees.

How Timeshare Exit Companies Can Help

Timeshare exit companies like Xtimeshares.com can help you navigate the exit process. We offer free consultations, contract reviews, and a 100% money-back guarantee if we can't get you out of your contract.

The Complexities of Donating Your Timeshare

Donating a timeshare may seem like a good option, but it's not always straightforward. Not all charities accept timeshares, and there may be tax implications to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

• "What is a timeshare and how does it work?" A timeshare is a form of shared property ownership where you can use a vacation property for a specific period each year. However, the reality of timeshare ownership can be complex and costly.
• Are timeshares a good investment? Timeshares are typically not a good financial investment. They come with high ongoing costs and can be difficult to sell.
• What are the costs associated with timeshares? Costs include the initial purchase price, annual maintenance fees, and exchange fees if you use an exchange program.
• Can you make money from a timeshare? Making money from a timeshare is unlikely due to the oversaturated resale market and high ongoing costs.
• How can I exit a timeshare? Exiting a timeshare can be complex. Options include selling it, using a timeshare exit company like Xtimeshares.com, or donating it to a charity.
• What are timeshare exit companies? Timeshare exit companies assist owners in exiting their timeshare contracts. Xtimeshares.com offers free consultations and a 100% money-back guarantee.

Understanding "what a timeshare is and how it works" is crucial before committing to this vacation ownership type. As a leading timeshare exit company, Xtimeshares.com is here to help you navigate the potential pitfalls of timeshare ownership and provide a way out if you find it's not right for you.

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Gain insights into timeshare exit strategies and learn how to choose the best course of action for your unique situation with the help of XTimeshares.

How to Cancel a Landex Resorts International, Inc. Timeshare

Learn how to cancel your Landex Resorts International timeshare ownership with expert assistance and step-by-step guidance provided by XTimeshares.

Why Do People Cancel Their Timeshare: A Comprehensive Insight

Explore reasons that drive timeshare owners to cancel their contracts, and how XTimeshares offers expert assistance in navigating the cancellation process.

How to Cancel a Global Exchange Vacation Club Timeshare

Explore the essential steps required to cancel your Global Exchange Vacation Club timeshare, with expert guidance and support from XTimeshares.

Timeshare Resales vs Cancellation: Which is a Better Option?

Uncover the pros and cons of timeshare resales and cancellation to make an informed decision about which option is best suited for your unique situation.

Mexican Drug Cartels On Timeshare Owners: The Emerging Threat

Facing an unprecedented threat, timeshare owners are now the targets of Mexican drug cartels exploiting their investments. This article sheds light on the sophisticated scams endangering financial stability and underscores the importance of vigilance and informed exit strategies.

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Timeshare: What It Is, How It Works, Types of Ownership

Investopedia / Laura Porter

A timeshare is a collective model of vacation real estate in which multiple buyers own or lease allotments of usage, typically in one-week increments, for the same property. The timeshare model is used for many different properties, with units offered in vacation resorts, condominiums, apartments, and campgrounds.

Key Takeaways

• A timeshare represents distributed ownership or leasing of vacation property where multiple buyers have exclusive use of a property for a period of time.
• Timeshares are available for many kinds of vacation properties, such as resorts, condominiums, and apartments.
• Timeshares are for periods that are fixed (the buyer has specific dates each year) or floating (use of the property is limited to a season during which it can be reserved, typically on a first-come, first-served basis).
• Benefits include vacationing in a professionally managed resort in a predictable setting.
• Drawbacks include a lack of flexibility in making changes, annual maintenance fees, and difficulty reselling one.
• Scams abound in parts of the industry, especially in the secondary market where owners are attempting to sell or rent their timeshares.

Shared-deeded timeshares are a form of  fractional ownership , where buyers purchase the right to occupy a unit of real estate over specified periods. For example, purchasing one week of a timeshare means the buyer owns one-fifty-second of the unit. Buying one month equates to one-twelfth ownership. Shared-lease timeshares offer much the same availability but expire after a certain time, cannot be resold, and do not represent an ownership interest.

