With most timeshares focusing on middle-class family vacation needs, a former timeshare developer named Rob McGrath saw a niche market in the luxury timeshare market, and decided to launch clubs targeting affluent families that want the benefits of second home ownership.  These clubs, known as Destination Clubs, basically use the same model as a timeshare.  In exchange for a one-time upfront membership fee, and annual membership dues, a member is able to access a roster of luxury vacation homes around the world, which can be booked based on availability and reservation priorities.
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Operating under the name Point to Point Destinations, or West Coast Timeshare Ltd., this Vancouver, BC based company has been selling points based timeshares since their inception in 1999. In recent years there have been a number of time share owners speaking out against PTP Destinations, and looking for help in dealing with their PTP Destinations timeshare purchase. There is hope for the many PTP Destinations timeshare owners out there looking for assistance. There is an excellent web timeshare resource dedicated to informing, warning, and educating consumers about PTP timesharing called TimeshareRevealed.com. TimeshareRevealed.com is working to mobilize, help, and inform unhappy PTP Destinations timeshare owners, and assist them in taking action against the company.
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Ever thought of trading your timeshare week for a cruise, or using your RCI points toward a week long adventure at sea? As many of you may already know, RCI owners are able to book cruises through RCI timeshare exchange by applying unused points, borrowing points from a future year, or banking and trading a weeks time share. RCI will generally use the option for cruise vacations as a selling point for their program, but are they really a good deal? This article will explore the ways to book a cruise through RCI, and look at whether or not trading your timeshare for a cruise is worth it.
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1. Direct Exchange

The most basic, and cost-effective, way of exchanging timeshare is owner to owner. This requires finding another timeshare owner willing to exchange their week for yours.  Once an agreement has been made between both parties, you would each notify the resort and obtain a guest pass for the party staying in the timeshare during your scheduled week.  The best ways to find parties interested in direct timeshare exchanges is by using websites like Craigslist, Timex and Timeshare Forums, or using your own personal social networks.

Some resorts offer an exchange program within their particular group of resorts.  There are a number of smaller, independent resorts that take part in this type of program, although it is not always advertised.  Many timeshare management companies will offer this benefit as part of there management services in order to avoid a high turnover rate within their resort.  The fees associated with this type of exchange are usually minimal because you are staying within a select group of accommodations, and tend to cost less than a timeshare exchange company’s fees.

3. Timeshare Exchange Company

Timeshare exchange companies allow you to “bank” your week with them, and in exchange you get to choose from their inventory of weeks that other timeshare owners have banked.  You also have the opportunity to use points within this system, being able to stay at certain locations based on the amount of points you own.  Also, outside resorts will bank there unsold timeshare weeks with exchange companies to increase their inventory. Your week and room size will determine your trading power with the exchange company. The most popular exchange companies are II (Interval International, RCI (Resort Condominiums International), Marriott and Disney.

Timeshare ownership requires that yearly maintenance fees be paid by the owners to assure that the resort is kept up to date and well maintained. These fees cover the cost of running the resort, landscaping, physical property maintenance, insurance, utilities, and replacement of fixtures, furniture and appliances. Maintenance fees also cover the costs of special events and entertainment offered by the resort, as well as offsetting the cost of reduced airfare, car rentals and event tickets. How much you will be held responsible for when calculating yearly maintenance fees depends on what type of time share you own.
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