*** Recommendations Wanted - Where should we buy? ***

[Binspira]

Ok - here is my survey below. Wondering where should we Buy? I was going to purchase a Raintree Timeshare ----> http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index....-confused-supposed-to-close-this-week.257702/

Survey:

1) Where do you want your home resort to be? Rockies or Hawaii (not sure how important this is since would want to travel to different places and would want good value and good trading power.

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time? Trade more

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations? Rockies, Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico (occasionally) and Canada

4) How many people do you usually travel with? 2-6

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule? anytime

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance? yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time? yes

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars? 5 stars

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing? Can afford whatever is best value - financing not needed

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year? Can afford whatever is best value - ideally, $2,000 or less a year - would go more is super-compelling value.

11) Are you a detail oriented planner? yes

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do? yes

We own one timeshare - Raintree - bought at Mexico, rescinded sale, bought resale, didn't like just Mexico, was upsold to Raintree 15 (which added more resorts and allowed acceleration) and have enjoyed owning this timeshare every since. We use two weeks a year, go off-season and get a nice value in very clean place in the Rockies, yet want to expand and have more buying power and our Raintree is done in the next 5 years.

Any insight is appreciated. Thanks. Binspira

 

[theo]

My knee jerk response is that based upon your replies you should give WorldMark serious consideration (and research), although "5 star" expectations are not likely going to be consistently met anywhere outside of Marriott, Hyatt, Westin, etc. Others may have different views and / or input.

 

[vacationhopeful]

Theo nail it above.

Since you have TS experience, is it the resort experience of pools, open green space, golf & tennis and condos with balconies that you need more of?

While I totally get that, might I suggest you look at the 'city' travel experience. Wyndham and several other developers have started opening major city buildings. Like "Wyndham Midtown 45" in NYC and several other large & major cities.

 

[Binspira]

although "5 star" expectations are not likely going to be consistently met anywhere outside of Marriott, Hyatt, etc. Others may have different views and / or input.

Thank you and wanted to clarify.. 5 star does not mean 5 star from a hotel perspective. Just more on the nicer to much nigher properties. Like newer, cleaner, good amenities vs properties that are older. In fact, we prefer a more condo-feel vs hotel type of stay.

 

[theo]

Thank you and wanted to clarify.. 5 star does not mean 5 star from a hotel perspective. Just more on the nicer to much nigher properties. Like newer, cleaner, good amenities vs properties that are older. In fact, we prefer a more condo-feel vs hotel type of stay.

Virtually all timeshares are, by definition, condos not hotel rooms and virtually all timeshare properties will offer similar amenities (such as pools).

Fwiw, all of our remaining (favorite) timeshare properties are indeed of "older" construction, but are clean, well managed and maintained and with "amenities" the same as those at the shiniest new property. A timeshare property ain't necessarily any better just because it's "newer". We've sold off five or six much "newer" timeshare weeks in the past few years, by choice. At the oldest (built in early 1980's) timeshare property at which we still own intervals, all units are 2BR and a spacious 1,350 square feet. Personally, we prefer clean and spacious over new and glitzy. Also, bear in mind that "older" timeshare properties, having been in the vanguard of timeshare construction, often have prime, superior site location. To each their own, of course. YMMV.

 

[DeniseM]

1) Where do you want your home resort to be? Rockies or Hawaii (not sure how important this is since would want to travel to different places and would want good value and good trading power.

Hawaii timeshares are not cost effective to use for trading because they have the highest maintenance fees and taxes, so most of the time, you would be trading an expensive timeshare for a less expensive timeshare, which isn't a good strategy.

I am not familiar with timeshares in the Rockies, but for strong trading value, you would need a ski week or Christmas, or New Years week. An off-season week will have poor trading power.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars? 5 stars

The only systems that are consistently 4-5 Star are the hotel affiliated systems, so if this is a priority, that is where you should look:

Westin/Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott.

 

[dagger1]

Check out the Hyatt's in Colorado, you will love them..

 

[WalnutBaron]

You've already received good advice, and you've by now probably realized that you're likely going to have to make a choice: either lower your quality expectations from 5-star to something more like a 3.5 or be willing to reduce the number of targeted destinations. Of the top-tier resort systems, Marriott is by far the largest and most extensive--and has resorts in all of your desired locations except Canada. Hilton Grand Vacations Club is the next largest of the top-tier systems. Hyatt and Vistana (formerly Starwood) have smaller systems but with outstanding quality resorts.

