[2006 Thread] What would you buy for $25k?

[Bill4728]

Except, a Hyatt Key West 2,000 point account would be $12,500 resale so you could buy two!

 

[barndweller]

Thanks, Steamboatbill

for bumping this thread. I somehow missed it when it started. What fun! I'm in no position to consider any more purchases and in fact would like to rid myself of some mistakes. My problem is I followed the mantra & "bought where I want to use" so I'm kinda fond of my "homes." I already have a huge problem deciding which one to give up for exchanging when we want to go somewhere new. I'm not willing to buy somewhere that I have no intention of ever going just to use it for trades. That just sounds like too much work and I already spend wayyyy too much time researching & planning for our vacations.

But...if $25k dropped in my lap I'd buy Worldmark & DVC. That would pretty much sew it up for my vacation plans for the next 10 or 15 years.

 

[BGRed]

This has been an educational read for me. We've considered a TS for the past few years; but, have always been skeptical based on past reputation and also because we usually put the trips together at the last minute.

My father-in-law bought a Marriott Horizons week in Branson two summers ago and we've seen some good value with that. Since we didn't shell out the money, we could simply watch the Getaways list and take some cheap trips to nice places.

Now, I read this thread and my head is spinning...thanks...

 

[Steamboat Bill]

This has been an educational read for me. We've considered a TS for the past few years; but, have always been skeptical based on past reputation and also because we usually put the trips together at the last minute.

My father-in-law bought a Marriott Horizons week in Branson two summers ago and we've seen some good value with that. Since we didn't shell out the money, we could simply watch the Getaways list and take some cheap trips to nice places.

Now, I read this thread and my head is spinning...thanks...

That is why I bumped this thread....the simple answer is there is no BEST Timeshare for everyone....I would like to own them all and simply retire and be on a permanent vacation....kinda like a surfers endless summer.

Marriott Branson is a great value buy and can lead to many great trades.

 

[lostinjapan14]

First time I've run into this thread too. I just read all the posts at once and I think my head is going to explode!

I am so glad you all have such great advice.

Ah, and I think I would buy into High Country Club right now, but it wouldn't be a good way to make any money and whether or not it's a good "value" really depends on the person. It is a great way to pamper myself, my fiancee and my friends rotten for the rest of our lives, though.

I have it! I should take BocaBum up on his offer, lose my money, get the contracts, make 50k in a year and then get a group membership with HCC.

 

[travelguy]

High Country Club membership and then some!

Bump....

I would join as an Affiliate Member at HCC for $30,000 and beg for the extra $5,000

Back when this thread started you could have bought a High Country Club Affiliate Membership for $20K and have invested the additional $5K as previous posters have stated. This would allow a kabillion percent increase (or whatever return is claimed) on the remaining $5K. Furthermore, the High Country Club deal last summer guaranteed that you could upgrade to PRIVATE membership (6 1/2 weeks per year) within 3 years for only an additional $10K. I assume that the returns claimed on the remaining $5K would easily turn it into more than $10K within 3 years and that would be enough to purchase the High Country Club PRIVATE membership!

In summary:
1. Go back to the beginning of this post.
2. Buy A High Country Club Affiliate membership for $20K.
3. Invest the remaining $5K as posted for a zillion percent return
4. In 3 years upgrade to a High Country Club PRIVATE membership for $10K more.
5. In three years you will have a HCC PRIVATE membership, which will be selling for $80K then, for only $25K

Hindsight is very frustrating in both travel and finance!

 

[geekette]

Originally Posted by Steamboat Bill
Not to sound snobish....but how is the quality of the resorts?

Nice locations?
Clean rooms?
Granite countertops?
Leather sofas?
A/C in all rooms?

In other words, are you giving anyting up for a sub-$1,000 TS purchase?

I own DVC (about $40k worth of points) and Westgate Park City ($30k 2 BDR ski week) and they are GREAT, but expensive.

I would rather invest my funds in the stock and bond markets than in an overpriced ts market.

Absolutely.

