I'm letting everything I have just die on the vine and shifting over to Armed Forces Vacation Club.

[Daytripz]

I booked the Wyndham Rancho Vistoso in Tucson through AFVC for New Year’s week, I was looking for getaway availability at this resort through Interval, and when I couldn’t find it, I looked on AFVC. I paid $50 more than weeks go for on Interval. I’m unclear if I will owe any resort type fees. I prefer timeshares over Airbnb, so I’m happy to have this extra place to search - although Interval and Marriotts are my preference. However, Interval has this ranked as an Elite property, so I’m hopeful it lives up to the Elite standard.

I should mention my husband is retired military, so we are eligible. And according to website, my kids are eligible to use the AFVC site too.

 

[gravityrules]

For unexplained reasons, Armed Forces Vacation Club never offers reservations for Vacation Village At Parkway (Kissimmee FL). That is, I've never seen any Vacation Village At Parkway availability through Armed Forces Vacation Club even though I check semi-frequently.

Plus, in the fine print that comes with RCI reservations for Vacation Village At Parkway, it says that any & all Vacation Village At Parkway reservations from Armed Forces Club are null & void & will not be honored. That's mox nix since Armed Forces Vacation Club doesn't even offer Vacation Village At Parkway reservations in the 1st place.

It's not a major matter, but it is curious.

Anybody here know what's up with the bad blood between Armed Forces Vacation Club & Vacation Village At Parkway ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

FWIW, received an email this morning from Skyauction that Berkley Group Properties in Nevada and Florida are back on the website, starting at 549.99 and include weeks through Summer 2025.

Locations are:
The Grandview Las Vegas
Vacation Village at Parkway
Mizner Place at Weston
Vacation Village at Weston
Vacation Village at Bonaventure

I realize this isn't AFVC, but interesting to see rentals available for less than maintenance fees.

 

[bshanebowl]

Good to know. Just when I think I have cracked the code some other potential solutions show up.

 

[wmgjr]

I booked the Wyndham Rancho Vistoso in Tucson through AFVC for New Year’s week, I was looking for getaway availability at this resort through Interval, and when I couldn’t find it, I looked on AFVC. I paid $50 more than weeks go for on Interval. I’m unclear if I will owe any resort type fees. I prefer timeshares over Airbnb, so I’m happy to have this extra place to search - although Interval and Marriotts are my preference. However, Interval has this ranked as an Elite property, so I’m hopeful it lives up to the Elite standard.

I should mention my husband is retired military, so we are eligible. And according to website, my kids are eligible to use the AFVC site too.

I haven't stayed at that property yet but I've been surprised by all of my WM/Wyndham stays.
My first stay I was expecting the worst based on the hotel brands they own.
I hope you have a great experience.
Report back

 

[wmgjr]

FWIW, received an email this morning from Skyauction that Berkley Group Properties in Nevada and Florida are back on the website, starting at 549.99 and include weeks through Summer 2025.

Locations are:
The Grandview Las Vegas
Vacation Village at Parkway
Mizner Place at Weston
Vacation Village at Weston
Vacation Village at Bonaventure

I realize this isn't AFVC, but interesting to see rentals available for less than maintenance fees.

That's not less than MF.
GV mf are 455 for a 1 bedroom

 

[GTLINZ]

I seem to be one of the few on TUG that admit to having used Skyauction.com

I was not aware of this site. It has some decent inventory and appears to be another option where you have no commitment with having to own a timeshare. Sheraton Vistana seems one of the better options - i have stayed there. Huge place, most building with no elevators, but well run.

Glad to hear it worked for you.

 

[dioxide45]

I was not aware of this site. It has some decent inventory and appears to be another option where you have no commitment with having to own a timeshare. Sheraton Vistana seems one of the better options - i have stayed there. Huge place, most building with no elevators, but well run.

Glad to hear it worked for you.

The only problem is that SkyAuction inventory isn't always consistent. Sometimes they will have a bunch of stuff and other times nothing.

 

[DaveNV]

I've known about AFVC for years, and checked them out a few times. As a disabled retired Navy guy, benefits to veterans are important to me. I honorably served my country for 20 years, and I appreciate my country giving back to me a bit. I've seen AFVC linked from the recreation and activities pages, on some of the military base websites, which was how I learned about them.

