But a timeshare presentation would still come in a very close second.



What makes one of these vacation presentations so bad is that you

generally are not prepared for all the pain. And yes folks there is a bunch of pain.

You get that inviting letter in the mail to come on down for a free weekend getaway - if only you will sit through a short 90 minute tour and presentation.

Well, you have just run into your first lie...

Timeshare presentations are brutal. All they want to do is separate you from your money. And they will try any trick to wear you down so that you part with your cash.

So if you decide to subject yourself to a timeshare presentation at least prepare yourself beforehand.

OK...Let's go over some rules. And the rules are very simple, but beware of forgetting them.

The first rule states that if you are going on the weekend getaway then - Have a Great Time!! Use every perk that they offer. Use the gym and the pool. If they give you discounts for meals make sure to use them. If they can get you tickets for any shows then go. See if they can upgrade your room. Big whirlpool tubs are very nice. But most of all - Have a Great Time.

Now rule number two is very important. You MUST read this rule with your partner at least 10 time a day for three days before going to the presentation weekend. The rule is - DO NOT BUY ANYTHING. Period. Finito. End of story.

Now say it with me out loud. Come on don't be shy - DO NOT BUY ANYTHING! That was not that hard - was it? Remember, you need all the strength you can muster to protect your cash. They want your cash and you want to keep it.

OK, you have finished the fun part of the weekend and now the root canal part is about to begin. Just remember rule number two - which is your novacaine - DO NOT BUY ANYTHING.

The main weapon that the timeshare salesperson has on their side is time. Forget about a 90 minute presentation. Count on a minimum of 2 1/2 hours to 3 1/2 hours. This is when they try to wear you down. They keep talking and talking until the lies they are telling you start to seem real. Remember - DO NOT BUY ANYTHING.

There are many tactics that a salesman will use to part you and your money. In future articles I will go into some of the specific tactics that the salesperson will use. I will also explain why buying a timeshare from a resort presentation is financially a very very bad deal. And I will also have articles on how to buy a timeshare that makes sense and will be a great vacation value.

Stay tuned...