how to decline timeshare presentation

How to say NO to a timeshare presentation sales pitch

What is a timeshare.

A timeshare is essentially a shared rental of a vacation property. You “buy” a share of room that you can visit a set number of days at set locations every year. Vacation clubs are not exactly the same but they may be similar. In these situations you get multiple location options based on their property locations at a “discount”. But there are membership fees associated with the properties. Needless to say there are people sitting through these presentations for an amazing deal but are worried about how to say no to timeshare presentation sales pitches.

Believe it or not, I know people that won’t book a resort through a timeshare site because they are afraid of the presentation. This fear keeps them from saving up to two-thirds the value of the trip, which can be used for a number of things such as ANOTHER trip! Lucky for you I am here to help. We have been on 3 trips through BookVIP who offer AMAZING deals on resort stays all over the world. For example, we got deals for $99 vacations in the US and all inclusive deals under $1000 for two in Mexico . The catch is that to get these deals you have to site through a 90-120 minute sales pitch. I will show you ways to survive the timeshare sales pitch and minimize your time in the presentation.

What is a Timeshare Presentation?

A timeshare presentation is a 90-120 minute sales pitch designed to sell timeshare property or vacation club memberships to vacationers. While the presentations call for 90-120 minutes, that is the minimum time commitment. They can go longer if you do not shut them down. However, if you are truly interested this might not be a problem.

On the other hand, the rest of us probably are sitting through them to take advantage of an impossible deal. That’s exactly how we were introduced to these promotions.

Don’t get me wrong, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on these trips. But our first one caused us some anxiety because we had no idea what to expect. I am going to explain it all so you can also enjoy these super cheap vacation deals and not stress out over the presentation.

What Happens During a Timeshare Presentation?

The first step is to know what is about to happen. Once you have that down and you see everything unfold, the rest is easy.

After you arrive at your resort you will be scheduled a morning presentation. The presentation usually happens within the first day or two of your arrival. I like it this way for a few reasons. First, with it being in the morning we can get the sales pitch over with and then we can enjoy the rest of our day. Second, getting it done early in your stay means by the time the end of your stay arrives the presentation is a distant memory.

The Breakfast Meeting

So now the presentation is booked and you show up. What happens now is you will be served breakfast and a representative will be assigned to you, if one wasn’t already. In our case we met our representative the day we arrived and they are the ones who gave us the basic rundown of the resort and was very welcoming.

This is by design! They want to establish a bit of trust the moment you arrive and there is nothing better than sending that helpful rep to meet you are breakfast the next day.

Anyway, during breakfast the rep will continue being sweet and establishing a bond. They may ask personal questions and also reveal personal information about themselves. This is not different than going to a Gentleman’s club or to Hooters and seeing the girls sitting with their customers. All they are really doing here is creating a connection of some sort while asking probing questions that may be used against you later.

I am not saying you should be rude. After all, these people are just doing their jobs. But do not be too free with your information if you want to make it easy t say no to the timeshare sales pitch later.

How to handle breakfast to make it easier to say NO to the timeshare presentation

First of all you should keep it in your head that this is al going to result in the sales pitch. It doesn’t matter how rude you are or how sweet you are, the result is the same. With that being the case undersell yourself. What I mean by that is even if you travel every month, do not tell them that.

They probably already know your income, so no sense in lying about that.

What they are trying to find out is how much you spend on travel, how often you travel and your upcoming travel plans. Give them nothing to work with.

If they ask me how often I travel I reply “Once a year if I am lucky.” This shows them you don’t travel that often. They may also ask how many travel days you typically use. Same idea, “sometimes 5 days a year sometimes 2. “

If they ask how much I spend on travel I reply “Not much, that is why I came here. Because it was so cheap.” They may get more specific and ask about your travel budget but you do not need to give them a solid figure. Something like “it varies by year”, should be fine.

When breakfast is over you will be given a tour.

The same helpful person you met the day before and that sat with you at breakfast is likely your guide. That was our experience at one resort. At another, they actually took us to their sister resort right next door. In that case our breakfast and tour was under the supervision of a new person. Other than that, everything was the same.

The tour guide will take you to see some very nice parts of the property. They will also show you upgraded rooms available only to “members”, or so they say. They point out all the amenities and talk about how wonderful and luxurious everything is. To be honest, we did see some very nice rooms and of course, the property was well groomed and lush.

How to handle the tour to make it easier to say NO during timeshare presentation sales pitch

Your breakfast companion and tour guide is not going to be the closer. They are just warming you up for later. But make no mistake, they get a feel for the customer and you better believe they communicate with the sales staff.

This will include any Intel they gathered during breakfast, your general excitement, travel habits and future plans.

So, if you did a good job at breakfast it will make it easier for you to say no to the timeshare sales pitch.

The tour is where I not so subtlety start looking at my watch. Yes, that’s passive aggressive but I want them to know that I am tracking time. On the other hand, if you are more forward, set an alarm to go off at the appropriate time.

The Timeshare Presentation Sales Area: Part 1

Some timeshare properties have you sit down and watch a short video after the tour. Others take you directly to the closer. Either way, the closer is briefed about everything I mentioned already.

Part 1 just refers to the video presentation. It is very general and may show you other properties in the chain. You will see beautiful visuals, probably set to some island music or vacation stye tunes to get you worked up.

How to handle the video presentation to make it easier to say NO during timeshare presentation sales pitch

There is not much to do here besides keep your emotions in check. Don’t start getting curious now because any question later can lead to extra time during your sales pitch. Remember, 90 minutes is the minimum!

Timeshare Presentation Sales Area: Part 2

This is where you meet the closer. The guy trained to use all of the information you gave them or did not give them in order to get you interested. It is my experience that these people are assertive but I did not find them aggressive. The difference really boils down to how disciplined you are and how you accept pressure.

You already know that you have a minimum time there, may as well not fight it and just get through the spiel.

How to handle the Closer to make it easier to say NO during timeshare presentation sales pitch

Show NO interest at all. They will ask question, lots of them. The answers give them ammunition to use as a counter argument. It’s a lot like those courtroom TV dramas, the more information the person on the stand gave away, the more rope they gave to the prosecutor to use against them.

Do you like the property so far? What did you think of the membership rooms? How much do you spend when you travel? Does your family like to travel? And on, and on.

You will inevitably answer a few questions but if you keep the somewhat vague there is less ammo for them to use. There will be a time to be firm and decisive though, that comes when your minimum time limit has been reached.

Before that happens though, if the closer is making no progress he might pass you off to the “Manager”.

The Manager

If you are on social media at all you have probably heard of the term “Karen”. A Karen is a stereotype for a woman who always wants to talk to the manager. Karen’s do this for the most trivial reasons and even when they are in the wrong. Many times they do this simply to belittle the employee that served them in front of their coworkers and boss. “I’d like to speak to your manager” is Karen’s battle-cry.

Well, I have news for Karen. This is ONE manager she does not want to speak to. The manager is going to knock down pricing, he is going to offer different plans, he may offer perks. He will seemingly have an answer for every objection you have. So now what?

How to handle the manager to make it easier to say NO during timeshare presentation sales pitch

The answer is still no. I am not interested. They will want to know why or they may want to now how to sweeten the deal.

Anything you say should be firm and plausible and can end in with minimum resistance.

I will give you an example.

Me: “I have only been here a day (or two)”Them: “This special deal is only available now.”

Them: “This special deal is only available now.”

Me: “I have to pass.”

That is really my go to. Basically to sum it up is “I do not make decisions like this on the spot.” That is pretty much it, there are not too many comebacks from that. All they have left is to try to pressure you by cutting the cost or adding perks and convincing you the deal is only good on the spot.

Any wavering from that opens the door for more rebuttals.

Lets assume you had a drink or two at breakfast or you slipped up a bit during the other parts of the sales pitch. What now?

Other Ways to Say No to the Timeshare Presentation Sales Pitch

It all boils down to your mindset. Remember You just paid $700 and got 8 days for two in Cancun with all th3 food you can eat and all the booze you can drink. Just reflecting on that that will help. But I have more!

It’s a game

The timeshare presentation is just a game. The reps all are trained to gain confidence, overcome objection and sell product. They do it everyday. They here no everyday. The game is for them to get a sale or at least get you interested.

For you the game is to see how many times you can say no in 90-120 minutes and how little wiggle room you give the rep. You win if you say no to the timeshare presentation sales pitch and get out very close to the minimum time requirement. That mindset keeps it somewhat fun, especially if your partner is in on the fun.

Put them on the defensive

So, you had trouble saying no and you forgot to make it a game. What now? You can always put them on the defensive.

For example, all timeshares have maintenance fees for the property. Those fees are passed on to the members. The thing is the fees actually vary by year so they have no way to tell you what the fees are from one year to the next. And if they can’t give you an actual figure, how can they expect you to sign a contract?

Blame it on the plastic

So, in this scenario they are asking you for the sale and you forgot everything else. What do you do now?

Blame it on your credit card! Let them know that when you travel you only carry cards with low limits in case they get lost. They may offer financing but tell them no, you don’t want to pay those rates and you don’t want anything new on your credit.

It’s not you, it’s me

A very polite and effective counter to all of this is your travel habits. This is why I advised you to be careful during the early stages of the selling process.

Why would you invest in an International timeshare package when half of your vacations are in the USA? Or why would you invest in a domestic timeshare if half of your trips are to Mexico? See? Very hard for them to justify the expense if you would not use the service.

If it comes down to it, you can tell them you rarely can travel due to work schedule, kids, sick parents etc.. No sense in buying a timeshare if you only travel a week every two years.

Privacy Please

Another tip is to create a sense that you prefer to make these decisions in private. Yes, your partner will be there and yes they will use that against you, but be firm and let them know you do not discuss money issues in public.

You like to discuss these matter alone to come to a decision, no matter how much negotiating they try to do with the package.

Another excuse you can use is that you have to consult with your accountant or money manager. If all else fails, tell the you have to pray or meditate before making a decision. All of these require privacy and it gets you away from the situation.

How to Avoid the Timeshare Sales Pitch

Of course, there is an easier but more expensive way to end the presentation. Do not show up or cut it off before your minimum time requirement.

If you are feeling stressed you do not have to stay. By the same token, they don’t have to give you the vacation for next to nothing either. You are getting an all inclusive vacation for two for under $1,000 based on your honoring the presentation agreement.

However, that is all you agreed to. You are under no obligation to buy or to stay longer than their minimum required time.

Saying NO to Timeshare Presentation Bottom Line

A vacation should not be stressful or a hassle. It should be relaxing, pleasant and create lifelong memories. Sadly, most people do not get enough of them for various reasons.

One of the reasons boils down to money which can be solved by taking advantage of these tremendous deals. But if you are not prepared for the situation it can leave you anxious about what is to come.

Remember, these people are trained for this job and they are used to rejection. So be polite but remain disciplined and firm throughout the process.

Follow the tips in this article and you too can take advantage of these deals without the stress of worrying about saying no to the timeshare presentation!

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How to Get Out of A Timeshare Presentation Fast & Enjoy Free Vacation!

Timeshare presentation deals are attractive because they can get you a free vacation or an incredible discount, but they can also be a huge pain if not done right. Whether you just got a timeshare presentation invite and are considering signing up or you already booked your vacation and wanted to learn how to get out of a timeshare presentation fast, this is the guide for you!

My husband and I have been to a fair share of timeshare presentations in the past few years, and some of them were truly nightmares. We were once stuck at a timeshare presentation in Cancun from early morning till almost 7 PM. The pressure to buy into a timeshare was just too much, and we were not equipped with enough knowledge about the industry to deal with the high-pressure sales tactics.

But not to worry, because you’re here, and you will learn all that I wish I knew before signing up for a timeshare presentation deal. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to freedom!

1. Understand Timeshare Deals and Vacation Club Ownership Promotions

If you want to survive a timeshare presentation, the first step is to do your research ahead of time and know what you’re getting into before you go to the presentation.

🏠 What is a timeshare?

A timeshare is a vacation property, usually a vacation home or condo, that is shared by a group of people. Each person has the right to use the property for a certain amount of time each year. Timeshares are typically owned by companies, and they will sell or rent out the units to timeshare owners. There are many different types of timeshares, and they can be used for vacation homes, rental properties, or even primary residences.

Though it is certainly not for everyone, timeshare has become an increasingly popular vacation option, especially for families because it offers the opportunity to own a piece of prime real estate that can be used for vacationing year after year. Many big hotel brands have their own affiliated timeshare division, such as Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Holiday Inn Vacation, Club, Hyatt Residence Club, and Disney Vacation Club, etc.

There are many different types of timeshare ownership plans available, but the two most common ones are points-based and deeded-week.