Timeshares are popular in vacation locales where owners may want repeated use of a property without the cost of full ownership. Timeshare properties include homes, condominiums, and resorts. The timeshare model has also been used for recreational vehicles and private jets. 

In 2023, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the main trade group for the timeshare sector, said there were 1,541 timeshare resorts in the U.S., with 201,600 units. The average timeshare transaction had a price of $23,940.

Timeshares confer upon its buyer the right to annual exclusive use of a vacation property for a defined period, generally measured in one-week increments. Timeshares typically follow one of these models:

Fixed Terms

A fixed-period timeshare gives a timeshare buyer the right to exclusively use the property for a specific week or weeks each year. The main advantage is that the buyer can plan an annual vacation at the same time every year. The flip side of the coin is that it may be very difficult to change the dates for the fixed period if work or school schedules change.

Floating Timeshares

A floating-period timeshare gives exclusive use of the property for a week or weeks during preset dates or throughout the year. While it is more flexible than the fixed-period system, the floating date model could mean the specific dates you need are already booked, e.g., during the busiest times of the year, and may need to be reserved well in advance.

This system adopts points to represent timeshare use. Just as the cost of booking a hotel is going to depend on the resort location, size of the vacation unit, and dates, the points vary similarly, though they are usable for one or more resort properties. Those who own points can use them on exchanges either within one company's own resorts (internal exchange) or with other resorts as well (external exchange). While the points system provides buyers with increased vacation choices, there can be vast differences in the properties and across times of the year for how far your points can go.

Timeshares are typically structured as shared deed or shared lease.

Shared-Deeded Ownership

Shared-deeded ownership gives you a percentage of the physical property corresponding to the period bought. For example, one resort condo sold in timeshare increments of one week can technically have 52 total deeds. Buying one week would confer a one-fifty-second ownership interest in the unit, while two weeks would give you a one-twenty-sixth interest, and so forth. Shared-deeded ownership interest is ordinarily held in perpetuity and can be resold or willed to other parties.

Shared-Lease

Shared-lease timeshares give you the use of a specific property for a fixed or floating period each year for a certain number of years. In this structure, the timeshare developer retains the deed to the property, unlike the shared-deeded model, where the buyer gets the deed for a fraction of the property. Property transfers or resales are also more restrictive than with a deeded timeshare. As a result, leased timeshares typically have a lower value than a deeded timeshare.

Holding a leased timeshare does not afford fractional ownership of the underlying property. According to the ARDA, fractional ownership is more typical in the luxury segment of vacation properties, offering more services and amenities.

According to the ARDA, over 205,000 timeshare units were sold in the United States in 2020. The industry generated $4.9 billion of sales from its 1,570 U.S. resorts with 7 million total nights rented during the year.

Are timeshares even relevant in a sharing economy where Airbnb is such a prominent company? However much Airbnb has changed how people rent vacation spaces, it has not stopped the growth in the timeshare sector. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, annual timeshare revenue growth increased 10 consecutive years, picking right back up again in 2022.

Timeshares and Airbnb have specific attributes that appeal to two divergent demographics. The main appeal of Airbnb and other home-sharing sites is in their flexibility and ability to offer unique experiences—attributes said to be more cherished by millennials.

The downside, as regular Airbnb renters attest, is that the quality of accommodation is not always guaranteed, and there's a possibility that the haven you thought you were booking is actually a hotel. In addition, because most Airbnb rentals are residential, the amenities and services found in timeshares may be unavailable.

Timeshares typically offer predictability, comfort, and many amenities and activities—all at a price.

Many timeshare companies allow owners to “exchange” their timeshare location with another one to provide more flexibility for owners among several destinations.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Timeshares

Familiar location every year without any unpleasant surprises

Resort-like amenities and services

Avoids the hassle of booking a new vacation each year

Ongoing costs can be significant

Little flexibility when changing weeks or the contract

Timeshares are difficult to resell

Aggressive marketing practices

Although timeshares are not for everyone, they have some advantages for those looking for a vacation spot that's convenient and reliable. However, there are some distinct disadvantages that investors should consider before entering into a timeshare agreement.

