Comparison of other TS groups to the Wyndham System

[ddavid1073]

I wonder if Wyndham owners that also own in other point driven TS systems could compare the other systems to Wyndham. For example the number of locations, value of points needed for a weekend and maintenance costs. Ease of reserving, window to reserve. When staying at a resort through the other TS system do they hound you to buy more points the way Wyndham does.

I only know the Wyndham system and am curious how other systems work, how multi system owners feel about Wyndham vs the other systems, etc..

 

[DeniseM]

That is a huge ask - here are 2 threads to get you started:

Ranking the Top Timeshare Systems

*Admin Edit: Wanted to include the chart that has been compiled to update this original thread from back in 2006! Its amazing how far things have come! http://tug2.net/timeshare_advice/timeshare-system-comparison-chart.html Original post below --------------------------------- If you had...

tugbbs.com

Comparison Chart of current major point system Timeshare developers

Oct 2024 Update! Please help us update the points/fees entries for this to bring it up to date! check out the chart below and post your maint fee or point value updates so we can get it included! We have compiled a chart that provides a great high level overview comparison of the major...

tugbbs.com

 

[Jan M.]

I can tell you this from a friend's experience with owning both Wyndham and Marriott. I believe Marriott is Wyndham's closest competitor.

They, like a number of other owners who own both, say the Marriott resorts they've been to are nicer than many of the Wyndham resorts but Wyndham offers a lot more locations.

As much as we complain about the current Wyndham website my friend says Marriott's is harder to use.

Some people like Interval International over RCI as the trading company. Marriott owns II like Wyndham owns RCI. We own at a resort that gives us II. I've never deposited our week so have only looked at II's Getaway weeks. I'm not at all impressed with what I've seen on the Getaway weeks, nor the cost of those weeks. I only infrequently search II so it could be that there is some good stuff and I'm not on enough to find it.

In addition to our Wyndham points we own RCI points weeks at Grandview at Las Vegas. The two work very well to cover our travel needs and wants. Don't hold me to the exact numbers but in 2023 we spent 210 nights in the timeshares. 2022 was 235. I think 2021 was something like 180-190.

 

[rickandcindy23]

No comparing Marriott to Wyndham. So different, and besides that, I never use my Abound for Abound. I only use it to book our home resorts, which happen to be Westin. We are Chairman's level and were grandfathered in by buying our Westin at exactly the right time to be included in Marriott. Go figure that out.

Marriott resorts are top tier, generally. The resorts we love in Marriott/ Westin are superior to almost everything Wyndham has, except a few favorites that Wyndham has that are exceptional. I haven't been to a lot of different resorts in Wyndham that are on par with Bonnet Creek. I thought Panama City was just okay. We love Shearwater but own there, so Wyndham has that one. Bali Hai is not exceptional at all and really needs a total resort remodel (we also own there). A lot of resorts Wyndham acquired over the years are average or even less than average, like most of Pagosa Springs in CO. Wyndham's Steamboat Springs is nice but I would rather stay at Sheraton, unless I can get a big discount on a Steamboat Springs 3 bedroom for us and the kids, and that has happened a few times.

I would love to try Avon sometime, but we live in CO and staying in CO is not really fun.

I love that Wyndham has Dolphin's Cove, and it's very nicely updated. It's the closest thing to Disneyland, but I am not going to Disneyland for a few years. Free parking and full kitchens put this above Shell's Peacock Suites. The kids will spring a trip on us, and I won't be able to find anything with our points. That happens a lot. It's annoying, but sometimes I get those Dolphin's Cove via exchange.

The cost is more to stay at Marriott because we mostly stay via exchange and use Marriott or Sheraton to exchange into the Marriott resorts.

