Abound resale opinions desired

[Pamplemousse]

How do you get below $1,000/week? I believe that Grand Chateau has the lowest MF of the lockoff traders, and MFs were $1,576.23 this year, add $90 to lockoff and two exchange fees of $199 and you're already over $1,000/week without accounting for room size upgrades, e-plus, or II membership.

You can get 2 weeks for 1 maintence fee with a lock off- so half $1576.23 per week, plus exchange fees

So more like $790 maintenance, $199 exchange fee per vacation week.
You could add in half the lock off and II membership per week for another $95 and then you might do upsizes or eplus so a bit over $1000 but not much.

 

[VacationForever]

After I understood HGVC charges for everything, I would take a MVC low cost great II trader over a HGVC week. I am not trying to bash HGVC because I really wanted to book S. Ca in the summer and wanted to acquire lots of it to give me a month's stay. I looked at Grand Pacific briefly and may revisit it again.

 

[ljmiii]

After I understood HGVC charges for everything, I would take a MVC low cost great II trader over a HGVC week. I am not trying to bash HGVC because I really wanted to book S. Ca in the summer and wanted to acquire lots of it to give me a month's stay. I looked at Grand Pacific briefly and may revisit it again.

So...HGVC doesn't charge for "everything" and the fees I have paid are quite low.

If you're looking to buy one or more weeks at a Southern California property to use there then you won't pay for those reservations. We've owned EOY in Hawaii almost two decades now and never paid a reservation fee for those Home Week bookings. You do have to pay to make Club Reservations when you exchange into other HGVC resorts...but it's currently only $79. And you don't have to pay to change a reservation so if you later change your mind you can rebook without an additional fee. Also, I recently purchased at a NYC bHC property which allows us to pay for 'All Inclusive' dues...so we don't even pay that fee anymore.

And while HGVC charges to save points to the next year there is no charge for borrowing. The only times I ever saved (and thus had to pay that fee) were during COVID and when buying a deed that had current year points attached.

 

[jp10558]

After I understood HGVC charges for everything, I would take a MVC low cost great II trader over a HGVC week. I am not trying to bash HGVC because I really wanted to book S. Ca in the summer and wanted to acquire lots of it to give me a month's stay. I looked at Grand Pacific briefly and may revisit it again.

There are reasons MVC might be better - IMHO mostly locations. But if you book your owned home week there's no fee. If you book an exchange, it's ~$80 compared to II $199 discounted rate. I don't think you can bash HGVC here compared to MVC (resale week, no abound). Can you even borrow a week from next year in MVC? That's free in HGVC. Can you bank a week in MVC outside of using II? That's a small fee from HGVC, it gets more the later in the year you do it though.

 

[VacationForever]

So...HGVC doesn't charge for "everything" and the fees I have paid are quite low.

If you're looking to buy one or more weeks at a Southern California property to use there then you won't pay for those reservations. We've owned EOY in Hawaii almost two decades now and never paid a reservation fee for those Home Week bookings. You do have to pay to make Club Reservations when you exchange into other HGVC resorts...but it's currently only $79. And you don't have to pay to change a reservation so if you later change your mind you can rebook without an additional fee. Also, I recently purchased at a NYC bHC property which allows us to pay for 'All Inclusive' dues...so we don't even pay that fee anymore.

And while HGVC charges to save points to the next year there is no charge for borrowing. The only times I ever saved (and thus had to pay that fee) were during COVID and when buying a deed that had current year points attached.

I was looking at low mf/pt weeks at LV to book S. Ca. MF at S. Ca resorts are much higher than I am willing to pay. Hence when I looked at Grand Pacific, I also passed on it.

 

[rickandcindy23]

There are reasons MVC might be better - IMHO mostly locations. But if you book your owned home week there's no fee. If you book an exchange, it's ~$80 compared to II $199 discounted rate. I don't think you can bash HGVC here compared to MVC (resale week, no abound). Can you even borrow a week from next year in MVC? That's free in HGVC. Can you bank a week in MVC outside of using II? That's a small fee from HGVC, it gets more the later in the year you do it though.

You are talking point system vs. deeded weeks. That's not a good comparison. I pay for my RCI Points membership myself, out of my own pocket, but it does include RCI weeks as well. RCI Points and Weeks is a terrible system to use. If you aren't "blessed" with the privilege of using it, you are lucky. It's crap. The inventory in RCI doesn't show up like it does through Wyndham/ RCI.

