Are Timeshares a Bad Investment? I Think Not!

I read with interest recently an article online that spoke about how timeshares are a bad investment. Some of the key points in the article were: 1. Due to inflation and the rising cost of money you don't want to tie up funds in a timeshare 2. Maintenance fees continue to rise with timeshares 3. Depreciation of your investment starting immediately 4. It is cheaper to rent a timeshare 5. Exchanges issue and the downside of vacationing in one spot From my personal point of view, timeshares are a great investment. Everything is life is not all about money. Although we all want to be careful to make good choices with our money, sometimes we "invest" or spend money on things that to others may not generate income, but have intrinsic value to us and our families personally that far out weigh the expense. I have derived more pleasure from some of my vacations at timeshare properties than I can put a monetary value on. Would I prefer instead to have invested that money in a certificate of deposit or in a stock and spent time admiring my portfolio? My answer is no! I am not advocating not managing your money wisely, but I am expressing that sometimes the joy derived from a boat, a nice car, a great vacation can mean more than a well-rounded portfolio. Here are my top five reasons why I have invested in a timeshare: 1. I have a great vacation every year. I work hard and look forward to my vacation in a beautiful resort that I can share with my friends. The resorts I typically chose are luxurious by typical hotel standards and a terrific value when compared to staying in a hotel in the same area. 2. I have been able to literally travel the world exchanging my timeshare for others in areas that i have wanted to visit and stay for a week. I have tried out new areas and have learned to love some parts of Mexico with a passion. 3. I love the ability to be able to rent out my timeshare to generate extra income. It is easy to do and at Timeshare Giant, I even offer free listing services for rentals. 4. I find that the quality of value, maintenance of the resort, and number of amenities of timeshares that I have stayed at an visited have been of better quality, value, and atmosphere than chain hotels in the same region. 5. The attitude of the people who stay in timeshares is simply different, we are all owners! There is a wonderful camaraderie and sense of pride. At my home timeshare, I see some of the same people every year. It has been wonderful to see how their families have grown. With every point of view there is an opposing one. I hope that as you make your own decision about timeshares you will weigh more than the dollars and cents.