Timeshare Vacations For Dummies (Dummies Travel)

• Questions to ask yourself
• Questions to ask timeshare sales representatives
• An overview of the types of timeshare ownership
• An update on variations on traditional timeshare vacations
• Financing, maintenance fees, assessments, and other economic considerations

Like every For Dummies travel guide, Timeshare vacations For Dummies includes:

• Down-to-earth trip-planning advice
• What to look for—and what to look out for
• Which options best fit your budget and your vacation style

Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

A very deceptive book. Avoid!, 2008-03-24
I've read several For Dummies books in the past and found them useful, but I think the editors got "taken in" by the author of this very misleading book. What purports to be a book benefiting the consumer is, in fact, a thinly veiled advancement of the very worst self-interested ideas of resort developers and retail timeshare salespeople (of which the author of this book is one). Her conflict of interest jumps out all over the place. Let me give you two specific examples to show why this book must be avoided by anyone thinking of buying a timeshare intelligently.

First, savvy timeshare owners know that you should virtually never buy a timeshare new, as they trade at discounts of 60 per cent or more in the (large) resale market. Nowhere in the book does the author mention that as much as 60 per cent of the cost of a "new" timeshare interval is the developer's marketing costs (all those free theme park tickets, etc.), so if you sell your timeshare you stand to lose a lot of money. Whenever this author mentions resales, it's usually to say something negative. Instead, she offers this howler from page 181: "Timeshares can and do increase in value," she writes, "however, but inflation may negate any gains you make."

Second (and this is not an innocent mistake on the part of the author), on page 135 she tells readers that if they buy at a "standard" resort they can't ever exchange into a more upscale (five-star, gold crown, etc.) resort. "You can always trade down," she writes, "but you cannot trade up." Say what? That is a complete falsehood, and is just what sleazy salespeople say to get people to overpay for fancy timeshares. I own two weeks at "standard" resorts and exchange them all the time into top-rated 5-star places like Sheraton's Vistana or the Star Island resort in Orlando.

The For Dummies people have accomplished nothing with this book other than to allow this timeshare salesperson and consultant to appear more credible by becoming a published author. Readers should run, not walk, from this misleading effort.



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

timeshare .......should I.......shouldn't I, 2008-02-11
Having read the book, as well as knowing Lisa, I can assure you Lisa was not a good salesperson, therefore neither is the book. The question at hand really is......Do I want to vacation and is it important to yourself and family. If you want to vacation, it can be a good deal, if u use it, as an owner for over 20 years. On the other hand if u need to subsidize the cost of your vacations by taking tours for a gift, ownership is not within your realm. Simply don't take a tour, easy solution. People in the timeshare business are like any business, most are a good lot, if u have an open mind and can afford the product, look at it. If u can't supply those conditions stay away and save yourself the aggravation. Like any informed buyer, determine what you need, condos, hotels, length of stay, location etc. Be an informed buyer.


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Excellent Resource!, 2008-02-08
Fantastic resource for anyone interested in purchasing a timeshare. Good information (although a bit dated) and excellent resources are listed for more up-to-date info.


5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Steve, Venice, Florida, 2007-09-06
It always fascinates me to see how interpretations of the same literature can vary so radically. I too have purchase and read this "Dummies" book. I must emphasize "Dummies" book. In my opinion, Ms Schreier has done exactly what you might expect. She has offered a basic, statistical observation of timeshare that is easily understood by the novice. Lots of information and a thorough explanation of pros and cons of the industry. In fact, I might also add that in my opinion, she has spoken from both sides of the table.....from the salesperson's perspective and equally so from the purchaser's perspective. Hats off to Lisa Anne....a job well done.....nothing boring or dry, just an honest quick reading piece of research that all should benefit from.

For those that are looking for a more in depth study on the subject, this may not be for you however for the rest of us this is a great read.

As for the fellow that seems to be promoting himself and boasting his 25 years of experience in the business....what can be said? Rather than telling publishers of your greatness and using this book as your platform as how not to do it, perhaps you should find a better source of promotion like direct contact and aggressiveness in that direction.


3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

A very good reference, 2007-08-23
This is a very good reference, although it is biased in favor of timeshares because the author sells timeshares. If anyone wants to learn about timeshares outside of a sales presentation, this is a good way to do it.

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