• A points-based program is a system in which each year, you have a number of points that can be redeemed against nights at your timeshare. For example, if you have 2,000 points, you could redeem them for two nights at a studio for two people or one night at a one-bedroom suite for four people. Points can be accumulated over time, and there is no limit to the number of points that you can have.
• A deeded-week program, on the other hand, is a system in which you have a “week” of the year that you can use your timeshare. For example, if you own the 26th week at a timeshare, you would have that same week every year to use for your vacation.

I’ve met a lot of people who were timeshare owners and they seemed to truly enjoy the ownership, but one thing I have learned is that timeshare is certainly not for everyone. There are annual maintenance fees that must be paid in order to keep the property in good condition. Timeshare properties can be swapped for other properties, but the process can be complicated. If you decide to sell your timeshare later, it’s important to know that it doesn’t hold much value in the reseller’s market. All of this is to say that if you’re considering a timeshare, be sure to do your research and understand all of the pros and cons before making a decision.

🏠 What is a timeshare presentation?

A timeshare presentation is a high-pressure sales pitch for vacation ownership in which a company tries to convince you to buy a timeshare. The company typically offers incentives such as free tours, free event or show tickets, free transportation, or an incredible hotel discount to lure you to attend a timeshare presentation with the hope that you will make a purchase.

The promoter usually promises that the pitch would only last 90 minutes or two hours, but the time varies depending on how long you take to tour the property. It will also take much longer if you haven’t had much experience dealing with the high pressure of their timeshare sales tactics.

During the timeshare presentation, the presenter will try to convince you that owning a timeshare is a great investment. They will likely talk about how much money you can save by vacationing at their resort, and they may even offer some sort of incentive, like a free stay or a discount on future purchases.

🏠 What really happens at a timeshare presentation?

At check-in, you will be asked to present your ID and credit card for verification purposes. If you attend timeshare presentations in Mexico , you will be asked to sign a paper which basically states that you can’t come back for another presentation at the property. Our sales representatives explained to us that it’s part of Mexican law to protect customers from being pestered again and again. However, they would later use that as part of their high-pressure sales tactic that if you don’t make a purchase then, you won’t ever be able to buy from them!

After check-in, you may be presented with snacks, drinks, breakfast, or lunch while you wait for the sales representative. It usually starts with a casual conversation where the sales presentative tries to understand your finances and travel patterns, before explaining to you how vacation ownership at a timeshare property can help you travel for a fraction of the cost.

They will make you the first offer, which is usually very expensive, but it comes with several perks like an extra free stay at the current property or another property owned by the company. They will position the timeshare deal as a golden ticket to luxury travel for cheap!

If you hesitate, the representative will throw in more offers, of course, at lower prices and fewer perks, making the first offer look like it has better value. If you don’t commit to buying, another presentative will be sent to convince you. You will most likely see several rounds of sales representatives, each pushier than the last. Some of them will try to convince you to buy a timeshare by making false promises about the benefits of ownership.

They use very high-pressure tactics to ask you to commit right then and there, as the offer is no longer available when you leave the property.

2. If you’re interested in buying a timeshare, negotiate for the best deal

While timeshare is not for everyone, it can be a good way to save money on vacations for certain people who enjoy coming back to a favorite destination every year. Timeshare owners have familiar accommodations to return to each time without the hassle of having to manage a fully owned property. 

If you have the intention of buying a timeshare, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. One way to do this is to pressure the timeshare company for the best deals during a presentation.

Never accept the first offer and keep asking for more for discounts, freebies, and other incentives. If the salesperson isn’t willing to budge (which usually doesn’t happen), show that you’re ready to walk away and look for a better deal elsewhere.

When you push hard enough, the sales representative may have to check with the manager/director, but they will usually be able to accommodate a better deal. With a little bit of pressure, you can get the timeshare presentation you want at a price that’s right for you and get extra benefits.

We have successfully negotiated several timeshare deals, some from around $30,000 down to $10,000 and with even more points and perks. The sales reps will make it sound like every offer they throw at you is the best, but if you turn back the pressure on them, you will be surprised at what kind of a deal you can walk away with!

Book a one-on-one coaching session on timeshare negotiation for $399!

3. If you don’t have the intention of buying, be upfront and firm

If your sole intention is to get free gifts and discounts during vacation, it’s understandable that you will want to get out of the timeshare presentation as soon as possible. In that case, it’s important to be upfront and firm with the sales representative from the very beginning.

Let them know that you’re not interested in buying a timeshare and that you’re only there for the free gifts. If they try to pressure you into making a purchase, politely decline and excuse yourself from the presentation. By being honest and assertive, you can avoid wasted time and unwanted pressure.

The salespeople are trained to pressure you into staying, so you have to be stronger than they are. Tell them that you’re not interested and that you want to leave. Be polite, but don’t give them any room to negotiate.

If they sense that you’re even remotely interested, they will try to hard sell you on the timeshare. Some of them will try to guilt-trip you into buying because of the free gifts you’re getting, but remember that you’re not obligated to buy anything. The free gifts or discounts are purely incentives to get you to attend the presentation.

If you follow the above steps, you should be able to survive a timeshare presentation without too much trouble. Want more? Grab my free timeshare survival kit with things you could say to get out of the timeshare presentation fast!

Key Takeaways: How to Survive a Timeshare Presentation

Timeshares can be a great way to save money on vacations, but they are certainly not for everyone and can become a major financial burden.

A timeshare presentation is a way that companies use to woo you into buying a timeshare. For some people, it’s not worth it to have to endure hours of pitches and high-pressure sales tactics just to save a few extra bucks on vacation. For others, timeshare presentations are the golden tickets to luxury travel on a budget.

The trade-off is that timeshare presentations are often long and tedious, and can be very difficult to get out of. Only you can decide if it’s worth it for you or not. But after all, I hope this post has equipped you with the important knowledge and tips to help make your escape from the timeshare presentation easier!

How to Survive a Timeshare Presentation: Tips you Need to Know

• Post author: Scott Fix
• Post published: February 11, 2021
• Post category: Couple Travel / Travel Tips

You are here because you want to know how to survive a timeshare presentation. How do I end the sales pitch? How do I resist timeshare sales tricks and just say “no”? After going through the process ourselves and chatting with a sales insider, we are here to share what we have learned. Read on for all you need to know to escape the formidable high-pressure timeshare pitch.

What’s the Deal with Timeshare Presentations? 

Everybody knows the classic “high-pressure timeshare sales pitch”.  You get offered 3 days and 2 nights at a fabulous resort for free, no obligations – you just have to attend a sales presentation.  They promise the pitch will be pretty short and that there’s no obligation to buy.  Sounds great, right?  But we all know the catch – it’s infamous.  The timeshare presentation is excruciatingly long.  Every time you think you’ve said “no” for the last time, they bring in a new salesperson or take you to a new room to start pitching you all over again.  It’s a high-pressure sales marathon.  To top it all off, if you don’t meet your obligated time at the presentation, you’re on the hook to pay for your accommodations.  So why do people still go to these things?  Well, because a free “3 days and 2 nights” at a resort is just too good of a deal to pass up sometimes! In fact, many travelers are trying to find out “How can I attend a timeshare presentation just for the free vacation?”   Well, we wanted to see what all the hype was about. When we got a call saying we’d “won” a vacation package, we shrugged and signed up.  Worst case scenario, we walk out and have to pay for the hotel stay.  

When we started asking around, so many of our close friends had either fallen for the timeshare pitch themselves, or knew a family member that had. We heard story, after story, of high-pressure pitches, salesmen that were insulting or rude, being led between rooms for hours upon hours, etc.  Hearing stories of people so close to us motivated us to write up everything we learned from our experience. 

The Initial Screening 

Cecilia signed up for a “contest” on Facebook that would enter you into a “drawing” for a free stay of 3 days and 2 nights at a resort and a $150 gift card.  We got a phone call saying we’d “won” while we were driving.  

We were asked some basic “info” questions (i.e., name, phone, address), followed by some “survey” questions.  The survey questions were things like:

When was the last vacation you took?

How much did you spend on accommodations?

How often do you travel?   

They also asked us if we only needed a reservation for 2, or if we’d like to bring anyone else up to 4 total.  Of course, we opted to take the 4-person reservation because the more the merrier, right?  

After all the identity information, survey questions, accommodation arrangements, and a spiel about our vacation/gift-card winnings, then came the hook – we’ll have to attend a timeshare presentation.  We were assured that we were only obligated for 90 minutes to 2 hours of the presentation; and with that, my wife and I looked at each other with a “do we believe that?” stare.  

But sure – in for a penny, in for a pound.  

Two things caught both of us off-guard towards the end of the phone call: 

One, we had to book the dates for our stay immediately.  We had to pull over from driving to frantically look at our calendars and figure out a weekend that worked in both of our schedules. The caller would just suggest a block of days from their availability, and we had to tell him if the range worked out for us.  

Two, we had to pay a $99 “refundable deposit” using a credit card.  When he asked for our credit card information, a giant alarm started going off in my head, yelling at me “this sounds like a scam!!”  I almost put the phone on hold to have a conversation with my wife about backing out of the whole thing.  I took a deep breath and reminded myself that our credit cards have fraud protection on them; and we’d just have to keep a closer eye on our credit card statements for awhile.  

Although we haven’t completely confirmed this, our strong-suspicions are that the initial phone call is really a screening. They want to see how susceptible you’re going to be to the timeshare sales pitch. It felt like a test to see if we were people that would make a fast decision, without much information, and commit money instantly for a “too good to be true” deal.  

Well, whatever we did “worked,” because as we later learned, they put us in the “prime candidate” group for the presentation.  More on that later.  

Arriving at Our Destination 

Because of the Covid-19 policy, only one person from our party was allowed into the lobby to check in to our room; our timeshare presentation was scheduled for the second day of our stay at 8 am. Only the person who checked-in signed any paperwork at all; and the other 3 members of our party didn’t sign anything or give any names. 

8am, bright and early, we drove over to the location for the timeshare talk and waited in a small line for a teller.  The person in front of us was having an unfriendly banter with the teller.  The only thing I picked up from my eavesdropping was that all the members of his party weren’t there so he wasn’t able to get signed in. We got called next and checking in only took a few seconds.  She asked if all members of our party were there, we said yes, and she said to wait in a corner for our “agent” to come and get us.

After a few minutes, our salesperson came out of a room, introduced himself, and walked us outside.  He said because of covid restrictions, he wouldn’t give us a tour of the entire facilities and grounds. Instead, we would drive separately over to a condo where he would give us a talk.  

We loaded up into our vehicle and were on our way without ever signing any official paperwork.  Also, we had been told over the phone, and on our “terms and conditions”, that we needed IDs and a credit card, but we didn’t need anything. I’m not sure if that is normal, or just because we showed up during covid restrictions.  

The TimeShare Pitch

We followed our salesperson’s car to a condo. On the ground floor, they had free continental breakfast and drinks set out on a table behind a rope, and someone with gloves handed us whatever we asked for.  We took an elevator up a few floors and our salesperson took the stairs to meet us at the top, then he showed us to a room and left so we could eat our breakfasts without our masks. We thought the room was stuffy, because we were all in our winter jackets, so we opened all the windows.  It was ~30 degrees outside.  When he came back, he sat in a chair across from our sofa.  I imagine he thought we were trying to freeze him out, but we were just hot.  

For the first 20 minutes, there was some minor small talk about nothing. It might have been to put us at ease?  Either way, we were pretty guarded with personal info.  He probably expected us to talk more about ourselves, and we were expecting him to ask us more direct, pointed questions.  

When he started to transition, I asked for an outline of what to expect for the meeting. How was our time going to be broken down?  What is our obligation?  How many people will we talk to?  Are we going on a tour? What is our time frame?  

He said we were there for a timeshare presentation – “yes, it’s a sales pitch.”  We had to be there for “an hour and a half, or 2 hours – whatever they told you.” Then when it was over, he’d take us back to the main building where we’d get our $150 gift certificate and a voucher that waived the cost of our stay.  

And then our “presentation” began.

He flew through a lot of “numbers” and acronyms. He talked so fast, to the point where none of us absorbed anything. To this day, I have no idea what he was even saying. Either way, as fast as he spat out numbers, the topic would always change.  I’m not sure if it was him, or us, or both; but we talked about movies, Pokemon, shoes, horses … just about everything except timeshares. 

After 40 minutes of struggling to sell us, he took us to a luxury apartment in the same complex. I think the intention was to give us a tour and really sell us, but other families walked in on us. Because of covid, only one group was allowed in at a time, so we left and let them see the rooms; but then we just kind of wandered off, back towards the door of the building.  I feel kind of bad for the salesperson, because trying to keep track of the four of us was like trying to wrangle cats.  He’d try to show us to a room, or tell us to wait for another family to get done, and we’d just wander back towards the exit.  He’d run to cut us off, and we’d just all meander around him, chatting about something else.  

