Explain to me all-inclusives...and timeshares.

[TangoWedding]

We're beginning to plan our one-year anniversary trip (what we call the "real honeymoon"). His parents have a time share they're letting us use. It's in Dominican Republic and looks super nice. Can't wait!!

But, like everything else, I'm confused.

So...first....how does an all-inclusive work?

It includes all your food and drink while you're there, right? So how do you do that? Do you have a little card that says you've paid for an all-inclusive and they give you whatever you want? Is there a cap on it (say, you can only spend $xx per meal or you can only have xx drinks per day)? Does room service count? Desserts? Is it 2 meals a day? 3? 4?)

Then...how does a timeshare typically work?

I looked up the hotel online and a week's stay there is about $3000. If you have a timeshare, do you just pay part of that? Or all of it? Or none of it? I don't know what it really means. (I could ask his parents, I guess, but you're all smart and more readily available. LOL)

What say you who know?

Thanks! :grinhappy:

[Dani]

My parents have a time share, and what I believe that means, they can go when they want to as it is reserved for them with a beach front view. As for meals, they get like 20% if they eat at the hotel.

As for all inclusive, I am not sure about that one. I mean, some people are bigger eaters, and drinkers than some, unless its a flat rate and that is what you are charged? I am anxious to find out, I am sorry that I am no help.

[WebLady]

From what I understand about all inclusive stays there is usually some sort of card you get; room service and alcohol are not usually included.

That was how our cruise was; there was no card there though since the whole cruise was the same. There were 3 meals a day served in the dining rooms at specific times, then you could get food pretty much 24 hrs a day at the buffet. But some of these type places may have different rules.

The only thing I know about a time share is that it is sort of like a rental property that is shared by multiple people - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeshare

[ger]

My parents have a time share in the Black Hills. For the money they pay each year, they get to stay there 2 full weeks out of the year. They have to call in advance to make sure there is a spot available when they want to be there...then, in essence they get to spend that time for "free". It's a beautiful cabin right next to great snow skiing...so usually they use one week in the winter and take the grandkids. The other week, they try to go in the summer.

[KMS]

I've never personally done an all inclusive, but have had friends who did them. They all wore arm bands that proved they were an all inclusive guest. None of them had spending caps, but they complained about having to pay extra for top shelf liquor because the well liquor was the only thing included. I don't remember them saying anything about food.

Chad's brother owns a timeshare. He payed thousands of dollars for the ownership to be able to stay there once (maybe twice) a year for a week and pays a yearly maintenance fee. We actually stayed in his timeshare for our honeymoon. For us, it was just like a regular resort stay. Since we were there as a "guest" of a timeshare owner; we got a better room than non owners. Many people commented on how lucky we were to be in an ocean view 8th floor suite. We were also directly given a room while non owners waiting hours for their rooms upon checkin. It was an amazing stay, but timeshares seem kinda shady to me.

[firespirit]

Is it an all-inclusive time share?


I've been to an all-inclusive before and basically you pay a set amount and eat and drink all you want on the property. That is typically what all-inclusive means. In Jamaica, all-inclusive did include alcohol (beer and simple drinks) however, I don't think they usually have room service. I would think that eventually most people would get tired or sick of drinking all day long and the prices for all-inclusive do tend to be quite a bit higher.

I believe a time share is basically you buy 1/26 or 1/52 or something like that of a piece of property. Then you are allowed to go there for a time determined by the percentage of the property you own. I don't know what happens for determining who gets what weeks, especially the popular weeks.


ETA: At the all-inclusive places we wore those plastic wristbands to identify if we were staying in the hotel or day guests. There was no top shelf liquor because the place did not take cash or credit cards at the bars at all.

[bichonlvr]

Which place in the DR? I can help a lot with this one..my SIL is from there :) Wanna see some pics :) LOCAL ones?!?! :)

It is all different...some timeshares in the DR offer a food package....I would NOT suggest it, because you can get food in so many different places, like the food trucks on the beach!!! Hope you like fish....Last time I was in the DR we stayed at an all inclusive and it was EVERYTHING! We could go to any restaurant, etc and eat and drink!