Most timeshares are owned by large corporations in desirable vacation locations. Timeshare buyers have the peace of mind of knowing that they can vacation in a familiar location every year without any unpleasant surprises.

Timeshare properties usually have resort-like amenities and services and are professionally managed. Compared with a typical hotel room, a timeshare property is likely to be significantly larger and have more features, enabling a more comfortable stay.

Timeshares may thus be suitable for people who prefer vacationing in a predictable setting every year, without the hassle of venturing into the unknown regarding their next vacation.

Disadvantages

The drawbacks of a timeshare are that the ongoing costs can be significant, after factoring in the substantial upfront payment and annual maintenance fees, with the latter generally trending higher on a percentage basis year after year. For a deeded timeshare, the owner also has to pay a proportionate share of the monthly mortgage. As a result, the all-in costs of owning a timeshare may be pretty high compared with staying for a week in a comparable resort or hotel in the same location without owning a timeshare.

There is also little flexibility to change a fixed week timeshare; a floating week has to be reserved well in advance as confirmation is generally on a first-come-first-served basis, and even so, might be unavailable during the busiest times of the year. In addition, a timeshare contract is binding; the owner cannot simply walk away from a timeshare contract because there is a change in their financial or personal circumstances.

It is notoriously difficult to resell a timeshare—assuming the contract allows for resale in the first place—and this lack of liquidity may deter a prospective investor. A timeshare resale may fetch a much lower price than the initial cost for two reasons: timeshares tend to depreciate quickly, and there is a mismatch in supply and demand due to the number of timeshare owners looking to exit their contracts.

The timeshare industry is infamous for its aggressive marketing practices. Many timeshare purchases are impulsive, made by consumers swayed by slick marketing and tall promises.

For example, Las Vegas has many timeshare marketers tempting the city's visitors to listen to an off-site timeshare presentation. In exchange for listening to their pitch, they offer incentives, such as free event tickets and complimentary hotel accommodations. The salespeople work for property developers and frequently employ high-pressure sales approaches designed to turn “nays” into “yeas.”

The prices developers charge are significantly more than what a buyer could realize in the secondary market , with the developer surplus paying commissions and marketing costs. Timeshare marketers may also frequently conceal the actual cost of timeshare ownership and exaggerate its potential benefits. Because the timeshare market is rife with gray areas and questionable business practices, it is vital that prospective timeshare buyers conduct due diligence before executing any contract.

Timeshares typically become available for rent when the owner does not need the unit during a specific period of time. Owners list their timeshares for rent on sites like Trip Advisor, Timeshare Users Group, and Redweek. On these sites, you can search for your rental by location, size, dates, and price. There are also specialized timeshare rental sites for Disney, Hilton, and Hyatt. Renting a timeshare is a good way to try one out before you make a longer-term purchase.

Another downside of timeshares, beyond the experience of marketers' intense sales pitches, is that scams have been found across the U.S., and indeed internationally, as state attorneys general, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and several American consulates abroad have issued warnings about the particular timeshare scams endemic to their areas. As part of their cons, scammers have even represented themselves as from the industry's main trade group, the ARDA.

Timeshare frauds typically revolve around the sale, resale, or exit strategies for timeshare agreements—the difficulty of selling timeshares you own is the opening scammers need. Here are some of the methods con artists have employed (“owner” is used loosely below for both those involved in leases and in shared-deed timeshares to avoid confusion with fraudulent "buyers"):

• High-pressure sales tactics : It's typical during an initial timeshare presentation for potential owners to face high-pressure sales tactics, but overblown and misleading promises and misrepresentation of the contract terms are another matter and are illegal forms of fraud.
• Resale scams : This is the most commonly cited fraud by attorneys generals: scammers target timeshare owners wanting to sell. The scammers promise to find buyers quickly, often asking for upfront fees, but never sell anything.
• Rental scams : As in the resale scams, fraudsters claim they can rent out the owner's timeshare for a lucrative price, requiring an upfront fee for this service, but renters for the timeshare never appear.
• Exit or cancellation Scams: Another fraud targeting owners who want out of their timeshares involves offering legal services to cancel the timeshare contract for an upfront fee. The fee is collected, but the contract remains.
• Phony buyers : The owner is contacted by someone claiming to want to buy the timeshare for themselves or another very interested buyer. They mention an attractive price, but the owner will have to pay some fees upfront, after which the supposed “buyer” disappears.
• Maintenance fee or assessment scams : Owners are again contacted and told that a special assessment or an increased maintenance fee is due and requires immediate payment. The fraudster, however, does not represent the timeshare firm involved in the original sale.
• Upgrade or trade-in scams : Timeshare owners are offered an opportunity to get out of their current timeshare for a better unit or location. These, of course, require upfront fees and other unnecessary expenses.