When I looked at the resorts offered (at the time) I never saw anything that caught my eye. What I saw was the same kind of thing RCI had in their Extra Vacations offerings. It seemed like RCI was just extending its rental fingers into that military market. I never tried renting from them. It's possible things have improved, and now that I'm completely a rental market user (sold my last timeshare two years ago) I'll check into them again. But at the time it didn't seem to offer me anything more than I couldn't get through an RCI exchange.

Dave

 

[gpj555]

AFVC. Has worked out well for me? If they have something you want

 

[chapjim]

I've known about AFVC for years, and checked them out a few times. As a disabled retired Navy guy, benefits to veterans are important to me. I honorably served my country for 20 years, and I appreciate my country giving back to me a bit. I've seen AFVC linked from the recreation and activities pages, on some of the military base websites, which was how I learned about them.

When I looked at the resorts offered (at the time) I never saw anything that caught my eye. What I saw was the same kind of thing RCI had in their Extra Vacations offerings. It seemed like RCI was just extending its rental fingers into that military market. I never tried renting from them. It's possible things have improved, and now that I'm completely a rental market user (sold my last timeshare two years ago) I'll check into them again. But at the time it didn't seem to offer me anything more than I couldn't get through an RCI exchange.

Dave

Seeing as AFVC and RCI are both Wyndham companies, it's not surprising that there would be similarities in the resorts offered.

Thank you for your service! (From one retired Navy guy to another!)

 

[Cruiser Too]

Do I qualify ???

According to its website:
A membership with Armed Forces Vacation Club is free to all active duty, guard, reserve and retired U.S. military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

I am none of the above but... I am a US Army veteran.
I did NOT retire from the Army.

 

[sponger76]

Do I qualify ???

According to its website:
A membership with Armed Forces Vacation Club is free to all active duty, guard, reserve and retired U.S. military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

I am none of the above but... I am a US Army veteran.
I did NOT retire from the Army.

From the FAQ page:

Looks like you qualify.

 

[sponger76]

I've known about AFVC for years, and checked them out a few times. As a disabled retired Navy guy, benefits to veterans are important to me. I honorably served my country for 20 years, and I appreciate my country giving back to me a bit. I've seen AFVC linked from the recreation and activities pages, on some of the military base websites, which was how I learned about them.

When I looked at the resorts offered (at the time) I never saw anything that caught my eye. What I saw was the same kind of thing RCI had in their Extra Vacations offerings. It seemed like RCI was just extending its rental fingers into that military market. I never tried renting from them. It's possible things have improved, and now that I'm completely a rental market user (sold my last timeshare two years ago) I'll check into them again. But at the time it didn't seem to offer me anything more than I couldn't get through an RCI exchange.

Dave

Same. I've looked a number of times both before I ever bought into timeshares and after. Never saw anything compelling enough for me to book. With that being said, there are others I know that are more than happy to book some of those stays at those prices.

 

[fountaindw]

I am a Veteran and feel that the Interval International Resort Accommodation Certificates get you higher quality than AFVC. But you have to own a timeshare to receive the the Resort Accommodation Certificates from I.I.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Radical change -- Armed Forces Vacation Club is showing loads of 2BR availability at $419 per week for Vacation Village At Parkway.

This is the 1st time I've seen any Vacation Village At Parkway availability of any kind offered via Armed Forces Vacation Club.

Previously there was some unexplained major issue between Armed Forces Vacation Club and Vacation Village At Parkway, so much so that the fine print on RCI reservations for Vacation Village At Parkway included language stating that no reservations through Armed Forces Vacation Club would be honored and that all such reservations would be null & void.

That's what makes the current Armed Forces Vacation Club availability bonanza for Vacation Village At Parkway such a radical change -- dozens of 2BR reservations available for check-in between August 15, 2025, and December 14, 2025, plus even more 1BR units available for check-in through May 3, 2026.

Why was Vacation Village At Parkway previously banned from Armed Forces Vacation Club? And what's behind the current reconciliation?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[montygz]

Radical change -- Armed Forces Vacation Club is showing loads of 2BR availability at $419 per week for Vacation Village At Parkway.

This is the 1st time I've seen any Vacation Village At Parkway availability of any kind offered via Armed Forces Vacation Club.

