Suggestions for buying a first resale

[getgem]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

Western US

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?

Western US/Arizona, Florida, Coastal areas, Europe, Canada

4) How many people do you usually travel with?

2 sometimes 4 or 6 but mainly 2

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

Yes 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?

4 or 5

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?

5K +

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?

2K

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

 

[DeniseM]

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars? 4 or 5

Based on this, you want to buy one of the hotel affiliated timeshare systems, because they are the onliy timeshares which are consistently 4-5 Star: Marriott, Vistana (Westin/Sheraton+) Hilton, Hyatt.

I recommend that you start your search by joining TUG ($15) so you have access to the TUG Reviews. Then go to the TUG Reviews for the western US and browse, and narrow it down to 3-5 timeshares that you are interested in, and then ask questions about them in the appropriate forum.

Western US Reviews: https://tug2.com/timeshare-resorts/default.aspx?Top+TUG+Resorts&top=TUG

 

[geist1223]

Is the 4 to 5 stars more important than let's say access to 90+ resorts spread from Fiji, Mexico, Hawaii, western Canada, lots of the US but primarily West of the Mississippi. This is without having to do a single trade or pay any trade fees.

 

[getgem]

Is the 4 to 5 stars more important than let's say access to 90+ resorts spread from Fiji, Mexico, Hawaii, western Canada, lots of the US but primarily West of the Mississippi. This is without having to do a single trade or pay any trade fees.

Where do I research this?

 

[RNCollins]

Where do I research this?

I think geist1223 is referring to WorldMark. They have multiple resorts in the western US.

To see the WorldMark resorts:
https://www.worldmarktheclub.com/resorts/

 

[geist1223]

I think geist1223 is referring to WorldMark. They have multiple resorts in the western US.

To see the WorldMark resorts:
https://www.worldmarktheclub.com/resorts/

Ooops. Yes Worldmark. On the Worldmark Page you need Adobe Flashplayer to use the map with all the resorts. Make sure you understand the colored Dots. One color is Worldmark and one is Wyndham. I do not use Adobe Flashplayer because of its security concerns.

I tried to copy a link to a goggle map from www.wmowners.com/forum but I was unsuccessful.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Welcome to TUG. You are doing the right thing to research before you buy.

Your trade-off will be number resorts in your desired locations vs. resort quality (3+ star vs. 4 - 4.5*)

Suggest that you rent Worldmark a few times from owners here at TUG or Redweek so then you can decide firsthand if the 3+ star quality works for you before you buy. To compare, rent from a hotel-branded to see if it makes a difference for you.

If the level of quality or amenities at the resorts don't work for you, then you can start to explore whether one of the hotel branded would work. However they have fewer of the locations in the west you desire.