Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Timeshare Presentations Still A Source of Humor


A highly relevant news item about Las Vegas was published by Reuters yesterday. Heading off the article:

Sue Garrett, in Las Vegas for a birthday party earlier this month, went to what she considers extraordinary lengths to hold down the cost of her trip.

"We decided to sit through one of those blasted timeshare presentations to get a free hotel room," said Garrett, who lives in Los Angeles. She turned down the timeshare but earned herself and her husband a stay on the Las Vegas Strip for her trouble.

If only others had the same will power! Nevertheless, the article details how Las Vegas is finally starting to feel the burn, as it were, of the recent economy downturn, and the development makes sense. As we've covered extensively in other blog articles, folks have less money to spend on gas and airfare to get them to vacation spots, and less money to spend once they arrive. To pick up the slack, many non-timeshare resorts are offering discounts and vouchers just to attract more travelers. For Las Vegas hotels, the emphasis is on gambling, and in order to keep the necessary cash flow pumping most hotels need their slot machines and card tables full of consumers.

The same is true of timeshares, but -- in the case of fractional ownership timeshares -- the individual is already paying for, and owns, a resort that they cannot use. It's a bit like being a business owner in a tough economy -- you live and die with the ebb and tide of money.

That's part of why Timeshare Relief exists...to give some hope to those investors who bought more than they bargained for. And by the way...we don't recommend Sue's method for a budget vacation!

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