Hilton would be a good comparison for Wyndham. Both use RCI almost exclusively, but Hilton is way better, except the Diamond resorts that recently became part of Hilton are ordinary. A few are nice, but not many (Hilton needed Kauai and did acquire Point at Poipu). I would love to own Hilton in Vegas and stay at the new Maui Hilton sometime. That would be the reason to buy Hilton points. It's beautiful and new. We already own five weeks on Maui.

I thought of Hyatt but limited resorts and now Welk and Hyatt have combined, and Welk is pretty easy to exchange into. And really, what does Hyatt have that I would want that I cannot get with Marriott.

There are a lot of really bad point systems out there, including whatever it is Capital Vacations is selling, and of course Sapphire Resorts and some others. Bluegreen is one we never took on and glad we didn't. They are cracking down on renters just as Wyndham did. Most of the resorts in BG are also average with a few exceptions.

RCI Points is a product I used to love but I am getting out of that one soon. It's been a good ride, but I wish they would bring back my bargain exchange fees. $299 is a bit over the top. I also already access RCI Points' resorts with Wyndham through RCI, and I think most of the resorts are more reasonable through Wyndham's portal. One that was pointed out to me is a studio or one bedroom in NYC. The RCI Points for those is very high at 1 cent per point. But my Wyndham points are more like 7/10 of a cent per point (you can do the decimal on that, but I am not good at it).

Sometimes the number of points in RCI Points is HIGHER than the Wyndham points required for the same exchange. It's really such a good deal to book some resorts in Wyndham/ RCI Portal than RCI Points. But I have to say, there are times when Bonnet Creek is super cheap to book through RCI Points. I just posted a great sighting a week or more ago of Bonnet Creek with very reduced points, plus Reunion is all 3 bedrooms, and it's not unusual to see Reunion for 7,500 points for a full week in RCI Points. Last-minute only.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I'm not at all impressed with what I've seen on the Getaway weeks, nor the cost of those weeks

Getaways has some incredible deals for Orlando area resorts. I’ve used it twice now to stay a week in a 2 bedroom in Sheraton Vistana for around $500 with another one coming up in 4 weeks.

 

[ddavid1073]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I've only ever stayed at Wyndham Timeshares with a couple of RCI extra weeks thrown in. So it's good to have some perspective on the other systems and how people feel about them. What I've noticed from a resale perspective is that Marriot holds their value a lot better than Wyndham.

Other than the update hassle at Wyndham I overall really love the system. We live about 3 hours from the Berkshires in Massachusetts so we usually go up there for fall colors and bike riding on the rail trail there. We usually go to Pompano after Thanksgiving and enjoy that. This fall we're going to Colorado to Durango, Pagosa Springs and Telluride (Airbnb) instead of the Berkshires. We like to mix it up with Wyndham being our core vacation means although we like to cruise and do other types of trips as well.

Again, thanks for your thoughts!
Dan

 

[WManning]

I wonder if Wyndham owners that also own in other point driven TS systems could compare the other systems to Wyndham. For example the number of locations, value of points needed for a weekend and maintenance costs. Ease of reserving, window to reserve. When staying at a resort through the other TS system do they hound you to buy more points the way Wyndham does.

I only know the Wyndham system and am curious how other systems work, how multi system owners feel about Wyndham vs the other systems, etc..

I own Wyndham and Workdmark. Worldmark opens a door to western USA locations. It also helps book Florida locations on the east coast. If Wyndham is booked sometimes Worldmark has availability at Santa Barbara or Sea gardens. Both resorts can be booked from Worldmark or Wyndham.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I own Wyndham, WM, HGVC and HICV.

Wyndham is the cheapest for me as there are NO reservation fees, and I have VIP status, which gets me discounts and upgrades, and I have a grandfathered in NHK (No housekeeping) account. Very flexible to cancel, up to 15 days prior to travel. Insurance for situations less than than run $149. I have never purchased there insurance.

Next would be WM because I only own a small account which comes with 1 HK and 1 GC, but I make good use on BT, MM and IS, which have NO HK fees and NO reservation charges. The cancelation policy varies based on booking date, so it can be from 1 month to 3 days. Very flexible.

