Biennial Use Year Questions

[dvc2012]

First off, apologies if this has been asked many times before. Tried doing a search for my key words and got nothing.

I’m about to close on a Biennial contract (154K points).

I’m wondering if someone could shed some light on a few questions I have (which I know the answer to for annual deeds, but was wondering how it works for biennial deeds):

- Do we get HK credits every calendar year or use year? I get my first stash of points in 2022, but will I have an additional 154 HK credits from 2021 that roll over into 2022?

- same question but with reservation transactions?

-same question but with guest certificates?

- when will I be able to make my first reservation if my first use year allotment comes in 2022? Let’s say I close tomorrow. Could I make a reservation next week by borrowing points using the express reservation period? If the answers is no, would I be able to do that in 2021?

- let’s say in 2022 I am making a large reservation, can I borrow from points in 2024 using express reservation?

- does anyone know the benefits of the Outrigger membership? Do I have to pay extra for it? My deed says it’s apart of the program (Bali Hai)

- is the only restriction on resale that we can’t book Margaritaville and WorldMark properties? Do we still have access to affiliate and associate resorts/hotels (also is the availability at those places scarce?)

-any other general tips/advice for a new owner would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Richelle]

- Do we get HK credits every calendar year or use year? I get my first stash of points in 2022, but will I have an additional 154 HK credits from 2021 that roll over into 2022?

- No you do not get HK on your "off" years, but when you roll your points, the HK goes with it to whatever year you deposited your points in.

- same question but with reservation transactions?

- Reservation transactions do not rollover. I do not believe you get any in your off year, but someone who has an EOY contract that deposits into the off years might be able to answer that. Worse case, you spend $19 to make a reservation online.

-same question but with guest certificates?

Same with the reservation transaction credits, but it's $99 online.

- when will I be able to make my first reservation if my first use year allotment comes in 2022? Let’s say I close tomorrow. Could I make a reservation next week by borrowing points using the express reservation period? If the answers is no, would I be able to do that in 2021?

It depends on the dates you are booking for and where. If you are booking your home resort for January of 2022, you can book that in December of 2020, (13 months from check-in). If you are not booking your home resort, you have to wait until March (10 months from check-in) to book January of 2022.

- let’s say in 2022 I am making a large reservation, can I borrow from points in 2024 using express reservation?

You cannot borrow in the ARP booking window or the standard booking window. You can only borrow for reservations that are made less than 90 days from check-in.

- does anyone know the benefits of the Outrigger membership? Do I have to pay extra for it? My deed says it’s apart of the program (Bali Hai) - If gives you access to Outrigger inventory.

No fee.

- is the only restriction on resale that we can’t book Margaritaville and WorldMark properties? Do we still have access to affiliate and associate resorts/hotels (also is the availability at those places scarce?)

- The only Margaritaville location you cannot book is Pigeon Forge as of now. The others you can book, but only 5 months from check-in. That is the same for people who bought directly from Wyndham and are not VIP. You are correct that you cannot book WorldMark through Club Pass. You do have access to affiliate and associate locations. Just remember those have limited accommodations and can be next to impossible to book.

-any other general tips/advice for a new owner would be greatly appreciated!!

When your account is set up, register for the website. Then go to the "new owner section" of the website and watch the videos. Read the program guidelines in the directory, and familiarize yourself with the booking windows. Reservation transaction credits and guest certificates are non-refundable, so don't use them until your plans are firm. You can hold off on putting a reservation in someone else's name until shortly before the trip. That way if plans change, you didn't waste a $99 guest certificate.

And most importantly. Don't let those parking pass nazis strong-arm you or scare into an owner updates. You are NEVER required to go if you used your points to book the trip. Trust me, they will try every trick in the book to get you to one of those. First, they are nice and try to hook you in by saying something like "We have this new program where you can get upgraded to gold for free". When that doesn't work, they may use a scare tactic like "You are required to attend. They will suspend your account if you don't". Then they will either give you a guilt trip or just get plain rude. I've had one where I had to walk away while she was still talking because she didn't take the first 8 no's for an answer. Don't be afraid to walk away calmly and get an assist from the front desk. When you finally get to your room, unplug the phone. They are starting to do away with the parking pass nazis. They are now emailing guests, asking them to sign up for an update, and choose their gift. Not sure how long that will last.