We weren’t intending to be rude or purposefully being space-cadets or anything. There was just random downtime, so we’d do what any group of friends would do – we’d chat amongst ourselves. We also were never given any real clear instructions on what to do, so we’d just assume we were done and start walking back.  It wasn’t until we looked back on our experience that we realized we were probably sabotaging his sales pitch without meaning to.  

We went back to the “pitch room” and by now it’s about 1 hour and 10 minutes in.  Cecilia leaves the room to go to the restroom. (She was 3 months pregnant at the time, so bathroom breaks happened ALOT.) The salesperson looks at the 3 of us and says, “Okay, just be honest with me here. Why in the world are you guys at a timeshare talk?” There’s a pause while we all just stare at him, wondering what we should say and he fills the void with, “if you’re all so scared of covid that you’re even opening the window when it’s 30 degrees outside to get fresh air, why did you come here in the first place?”  I reply,

“… well, you want honesty?  My wife clicked a link on a Facebook contest that said we could win 3 days and 2 nights at a resort.  They called us while we were driving to say we’d won.  My wife was excited, and I wanted her to be happy, so I said sure, I’d go along with it.  The guy on the phone asked if we had 2 friends that would want to go, too, and we said we weren’t sure; so he said he’d put us down for 4, just in case. We asked our friends, they said they wanted to come, and here we all are.”  

He nodded along; looked at the 3 of us; pulled out his phone; and started playing Pokemon Go.  

Once Cecilia got out of the bathroom, he ran through his pitch at lightning speed.  He showed us a piece of paper with numbers on it that had a large down-payment. He rambled on and said, “but you don’t have that much in the bank, do you?”  After a pause, Scott said “no comment” – because the entire morning, none of us gave away any information about our financial situations.  He instantly flipped the paper over and showed us another price, the “only for today” offer with a lower price with financing; and asked if we wanted to buy at that price.  I said “no.” He said “alright then,” and texted his boss, then went back to playing Pokemon Go.  

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Leisure Suit Larry 

After a few minutes of the party chatting about nothing again, in walks the boss – we’ll call him Larry.  Larry looks the part.  He’s wearing an olive-green suit that has the kind of texture that looks expensive; and a very high-maintenance hairstyle with a lot of gray speckles.  Larry’s entire presence is summed up by the uncertainty of whether his hair was naturally gray, or if it was purposefully dyed to look older.  

Larry has a calm, methodical delivery any time he speaks, like someone reciting a script that’s been rehearsed to perfection but then delivered so many times until it’s lost its meaning. He speaks without pauses, taking a big breath before each section of his ramble. He would emphasize words by deliberately stretching out the word, not by raising his voice.  Every point he made was framed as if the decision has already been made for you – you will lose money if you don’t make this choice because you are already spending money on vacations. 

Larry is what a used car salesman would be if used cars sold for more money.  

Larry ended his spiel with a piece of paper, which had a unit available for “today only.”  They’re always “only today.” 

He passed the piece of paper over to us, and the age of the paper suggested it wasn’t the first time he’s handed it to someone.  

The number on the paper was drastically less than any of the previous offers – it was less than half of the previous lowest offer.  I looked at the paper, folded it back in half, handed it back, and said no.  Larry was reluctant to take the paper, and asked “why?” 

We knew this moment was coming and prepared for it.  We reminded ourselves that we don’t have to justify any of our answers.  Socially, it’s polite to justify yourself; but you’re never under any obligation to justify yourself.  

We answered, “we don’t make large financial decisions that quickly. We talk through financial decisions together.”  Larry gave another ramble – this one I honestly didn’t listen to.  I just zoned out for a moment.  Then Cecilia answered him, “and we have a kid on the way, which makes it more important to spend time on big financial decisions, so the answer is still no.”  

Larry asked, “so … is there anything I can do or say that’s going to change that decision for you today?”  I said “no,” expecting to have to say that a lot at this point.  But then Larry abruptly said, “Okay, thank you for your time,” stood up, and walked out without a second look at us.  It was just an immediate withdrawal.  

The first salesperson, who had been sitting there quietly during Larry’s entire spiel, slapped his thighs, said “okay, I’ll take you back to the main center to claim your prizes” and visibly ripped up the piece of paper he’d shown us earlier.  He started to make some comments about wasting his time, but we were already walking out the door and didn’t really catch them.  

The Final Boss

We drove back to the main center and through a conference room that, in non-covid times, would have been the first room.  He took us close to a receptionist’s desk and asked us to stay put while he went to talk to someone.  We wandered up closer to them, trying to look out of a window to see a pool, which was just close enough to eavesdrop on the salesperson’s conversation.  He was giving her details about the conversation we’d had with him and Larry – that we “don’t make large financial decisions that quickly.”  He was giving her everything she needed so she would know the right angle to close the deal!  

It turns out, the woman he handed us off to was the Final Boss.  She asked us to go into another room, and Cecilia wandered off to the bathroom.   The three of us walked into the room, realized Cecilia wasn’t there, and wandered back out.  When she got out of the restroom, the four of us went in together to see the Final Boss.  She was sitting behind a small table with two chairs set up in front of it.  She said we could sit down, but we remained standing.  There were four of us and only two chairs.  You could tell that having 4 people there instead of 2 really threw their usual gameplans off.  

She asked us what the final price Larry quoted us was, and I told her; then she said “What if I could offer you that same unit at this price?”  She wrote a number on a piece of paper that was, again, exactly half of what Larry had offered.  

We repeated our line, “We don’t make large financial dec–” She interrupted, “Okay, take this slip into the next room and we’ll settle you up.”  

We hadn’t noticed, but there was a slip of paper already sitting on the desk in front of her.  With the paper in hand, we headed into the next room and handed it to an old man who was polite, friendly, jovial and looked like he was having the time of his life at work.  He slapped a stamp down on the paper, handed us a voucher, and we were out in no time.  We managed to survive the timeshare presentation.

Total time: 1 hour and 39 minutes.  

The Aftermath

After we left, we spent a lot of time talking with one another, trying to understand why we’d been let off so easily.  All of us had heard the nightmare stories about high-pressure timeshares – that people spent an entire day being shuffled from room-to-room, the aggressive salespeople, the insults, the good-cop bad-cop routines, etc.  We got none of that.  We were practically shoved out the door at one point.  

One theory we had was that we were a group of 4 that weren’t related to one another.  We were 2 couples, so they couldn’t pin one of us against the other.  They also couldn’t sell to all 4 of us, because we would never buy something together.  

Another theory was that we were just too chaotic for them.  We constantly changed the conversation – but not really on purpose.  We just filled the silent pauses with jokes or comments that became side-conversations.  

Timeshare Presentation Basics: Insight From an Industry Insider

We had to know why our experience was so different from the ones we’d heard about, so we called up a friend that used to be in the industry as a timeshare salesperson.  

Here’s what we found out:  

The reason some salespeople are pushier than others is because if they don’t sell for awhile, they’re suddenly given “one last chance” to sell, and if they don’t sell on that day, they’re fired.   If someone wants to keep their job, they have to sell; and that can lead to a very high-pressure sale.  

Sometimes they’ll get mad if you’re rude or just blatantly not interested from the start of the talk. They’ll toy with you and keep you longer on purpose out of spite. This can happen when you tell the salesperson from the start: “look, we’re just not interested in buying, we’re only here for the free stay.” 

Often, the salesperson lies about their background to identify with the “prospect”, like saying they have kids too; or they will lie about how long they have been selling; or that they have a dog, are also divorced, etc.  When our insider told us that, we all blinked. Had our salesperson lied about everything he told us the entire time?  At one point, he gave us his kids’ names – and now I’m not sure he even had kids.  

If a salesperson makes a sale on the previous day, then they get “first pick” in the morning; and the 8am timeslot is reserved for people they think are absolutely going to buy.  We were the 8am timeslot.  I have no idea why they put us in that group.  

If enough people are lined up that day for talks and they don’t have enough salespeople, they go on rotation.  As soon as a salesperson finishes their talk, they can go back and get another prospect.  The earlier they can pick a prospect, the higher the chances of getting a sell.  That’s why there’s more incentive for them to end a tour earlier if they know you aren’t going to buy and your tour is in the morning.  Tours in the afternoon aren’t so lucky.  

What if someone owns a timeshare and gets someone else to sign up for the timeshare talk? The timeshare owner gets a kickback – usually waived fees. 

But ultimately, why did our salesperson let go of us so fast?  Because Cecilia was pregnant.  At one point, our salesperson asked why Cecilia was going to the bathroom so much.  We told him she was pregnant, and when she came back in the room, he commented, “I didn’t even notice you were pregnant until you said that.”  That’s when he started flying through his presentation.  That was the change.  Apparently, people who are expecting a child don’t make sudden or “big” financial decisions. They’re too focused on what’s good for the baby.  

Tips on How to Survive a Timeshare Presentation

So here we are, everything we’ve learned boiled down to our top tips for surviving a timeshare talk.  

1. Go in prepared .

There is no reason to be mean or rude.  Just know your stance, be assertive, and remember that you don’t owe anyone anything.  It’s not impolite to say “no” without an excuse.  “No” is a complete answer that doesn’t need to be justified.  

2. Remember that you’re in a sales pitch .

For salespeople, ‘being nice’ is part of the sale. Similarly, ‘being relatable to you’ is more important than them telling you the truth. They butter you up in order to get information out of you, and they rely on the information you’ve volunteered for their pitch.  Things like your job, hobbies, or even your last vacation are used to determine your personal wealth and spending habits.  

3. Silence is your strength.

It’s really, really tempting to argue, or to call the salespeople out when you catch them in a ‘blunder’ or ‘ah-HA’ moment.  But just remember: if you argue, you just feed into their pitch and you’ll end up staying even longer.  They want you to argue so they can sell you harder.  Don’t get into a back-and-forth. 

4. Be on guard for the angle.

The salesperson is always fishing for an angle. If they don’t know what is important to you they cant sell you. They’ll try to get you emotionally invested.  They might try to insult you, or dig at your ego, with things like “you can’t afford this, right? This is too much for you.” Don’t defend yourself. Don’t justify yourself. Just say “no” and leave it at that.  

5. Decide on a secret reason against buying and never disclose it .

If they don’t know why you won’t buy, then they can’t give you a pitch or argue against it.  For us, we knew that a timeshare is just a bad financial decision.  The financing is really expensive, and you don’t “save money” in the end.  That was our secret reason; and when the numbers were explained to us, and we saw the paper showing that it was a bad decision, we didn’t go “ah-HA!”  We just nodded along and kept it inside.  They can’t sweet-talk their way around your roadblock if they don’t know it’s there.  

6. If you really want a timeshare, don’t buy at the pitch.

7. and, of course, if all else fails – be pregnant..

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This post has 15 comments.

I like the idea of timeshares—in fact, my inlaws own several—but I hate the high-pressure sales tactics they employ. It’s such a turn off.

That is such a good point. The concept of a timeshare isn’t all that bad, but the high-pressure talk and the difficulty of selling a timeshare should you ever change your mind are huge turn offs.

I love that the title includes SURVIVE, because that’s totally how it feels! We had to say “no” to like 10 different people before they would let us go!

We have heard so many horror stories like this. So glad we survived our first timeshare experience and came out on the other end with some bits of wisdom. Hoping this article can help out a few others so they do not have to endure a situation like yours!

I always wondered about timeshares. I like the concept but the sales tactic is highly annoying . It makes me wonder if it’s worth it .

You definitely have a point. High-pressure timeshare presentations are exactly that, high-pressure. They aren’t necessarily meant to be enjoyable, but I do think the experience depends on the salesperson. If you are assigned to a pleasant and respectful salesperson, then the experience really isn’t all that bad! It’s just playing roulette to see what kind of salesperson you wind up with.

Loved this. Your title caught me and made me laugh. Your last line made me laugh. My in-laws have had a time share for years and have dumped so much into the “maintenance fees”. It is a nightmare now for them to try to get out of it! Moral of the story: Whatever you might spend on the time share, you could simply put toward a nice hotel for your vacations and probably still come out ahead. Don’t fall for the pitch!

That’s such a good point. We haven’t heard of too many people who have been happy with their choice to purchase a time share. I think personally we will stick to the hotels and Airbnb’s as you mentioned!

Ive stayed at friend’s time shares a few times, and they can be really nice, but those pitches are such a turn off! Now I know, mention that I’m pregnant and if we do want to buy, don’t buy it at the pitch!

It’s a pretty good deal for a free holiday for you. 🙂

Great article with good suggestions. I do these as a travel hack to get free stays and freebies in Vegas. The key is to have an ironclad will and not be afraid to keep saying “no.” No matter what the reps try yo say or do, YOU are in control. They are obligated to give you the gifts and you are under no obligation to be polite or give reasons. The worst thing that can happen is you’ll get berated or insulted. There are worse things to endure and you basically get a free hotel stay. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.

I like the Hunger Games reference. Thanks for sharing your personal experience with surviving timeshare presentations. It takes a strong will to make it through without buying anything, but like you said YOU are in control and have the right to say no.

