Vacation Clubs in Los Cabos, Timeshare is Beyond the Ordinary

Cabo San Lucas, Tourist Corridor, San José del  Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Every Mexican beach resort has them. They’re at the airport vying for your attention, on the streets offering tourist information, and in selected restaurants as hosts and hostesses. OPCs—outside personal contacts—are there to get you to their resort’s vacation club presentation. Promising everything from free tequila and rental cars to discounted fishing trips and golf if you attend, OPCs earn a commission for every qualified prospect they provide. (So now you know why they’re so persistent.)

In 2004 alone, $100 million U.S. will be invested for more than 1,000 new vacation club rooms in Los Cabos, according to Carlos Vázquez, president of the Sudcalifornia Desarrolladres de Tiempo Compartido (California Sur Timeshare Developers). Vacation clubs hold 45% of all room keys in Los Cabos.

Not all vacation clubs, or timeshares, use OPCs, preferring in-house resources instead. As one industry insider notes, top vacation clubs sell themselves: You check in, everything is fantastic. You love the endless pools, the spa, the room and amenities, the exceptional service, and the exclusive Los Cabos location. The Guest Services staff, there to make sure you are always happy (as they should) slips in the fact that there’s a vacation club on site, even more fabulous than your present digs. And so, you go home a member. Your membership is a right to use contract for time at the resort and does not include ownership in real property.

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Overall, vacation clubs deliver an affordable, convenient and flexible alternative to standard hotel stays. In Los Cabos, where luxury hotels are the norm, most vacation clubs are beyond the ordinary with every amenity, set either within the hotel or apart in a dedicated area. Many upper end club accommodations feature suites, with full or partial kitchens and spacious baths. Some have dishwashers, in-suite laundry facilities, and private Jacuzzis.

The Mexican timeshare phenomenon began in Acapulco in the 1970s, but gained a bad rap due to an unregulated industry with plenty of hustlers and no control. It took many years for the industry to evolve into the respected component of the leisure travel market that it is today, claiming 40% of the Latin American timeshare market. According to market researchers Ragatz Associates, as of 2002 there were close to 5,500 timeshare resorts worldwide with sales of $9.4 billion U.S. that year alone. The global average price was $10,600 U.S per week for a 30-year usage plan. And, 6.7 million people own timeshares in 195 countries.

What exactly are the benefits for those buying vacation clubs? For most of the people I spoke to, it’s a lifestyle investment in future vacations and family time together, by locking in prepaid vacation time. In a 2003 survey by Expedia.com, an Internet travel company, Americans reduced vacation time by 10 percent last year, and one out of five polled said they felt guilty taking their vacation. Vacation club membership offers you the opportunity to look forward to taking time off—an annual mental health tune-up you might not take if you didn’t have the time locked in. Luis Sánchez Tena of The Grand Baja Resort in San Jose del Cabo explains it like this, “We don’t hesitate to insure ourselves against the bad things in life: car accidents, disease, and natural disasters. But what about insurance for the good times? Quality time with your family, annual vacations, a break from stress. Everyone deserves this, and that’s why, in addition to our hotel, we have our Grand Emerald Club.”

Another reason often cited by purchasers is that vacation clubs include the flexibility to trade your time at affiliates around the world, through companies like RCI and Interval International. Prestigious resorts—Hilton, Fiesta Americana and Sheraton among them—sell themselves. And why not? When broken down over the life of the contract, your annual vacation costs less, and availability is guaranteed. With the flexibility to trade at other resorts, and in some cases for cruise ship trips, timeshare make sense for many families.

To explore the many vacation clubs in Los Cabos, narrow your choices to resorts that suit you best. Solmar Suites, Playa Grande, Mélia San Lucas, Villa del Palmar, Pueblo Bonito Rosé and Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach are popular in Cabo San Lucas. In the Corridor, there’s Grand Regina Los Cabos, Meliá Los Cabos, Hilton’s Grand Vacation Club, its affiliate, the Fiesta Americana Grand and Sheraton Hacienda del Mar. In San Jose del Cabo, upscale Grand Baja Resort has an all-inclusive option. If free perks are your thing, you’ll receive great deals touring vacation clubs, but don’t forget you must attend a presentation (usually around two hours) to receive them. Another option some clubs offer is “fly and buy,” with discounted stays, usually around 50% of the regular rate. In exchange for the reduced room rate and club amenities, you agree to attend the sales presentation. Club Regina at Westin Regina Resort and Spa offers vacation discount packages.

There are other ways to get involved in vacation clubs. Dream Vacations specializes in vacation club resort rentals and resales. A lifetime membership includes seven nights in a one bedroom at a five star resort, and 30 to 50 percent savings on accommodations and other services including rental cars. Timeshare Liquidators Resales, based in Palm Springs, offers resales on timeshares in Los Cabos at substantial savings.

Under Mexican law, all vacation club or timeshare purchasers are protected by a five-day cancellation period. If you do decide to cancel within the legal time limit, you are entitled to a full refund, including any deposit. The government consumer protection agency, Profeco, is available for assistance online at www.profeco.gob.mx.

Article by Sabrina Lear in Los Cabos Magazine Issue #9