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    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered!
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    Come check it out for a chance to win a Free TUG membership (or renewal) just for helping out!

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  • Follow the TUG Member Banner as it travels the world on vacation with Timeshare owners! Also sign up to get the banner sent to you so you can submit a photo of your vacation with the banner to share with TUG! Banner Thread
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  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

abound

  1. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 164... Timeshare Traveler is Bearish on Marriott Vacation Club

    I was shocked to get my annual maintenance fees and see a 15% increase in my Vistana Maintenance. I then had a sigh of relief that I didn't buy any more Marriott / Vistana. And then came the sarcastic thoughts about ABOUND not being about More vacations but MORE maintenance costs. But this...
  2. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 154... Top 5 Ways to Use Your Timeshare Points

    In this video, I wanted to share my top uses for my timeshare points... In general, I rank the usage of my points based on the most value for each point I spend. A general rule is that if two companies are involved, then there are two sets of profits which means your points will be diluted...
  3. S

    Best value outside of Mexico

    Hey Aloha, Could someone please either direct me to the best thread for my question or please answer, what is the best Westin resale (price per point / MF per point) outside of Lagunamar? Owning in Mexico is nerve racking to me, whether unfounded or not. Also, things keep changing and it's...
  4. Clifbell

    One Bedroom Residence Inn Vacaville Ca

    Located in Vacaville which is about half way between Sacramento and San Francisco sits the residence Inn by Marriott. The Residence Inn has many of the same features as a timeshare but also free breakfasts like a hotel... I call this "timeshare Lite" since it has a full kitchen yet does not...
  5. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 144... Interval International expands your choices

    Another way to extend your points is with the use of Interval International. With Interval International you can deposit your points into Interval and they will have an additional two years to be used within the Interval network. Marriott Vacation Club and Worldmark Have access to Interval...
  6. tourproto

    Confused about Abound

    So I am a longtime Vistana owner and have several weeks at WKV. I know the Vistana system well and there are only three properties we stay at (WKV, Westin Desert Willows and Westin Princeville). The Abound program is very confusing to me, both from what benefits it provides existing Vistana...
  7. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 129... Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Timeshares

    I wanted to create a video to help people start out their journey to owning timeshares in the most positive way. I've owned timeshares for over a decade and am an elite member with Hilton, Marriott, and Worldmark. I've and experienced a lot and want to share my approach to successfully owning...
  8. Julian926

    Star options to Abound to get March 2024 Hawaii

    I have 81k in star options. I'm trying to get at least 10 nights in Maui in the later part of March in 2024. Since this time is high season for Maui (WKORN), would it make sense to convert this to Abound points in March and borrow from the next year to have a chance for March 2024? (assuming...
  9. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 121... Timeshares 2022 in Review

    After finally getting back to business after the Covid crisis began to subside, there were significant upgrades and changes in the timeshare industry that happened in 2022 that will grow and evolve in 2023. In this Video, I wanted to discuss those changes and the impacts going forward. The...
  10. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 119... Timeshare Winners and Losers in 2023

    Which timeshare company made the best investment in past years to gain the most in 2023. I will be reviewing three timeshare companies... Hilton, Marriott, and Wyndham / Worldmark to provide you with insight based on my year of timeshare travel and my experienced gains. The impacts of the...
  11. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 118... How I Earned 132 Free Nights in 2022

    This video is my annual look back at last year and how many free hotel nights I earned by attending presentations, using my credit cards for every day purchases, and paying maintenance fees with credit cards, etc... This year (2022) was made special because I was living full time in timeshares...
  12. L

    Relinquish point value chart for Marriott legacy weeks

    Hi all You guys do such a great job of compiling data. I was wondering if there is any data on how many points (Abound/Destion club) Marriott gives for each week an owner turns in. In other words, we have a platinum, 2 bedroom, lock off at Grand Vista. If we turn it in for the club points...
  13. Clifbell

    Two Bedroom Sheraton Broadway Plantation review in Myrtle Beach SC

    Located in Myrtle Beach South Carolina, the Sheraton Braodway Plantation is located about 5 miles away from the beach. The resort is a very family friendly resort with pools for the kids, the adults, plus tons of other activities. There are grocery stores close by and the rooms are spacious...
  14. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 115... Why This Vistana Owner Opted-in to ABOUND

    From now until the end of December 2022, Vistana owners have the opportunity to Opt-in to ABOUND so that they can use the ABOUND system for 2023. I am one of the Vistana Owners that did Opt-in to ABOUND. The purpose of this video is to discuss why I did it. Not that my choice is the best for...
  15. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 113... Marriott Abound Dec 22 Owner Update

