I've decided against creating another thread about: Wyndham or Worldmark, because I think this discussion helps everyone who is in the same boat.
I've read the Wyndham Primer and the Worldmark Club Guidelines, and the WMOwners site and I am STILL conflicted.
Why I like Wyndham
- More properties within driving distance from me: Galena, Wisconsin Dells, Branson, Oklahoma, Tenessee
- Someone asked if we leave Chicago, which way do we drive: and the easy answer to this is North (WI/MN) and East (OH, PA, NY, FL, NC, SC) so Wyndham resorts are better for us
- While WM has more properties in the W and NW, Wyndham does have SOME, unlike WM's complete absence in the East Coast.
Why I like WorldMark
- Points are very simple. MFs are per point and I don't have to worry about a home resort and deciding which resort to buy and find the lowest home resort MF
- I like Bonus Time, Monday Madness, and all the other "specials" they seem to have and works well with our short-stays. However, what's the use of these specials if I have to FLY to get there and have very little within driving distance?
What I don't like about Wyndham
- seems like I have to decide on a home resort to purchase. I believe that "points are points" so probably wouldn't be taking advantage of ADRs anyway - so I tend to think I should buy the lowest MF However, I also hear Glacier Canyon gives access the Club Wyndham access , so should I buy there?
- seems to have way too may fees unless you're VIP. Fees to bank, fees to book if over your allocation for the year, fees to cancel, HK fees, fees to change booking. We will be using our points for shorter stays (3-5 days) so we might be hit with too many fees.
- is there anything equivalent to WM Bonus Time, HH Open Season? Where you have access to the portfolio for discounted cash?
What I don't like about Worldmark
- Aside from Galena and Branson - no other resorts fit our travel pattern (driving distance)
- my understanding is that there is a 7 night requirement when booking in RED season? Although people get around that by linking other reservations elsewhere. Not sure I get this quite yet. But I don't like this "restriction" since we're looking into using this for shorter stays. OTOH, maybe we can avoid booking red season.
If I buy Wyndham, I'm thinking about 164K points
If I buy WM, I'm thinking about 10,000 points
I was hoping to keep yearly MFs under $1K, approx ~$800
I was hoping to get enough points to stay in a 2BR for a week (driving distance will help us stretch those points and go off season)
Help?!!!