Previously there was some unexplained major issue between Armed Forces Vacation Club and Vacation Village At Parkway, so much so that the fine print on RCI reservations for Vacation Village At Parkway included language stating that no reservations through Armed Forces Vacation Club would be honored and that all such reservations would be null & void.

That's what makes the current Armed Forces Vacation Club availability bonanza for Vacation Village At Parkway such a radical change -- dozens of 2BR reservations available for check-in between August 15, 2025, and December 14, 2025, plus even more 1BR units available for check-in through May 3, 2026.

Why was Vacation Village At Parkway previously banned from Armed Forces Vacation Club? And what's behind the current reconciliation?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

It could be:
1. Someone entered something incorrectly into a computer somewhere and it was only recently fixed, resulting in the inventory showing up.
2. They signed a new agreement to add the Parkway inventory.
3. The inventory will disappear tomorrow because someone entered something incorrectly into a computer system.

Vacation Village at Parkway is a pretty ordinary timeshare resort in an area with a glut of them, It is never hard to get in RCI. I suspect they are just making moves to try to fill the resort as much as possible and get some fresh customers to pester for the timeshare sales pitch.

 

[dioxide45]

I suspect they are just making moves to try to fill the resort as much as possible and get some fresh customers to pester for the timeshare sales pitch.

Nothing better than roping a veteran or active military member into a timeshare and timeshare loan. Defaulting on a tImeshare loans are one reason that some military members lose their secuirty clearance. The developers love the military because they are more likely to continue to pay in fear of losing their clearance.

 

[AwayWeGo]

It could be:
1. Someone entered something incorrectly into a computer somewhere and it was only recently fixed, resulting in the inventory showing up.
2. They signed a new agreement to add the Parkway inventory.
3. The inventory will disappear tomorrow because someone entered something incorrectly into a computer system.

4. Possibly something to do with acquisition of Berkeley Group & Daily Management by Vacatia, Inc.?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Beach57]

The answer is to obtain an ownership that is being given away on TUG for free that exchanges via II, and then get your account set up and then give the timeshare away so you aren't hooked on the maint fees for eternity.

I have read that there are some Mexican vacation clubs that have no maint fees and it works as pay for use and they are affiliated with II, but do a lot of research before going that route to avoid a large transfer fee or an ongoing commitment of some kind. These can (apparently) be picked up for next to nothing resale.

Club Solaris being one in Cancun. No maintenance fees. Just pay when you use. I’m thinking of letting mine go. RTU until 2035. Every year usage.

 

[dioxide45]

Not sure if it means anything, but I don't see any availability on All Resort Store at Vacation Village Parkway.

 

[chosshaul]

There's also a Realtor industry group like this and other independent exchanged like SFX. For Europe Hapimag that almost like a TS but can pause after a couple of years.

I can see both sides of this coin. Some people like TS, but it can be capital intensive. The last minute deals on RCI can be compelling and work for many people.

We own 2 TS for access to higher demand locations and then fill in with RCI/AFVC, SFX, Redweek, etc. I'm calling this the "AND" approach. So far it seems to be working well and has delayed my "need" to buy another week.

We've use GPX last minute deals and was blown away by the value, next month we will use RCI exchange that streched our points abit (not a huge savings, but better selection lower than retail rental) and in Spring we will use an SFX week in Hawaii. The savings is somthing like 60%+for GPX/RCI last minute, 40% for RCI and maube 25% for SFX.

Overall we have optimized for flexiblity and lower fixed costs, while still having the ability to take trips as desired. YMMV.

PS- Pass on Motel 6, we'd just camp.

How much does it cost to maintain GFX and SFX and all those options? I guess it is worth it if you book something every year but it is a lot of exchange fees right?

 

[chosshaul]

I am not a military guy, but I do work in healthcare and I signed up for heroesvacationclub.com
I’d imagine it is probably identical in a lot of ways as it is RCI inventory. This club has some really good deals.

So far my strategy has been:

1. Redweek—
2. Renting directly from owners on Tugg and other online venues
3. Timeshare presentation packages- but t ignore these now unless I get a premium property
4. buying a low cost resale HGVC deed. I’m only going to buy 1 week but it should be able to stretch into 10 plus days in Hawaii. For those that can downgrade a bit I did see several Hawaii properties on the heroesvacationclub.,com site.