A criminal case prosecuted in Georgia shows how these scams usually take shape. In October 2023, partners in a decade-old timeshare scam were sentenced in a scheme that went back more than a decade. From 2012 to 2016, Jess Kinmont and John P. Wenz, Jr. ran Pro Timeshare Resales, where they employed telemarketers using scripted dialogues to defraud timeshare owners. The scripts falsely claimed the company had immediate buyers or renters for the timeshare owner's property. Despite their promises of quick sales while giving specific dates for closing deals, Kinmont and Wenz never sold or rented any timeshare interests during the five years the business ran.

The duo charged owners up to $2,500 upfront and then persuaded many to pay extra for supposed closing costs or other fees related to these nonexistent transactions. Requests for refunds from consumers were denied or ignored. Ultimately, Kinmont and Wenz swindled over 8,000 people across the U.S.

How Do You Get Out of a Timeshare Contract?

Depending on your contract, there are usually three ways to get rid of your timeshare. The first is to sell your timeshare to somebody else, although this is almost guaranteed to be a financial loss if you bought your timeshare new. The second is to negotiate with the timeshare company to break the contract. But this will likely incur additional fees. Finally, if your contract has a “cooling-off” or rescission period and you are still within it, you may be able to return your contract without penalty. It would be prudent to seek advice from a lawyer specializing in timeshares to review your contract terms. If all else fails, you can try to gift your timeshare to a friend or family member willing to pick up the ongoing maintenance costs.

How Do You Sell a Timeshare?

If you own a timeshare and want to sell it, there are several websites that you can use to list yours. You can also seek out a timeshare broker to help find a new buyer. The resale price of a timeshare is almost always a great deal lower than the initial purchase price.

How Do I Find Out What My Timeshare Is Worth?

Timeshares have values that depend on size and amenities, location, and how easy it is to swap or exchange your location for others. Your timeshare's value is determined by comparing the offered prices of similar timeshares advertised for sale or rented on several online platforms.

How Can I Buy a Timeshare Cheaply?

Buying a “secondhand” timeshare will typically be the most cost-effective route. Be sure to pay attention to ongoing fees and costs such as maintenance and change fees in addition to the purchase price. Also, be sure to avoid the scam artists too easy to find in the secondary market.

How Do I Get Rid of My Timeshare Without Ruining My Credit?

If you simply stop paying your timeshare fees, the timeshare firm can report this delinquency to credit agencies, and you'll have a major ding on your credit score. If you can no longer afford the timeshare, you should sell it or renegotiate your contract with the timeshare company to preserve your credit.

Timeshares allow individuals and families to buy the right to use a property for a specific time each year. While they appeal to many regular vacationers, timeshares also have notable downsides, including ongoing maintenance fees, inflexibility with dates and locations, and potential difficulties in resale or cancellation. The timeshare market is rife with scam artists, particularly in the resale and exit sectors, which require caution and thorough research from owners and potential buyers.

Federal Trade Commission. " Timeshares, Vacation Rentals, and Related Scams ."

American Resort Development Association. " US Timeshare Industry: By the Numbers ."

American Resort Development Association. " Timeshare Terminology ."

American Resort Development Association. " State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2021 ."

American Association of Retired People. " How Timeshare Exit Scams Work – and How to Avoid Them ."

U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Mexico. " Real Estate and Timeshares: Fraud Typology ."

American Resort Development Association. " Warning Signs of Timeshare Scams: Protect Yourself and Your Investment ."

