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Bargain Travel Europe guide to Europe on a budget for unusual destinations, travel tips and secret spots.

TRAVEL EUROPE WITH TIMESHARES
Own Your Share of Travel Options

Okay, a lot of people think of timeshares as that resort place that gives you an invitation for a “free” trip and then locks you in a room with 120 other guests and makes you sit through a sales pitch, water-boarding you until you buy a condo in a beautiful place you’ll get bored with after two trips. But for those who take regular vacations, buying a timeshare doesn’t mean you’re stuck in one spot and can be a budget-friendly option for varied travel destinations. There are timeshare properties all over the world in some of the most gorgeous romantic resort destinations which you can access through Affiliation Networks and Vacation Clubs.

Purchase an Affiliated Property

Europe is a land of world-renowned travel destinations and quiet little surprises. One can't help but want to explore every corner of this excitingly diverse continent. One little-considered way to explore the ins and outs of Europe is to buy a timeshare, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore the rest of the world as well. Many travelers shy away from timeshares for fear of being tied to one location for the rest of their lives, but with timeshares, quite the opposite is true. When used correctly, a vacation property can actually be very flexible. There are a few things you'll want to consider when purchasing a timeshare if you're planning on using it to travel the globe. It's affiliation with an expansive exchange company (like RCI or Interval International) is the most important characteristic if you're planning on purchasing a home resort in a place that you'll return again and again.

Trade Your Home Resort

Here's how it works: if you've found a location that you've fallen in love with, like Spain's Canary Islands, for example, it makes sense to purchase a timeshare there so that you'll be able to return to this favored vacation destination every year. However, it's important to have the option to travel to other locations. That's why you'll want to ensure that your property is affiliated with one or both of the large exchange companies. These corporations work something like an exclusive travel club that your ownership offers you membership with. You can trade your week at your home resort for a week anywhere within their broad network. The next year, when your usage resumes, you an either return to your original destination or trade it in again to travel somewhere else.

Or Buy a Vacation Club

The above method is perfect if you've found a European destination that you'll want to return to again and again. But what if you'd prefer to explore as many places on this vast and diverse continent as possible? You might want to buy timeshare with a vacation club. These clubs work much like traditional timeshares in that they'll generally allot owners one or more weeks every year, but differ in that, rather than assigning individuals to a specific resort, vacation clubs make a wide array of locations available to choose from every year, though every location may not will be available when you want it. They'll generally (though not always) work on a point system whereby the club will give owners a certain number of points every year or every other year (depending on the package selected) with which they can "purchase" time at any resort they choose within the network. With a vacation club, you could travel the rural villages of France one year, golf the week away in Scotland the next.

Do Your Research Online

There are timeshares for sale all over Europe, and they can take you all over the world. If you think you'd like to buy a timeshare, but aren't sure where to begin your search, don't get out of your seat just yet. The internet is a great place to find timeshares for sale, especially if you're shopping on the resale market. Resale is recommended if you're working within a budget or if you don't have the time to attend several aggressive sales pitches that resorts will subject new buyers to when they sell timeshare. Additionally, when you shop online you'll have hundreds of resorts available at your fingertips. Be aware there are some hucksters online and phishing schemes so take your time, do your research, make sure the company you're dealing with is reputable, consider your lifestyle and see if timeshares are right for you.

These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.

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