A fixed weeks owner---with Points questions.

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

Up until recently, I have only had interest in being a "Fixed Weeks" owner. I still own only 1 week, a fixed week---and not a very good trader; but it "got me into the system".
I've certainly made the most of that week---and KEEP looking for my next fixed week. I have gotten close over the last 6 years, but simply have not yet closed on the great deal.

Some of the fixed week vs. points discussions here have gotten pretty heated---so let's not go there.

I'm simply posting a question as a "newbie" to points---though I've been around for 8 years as a fixed owner.

OK, here goes:

I've seen alot of advice for points in various Points system companies. But, despite my not knowing yet which company to go with yet---let me pose my question as an interest in Fairfield (it could just as easily have been Worldmark, or another).

I've seen that points in Fairfield go for as much or more than 10 cents by developer. Advice here on TUG suggests that resales can be had for 2-4 cents.

So, let's say someone has 200,000 points for sale.
I think it must be more complicated than simply figuring what 2-4 cents would be---isn't it? In other words, it seems that buying 200,000 points at 2 cents each would be
$4000---a good buy!!! But surely there are other things to consider, right?

Maintenance fees must play an equal part as it does with Fixed weeks---correct?

Does the area (and supply/demand) play as big a role as it does with Fixed weeks??

I'm sure I'll have more questions later.

If there has been a recent thread that answers many/most of these issues; I apologize.

Thanks,
Pat

 

[BocaBum99]

Maintenance fee and purchase price are correlated. The lower the maintenance fee, the higher people are willing to pay for their FF points.

If you look at FF Grand Desert and Kona Hawaiian Village, as an example, you will note that their average price per point is higher than say Palm Aire or Royal Vista. That is primarily due to the difference in maintenance fees.

One of the advantages of owning at a specific resort is that you get first right of reserving time at that resort. So, if you did happen to like Royal Vista and you wanted to go there at prime time, then it may be worth it to own there even though the maintenance fees are higher.

At the 10 months prior to check in point, points are points in FF. The primary difference at that point is that you get more benefits if you are VIP such as discounted point costs for reservations made less than 60 days from check in.

Fairfield has very nice resorts. Above average, but a half step below the branded resorts. And, there is a lot of flexibillity in their system. However, the complexity and the high ongoing costs make it less attractive relative to alternatives.

 

[John37130]

Fairfield has very nice resorts. Above average, but a half step below the branded resorts. And, there is a lot of flexibillity in their system. However, the complexity and the high ongoing costs make it less attractive relative to alternatives.

You state that Fairfield is less attractive than some of the alternatives. Are there any points systems in particular you recommend? I've been looking at different points systems, and I could use some good recommendations. I am considering RCI Points. However, as I understand it, RCI Points gives you advanced booking priviledges in your home group ... so it seems like I would want to belong to some home group if I'm in RCI Points to have a better shot at getting into nice resorts. That leads to the question "Which home group do I want to buy in?" 'm assuming Fairfield, Sunterra, etc. are all considered "home groups." Are there other "home groups" out there that I should consider? Any help or recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

 

[gidat1]

The fact that...

The fact that RCI owns Fairfield, if I was to exchange outside ( which I have done many times) the FF resorts than I would buy FF points. The maintanance fees are going up and up every where we look. Once you buy I guess we are stuck.

Phil

 

[JLB]

I've been curious, too, I guess because of the greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread hype of a few here. Another TUGger was kind enough to lend me his Points account to take it for a test drive.

It was fun and informative.

Others have let me take their RCI accounts, HGVC accounts, and other stuff for similar test drives, to get a feel for them.

So far I have not booked any vacation for myself on anyone else's accounts.

 

[MrsLonely]

Hi, I currently own a week at the Mizner in Weston, Florida. I have been approached by the resort to convert to the points system. I like the idea of more flexibility, but am a little leery of the price they want. They offered to move my home resort to the parkway in Kissimmee where I go most often anyway, and give me 92500 points for a week 16, at a price of 4ooo.oo plus 933.65 closing costs. Does this seem like a good deal? thanks All

 

[AwayWeGo]

Does Not Seem Like A Good Deal.

Does this seem like a good deal?

No.

You can get into points for lots less.

You can even try points for 3 years (renewable RTU points-timeshare lease), then let it drop if you don't like it or re-up if you do.

Click here for information about that. It's what we would have done instead of buying a dinky eBay points timeshare if we had known about the 3-year lease opportunities at the time.

Live & learn, eh ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​