Well they get you drunk in Mexico I bought a timeshare in Cabo and they kept serving me and my friend drinks to loosen me up. I fell in love with my salesman and finally gave in he was so nice and now I am one of the happiest timeshare owners on the planet. Going to Cancun booked a 1700 square foot 2 bedroom 2 bath bringing 3 friends with me. Hotels are soo soo expensive and with a timeshare I am saving a ton of money and it is making me travel more which I love. Life is short live it to the fullest and don’t look back. I was all ways jealous of friends that owned Timshares but now I get to enjoy all the benefits and I am saving a ton of money.

I LOVED your article and learned a great deal! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge. We definitely will do the things you have suggested. I might even buy a pregnancy belly to wear. Lol

Hahaha good luck, let us know how it goes!

Love your angle and how you shared your experience along with your post realization analysis. We’ve done a few many many years ago and found the perks of going to a high-stress 2 hour meeting somewhat worth it, but then again agonizing.

We are about to go to another in the next month and this was helpful to get us mentally prepared.

Thank you for taking the time to share.

Comments are closed.

How to Avoid a Timeshare Presentation

Ever since developers realized that they could get fast money out of a hotel or real estate project by selling units as timeshares, their sales reps have been let loose on unsuspecting travelers. And that is why you need to know how to avoid a high-pressure, arm-twisting sales pitch that lassos you into a timeshare presentation that will waste your time and put you at potential financial risk.

The last thing you may want to think about on vacation is buying real estate; these sharks intend to change your mind. They offer inducements such as free flights, free nights, free tours, and other "free" gifts.

Timeshare salespeople are trained to be persistent and wear down resistance. The worst ones are downright deceitful. But you aren't defenseless. If you can learn how to avoid a timeshare presentation and are willing to temporarily suspend your good manners, those sales types will be no more annoying than gnats.

Difficulty: Average

Time required: 5 minutes if you succeed, hours if you don't, here's how:.

• Avoid something-for-nothing offers.  Ever pick up the phone and hear a robo-voice announce, "Congratulations! You've won a free vacation... a romantic vacation ... a trip to Disneyland ?" Hang up immediately! These are all come-ons and you won't get something for nothing if these people hook you. So if you are not interested in dubious investments, do not accept any such offers by phone, in the mail, through social media. or on location to sit through a timeshare presentation. 
• Find out who you're dealing with. Sellers can be sneaky, and some use terminology different from "timeshare presentation" (such as discovery tour, gift opportunity, special value promotion). If someone offers you something, ask if he or she is a sales person and if real estate ownership is involved. Be suspicious!
• Get in and get out. Okay; you couldn't resist. They promised it would be short and the reward worthwhile. Hold them to the time frame promised, and set your watch or smartphone alarm. Fifteen minutes before the timeshare presentation is scheduled to end, give them warning that you will leave.
• Give out as little personal information as possible. Do not give timeshare sellers your cellphone, home, or work phone numbers, nor your main email address. If they insist, provide fake numbers.
• Under no circumstance, give anyone associated with the presentation your credit card information.
• Don't sign any anything. Once you put your signature to an agreement, you will be legally bound to carry out the terms of the contract. If you do become interested in the property, ask to take an unsigned copy of the agreement and say you will have it reviewed by your attorney.
• Just say no . Not maybe, not "we'll think about it," just no. The worst thing you can do is lead a salesperson on. He or she will become your personal barnacle.
• Be willing to be rude. It's not in some peoples' nature to flat-out say, "No... I don't want this... get out of my face." You're not dealing with grandma or a member of a church congregation. You're dealing with a salesperson. If they push you, push back. They're trained to be persistent and deal with rejection.
• Leave. You cannot legally be held against your will. By leaving, you will forfeit any "gift" that you were promised, and you may be responsible for your own transportation back to your hotel. But then you will be free.
• Call the police. If anyone tries to block your exit, immediately call the police from your cellphone and record the exchange. (Asking to speak to a manager or supervisor may not be the solution, as this individual is typically a senior salesperson aka con man who is even more adept in the deceptive "art of the deal.")

What You Need:

• Ability to withstand sales pressure
• Willingness to be rude if necessary
• Determination not to sign anything
• Wisdom to resist "too good to be true" offers
• Understanding that ones who profit from timeshares are sellers not owners

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Tony Alexander

Table of Contents

Since you clicked this article, you are probably planning a vacation and are at least considering going to a timeshare presentation.

That’s actually a great idea! Especially if you are going to one in Las Vegas. You’ll be offered everything from free meals to free entertainment on The Strip.

In another post, I’ll talk about how you can get the best timeshare offers in Vegas.

But for now, what you want to know is how to say no to a timeshare presentation after you’ve listened to the pitch.

The best way to say no to a timeshare presentation is to be firm with your answer when telling the salesperson, No. You will have to do this multiple times with different people throughout the process. The salesperson will want to find out why you don’t want the timeshare. Don’t tell them. Just be determined to stick to your decision to say, No.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “that sounds like common sense. And pretty easy.”

I assure you. It isn’t.

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Timeshare salespeople are trained in separating vacationers from their wallets. And unless you were the first one he talked to that day, the salesperson has already perfected the pitch on half a dozen other people before you.

So why isn’t it easy?

In another post, I break down the anatomy of a timeshare presentation . That will give you a good overview of what to expect from the beginning of the timeshare presentation to the end.

In this post, we’re going to zero in specifically on the last part of a timeshare presentation. What will be said. What to look for. And how they will try to make sure you walk away with the potential to buy the timeshare in the future.

I’ve been to timeshare presentations in Las Vegas, Mexico, Florida, Myrtle Beach, even The Poconos. What I’m going to share with you is from my experience going through those presentations.

Have a Plan in Advance to Say “No”

Most people who attend timeshare presentations go as couples. And believe it or not, this gives the salesperson a huge advantage.

The first thing the salesperson will do is try to figure out which one of you is more likely to influence the other.

Notice that I didn’t say that they will try to determine which one of you is the most likely to purchase a timeshare. That’s because the salesperson knows that the person who has the most influence is the ultimate decision maker.

Now, don’t take offence to that. It’s not about power or control. It’s about “influence”.

Let’s say the “influencer” in the relationship likes what is being said. That person will persuade the other to make the purchase.

On the other hand, if the influencer doesn’t like what they’re hearing, the salesperson knows they have to convince him or her that the timeshare is a good idea.

Either way, the influencer is the person the salesperson is going after. If they can convince the influencer to take the bait, the influencer will do the salesperson’s job for them.

That’s why it’s highly critical that both of you go into the timeshare presentation determined to say, No. If you aren’t, the salesperson is going to do everything in their power to make sure you walk out with a timeshare.

And they are more persuasive than you might imagine.

With that in mind, let’s break down what is going to happen to make sure you can walk out of a timeshare presentation saying No.

Prepare to Say No Multiple Times

The first thing that is going to happen when you stand your ground is the salesperson is going to want to know what’s holding you back.

They make sure that money isn’t a factor during the screening process.

When you get approached to go to a timeshare presentation, you’ll be asked if you have a job, roughly how much you make and if you have a major credit card.

All of this is to screen you to make sure you are in a relative financial position to afford a timeshare.

So, if you say it’s too much money, they’ll be ready to counter that objection.

Here’s why.

The number they scribble on the sheet of paper with lines pointing in all sorts of directions is way higher than what is reasonable to begin with.

This is a negotiation. The salesperson expects you to say the price is too high. And just like the used car salesperson, they’ll find a way to make it seem like they’re doing you a favor.

They’ll excuse themselves and say they need to talk to their manager. When they return, they’ll say they’ve been approved to give you a lower number. They also walk away to let the two of you debate the “virtues” of what was just presented.

And this, my friend, is the reason why you don’t use price as an objection.

Before leaving, the salesperson will cunningly try to figure out what number will make you comfortable. And wouldn’t you know it? Their manager approves a number that is exactly what you can afford.

After you say No to this offer (the response may or may not be aggressive), you’ll be told that you’re free to leave. “I just have to let you talk to my manager,” because, you know, procedure.

Enter Salesperson Number 2

You aren’t out the woods yet. Not even by a longshot.

The “manager” is going to come to your table full of understanding as he recaps what your salesperson went over with you. He might even address your objection to buying the timeshare.

This is all just an elaborate dance timeshare salespeople engage in so you have no objections. And the only option left is to buy their timeshare.

This second salesperson is going to let you in on a little secret.

The salesperson you were dealing with isn’t authorized to go below a certain number. But as the manager, he has more leeway. He can offer you numbers that the first salesperson cannot.

That’s not true at all. They simply hope another, less aggressive person will change your mind.

Here is where you really need to be alert. Even more than any time prior during the presentation.

These people already have a profile on you. They started it when you signed up to go to the timeshare. Then the first salesperson felt you out further.

That’s why you need to understand this point: They don’t expect you to buy from the first salesperson. In fact, it’s expected that you will say no.

This is because most people that go to a timeshare presentation were lured there with the offer of free stuff. Very few are like you that have the intention to attend a timeshare sales pitch.

So this second salesperson is going to come to you with this knowledge in hand.

At this point, what happens next varies.

Some timeshare presentations will let you go at this point. Others have yet another step.

To help you get a picture of what might take place at your timeshare presentation, I’m going to walk you through what happened to us on our very first timeshare presentation.

How They Try to Get Your Guard Down

The first one I want to tell you about is the very first timeshare presentation we went to. This one was in Mexico.

After we declined the previous offers, we were sent to the person who would give us the promised “gifts” for attending the timeshare.

In truth, he did give us what was promised without pulling teeth.

That doesn’t mean, however, he didn’t try to sell us on buying his timeshare one last time.

This timeshare was a fractional ownership timeshare . To keep it simple, what it means is that we would own a portion of the property.

So the offer was to get a studio unit instead of the 3-bedroom unit we had been discussing during the 90 to 120 minutes of the timeshare presentation.

And boy! Did he make it appealing! He left us alone to “think about it”. This is a tactic timeshare salespeople regularly use. Not because they value your privacy. But so you can hash out each other’s disagreements.

Or said another way, letting the “influencer” of the couple do the selling for them.

My wife was seriously considering it. Remember, this was our first timeshare presentation. Everything sounded good. The property was brand new. So new, they were still in the process of building it.

The location was amazing. Whales and turtles could be seen from the units facing the ocean. The beach was pristine.

And all for the low, low price of $14,000.

This is how they get you to drop your guard.

“Don’t think about price. Imagine yourself being able to vacation in this very beautiful spot every year. Because you ‘own’ it.”

Don’t fall for it.

Be resolute in your stance that you don’t want to buy their timeshare. And if they try to imply that you won’t get your free “gifts” unless you buy, hold your ground.

What They Do to Get You to Purchase the Timeshare After the Presentation

To answer this, I have to tell you about what happened to us at a timeshare presentation in Las Vegas.

It was right across the street from Planet Hollywood. This was also in the process of being built. One tower was completed, and they were building the other two.

I won’t go through the whole presentation. They’re all more or less the same.

For this section, I want to talk about what this sales team did at the end of the presentation.

And the real surprise here?

We actually took advantage of it!

Crazy, right?

Let me explain.

We were experienced timeshare presentation goers by this point. We made a game out of it. Good cop, bad cop sort of thing.

When we got to the last salesperson in the chain, they came up with an interesting proposal.

“Leave a deposit today. Come back anytime in the next year and stay at the property. If you like it and want to buy into the timeshare, your deposit will go to that. And your stay will be free. If not, we’ll keep the deposit and it will be like a regular hotel stay.”

Now, THAT was a new one we hadn’t heard before.

But why would they present that creative offer?

Because unlike the one in Mexico, this one was not a fractional ownership. It was points based through RCI . So the more people they could get to sign up, the more money they made.

This is what some timeshare companies will do to try to get you to purchase after the presentation.

For us, we decided there wasn’t much risk to us. A $500 deposit got us 5 nights in Las Vegas literally one block from the Vegas Strip and across the intersection to reach Planet Hollywood.

We did come back within the next year. And we did stay at the property. Unlike many timeshare schemes, this one did exactly what they said they would.

At that time in our lives, we probably would have purchased the timeshare. It was something we thought at the time would have been a good idea .

For us, the reason we didn’t buy was because part of the enjoyment of being in Vegas is staying in the resorts on The Strip. When we came back to our two-bedroom unit, it was quiet. But if we wanted a drink, we had to get in the car and drive to one of the big Strip hotels. And the energy from of being on The Strip was something we liked.

Why am I telling you this?

Because some timeshares will come up with creative ways to get you to purchase their timeshare after the presentation. And some will be above board like this one.

The question you have to ask yourself is, are timeshares a waste of money ? Or is a timeshare a good idea for your family?

