What is a Timeshare?~*~What is a five-star resort?~*~Why Own a Timeshare? ~*~ Weather in Mexico?~*~Season type 'Winter'?~*~ Float week?~*~Benefits of the Gold membership?~*~Maintenance fees?~*~Vacation Banking?~*~ Property taxes?~*~Who's who~*~Questions to Ask Before Buying~*~
Q.What is a Timeshare?
A. Timesharing started in Europe in the 1970's and the concept was simply an arrangement whereby a number of people joined to buy and run a holiday resort for their benefit. The idea worked well and spread throughout the world. Presently, there are several million timeshare owners. Vacation or timeshare ownership is a simple concept. Timeshare offers people the opportunity to purchase time at fully furnished vacation accommodations - usually in weekly increments - for a fraction of the cost of full vacation home ownership. Timeshare owners and renters experience luxurious resort accommodations that are rarely found in conventional hotel/motel rooms, but for a fraction of the cost. This is why timesharing is the fastest-growing segment of the global travel and tourism industry in the world today!
Q: What is a five-star resort?
A: The top rating given to a resort.
Q.Why Own a Timeshare?
Answer:
- Have an ownership interest in your favorite vacation destination.
- A great way to spend quality time with your family and friends.
- Can lock in tomorrow's vacations at today's prices.
- Flexibility - exchange, trade, or rent.
- Timeshare accommodations offer more room and amenities than most hotels.
- Timeshares are usually fully furnished, most with full size kitchen.
- Annual maintenance costs are shared by all owners and supervised by a management company, freeing you from the worry, hassles and inconvenience of owning a vacation home.
- Can pass on to your heirs (with exception of leased timeshares which expire after a predetermined length of time).
A. Mexico has two main climatic seasons: a rainy season (May to mid-Oct) and a dry season (mid-Oct to Apr). The rainy season can be of little consequence in the country's dry, northern region, but the southern regions typically receive tropical showers, which begin around 4 or 5 p.m. and last a few hours. Though these rains can come on suddenly and be quite strong, they usually end just as quickly as they begin, and they cool the air for the evening. Rainy season is when the landscape is most lush, and tropical flowers are everywhere. The lightning flashes offshore also make for a spectacular show. Hurricane season — June through October — particularly affects the Yucatán Peninsula and the southern Pacific coast. November might be the best month to travel to Mexico. The scenery is still green from the recently ended rainy season, and temperatures are just beginning to turn a bit cooler, which can produce crystal-clear skies. This is especially true in Los Cabos, when even the desert is in bloom. Crowds are also at a minimum, and you're likely to find some good deals. To read more ( click here).
Q. What is the meaning of Season type 'Winter' ?
A.Winter is the season to use your week. And if it is not fix, then can be exchanged and used in low season-Summer in Mexico without extra payments. "Winter Season" being weeks 1-17 and 44-50.
Q: What is a float week?
A: Vacation time that can be used anytime of the year based upon availability. Floating week -This style of timeshare means that the user has purchased a period of time (usually a season, winter, summer, etc.) in which they can choose one week. It doesn't have to be a season, it could be year around. This is most common in holiday hotspots where year round good weather is common/
Q. What is the difference between a "fixed" membership and a "floating" membership?
A. Fixed Memberships have use rights to a specified unit and week number while Floating Memberships have use rights within a specified season and unit type.
Q. What are the benefits of the Premier Membership ( Gold membership)?
A.With Gold Membership you may visit a Club resort one week and take a cruise another. Ownership of a Premier or Gold Membership allows you to make reservations at any UVC property and "split" your week between properties (i.e. 4 days in Puerto Vallarta and 3 days in Cabo within the same calendar year); "bank" your week(s) )without extra fee; accelerate your membership (use your week early); you may exchange one bedroom suite for two studios;use one unit now, and one later...
Q.What are maintenance fees?
A.An annual fee paid to maintain and improve the property.The cost of resort operation is spread among owners via an annual maintenance fee. The fee must also build up reserves to pay for non-recurring costs like furniture, appliances etc. that need periodic replacement and other capital costs as normal physical deterioration occurs. Cost is established by the developer or homeowners association.
Q. When are the Maintenance Fees due?
A. The maintenance fees are billed in October each year and are due upon receipt. The delinquency date is December 1. If you have purchased mid-year, your payment is due 60 days after the billing date.
Q. What are the "operating" and "reserves" portions of my Maintenance Fee bill?
A. Your Maintenance Fee is divided into two segments, the operating portion and the reserves portion. The operating funds are used for daily operations of the resorts (housekeeping, maintenance and front desk etc.) and the Club office. The reserve portion is set aside for refurbishments, improvements or repair that the resorts may require in future.
Q.What is Vacation Banking?
A. Vacation Banking is an option offered through the Club allowing you to "save" your vacation weeks each year. The fee for Vacation Banking is $70 per week, per year and must be completed prior to your reservation deadline. (There is no fee for Gold and VPA Members)
Q. How much are property taxes for the Club?
A. You, as a member of the Club, are not responsible for paying property tax.
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Who's who
Q. Who is the Universal Vacation Club?
A. The Universal Vacation Club ( www.MyUVC.com) is the Homeowners Association for the Villa del Mar, Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, Villa del Palmar Flamingos Nuevo Vallarta resorts and Villa Del Arco. The Club is responsible for arranging reservations, assisting with member service inquiries, and collecting maintenance fees.
Q. Who is the Villa Group?
A.The Villa Group(VillaGroupResorts.com),has a 20 plus year corporation, offers high end and family oriented, all-suites accommodations, facilities and services in its properties in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas & Nuevo Vallarta. The first property of the group was Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta, a Resort that quickly became a star seller for the destination. The success of that first project encouraged the owners: Fernando Gonzalez, Owen Perry & Luz Maria Torres, to expand into Cabo San Lucas where Villa del Palmar Cabo successfully started operations. Now that destination also hosts its sister Resorts, Villa La Estancia Cabo, Luxury High-end Resort and flagship of the corporation, as well as the recently inaugurated Villa del Arco Cabo, a high-end, family oriented property.
Q. What is Interval International (II) or Resort Condominium International (RCI)?
A.The two largest exchange companies. They are responsible for 98% of all exchanges. Membership is limited to owners at the resorts in their network, all of which have met their rigorous criteria for quality.Interval International is second in Timeshare exchange services to only RCI.com (Resort Condominiums International, LLC) in popularity throughout the world.
Questions to Ask Before Buying:
- Will I have deeded ownership or right-to-use ownership (lease)?
- What days will I be able to stay at my timeshare-and is this a fixed or floating week?
- If the resort uses a floating-week program, how long in advance can I make my reservation?
- What are the annual maintenance fees and taxes?
- Are there any special assessments pending against the resort?
- Does the timeshare resort belong to an exchange program such as RCI or Interval International?
- Can I "bank" my week if I'm unable to use it during my assigned week?
- Can I read a copy of the Covenants, Codes and Restrictions before I decide to buy?
- How will the closing paperwork and deed transfer be handled?
Collaboration of questions and answers courtesy of www.MyUVC.com www.VacationTimeShareRentals.com, www.tug2.net and www.VillaGroupResorts.com
