Know before you buy -- Written by TSD Staff

Timeshares are an extremely popular way to spend your holiday vacations. Today, more than half a million families are timeshare owners in Europe.

With well over five thousand resorts around the world and several timeshare formats available, consumers need better insights on how timeshare systems work. Before you buy a timeshare, make sure to check all the necessary details in the equation.

Gotimeshare.org gives helpful tips to the potential buyer: “If you have received an offer of a short break at a timeshare resort, this gives you the chance to experience timeshare first-hand before you commit to buying. Being able to talk to owners is the real test— if they are not happy they won’t hesitate to tell you! Developers do not expect this to be the case, however, which is why they encourage you to take these breaks and mingle with fellow guests.”

There is a legal requirement to give all buyers a cooling off period. The minimum is 10 days, in UK it is 14.

Timeshare presentations have not had the best reputation. Most have had a bad experience with these short talks, from pressure selling to scamming. However, industry regulators are now cleaning up timeshares with these unprofessional practices. Today, the industry is considered an integral part of the tourism industry.

Presentations are a great way for you to learn more about timeshares: what it is, its costs, and other information.