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Best TS value from marque names like marriott, hyatt, starwood, wyndham, others

B

bogeygolf

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I'm interesting in hearing from owners who own multiple weeks or have owned from different high-end TS companies such as marriott, hyatt, starwood, wyndham, etc. I currently own with marriott and I'm looking to purchase a 2nd week. I'm pretty familiar with how the marriott system works and figured out how to maximize my Marriott TS for best possible trade/value, etc. However I would like to hear from other owners who are or have owned marriott and other names (hyatt, starwood, others) and get a comparison of the different + and - of the different programs and what you feel is the best overall value. I realize this is somewhat subjective and everyone buys for different reasons so I will point out what is important for me. By the way, I plan on buying resale only for my 2nd week. Obtaining hotel points is not important.

- Flexibility to trade to other names resorts with relative ease.
- Ability to get multiple weeks from a single week (either lockoff, AC from II, or II flex, others??)
- Relatively cheap resale price without comprising trading value
- Looking primarily to trade with 2nd week so location of ownership is not important.
- Low MFs, low exch fees.
- Would like to trade for the high-end resorts primarily such as hyatts, marriotts, starwood, wyndham and others.
- Other benefits that I might not be aware of from other programs.

Thanks in advance.
 
If you go to the Marriott Board and Starwood Board and use the names of the other resorts to search, you will find lots of threads on this topic. That's where I would start. I own 2 Wyndham weeks (and really like them) but I don't think it's comparably to Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott.

Also - this download compares the 4 major systems. It's getting a little bit dated, but the basic info. is still good - Comparison of the 4 major timeshare systems Chart (download)

At the top of the Starwood board, there is a comprehensive FAQ that you should check out if you decide you are interested in Starwood.

Then if you have questions about specific systems, you could ask them in the forum for that system, to get the best response.
 
Last edited:
Denice,

How do you feel the newer Wyndhams compare to Marriott's? They look awfully nice. I live in Mpls. and love the Dells area, and I am thrilled that Wyndham has opened Glacier Canyon. My kids are the perfect age for it and we can drive to it in 3 hours. Also, the Tennessee resort.

Thanks!

Debbie
 
json717 said:
- Flexibility to trade to other names resorts with relative ease.
- Ability to get multiple weeks from a single week (either lockoff, AC from II, or II flex, others??)
- Relatively cheap resale price without comprising trading value
- Looking primarily to trade with 2nd week so location of ownership is not important.
- Low MFs, low exch fees.
- Would like to trade for the high-end resorts primarily such as hyatts, marriotts, starwood, wyndham and others.
- Other benefits that I might not be aware of from other programs.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

For value and the items you desire it would be very hard to beat Wyndham (at resale of ocurse). 120+ resorts in great locations with no trade or fees plus request first access to all of RCI (trade fee required), a point is a point (no difference between resale/retail) all for pennies on the retail dollar makes Wyndham one of the truly great values in all of timesharing. A bonus is that some (far from all) Wyndham resort are as good or better than Marriotts or Hiltons but those systems don't have 100's of internal choices. A large number of system resorts is what makes a good mini-system and Wyndham offers that like no other.
 
summervaca said:
Denice,

How do you feel the newer Wyndhams compare to Marriott's? They look awfully nice. I live in Mpls. and love the Dells area, and I am thrilled that Wyndham has opened Glacier Canyon. My kids are the perfect age for it and we can drive to it in 3 hours. Also, the Tennessee resort.

Thanks!

Debbie
Click to expand...

Over all, Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood, and Hilton have higher quality resorts than Wyndham - but also very expensive. When you look at quality vs cost, you can't beat Wyndham - we are very happy with our 2 Wyndham resale weeks (ocean front on Kauai!) but we aren't in Wyndham points, because we bought resale weeks, not points. BTW - we paid $1,300 for one and $1,500 for the other one ebay.
 
Ok, based upon some of your suggestions, I checked out Wyndham last night and here are my thoughts.

1. Seems there's definitely a wide selection of resorts, however only about a dozen or so(high quality like Marriotts, hilton, starwood) that I would like to really trade into, the other resorts seems very outdated as some of you have noted.

2. Trading into some of the peak season (prime) for some of these desirable resorts requires a lot of points (ex. ocean blvd. during summer weeks requires at least 300,000+ for a 2bdrm depending on type of view for room).

Based upon my short analysis and finding last night, it seems that you will get most value out of wyndham if your able to take advantage of the off-season(low pts requirement) and also take advantage of some good deals at last minute if there are some last minute cancellations.

However, if you want the prime resorts during prime seasons I guess there is no getting around the 300K - 350K pts you need to reserve these times. Is my analysis correct? Are there other ways to getting into prime resorts during prime season without incurring all these pts? I checked some resales prices on ebay and seems like an annual 154K pts are about 750-850 annual mf. so I would assume a 300K+ pts are at least 1600- 1700 annual mf? Am I off based here?

If this is true, I have to say that although the marriotts in general are definitely more expensive there are some great deals out there on the resale market. The thing I really like about the marriott is that if you have a prime week(platinum) or even high season week(gold) at a decent resort (most marriotts are pretty decent if not much better) you can even lockoff a 2bd room and using a studio trade into a 2bd room in summer or prime seasons to places like myrtle beach, hhi, aruba, and possibly hawaii(1bd or studio only). The chances are not great but there is definitely a pretty decent possibility(I say 50/50 chance) if your somewhat flexible and diligent in your search. However with wyndham doesn't look like there is a chance unless you have the points.
 
json717 said:
Ok, based upon some of your suggestions, I checked out Wyndham last night and here are my thoughts.