U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia. " Owners of Timeshare Resale Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Over 8,000 Victims Out of $18 Million ."

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What is Eid al-Fitr? 6 questions about the holiday and how Muslims celebrate it, answered

By Ken Chitwood

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 8:03 AM EDT / The Conversation

Ken Chitwood  is a senior research fellow, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and journalist-fellow at the Dornsife Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the  University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences .

Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's principal festivals, will be celebrated April 9, 2024, according to the Fiqh Council of North America . At the middle of June, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of global Islam, explains the two Islamic festivals.

1. What is Eid?

Eid literally means a "festival" or "feast" in Arabic. There are two major eids in the Islamic calendar per year – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year and Eid al-Adha later.

Eid al-Fitr is a three-day-long festival and is known as the "Lesser" or "Smaller Eid" when compared to Eid al-Adha, which is four days long and is known as the "Greater Eid."

2. Why is Eid celebrated twice a year?

The two Eids recognize, celebrate and recall two distinct events that are significant to the story of Islam.

Eid al-Fitr means "the feast of breaking the fast." The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan , which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month.

3. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr features two to three days of celebrations that include special morning prayers. People greet each other with "Eid Mubarak," meaning "Blessed Eid" and with formal embraces. Sweet dishes are prepared at home and gifts are given to children and to those in need. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. Practices vary from country to country.

In many countries with large Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is a national holiday. Schools, offices and businesses are closed so family, friends and neighbors can enjoy the celebrations together. In the U.S. and the U.K., Muslims may request to have the day off from school or work to travel or celebrate with family and friends.

In countries like Egypt and Pakistan, Muslims decorate their homes with lanterns, twinkling lights or flowers. Special food is prepared and friends and family are invited over to celebrate.

In places like Jordan, with its Muslim majority population, the days before Eid al-Fitr can see a rush at local malls and special "Ramadan markets" as people prepare to exchange gifts on Eid al-Fitr.

In Turkey and in places that were once part of the Ottoman-Turkish empire such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, it is also known as the, "Lesser Bayram" or "festival" in Turkish.

4. How do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha?

The other festival, Eid al-Adha, is the "feast of the sacrifice." It comes at the end of the Hajj , an annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is obligatory once in a lifetime, but only for those with means.

Eid al-Adha recalls the story of how God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of faith. The story, as narrated in the Quran, describes Satan's attempt to tempt Ibrahim so he would disobey God's command. Ibrahim, however, remains unmoved and informs Ismail, who is willing to be sacrificed.

But, just as Ibrahim attempts to kill his son, God intervenes and a ram is sacrificed in place of Ismail. During Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal to remember Ibrahim's sacrifice and remind themselves of the need to submit to the will of God.

5. When are they celebrated?

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the final month in the Islamic calendar.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and dates are calculated based on lunar phases. Since the Islamic calendar year is shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar year by 10 to 12 days, the dates for Ramadan and Eid on the Gregorian calendar can vary year by year.

6. What is the spiritual meaning of Eid al-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr, as it follows the fasting of Ramadan, is also seen as a spiritual celebration of Allah's provision of strength and endurance.

Amid the reflection and rejoicing, Eid al-Fitr is a time for charity, known as Zakat al-Fitr. Eid is meant to be a time of joy and blessing for the entire Muslim community and a time for distributing one's wealth.

Charity to the poor is a highly emphasized value in Islam. The Quran says ,

"Believe in Allah and his messenger, and give charity out of the (substance) that Allah has made you heirs of. For those of you who believe and give charity – for them is a great reward."

This piece incorporates materials from an article first published on Aug. 28, 2017. The dates have been updated. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Threshold Raccoon

Description.

Threshold signatures improve both availability and security of digital signatures by splitting the signing key into \(N\) shares handed out to different parties. Later on, any subset of at least \(T\) parties can cooperate to produce a signature on a given message. While threshold signatures have been extensively studied in the pre-quantum setting, they remain sparse from quantum-resilient assumptions.

In this work, we show that the Raccoon signature scheme can be easily thresholdized. More precisely, we present Threshold Raccoon, a threshold signature that is very close to Raccoon. Our scheme has signature size 13 KiB and communication cost 40 KiB per user, supporting a threshold size as large as 1024 signers.

