Quick question: What’s the difference between a timeshare vacation and staycation?
 
We know – this is kinda easy…
 
Or is it?
 
For one, on a timeshare vacation you’re supposed to go someplace special instead of staying at home.
 
Second, a timeshare vacation should require some planning, reservations, etc., while you can “stay at home,” well…just about any time.
 
Finally, you know you’ll have some expenses associated with the timeshare vacation while your staycation should be, one would hope, pretty much cost-free.
 
Yup… telling the difference between  timeshare vacation and a staycation should be easy, unless your timeshare is with Hilton Grand Vacations.
 
Then again… as this Hilton owner discovered, the only difference between a Hilton Grand Vacations experience and a staycation?  With Hilton you have to spend a lot of money just to stay home!
 
We found their story among the hundreds of complaints against Hilton on file with the Better Business Bureau – and it’s quite the tale.
 
“In regard to our Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare ownership: We have reached out several times due to several unmet expectations and misconceptions that were presented to us during the sales process, but they seem unwilling to help us.”
 
Imagine that.
 
“We were told there would be no blackout dates, which influenced our decision to invest in the timeshare membership. However, we have not been able to find any availability when looking, and in fact, we have never even used the membership.”
 
So much for actually leaving town on vacation.
 
 “We were assured of the flexibility of using the timeshare, specifically, that usage would be easy and accommodating to our schedules. This has not been our experience at all.”
 
And for making plans…
 
“We were told our maintenance fees would total approximately $1100. To our astonishment, upon receiving the statement, we discovered they now amount to $3,000.”
 
A nearly 300% increase!
 
Now that’s the kind of timeshare vacation difference you DON’T want to experience.
 
“This unexpected increase, nearly tripling the anticipated cost, is unjustifiable to us, especially considering we have never utilized the timeshare.”
 
In other words, they’re paying thousands of dollars in vacation expenses a year – and going nowhere!  Now that is an expensive staycation…
 
And it hardly seems fair.
 
You’d think Mark Wang, the CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations, would be concerned that Hilton owners end up paying so much just to stay home. But maybe he isn’t. Maybe that’s just part of the plan. Let’s email him at mark.wang@hgv.comand find out.
 
We should also reach out to Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trade association that represents the timeshare industry in Washington, DC. Let’s see if he thinks charging Hilton timeshare owners thousands of dollars while not letting them actually go on vacation is good for the industry’s reputation. His email is jgamel@arda.org. 
 
Doesn’t it seem that a prospective time share owner should know exactly what they are getting themselves into when they commit to such an expensive vacation?  Well, it would seem we are not alone. 

Two U.S. Senators, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) have introduced the Timeshare Transparency Act (S.3502). 
Essentially, it’s a long overdue “bill of rights” to prevent timeshare consumers from being sold a dream and delivered a nightmare. The Timeshare Transparency Act (TTA) is a bipartisan effort that sets out clear, commonsense requirements for timeshare companies, so consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing:  

• Total Cost Disclosure: Requires a single document itemizing all acquisition and maintenance costs (including fee increases).
• 14-Day Cancellation Period: Grants buyers in all states a 14-day, penalty-free period to cancel contracts.
• Exit Options: Requires clear, documented procedures for exiting ownership.
• Review Period: Allows buyers to review documents privately without high-pressure sales staff present.
• FTC Enforcement: Empowers the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these regulations. 

If you agree, contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. House Representative.  Tell them you support the Timeshare Transparency Act (S.3502).  Share your own timeshare horror story. Tell your representatives you’re tired of seeing families “misled and flat-out lied to” by an industry that seems to value profits over fairness and transparency.

• Find your Senator: senate.gov
• Find your Representative: house.gov

Tired of having your timeshare company charge you thousands of dollars a year but not let you leave home? Use this list of ARDA VIPs to tell your company’s leaders it’s time to stop.
  
How much are your involuntary timeshare staycations costing you? Let us know at info@timesharefacts.com 
  
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