The beauty of the Internet is that it can bring people of like minds together across great distances. Such is the case with timeshare owners, many of whom are using consumer-created Web sites in the United Kingdom to voice the same kinds of concerns as owners in the United States are sharing on Web sites such as www.tug2.net and www.tstoday.com.

There are of course other Web sites in Europe and elsewhere abroad that are devoted to the sharing of timeshare information among unit owners, but these British sites are posted in English, making them easiest for the majority of Americans to comprehend.

Brits tend to be a bit more colorful in their complaints than their Yankee counterparts across the pond, and it can be fun to join their chat rooms (with names like “Shark Alley”) just to hear about how they got “brassed off” after “sussing out” the details of a “five-hour ear bashing” timeshare sales pitch. Of course, you may come away with lots of valuable consumer information, as well, and some valuable contacts should you ever decide to look into exchanging your timeshare unit in the United States for one overseas.

Crimeshare

The name of this lone-gunman organization says it all about his motives for creating the Crimeshare Web site: to list timeshare scams and frauds that have occurred since 1998. The site offers some valuable insights into the types of schemes and scandals that can befall unwary timeshare buyers and users. The Crimeshare “black list” is more than arm's length, offering you nonspecific information about companies that the Web site creator has deemed unsavory. The “Timeshare Sh*t of the Year Award” page delivers news and information in a way that is colorful, to say the least. If you want to learn more about this unorthodox site, log on to www.crimeshare.cc.

Timeshare Consumers Association

The Timeshare Consumers Organization is a donation-funded group that works to offer timeshare advice, create discussion forums among timeshare owners and users, help owners realize the full benefits to which they are entitled, publicly expose illegal and unethical practices, lobby governments for better timeshare laws, and more.

Much of the information posted on the group's Web site is viewable for free, even by nonmembers. It includes warnings about timeshare scams, general advice on buying and selling timeshares, and information on making the most of your exchange club membership. The forums are viewable by anyone, but you must be a member to post a message. Some of the topics open for discussion include dealings with specific developers and resale companies — invaluable firsthand experiences that you can use to protect yourself (and your money) throughout the duration of your timeshare ownership. To read more from this group, log on to www.timeshare.org.uk.

TimeshareForums.com

This Web site is strictly about forums and chat rooms, with no additional content posted. It was conceived as a cyberspace meeting place where timeshare owners, exchangers, and renters could share their experiences. Positive and negative comments alike are welcome, and the forums range from timeshare economics to horror stories and personal experiences at specific timeshare resorts worldwide.

There are also forums about individual exchange companies, including Resort Condominiums International, Interval International, and a handful of their smaller competitors. Additional forums are designed for owners of brand-name resort units, including those at Disney, Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood, and Fairfield resorts. You can post a timeshare for resale here or look for one to buy or rent. To get into the chatting action, log on to www.timeshareforums.com.

Timeshare Talk

This Web site calls itself the United Kingdom's premier forum for timeshare owners. It has several good features, including its resale classified ads, but perhaps its best link is to chat forums where members speak frankly about their experiences at good and bad timeshare resorts alike.

The “Shark Alley” forum is full of conversations about rip-offs and scams that people have experienced when trying to buy timeshare units. Even if you do not intend to buy a timeshare from any of the resorts being discussed, the scams themselves are interesting to read about because they follow the same patterns as unscrupulous deals all over the world. You can protect yourself by learning about how other people have been suckered. Log on to www.timesharetalk.co.uk to check out the details.

Voice

Voice is an acronym that stands for Vacation Owners Independent Coalition in Europe. It is a nonprofit organization created to safeguard the interests of timeshare owners, consumers, and industry players. It was cofounded by a consumer group and a trade group, and it includes articles that offer introductory information about buying, selling, and using timeshare units.