The Choice Is Yours

The purpose of this post wasn’t to persuade you not to buy a timeshare. You’ll have to decide if it’s beneficial to have a timeshare .

Our goal was to show you what will happen during a timeshare presentation. With this knowledge, if you want to decline the offer, you will know what to expect so you don’t make an impulse purchase that cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

Whichever way you decide, I hope I’ve been able to shed some light on the inner workings of timeshare presentations so you can have an awesome vacation!

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How To Get Out Of A Timeshare Presentation When Traveling

Depending on where you're traveling, you might get solicited by timeshare sales representatives who want to rope you into ownership options. This can often happen if you stay at a resort, since sales representatives can see that you have an interest in travel and already like the area. Maybe you are genuinely curious and want to get a timeshare. There are some famous ones, like the Disney Vacation Club , that offer ways to make it worth your while.

What'll likely happen is that you'll get invited to a presentation, where the reps will offer a sales pitch on getting in on the "deal." To incentivize guests, they'll lure people in with wonderful freebies. In some cases, these are worth sitting through the presentation for. In other cases, they're completely not. The problem is that these timeshare presentations can be super tough to get out of. Reps often have several strategies to wear guests down in an effort to get them to sign on, and it can feel overwhelming. There are ways to get out, even if you feel completely roped in. And hey, you can even walk out with the perks that were promised.

You can say 'no' through the whole timeshare presentation

Timeshare presentations lure people in with appealing incentives, and the reps who put them on know exactly how to make guests feel welcomed and, at times, compelled to go along with the process. Because of this, it can be challenging to get out of a presentation once you're there. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, you have complete agency. If you want to leave at any point during the presentation, no matter how pressured you feel to stay, you are free to do so. If anyone tries to block your exit, you have every right to call the police. Hopefully things won't come to that, though.

If a sales representative tells you that a presentation is only 20 minutes long, you can take note of the time and even set a timer on your phone. Your vacation time is precious and if a certain time frame was the expectation that was set, then you can absolutely hold the rep to it. Don't feel pressured into signing anything on the spot. If you truly want to consider an offer, then take the document with you and look it over when you have more room to breathe or even have an attorney look it over with you. Don't be shy to say "no" also. Sales representatives will be persistent if they think you are genuinely mulling something over. If you're certain you don't want a timeshare, say so clearly and without hesitation.

You can get the freebies

The reason that people sit through timeshare presentations is because of the freebies and perks that sales representatives offer to lure people in. They'll offer anything from free flights, free restaurant gift cards, free hotel stays, travel points, and more. You can still get some of the freebies offered, though, even if you don't buy a timeshare. The site Lifehacker offered tips and opened the comments for feedback on how people still got the perks without getting roped into anything. "My wife is the same and wants to do this almost every time we go to Vegas," user @thatdamnpaul wrote in the comments about going to timeshare presentations. "We usually hit up one the first or second morning we're there and have scored free Cirque tickets, dinners, even casino chip credits." Many users agreed that it's good to attend with another person and have roles clearly defined, with one of you acting as the tough guy, who has agreed to say "no" under every possible circumstance. That way you won't get talked into anything and can still walk out with the gift.

Many people on Reddit talked about the experience too on the forum r/DaveRamsey . Some users did have success getting freebies with no commitment. "Yes, my husband and I did this. We went on the free two-night trip to a fancy golf course, had a nice time, and flatly refused to buy anything," Reddit user r/oaktreegardener wrote. However, many said it wasn't worth the time.

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How to get a deal by attending a timeshare presentation

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Booking hotels with points earned from the best hotel credit cards is a great way to save your hard-earned cash.  But did you know there’s another way you could score a great deal?

Many of the major hotel chains offer timeshare properties under a different brand, and they often have huge incentives to get you in the door to listen to their sales pitch!  These incentives could include certificates for free hotel stays, gift cards, bonus points, and more!

Getting your hands on these incentives just for sitting through a timeshare presentation might sound too good to be true.  In many cases though, there’s not much more to it than just that.  Hotels build the “giveaway” of these incentives into the cost of doing business.  They know that these sales pitches are a numbers game, so they wouldn’t be doing it if wasn’t profitable for them in the long run!

In many ways, it’s a win-win for everyone. They spread the word on their timeshares, and you’ll have the opportunity to learn about whether it might be a good fit for you. Check out team member Meghan’s experience with a Hyatt timeshare sales pitch in Arizona , and another timeshare presentation in Belize .

If you’re curious about whether timeshare ownership might be worth it, we’ll go through how you can get invited to one of these presentations, what to expect, and which major hotel brands offer timeshares. Worst-case scenario, you’ll find that timeshare ownership is not for you, and you’ll still walk away with a gift card, bonus points, or some other incentive.

How to save money by attending a timeshare presentation

Hotels often give folks lucrative incentives to get you in the door to their timeshare presentations.  You’ll know what the incentive is before you attend, of course, and they’ll usually offer things like certificates for free hotel stays, bonus points, and gift cards.

Sometimes, you might even be able to negotiate a better deal! I was able to find reports online that stated different people were given different incentives for attending the same timeshare presentation.  So the lesson here is that if you’re speaking with one of their representatives and the incentive isn’t enticing enough, ask if they can offer something better!

You usually won’t have to pay anything to attend one of these timeshare presentations, so your only “cost” will be the several hours it takes to sit through their presentation. And even if there is a fee for attending, the value of the incentive oftentimes outweighs the initial fee. 

For instance, I found a report from Stephen at Frequent Miler who stated he paid $150 to attend a timeshare presentation, and in return was awarded 45,000 Wyndham points (enough for 3 nights at any Wyndham hotel) and a 7-night stay at a timeshare resort. I’d say those incentives were well worth the $150 fee!

How to get invited to a timeshare presentation

Many of the major hotel chains, like Hyatt, Hilton, and IHG, offer some sort of timeshare brand.  If you’ve ever stayed at these hotels, you could be targeted either by phone or mail.  Being a member of the hotel’s loyalty program could also get you targeted at some point.

If you end up staying at one of their timeshare brands on a trip, you may also see some promotional materials around the hotel, so keep your eyes open!  For instance, team member Meghan took advantage of this on a trip to Arizona .  When she was checking in at the Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Pinon Pointe, she saw a sign in the lobby that mentioned something about a $100 gift card in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation!

The most direct way of getting an invitation though is to simply call the general number of the hotel chain you’re interested in, and asking about timeshare ownership.  They’ll transfer you to the right department at which point you can ask if they have any presentations available in your area, or if there are any promotions you might be eligible for.

What to expect out of a timeshare presentation

Before you attend a timeshare presentation, be aware that they can be VERY aggressive in their tactics!  I’ve been on the receiving end of a very high-pressure sales pitch and realize how difficult it can be to say no, even when I know it’s not something I want to sign-up for!  The best thing to remember though is that you can always say no, very firmly, but politely.

Also, be aware that attending these timeshare presentations can take several hours out of your day, so you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it, especially if you’re on vacation!

Tips for getting out of timeshare presentations quickly

You’ve got an appointment.

This is probably the oldest trick in the book. But if you’re looking to get out of a timeshare pitch, set a deadline for yourself by telling the salesperson that you’re meeting someone for plans (drinks, dinner, etc.) at a certain time. 

Don’t show any interest — at any price

This trick is only good for those who aren’t easily swayed. But if you can, try not to engage in the pitch. Be firm in your decision and let the salesperson know that the deal doesn’t make sense for you and your family.

Just be aware that they’ll try to push you on the price. There are reports from some readers that salespeople can sometimes lower the price by as much as 75% less than the initial offer. Again, they’re trying to make the sale. And these are tactics used to make it appear as though you’re getting a good deal.

Mention that you prefer using travel rewards

This is another trick that’ll be pretty hard for the salesperson to argue with. Simply tell them that buying a timeshare doesn’t make sense for you because you prefer to use miles & points for your travel . Why would you pay for lodging when you could stay at a hotel for free? There’s really no counterargument to that point!

Bring your children along

We all know how well kids behave when it comes to sitting still for long periods of time (HA!). And there’s arguably no better excuse to getting out of something than when you have a cranky child to attend to. So bring your kid(s) along to the presentation and make your escape when their patience has run out.

Hotel Chains With Timeshares

Hilton .

Hilton’s timeshare operates under the name Hilton Grand Vacations.  To give you an idea of the size of their timeshare operations, if you decide to join as a Club Member, you’ll be joining over 300,000 other members worldwide, and have access to vacation exchange options across over 4,300 resorts globally.

Most of their timeshares are located in the US, although they do have 3 international locations as well:

• South Carolina

Hyatt’s timeshare goes by the name Hyatt Residence Club.  Although they don’t offer nearly as many locations as Hilton, they do advertise and market luxurious stays at 16 locations in the US.

One of the neat things Hyatt offers right on their website is a section for “ Featured Vacation Offers. ”  Some people online have reported getting even better deals by calling in and referencing these offers, stating that they’re interested in timeshare ownership but want to get more information.

• Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Pinon Pointe

California:

• Hyatt Residence Club Carmel, Highlands Inn
• Hyatt Residence Club Lake Tahoe, Northstar Lodge
• Hyatt Residence Club Grand Aspen
• Hyatt Residence Club Beaver Creek, Mountain Lodge
• Hyatt Residence Club at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
• Hyatt Residence Club Breckenridge, Main Street Station
• Hyatt Residence Club Bonita Springs, Coconut Plantation
• Hyatt Residence Club Key West, Beach House
• Hyatt Residence Club Key West, Sunset Harbor
• Hyatt Residence Club Key West, Windward Pointe
• Hyatt Residence Club Sarasota, Siesta Key Beach
• Hyatt Residence Club Maui, Ka’anapali Beach
• Hyatt Residence Club Lake Tahoe, High Sierra Lodge

Puerto Rico:

• Hyatt Residence Club Dorado, Hacienda Del Mar
• Hyatt Residence Club San Antonio, Wild Oak Ranch

IHG calls their timeshare brand Holiday Inn Club Vacations.   Similar to Hyatt, they also have a section on their website for “ Special Timeshare Offers, ” so if you call in asking about timeshare ownership or their special offers, you might be able to land an even sweeter deal and possibly an invite to a timeshare presentation with more incentives!

IHG has timeshare locations within the US in several different states.  They also have a number of locations designated as part of their “ Signature Collection ” for an even more luxurious stay.

You can find a full listing of their timeshare locations here , and you’ll see they’re located in quite a few different states:

• Massachusetts

Marriott’s timeshare brand goes by Marriott Vacation Club.   According to their website, they offer over 50 resorts, 4,000+ Marriott hotels, and 3,000+ affiliated resorts.

You receive an annual allotment of Vacation Club Points when you join this program, which you can then use to book a stay at one of their locations worldwide .

Choice Hotels

Back in 2013, Choice Hotels ventured into the timeshare ownership segment by partnering with Bluegreen Vacations as their preferred vacation ownership provider.

You’ll be able to book a stay at any of their 60+ resorts in over 40 unique destinations .  The vast majority of them are located in the US, although they do have 2 international locations as well.

• North Carolina
• New Hampshire

Wyndham’s timeshare brand operates under the name Club Wyndham.   You’ll have the flexibility of vacationing in different areas each year through their Club Wyndham Plus program, where your ownership is translated into points deposited annually into your account.  Depending on where you want to stay, accommodations are assigned different point values and you can redeem them throughout the year.

Wyndham has a number of timeshare resorts available both within the US and internationally :

• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island

International Locations:

• New Zealand

You have other (better) options for saving big on hotel stays!

If you’re nervous about sitting through a high-pressure sales pitch, keep in mind it’s not the only way you can save big on traveling!  There are still many amazing hotel credit cards that can get you free nights at your favorite hotels.

Here are a few of our favorites:

• Most valuable welcome bonus for hotel stays: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Best hotel credit card for value and comfort:  World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Best hotel credit card for big spenders: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Best hotel credit card for elite status:  Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• Best hotel credit card for road warriors: IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card

The information for the Hilton Aspire card , and the Hilton Surpass has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

For instance, with the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you could earn enough points for as many as 10 nights in category 1 Hyatt hotels!  The card is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 60,000 bonus points – earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points with 2 bonus points per $1 spent on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point up to $15,000 in the first 6 months of account opening.

Or if you apply for a card that earns flexible points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards points , you can also transfer the points to a hotel partner for free nights as well.

Bottom line

Attending timeshare presentations can be a lucrative way to save a lot of money on your trips.  That’s because many hotels offer incentives like certificates for free hotel stays, bonus points, and gift cards, to motivate you to attend one of their timeshare presentations.

Many of the major hotel chains have some sort of timeshare brand.  If you haven’t been cold-called or targeted for a specific timeshare offer, you can always call the general number for the hotel and ask about timeshare ownership.

If you do attend a timeshare ownership presentation, be prepared for a very high-pressure sales pitch, and don’t be afraid to say no.

