My boyfriend and I are planning our very first Aruba trip to LaCabana on May8.
I've heard various people say that sitting through their timeshare presentation was worth it because of the prizes they give at the end. i.e. free one-day jeep rental, $$ in casino chips.

Has anyone sat through it and lived to tell about it? I don't know if it's worth it to sit through 2+ hours of timeshare talk.
Thanks!

We sat thru it last year and it took up alot of time.We got a free breakfast(Sat & Sun they do this and it does cost 24 dollars per couple normally and is yummy.),100 gift certificate to one of lacabanas restaraunts,free towel and t shirts(only huge sizes).Our friends took it and got the vouchers for the casino down town(some were match and plays).We had a free day on Lacabana with 2 meals for 4 and casino at night.If you take the tour do not talk a lot and you will get out faster than we did(My hubby loves to chat it up with everyone).I know there were other things to choose from and they tell you b4 you go so you can decide if it is worth your time(3 hrs easy).

Thanks so much Jayed! I'll definitely take your advice and ask beforehand... 3-4 hours is a lot of time!

When we were on our first trip to Aruba on an exchage through RCI, we were staying at the aruba beach club. Were laying on the beach and this guy comes buy and asks us if we want $100 in cash to sit through this timeshare presentation. We figured what the heck. So we did it! We made an appointment for two days later at around 9am.

We get to LaCabana, they sign you in and off you go with your own personal sales person. They give you the tour and show you the units. Well my hubby is not one to say no...so after 3 hours of schmoozing and the tour we were the proud owner of a 2 bdrm lock off right on the end facing the ocean. Mike figured if we were going to buy we need to buy something that we wanted.

It was sold to us for $24,000.00. They gave us a bottle of chamagne and a free lunch and we were out the door. We get back to ABC and I was having second thoughts. I did not like having to spend so much money to stay in a huge complex and have to cross the street to get to the beach. When at ABC we just opened our door and we were right there on the beach 30 feet away.

Later that afternoon I went to the ABC lobby and picked up the local free newspapers, I was checking out the adds for timeshare sales. Well I saw the unit we just purchased in a different week for $11,000.00. I showed my hubby...he made me find a notary public "in aruba" and had our signatures notarized on a letter he made me hand write, declaring we had changed our mind on the purchase. He went back over to La Cabana the next day and told them we had changed our mind gave them the paperwork. I called back to the US and put a stop payment on the check. They were stunned!

So we did end up buying 4 weeks at ABC right on the beach for $14,000.00 total.

I guess the moral of this story is buy from an owner and really research before you purchase. And I hope your husband is not as compulsive as mine!

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Aruba, no other place like it!
Our next trip June 19 th - July 3rd 2010

Hi Capt, How are you? Great story! Why are our husbands that way? Mine is so afraid he's going to hurt someone's feelings. I'm always the one standing there saying NO, NO, No...... I just can't see buying another timeshare when i already own one, scott free in Paradise. We got lucky our was given to us as a wedding gift. My father in-law bought it in the late 80's for something like $2800.00! What a deal, Huh? Not only that, because we've owned for so long, they bumped us up to the top floor last year when they remodled. I can't wait to see the place. Teresa

Hi Teresa,

I might have asked you before, but where do you own? I think you go in August? If I remember correctly! yes, my hubby can't say no! There was much more to that story actually...

When he took the document back, he also took the champagne, and the original contract. So he actually went back and made up a story (so he could get the contract back) that he was hasty in his decision to not get the timeshare without consulting his family. So they gave him the original contract and the champagne. But I had already put a stop payment on the deposit.

When we went to find the notary it was on a Friday about 4:45 pm, they closed at 5pm and it was so stressful. So glad I will not have to go through that again (maybe?)

__________________
Aruba, no other place like it!
Our next trip June 19 th - July 3rd 2010

Yeah, we own at the Renaissance week, # 31. Well, I am certasin it was a stressful time for you. Glad you were able to get it all solved.

I did the LaCabana presentation and I became an owner at the end of the presentation - lol. The prizes were worth it, I remember getting a 3 day car rental which was great since my cousin and I wanted to go to the lighthouse, Baby Beach and the Seaport Village. If I remember correctly, the presentation was probably about 2 hours and we did get a free lunch buffet with it.

Thanks for the comments you guys! I really appreciate all the info.
I think we'll probably sit through and hear what they have to say.