In Reply to: timeshare question posted by aim on Friday, 4. May 2012 at 08:30 Bali Time:
You could go with one of the timeshare sellers and have a free lunch to find all this out and give someone his commission, of course you wouldn't have to buy!
We had timeshare purchased in Australia for years, cost $2,000.00 sold 10 years later for same price! We used in the early days only in Australia then later years travelled to Bali as exchange, also Switzerland. Worked well for us, could have worked better if we could choose time off anytime like retirees can travel anytime!
So you buy your week, you can stay at the purchased hotel one week each year, some timeshares you have to go at the designated week you have bought, some allow you to go anytime in the year. You pay a yearly maintenance fee and when you actually stay you may have to pay a service fee for the week as well.
If you decide to exchange your week to another hotel you will still pay your yearly maintenance fee and you will pay at your destination the service fee ALSO a exchange fee to an exchange company if you have used one, most you have to.
If you use the timeshare correctly you can win, get bonus weeks added to your purchased week for one off stays at very discounted prices, going in off peak times etc..
Most timeshares are apartment type hotels with self contained faculties, handy for families.
Hope this helps, if you check the archives you will find more info.