1. Seems there's definitely a wide selection of resorts, however only about a dozen or so(high quality like Marriotts, hilton, starwood) that I would like to really trade into, the other resorts seems very outdated as some of you have noted.
Click to expand...

O.K., with all the Marriott's or HGVC's, Starwood resorts, how many you will like to trade into? I am pretty sure your count is off especially when you add a sentence the other resorts seems very outdated. :rofl:

The MF is about right

Jya-Ning
 
Way too high

json717 said:
2. Trading into some of the peak season (prime) for some of these desirable resorts requires a lot of points (ex. ocean blvd. during summer weeks requires at least 300,000+ for a 2bdrm depending on type of view for room).

Based upon my short analysis and finding last night, it seems that you will get most value out of wyndham if your able to take advantage of the off-season(low pts requirement) and also take advantage of some good deals at last minute if there are some last minute cancellations.

However, if you want the prime resorts during prime seasons I guess there is no getting around the 300K - 350K pts you need to reserve these times. Is my analysis correct? Are there other ways to getting into prime resorts during prime season without incurring all these pts? I checked some resales prices on ebay and seems like an annual 154K pts are about 750-850 annual mf. so I would assume a 300K+ pts are at least 1600- 1700 annual mf? Am I off based here?
Click to expand...

I think you're way overestimating the points and fees. We own 256,000 annual points, almost always get 2 bedroom or larger, love to get Presidential Suites (when offered) and stay at the newer, Marriott + style Wyndhams. We pay just under $1000 for annual fees as of 2008 and usually get at least 2 weeks of vacation per year from Wyndham (more if we throw 28,000 at RCI for a weeks trade in that system). By banking, borrowing, renting (VERY cheap to do) we can have the points we need for the stay(s) and average about $100/night or less. That's about 1/2 the cost of Marriott fees alone and we're not stuck with one resort or II trades to go someplace else.

No way have we averaged 300,000+ points for our use and we've stayed in the prime places at prime times like Alexandria in July, Royal Vista Penthouse over Christmas New Years 2000 (GREAT trip!), the Presidential units at Grand Desert and many others. You have to work the system to get the value but its easy once you get the hang of it. I've found it revolves around the banking which can really load up your till with 3 years worth of points and then you go to town adding some rentals or borrowing as required.

Trying to figure it out ahead of time can give you a feel but its tough to really accomplish the best use without actually doing it. Our first year was a disaster - since then we've been extremely pleased and have found Wyndham to be an unbeatable value long term. And they just keep adding all those spectacular new resorts and great locations we get with our 1995 resale points. Whats not to like?
 
John, you are one reason I'd like to get into Wyndham, but I just find it so confusing. I was reading rules somewhere and thought points couldn't be saved for future years (or maybe there was a fee to do that). It just seems like so much hassle.
Can't you establish a simple system and convince Wyndham to adopt it? ;) Where can I read a basic list that describes how it works? I have been on the yahoo site and it is not easy there. Plus, at least in the past, some of those people have not been the friendliest.
 
There are good weeks not in a high-end system that trade well into Hiltons, Marriotts and Starwoods. The preference in the Starwood system is a good reason to buy a Sheraton week somewhere.
 
Some confusion is normal. Deal with it and enjoy

Patri said:
John, you are one reason I'd like to get into Wyndham, but I just find it so confusing. I was reading rules somewhere and thought points couldn't be saved for future years (or maybe there was a fee to do that). It just seems like so much hassle.
Can't you establish a simple system and convince Wyndham to adopt it? ;) Where can I read a basic list that describes how it works? I have been on the yahoo site and it is not easy there. Plus, at least in the past, some of those people have not been the friendliest.
Click to expand...

I agree it is SO flexible that it is tough to learn. When I say our first year was rough it really was. I wanted to pool (bank) my time and, as I know now but had no clue then, was past the time that could be done but it was extremely frustrating when I was told no. Fortunately I had a rep that literally spent an hour or more on the phone with me back then and, somehow, she made it all click. The time frames were a key. Once you grasp those everything else flows.

I have found that pooling (banking your next years points at least 12 months before their use date - fee of $29 as I recall to pool points) really makes it easy. Effectively you have up to three years - including the current year so you have "borrowed" your next usage year - and a ton of points to spread out over your desired use. Also watch the limits for renting where its easy to "fill in" a day or two rather than using all your native points 100%. Renting from other owners is easy and cheap if you need some big slugs quickly. It becomes a pattern and easy to do.

The initial curve is steep but its downhill once you get over that hump. Recently I've slacked off a bit in my pooling but I still seem to have what I need when I go to reserve. I should go back and look at it as if I let it go too long I won't have my usual 500,000+ to play with. All the other stuff - housekeeping, transaction fees I have avoided by going on line or having my full plan ready to implement when I call. I have always turned in housekeeping credits and can't remember paying any more than a few bucks for transaction costs. Don't be afraid - it is a great system.
 
I think the best advantage of Wyndham is the ability to 'rent' your points to someone else very easily, if you can't use them!!!!
 
Patri said:
Where can I read a basic list that describes how it works? I have been on the yahoo site and it is not easy there.
Click to expand...

There is a site for Wyndham owners (or those that are interested in Wyndham) that has a very good primer. It is set up in format similar to the TUG forums. You do have to join the forum, but it is free and easy to do.

http://www.forums.atozed.com/index.php
 
Well thank you folks, for your information.
 
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