Modern timesharing started in Europe many years ago and was simply an arrangement whereby a number of parties joined together to buy and operate a holiday resort for their mutual benefit. It worked well, and the idea spread throughout the world, including Australia in 1978, to the stage where there are now several million timeshare owners. The modern timeshare resort is professionally managed and there are businesses which can arrange the trading of entitlements in one resort for entitlements in any one of hundreds of other resorts. The system of exchanging entitlements is fairly elaborate but is well known to all timeshare owners who wish to avail themselves of it.
Timeshare owners are just that - owners. That means that what they own they can bequeath, rent out, sell, (and Time Again Timeshares is the cheapest and best way to do that) or otherwise enjoy their asset.
Essentially, timesharing is that simple. And if the resort is well constructed, well sited and well run it is a great way to enjoy your holidays - for a very long time.
If you have a preference for a particular resort, (and a quite substantial number of timeshare owners are in this category), you can be certain of securing your holiday at that resort. You will be sure of accommodation for the number of weeks that you own, plus, in many cases, the right to further occupancy at highly discounted rates. If you own what is called a 'floating week', your entitlement must be taken during certain nominated periods of the year. Those periods are quite lengthy and generally exclude school holiday periods. If, on the other hand, you wish to secure a particular time during the year you will want to buy a 'fixed week'. Timesharing is flexible enough to cater for nearly all personal preferences.
For those who like variety, and have a taste for the exotic, timesharing offers a great deal. Nearly all timeshare owners in Australia have the ability to swap the entitlements they own for the entitlements someone else owns. And the variety is astonishing; nearly three thousand resorts right around the world, from Wollongong to Wales, from the topical to the Tropical, from the exhilarating to the excruciating, from the ...well, you get the idea. For more information on swapping click here.
Some resorts, at some times, offer to owners what are often called 'bonus weeks'. What they are is the right to additional weeks accommodation, at very reduced rates. It may not be possible for you to personally avail yourself of these offers very often - but you don't have to use them yourself. You could let friends or other family members take advantage. You could use them as a present, or a way of avoiding you-know-who for a while. For more information on bonus weeks click here.
Some holidays are for slothfulness and gluttony; others are for tranquillity and a comfortable book. Exploration and exuberant activity attract some of us, whilst , for some of us some of the time, socialising and making friends is what is wanted. One of the special aspects of timesharing is the sense of community that comes from common ownership. Owners have a greater stake in things and co-owners have an immediate shared interest which can lead to friendships and happy reunions. Socialising isn't compulsory, but it can add a lot to your holiday.
Your views on amenities, maintenance, decor and so on, really matter. You have the opportunity, but not the obligation, of participating. Like socialising, it isn't compulsory but it is available.
Timesharing is not an investment product and is not intended as a way of making money as such. It is, though, a financial commitment to your leisure and enjoyment. It is an enduring asset and many thousands of individuals and families around the world have decided that putting some part of their resources into a timeshare makes sense. Wealth can be stored in many ways, from cold hard cash in the hand to such esoteric things as options on the futures market. But small bits of wealth can also be stored in assets which can be enjoyed - like antiques, and jewellery and timeshares.
Firstly, you should have a good look at the resorts on this web site, (there is quite a variety) and then go through some of the points listed here.
1. What do you want to do on those holidays which you will have at your resort ? Decide on your preferred activities and then select the resorts which offer the activities and amenities you require.
2. Make sure you know exactly where the resort is and how you can get there. Are you able and willing to drive, is nearness to your starting point or the nearest airport important? Remember, Australia is a BIG PLACE. It stretches for thousands of kilometres and the weather varies greatly from place to place. Each resort has a link to another page showing comprehensive weather details for that area. Be aware of the great variations in weather from the tropical north to the temperate south. There are also, in some places, great weather variations between the seasons. (If you live in the northern hemisphere, please don't be offended if we remind you that the seasons are different Down Under. Here, Christmas is in the Summer.)
3. How much accommodation do you need. A studio or one bedroom should be enough for most singles or couples. You can of course buy more space than you need but there is a cost. On the other hand, if you are one of those who expect to be trading your holiday entitlement for accommodation elsewhere, it would be advantageous to have a larger unit to swap. Also, a larger unit would allow you to invite others to join you from time to time.
4. Is the time of the year important to you ? Apart from the weather, there are important reasons why the time of the year needs to be carefully considered. If you are providing holidays for your family, the timing of school holidays will be a critical factor in your decision. Australian school holidays are very popular times for timeshares and consequently the cost of buying a timeshare at these times is that much higher. If you are an overseas buyer the calendar will of course be different. Conversely, you may have a positive aversion to school holidays and benefit from the lower cost of a timeshare at another time.
5. How much do you want to spend. Resorts in Australia vary in quality as much as they do elsewhere. The price of the timeshare for sale gives a guide to it's general quality - but it is only a general guide.
6. The legalities of transferring ownership in a timeshare are governed, in part, by the Australian Securities Commission. The current owner will be aware of the formalities from their resort managers.
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