The experience of South Carolina's Myrtle Beach shows that even in the down economy timeshares are thriving.

According to the Sun News, timeshare companies are expecting high occupancy rates in Myrtle Beach this summer because the tight budgets affecting most Americans make drive-to destinations, such as the Grand Strand, more attractive than overseas resorts requiring expensive air travel.

Tony Augruso, a tourist who plans to spend his holidays at Myrtle Beach this year, says, "When you've got [a timeshare] … you know it's just what it costs you to get there and what you want to spend while you're there," quoted by the newspaper.

"From our perspective, we think that's a good thing. We like that," he adds.

Meanwhile, David Matheson, spokesman for the company that owns one of the timeshare resorts, says Myrtle Beach and Orlando are its top performing vacation markets and are nearly sold out.

As further proof that timeshares are selling well despite the economic downturn, Stroman Realty has recently released its list of 10 top selling timeshare resale resorts which includes popular areas such as California, Hawaii and Las Vegas.