Travel plan idea blog

Bahamas timeshare trouble

In 2004, a hurricane hit the Bahamas and Tyne Beach Terrace was damaged. Timeshare owners there have a problem because the resort is still closed and "their annual fees went from $275 to over $700".

That's a big jump, but maybe timeshare owners are responsible for some of the rebuilding costs. However, since Tyne Beach Terrace was later condemned now the timeshare owners really want to know what they can do.

Is their only option to cintinue paying the very expensive maintenance fees and use RCI to go elswhere (RCI is another expense)? Or should the timeshare owners take legal action like owners have done at the Crowne Plaza Golf Resort and Casino at the Royal Oasis.

I've asked previously for timeshare advice and received some thoughtful comments. Knowing that the timeshare resort can hike up their maintenance fees like they did in the Bahamas is a big negative though.

Comments saved from the old blog

If you find legal help I'd sure like to know. My mother bought and paid for some building lots there before she died. For some reason she just had to walk away from the investment. My sister and I would like to know whether anything is recoverable. It seems like lots of funny dealings go on in the Bahamas.

Best Wishes,
Will Carlton
Posted by: Will Carlton at August 28, 2006 05:36 AM

I know very well what you mean. My wife & I own several time share properties in the caribbean & it is our past experience that the only thing you can do is walk away, & just rent in the future. I had purchased a contract in St. Maarten for a five year car rental at one time, then a hurricane hit, the agency closed & I was out the money, not only that, but the guy who owned the resort also took off with all the maintance fee, nothing could be done accordinly to the Government. Closer to hme in the Bahamas they got wacked last year, & again up with the maintance fees, its always up,up & up, we just can not afford it any longer & we will just have to walk away from it all & leave the property to them. I can rent for a month what I am paying in maintance fees. You will find that the so called Governments will not or can not do anything to help you & it is very hard to find an honest attorney on the island to do anything for you.
Thats about the whole story in a nut shell, sorry.

Mike

Posted by: Michael Kovach at August 28, 2006 08:53 AM
I know very well what you mean. My wife & I own several time share properties in the caribbean & it is our past experience that the only thing you can do is walk away, & just rent in the future. I had purchased a contract in St. Maarten for a five year car rental at one time, then a hurricane hit, the agency closed & I was out the money, not only that, but the guy who owned the resort also took off with all the maintance fee, nothing could be done accordinly to the Government. Closer to hme in the Bahamas they got wacked last year, & again up with the maintance fees, its always up,up & up, we just can not afford it any longer & we will just have to walk away from it all & leave the property to them. I can rent for a month what I am paying in maintance fees. You will find that the so called Governments will not or can not do anything to help you & it is very hard to find an honest attorney on the island to do anything for you.
Thats about the whole story in a nut shell, sorry.

Mike

Posted by: Michael Kovach at August 28, 2006 08:53 AM
I know very well what you mean. My wife & I own several time share properties in the caribbean & it is our past experience that the only thing you can do is walk away, & just rent in the future. I had purchased a contract in St. Maarten for a five year car rental at one time, then a hurricane hit, the agency closed & I was out the money, not only that, but the guy who owned the resort also took off with all the maintance fee, nothing could be done accordinly to the Government. Closer to hme in the Bahamas they got wacked last year, & again up with the maintance fees, its always up,up & up, we just can not afford it any longer & we will just have to walk away from it all & leave the property to them. I can rent for a month what I am paying in maintance fees. You will find that the so called Governments will not or can not do anything to help you & it is very hard to find an honest attorney on the island to do anything for you.
Thats about the whole story in a nut shell, sorry.

Mike

Posted by: Michael Kovach at August 28, 2006 08:53 AM
I know very well what you mean. My wife & I own several time share properties in the caribbean & it is our past experience that the only thing you can do is walk away, & just rent in the future. I had purchased a contract in St. Maarten for a five year car rental at one time, then a hurricane hit, the agency closed & I was out the money, not only that, but the guy who owned the resort also took off with all the maintance fee, nothing could be done accordinly to the Government. Closer to hme in the Bahamas they got wacked last year, & again up with the maintance fees, its always up,up & up, we just can not afford it any longer & we will just have to walk away from it all & leave the property to them. I can rent for a month what I am paying in maintance fees. You will find that the so called Governments will not or can not do anything to help you & it is very hard to find an honest attorney on the island to do anything for you.
Thats about the whole story in a nut shell, sorry.

Mike

Posted by: Michael Kovach at August 28, 2006 08:56 AM
I never trusted the island governments so Ithink the best thing is to buy in the us and travel thru RCI those other places.My exsperience with doing that has been great.

Posted by: Henry James at August 29, 2006 04:58 AM
I never trusted the island governments so Ithink the best thing is to buy in the us and travel thru RCI those other places.My exsperience with doing that has been great.

Posted by: Henry James at August 29, 2006 04:59 AM
I never trusted the island governments so Ithink the best thing is to buy in the us and travel thru RCI those other places.My exsperience with doing that has been great.

Posted by: Henry James at August 29, 2006 04:59 AM
If you keep paying your yearly maintenance fee for your resort and exchange your week with RCI, how long do you think it's going to be before RCI gets educated and refuses to exchange your week?
When they take your exchange, they are hoping that someone else will trade into your resort or they can rent it on their extra vacation site.
My advise is to cut bait and find another resort.
The timeshare business is pricing themselves out of the vacation market,
Steve Mills
Chico, Ca.

Posted by: Steve Mills at August 29, 2006 07:32 AM
If you keep paying your yearly maintenance fee for your resort and exchange your week with RCI, how long do you think it's going to be before RCI gets educated and refuses to exchange your week?
When they take your exchange, they are hoping that someone else will trade into your resort or they can rent it on their extra vacation site.
My advise is to cut bait and find another resort.
The timeshare business is pricing themselves out of the vacation market,
Steve Mills
Chico, Ca.

Posted by: Steve Mills at August 29, 2006 07:32 AM

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