How to Avoid the "free Vacation" Offers at Branson, Missouri

If you think a "free", or exceptionally cheap, vacation at Branson is well worth your time, think again. Not only will you be haggled beyond decency, but everywhere you go more timeshare tour representatives will bombard you. Here's how to avoid confrontations with these timeshare sharks!

It never fails. No matter where you go or what you do in Branson, somebody behind a desk will try to sell you their "free" vacation offer. In essence, they will provide you with free hotel stays, free show tickets, free attraction tours, and even free meals. In exchange for these "gifts", they will only ask you to attend a "short" and "low-pressure" 90 minute tour of one of their "premier" vacation resort locations. Notice the words in parentheses... gift, short, low-pressure, and premier, and keep them fresh in your mind, as they are key phrases which translate into "horribly messed-up vacation."

Now, if you are sincerely in the market for a timeshare property, if you really make $75,000 a year or more, and if you could care less whether or not your vacation was free (in other words - you planned to pay every penny yourself), then perhaps taking a timeshare tour is right for you. On the other hand, if you are just going for the freebies, you may find yourself regretting the whole vacation!

In order to avoid the timeshare sharks you must present yourself in a certain way. Do not look around with awe and amazement as you tour various attractions, and especially when you first enter or get ready to exit. Some locations even have timeshare booths halfway through, in an attempt to scoop up any visitors who might pass by their eagle eyes. Try to act like a local Branson resident, who happens to be taking a day off from work, rather than a tourist.

You should also think up some clever excuse or rebuttal for the timeshare sharks, as they will always greet you and say something like, "Would you like to get into this attraction for free?" or "How would you like a totally free vacation in Branson?" Of course, your answer is "Yes!" Of course you would rather not pay the high admission prices, right? This is the bait that the timeshare sharks are most likely to use. If you let your polite nature take over, you will find yourself talking with these people, and perhaps even agreeing to their "short" tours. Whatever rebuttal you use, it must be a good one, one that they will not want to rebuttal in return. The best rebuttals include excuses that would otherwise disqualify you from their tours, such as "We are living on $10,000 a year. Thanks.", "We live only a few miles from Branson," "We are Branson residents," or even a simple "We're not interested, don't ask again, leave us alone." Saying this final phrase in a very abrupt, stern manner will definitely avoid any attempts to sell you a "free" gift package!

As the old saying goes, nothing worth having in life is free. This is especially true when it comes to the Branson vacation tour packages. Your short, no-pressure tour will always be long and very high pressure. Your gift will typically involve little glitches, document discrepancies, or "We're so sorry that this happened to you" apologies. Your tickets, especially to area shows, will let you sit in the worst seats in the facility. And finally, when you think you can settle down into a nice hotel room, you find that it is filthy, set up like an ant farm, on a floor underneath a stampeding herd of hyperactive teenagers, or just big enough to stay in at all. In other words, avoid Branson vacation timeshare tours, unless you plan to get your money's worth!

A word of advice... if you are going to Branson, pay for the whole vacation out of your own pocket! The extra money is well worth avoiding the headaches and hassles of the "free" vacation packages!