This is a case of "You don't know what you don't know."

RCI membership is included because you own points in a system that charges members a fee to include the RCI membership. Great deal. How much are you paying in program fees to Wyndham? On one million points, we are paying about $800 bucks a year for that RCI account. They call this their operating fees, but guess what, the HOA should cover that. Wyndham takes forever to transfer a deed, and they charge $399!!!! Marriott charges $25.

Wyndham sucks.

What junk fees are you talking about with Marriott? The $99 lockoff fee? That's minimal. And we don't even pay that with Sheratons. $199 exchange fees within Marriott/ Vistana resorts vs. $299 with RCI. That alone saves the $99 lockoff fee with one exchange, and you get two exchanges.

I don't plan last-minute. I entered an ongoing search for 2/28-3/7 of 2026 about 18 months out. I got the week in one of the most difficult resorts to get, Marriott's Lahaina and Napili Villas, 2 bedroom lockoff, with a 1 bedroom Shadow Ridge Villages. Cost about $1,700 total for that week. Fees of about $1,400 (cannot figure this out exactly because these are all lockoffs and aren't sold as 1 bedrooms only) $164 exchange fee, $59 size upgrade to the two bedroom, $89 for retrade fee, which I use instead of insurance.

RCI insurance SUCKS and doesn't include the $299 exchange fee. What a waste of $129, or whatever it costs. I

 

[rickandcindy23]

After I understood HGVC charges for everything, I would take a MVC low cost great II trader over a HGVC week. I am not trying to bash HGVC because I really wanted to book S. Ca in the summer and wanted to acquire lots of it to give me a month's stay. I looked at Grand Pacific briefly and may revisit it again.

Absolutely.

 

[rickandcindy23]

You can get 2 weeks for 1 maintence fee with a lock off- so half $1576.23 per week, plus exchange fees

So more like $790 maintenance, $199 exchange fee per vacation week.
You could add in half the lock off and II membership per week for another $95 and then you might do upsizes or eplus so a bit over $1000 but not much.

I really should look into a 2 bed at MGC. We own a 1 bed EOY. We own Willow Ridge which is only slightly higher in MF's than MGC. The $99 fee is always annoying for Shadow Ridge because they are all lockoffs. I don't think it's as annoying with Willow Ridge because it's separate inventory, on the corners, and those are not sold as lockoffs.

My Palm Desert Shadow Ridge have pretty high fees and taxes (about $2,365). But the studios trade EXTREMELY well. I don't really see a difference between the two. There could be some differences with trading in the future.

If I figure the MF's of the one bedroom at $1,400, I am getting a lot of value out of that additional $965. I am still not happy owning Shadow Ridge. I tried to sell but resale values are low right now. I hope the fees don't go up again. It's hurting the resale value.

 

[davidvel]

Sorry, I was replying to HGVC having as many fees, saying that compared to an unenrolled resale week a resale HGVC week charges ~$80 for an exchange, looks like it's $199 in MVC. And the points stuff was HGVC as everyone gets points, though there is the now $750 activation fee, I think that's still significantly less and doesn't scale with point values from a week unlike the $3/point extra charge to get the Abound points (if I understand correctly).

I guess I'm still back to MVC has location advantages over HGVC but no matter how I slice it, even resale, MVC is (at least ot me) noticeably more expensive, and I am feeling better about trying to get MVC locations via II independent traders, getaways vs ownership.

The $3 activation fee is for resale Abound points, and has nothing to do with a resale week. You cannot pay $3 and then be able to enroll a resale week to elect for Abound points. You need to pay tens and tens of thousands to enroll a resale week, when they are offering it.

 

[davidvel]

How do you get below $1,000/week? I believe that Grand Chateau has the lowest MF of the lockoff traders, and MFs were $1,576.23 this year, add $90 to lockoff and two exchange fees of $199 and you're already over $1,000/week without accounting for room size upgrades, e-plus, or II membership.

We do not consider the MF to be 50/50 when locking off. We consider it 2/3 for 1BR and 1/3 for the studio, as there is a big difference in the units for use and trading.

 

[jp10558]

You are talking point system vs. deeded weeks. That's not a good comparison. I pay for my RCI Points membership myself, out of my own pocket, but it does include RCI weeks as well. RCI Points and Weeks is a terrible system to use. If you aren't "blessed" with the privilege of using it, you are lucky. It's crap. The inventory in RCI doesn't show up like it does through Wyndham/ RCI.

