Should you consider a time share?

Here are some time share travel tips.

Today time shares are called vacation clubs or vacation ownerships. You hardly ever hear them called time shares unless you're reading the government-required fine print on a contract.

Time shares are the equivalent of having a vacation home. Most buyers love them because you don't have the maintenance or upkeep of a second home. Time shares also offer a more comfortable setup than you find at most hotels. You can find one or two bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room with tv and stereo, and a balcony or patio.

Some of the most important things you should consider are:

1. Can you swap locations? A week at Disney sounds great, for the first few years. After that you're ready for a new location. Two of the major exchange companies are Interval International and Resort Condominiums Inc. These company let owners swap with other owners for locations around the world.

2. Are you locked into your week? Some companies require that you take the exact same week each year. Which is great for planning future vacations unless an emergency comes up, then you lose your week.

3. What are the maintenance fees? Fees can range anywhere from $300-$1100 per year. These fees are due whether you actually use your time share or not. Make sure to read the contract to see how often the fees rise and by what percentage and/or dollar amount.

If you do consider a time share, here's a quick list of the 4 top-tier time share companies.

1. Marriott International
2. Hilton
3. Disney
4. Four Seasons