What I have done with mine is to give whoever is going to used the week my contract number, the direct line to the booking office and let them make the arrangments themselves. So really no more risk than would be associated with booking through a travel agent in my opinion. the only thing I see is a copy of the confirmation which has no details such as credit card numbers etc. so that I know one of my weeks has been used. Yes you do have to sit through the pitch but let them make their offer to you, look them in the eye, say thank you but no thank you, wish them a good day and move on. After all they are bound by law in Mexico to leave you alone once they have had the opportunity to talk to you. Most of the pressure people feel is really self induced.
So can someone clarify whether the timeshare owner has to be there or not to get the week as a premium member? We would totally do this if we get the white bracelet and all the premium perks. I am just hearing mixed messages on whether the 'gift' weeks come with premium perks or if you are just there like a normal guest and have to sit through the timeshare thing. I am fine paying the AI fee and sitting through the timeshare thing if we get the white bracelet - but would not book that way otherwise. Is the AI fee different for premium vs. regular? I see people selling their weeks online for $250-$5000, and some of the cheaper ones say it come with the perks and others don't. Would be nice for a sticky on the forum with the general rules and costs of doing this - how far in advance you can book, and how to know if the weeks you are buying are for sure coming with the premium bracelet. The next time we go, we want to do this if we get the premium package.
I guess it would, high season\low season right? How do you know when a good time to go is? I have always gone to Cancun in November or February, switched to Feb after my first November as its warmer then.
I would have to agree with all of this, so many questions. I cant see people selling it online for 5000 bucks unless its a transfer of ownership. If you can even do such a thing. 500 is also a little steep in my opinion. You still have to put out for all the other stuff. Like I said its the same price for us in this case. Without the perks. So if there is no premium and your a regular member there is no benefit for the most part. Now If you can pay AI for premium it might be worth it..... Oh one more thing, is it AI for one person per day at 14x bucks? That will change my origional costs, up by about 1000 bucks, in this case is so not worth it.
In looking at the math again, this is not worth it from edmonton in feb. Here is an example. For 2 people we paid 3800, all in, tax, airfare, AI room etc etc. Feb 18-25 Time share week AI fee 140x *2 = 2000 Airfare for 2 adults 2600 return. Transfer to and from hotel 100 4700, so were already 1000 over, not including said money for time share weeks. Thoughts and opinions?
For a referral week you get the perks and bracelet, but you do have to sit through the presentation. The rule of thumb from what I can tell is take a look at what the hotel charges directly and cut 25% off that price to see what the cost would be. those weeks typically no one would charge for as the owner gets a $250 kickback for you booking. Also a referral week is one that the owner can't use. they are meant for giving out to people to come to the resort. Those with older contracts, or selling the weeks that they won't use in their contracts, are likely selling that week to you and keeping a profit for themselves. Say the room goes for $2500 through a travel site, but a member knows it only costs them $1500. If they aren't going to use that time themselves why not sell it for $2000, make the reservation under person X's name and pocket an easy $500. In that scenario you wouldn't have to sit through the presentation but get all the benefits. There is no one exact way to use the system, but the two ways I identified above are probably the most common. Hope that helps a little bit!
Except for Xmas and NYE i think the AI rates are pretty fixed, so if you go in high season you can get a good deal, whereof ive heard of people getting better deals on line during low season. Depends on the perks you get too, better room,drinks rest, reservations,, but now someones mentioning you don't get the white bracelet ??? WTF,, just when we thought we had it figured out,lol
So if you get a referral week from a premium member, you get the white bracelet and all the perks of premium membership for that week? Yes? Is the AI fee variable only by certain busier weeks, but for sure you are a premium guest no matter what with a referral week? Or, are there two types of referral weeks, premium for one AI cost or red bracelet regular guess for a cheaper AI fee? Is there anything in writing that specifies for sure that a referral week from a premium member comes with all the premium perks?