If you're able to take a step down on quality--but still have nice vacations--WorldMark is a good choice. They check off all of your location requirements.

One important factor you did not mention is your budget. You said you were looking for "best value", which can mean different things. If you're able to spend $12-15,000 upfront and support annual maintenance fees of $1500-3000 (as Denise mentioned, these fees vary widely depending on location with Hawaii typically being the most expensive), then you will probably be happiest with Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, or Vistana. If that's too rich for your blood, WorldMark is a good choice. I would highly recommend you avoid the Wyndham system, however--at least for the next few months--because of a hellacious problem they have right now with a terrible reservation system that does not allow owners to have full confidence that reservations made are held. Just read the Wyndham BBS here on TUG for more details than you'll ever want to know.

Finally, always keep in mind future resale. While there are exceptions, it's unlikely your resale purchase of a timeshare in any system will gain value over time, but the key is buying something that will easily re-sell in the future. Properties in any of the top tier systems named above will most likely be fine--especially if you avoid overbuilt locations like Orlando, Las Vegas, or Branson, for example. But if you check the Bargain Basement listings on TUG or Redweek, you'll notice that there are lots of Raintree, Bluegreen, Wyndham, Westgate and others that owners literally want to give away just to avoid paying continued maintenance fees.

 

[dagger1]

In fact check out all the Hyatt's... Great locations and top tier quality. For very reasonable MF's...

 

[Ssentiw]

I recently purchased a 3 bedroom deeded timeshare from Branson's Nantucket and my mf's are only about 200 dollars per year. I thought that was pretty reasonable. I can use it every year.

 

[tschwa2]

I recently purchased a 3 bedroom deeded timeshare from Branson's Nantucket and my mf's are only about 200 dollars per year. I thought that was pretty reasonable. I can use it every year.

How recently? $200 sounds like a triennial (once every 3 years) and you probably either get 1/3 or the RCI points every year and/or you have the option to purchase bonus weeks from the developer for a fee on your off years. I can guarantee you are not getting a 3 br that you can use any week of the year annually for $200.

 

[VacationForever]

I recently purchased a 3 bedroom deeded timeshare from Branson's Nantucket and my mf's are only about 200 dollars per year. I thought that was pretty reasonable. I can use it every year.

Go back and look at your deed and check the MF. My guess for an annual week for this resort, it will be closer to $1200 to $2000. Don't know if you are missing a 1 at the beginning or a 0 at the end.

 

[K2Quick]

If you want a home resort in the rockies, is that for skiing or would that be more of a summer/offseason destination for you? My recommendation would change quite a bit depending on that answer.

Also, which Hawaiian island(s) do you prefer to visit? My recommendation would also change quite a bit based on your answer to that one.

 

[Ssentiw]

Go back and look at your deed and check the MF. My guess for an annual week for this resort, it will be closer to $1200 to $2000. Don't know if you are missing a 1 at the beginning or a 0 at the end.

No ... it is truly only 200 dollars per year. We have had it since 2008 and that is what it's always been.

 

[tschwa2]

No ... it is truly only 200 dollars per year. We have had it since 2008 and that is what it's always been.

Do you get points every year and if so how much and if you don't get points do you have to reserve a floating week each year or is it assigned.

 

[Ssentiw]

How recently? $200 sounds like a triennial (once every 3 years) and you probably either get 1/3 or the RCI points every year and/or you have the option to purchase bonus weeks from the developer for a fee on your off years. I can guarantee you are not getting a 3 br that you can use any week of the year annually for $200.

You are correct ... I get 24,500 points per year or 73,500 points per three years. For three years it cost us $599 for three years.

 

[Ssentiw]

Do you get points every year and if so how much and if you don't get points do you have to reserve a floating week each year or is it assigned.

We get 24,500 points every year. When we reserve at our Home TS, it cost us half the points. Nothing is assigned and no floating weeks.

 

[tschwa2]

We get 24,500 points every year. When we reserve at our Home TS, it cost us half the points. Nothing is assigned and no floating weeks.

Does it cost half the points because you are reserving something smaller than a 3 bedroom unit or during a lower season?

 

[Ssentiw]

We were told that anytime we book at our home timeshare we would only have to pay half the points. That is a big "IF" you can get a reservation at the resort.

 

[tschwa2]

We were told that anytime we book at our home timeshare we would only have to pay half the points. That is a big "IF" you can get a reservation at the resort.

Look at RCI now for August 2018. How many points for a 3 br?