Bonus time in Wyndham.

[chriskre]

I guess I haven’t been paying attention and was catching up on reading what Wyndham sent me last year and noticed we now have a cash option for bonus time within 14 days of check in.

I haven’t seen it online as an option but I guess because I haven’t been trying to book within 14 days.
Is calling in better?

Has anyone used it yet and is the price fixed across all resorts per size room or is it by points?

Are they still going to tack on a housekeeping fee?

Thanks.

 

[Sandi Bo]

Bonus time is great. It is based on the points used and always $5/1000. I think I'm correct in saying, whatever your current ownership is/benefits, etc, that you have - apply to your booking. Meaning, we are VIP Founders, grandfathered with unlimited housekeeping. So... within bonus time (14 days of booking), I can book with bonus time and get 60% off, upgrades, free housekeeping, no transaction fee. Did I miss anything? Like any reservation I would make with my developer points, the same benefits apply. That said, of course I book developer (no point in booking as resale (I do have that choice)). All points are $5/1000 and you pay at booking time (with a credit card). And you are not depleting your points. Thus, great if you are running out of points. An owner MUST checkin. No guest confirmations - no exceptions. That said, I'm sure if you typically pay housekeeping, you will need to pay for housekeeping for your reservation.

Bonus time, if I understand correctly, should be available 14 days from checkin. I have found that not to be true for me. It's not at midnight, I'm not sure when it does kickin. Sometime in those wee hours. I liken that to other time lapse issues we see reported here (like discount periods not kicking in at midnight or upgrades not working right at midnight).

I have also found that bonus time gets an odd error on the app - even though I am booking bonus time, it says I don't have enough points. If I use the desktop, it books. My nephew has never reported that to me and he is probably our biggest bonus time user (and being 30 something you know he's an app user - but always quick study and I'm guessing he goes to his computer when things don't work on the app).

And...I have had issues with not being able to cancel a bonus time reservation - not on the app, not on the website, and the VC's couldn't do it either (they had to open a ticket and did take care of things).

Since my family divies up our available points amongst us, we use it any chance we can. My nephew is the best, he went to Smuggs a few weekends ago on bonus time - who'd a thought (actually it wasn't hard to get into Smuggs. He had a good time, but that does not/will never take the place of Bentley Brook). One more brag, I actually changed flights to San Diego because I was able to pick up an oceanfront room at Oceanside using bonus time. The dates were earlier than something I had booked and could still cancel. That was a nice catch, we can't always be that flexible, so grateful for this one.

 

[chriskre]

Bonus time is great. It is based on the points used and always $5/1000. I think I'm correct in saying, whatever your current ownership is/benefits, etc, that you have - apply to your booking. Meaning, we are VIP Founders, grandfathered with unlimited housekeeping. So... within bonus time (14 days of booking), I can book with bonus time and get 60% off, upgrades, free housekeeping, no transaction fee. Did I miss anything? Like any reservation I would make with my developer points, the same benefits apply. That said, of course I book developer (no point in booking as resale (I do have that choice)). All points are $5/1000 and you pay at booking time (with a credit card). And you are not depleting your points. Thus, great if you are running out of points. An owner MUST checkin. No guest confirmations - no exceptions. That said, I'm sure if you typically pay housekeeping, you will need to pay for housekeeping for your reservation.

Bonus time, if I understand correctly, should be available 14 days from checkin. I have found that not to be true for me. It's not at midnight, I'm not sure when it does kickin. Sometime in those wee hours. I liken that to other time lapse issues we see reported here (like discount periods not kicking in at midnight or upgrades not working right at midnight).

I have also found that bonus time gets an odd error on the app - even though I am booking bonus time, it says I don't have enough points. If I use the desktop, it books. My nephew has never reported that to me and he is probably our biggest bonus time user (and being 30 something you know he's an app user - but always quick study and I'm guessing he goes to his computer when things don't work on the app).

And...I have had issues with not being able to cancel a bonus time reservation - not on the app, not on the website, and the VC's couldn't do it either (they had to open a ticket and did take care of things).

Since my family divies up our available points amongst us, we use it any chance we can. My nephew is the best, he went to Smuggs a few weekends ago on bonus time - who'd a thought (actually it wasn't hard to get into Smuggs. He had a good time, but that does not/will never take the place of Bentley Brook). One more brag, I actually changed flights to San Diego because I was able to pick up an oceanfront room at Oceanside using bonus time. The dates were earlier than something I had booked and could still cancel. That was a nice catch, we can't always be that flexible, so grateful for this one.

Great!
Sounds like I will be paying a bunch of extra fees since I am resale.
I will have to look at it over the summer when I have the time to get away for the weekend or maybe even during the week if something opens up at Royal Vista. I am definitely already out of points since we are heading to Tennessee so used my points for that trip.
I am glad I opened my mail.

 

[Jan M.]

Great!
Sounds like I will be paying a bunch of extra fees since I am resale.
I will have to look at it over the summer when I have the time to get away for the weekend or maybe even during the week if something opens up at Royal Vista. I am definitely already out of points since we are heading to Tennessee so used my points for that trip.
I am glad I opened my mail.

If you're out of housekeeping credits, yes you'd have to pay for one when using Bonus Time. Other than that you'd only be paying $5 per thousand for the equivalent number of points for the reservation. It's the same for developer owners.

Points protection isn't an option because BT reservations are only within 14 days of the check in date so you want to make sure you can use the BT reservation. Also you can't put a guest name on BT reservations.

 

[chriskre]

If you're out of housekeeping credits, yes you'd have to pay for one when using Bonus Time. Other than that you'd only be paying $5 per thousand for the equivalent number of points for the reservation. It's the same for developer owners.

