Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Timeshares


According to a recent article in the newspaper Excelsior, there are 409 timeshare properties in Mexico, 107 of them in Cancun and the neighboring Maya Riviera, followed by Puerto Vallarta and its neighboring Nayarit Riviera, followed by Mazatlan, Los Cabos and Acapulco. Although contracts vary from property to property, generally speaking, customers buy the right to occupy a unit for a specified period of time every year. For destinations, one big advantage is that these units will be occupied even during times of economic slowdown when other vacationers tend to stay at home. Over the years, Mexico has enacted laws defending purchasers, including the right to opt out of a contract after signing it. Usually opters-out have only three days to change their minds. Being examined now are unexpected increases in maintenance fees. While contracts fix the basic purchase price, cost of maintenance can vary and be raised at any time. Developers reportedly are opposed to any change in the rules.


--
Jimm Budd
Reporting from Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

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