Maybe I'm somehow unclear, or expecting people to read the thread of what I was replying to. I was saying in HGVC (not Wyndham) that to exchange within the system the fees are less than resale MVC. I.e. if I own Seaworld, and want to stay in Marbrisa, I pay $80. My understanding is, unless you pay a lot one way or another, with resale MVC, say I own Ocean Pointe and want to stay in Grand Chateau, I have to pay a $199 II exchange fee. I'm making the II membership and the HGVC "club dues" a wash, though many just count club dues part of MF with HGVC.

This is a case of "You don't know what you don't know."

RCI membership is included because you own points in a system that charges members a fee to include the RCI membership. Great deal. How much are you paying in program fees to Wyndham? On one million points, we are paying about $800 bucks a year for that RCI account. They call this their operating fees, but guess what, the HOA should cover that. Wyndham takes forever to transfer a deed, and they charge $399!!!! Marriott charges $25.

Wyndham sucks.

I know you hate Wyndham, but they don't charge fees for the internal exchanges and if you're booking weeks for weeks (because again, AFAIK with resale MVC you can only book whole weeks with or without RCI) you almost certainly won't run out of housekeeping credits. They actually charge less than HGVC for the transfer. And you don't have the II "slot machine" / OGS - all Wyndham direct bookings I've tried are available at 10 months out for a instant book for known point values.

What junk fees are you talking about with Marriott? The $99 lockoff fee? That's minimal.

More than the HGVC booking fee OR the Wyndham free booking. But no, I was referring to the $3 per point to get Abound points resale, on top of the booking points being more than the points you get for depositing the week (as described earlier in this thread).

But, assuming you own just a week resale in each of these, then assuming you have the trade power in II or points in HGVC or Wyndham - booking 2 weeks is 2 booking fees - HGVC = $160. Wyndham is (if you haven't done a lot of weekend trips) free. MVC is that $99 lockoff, plus 2 $199 exchange fees. And 2-3 size upgrade fees if you want 2BRs, though I'll admit that in the HGVC world you can only get 2BR off season for 5600 pts and who knows for Wyndham, it's all over the map if "one week" or "one contract UDI" can get you 2 weeks exactly. I'm handwaving a little buy using "trade power" to compare to various points values, but it's not exactly comparable.

$199 exchange fees within Marriott/ Vistana resorts vs. $299 with RCI. That alone saves the $99 lockoff fee with one exchange, and you get two exchanges.

Sure, but don't forget the $89? unit size upgrade fee for the 1BR and double that for 2 sizes on the studio. OR the extra cost for Platinum in II to reduce those. In RCI Points at a good point to MF resort, you can get 2 weeks with no size upgrade fees at all. That's probably a wash, or still in IIs favor, but I also see a lot of opportunities to pay 7,500-30k points, which would with a pretty good but not the best GrandView week gets you 3-6 or more trades. Yes, your exchange fee is higher, but if you're getting additional MVC weeks to get as many bookings, that MF cost might overcome an extra $100 per booking in RCI. Where RCI exchanges don't usually make a lot of sense is from a corporate account like Wyndham or HGVC but II still charges $30 more per exchange if you exchange out of MVC, and you also get the same issue there where most of the independents aren't a good value to exchange into from MVC.

RCI insurance SUCKS and doesn't include the $299 exchange fee. What a waste of $129, or whatever it costs. I

I never buy insurance from II or RCI or HGVC or whoever. I might from a third party for a whole international trip where theres a lot of hotel usage, flights, etc. But TS I self insure. So far I'm ahead, and if I miss one trip, or one week, I think that still (with the amount of bookings I do) is only about a year of insurance payments, so I'd need to miss multiple weeks which so far has worked out.

I know you also dislike RCI, but that seems to be based on your specific trading style and needs or wants. For me, many places I want to go are either only in RCI or work out A LOT CHEAPER to book via RCI (points or Extra Vacations or Last Calls). But I'm up here in the NE looking at Vermont, NH, and Massanutten a lot, as well as some Canada. When I went to Branson (really, videos are coming eventually, life is crazy right now) the MVC I booked cost me about double the Wyndham I booked, but I think it was only 2 points higher on my rating scale. Your mileage and ratings will vary, but I'm not sure if I was forced back to Branson which I'd look to replicate.