Points protection isn't an option because BT reservations are only within 14 days of the check in date so you want to make sure you can use the BT reservation. Also you can't put a guest name on BT reservations.

I always seem to run out of housekeeping credits because I usually take too many short trips.


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[Floridaman76]

I have used it several times too, and it's pretty good. I can see if you are resale only and out of HK or don't have unlimited housekeeping that if you have to pay for housekeeping, it's of zero practical use because that extra cost makes it likely not cost effective. I don't remember when it started, but at least some time in mid to late 2024.

 

[chriskre]

I have used it several times too, and it's pretty good. I can see if you are resale only and out of HK or don't have unlimited housekeeping that if you have to pay for housekeeping, it's of zero practical use because that extra cost makes it likely not cost effective. I don't remember when it started, but at least some time in mid to late 2024.

The only way I see it working out is for last minute trips to Bonnet Creek and Royal Vista where RCI inventory is scarce. I like to stay at both of those places if it’s an option even if it’s a little more expensive so will definitely keep it in mind. I only own a biennial unit so I end up renting from RCI often to get extra Wyndham units. Usually it’s the less desirable resorts though so this option is better if it gets me the better resorts.


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[paxsarah]

I have used it several times too, and it's pretty good. I can see if you are resale only and out of HK or don't have unlimited housekeeping that if you have to pay for housekeeping, it's of zero practical use because that extra cost makes it likely not cost effective. I don't remember when it started, but at least some time in mid to late 2024.

I think that largely depends on the number of nights. I probably wouldn't spring $185 on a 2-night stay, but I would for 7 nights ($26 per night) - the question is where in-between it tips between not worth it to worth it. I also don't usually run out of housekeeping and I have plenty of points for my needs, but that would be my calculation.

 

[Sandi Bo]

To answer an earlier question, if you are less than 2 weeks out, the option to book with bonus time with automatically appear. I have a hybrid account thus my search was using developer (in a hybrid account we choose before searching) points. When I select to book, the payment screen looks like this. If I choose bonus time, it then asks for my payment (credit card) information. It's automatic nothing special you have to do if you decide to book bonus time.

I think it suffices to say, your booking and use of points works just like it would if you were using your allotted points, only with bonus time you have the option to pay $5/1000 at the time of booking and it does not deplete your regular allotment. If there were a discount at a resort at the time you are booking (that can happen), I'm sure that would apply as well.

 

[Floridaman76]

I think it suffices to say, your booking and use of points works just like it would if you were using your allotted points, only with bonus time you have the option to pay $5/1000 at the time of booking and it does not deplete your regular allotment. If there were a discount at a resort at the time you are booking (that can happen), I'm sure that would apply as well.

Yes, and if you are a VIP, you get discounts and upgrades. The decision to use bonus time is one of the last screens, so it shows up after the instant upgrade occurs. In that case, you are charged based on your discounted original suite, not the upgraded suite.

Can't do it anymore because the resort is gone, but I got a last minute 2 night stay at Fairfield Glade during one of the 50% upgrade sales I upgraded from a Studio to a 2BR Deluxe and the total cost was $19.99, which makes this great if you can find discounts. This was low season and last minute, but it was hard to pass up.

 

[chriskre]

To answer an earlier question, if you are less than 2 weeks out, the option to book with bonus time with automatically appear. I have a hybrid account thus my search was using developer (in a hybrid account we choose before searching) points. When I select to book, the payment screen looks like this. If I choose bonus time, it then asks for my payment (credit card) information. It's automatic nothing special you have to do if you decide to book bonus time.

View attachment 124306

I think it suffices to say, your booking and use of points works just like it would if you were using your allotted points, only with bonus time you have the option to pay $5/1000 at the time of booking and it does not deplete your regular allotment. If there were a discount at a resort at the time you are booking (that can happen), I'm sure that would apply as well.

Okay, makes sense why I haven't seen it before since I rarely book within 14 days. I'll have to start paying attention to this account more often. Thanks.

 

[chriskre]

Yes, and if you are a VIP, you get discounts and upgrades. The decision to use bonus time is one of the last screens, so it shows up after the instant upgrade occurs. In that case, you are charged based on your discounted original suite, not the upgraded suite.

Can't do it anymore because the resort is gone, but I got a last minute 2 night stay at Fairfield Glade during one of the 50% upgrade sales I upgraded from a Studio to a 2BR Deluxe and the total cost was $19.99, which makes this great if you can find discounts. This was low season and last minute, but it was hard to pass up.

I'm just a lowly biennial resale member so no VIP anything but I'm sure there will still be some deals with all the Florida resorts in there available. Thanks.

 

[Floridaman76]

Just used bonus time today Got a double upgrade for the first weekend in May at Ocean Walk for a weekend I needed last minute for $146.25

 

[chriskre]

Just used bonus time today Got a double upgrade for the first weekend in May at Ocean Walk for a weekend I needed last minute for $146.25

Sweet.

 

[Sandi Bo]

Another nice thing, for me, for bonus time, is that you pay on your credit card at the time of booking. We have multiple owners, each with their own login. Each can add their credit card to their login. That's nice for me, when someone books bonus time, I don't have to get involved at all. They book and pay and there is nothing that I (as the one managing the account) has to do. We have a rule, first come, first serve. If bonus time (we are allowed 2 at one time) is available, whoever finds something to book can use it. I didn't want to get involved in managing that. They do let me know after they've booked. Easy peasy for everyone. Once they check in, the bonus time frees up again for the next lucky person.