If you’re not sure if you can make it through their tactics, remember that you can always focus on earning miles and points from the best hotel credit cards to redeem for free hotel stays instead.

What are your thoughts on timeshare ownership, and have you sat through a timeshare presentation before?

Contributor

Andrew Wan is a contributor for Million Mile Secrets where he covers points, miles, credit cards, airlines and hotels. His work has also appeared in The Simple Dollar.

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How to get out of a Timeshare Presentation?

• March 11, 2023

Did you agree to attend timeshare presentations in exchange for a discount or gift? There are horror stories of aggressive salespeople who present for hours or even days. While timeshare presentations can be attractive as they offer a great deal or a free vacation, they can also be very frustrating if they are not done correctly. This guide is for everyone, whether you have just received a timeshare invitation and want to sign up or you are already booking your vacation and need to know how to get out of timeshare presentation.

Table of Contents

What is a Timeshare Presentation?

A timeshare presentation, also known as a discovery tour or a timeshare presentation, is a chance to learn more about vacation ownership and meet one-on-one industry representatives. While there are many benefits to attending timeshare presentations, you must plan ahead. Even if you only have a few hours to spare, it can still be difficult to manage when you are on vacation with your family.

Your resort may want you and your spouse together to attend the timeshare presentation. They will also provide snacks and activities outside your children’s presentation area. If your agent has mentioned vacation packages or other promotions, you must attend the entire presentation to be eligible for those offers in presentation design services .

5 Steps to get out of a Timeshare Presentation

1-vacation club ownership promotions and timeshare deals.

You can survive a timeshare presentation if you research and understand what you are getting into before you attend.

2-Keep on Schedule

Your timeshare presentation should typically last between 90 and 120 minutes. However, as the process progresses, presentations are not uncommon to last several hours. Keep an eye out for details and be flexible about your availability.

You are on vacation. Also, there are activities scheduled. There may be children waiting for you. You may have children who are waiting for you. This request should be honored by a professional, compassionate agent.

3-Get the best timeshare deal

Timeshare isn’t for everyone, but it can save you money on vacations for those who love returning to their favorite destinations every year. Owners of timeshares have familiar places to return to every year without having to manage an entire property.

It is essential to ensure that you get the best timeshare deal if you consider purchasing one. You can do this by requesting the best timeshare deals from the company during a presentation.

4-Make informed decisions

The pitch is the last step in the session. It doesn’t matter if you are considering timeshare ownership or upgrading. If you feel that you need more time to make a decision, it’s fine. This might sound like a one-time offer. It is most likely that this is not true. Your agent should be able to understand why you need more time to consider this purchase carefully. If you are really interested in a purchase, your agent may be able to put down a deposit in good faith to secure the deal. Don’t be afraid of asking!

5-Be upfront and firm

If you only want to receive free gifts or discounts while on vacation, it is understandable that your goal is to leave the timeshare presentation quickly. It is essential to communicate clearly and openly with the sales representative at the beginning.

Tell them you are not interested in purchasing a timeshare and that they’re only there for free gifts. If they attempt to push you into buying a timeshare, decline politely and leave the meeting. You can avoid wasting time and unwelcome pressure by being truthful and assertive.

How can you end a Timeshare Presentation early?

You might dread the prospect of attending the presentation if you have already booked your vacation. Although it will take some effort on your part, you don’t have to let the experience ruin your vacation. You can make it through the presentation knowing what to expect, and being aware of their tricks, so you don’t have to buy anything. This is how to get out of a timeshare presentation without losing your wallet and keep your timeshare free.

Do not engage with timeshare salespeople

They will try to become your best friend. They will ask you questions about your interests, likes, and dreams. They will try to relate to your situation and may even show you photos of their children. Do not fall for their trap. Please refrain from asking questions and answering them as often as you can. Instead, just sit down and listen. It will be harder to close the presentation and go home if you speak too much. If they have access to a lot of your personal information, they may be able to manipulate or make you feel guilty. Do not give them your phone number or email address unless they ask.

Set your alarm

Set the stopwatch or alarm on your smartphone for the time you have agreed upon. If your presentation is expected to last 90 minutes, let the salesperson know 15 minutes before the “end”, that you will be leaving soon and what gift you would like. The salesperson will likely continue to pitch the product until they close a sale. Expect them to continue the presentation after 90 minutes. Be bold and leave the presentation without speaking a word, and don’t worry about being rude.

Just leave!

You can leave the presentation anytime, and the salespeople cannot force you to stay. You will forfeit the discount or gift if you leave before the agreed-upon time. Don’t be afraid to leave if you are uncomfortable or the gift is not worth your time.

Be aware of what you should expect

You will know exactly what you’re expected to do before you go to the presentation. This includes whether you have to wait for 90 or 120 minutes to get the gift or a free vacation. It doesn’t matter how awkward it feels; just be prepared to say no as often as you need to and ask for your gift as soon as their time is up.

A timeshare presentation, also known as a discovery tour or a timeshare presentation, is a chance to learn more about vacation ownership and meet one-on-one industry representatives.

The best way to avoid participating in a timeshare offer is to be firm in your response when you say no to the salesperson.

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How to Say No to Timeshare Presentations: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say no to timeshare presentations. We understand that saying no can sometimes be difficult, especially when faced with persuasive sales tactics. Whether you are looking for formal or informal ways, we have compiled a variety of tips and examples to help you navigate these situations. While regional variations can exist, our focus will primarily be on general strategies that apply to most situations. So, let’s dive in and equip you with the tools to confidently decline timeshare presentations!

Formal Ways to Say No:

Saying no in a formal manner can help establish boundaries and make it clear that you are not interested. Here are some effective phrases:

“Thank you for the offer, but I am not interested in attending a timeshare presentation at this time.”

This simple yet polite response demonstrates your lack of interest while maintaining a courteous tone. Remember to remain firm and avoid being swayed by any further attempts to convince you otherwise.

Another formal approach is to refer to your schedule:

“I apologize, but I have a very busy schedule and I won’t be able to attend a timeshare presentation.”

By emphasizing prior commitments, you make it clear that attending the presentation is simply not feasible for you.

Additionally, you can reject the offer based on your financial situation:

“I appreciate the opportunity, but I am not in a position to invest in a timeshare right now.”

Highlighting financial constraints is often a convincing reason for declining without inviting further discussion.

Informal Ways to Say No:

Informal situations provide more opportunities to be creative with your responses. Here are some casual yet effective ways to decline timeshare presentations:

Injecting humor into your response can lighten the situation while still conveying your lack of interest:

“Thanks, but I’m allergic to high-pressure sales pitches!”

By approaching the situation with a touch of humor, you can diffuse any tension that may arise from rejecting the offer.

Alternatively, you can use straightforward language to express your disinterest:

“I’m sorry, but I’m just not into timeshares.”

This honest response may help avoid any misunderstandings regarding your intentions and leaves little room for further persuasion.

Situational Tips:

Now that we have covered some phrases, let’s explore additional tips to handle various situations:

1. Be confident and assertive:

Remember, it’s your decision, and you have the right to decline respectfully. Maintain a confident and assertive demeanor to ensure your message is clear.

2. Practice your response:

To feel more comfortable, rehearse your desired response beforehand. This can help you deliver your message with confidence and clarity.

3. Early acknowledgment:

If you know the purpose of the invitation beforehand, a preemptive acknowledgment can be effective:

“Thank you for the invite, but I must decline as I am not interested in attending a timeshare presentation.”

This approach saves time and sets clear expectations from the beginning, avoiding any potential confusion.

4. Offer alternatives:

If you still want to maintain a positive relationship with the person making the invitation, consider offering alternative suggestions:

“I’m not interested in timeshares, but if you have any other recommendations for local attractions, I’d love to hear them!”

This way, you politely decline while keeping the door open for other non-timeshare related interactions.

Conclusion:

Saying no to timeshare presentations can be challenging, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can confidently decline these offers while maintaining positive relationships. Remember to be polite, clear, and assertive in your responses. Whether you choose a formal approach or an informal one, the key is to stay firm in your decision. With the tips and examples provided in this guide, you are now well-equipped to handle timeshare presentations with confidence and grace.

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Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say "no" after attending a timeshare presentation. Timeshare presentations can be persuasive and overwhelming, leaving you feeling pressured to make a decision. It's essential to approach the situation with confidence and assertiveness, while also being respectful. In this guide, we will provide you with formal and informal ways to decline a timeshare offer, along with various tips and examples to navigate the conversation effectively.

Tips and Examples on How to Say No at a Timeshare Presentation

Timeshare presentations can be persuasive and high-pressure environments where you might find it challenging to decline their offers gracefully. However, learning how to say no effectively can help you navigate these situations with confidence. In this guide, we'll provide you with formal and informal ways to say no at a timeshare presentation, while also offering useful tips and examples to help you express your refusal politely.

How to Say No at a Timeshare Presentation: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say no at a timeshare presentation. When attending a timeshare meeting or presentation, it is common to feel pressured into making a purchase. However, it's important to remember that you are not obligated to buy anything. This guide will provide you with both formal and informal ways to say no, as well as some useful tips and examples to help you navigate this situation with ease.

Guide: How to Say No During a Timeshare Presentation

Turning down a timeshare offer can sometimes be a challenge. Whether you are attending a formal presentation or a more casual sales pitch, it's essential to communicate your refusal clearly and politely. By using the right words and maintaining a warm tone, you can effectively decline the offer without damaging any relationships. This guide will provide you with strategies, tips, and examples on how to say no during a timeshare presentation in both formal and informal settings. Let's explore the art of politely declining a timeshare offer.

How to Say No in a Timeshare Presentation

Attending a timeshare presentation can be an exciting experience, but it also comes with the challenge of gracefully declining their offers. Saying "no" in a timeshare presentation requires tact and assertiveness, as sales representatives are known for their persuasive techniques. In this guide, we will explore various ways to say "no" in both formal and informal situations. So whether you're about to attend a presentation or simply want to be prepared for future encounters, read on for valuable tips and examples.

Guide on How to Say No in a Timeshare Presentation

Attending a timeshare presentation can be an exciting experience, but it's crucial to remember that you have the right to say no if it doesn't align with your interests or financial situation. Politely declining a timeshare offer can sometimes be challenging, so we've put together this guide to help you navigate the process with grace and confidence. From formal to informal ways, we'll provide you with tips, examples, and even a few regional variations to consider.

Guide: How to Say No to a Timeshare Presentation

Timeshare presentations can be a tempting offer, but sometimes you may find yourself needing to decline. Whether you are not interested, unable to make the commitment, or simply don't want to attend, this guide will provide you with formal and informal ways to say no to a timeshare presentation. Read on for tips, examples, and regional variations.

Guide: How to Include "Give Presentations" on Your Resume

When it comes to showcasing your skills and experiences on your resume, being able to effectively give presentations is a valuable asset. Whether you are applying for a job that requires public speaking or want to demonstrate your ability to communicate and convey information, it's important to highlight your presentation skills in a way that captures the attention of potential employers or clients. In this guide, we will provide tips and examples on how to include "give presentations" on your resume, both formally and informally, to help you stand out from the crowd.

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How to Defend Yourself in a Timeshare Sales Pitch

Introduction

What is a timeshare , the timeshare sales pitch , do your research, know your budget , understand your rights , ask questions, don't disclose personal information , be wary of free gifts , don't be pressured into a decision , read the fine print , never sign on the spot, just say no, seek professional advice , speak to other timeshare owners , consider the alternatives , understand the cancellation policy , risks of owning a timeshare .

• Conclusion 

Conclusion  

The timeshare industry is a booming business, but it can be intimidating for those who have yet to become familiar with its sales process. While timeshare vendors are supposed to be honest and upfront about the details of their offerings, they sometimes take advantage of potential buyers. Timeshare sales pitches are designed to be persuasive, so consumers should know how to protect themselves. 

Knowing your rights and how to prepare for a timeshare sales pitch is critical. This guide will provide tips on how to defend yourself during a timeshare sales pitch. It will discuss tactics for researching the resort, understanding your rights, and being aware of the potential pitfalls of timeshare ownership.

A timeshare is an agreement that allows a group to share ownership of a vacation property. Timeshare owners often have the right to use the property for a particular time each year, in many cases in intervals of weeks. Timeshares are offered by resort companies and can carry additional benefits, such as access to amenities, discounts on local attractions, and the ability to exchange your timeshare week with a different property. 

The timeshare sales pitch is the process by which a resort attempts to convince potential buyers to purchase a timeshare. Salespeople often use high-pressure tactics to get a signed purchase agreement on the spot. They may also exaggerate claims about the benefits of owning a timeshare and downplay the potential risks. 

Tips for Defending Yourself in a Timeshare Sales Pitch 

Prior to attending a timeshare presentation , it is good to note that leaving without buying something can be challenging. It is essential to have a general idea of what to expect and how to counter rebuttals. Below are several suggestions on how to defend oneself against timeshare vendors.

