Discounts - any info experts?

Hey experts, HawaiiDan and TypicallyTropical know about any good discounters? I left a post on the Island of Hawaii forum but got no answers yesterday. Here is what I posted: Where can I get a discount on activities like snorkeling, night manta ray swims, luaus, etc. We will be staying at the Sheraton. I don%26#39;t want to listen to a timeshare pitch. Tell me if you have had a good experience with a broker.

I looked at cost for some of the hikes and 155 pp to hike in the upper Pololu valley is cost prohibitive for a family of 4.

You know if the night manta ray swims are good?

Discounts - any info experts?

HawaiiDan, I just read your post to Sunny Island regarding the Sheraton Luau and read your note about the lack of need to discount. I guess it%26#39;s not like Maui or Honolulu for discounts. Maybe I can find things in the tourist pamplets.

Discounts - any info experts?

There are not too many coupons in the Entertainment Book for the Big Island.

When you get there you can pick up the free brochures at the airport baggage area. Lots of coupons:

www.thisweek.com This Week on Big Island

www.spotlighthawaii.com Big Island Gold

www.101thingstodo.com 101 Things to do on Big Island

This site has some hiking trails for all islands:

www.hawaiitrails.org

Activities/attractions/tours

www.hawaiiactivities.com

www.hawaiifun.org

yes...lots of cupons and discounts....bit most if not all come with a silent hook...go to a time share 3 hour pressure session.....

Many of the timeshares have gotten more organized and take your credit card.... if you dont complete the full session you either dont get the discount or you get back-billed for the difference if you dont do it to their satisfaction.......then there are all the little add ons to many....... shop with care and realize you wont get somthing for nothing...... The better activities dont offer any discounts as they are fully booked..

HawaiiDan

That is good to know.

I have a brother who has went on many vacations and took advantage of the timeshare deals. he has no intention of ever signing up for a time share and always tells me that most just ask if they are interested. Once he says, no he was always free to go.

I guess even the timeshare people have learned how to get around that.

to get out of a time share...many companies have you go through 3 to 4 different very higher and higher pressure sales folks.... guys who make used car salesman look ethical..

Only you have to decide....

I read that over 40% of those who purchase do so just to stop the harrassment....... all this for $100 0r $200 off inflated prices

You dont just say no and walk out......no way

I went to a 1 hour one in Florida to get a great deal on a condo there. i hour and out. Not too much pressure, but, that was in 1993.

We went to one that started with a pleasant your women and finally progressed to a pasty flat nosed thug (slightly exaggerated). It was supposed to 90 minutes but ended up to more like 2 hours. The profits for them are tremendous judging from the difference in price between a resale and the original.

what you can buy from the timeshare folks for $10,000. can be purchased from a reseller for about $1500 to $2000........

Then there is the second profit center... maint fees......they start at aroung $250 a week and within 4 years are near $900....they mark up the sale 500% then make another 200% on the maint...... Some will offer you up to 200 cash to come in.... or pay for a flight to another island and give you a rooom and car......the poor folks that accept this ';deal%26#39; get 24 hr a day pressuure... round the clock..... in the sales offices I have seen, the salesmen keep box meals so you cant take a meal break...... Its no more mister nice guy.....too much money to make

Aloha EPOH, I will have to agree with Dusty that the coupons from the booklets offer some good savings. Nothing to do with time shares unless stated. It is a way for the companys to offer a direct savings to you with out paying a middle-mans commision. Just read the fine print and go for it.

There are several activity wholesalers on Alii Drive and you don%26#39;t necessary have to go to a timeshare presentation to get a good deal. However, nobody posted a very important thing about timeshares here. You have three days to change your mind! So if you want freebies, go to the timeshare presentation, buy a timeshare, take all the goodies and freebies the developer throws at you and send them a certified letter to cancel the contract within three days. (Sorry timeshare people, nothing against you, it%26#39;s just knowing the loopholes.) :)