I don't mean to sound hickish, but I don't consider lack of granite or leather a major downer. I'm not 'giving up' anything by buying more weeks instead of just one expensive week. In fact, I'm gaining time to use in nice resorts where the one week in a Really Nice resort is over in, well, One Week. I own Bluegreen and they are quite nice. I assume my yardstick is quite different from yours, so will concede that BG may not be up to your standards.

I've never run across a "this room has AC, but this one doesn't" situation and maybe I don't understand what you're saying there.

Really, everyone has their own priorities and I prefer more time to more luxury. I'm not wealthy, so generally don't buy luxury in anything so it would be ridiculous of me to Pop Big for a non-necessity, which is what a timeshare is. It's about living within my means, not 'giving up' things.

Given the $25k premise, I would buy a bigger stake in Bluegreen rather than one very luxurious week at a 'premium' resort.

That, or maybe use the stake to rent for the entire family for the next few summers or holidays, but the OP did not include rentals in the question.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Absolutely.

I don't mean to sound hickish, but I don't consider lack of granite or leather a major downer. I'm not 'giving up' anything by buying more weeks instead of just one expensive week. In fact, I'm gaining time to use in nice resorts where the one week in a Really Nice resort is over in, well, One Week. I own Bluegreen and they are quite nice. I assume my yardstick is quite different from yours, so will concede that BG may not be up to your standards.

I've never run across a "this room has AC, but this one doesn't" situation and maybe I don't understand what you're saying there.

Really, everyone has their own priorities and I prefer more time to more luxury. I'm not wealthy, so generally don't buy luxury in anything so it would be ridiculous of me to Pop Big for a non-necessity, which is what a timeshare is. It's about living within my means, not 'giving up' things.

Given the $25k premise, I would buy a bigger stake in Bluegreen rather than one very luxurious week at a 'premium' resort.

That, or maybe use the stake to rent for the entire family for the next few summers or holidays, but the OP did not include rentals in the question.

I am also heavily invested and well diversified in stocks, bonds, automobilies, real estate, timeshares, cash, etc.

My point was to try to quantify the overall luxury of the TS in question. I have stayed at a few less than desirable timeshares many years ago that looked good on paper and photos, but were pretty lame once I got there. There have been 3 examples of times when there was no A/C in the units....Hawaii, North Carolina, Whistler. I perfer to learn from my mistakes, rather than repeat them.

I simply choose to stay in "nice accomodations" as I think the pleasantries of a Ritz are worth the expense over a Motel 6 as I like upscale timeshares vs 1-star resorts.

I highly doubt a $500 timeshare can compare with a $30,000 timeshare, unless you are trading during flex exchange. With trading, there is one winner and one loser, or two pushes. If I give up a 5-star resort, I want a 5-star in trade. This thread is what would you do with $25,000, not $1,000, but a few people made posts saying they would buy a bunch of $500 timeshares and invest the rest of the cash in CDs and I simply called them out.

As a DVC owner, Westgate Park City owner, Marriott MMC owner, High Country Club owner, I don't want to "trade down"....in fact, I may sell most of my timeshares within the next year or two and increase my position in High Country Club....that way I know all their properties are 6-star resorts that the entire family will enjoy.

I don't think I have any different standards than any other TUGer, I just like staying at properties that have a certain "wow factor" like Bluegreen's 3 bedroom units at Big Cedar.

 

[geekette]

I am also heavily invested and well diversified in stocks, bonds, automobilies, real estate, timeshares, cash, etc.

My point was to try to quantify the overall luxury of the TS in question. I have stayed at a few less than desirable timeshares many years ago that looked good on paper and photos, but were pretty lame once I got there. There have been 3 examples of times when there was no A/C in the units....Hawaii, North Carolina, Whistler. I perfer to learn from my mistakes, rather than repeat them.

I simply choose to stay in "nice accomodations" as I think the pleasantries of a Ritz are worth the expense over a Motel 6 as I like upscale timeshares vs 1-star resorts.

I highly doubt a $500 timeshare can compare with a $30,000 timeshare, unless you are trading during flex exchange. With trading, there is one winner and one loser, or two pushes. If I give up a 5-star resort, I want a 5-star in trade. This thread is what would you do with $25,000, not $1,000, but a few people made posts saying they would buy a bunch of $500 timeshares and invest the rest of the cash in CDs and I simply called them out.

