How to Rent a Timeshare

Cramming yourself, your belongings and family members into a single hotel room is no vacation. Plus, depending on their rating and location, hotel rooms can be expensive. A much more practical and economical solution is to rent a timeshare. Timeshare owners who won't be using their properties are eager to rent them out at great prices, and you'll enjoy more spacious, and often more luxurious accommodations.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Search for hotel rooms at popular travel websites. Often simply keying in the dates of your stay on these sites will pull up available timeshares as well as hotel rooms--and this is usually where you'll get the very best prices. If you want to stay at the timeshare for just a few days rather than a full week, this is your best option.

2. Check RedWeek's website (see Resources below). This website allows timeshare owners to post dates when their properties are available for rent, as well as prices. You'll get a bigger selection using this website or other timeshare-specific sites, but the prices might not be as competitive.

3. Bid on a timeshare on ebay. Once owners know they won't be using their timeshares a particular year, they sometimes will put the week up for bid. You might not get the best price this way, however, depending on how the timeshare owners price it--and you might get stuck buying the whole week rather than just the days you need. Desperate owners might be willing to sell their timeshares for very little money, though.

4. Contact the property directly if there's a specific timeshare you want to stay at. A property manager might be able to put you in touch with an owner looking to rent out a week.

5. Ask friends with timeshares if they'll be using their week this year. If not, make them an offer to rent their timeshare. They might be willing to cut you a great deal, especially if they are too busy to take a week-long vacation.

Resources

• Check for available timeshare rentals here.