Sail Around the World with Timeshares

There are few things more satisfying than a day spent out on the water. Sailing over a crystal blue expanse toward the curve of the horizon is one of the most freeing sensations you'll ever experience. Of course, you'll have to get off the boat sometime, and when you do you'll want to find appropriate accommodations. Many sailors have chosen timeshares, as an alternative to renting a hotel, for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

What is a Timeshare?

Timeshares are essentially a way for individuals to own a portion of a vacation home, resort or condo.

Why Would I Want to Own a Portion of Property?

Property ownership can be extremely expensive. Consider for a moment what it might cost to own a second home in the vacation destination of your choice. Not only would you incur the massive initial cost, but you'd also be responsible for property taxes, local fees and maintenance costs. With your busy lifestyle, you'd probably only be able to make time for one or two vacations a year. The rest of the year, your property would sit unused. A timeshare will allow individuals to share the cost of property ownership among several individuals, thus allowing owners to pay for only what they use.

Will I be Stuck Vacationing in the Same Place Over and Over?

Not unless you want to be. Timeshares are very flexible. In fact, some 70% of timeshare owners have used their time at their home resort (the property that is deeded or contracted to them) to travel to one of thousands of timeshare locations all over the world.

In order to ensure this level of flexibility you'll want to make sure that the timeshare you purchase is affiliated with a vacation club (like Hilton or Marriott) or an exchange company (like RCI or Interval International). Their methods differ, but both of these organizations make it possible for owners to trade their time for time anywhere within the respective networks.

Are Timeshares Expensive?

We've already discussed the money-saving benefits that come from timeshares' shared ownership, but prices on timeshares for sale can vary greatly. When you buy directly from the resort, you can expect to pay a least a couple thousand for your property, and sometimes as much as $50,000. However, you can save thousands when you buy your timeshare resale. For as little as $1 (and generally the closing costs) you could end up with a lifetime of vacations where you'll pay only the maintenance fees annually or biennially.

Where Should I Vacation?

With a timeshare you'll have thousands of options, but there are some popular locations for sailors like you. Caribbean port towns, for example, tend to have hundreds of timeshares for sale and rent. The coasts of California and Florida also feature dozens of timeshare options. If you're looking for a more exotic escape, Mediterranean timeshares in locales like Greece are becoming increasingly popular.