As a DVC owner, Westgate Park City owner, Marriott MMC owner, High Country Club owner, I don't want to "trade down"....in fact, I may sell most of my timeshares within the next year or two and increase my position in High Country Club....that way I know all their properties are 6-star resorts that the entire family will enjoy.

I don't think I have any different standards than any other TUGer, I just like staying at properties that have a certain "wow factor" like Bluegreen's 3 bedroom units at Big Cedar.

Yeah, I think that's the whole point - you want 6 star AND are willing to pay for it. I wouldn't stay in a Motel 6 ts so I'll pay more than that, but so long as it's clean and convenient, I'm reasonably easy to please. I'd be happy to stay at the Ritz, but, we don't make enuf money to justify it. The important thing is that we're both happy with what we have.

Trading is a completely different kettle of fish! I completely agree that there's no reason for you to come down several stars - that's a waste of your investment and expectations. Burned once, shame on them; burned twice, shame on you. I would certainly be wary. Have you tried SFX and liked it?

Thanks for the AC clarification. I've never been without AC in a timeshare so was bewildered.

 

[chrisfromOC]

If you had to spend $25k on a timeshare, what would you buy and why?
Used to be that TUGgers were a bunch of frugal travelers, but seems more TUGgers are spending $25-40K on 1 week per year timeshares. If I was inclined to spend $25k on a timeshare, I would try to buy a Kauai Marriott resale because I love Kauai. What would you buy?

Cindy

Well, a few months ago I spent almost exactly that on an Ocean View week at Marriot's Waiohai --- looks like we have similar taste!

 

[MattnTricia]

Ritz tastes but Holiday Inn budget

What I love about TUG and WDWINFO and many other sites like these is that it allows blue collar , 2 income folks like myself to enjoy incredible vacations at Marriott's, Disney, Hilton and the like WITHOUT spending $25,000 plus on a single unit.

My life's passion's are my son, my wife, my family, and vacation. I can honestly say that my wife would tell you vacation is often times number one for me as it consumes a great deal of my life betwwen planning trips and managing the timeshares that we rent out

I feel like I have an incredible timeshare portfolio that allows me to stay places that my Value principles would never allow me to shell out the cash for.

I can only say that we have always dreamed of staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland. I remember on our honeymoon 12 years ago walking Waikiki beach and having my wife ask about the "rainbow" hotel and us laughing that it is where all the rich people stay. Well we are far from rich but have now stayed in their 3 bedroom "penthouse units" a couple of times and are booked into the Grand Californian for this upcoming May.

To me timesharing is about Value and all my friends at TUG, WorldMark Owners, WDWINFO and the like have allowed us to to far exceed our means on our vacations

 

[fc56]

Hi Perry,

Could you explain how the WM credits work? If I pay $9600 for 12,000 WM credits, what exactly I get? Is it a ownership which give me 12,000 credits annually? or it is simply 12,000 credits? Also are the WM credits associated with any specific WM resort and weeks etc.?

Thank you

 

[Carmel85]

Except, a Hyatt Key West 2,000 point account would be $12,500 resale so you could buy two!

Please sign me up if you can find a Hyatt for $12,500 for 2000 points. Where who is SELLING it! I would love to get one.

PLEASE SEND ME A Private E-mail

 

[icydog]

I would buy a Marriott Custom House unit, two RHC points memberships equalling about 25,000 points and combine them, and a Nob Hill Inn studio unit. I would use the remaining $12,000 or so to pay for maintenance and exchange fees over the next 12 years or so.

The Custom House appears to be one of the top II traders, and gets you two bonus weeks each year when you deposit. The Nob Hill Inn studio appears to be one of the top RCI traders and gets you at least one bonus week with RCI, two with SFX. Both are accepted by SFX. The RHC membership gets you directly, without trading, into the places that are very difficult trades, like London, Rome, Paris, New York, Madrid, etc.

Is this any season at the Custom House for two bonus weeks? Nob Hill studio gets you a bonus as well??

