Cheapest Entry Point

[joshfeingold]

I want to dip my feet into this whole timeshare world. Since Wyndham pays your RCI membership (really just bundles it in to MF), is there any way to pick up 10K Wyndham points?

If not, what is my cheapest way in?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[Passepartout]

In to what? RCI? Wyndham? Timeshare in general?

If it was me and from your post it appears what you are interested in is access to RCI's cheapo Last Calls, I'd forget the whole ownership thing and rent. You can frequently rent what you want with no ongoing commitment in the TUG Marketplace (above in the red stripe) or in the Last Minute rentals at $100/day or less. Usually these end up costing less than any ownership deal or Maintenance Fee (MF).

 

[ronparise]

The smallest contract for Wyndham points Ive seen is 28000 points...expect to pay about $250-$350 a year maintenance fees This will get you an rci membership and access to the last call reservations there, which I assume is your goal. But the 28000 Wyndham points are not good for much.

I think the better strategy would be a 77000 point contract. The maintenance fees are not that much more $ ($450-$500) and you can actually use the 77000 points for something in the Wyndham system or deposit them to RCI...(I just got back from a week in an RCI resort that cost me 77000 wyndham points plus the exchange fee)

By the way there are a few of those 77000 point contracts offered on ebay now

 

[e.bram]

However you do it, use an LLC, corp. or trust. Not in your name personally. Then you can easily bail out if you do not like it.

 

[chalee94]

However you do it, use an LLC, corp. or trust. Not in your name personally. Then you can easily bail out if you do not like it.

right. don't worry about the fraud aspect. if they come after you, tell them your internet friend will be along any minute to back you up...

 

[joshfeingold]

In to what? RCI? Wyndham? Timeshare in general?

If it was me and from your post it appears what you are interested in is access to RCI's cheapo Last Calls...

Actually that is spot on, I want access to Last Call for now... It seemed like this was the cheapest method to get that access since from what I hear, the better last call offers go to members with timeshares (of course, not sure if that is true) even assuming I can find an RCI membership without ownership...

Thoughts?

 

[ronparise]

Actually that is spot on, I want access to Last Call for now... It seemed like this was the cheapest method to get that access since from what I hear, the better last call offers go to members with timeshares (of course, not sure if that is true) even assuming I can find an RCI membership without ownership...

Thoughts?

I believe you need to own a timeshare to become an RCI member. But once you are a member I believe you can sell your timeshare (dont tell RCI) and continue to pay your RCI annual dues.

So find a RCI affiliated timeshare for which there is a ready market Buy it, join RCI and then sell the timeshare, with some luck you may even make a profit

 

[Passepartout]

OK, well the absolutely cheapest way is to buy a $1 RCI TS on eBay with someone else paying closing expenses. Then sign on to RCI. Then give away the TS and get the recipient to pay closing expenses and don't tell RCI that you no longer own the underlying TS. They won't ask. Then all you are on the hook for is RCI dues of about $90 a year and whatever Last Call rental fees you pay. When you get tired of it, just let the RCI dues lapse and you're out. This should give you vacations for under $300/week. Now, they won't be beachfront Hawaii, or DVC quality, but perfectly serviceable independent resorts.

Oh, if you do this, I'd heartily recommend paying the $15/yr for TUG membership so you can check out the reviews so you don't end up in "Mugwump Towers on Slimy Slough"

 

[geekette]

Just keep in mind that you will be responsible for maint fees for whatever you own, as long as you own it. Choose carefully.

If I were you, I'd avoid RCI completely. Rent from owners, cut out the middleman.

In both scenarios, you can only get what is 'excess' to someone else, but at least via owner, you can book before the 45 days out (or whatever RCI's Last Call threshold is) and are unlikely to have to get a "Guest Certificate" if you are sending, say, your brother in your place (GC's I think are $79 or so via RCI, so add that to the cost if it's not YOU making the trip).

 

[Gophesjo]

Oh, if you do this, I'd heartily recommend paying the $15/yr for TUG membership so you can check out the reviews so you don't end up in "Mugwump Towers on Slimy Slough"

Hey! That is my favorite resort!

 

[Ron2]

However you do it, use an LLC, corp. or trust. Not in your name personally. Then you can easily bail out if you do not like it.

I assume you’re just joking about using a trust or LLC and bailing if you don’t like your timeshare. Somewhere I read that Wyndham still requires an owner’s name associated with a trust. I’m not considering bailing from my timeshares but I have thought about putting them in a trust. Does anyone know how this is done? Pros/cons etc. --Ron

 

[theo]

My $0.02 worth...

I assume you’re just joking about using a trust or LLC and bailing if you don’t like your timeshare. Somewhere I read that Wyndham still requires an owner’s name associated with a trust. I’m not considering bailing from my timeshares but I have thought about putting them in a trust. Does anyone know how this is done? Pros/cons etc. --Ron

First, of course, you would have to establish a legally valid trust. More often than not, this is a (revocable) living trust, in which you (as timeshare owner-to-be) are one (...maybe even the only one) of the trustees. New deeds would have to be prepared and recorded thereafter in the new trust name. Many timeshare entities will ask for (i.e., demand to see) the first and last pages of your legally executed trust instrument, obviously including the notarized signature page, in order to be able to ascertain and verify to their own satisfaction that the trust even exists at all and is not just a fabrication of some "angle man's" imagination. Submission of bogus or fabricated trust documents would, of course, clearly constitute willful, outright (...and, to be clear, criminal) fraud. Btw, there is certainly no effective "avoidance of financial responsibility" by having a timeshare ownership in a revocable living trust name, but doing so might well greatly facilitate its' later disposition in the event of your untimely or unexpected demise (...and aren't we all ultimately "exiting the picture" sooner or later?).

I would just summarily ignore questionable drivel "input" (a.k.a. "background noise"; e.g., post #4 above) from non-attorneys unwisely suggesting that timeshare ownership by a bogus LLC is even a viable option.
No resort paying any attention will ever acknowledge any such entity as a legitimate owner, so although it would be a (likely fraudulent, certainly futile) attempt to actively evade personal responsibility, you'd also likely never be allowed any actual access to or use of the facility as a nebulous "LLC", so what would even be the point of pursuing this particular (likely fraudulent, certainly futile) "bogus LLC name" route, just to later be completely denied any actual future access, occupancy or use at the facility?