They bait you with discounted helicopter tours, dinner cruises, snorkeling and diving trips, and more. They hook you by locking you in to a ninety-minute presentation by a commissioned salesperson endeavoring to sell you their “best and newest” plan or product. They reel you in by pampering you with an unrelenting spread of fresh fruit, tea, coffee, pastries and luncheon meats. After, which, they discuss very casually and informally, the perks and benefits of indulging in their service.  

This is how timeshare corporations have won the hearts, souls and wealth of numerous globetrotting travelers and infrequent vacationers alike. You’re probably saying to yourself “I would never consider buying a timeshare” and believe me, the three of us were repeating the same mantra as we parked our Maui Beater below ground and climbed the stairwell that led out onto the Ka’anapali Beach Resort’s immaculate grounds.

Several days prior, my family and I had taken advantage of a deeply discounted sunset cruise and dinner aboard the “impeccable” Pride of Maui. We typically strive to avoid touristy activities such as these, but we figured it would be a great opportunity to see some whales up close and watch the sun dip down over the horizon. The open bar, buffet-style meal and live music were appreciated as well. Avid as we are to keep our vacations as off-the-beaten-path as possible, the sunset cruise was a great way to spend the evening. We saw numerous whales, some breaching several hundred feet from the bow of the ship, and others repeatedly slapping their dorsal fin on the ocean surface as if to applaud the circus going on aboard the ships’ deck. For $300 tacked off the original price, all we had to do was sit and listen to a ninety-minute spiel at one of Maui’s five star hotels, doff our hats and say “no thank you” and walk out the door.

We ended up staying for four hours. Paul, our timeshare salesman, effectively and masterfully manipulated our minds into seeing the long-term benefits of investing in a timeshare with Diamond Resorts. Unlike RCI or II, both big-time timeshare corporations, a membership with Diamond Resorts means that you actually own the property you invest in. You can sell it, rent it, will it to others, and most importantly you can use it. Anytime you want. Without any extra costs or hidden fees. In addition, Diamond Resorts has created a point system based on equity. The more desirable the property, the more points it receives annually. Take a one-bedroom apartment on Maui for example. Compared to a one-bedroom suite in the boondocks of Arkansas, Maui is paradise. Therefore, one week luxuriating in the Maui apartment would be worth three weeks or so tramping through the Ozarks. It sounded too good to be true.    

The price? Well, it seemed to fluctuate quite a bit. An initial estimate was scratched on paper, something like $29,000 plus a one-time club enrollment fee of $2995 and a monthly maintenance fee of $430. More scratching and scratching out and the price was down to $22,000 and the enrollment fee was waived. I looked away, then glanced back down at the paper and $12,684 was ensnared within a web of black ink circles. $32,000 down to $12,500? I was ready to sign my life away. Obviously, they wanted us to buy then and there. We were reminded several times that once we walked out that polished oak door with frosted glass, the slashed prices would be null and if we did decide to purchase a timeshare, we would have to pay full price. Furthermore, the equity package was only available to vacationers already on Maui.

Luckily, I don’t have the requirements, not to mention the means, to purchase a timeshare at this time in my life. But, it did get me thinking. If I could buy an intangible piece of property that I could pack in my suitcase and take with me all over the world, I would never have to worry about finding a place to stay when I travel. I could use it simply as a home base and spend the days partaking in the more off-the-beaten-path adventures that, to me, define a real vacation.

The final result? We did walk out of that polished oak door with frosted glass with no contract signed. Even after viewing an ocean view room complete with a lavish bathroom, wraparound deck and equipped kitchenette, we couldn’t bring ourselves to lay $12,000 down flat. But they weren’t done with us yet. An encore representative met us in the lobby with one more offer. If we bought a seven-night stay at any Diamond Resort hotel ranging from Orlando, Florida to Tahoe, California to Kauai Hawaii for $995, the timeshare price (in our case, $12,684) would be frozen for 18 months. We could purchase it at any time, even if we aren’t vacationing on Hawaii. Sounds great. Sign us up, ensure our next family vacation and send us on our way.

Timeshare companies do their best to bait, hook and reel in their clients by offering discounts on activities and adventures, but the final product is not a fried fish on a silver platter. They are out to get you, yes, but a timeshare can be a great investment, especially for those, like me, who love to travel. Most people think of timeshare vacations as resort-ish and overpopular, but places such as Nepal, Ecuador, and Alaska are often unspoiled and perfect for the adventurous traveler. So my advice is to delight in the next-to-free snorkel trip or horseback ride, then sit through the ninety-minute presentation. There is no obligation to buy a timeshare then and there, but it may open your eyes to a new, and perhaps easier, way to travel that will no doubt save you money on vacation expenses in the future.