 

[jp10558]

The $3 activation fee is for resale Abound points, and has nothing to do with a resale week. You cannot pay $3 and then be able to enroll a resale week to elect for Abound points. You need to pay tens and tens of thousands to enroll a resale week, when they are offering it.

Sounds like it's worse than I was making it out to be. To the extent you value points at all, but people all have a different set of goal posts for what they're comparing.

 

[dioxide45]

Maybe I'm somehow unclear, or expecting people to read the thread of what I was replying to. I was saying in HGVC (not Wyndham) that to exchange within the system the fees are less than resale MVC. I.e. if I own Seaworld, and want to stay in Marbrisa, I pay $80. My understanding is, unless you pay a lot one way or another, with resale MVC, say I own Ocean Pointe and want to stay in Grand Chateau, I have to pay a $199 II exchange fee. I'm making the II membership and the HGVC "club dues" a wash, though many just count club dues part of MF with HGVC.

The main reason many own Marriott, as you mentioned before, is the network of resorts is better. At least by many opinions. I would also say overall resort quality is a notch above. All that comes with a cost. Marriott also makes it much easier to save by trading through II for other Marriott properties. Something you can't as easily do with HGVC as I understand they limit your ability to trade into other HGVC resorts through RCI making the early bulk deposits unaccessible.

HGVC and Marriott are two very different systems. HGVC has had a mandatory points overlay system for the bulk of their resorts since inception. You get a defined number of points and you have to figure out how to use them. The value of the currency is fixed. If you own a single week you might be able to get two or three weeks if you drop down in season or unit size. With Marriott you get a deeded lock off week where you can exchange into two other 2BR units, possibly during prime or higher season times. With a Marriott week I can get two weeks in Hawaii in a 2BR. I may not be able to do the same with a HGVC SeaWorld week. Depending on the resort, I might have to use all my points from just one week and accept a smaller unit or fewer days.

There is really no right or wrong or one size fits all when it comes to timeshares. We find value out of our MVC ownership but certainly are willing to look at other systems too.

 

[jp10558]

We do not consider the MF to be 50/50 when locking off. We consider it 2/3 for 1BR and 1/3 for the studio, as there is a big difference in the units for use and trading.

Which is the other problem - it's real hard to even discuss with people who aren't regularly doing that sort of lock off and trade. Within the other systems it's simple, you just figure out MF/pt and how many points a booking takes. Most of these 2 exchanges for 1 MF proponents act like the studio and the 1BR will book the same 2BR exchanges, most of the time, and easily, and you just pay the size upgrade fee. Whereas I bet it's a bit more involved than that. I don't have to already own the MVC lock off, and have locked it off and deposited it to II to try and figure out what's realistic to get as trades - with HGVC and Wyndham and RCI Points, I literally look at points values - and sometimes there's a sale but almost no one counts on it.

My overall take away remains the same - Abound doesn't make a lot of sense price wise to much of TUG. All explained earlier in this thread. You could justify it for the flexibility of the points, but you pay through the nose even resale for that (compared to other competitors point systems).

MVC resale weeks if you get the right one that is also a lock off and have II Platinum and set up OGS or get lucky and pay unit size upgrade fees can in the best case get cost competitive, but the process is one of the more complicated and vague ones (because of II). On the upshot, you get access to some of the best resorts so this can be worth it if you are or want to get deep into the TS game and hunt.

I get it though, after trying multiple brands, the MVC and SVV were both reasonably nice and MVC has a lot of desirable locations - the issue is just is it worth the cost / hassle? Still thinking about that.

 

[jp10558]

The main reason many own Marriott, as you mentioned before, is the network of resorts is better. At least by many opinions. I would also say overall resort quality is a notch above. All that comes with a cost. Marriott also makes it much easier to save by trading through II for other Marriott properties. Something you can't as easily do with HGVC as I understand they limit your ability to trade into other HGVC resorts through RCI making the early bulk deposits unaccessible.

HGVC and Marriott are two very different systems. HGVC has had a mandatory points overlay system for the bulk of their resorts since inception. You get a defined number of points and you have to figure out how to use them. The value of the currency is fixed. If you own a single week you might be able to get two or three weeks if you drop down in season or unit size. With Marriott you get a deeded lock off week where you can exchange into two other 2BR units, possibly during prime or higher season times. With a Marriott week I can get two weeks in Hawaii in a 2BR. I may not be able to do the same with a HGVC SeaWorld week. Depending on the resort, I might have to use all my points from just one week and accept a smaller unit or fewer days.