Generally, with timeshares you BUY it and then may yearly maintenance fees.

[Nekochanpurr]

i must be the weird one out.. I've never even heard of timeshares till i came to this website! :D

[PGDesigns]

My dad has a timeshare in Florida. He's actually leaving this weekend to go down for a week. With his, my parents paid several thousands dollars almost 20 years ago. They technically own "week 28" of one particular condo. He pays yearly maintenance fees but does not have to pay for his stay the week he is there (only food, golf, etc, but owners get a discount.)

It is amazing the transformation we have seen there. They are ALWAYS adding something new and upgrading amenities. Despite that, they do it in a way that construction and everything does not disturb the guests. It was started by the guy who founded Holiday Inns, Kemmons Wilson.

Now, if he decided to swap to another resort, stay a different week, or swap the 2bdrm condo for a 1 or 3 bdrm, he could do that as long as he let them know ahead of time to find an available one and paid a transfer fee. He can also spacebank his week and use it the next year of he was not able to utilize it this year.

A lot of timeshares are only good for 25 years. However, the one my parents bought is good forever as long as the yearly fees are paid and such. I will be inheriting it from my dad.

[SerendipityCrafts]

I haven't done a time share but we have been to an all inclusive resort twice. You can find one for as little as $700 a week but just note - a 3 star resort won't have all the amenities that a 5 star resort will have. Their rating system isn't like ours so I would look for 4 1/2 stars and above. We got a last minute deal on our trip and paid $1500 all in (plus taxes + airport fees).

All inclusive resorts are just what they say - everything is included. Everyone there has paid up front and so there is no need for bracelets or tickets and no one keeps tab of what you consume. Some drink alot and some don't so if you don't want to party hearty - don't go during spring break or you will be kept awake by all the revelers LOL

You can eat as much as you want and you can drink as much as you want and go to all the nightly shows or resort activities that you can handle. You will only need cash for tips, souvenirs, resort "extras" like massages and day excursions off the resort (ie swimming with the dophins, para sailing, horse back riding).

The employees are not paid all that well and it seemed that the norm for tips was $1 or so at the bars or buffet style restaurants, and $5 in the restaurants where you were served. We brought TONS of small and dollar store items that they can't get there to leave as tips for the chamber maids and others. Sometimes these items are more valuable to them than cash. If you go this route, let me know and I will give you some tips.

This guy was a riot and so he was tipped well!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/340927620_bb30340a53.jpg

One of the buffet style restaurants on the resort
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/340911192_71b82f8a88.jpg

Oh yes, don't loose sight of your towel! LOL We were issued a beach towel at the resort where we stayed. We could change it for a fresh one as frequently as we wanted but if we lost it, they would charge us $30 for a new one!!! Someone stole my towel, on our second to last day, from my lounge chair at the pool. I was probably chatting it up with the guy above at the swim up bar.

Despite her guilty conscience, my 80 year old mother stole another from someone else, whilst she was out for her early morning walk. Of course, we couldn't let this go without a joke -

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/342375616_29a1e0ef89_o.jpg

If you are interested, you can see more pics from our last trip here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/serendipitycrafts/sets/72157594451904431/

[Jacklynn]

I don't really know anything about time shares but as far as all-inclusive it really depends on the resort. The resort Matt and I were going to go on, on our honeymoon included everything. All food, as much or little as you want, including various room service items. It also included unlimited alcoholic drinks, everything from beer to speciality drinks.

My parents just returned from a cruise in May and all of their food was included except the speciality dining. Their cruise did include room service. They had to pay for alcohol and if they wanted to they could have purchased a $50 "Soda Card" that would have got them umlimited sodas but they didn't do that. But even that varies from cruise to cruise just like resorts vary. uhhh I dk why I am talking about cruises? Maybe I saw someone say something about cruises... anyways now I am just blabbing

[Jacobs_Girl]

So would timeshare be better? More costly?

