O and you dont need to really know the system to use it any more than I need to know how a computer works to use it.
Wyndham is simple. Points are symbolic of ownership, and You use points to make reservations at very nice resorts. Points will cost you to buy them and you have to pay to maintain the resorts. Thats all I knew when I bought in, That and the fact that Wyndham has the only two timeshares in The Washington DC area
slightly more advanced knowledge is helpful to avoid surprises; Like transaction fees and housekeeping fees and guest fees (this info is less than a page in the owners directory) and at this point all you need to now is that there are junk fees and there are ways to minimize them.
then the advanced stuff (which at this point you only need to know exists) like how to borrow points, deposit points to RCI and how to use the points credit pool (another page in the book) will teach you how to maximize what you have.
Basically you learn as you go.. Just like Chess, you can learn the rules well enough to play in an afternoon but it takes a lifetime to become a master.
Or maybe like a computer. I have know idea how this thing works, but here I am sitting in my lazy-boy communicating with the world[/QUOTE
Ron is the expert points man here. He rents as a business so he knows the ins and outs. The only thing I would add is back to what vacationhopeful said and that is I think you should somewhat understand what you are buying. Make sure you buy enough points to get you exchanges into resorts and units that you want. For example, if you are going to want a 2 bedroom Deluxe unit at Smuggs somewhat often make sure you buy at least enough points for that. This way you start off with something you can be happy with. Make sure you understand the basic reservations system-that you need to reserve 13 months out in many cases for prime season and in demand resorts/units- especially in the Northeast- there is a lot of demand for ski time and summer is especially short and books up quickly. Things like that. The rest of the learning will come with time. I will say- yes- you can buy at any resort and use your points elsewhere- that is what a lot of people do- but often times these people are disappointed because they do not get the exchanges they had hoped for- again- not understanding the system or using it correctly, etc.
For example- I wanted a specific area (West Hill- where I also own)and deluxe size unit at Smuggs for this XMAS for our family and my brothers'. Because I was renting from a Wyndham owner I knew I had to make sure she would book 13 months out so I placed a wish ad early. She is not a Smuggs owner and was not familiar with the resort, but has a ton of points and rents them out. She got on the phone at the exact time the Wyndham office opened (as opposed to booking online which she would have had to wait another 2 hours I believe) and when she called there were only 2 deluxe units available- almost exactly what we needed- in one building in West Hill. I really wanted (2) 2 bedroom units but there was only a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom, which we took. Matter of fact, there were no deluxe units available in my second and third choices- Tamaracks, Aspens....A lot of owners did not convert to Wyndham, so that is one reason, although supposedly (according to mgmt. -ha, ha) more have recently converted. Most of the inventory is still in weeks and RCI points.
This is the kind of stuff you have to contend with when you buy points so just something to be conscious of.