There is really no right or wrong or one size fits all when it comes to timeshares. We find value out of our MVC ownership but certainly are willing to look at other systems too.

I just replied - - I agree with you - the big question is around where you put resort quality to cost. My entire participation in this thread was primarily around the idea that HGVC cost more to exchange in their system than MVC did, and that just seems flat out wrong no matter how you slice it. Same WRT Wyndham.

However - MVC does have very nice resorts in a lot of locations. I'm still kinda surprised HGVC decided to buy and do a crappy exchange overlay to get more locations vs trying to do a better direct exchange system a la MVC somehow.

TBH, I find the least value in my HGVC week. I just don't find it so unusable to try and dump it already. I don't think I'd recommend HGVC necessarily either - booking is pretty challenging, at least where I'd usually want to go. Or it feels like a waste to me to use the points to stay in Orlando as I can get the same or better much cheaper via RCI or II. Las Vegas it really depends on if you really want to be connected to a Casino on the strip or not. If yes, HGVC does well with Flamingo and Elara. Otherwise I think you can save a bunch going a block off strip at any of like 500 TS. Myrtle Beach for Ocean Enclave, especially if you have the points to get ocean view or ocean front rooms (you probably don't for summer, I know I don't) could be worth it if you want to sit on the balcony and watch the ocean. Otherwise same as Vegas or worse, a bajillion options cheaper, maybe North MB or inland a bit but you're probably driving anyway so...

Even though I avoided the mistake of buying developer for my first TS purchase, I guess it's always going to be suboptimal right?

 

[rthib]

Most of these 2 exchanges for 1 MF proponents act like the studio and the 1BR will book the same 2BR exchanges, most of the time, and easily, and you just pay the size upgrade fee. Whereas I bet it's a bit more involved than that.

I have a lock off and it is easy to search without actually locking it off yet. I have rarely seen an exchange that I could pull with my 2 bedroom, not also be available with my Master side alone and usually with the studio side. And II runs upgrade free promotions that I will usually grab a trade when they run and then retrade at a later time.

That doesn't change the underlying fact that everyone is different and needs are different. I have 3 major trips scheduled right now. One is a trade of a lock off that I turned into two back to back weeks in a 2 bedroom. The next is Island Hoping in Hawaii on points, 3 Nights, 4 Nights, 3 Nights (then 5 nights that are part of tour so that is outside MVCI) and finally a week in one of my home resorts in a 2 bedroom. That one is a resale I got at same resort I had as a prebuild developer purchase. Bought resale during COVID so got it for almost nothing. Same with abound points, bought 1000 points to move up to next level with resale points bought during COVID when they were not exercising ROFR.
For me part of the fun is working the system and I like the face that I can lock in dates well in advance with points so I can get cheap airfare. Then I keep looking to see if I can find a trade later in II. Did that last year for Spain where I had a points reservation then about 3 months out, week appeared in II. Switched from points to exchange then used the points on another trip.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't really use Abound. I have it accidentally but don't really use it. We book our weeks that are in Abound. I may use it someday, but for now I see no need.

My Marriott and Sheraton weeks are great for trading, and I get exchanges I cannot believe. I cannot say that about RCI. I have so many exchange requests in RCI, and I get constant emails from them with "sales." I am just trying to use what we have to trade. I want to get it down to 0 points (weeks and RCI Points). I don't care about last call vacations.

The Wyndham RCI portal is really good. I do like that portal, just FYI. It's one way I can search without the frustration I get with RCI weeks/ points.

There is no real comparison between Wyndham [anything] and Marriott. Wyndham's Grand Desert is decent for a few nights. Grand Chateau for a full week is fantastic. Branson Meadows is 3*, Willow Ridge is 4* of the same unit size. Willow Ridge has actual tiled bathrooms, Meadows has dumpy bathrooms. Meadows has nice grounds, but not as nice as WR. And the internet is horrible with Wyndham. Get into the 21st century, Wyndham! The program fee is supposed to cover the internet, and why is it so terrible?