All operations used during signing are due to symmetric primitives and simple lattice operations; in particular our scheme does not need heavy tools such as threshold fully homomorphic encryption or homomorphic trapdoor commitments as in prior constructions. Our key technical idea is to use one-time additive masks to mitigate the leakage of the partial signing keys through partial signatures.

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5th PQC Standardization Conference (2024) [in-person]

Event Details

Fifth PQC Standardization Conference

Related Topics

Security and Privacy: post-quantum cryptography

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How to Be a Real Estate Agent

A career in real estate can provide you with opportunities to set your own schedule and work autonomously. Learn more about how to be a real estate agent, including the job and salary outlook, to determine if it’s a path you want to pursue.

Working in real estate as a real estate agent gives you a flexible career, with the option to work alone or as part of a team and on your own schedule, rather than being tied to an office and working nine to five. These benefits make it a popular career choice that can provide an above-average salary and excellent bonuses.

Depending on the type of real estate you choose, state licensing rules, and your background, you can start your career in real estate in various ways. Let’s explore the career further and some of your options when considering how to be a real estate agent.

What is real estate?

Real estate is any form of property attached to land that you can legally purchase and own. It can refer to your home, a commercial property such as an office or store, or industrial property like a warehouse. It’s an expansive, growing sector that plays a critical role in the economy, generating substantial income and employing many people. Data from Grand View Research projects that the global real estate market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2 percent through 2030 [ 11 ]. In the United States, the brokerage industry alone will be worth more than $200 billion in 2023, with more than 1.5 million realtors working in the country [ 12 ].

Different types of real estate

Real estate agent roles vary according to the type of real estate you work with. Each comes with its own regulations and licensing requirements.

Residential real estate refers to properties designed for people to live in. It may be your own house or a residential property that you buy and sell to make a profit.

Commercial real estate refers to any property and land used for business purposes, such as offices, stores, and leisure facilities, which someone owns or leases to generate income. 

Industrial real estate refers to properties, including buildings and land, that tenants use for industrial purposes, such as factories and manufacturing plants.

Land includes vacant land and also land with underdeveloped properties.

What does a real estate agent do?

Real estate agents help clients to find, buy, sell, or rent their ideal property. Real estate agents work for a brokerage unless they have a license to run their own real estate business. A typical list of responsibilities of a real estate agent includes:

Value properties for clients

Inspect properties and advise clients on how to improve property value

List properties for sale

Market properties to clients through open-house events

Advertise properties for sale through websites, social media, and relevant groups

Prepare relevant paperwork for sales or leases

Support clients in their property search

Determine clients’ financial status and refer them to suitable mortgage brokers

Salary and job outlook

Real estate agents usually receive a basic salary, with the majority of income commission-based. The more properties sold and the higher the prices, the more you make, as this is usually calculated on a percentage of the sale value. The median annual salary for a real estate agent is  $56,224.69, according to Lightcast™[1]. This figure aligns with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which calculates the median annual salary as $61,890 [ 2 ]. Additionally, it’s notable that this career has an average job outlook, with 3 percent growth anticipated through 2032 [ 3 ].

How to be a real estate agent

You can pursue several paths to building your career as a real estate agent, depending on where you are, your existing skills and experience that will help you pass exams to gain your real estate license, and whether you have money to invest in setting yourself up. Given the variability of all factors at play, the time it takes to become a real estate agent does not follow a set time scale.

Consider taking the steps listed below.

1. Research your state's licensing and education requirements.

Real estate agents cannot practice without a license, so this step is an essential starting point to becoming a real estate agent. Each state has its own licensing requirements for age, education, exams, and fees.

2. Take courses to prepare for the license.

States typically require a minimum of a high school diploma and state-accredited real estate courses as a preliminary to applying for a license. The number of expected course hours can vary according to the state but typically range from 40 to 168 hours. You can take accredited courses in colleges, specialty schools, and online.

