Discount Travel and the Time-Share Industry
by Bobby Bahamas

Discount Travel and the Time-Share Industry   ... so just what is it with discount vacation packages and the Time-Share Industry anyway? In the last twenty years we've seen it all ... “Free Vacations”  “Bonus Vacations”  “$99 Vacations” and never-ending variations of the same.  And if you really pay attention, you will find that this and many other marketing strategies keep coming around again and again in a cycle that continues to be very profitable. What is old is new and every few years there is a whole new group to show it to.

 And that is what it is … it is marketing. I don’t know when they figured it out, but sometime (a long time ago) someone figured out that giving away a ”free” vacation was a pretty cost efficient way to market a resort or destination. Why? Because everyone loves a vacation … and when you go on one that costs little or nothing up front, you might just have a tendency to spend more money when you arrive at the destination than you normally would. And if you don’t have a strong will you can probably be coaxed into buying something you didn’t know you wanted!

It’s really simple math for the company building and selling the units. Say you got a “free” 3 Night Orlando Vacation as a bonus when you bought another vacation. What does this really cost the marketer or resort? Three nights at a local hotel (if they don’t own the hotel they probably have a REALLY good rate because of their volume … 3 x $39 =  $117) + two Disney tickets (about $90 each = $180)  and breakfast on the morning of your tour ($5 x 2 = $10) and there you have it … about $310 for a qualified lead. That is a whole lot cheaper than a national TV / Radio campaign.

Is that a bad thing?  For a lot of people, the answer is no. I know lots of folks that have time-shares and really love them. I have friends and family members that use their time-shares every year.  Some of them bought one at a destination they want to return to year after year. Some of them bought because they can trade their “week” for a week in another destination through a group or affiliation like RCI (Resort Condominiums International) or II (Interval International). Many others buy timeshares and give their week to family or friends for special events or gifts. There are about 2,000 timeshare resorts in the US alone and over 5,000,000 households in the US own one or more weekly intervals. According to ARDA (American Resort Development Association) consumers buy because of spacious-high quality accommodations, flexibility (vacation choices are endless), and credibility of the industry (Disney, Hilton, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Wyndham etc.).  

So should you take them up on that “free” vacation offer?  Well, that is the magic question. If you really are interested in going to the destination, and you have the willpower to say NO if you don’t like the deal  ... then the answer is yes. You will be offered lots of stuff at little or no cost. And, it is a cheap vacation … right? Many “Bonus” or free vacations do not require that you attend a presentation … but, many of them do!   

Pay attention when you talk to someone at the point of purchase or really read that piece of mail you just got because you’re “Special”. Make sure you understand what the qualifications are to receive the offer (i.e. income, credit card etc.). Make sure you get the Terms and Conditions in writing and make sure you read them.  Ask questions and make sure you really understand what you will receive and what options are available (extra nights, tickets for the kids, food, taxes etc.) Don’t be pressured to buy now (like they won’t sell you one next week? Sure … give me a break).  And, before you buy, make sure it really is a good deal. Check the prices where you are going and see what you can do on your own.  

If everything looks good … then you just might have a great deal. Keep your head screwed on ... think before you speak ... you just got a great cheap vacation! If you can afford the timeshare … buy it … it just might be the best vacation you ever had!

Have fun,
Bobby Bahamas