Bonnet Creek is exceptional. Shearwater is another exceptional stay. I haven't stayed in a lot of Wyndham resorts, admittedly, but we stayed at Kingsgate for a few nights, followed by a week at Marriott's Ford's Colony. No comparison! Marriott gets a 10. I do know that Kingsgate has had updates. Governor's Green isn't even close to Marriott, except for the "presidential" units.

@jp10558 Upgrade fees for a platinum membership in II are $59 per step up. We have platinum because it pays for itself. 3 guest certificates included per year, plus discounted upgrade fees (no limit on that benefit, not so far).

I have thought about Hilton, specifically for Maui Bay Villas, also we could use points for nights in Vegas. But we have Wyndham and can book Grand Desert. Grand Desert is okay. I see free points and think about buying, then I change my mind. If I already had Hilton, I would definitely make it work, especially for New York. NYC would be great for those in the NE.

 

[JIMinNC]

I just replied - - I agree with you - the big question is around where you put resort quality to cost. My entire participation in this thread was primarily around the idea that HGVC cost more to exchange in their system than MVC did, and that just seems flat out wrong no matter how you slice it. Same WRT Wyndham.

However - MVC does have very nice resorts in a lot of locations. I'm still kinda surprised HGVC decided to buy and do a crappy exchange overlay to get more locations vs trying to do a better direct exchange system a la MVC somehow.

TBH, I find the least value in my HGVC week. I just don't find it so unusable to try and dump it already. I don't think I'd recommend HGVC necessarily either - booking is pretty challenging, at least where I'd usually want to go. Or it feels like a waste to me to use the points to stay in Orlando as I can get the same or better much cheaper via RCI or II. Las Vegas it really depends on if you really want to be connected to a Casino on the strip or not. If yes, HGVC does well with Flamingo and Elara. Otherwise I think you can save a bunch going a block off strip at any of like 500 TS. Myrtle Beach for Ocean Enclave, especially if you have the points to get ocean view or ocean front rooms (you probably don't for summer, I know I don't) could be worth it if you want to sit on the balcony and watch the ocean. Otherwise same as Vegas or worse, a bajillion options cheaper, maybe North MB or inland a bit but you're probably driving anyway so...

Even though I avoided the mistake of buying developer for my first TS purchase, I guess it's always going to be suboptimal right?

I agree the MVC network has more options and variety than HGVC. We do find the quality of HGVC resorts to be comparable to MVC, and actually superior when you talk about the By Hilton Club locations we have stayed at.

Where our HGVC week has considerable value for us is to access their properties in Waikoloa on the Big Island. While MVC now has a Waikoloa location as well (which we enjoyed a lot earlier this year), having the HGVC week to use for Kings' Land, Kohala Suites, or the Bay Club helps us save our MVC Abound points for other uses within their very broad and diverse set of locations. We have also enjoyed, and will go back to, La Pacifica by Hilton Club in Los Cabos, and we will likely continue to do occasional 3-night stays at Liberty Place by Hilton Club in Charleston. From time-to-time, we can also book short stays at one of the HGVC Waikiki locations on Oahu to match up with longer stays on the other islands. We did spend a week a few years ago at HGVC Borgo all Vigne in Tuscany, Italy. The Borgo was terrific, but it's more like a one-and-done trip than somewhere we would likely go back to repeatedly.

 

[jp10558]

I have a lock off and it is easy to search without actually locking it off yet.

What I mean is if you don't already own the lock-off and are trying to evaluate "what it'll pull", it's really hard to estimate unless you find someone who owns the same thing or substantially similar. Not that RCI is easy, but anyone with a RCI Points account can tell you the points if you get an RCI Points account. Anyone with HGVC or Wyndham can tell you the internal points or external points if you get their system - some are openly published. The opposite of II. TBH, my Gatlinburg is supposed to be a lock off, but II just has it as a 2BR and I have no idea how to adjust, to lock off, or how I'd search "as if I'd locked it off". I'm happy to learn though.

I have rarely seen an exchange that I could pull with my 2 bedroom, not also be available with my Master side alone and usually with the studio side.

This seems counter to how I understood II to work, but you might just have one of the best unit weeks to trade with?

And II runs upgrade free promotions that I will usually grab a trade when they run and then retrade at a later time.

No offense, but this seems potentially a little risky and costs more I think (to enable retrades is a fee right?) but also seems isn't something you can "just do", you have to do even more planning and getting stuff to line up. It's why I didn't count on points discount sales when talking about HGVC for instance.