We were considering some time share because we vacation at least 3 times a year. with multiple trips to NY to visit my parents.

[PGDesigns]

Price varies tremendously depending on what type of resort and accommodations you want.

My family's timeshare is at a resort that caters to both small and large families (1-4bdrm villas, plus studio rooms) Our 2bdrm villa can sleep 8 comfortably without people sleeping on the floor or anything. One thing to keep in mind about timeshares, though, is that most of them can not be changed at the last minute due to most people having assigned weeks. You also have to pay to change weeks.

On the other hand, we have never changed our week, though we have added an extra week several times by moving to another open villa on the property, and it had to be booked far in advance.

Having the assigned week makes it very easy in a lot of ways, though. We always know when our vacation will be. My dad plays golf almost daily there and meets up with his golf friends from around the country. They all keep the same week, so they always get to hang out on the golf course.

In our case, paying the initial $13k up front was well worth it because even with the yearly fee, this is a property we have access to forever and can pass it on from generation to generation.

Here is the resort (http://www.orangelake.com/home.html).

[TangoWedding]

Oh my. So much information to sort through. Thanks!

I know that they have a timeshare where they can pick from a TON of places to go....not just a single hotel nor just a single country, even.

Here's the hotel we chose. Paradisus Punta Cana (http://www.paradisuspuntacana.travel/gallery/). Bichonlvr, do you know anything about this place, by chance? And..I'd love to see local pictures!!!! :grinhappy:


And...heh....I just found this on their website:


What's All-Inclusive?

All Paradisus all-inclusive resorts are designed to eliminate the stress of vacation decision-making and provide you an unlimited array of dining, entertainment and leisure options for one reasonable price. What does that really mean? At Paradisus, you never have to take out your wallet to pay for dinner, a drink or an umbrella on the beach. That's because all of your meals, snacks, alcoholic beverages, non-motorized water sports, land sports and more are included in the price. All you have to do is enjoy the endless list of amenities, activities and luxuries that are always available at Paradisus all-inclusive resorts.
Our all-inclusive resorts feature:

Unlimited breakfast, lunch and snacks
Fine dining
Non-motorized water and land sports
Unlimited cocktails and drinks
Hotel taxes
Tips and gratuitiesI guess that's my answer, huh? LOL!

Now, I assume that they get the room for free. Assume. I also know that there is an all-inclusive fee. I wonder what that will be if it includes all that?? :ooh:

[firespirit]

Now, I assume that they get the room for free. Assume. I also know that there is an all-inclusive fee. I wonder what that will be if it includes all that?? :ooh:

For the timeshare thing, there are programs where your timeshare week or whatever can be "traded" for other places.... but anyhoo...

There is a place in Jamaica that allows all-inclusive day-passes. The fee for that is $60 per person and you are allowed to stay on the property and eat and drink till like 6pm. This is offered to the cruise ship people that com in.

If you are staying at an apartment next to that resort, you can get the day passes for $40 per person.

Since you are actually staying on the hotel property, I would expect the all-inclusive fee might be closer to the second price, maybe even less.

[bichonlvr]

Did you see they have Tango lesson?? HA HA!!!!

[bichonlvr]

Here are some pics...

Remember when I was there it was before it got very touristy....

The beaches there are WAY prettier then my fav place (Hawaii)
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Not so pretty this is what the "houses" look like this is the outlying areas, not by the resorts!
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Our hotel...which was right by yours :)
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[bichonlvr]

The Dominican Fam, can you tell which one is my stepbro?!?!?! :bbeek:...

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[RosieAngel]

The Dominican Fam, can you tell which one is my stepbro?!?!?! :bbeek:...

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That makes me want to sing that song from Sesame Street: "One of these things is not like the others..." :lafhard: