Should I accept an offer to stay cheap at the Westin Villas?

QUESTION

I received an invitation to the new Westin timeshare, Ocean Resort Villas, $798 for five nights with discounted rental car. Is this a good place to stay? Is this a good price?

ANSWER

The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas is a beautiful new huge condominium complex on a very good beach, within long walking distance of the prime Kaanapali Beach hotel-resort strip. The price you quote of $798 for five nights is far cheaper than the normal price for such a good condo. But as you may have guessed by now, there is a catch. The catch is that they will make you and your spouse sit through a very persuasive timeshare sales presentation for 2 to 3 hours, and they might be able to talk you into buying a timeshare there. Such a purchase would, in my opinion, be a big mistake, since the prices they charge for such a timeshare is far far too high to make it a worthwhile purchase.

I have been to those timeshare sales pitches, and even though I have done the calculations on my own many times, so I know that it is a bad investment, I still must admit that they make is sound really good when you are sitting there in front of the salesperson. They are friendly and helpful and cheerful and full of information designed to get you to buy right now. So here is your problem: If you can go to the Westin timeshare and resist buying a timeshare NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY MAKE IT SOUND, then you can stay in that beautiful condo in a great location at a real bargain price. But if you end up getting talked into buying a timeshare, then it will no longer be a bargain, and you will be stuck with it, and paying for it, for years to come.

My review and photos of the Westin timeshare are here: Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas

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