That doesn't change the underlying fact that everyone is different and needs are different.

Absolutely.

 

[jp10558]

I cannot say that about RCI. I have so many exchange requests in RCI, and I get constant emails from them with "sales." I am just trying to use what we have to trade. I want to get it down to 0 points (weeks and RCI Points). I don't care about last call vacations.

This really depends on the user - previously to getting Grandview I wasn't very interested in RCI exchanges cause I had limited points power with Wyndham or HGVC really. I could always use them direct. What is an example request? I so far have always just booked "instantly" in RCI (well, and in II too). It's really stressful for me to say - sometime in the next year or more I might find out if we can go to location X and I don't really know if I'm getting anything till I decided I give up at Y days / months before the proposed travel. Not easy to do with something you get one or maybe 2 shots at a year.

The Wyndham RCI portal is really good. I do like that portal, just FYI. It's one way I can search without the frustration I get with RCI weeks/ points.

I swear before I argued with you that the Wyndham RCI portal was one you didn't like because it was more limited than the RCI Points?

There is no real comparison between Wyndham [anything] and Marriott. Wyndham's Grand Desert is decent for a few nights. Grand Chateau for a full week is fantastic. Branson Meadows is 3*, Willow Ridge is 4* of the same unit size. Willow Ridge has actual tiled bathrooms, Meadows has dumpy bathrooms.

I just don't really care about the bathroom as long as it's usable and not disgusting. Wyndham are average and only slightly less functional than Marriott.

Meadows has nice grounds, but not as nice as WR.

I think they're about equivalent. The big difference is WR doesn't have a Sauna! (again, what you care about matters, but no place is getting top marks from me without a Sauna and Steam room).

And the internet is horrible with Wyndham. Get into the 21st century, Wyndham! The program fee is supposed to cover the internet, and why is it so terrible?

100%%% This is my biggest issue with Wyndham. Like, I need the internet to work. Wyndham could go up at least 0.5 points, maybe a full 1 point on the TUG score by having good internet. As every year goes on, I can't imagine less people want or need functional internet.

Bonnet Creek is exceptional. Shearwater is another exceptional stay. I haven't stayed in a lot of Wyndham resorts, admittedly, but we stayed at Kingsgate for a few nights, followed by a week at Marriott's Ford's Colony. No comparison! Marriott gets a 10. I do know that Kingsgate has had updates. Governor's Green isn't even close to Marriott, except for the "presidential" units.

@jp10558 Upgrade fees for a platinum membership in II are $59 per step up. We have platinum because it pays for itself. 3 guest certificates included per year, plus discounted upgrade fees (no limit on that benefit, not so far).

Yea, if you can exchange enough times in a year to use 3 GCs. I have 2 exchanges a year right now in II. I'm not going to GC that often. I imagine the newbie to II is likely to have 1 exchange a year. They might well have the size unit they will need. The discounted upgrade fees also are not super useful if you're like me with a 2BR and very rarely would see, much less want a 3 or 4BR.

I guess if I did upgrade both times it would pay for Platinum. But TBH barely, and $50 off Getaways is also potentially hard to really use enough. From what I recall, you need to do 3-4 transactions to pay back Platinum. I only have it cause there was that 40% off sale, so I figured I'd give it a try. I just need to actually be able to book a getaway or get some benefit from it before the year is up.

I have thought about Hilton, specifically for Maui Bay Villas, also we could use points for nights in Vegas. But we have Wyndham and can book Grand Desert. Grand Desert is okay. I see free points and think about buying, then I change my mind. If I already had Hilton, I would definitely make it work, especially for New York. NYC would be great for those in the NE.

NYC is so expensive in points for HGVC and only gets you room for a couple that it's not worth it IMHO. I'd just as soon use hotel points or FNRs or TravelZoo style deals. I'm not saying they're great, I'm just saying no 2BR and exorbitant costs anyway to make it hard to book 2 1BR take it out of the running for me. HGVC is hurt a lot by their limited locations, and how often they have places that just don't have 2BR availability (at least for me).

 

[Pamplemousse]

What I mean is if you don't already own the lock-off and are trying to evaluate "what it'll pull", it's really hard to estimate unless you find someone who owns the same thing or substantially similar. Not that RCI is easy, but anyone with a RCI Points account can tell you the points if you get an RCI Points account. Anyone with HGVC or Wyndham can tell you the internal points or external points if you get their system - some are openly published. The opposite of II. TBH, my Gatlinburg is supposed to be a lock off, but II just has it as a 2BR and I have no idea how to adjust, to lock off, or how I'd search "as if I'd locked it off". I'm happy to learn though.