 

[dvc2012]

Awesome! Thanks for all the info!

Are the Margaritaville units the same decor/size/points as the Club Wyndham ones (in the places where it’s a split resort like PR?)

So for ARP and Standard window I’ll have to wait a bit, but would I be able to dive in right away and start using 2022 points if I’m booking a reservation for something within the next 90 days? Say I wanted to book something for this November and since all the 2020 points have been used by the previous owner, would I be able to borrow from 2022?

 

[schoolmarm]

Give it a try...within the 90 day mark (Express reservation) you should get the options to
1. Borrow from your next USE year (hopefully your 2022 will pop up).
OR
2. "Rent" them from Wyndham at $12/1000. You can pay this fee for extra points up to as many as you own for a use year. I don't know how the biennial would work for this.

Would you please try it and tell us the results?

Happy timesharing!

 

[Eric B]

- does anyone know the benefits of the Outrigger membership? Do I have to pay extra for it? My deed says it’s apart of the program (Bali Hai)

There isn't an additional cost for the Outrigger membership. Details are available at https://clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com/us/en/owner-guide/resources/outrigger-resort-club, copied below because you might have to log in to see it. For what it's worth, I've looked at the Outrigger hotel availability just a bit and never saw any; YMMV. The only benefit I've used is priority reservation (12 months) at a different Club Wyndham resort in the program than the one I own (Bali Hai).

Outrigger Resort Club Contract
As a Member of Outrigger Resort Club, you have the following exclusive reservation benefits in addition to all of the benefits of the Club Wyndham Plus program. Your Outrigger Resort Club (ORC) reservation benefits are awarded based on the number of points owned associated with interest at Outrigger Resort Club eligible locations. As you use your points for Outrigger Resort Reservation benefits, the number of points eligible for each benefit will be deducted.
In addition to receiving all Club Wyndham Plus benefits, owners purchasing an interest at one of the participating Hawaii properties receive the following exclusive benefits:

• Priority reservations: Along with Advance Reservation Priority (ARP) at your “home” resort 13 months in advance, all ORC members have access to select Club Wyndham Plus Hawaii resorts 12 months in advance of the desired check-in date.
• Exclusive access to accommodations at select Outrigger hotels: Enjoy exclusive access to reserve “Members Only” accommodations from 13 months to one day in advance of the desired check-in date. Hotels selected for this benefit are identified by the ORC “Members Only” logo.
• Privileged holding period on select Club Wyndham Plus Hawaii resorts: Get exclusive access to up to 25% of unreserved ORC inventory from 10 - 3 months before check-in.

ARP reservations may be booked online or by calling the Vacation Planning Center at 855-670-0758.

Important Information:

• ORC benefits extend only to the points associated with your ORC contract.
• ORC members use points associated with ownership interest at ORC-eligible resorts to confirm priority reservations and book “Members Only” accommodations.
• A two-night minimum stay is required for all seasons and check-in may occur on any day of the week.
• With your exclusive access to select Outrigger hotels, a two-night minimum stay is required during all seasons. Some resorts or suites may have a seven-night minimum stay. You can find this information at the bottom of the individual resort's points chart.

 

[paxsarah]

- Reservation transactions do not rollover. I do not believe you get any in your off year, but someone who has an EOY contract that deposits into the off years might be able to answer that. Worse case, you spend $19 to make a reservation online.

I can't speak to an account that is solely biennial with an empty off year, but with my account that has both biennial and annual points, the RTs are issued annually based on the average amount of points per year, i.e. the same number of RTs each year. I would expect a biennial account to receive 1 free RT per year based on 77k average per year, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Richelle]

Awesome! Thanks for all the info!

Are the Margaritaville units the same decor/size/points as the Club Wyndham ones (in the places where it’s a split resort like PR?)

So for ARP and Standard window I’ll have to wait a bit, but would I be able to dive in right away and start using 2022 points if I’m booking a reservation for something within the next 90 days? Say I wanted to book something for this November and since all the 2020 points have been used by the previous owner, would I be able to borrow from 2022?