    With all the travel I am doing staying in timeshares full time, I get a lot of opportunities for Owner Updates. This is especially important with regards to Marriott ABOUND as the only real way to get information is to attend a sales presentation. In this update, there were a lot of...
  16. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 110... 9 months into my 1 year in Timeshares

    I wanted to create a video that provided a lessons learned from my travels. I have gotten a lot of joy from my travels and I wanted to share them with you. I hope that my experience would be an inspiration for many of you. I've tried to encapsulate my experiences so that you can learn from...
  17. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 109... Compare 3 Locations on Cost

    Ongoing costs are very important to understand because they form the basis of how much it costs to use your timeshare. Maintenance costs are similar to gas, oil changes, etc... that you have for your car... You are not done paying once you buy the car. You have to maintain the car and...
  18. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 104... Tips to Maximize the Marriott Merger

    As 2023 approaches and the Merger of Vistana and Marriott gets closer to being fully functional, I felt it would be a great idea to provide an update on how to maximize your points in 2023. Since I am an owner with both Marriott and Vistana, I wanted to cover plans for 2023. For those of you...
  19. B

    Abound Sales Pitch - Buy Vistana Now?

    Looking for some insight into the sales pitch I got at Westin Lagunamar. They said that for Vistana owners, you take how many star points you have and divide by 30 to get Club Points. They said that the lowest number of Marriott Club points you could buy from Marriott would be $25,000. However...
  20. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 95...Maui Comparison of Marriott, Hilton, WorldMark

    For those of you that want to vacation on Maui, this is the video for you. In this video, I not only compare two different locations on Maui from Worldmark, Hilton, and Marriott... But I also compare the programs (my opinion) on how they stack up on Maui. Below, I have included the reviews of...
  21. Clifbell

    One Bedroom Marriott Maui Ocean Club in Lahaina Maui Hawaii

    About 30 miles from the Main Airport in Maui sits the Marriott Maui Ocean Club. What an amazing resort. There are Multiple Pools and Multiple Jacuzzi's.... Best to get there early to put a towel down and reserve your seat for the day. It can get crowded. This resort is very luxurious. The...
  22. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 92... Owner Update at Marriott

    I completed my owner update Yesterday and wanted to publish the results quickly. Good news is that there were no changes in the description of Abound. Today was a more traditional sales presentation where they offered an upgrade and their reasoning. So much information is now on the websites...
  23. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 90... Book Marriott cheaper by using WorldMark and Interval International

    Have you ever wanted to Book a Marriott vacation and you are a WorldMark Owner? Or maybe, Like me, you own WorldMark and Marriott and you find the Maintenance fees for Marriott too high, but you like the Marriott Resorts. Well, there is a solution for you and that is to use your WorldMark...
  24. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 87... Hawaii Sept to Nov 22 Plans

    In a few days I am off to Hawaii (Maui and the Big Island) for just a little over two months. I recently (Episode 85 and 86) posted about living in Hawaii for a month and being Frugal. Well, I am Just about to do exactly what I described. I will be staying in Kihei and Kana'apali for 3 weeks...
  25. T

    Just Purchased in the Abound program @ Ko Olina

    Just spent a week a Ko Olina and sat through the new presentation into the abound trust point system. I was a originally a Platinum deeded week at the Grand Chateau who then converted to be able to us the MVC exchange company. We had previously canceled buying into the trust points system in...
  26. Clifbell

    Two Bedroom Westin Kierland Villas Review in Scottsdale AZ

    As part of the Phoenix Metro Area, the Westin Kierland is located in the upscale town of Scottsdale Arizona. And this resort doesn't disappoint. Not only do you have access to the Westin Villas, but you have access to the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. There are multiple pools at the Westin...
  27. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 83... Multiple Timeshares or More Points with one Timeshare?

    If you are new to Timeshares, then the question is always how many points do I need and should I keep all my points with one Timeshare or should I own multiple timeshares for more locations. In this Video, I attempt to provide my perspective on the process you can use to decide for yourself...
  28. Clifbell

    Timeshare Traveler Episode 80... Abound / Vistana Owner Update

    I just completed an owner update at a Westin Property where the discussion centered around the New Abound platform. The Abound Platform is the new name for the Combined Vistana and Marriott Timeshares. Supposedly, the new program is rolling out. You should be getting the official...
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