 

[icydog]

This is such an interesting thread:

What we would or would do differently if we had the money we have already spent on our timeshare portfolio.

I agree with the WM credits. I dont own WM but my sister does and they love it. I guess it would also depend on if you lived out west. I own at Longboat Bay Club, it is a great trader and I paid $2K for that one. I also would buy one Hawaii - 2 bedroom, gold crown. Bought one EY and one EOY paid $10k for both. (I have a plan, but I havent put it to the test yet). I dont ski but I love the mountains and I live in Salt Lake. I like the Cliff Lodge actually better than anything in Park City, but there are more advantages to PC. I bought 4 cheap ones (under $200), they get me the summer and fall weeks in the mountains (I love Octoberfest, hiking and fishing) but I dont think I would do that again. I own Westgate and have had real good luck with getting good trades, etc and bought it fairly cheap but reflecting back I would buy a Marriott Platinum, I really like the Grande Ocean in HH but the California Newport has been on ebay for $17K.

I have 8 (more than I have vacation) and have less than $20K invested. So I would keep the rest of the money for the maintenance fees. One day I will get rid of the cheap ones, give them away if I have to (or can) and rent if I need more weeks.

Everyone has thier own plan. I would always buy somewhere I wanted to go, just in case I get terribly disgusted with the trading companies.
Ive been in the testing stage for a long time. But its a good life. :whoopie:

You know this is about the same kindda portfolio I have. I haven't made a big investment in timeshares, yet I go to wonderful places several times a year. Oh, I forgot all my disney points. I do have a big investment in those but since I rent them out I am ahead of the eight ball with Disney.

If I had 25K I would buy resale a Platinum Hyatt in the Keys, and/or Sanibel Beach Cottages and/or Atlantis. I know this is not the best use of my Hard Earned Money but I know I would use them every year.

 

[janej]

I love DVC too. But what I love most about DVC is that I can easily rent the points out with no additional cost to me at 2.5 times the maintenance fee.

I have not studies all the other suggestions offered in details. I can only compare with my SA weeks. When the dollar was at the strongest point, and my week was trading great, my cost of vacation is probably among the lowest among RCI exchangers. But if I have to change vacation plan after confirming an exchange, I could only cover my cost if I got lucky enough to find a renter.

 

[lark]

If I could have any timeshare, it would be probably be a two bedroom bluff-front until at Wave Crest in Del Mar during racing season.

Doubt I could get one for close to $25k, even if I could find one, and the question is moot anyway, since I don't have $25k. But I don't need an investment or points or anything else, since we're dreaming. That's what I'd take.

 

[Tokapeba]

Mountainside picked up with ROFR we are now reconsidering

This is a great question – how to build a $25k timeshare portfolio – excellent question.

WorldMark
Buy 12,000 WM credits for 80¢ each (last week I was offered 70¢ each) = $9,600 + $150 closing costs = $9,750. MF is $594. Cost’s 10,000 credits for a 2BR II exchange into anything in II and at 59 days get 3, 4,000-credit II exchanges to anything in 59 days.

12,000 credits will get you week 52 on Maui every year for the rest of your life.

You can rent unlimited credits from other WM owners for 6¢ each or rent II exchanges for 7¢ a credit. Want 5 weeks in a Marriott, no problem that’s $700 an exchange or $3,500 for the 5 weeks this year.

Marriott
2 Bronze Summit Watch weeks for $1,500 each (includes closing costs) = $3,000. MF is $835 each or $1,670 per year

Total $12,750 outlay and MF = $2,264 per year

Send the rest to me:
$12,250, or put the rest in the DOW and pull out 5% each year or $612 to be used for airline tickets or whatever. Or, that's 5 and 1/2 years of MF payments.

You now have the ability to use II, and RCI, and the WM will pull in anything in either. The Marriotts are lock offs and you have 4 exchanges per year to snap up anything in the 59 day II window, especially Marriotts.

Now that’s a well rounded portfolio that will maximize your hard earned dollar.