This seems counter to how I understood II to work, but you might just have one of the best unit weeks to trade with?

No offense, but this seems potentially a little risky and costs more I think (to enable retrades is a fee right?) but also seems isn't something you can "just do", you have to do even more planning and getting stuff to line up. It's why I didn't count on points discount sales when talking about HGVC for instance.

Absolutely.

In II when you search you are just seeing available inventory- what’s left after all requests have been filled.
This doesn’t indicate what you can get will a well done request.

Also, as an MVC owner you can search II without depositing.
You add a made up reservation number (any 8 or 9 digit number) and and select what part of your u it you want to search with- studio, 1 or 2 br so you can see what is currently available.

 

[jp10558]

In II when you search you are just seeing available inventory- what’s left after all requests have been filled.
This doesn’t indicate what you can get will a well done request.

I do need to try another OGS.

 

[davidvel]

I have a lock off and it is easy to search without actually locking it off yet. I have rarely seen an exchange that I could pull with my 2 bedroom, not also be available with my Master side alone and usually with the studio side. And II runs upgrade free promotions that I will usually grab a trade when they run and then retrade at a later time.

We have had the same experience, and we have a mid MRD gold trader. The only exception is the studio being limited in seeing 2BR weeks in Hawaii. Here are some of our exchanges:

Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOGV (Studio) Week: 47 Sat, November 22, 2025 Sat, November 29, 2025

Marriott's Maui Ocean Club MMO Unit: HOBOV (1 Bedroom) Week: 34 Fri, August 22, 2025 Fri, August 29, 2025

Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOMV (1 Bedroom) Week: 22 Sat, May 31, 2025 Sat, June 07, 2025	Marriott's MountainSide MOU Unit: HZZAA (2 Bedrooms) Week: 13 Sun, March 30, 2025 Sun, April 06, 2025 Spring Break
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOMV (1 Bedroom) Week: 24 Sat, June 15, 2024 Sat, June 22, 2024	Marriott's Grand Chateau MGC Unit: HZZAO (3 Bedrooms) Week: 9 Sun, March 03, 2024 Sun, March 10, 2024
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOGV (Studio) Week: 26 Sat, June 29, 2024 Sat, July 06, 2024	Marriott's Village d'Ile de France MVF Unit: DTOVI (2 Bedrooms) Week: 44 Thu, November 02, 2023 Thu, November 09, 2023
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOMV (1 Bedroom) Week: 47 Sun, November 20, 2022 Sun, November 27, 2022	Marriott's MountainSide MOU Unit: ZZAA (2 Bedrooms) Week: 13 Sun, March 26, 2023 Sun, April 02, 2023 Spring Break
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOGV (Studio) Week: 22 Sat, May 28, 2022 Sat, June 04, 2022	Marriott's Newport Coast Villas NCV Unit: TOVI (2 Bedrooms) Week: 51 Sun, December 18, 2022 Sun, December 25, 2022
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOMV (1 Bedroom) Week: 47 Sat, November 20, 2021 Sat, November 27, 2021	Marriott's MountainSide MOU Unit: ZZAA (2 Bedrooms) Week: 13 Fri, March 26, 2021 Fri, April 02, 2021 Spring Break
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOGV (Studio) Week: 24 Sun, June 16, 2019 Sun, June 23, 2019	Marriott's Newport Coast Villas NCV Unit: HTOVI (2 Bedrooms) Week: 1 Sat, January 04, 2020 Sat, January 11, 2020
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOMV (1 Bedroom) Week: 46 Sat, November 17, 2018 Sat, November 24, 2018	Marriott's Timber Lodge MML Unit: HZZAA (2 Bedrooms) Week: 1 Sat, January 05, 2019 Sat, January 12, 2019 Winter Break
Marriott's Shadow Ridge Villages MRD Unit: TOGV (Studio) Week: 46 Sat, November 17, 2018 Sat, November 24, 2018	Marriott's Timber Lodge MML Unit: HZZAA (2 Bedrooms) Week: 13 Sun, April 01, 2018 Sun, April 08, 2018 Spring Break