Next would be HGVC, as here is a charge per reservation, if I book less than a full week. But the charge is low, and I get an discount because of my Elite status, So $59 if I book online, which I prefer. Cancelation protection is $99 if you purchase when you book, or $129 if you add it on later. Without insurance you can change 61 days prior and you can cancel 31 days prior, with NO penalty. I have never purchased insurance.

Next would be by HICV, I found points vary a lot in this program, and reservations fees are the highest of all of the system, at $69 and you have to pay $50 to modify them. Insurance at $51 is the cheapest of the bunch, however they cancelation penalty are the most inflexible of the bunch. less than 3 months out and you already lose 25% of your points, 2 months you lose 50% and 1 month you lose it all. Given the price of insurance about 50% of the time I purchase it. There is NO HK fees with HICV.

This is the average pricing and average costs, based on my usaging and situation. Other with more WM or HICV points may have a different experience. Because I have VIP status with Wyndham and Elite status with HGVC I get some perks out of that.

 

[jp10558]

I've had HGVC the longest at around 2 years, and Wyndham for about 6 months. I've accessed RCI through both. I have no status in either, so this may be a better comparison for an average person buying resale. Strictly price to unit size I think Wyndham average to HGVC average is about the same in MFs, but Wyndham is much cheaper to buy resale than HGVC on average(deals can be found). HGVC resorts are a step above Wyndham on average 4 star to 3 star IMO. HGVC charges fees for booking other than homeweek. Last I checked it was $69 online.

To be honest, Wyndham is a lot more useful though and has no extra fees when staying unless you run out of housekeeping credits somehow. Why is Wyndham more useful? Locations. I'm like 80% more likely to find a Wyndham somewhere than I am HGVC. I can say HGVC is Myrtle Beach, Orlando, some maybe sorta availabilty elsewhere in Florida, Carlsbad and Hawaii. With Wyndham I can't really easily give a list - I've seen them in Vermont, Florida, Tennessee, New Orleans, and all over. For me, it was also easier to get 2ish weeks in Wyndham because of such a smaller buy in. I'd have picked up even more but the MFs would be over my budget for it.

So, I just got access to II via an independent timeshare Fox Run that I also just got. Haven't used it yet, plan to next year. II getaways are pretty lackluster IMHO. I was hoping they'd be better, but are quite limited at least for me. Once I start doing exchanges after next year I hope those go better, or else I'll really have to decide if I keep the Fox Run timeshare. I sort of feel like II was talked up sooo much on TUG and it's so much less than I was expecting. Then again, I haven't spent anywhere near as much time with it. But as of right now I'd say don't make my mistake and get II for getaways.

RCI seems to just have so many more locations, and lots of last calls and extra vacation sales that are way more usable given where I live. I just got back from Massanutten on an Extra Vacation that was on sale for a 2BR Regal Vistas for $419 and $110 resort fees/taxes. This seems like a screaming deal to me. It's not the only one I've done. I've gotten great deals on Smuggs, and Coral Reef in HHI via RCI. I see plenty of other places I want to try too. RCI kind of falls down on exchanges for me - the cost in points almost always doesn't make sense vs the cash deal in Extra Vacations, especially with the RCI $299 exchange fee, plus the resort fees. The only reason to exchange from Wyndham or HGVC via RCI is if you just can't save the points anymore or there's only exchanges available where you want to go and you can't find it in Extra Vacations. Even so, I probably would try posting a wish in TUG for a direct rental just to compare vs exchange.

Wyndham vs HGVC vs Independent(or Vacation Village / Capital) sales pushes vary so much IME it's hard for me to really say. Wyndham in Bay Club II Miramar Beach was by far the worst - I had to dicker with them for 10 minutes to get my door keys and leave. VV (I think they also run Massanutten?) has been the most chill so far taking one or two minutes to say no thank you and get on my way. But Wyndham in Long Wharf RI didn't bug my sister on a GC at all. I don't think Diamond in Wynchor Park UK even said anything about a presentation, no sales pitch at all. I think all of them I've had to ignore phone calls / unplug the phone though.