The decor is different. I believe in Desert Blue and Nashville, the rooms are the same size because they made existing inventory, Margaritaville inventory. I don't believe they changed the size or layouts of the rooms.

As far as borrowing, this is the quote from the website:

"Biennial owners may borrow points to travel during the years in which an allotment of points is not awarded."

My translation of that is you can borrow points from 2022 to make a 2021 reservation (within 90 days of checkin). However, I am not 100% sure you can borrow 2022 for a 2020 reservation. Try it out when you get your account set up. Please let us know what happens.

Borrowing Points in the Express Window

Are you a Club Wyndham owner? Learn more about Borrowing Points in the Express Reservation Window.

clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com

 

[cbyrne1174]

You will get 2 guest certificates every year, 154,000 points every even year, 154 housekeeping credits every even year and 1 reservation transaction every year.

 

[dvc2012]

You will get 2 guest certificates every year, 154,000 points every even year, 154 housekeeping credits every even year and 1 reservation transaction every year.

Interesting. So even in my odd numbered (no points years) I will still get GC’s and Reservation Transaction Credits? This, I assume, is due to the fact that I still have to pay the program fee in off years?

 

[dvc2012]

The decor is different. I believe in Desert Blue and Nashville, the rooms are the same size because they made existing inventory, Margaritaville inventory. I don't believe they changed the size or layouts of the rooms.

As far as borrowing, this is the quote from the website:

"Biennial owners may borrow points to travel during the years in which an allotment of points is not awarded."

My translation of that is you can borrow points from 2022 to make a 2021 reservation (within 90 days of checkin). However, I am not 100% sure you can borrow 2022 for a 2020 reservation. Try it out when you get your account set up. Please let us know what happens.

Borrowing Points in the Express Window

Are you a Club Wyndham owner? Learn more about Borrowing Points in the Express Reservation Window.

clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com

thanks for the info! I will test out how borrowing the points works when I get my account setup and report back. I think your reading is correct. Because the previous owner would’ve been given 2020 points so even though I don’t have them, they were still used. I wonder then if I would be able to make a reservation this year by purchasing club Wyndham points within the 90 day window this year? We can purchase up to the amount we are deeded , right? What is it, around $8 per 1,000 points or something?

 

[dvc2012]

You will get 2 guest certificates every year, 154,000 points every even year, 154 housekeeping credits every even year and 1 reservation transaction every year.

also, would those GC’s and RT credits expire that same year then? If I don’t use a guest certificate in 2021 does it expire that year or roll over to 2022 in a biennial deed?

Furthermore, why 1 RT credit per year instead of 2? 1 per every 77,000 points, yeah?

 

[paxsarah]

Furthermore, why 1 RT credit per year instead of 2? 1 per every 77,000 points, yeah?

I can't speak to an account that is solely biennial with an empty off year, but with my account that has both biennial and annual points, the RTs are issued annually based on the average amount of points per year, i.e. the same number of RTs each year. I would expect a biennial account to receive 1 free RT per year based on 77k average per year, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[cbyrne1174]

That's just how they count it. Your RT are spread over each year for some reason. You always get the same amount every year regardless if your have more even/odd points. You will get 1 each year, not 2 each even year.

 

[tschwa2]

I think for most people having 1 RT each year would be better than 2 during your use year, because many often book ahead( up to 13 months in advance for ARP home resorts or 10 months for other resorts) rather than during their use year. Rather than wait until January 1 in 2022, you will likely be booking sometime in 2021 for your 2022 use year.
Reasons why you pay annually for the program fee- you have access and can use RCI during both odd and even years for extra vacations (rentals) even if you aren't depositing points. You can borrow points into your off year within 90 days of check in. You have access to your Wyndham account in both odd and even years in order to check account or make reservations for the subsequent year. Pretty much all systems have you pay the program fee on your off year, the alternative would be that you have zero access to make reservations until January 1, 2022 and your access ends at the end of the year until it turns back on January 1, 2024 and no access to the associated external exchange company.

Giving you 2 Guest certs when you don't have any points during your off year (non tranferable or bankable), that you probably won't use unless you bank (move forward) points so it is easier just for Wyndham to assign those and let them expire.

HK points move if/when you move the points so you don't have to worry about those.