Timeshare Vacations for Dummies

By Lisa Ann Schreier
Publisher: Wily Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 0-7645-8442-1
Soft cover, 236 pgs.

Written by an ex-timeshare salesperson (who later become the founder of Timeshare Insights, an independent organization for educating potential and current timeshare owners), this information-packed book should be required reading by anybody considering jumping into the world of timesharing…or trying to get out by selling their own timeshare.

Written clearly, concisely, objectively, and even with a bit of humor, Schreier does exactly what she sets out to do: “I wrote this book because of what I see as the lack of solid, reliable, no-nonsense information available to consumers interested in buying timeshare. I wrote it to clear up some misconceptions, to help you understand what you're buying, and to steer you clear of buying if that's just not the right choice for you.”

With a Table of Contents spreading over 8 pages (and an index covering 16 pages), readers can quickly find answers to questions on just about any timesharing topic. From exploring the best reasons to buy (and not to buy) to a look at the top timeshare resorts, to examining the types of ownership and the costs involved, plus how to finance your purchase as well as how to rent, sell, or will your timeshare, Schreier leaves no stone unturned.

Guiding readers through the pitfalls of timeshare, which in her words are “not with the product; it's with how timeshare is sold and marketed,” Schreier arms readers with a background on how timeshare is marketed (“The Art of the Lure”) and 25 first-tier and second-tier questions to help you manage the sales pitch.

She also gives sage advice to avoiding the whole presentation altogether, which is what she calls “The Biggest Secret About Timeshares that Developers Don't Want You to Know: You, the informed consumer, can go into any timeshare in the world, ask to speak with someone in sales, and inquire about viewing a model and getting price quotes. In these instances, you do not have to sit through any sales presentation to buy a timeshare unit.”

Filled with cartoons, maps, checklists, and icons highlighting tips, heads up (danger zones), and money-saving hints, the book offers a lively and interesting read. Global travelers will especially appreciate Chapter 10: Buying International Timeshare, while all readers can benefit from the following chapter on strategies for finding the timeshare with the most trading power.

Another interesting feature of the book is that it includes numerous quotes and helpful how-to's from everyday timeshare owners, like Gordon Cress of Carlsbad, California who writes: “We've owned timeshares since the early ‘80s. Personally, now that we've had some experience in the field, I'd certainly recommend that anyone contemplating a timeshare purchase do so on the secondhand or resale market.”

And the book's author is right there to help with pages of resources for finding timeshare resales while offering over a dozen questions to ask the seller to steer you clear from bargains that may not be bargains. This ex-timeshare salesperson also points to a hidden benefit of resales. “You bypass the sales pitch,” say Schreier. Finishing the book, you'll feel incredibly fortunate to have Schreier on your side of the table, be it real or virtual as you buy at the resort or online.

Read other stories in our library!