When considering a timeshare purchase, do some research. Essential details of the resort include the cost, location, and amenities. In addition, read reviews from other timeshare owners to get a sense of what the experience will be like. 

It is also essential to consider the long-term costs associated with timeshare ownership. In addition to the initial price, annual maintenance fees, taxes, and other charges must be considered. Factor these expenses before making a purchase. Thorough research before attending a sales pitch will avoid potential risks.

Before engaging in a timeshare presentation, confirm your budget. Understand how much you can afford to spend. It is also critical to recognize the long-term costs that owning a timeshare entails, such as annual maintenance fees. Confirming your budget will help you make an informed decision and prevent being swindled. 

When entertaining a timeshare sales pitch, a basic understanding of your rights as a consumer is crucial. Federal and state laws protect consumers from unfair and deceptive sales practices. Become familiar with the available protections, such as the right to cancel the purchase within a specific time, known as the timeshare rescission period . 

Understanding the terms of the agreement is also vital to ensure the salesperson follows all applicable laws and regulations. 

Taking notes during a timeshare sales pitch is an excellent way to stay organized and ensure you comprehend the information. Write down all the significant details, such as pricing, surroundings, conveniences, names of sales agents, and the agreement’s terms and conditions. 

Taking notes will make it easier to recall precise details of the sales pitch, compare with different timeshares, and to file disputes, if necessary.

Asking questions is critical during a timeshare sales pitch. Ask as many questions as possible, such as: How much does it cost? How much are the annual maintenance fees? What amenities are included? What destinations are available? 

Also, ask about the purchase agreement, such as the cancellation policy and maintenance fees. The answers to these types of questions will help you make an informed decision.

Not sharing personal information during a timeshare sales pitch is crucial. Only provide the information that is necessary for the transaction. If the salesperson asks for more information than is necessary, walk away and reassess the situation. 

Many timeshare companies offer premiums, such as free vacations or discounted rates, as incentives. Be skeptical of these offers. These short-term rewards are seldom worth the long-term burdens of timeshare ownership.  

Timeshare vendors are trained to be persuasive and may try to pressure you. However, you are not obligated to make a purchase. Take your time and think about the decision. If you feel hurried, simply walk away.

Do not always believe the hype when engaging with timeshare vendors. These salespeople might make fabricated claims. Ask questions and do your research to support their statements. 

Always read the small print during a timeshare sales pitch. Many agreements contain hidden fees and other legal jargon that can be difficult to understand. Review the paperwork and inquire if there is something you do not apprehend.

You are not obligated to sign anything until you are ready. If the salesperson pressures you to sign a contract, reconsider the situation. Inform the salesperson you need time to ensure you understand the terms.

Alas, get everything in writing. That includes costs, associated fees, location, amenities, agreement terms, and cancellation policies. Ensure that the details of the timeshare are outlined in the contract. In addition, it is critical to keep a copy for your records.

If you are uncomfortable with the timeshare or the salesperson, you are not obligated to make a purchase. Do not shy away from saying no if the deal is not the best fit. In addition, if the salesperson attempts to force you into making a purchase, it is best to refrain from engaging with them.

A financial advisor or real estate attorney can help you understand the terms of the contract and confirm it is in your best interests. Professional advice can also protect you from being exploited.

Along with consulting with professionals, talking to existing timeshare owners can help you make an informed decision. It is an excellent way to get an honest assessment. 

To read stories from past timeshare owners detailing their experiences, click here .

There are many alternatives to timeshare ownership, such as vacation rental homes and vacation clubs. Research the options and ensure that a timeshare purchase is suitable before agreeing to it.

Many timeshare companies have strict cancellation policies, so get familiar with all of the intricate details. Every resort developer has different exit conditions for their clients, and the time they have to cancel varies by location as well. It is also vital to understand the potential penalties for withdrawing from the agreement early. 

While owning a timeshare can be a great way to enjoy vacations, there are some potential risks consumers should be aware of. 

For one, timeshares can be tough to resell. Although some resorts offer a resale program, you may still have difficulty finding a buyer. Furthermore, timeshare fees can be expensive and can increase. Last, if you miss a payment, the resort may be able to foreclose on the unit. All in all, timeshare ownership can become a financial burden. Alas, this information is not always privy to consumers during a sales pitch.

Buying a timeshare can be a significant investment, so be sure you make an informed decision. Knowing how to defend yourself during a timeshare sales pitch is a challenge due to the overwhelming pressure of sales staff. However, following the tips mentioned above will protect you from being victimized.

Those who succumb to the pressure of timeshare vendors but regret doing so can annul the agreement with the assistance of a cancellation company. Timeshare cancellation is a financial service that, instead of reselling the vacation properties, outright terminates the agreements. Such companies were established because many folks have been deceived into timeshare purchases. Timeshare exit companies can help.

Since 2011, Wesley Financial Group, LLC (WFG),* has been a timeshare cancellation company and has since terminated more than 30,000 agreements and eliminated $300,000,000 of timeshare mortgage debt. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about WFG or to speak with one of their representatives.

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About the Author

Chuck mcdowell.

Chuck McDowell is the founder and CEO of Wesley Financial Group, LLC, an Inc. 500 company, which specializes in complete timeshare termination and timeshare debt elimination for individuals and families that have experienced fraud, misrepresentation, and/or lies during their timeshare sales presentations.

Although Chuck is one of the pioneers of the timeshare cancellation industry, Chuck McDowell was a timeshare salesman before realizing the timeshare industry is not what he thought it was. After discovering the many deceitful tactics the timeshare industry uses on unsuspecting people, Chuck left the industry to work on the other side, fighting for consumer rights. He served as the CEO for a timeshare advocacy group before deciding to take timeshare cancellation into his own hands. Wanting to help good people get out of bad situations, Chuck founded Wesley Financial Group, LLC in 2011. Wesley Financial Group, LLC is dedicated to providing legitimate aid to those who feel helpless and Chuck’s unique background acts as a special motivator to be honest and fair to those that so often feel cheated.

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Timeshare Presentations: How to Get Cheap & Free Vacations

If you’re planning to visit some of the world’s most popular destinations, you can run into some hurdles if award availability is scarce and cash prices are high.

Sure, points can help offset the cost, but that means it will cost you a lot of points. What if I told you there’s a way to save those points and snag an awesome deal on your accommodation?

Well, there is – welcome to the world of timeshare presentation packages.  

What Is a Timeshare?

In a nutshell, a timeshare is a shared ownership program in which you may use a vacation property for a set time period every year.

Timeshare properties can range from resorts to condominiums to campsites. They can be a good option for travellers who have a favourite destination they like to vacation at every year.

With timeshares, these travellers will  have familiar accommodations to return to each time without the hassle of having to manage a fully-owned property while they are away. 

Most of the big hotel brands that we’re familiar with have their own affiliated timeshare division. A few well-known examples include the Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Holiday Inn Vacation Club, Hyatt Residence Club, and even Disney has their own Disney Vacation Club.

Generally speaking, there are two types of timeshares: those that are points-based and those that give you deeded weeks.

• In a points-based program, you have a certain number of points each year that can be redeemed against nights at your timeshare.
• In a deeded-week program, every year, you have a “week” of the year that you can use your timeshare.

You do not necessarily need to stick with your timeshare property either. Usually, there is a system or program for owners to swap their property for another destination or property for any given year, building some flexibility into the program.

Despite the perks of timeshares, many people choose not invest in one, as they can be a money drain if you don’t make good use of them.

There are annual maintenance fees for the upkeep of the property that have to be paid, the process of swapping properties can be quite complicated, and it can be a pain to get rid of them or resell them as they don’t hold much value in the reseller’s market.  

What Is a Timeshare Presentation?

Whether you feel like timeshares may be a good fit for your travel patterns or not, you should consider attending a timeshare preview presentation.

The timeshare market is a competitive one, and most timeshare vacation clubs will offer some form of incentive for an opportunity to introduce you to their program in the hopes of enticing you to purchase one. 

What is offered as part of the package varies by the club and even the property, and it can be anywhere from tickets to a theme park or a show, to accommodations at one of their properties for several days at a huge discount, plus maybe even some bonus points for their respective hotel award programs.

If it’s the accommodation you’re after, keep in mind that usually the package will cover a “standard” room; however, there is a possibility for upgrading, as we’ll discuss later.

What’s the Catch with Timeshare Presentations? 

To take advantage of these fantastic offers, you (and your spouse, if you’re married) need to attend a 1.5- to two-hour sales pitch about the timeshare program while you’re vacationing on your timeshare package.

During that time, they’ll introduce you to their program, how easy it is to use the timeshare, the flexibility it provides, the years of enjoyment you will get out of it, and even give you a tour of a potential timeshare unit. 

Easy enough, right? Most of the time, yes.

Some sales representatives can be pushy and will pull out all the stops to get you to sign on, because that’s how they earn their commission. You may feel pressured to buy, and they may spend a lot of time negotiating a better offer for you.

Most sales reps, however, are quite reasonable. If you’ve put in your time and made it clear you’re not ready to buy, they’ll send you along your merry way. And if you do happen to cave under the pressure and buy the timeshare, it’s not the end of the world (more on this later).

During the pandemic, some timeshares like the Marriott Vacation Club opted to do virtual sales presentations, and in lieu of a vacation deal, you’d earn Bonvoy points instead.

There have been recent offers of up to 20,000–25,000 Bonvoy points; however, you have to be a US resident to take advantage. For the in-person presentation packages, there are no US residency requirements. 

How to Book a Timeshare Presentation

Now that you might be considering taking advantage of a timeshare presentation, let’s go over how you find these offers and sign up for them.

The easiest way is through each respective club’s website. Usually, there is a phone number or online form to complete for additional information. 

Hyatt even allows you to book the package online if you reside in the USA.

Once you purchase the package, there is quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to booking. Although the terms specifically say that the timeshare has to be booked within 12 months of purchase, it is not uncommon for them to extend this deadline. I have done this on a couple of occasions myself, even prior to the pandemic.

Once you book your package, you can still change the dates, although some programs will charge a change fee. During the pandemic, there was even more leniency (I rescheduled a Marriott preview package no less than four times), although this may tighten up a bit as travel opens up.

Unfortunately, once you purchase a preview package, they are generally considered non-refundable. There have been scattered reports of people receiving refunds if they no longer fulfill the eligibility for the package, but as always, your mileage may vary and this should not be the expectation.

My Experiences with Hilton Grand Vacations

Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) has over 50 properties spread across the United States. Their properties differ from the regular Hilton-branded hotels in that they generally offer accommodations with more space, larger and a greater number of bedrooms, and ensuite kitchen and laundry amenities.

Note that not all HGV properties are bookable through timeshare presentations, and some properties are only made available at certain times. 

Thus far, I’ve done a couple of packages with Hilton Grand Vacations in Orlando , and another in Honolulu . Here’s a recap of my experiences so far with HGV. 

Parc Soleil by Hilton Grand Vacations

View on the Hilton Grand Vacations website.

2017 Package Deal: Three nights / four days for US$199 and a US$200 “Stay a Night On Us” rebate voucher; upgraded to a two-bedroom suite for an additional US$50

A few years back, I had to call Hilton reservations to change an existing hotel booking I had. At the end of the call, they thanked me for being a loyal Hilton Honors member and asked if I would be interested in hearing about a “great offer” they currently had. I accepted, and so began my journey down the rabbit hole of timeshare packages. 

I was forwarded to another agent, who offered me the above timeshare package. I was considering a trip to Disney for my son’s fifth birthday anyway, and this would definitely help bring down the trip’s cost, so I bought the package.

When we decided on our dates, I called back, and they confirmed availability and booked our accommodation and the timeshare presentation to be done during our stay – and that was it! 

At the time of booking, my youngest was only a few months old and wasn’t the greatest sleeper, and so extra space to accommodate her sleeping situation was desirable. When I inquired whether our one-bedroom suite could be upgraded to a two-bedroom suite, the agent advised that we could do that for an additional US$50, which seemed more than reasonable to me, bringing our grand total to US$249 plus tax. 

We stayed at the HGV Parc Soleil, which is a 15-minute drive into Disney. Other than being a bit further out from Disney, it was a fantastic accommodation option for families.

It had two beautiful outdoor pools, one that was zero-entry with a water slide and another for adults only. They had a kids activity centre and some organized activities throughout the day. There was also a basketball court, tennis court, and outdoor playground for the kids.

The suite itself was spacious, modern and clean with a full kitchen and an in-suite washer and dryer. There was also a paid shuttle service ($10 round trip per person) to the surrounding amusement parks, but times were rather limited. 

We attended the timeshare presentation on the second day. It was located at the Parc Soleil, which made it convenient.

At check-in, they ask for your ID and credit card, then invite you to enjoy snacks and non-alcoholic drinks while you wait for your sales representative. You can also drop off your kids at a small, supervised children’s room (with toys, colouring, and a TV) while you attend the presentation. 

