How important is Wyndham Timestamp?

dlca1 · Oct 8, 2014

Dear Wyndham Community

I was looking to rent a week at the Bonnett Creek Wyndham in late April 2014 (value season).

How important is timestamp when honoring special requests? I'm a Starwood Owner and timestamp of reservation is critical with that system. I'm not as familiar with the wyndham system.

I have a 1 and 3 year old and would like to optimize my chances of a building 5/6 (for the zero entry pool) and with a view of the pool below/lake.

I know a lot of the VIP's will do the point-swap at the 60 day mark and reservation/requests are made at that point.

I was thinking of booking a presidential suite to guarantee a building 6 room. Question: I know it will cost me a little more, but does timestamp matter with Wyndham? How much better are my chances to get a pool/lake view if I book with somebody now vs. somebody who will rebook at the 60 day mark?

Thanks

markb53 · Oct 8, 2014

dlca1 said:
Dear Wyndham Community

I was looking to rent a week at the Bonnett Creek Wyndham in late April 2014 (value season).

How important is timestamp when honoring special requests? I'm a Starwood Owner and timestamp of reservation is critical with that system. I'm not as familiar with the wyndham system.

I have a 1 and 3 year old and would like to optimize my chances of a building 5/6 (for the zero entry pool) and with a view of the pool below/lake.

I know a lot of the VIP's will do the point-swap at the 60 day mark and reservation/requests are made at that point.

I was thinking of booking a presidential suite to guarantee a building 6 room. Question: I know it will cost me a little more, but does timestamp matter with Wyndham? How much better are my chances to get a pool/lake view if I book with somebody now vs. somebody who will rebook at the 60 day mark?

Thanks

My experience has been that the sooner you book the better location you get. Albeit the better location will be as defined by the the person making that decision. When I book with my points I always get on the computer the moment the 10 or 13 month window opens. When I rent, I rent from an owner that gets the discount at 60 days. When I rent it is never as good a location as when I book at 10 mo. Or better yet 13 mo. But I am saving money so I don't mind the location not being prime.

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MaryBella7 · Oct 8, 2014

Last summer, our 4 bedroom Presidential was in Building 2 overlooking the parking lot and furthest from the pools that the kids wanted. Even though it was right next to mini golf, we still had to walk far to get the clubs and balls. Just want you to know that a presidential won't guarantee a building, and I don't recommend building 2

They refused to even entertain a request beforehand, though I am no VIP. I booked at 10 months out at 7 AM.

Our stay before that was in Building 5 overlooking the lake - much more satisfactory!

Good Luck!

am1 · Oct 8, 2014

1 - 3 bedroom presidentials are all in tower 6.

sandkastle4966 · Oct 8, 2014

Timestamp? It is usually what ever unit is available when you checkin. Only VIP owners (and on the actual reservation) can book a specific room and have a "DO NOT MOVE" tag on the room.

Some resorts will try to honor a specific request if you call in a week or two ahead of time, but it is not guaranteed.

ronparise · Oct 8, 2014

sandkastle4966 said:
Timestamp? It is usually what ever unit is available when you checkin. Only VIP owners (and on the actual reservation) can book a specific room and have a "DO NOT MOVE" tag on the room.

Some resorts will try to honor a specific request if you call in a week or two ahead of time, but it is not guaranteed.

sandkastle is right, Wyndham generally doesnt assign room until check in. he way to get the room/building you want at Bonnet Creek is to arrive early and ask nicely.

vacationhopeful · Oct 8, 2014

ronparise said:
sandkastle is right, Wyndham generally doesnt assign room until check in. he way to get the room/building you want at Bonnet Creek is to arrive early and ask nicely.

The prior 2 posters are CORRECT. Unless it is a FIXED WEEK ownership, there is NO ABSOLUTELY "You will be in this unit".

Unless: if is a newer resort (Ocean Blvd) where the points needed to book are charged based on view (ocean front or ocean view) ... I don't think any resort or chain has started a discounted point value called "Dumpster View" or "Concrete (prison) Wall View". The closest possible NEGATIVE category are the lesser points units at AKV ... and believe it or not, those are the first units booked out.

MaryBella7 · Oct 8, 2014

ronparise said:
sandkastle is right, Wyndham generally doesnt assign room until check in. he way to get the room/building you want at Bonnet Creek is to arrive early and ask nicely.

That has always been our experience in the past as well, but not this summer.

We arrived at noon and were super nice. I asked if we could get a lake view, and the girl at the check in desk said "sure" until she saw that it was a Presidential. She said that the Presidentials were assigned off-site, and there was nothing she could do to change the assignment. She was very accommodating with the second unit we had booked for the same time that wasn't a presidential. I am not a VIP, so I just took my lumps graciously.

The people across from us with the good view arrived at about 5 PM. I think that something must have changed with Bonnet Creek's system as far as assigning units. When I had called in advance to try to make a request, they also said that there were no requests taken for Presidentials without even knowing my VIP status. Weird.

dlca1 · Oct 8, 2014

Thanks for all the advice/tips. Sounds like there are conflicting reports.

I ended up choosing to rent from a Wyndham VIP/Tugger. Will post back when we check in to let folks know how it worked out.

Cheers

How important is Wyndham Timestamp?

dlca1

markb53

MaryBella7

am1

sandkastle4966

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

ronparise

vacationhopeful

TUG Review Crew: Rookie

MaryBella7

dlca1