 

[rickandcindy23]

The problem with comparing systems is the points are vastly different currencies, rather like using the Australian dollar vs. the British Pound. Not the same value at all.

Hilton resorts you are talking about 10-20K points for a full week somewhere (I don't own so maybe not that accurate), Wyndham points are hundred(s) of thousands of points to book a week.

RCI Points is another thing altogether. A week can be 7,500 points to 135,000 points, some are probably higher than that.

WorldMark is similar to Hilton. Shell is way different, some weeks are as low as 1,800 points and as high as 2,550 points per week for Peacock Suites by Disneyland, making the cost quite different at .31 per point.

The amount per point is important. Seeing point charts is important. Buy the cheapest MF per point you can, but some systems, the more you own, the cheaper it gets. WorldMark is like that. But the difference between 20K and 100K points is not significant per point.

 

[jp10558]

The problem with comparing systems is the points are vastly different currencies, rather like using the Australian dollar vs. the British Pound. Not the same value at all.

Hilton resorts you are talking about 10-20K points for a full week somewhere (I don't own so maybe not that accurate), Wyndham points are hundred(s) of thousands of points to book a week.

Right - know what the point charts are for places you might want to book and the unit / date you might want to go. HGVC for 2BR is about 11,200 for a platinum week. However, if you're in Gold, that's 8,000. And the season isn't that obvious to me -> December in Miami Beach is Gold, January is Platinum. August at Flamingo is Gold, March in MarBrisa is lower... Unit matters too - some 2BR and cheaper than others, and then there's Plus or Premium. IDK I haven't stayed in them to know, but online the size and # of bedrooms seems the same, so it must be view or when it was last remodeled I guess...

The other thing that you know, but I should point out to the OP is there are 2 or 3 "expensive" days of the week, and 4-5 "cheap" ones. So if you stay M-Th in Wyndham it might be 79,000 of what would otherwise be a 150,000 pt week or whatever. Same for HGVC. So if you can book 4 day during the week you can get more trips on one MF too.

 

[90_Min_Sales_Pitch]

Right - know what the point charts are for places you might want to book and the unit / date you might want to go. HGVC for 2BR is about 11,200 for a platinum week. However, if you're in Gold, that's 8,000. And the season isn't that obvious to me -> December in Miami Beach is Gold, January is Platinum. August at Flamingo is Gold, March in MarBrisa is lower... Unit matters too - some 2BR and cheaper than others, and then there's Plus or Premium. IDK I haven't stayed in them to know, but online the size and # of bedrooms seems the same, so it must be view or when it was last remodeled I guess...

The other thing that you know, but I should point out to the OP is there are 2 or 3 "expensive" days of the week, and 4-5 "cheap" ones. So if you stay M-Th in Wyndham it might be 79,000 of what would otherwise be a 150,000 pt week or whatever. Same for HGVC. So if you can book 4 day during the week you can get more trips on one MF too.

I have a so-so EOY contract with HGVC, 7680 points for about $1,400 with club dues. $200 per year in club dues could be worth it if you're utilizing last minute deals (Open Season). For us I'll call it $1,200 in cost, and we can stay in Waikiki in May or September for about 6 nights, or $200 per night.

With Wyndham, I own 154,000 points annually, 231,000 EOY, which runs about $4,000 every two years, and I can stay 3.5 weeks if none is used efficiently, or $160 per night. Staying off peak season at times, leaning weeknights, we're probably closer to $120 per night.

 

[bnoble]

Even within a single system, this is hard to do. What's the "maintenance cost needed for a weekend"? That depends a LOT on where you own and where you are going. There is no one answer.