3. Earn your real estate license.

To earn your real estate license, you need to pass an exam. Again, the exam varies from state to state regarding the number of questions and what is covered, but most follow a multiple-choice format. A real estate license exam costs between $100 and $300 [ 4 ]. In total, including taking relevant courses, you can expect to spend between $500 and $1200 [ 5 ].

4. Join a brokerage.

Real estate agents must act on behalf of a brokerage to work, so selecting the right one for you is essential. Start by searching all those operating in your area, then narrow the search according to reputation. Brokers will offer different terms, such as educational opportunities, coaching, support, and differences in fees and commissions.

5. Network and market yourself.

Even when you join a brokerage, you'll still handle your own sales and marketing. You operate as your own business, making developing your skills in this area essential. Think about building a social media profile and portfolio, networking online and in person with real estate professionals, mortgage brokers, and builders, and developing a system to keep track of leads generated.

Ideally, you’ll set up a website and develop a brand for your marketing. It should keep your target customers and their needs in mind, so it helps to do this after spending time getting to know your market and how you can best serve it.

Real estate agent skills

To be successful in real estate, you must learn and develop a robust set of skills. Some of the essential workplace and technical skills you need include:

Customer service

Communication

Active listening 

Negotiation

Tactfulness

Local expertise

Market analysis

Digital technology

Client management

Real estate agent career path

You may pursue several careers in real estate, so once you’ve built up the skills and experience, you may move up or laterally to other areas. As a real estate agent, you also have options to find a niche, such as focusing on residential sales or picking an area within commercial real estate.

Other positions in the real estate industry and their base salaries according to October 2023 data include:

Leasing agent : $40,696 [ 6 ]

Property manager : $53,076 [ 7 ]

Property developer : $95,978 [ 8 ]

Real estate director : $156,978 [ 9 ]

Real estate broker : $101,753 [ 10 ]

Does this sound like a career you want to pursue? To determine if it is right for you, consider taking an online course to understand more about the technology involved. For example, you might explore some of the latest real estate tech with Application AI, InsurTech, and Real Estate Technology delivered by Wharton Online. You can also brush up on some essential workplace skills by taking Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills from the University of Michigan—both available on Coursera.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to become a real estate agent ‎.

The time frame for becoming a real estate agent varies from state to state and can take anywhere from one to three years. ‎

How much can I make after getting my real estate license? ‎

Real estate agents earn a median salary of roughly $61,000, but also make commissions on sales. What you can expect will vary according to how many properties you sell and the value of those properties. ‎

Article sources

Lightcast™ Analyst. “Occupation Summary for Real Estate Agent.” Accessed  October 4, 2023.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Occupational Outlook Handbook: Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents , https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm#tab-5.” Accessed  October 4, 2023.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Occupational Outlook Handbook: Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents , https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm#tab-6.” Accessed  October 4, 2023.

Champions School of Real Estate. “ How Much Does a Real Estate License Cost , https://www.championsschool.com/resources/career-hub/real-estate-license-cost-national/.” Accessed  October 4, 2023. 

Hubspot. “ How to Get a Real Estate Licence in 8 Steps , https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/how-to-get-a-real-estate-license?hubs_content=blog.hubspot.com.” Accessed  October 4, 2023.

Glassdoor. “ How Much Does a Leasing Agent Make? , https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/leasing-agent-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm.” Accessed October 4, 2023. 

Glassdoor. “ How Much Does a Property Manager Make? , https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/property-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm.” Accessed October 4, 2023.

Glassdoor. “ How Much Does a Property Developer Make? , https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/property-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm.” Accessed October 4, 2023.

Glassdoor. “ How Much Does a Director of Real Estate Make? , https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-director-of-real-estate-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,26.htm.” Accessed October 4, 2023.

Glassdoor. “ How Much Does a Real Estate Broker Make? , https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/real-estate-broker-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm.” Accessed October 4, 2023.

Grand View Research. “ Real Estate Market Size and Trends Report, 2022-2030 , https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/real-estate-market.” Accessed October 4, 2023.

Zippia. “35 Jaw-Dropping US Real Estate Statistics 2023, https://www.zippia.com/advice/real-estate-statistics/ .” Accessed October 4, 2023.

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