Annual Maintenance Fees....that's the wild card. If you are considering TS, this is a critical consideration in the long-term. Be sure that the periodic increases are fixed and clearly projected and are not just "however, variable increases may arise". After a project sells out, these maintenance fees can start to skyrocket, you may start at $100/week per year, and then five years out pay $400/week per year. Changes your cost/benefit analysis completely...and then there's no way out except to sell it, if you can, usually at a huge loss because nobody else wants that maintenance burden either at that rate.
The beauty of the TS at FR-T, is that the maint. fee is paid only when you use your week(s). Again there are so many variables that need to be looked at when thinking about TS. I will say that the initial cost of purchasing TS at FR-T is very inexpensive when compared to the major hotel offerings. Visit the resort, if you like what it has to offer, sit in on a presentation. Do not accept their first price, negotiate, ask for bonus weeks, negotiate, and above all don't feel bad about just getting up and walking out if you are not comfortable with how things are going. I think the day of the hard sell is behind us. If you really, really like the resort, look for the resort on the resale market. You can get good deals. DD is the key.
Abe, your point is well taken. When we have exchanged with RCI, we have always been able to get a 2 BR unit, even though we have a 1 BR contract. At FR-T, we can upgrade to a 2BR if need be. Also, with our TS at FR-T, if we visit during the slow season, we can get space w/o using a week or paying a maint. fee.
Whoops, I said I was done, but then I read the new posts, and have to add my .02. Sorry about that. It's just that our TS at FR-T has been so good for us over the years.