Since it was our first timeshare presentation experience, we did not know what to expect. We were also genuinely interested in learning more about timeshares, which didn’t work in our favour.

They started off with some general questions about our travel habits and destinations we wanted to visit, and then went onto discuss how HGV could make it all happen at a fraction of the cost. 

Once the sales representative realized we actually had some interest, he turned the pressure on. He would show us how he had booked various destinations at fantastic rates and began negotiating on the amount of initial investment required to purchase, while offering additional Hilton Honors points to sweeten the deal.

Each time we declined, he would go back to his manager and come back with a better deal.

This went on for a bit until he finally came back with what seemed to be a decent offer at the time, and we actually signed the papers and walked out with a timeshare after the two and half hours.

The agent offered to refund our US$199 package cost, probably as a kind gesture given that we had just bought a timeshare with him, and then sent us to the front desk to obtain our US$200 “Stay a Night On Us” rebate voucher.

Suffice to say, purchasing a time share was not our initial game plan. Luckily for us, there is a cooling-off period built into the contracts, whereby you have 10 days to rescind a timeshare purchase agreement.

With some time and space to actually think about our impulsive decision, we decided it really wasn’t for us and the next day, we rescinded.

The staff were very kind about it and it was an easy enough process, but lesson learned: do not show any interest in a timeshare if you are in it only for the cheap accommodations.

Hilton Grand Vacations at Tuscany Village

2019 Package Deal: Four nights / five days in a one bedroom suite for US$299, refunded after presentation, one $200 “Stay A Night On Us” rebate voucher OR 10,000 Hilton Honors points

A year later, my husband had a conference in Chicago at the Hilton. HGV had set up a booth in the lobby, where they offered everyone 1,000 Hilton Honors points just for listening to what they had to offer.

Jon took them up on the offer, and this time he was offered packages to either New York City, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, or Orlando. They were two- to four-night packages ranging from US$199 to US$399.

Now, you might be wondering: how often you can purchase a timeshare presentation package? As per HGV’s terms, as long as you have not attended another presentation in the last 12 months, you are eligible to purchase another. 

We were just over a year since our first package, so we bought another, back to Orlando. This time around, the offer was four nights for US$299 plus tax, so we were a little hesitant as our previous offer was better.

The sales agent, sensing the hesitancy, sweetened the package by offering either a US$200 “Stay a Night On Us” rebate voucher or 10,000 Hilton Honors points, and to refund the US$299 after the presentation. That sealed the deal for us. 

This time, we chose to stay at the Tuscany Village, located about 15 minutes from Disney once again. The décor was a bit more dated, but it still had an outdoor playground and a few pools that would satisfy most young kids.

There were also complimentary DVD rentals and a children’s activity centre, albeit a bit smaller than the one at Parc Soleil.

I enjoyed the fact that it was right beside the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, which meant some retail therapy for me between theme park days. They also had a paid shuttle going to the amusement parks, but once again, the times were limited. 

Our presentation was back at the Parc Soleil. This time, my husband and I had a different game plan: we would tell them that we weren’t ready to buy a timeshare and to let them know early on.

This was working well for us initially, and at the one-hour mark the agent was pretty much finishing up. As we were just about to leave, he advised us that his manager had one last offer for us, which got us our third package… 

The Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Vacations

The manager came out and offered us a trial membership to the HGV program. Now this was different.

There was no set destination for the package; instead, for $1,599 (USD), we would be given enough points to redeem for seven nights in up to a two-bedroom suite at any of the HGV properties in North America, including Hawaii.

We did the math and worked out that it would be less than $230 (USD) a night. If it were any other destination, we would have left it. After looking at the current rates for Hawaii for a Hilton property in Honolulu for March Break, we came to see that it was a great deal.

Keep in mind that these are rates for two adults and two children. If you have more than four in your family, like myself, either you’re paying more, or you’ll find that most hotels won’t even be able to accommodate. The fact that we could book a two-bedroom suite was a big selling point for us.

HGV has quite a few properties in Hawaii, with the Grand Islander by HGV being one of the newer ones. We booked at the Grand Islander for four nights in Honolulu over March Break . 

That leaves us with three nights remaining, which we could have used to extend reservation to seven nights… 

…or book three nights at their New York property, West 57th Street by Hilton Club at the south end of Central Park, another otherwise pricey accommodation option. 

Either way, you can see that our $230 (USD) per night beats the above rates by a long shot. 

An Even Better Offer…

Sticking with Hawaii as our theme destination, HGV currently has an offer on their website for five nights in Honolulu or Waikoloa for $799 (USD) in a standard room, which brings the nightly rate to $160 (USD) – an incredible deal for a night in Hawaii.

Granted, it’s for a standard room, but I’m pretty sure you can request an upgrade offer to a bigger suite at a decent cost when you call in. 

My Experience with Marriott Vacation Club

We originally purchased our Marriott Vacation Club Preview Package back in 2019. This package offered a five nights at Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club for $799 (USD).

After numerous delays and postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we finally enjoyed our stay in March 2022 . 

We rescheduled our timeshare presentation after our arrival, and there were no issues with moving it to a different day. When it came time for the actual presentation, it took place in a cubicle in their outdoor Sales Centre.

We wound up going over the 90-minute allotment, and spent closer to two hours there. I was genuinely interested in the program, so it was more my fault than theirs.

Marriott Vacation Club uses a points-based system. Our sales agent offered us the base-level 1,500 points at $15.84 (USD) per point, totalling $23,760 (USD).

As a signup bonus, they were willing to throw in another 3,000 points for the first year.

To put things into perspective, a one-bedroom villa in Maui at peak season could cost up to 4,500 points per week.

We didn’t show much interest in this, and they tried to sweeten the deal with some more offers, but we kindly declined. As we had an exit interview, another sales agent came in to offer us yet another timeshare presentation package.

The first offer, which was good for the next two years, was five nights at the same property for $1,295 (USD). We weren’t sure when we would be back to Maui again, so, again, we declined.  

They approached us with one last offer: $995 (USD) for four nights at any of their North American properties, including another property in Hawaii for a $300 (USD) add-on fee.

Our family wanted to visit Kauai in the near future, and after a quick check for a four-night stay in the winter revealed prices at around $2,600 (USD) for four nights, we accepted this last offer.

It goes to show that sticking around for more offers can result in some pretty great rates!

If you’re not familiar with timeshare presentation packages, now’s the time to take a look at them as a means to very cheap accommodations in many popular vacation spots.

Timeshare presentations are a great option in areas where points redemptions are either not worth it (e.g., Orlando, where hotels are generally quite cheap to begin with), or in places where redemptions are difficult to make (e.g., Hawaii where the cost of redemptions are high).

It does require a small time commitment and perhaps a bit of finesse in talking down a sales representative, but in my mind, the savings are definitely worth it. And better yet, they can be easily “churned”, too. 😉

• Earn 80,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  40,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
• Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
• Annual fee: $799

30 Comments

Amy, please clarify — you said “no” to buying the timeshare BUT they offered you another timeshare presentation elsewhere?

That’s correct!

Thanks for the great information!! Do any of them ask for income verification?

No, they didn’t.

Thank you VERY much, not even the fancier ones like Wyndham or Marriott presentations?

As a previous owner of timeshares and an attendee at multiple presentations I’ll add some comments which may be helpful: -if you buy, it is difficult to recover your purchase price because of the heavy marketing costs built into the price -I have sold my timeshares and currently have some fractional ownership properties to which I have title, which may not be subject to the same haircut on sale -my trading options (including my Hyatt property) are through Interval International which has a network of thousands of properties around the world -Resorts Condominiums International is another trading network, so you are not stuck with a specific hotel program -if you go to a place like Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas, you are swarmed at the airport, sometimes car rental places or Walmart, by sellers of these packages -I have a friend who used to fill her PV trips with different presentations, and she was often able to negotiate improved perks for the presentations themselves; she did this for a fair number of years, without buying, before they caught on to her -If you decide to buy, wait, wait, wait; I’ve seen people buy in the initial large presentation with cheers and champagne, only to see deals offered that were a fraction of the cost in later iterations -often you have to see multiple people before you escape, the deals keep getting better, but the original 90 minutes is substantially exceeded -the last one I went to took about 4 hours and I finally walked away abandoning my promised perks

Thanks for the article Amy. I was attempting to book an Orlando offer in my Hilton App yesterday but they only permit USA addresses. When I went to the International website the offers weren’t as good. Do you know of a way to get the same offers advertised on the App?

I’m not sure but you can try calling in and requesting.

Amy, do they ask to see both adult’s ID or license? We are common law marriage different last names. Can we just show 1 ID card?

When you sign up for the package they will usually ask if you are married, etc. If so, they will ask for your partners name. It doesn’t matter if the last names are different. At Hilton, they checked both ID’s but Marriott only checked my husbands (not sure if that was intentional though).

Hi Amy, thanks for the article (and love the family-geared content!). When I click through the link for the current HGV Hawaii offer and put in my zip code, I get a message basically telling me this offer is not available to me. Any idea why?

Hmm that’s interesting. I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps certain states have different offers/restrictions.

My family has an Embarc timeshare bought maybe 20 years ago… from our experience… currently there is not enough money and points in the world to suffer the presentation. Long story but about 8 years ago, had to lawyer up to deal with them.

I have reached on Marriott Vacation Club for further information and was told there is no timeshare deal for canadian résidents at the moment but if I visit à proporty I can ask over there… not really convenient

Hi Amy, great article and tips! Just a question: is there a limitation on the number of times you can book (the rules seem to say once per year but is this per individual or per family (so a family of 2 adults could do this twice per year))? Thank you!

Hi Amy, Thank you for the great information. You mentioned you were given a trial membership of HGV. Is the $1599 USD a yearly fee? Are there any other fees associated with owning HGV timeshare? Do you plan on continuing with the HGV membership or will you likely cancel. Thanks!

It was $1599 one time fee for 7 nights. Once you use up the 7 nights, the trial is done.

I have used this strategy successfully. As a family of four, we will only stay in a one bedroom or two bedroom if it’s for any stretch of time. Having a kitchen to cook your own meals is a cost savings and easier than having to coordinate eating out all the time. In November 2019 we stayed in a one-bedroom at Maui Ocean Club Napili for only 450,000 bonvoy points. My wife and I attended a 1.5 hour timeshare presentation and received 40,000 bonvoy. The retail value of the room was $7,500 USD. Unfortunately, any type of room at Maui Ocean Club is very difficult to book on points.

I will likely have to cancel due to Australia’s continued strict lockdown, but I booked two 2 bedroom suites at the Surfers Paradise Marriot Vacation Club this December for seven days and 292,000 points each (total 584,000 points). The retail value was 14,500 Australian Dollars. You have to really hunt but can find some gems occasionally.

Thanks for the info Amy! Is there a website for all the Hilton offers available? I was able to find Orlando/Las Vegas by searching on their site, but could only find the Hawaii deal by using the link in your article. And similarly for Marriott, do they have a webpage that describes their offers? I was recently invited by a Marriott CSR to call a 1-800 number to get a similar deal, but would much rather check it out first on a website rather than have it described over the phone by a salesperson.

Unfortunately there’s no central page where all the offers are located for HGV. If you click on the various destinations they have you may see a banner at the top with an offer for whichever destination you selected. If you can’t find a particular destination offer, best to call or email them. Same applies for Marriott.

While staying at an Hilton in Washington DC 3 years ago, we were offred a timeshare presentation and visit for 10k HHONORS points. I said I wasn’t interested unless it was for 30k points which they agreed. The visit went smoothly and interesting, when we sat down to discussed the prices at one point I said it wouldn’t work out since I’m earning lots of miles and points from business travels. And that was it a total of 90 minutes of our time.

Hi Amy, how can you book the Grand Islanders by HGV in Maui? It is opening in September but I cannot find it is available to book yet. I’m looking 5 day accommodation in Maui next year. I really hope we can have the Honolulu’s deal in Maui.

I apologize, we have Grand Islander booked for Honolulu and Marriott booked for Maui. You are correct, the new HGV property opening in Maui is not bookable yet.

Hi Amy, how can you access the HGV in Honolulu? I entered my information and the site says I’m not eligible for the Hawaii deal and instead directed me to Orlando and Las Vegas only.

I would try calling in and requesting. Sometimes they do have eligibility restrictions based on where you’re located or your income. Actually, for my current one with Marriott in Maui, i had to go through a couple of agents before they gave me the offer I was looking for.

Hi Amy – Great article and timely as we’re looking to book a family trip to Hawaii this coming year. What offer did you end up getting for the Marriott presentation?

Hey Mark! $799 usd for 5 nights 🙂

Which property? Offers for me were between $799 and $999 for 5 nights depending on which island.

It’s at Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club 🙂

Nice score! Thanks

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