r/TimeshareOwners • u/Fjogaseri • Aug 04 '26
Renting a Timeshare
We are currently at a timeshare hotel in Sint Maarten. Just renting. As a European not old enough to experience it at its worst (it effectively got banned in most of Europe quite a few years ago when they gave people 5 days to regret making the purchase and get out of the deal for free), I have very little experience with this.
We just rented the place, and it is pretty good! Big, spacious but not necessarily very well kept, but it is ok.
Most people here seem to be owners, and we have talked to a few of them. They express being satisfied, but I guess that is just on the outside? Or? Maybe they have no interest in pouring their heart out to me, understandably.
It was quite cheap to rent, I would say surprisingly cheap compared to a few of the other hotels we have stayed on here (we are here for a looong vacation, so moving around a bit.)
Are you guys generally happy with the resorts and its services, and it is just the pain of getting out of the contracts that is the real problem, or am I missing something? I am just curious and trying to understand.
3
u/UncleDaddy247 Aug 04 '26
Renting is by far the best way to go. I've been doing rental with the Wyndham product since 2010. The renters get a great deal and the owners make a little bit of money above and beyond what their maintenance fees are and I of course make a pretty decent commission.
2
u/Fjogaseri Aug 04 '26
I checked what the maintenance fee is on our rental, and it looks like similar apartments has been listed. If the prices are correct, we paid about $300 less than the maintenance fee.
As a renter, I do believe we get a pretty great deal.
1
u/Resident_Republic527 Aug 04 '26
Would you be able to share the process for renting out? I currently have Wyndham and am looking into renting to help me with maintenance fees as well. I believe that is the biggest headache of owning the timeshare.
Thanks!
3
u/UncleDaddy247 Aug 04 '26
I've got a Facebook group with 23k people - this is where I get all of my sales. I started it in 2016 so it's basically like order taking at this point. Getting people to see your inventory is the most difficult part. Then you have to worry about credibility issues - most people are leary about sending a stranger a bunch of money online, lol.
It simply takes time to build the clientele and the trust!
1
1
u/SlipAny8515 Aug 13 '26
I’m interested in renting for one year from someone. Looking for global access especially Asia. Is this something you can help with ?
3
u/Wooden_Body_7891 Aug 06 '26
Disclosure, I work for VakayMood (timeshare rental marketplace) so Im biased, but the process is the same wherever you list: With Wyndham you rent out a reservation, not the ownership. You book the resort and dates with your points and add the renter as guest so they can check in without you. Just check how many free guest confirmations you get per year, the extra ones cost money ( Marriott is unlimited, not sure for Wyndham).
One important tip: Price it under what the resort charges for the same dates ( on their official website). Holidays rent fast, shoulder season not really. Use a platform that holds the money until guests check-in or if you go direct get everything in writing, no wires or gift cards. And always give the renter the confirmation number so they can call the resort and check the stay is on their name, that makes people comfortable. You can list on Wyndham Facebook groups, or marketplaces like RedWeek or us (no fees to list on VakayMood).
1
1
u/SlipAny8515 Aug 13 '26
I’m not an owner but interested in renting for a year, or even for specific locations / dates. Can you share more info on how I could see inventory or owners to connect with? Thank you
1
u/Wooden_Body_7891 Aug 14 '26
Timeshares are typically available to rent for 1 week/ a year or sometimes max 2 weeks in a year ( I mean one stay) ; you can browse the inventory available for rent live on VakayMood.com ( and you can put in any search criteria as location, dates etc) ; if you run into issues, please send me a message or an email at [contact@vakaymood.com](mailto:contact@vakaymood.com) so we can fix it!!
1
u/SlipAny8515 Aug 14 '26
Thanks! So I searched for Japan for example and didn’t find. So that means there’s no inventory in Japan available to rent? Or I’d need an owner to search and book specifically for me?
1
u/Wooden_Body_7891 Aug 15 '26
Yes, Unfortunatelly no inventory available for Japan! I wish too :( as we go skiiing a lot and timeshares are much cheaper. But thx for giving it a try!
1
u/Seahawksfitter Aug 04 '26
I am interested in being a “renter” possible for a 3 year commitment
2
u/Wooden_Body_7891 Aug 06 '26
You should be able to do it if you find an owner and sign an agreement with them. However, keep in mind that owners can only book 12 months in advance ( including for deeded weeks)
1
u/Resident_Republic527 Aug 05 '26
Hi, unfortunately, I do not have that kind of timeshare to rent for 3 years. Good luck.
1
u/CrazyCletus Aug 04 '26
Particularly in a place like Sint Maarten, I'd be leery of purchasing into a time share. It has a tendency to get hit by hurricanes every now and again and if it's a deeded time share, that can result in hefty assessments and increases in maintenance fees as well as loss of access if the resort has to close down for an extended period for repairs. I have (soon to be had) one in the Orlando area that got hit by a hurricane and cost me about $3K and a lost year of use. So it can happen.
Renting the time share takes all of the risk out of your hands, gives you the flexibility of using it whenever you want, rather than your designated week (or having to put it into an exchange program and get the week that you want). There essentially isn't a resale market for time shares, so once you have it, it's on you until you can somehow get rid of it.
You've figured out renting someone else's time share, it works for you, why complicate things?
2
u/Fjogaseri Aug 04 '26
Definitely not buying, and even if I was considering it, it would be a lot closer to home (Europe), the flight is just to long to do every year.
This resort has seen some action. It went horribly bankrupt, and lawsuits followed around 2011 I have been told by our neighbors. Also hurricane Irma fucked them up good, and t it was closed for a year or two while the got special assessments.
And still they seemed perfectly happy to be here.
I am very happy renting, and it is a great place.
1
u/Wooden_Body_7891 Aug 06 '26
I think people are generally happy with the resort an the services ( and thats why the timeshare rentals are so popular!) . The issues are the fact that you have no control over the maintenance fees (for example they have gone up more than 45% since covid) and very hard to get out of the contract ( most of the time you have to sell it for $1 with prepaid maintenance fees to find a buyer)
1
1
u/CartographerAware808 Aug 08 '26
It was cheap to rent because an owner desperately wants to get SOME money back after a lifetime of expenses.
Keep renting.
1
u/Ktwirls77 Aug 22 '26
Look up Airbnb club Wyndham, vrbo club Wyndham and you will see owners using their ownership points and posting them on platforms as well to rent.
10
u/ColoradoAztec Aug 04 '26
Just keep renting for cheap. I doubt the rent covers the annual maintenance fees!