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Live In Resorts/Chalets/Hotels
Proceed with caution!
Time-Share resorts sometimes offer free lodging to potential buyers in exchange for their attendance at a presentation about properties the developer has for sale.
You may be offered a vacation certificate by telephone, in the mail, or on the Internet. Offers vary, but they are often for a three day, two night stay at the resort itself or a nearby hotel.
Before You Accept a Vacation Offer
Contact your local Better Business Bureau for a reliability report about the company.
Make sure you meet all of the guidelines listed in the offer's Terms and Conditions.
Determine exactly what you are required to pay for.
Get a copy of the state's Time-Share laws. If the resort cannot provide them, request a copy from the state Real Estate Commission.
Ask if you must stay during specific days of the week, and if reservations are firm. Verify cancellation rules, too.
Find out when (or if) the company will return your deposit.
Is free transportation to and from the resort included?
Will you stay at the time-share resort or at a local hotel? Is loging free? Are taxes included? Will the resort provide free transportion from the hotel to the resort?
Don't Be Scammed
You may be promised free airfare to your destination, but when you arrive you find lodging is billed at a higher than normal rate.
You might have free lodging, but higher airfares.
Question everything, read the fine print, and remember that it's usually not realistic to believe you are getting a totally free vacation.
The Bottom Line
If you are truly interested in the property being offered, the free lodging probably isn't a bad deal. If you're just going because it's free, think carefully before you accept, especially if you discover hidden costs.
Is there someplace else you'd rather go? Chances are you'll have a better time at a destination of your choice, even if it does end up costing a little more.
If you find a Time-Share resort that appeals to you, e-mail or call to ask about free time. Resorts sometimes offer unadvertised free or reduced-price stays for potential buyers.
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