We were buying a Marriott Mountainside and Marriott exercised their right of first refusal. After seeing this thread we are reconsidering. We were really looking forward to the ski-in ski-out at mountainside and would like to stay there from time to time. If we did your plan here do you think we would be able to get in there in January? We would only need a 1 bedroom.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I am bumping this thread to see if there are any "new" opinions out there.

In reality, $25,000 is an average (and possibly low) price for a one week 2 bedroom timeshare prime season from a large developer.

When I see the $50,000-$70,000 prices for some new timeshares (Marriott Marco, etc), I wonder who is buying these at these prices?

 

[skinsfan]

actually there are people paying over $200,000 for fractional ownerships. Has anyone seen the price for the Westin Kaanapali North villas ($70,000 +)!

I am bumping this thread to see if there are any "new" opinions out there.

In reality, $25,000 is an average (and possibly low) price for a one week 2 bedroom timeshare prime season from a large developer.

When I see the $50,000-$70,000 prices for some new timeshares (Marriott Marco, etc), I wonder who is buying these at these prices?

 

[Steamboat Bill]

actually there are people paying over $200,000 for fractional ownerships. Has anyone seen the price for the Westin Kaanapali North villas ($70,000 +)!

yes, I started a thread called What would you buy for $195,000? a while ago

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31283&highlight=$195,000

We regularly discuss fractional, condo hotels, destination clubs on our other TUG forum.

I perfer to keep this thread on-track to the $25,000 as very few people are able to spend $195,000 or more on a timeshare or fractional.

 

[skinsfan]

I would invest $25,000 in a Westin Kaanapali if I had the $$$. The rental rates for that resort over double the Maintenance fees so it would be worth while to have that caliber of a property!

yes, I started a thread called What would you buy for $195,000? a while ago

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31283&highlight=$195,000

We regularly discuss fractional, condo hotels, destination clubs on our other TUG forum.

I perfer to keep this thread on-track to the $25,000 as very few people are able to spend $195,000 or more on a timeshare or fractional.

 

[talkamotta]

Hi Perry,

Could you explain how the WM credits work? If I pay $9600 for 12,000 WM credits, what exactly I get? Is it a ownership which give me 12,000 credits annually? or it is simply 12,000 credits? Also are the WM credits associated with any specific WM resort and weeks etc.?

Thank you

Go to the Worldmark, Wyndam site. Ask your questions there. You can get 12,000 points for cheaper than $9600 on ebay. You get those points annually. WM credits are associated with all WM resorts but you can trade for other resorts. Its a more complicated than what I have told you. If you are interested in Worldmark, you should investigate it further to see if it would work for you. Many people here on TUG are very happy with Worldmark.

 

[DavidnRobin]

actually there are people paying over $200,000 for fractional ownerships. Has anyone seen the price for the Westin Kaanapali North villas ($70,000 +)!

No person who found TUG in time is paying $70K for WKORV-N. Resale units (IV, OV) there are going for ~$30K.

What I would buy for $25K? 2 weeks (resale) at Westin Kierland Villas of a 1Bd Deluxe (large) unit in the Platinum season (81K StarOptions each, ~$620 MF/Taxes each per year) - a SVN Mandatory resort. One week to stay there, and one week to do a SVN exchange into a 1Bd Westin TS in HI (Ka'anapali, and soon Princeville) - or other prime Westin locations (Bahamas, St John, and soon Cancun and Aruba).

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Go to the Worldmark, Wyndam site. Ask your questions there. You can get 12,000 points for cheaper than $9600 on ebay.

Agreed. This thread was started over one year ago and has been one of the MOST popular threads on TUG. Some of the prices and opinions are a year old and that is why I bumped it to see if there are any new ideas or changes of opinions.

My opinion is similar as last year with the one addition of joining High Country Club.

1. DVC has been a great timeshare and bargain for me since 2001. You can buy 250-300 points for $25k

2. I love my Westgate Park City Ski week timeshare and the resale prices are between $25k-30k

3. I like my Marriott MMC for about $10k and is a good II trader.

4. I am MOST happy with my High Country Club destination club membership as this has given me the most bang for the buck and better accomidations than any of my other timeshares purchases. But this is now priced at $30k-40k depending on what level you join.