DISCOVERY PACKAGE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP

[djjjd]

The Discovery Package was sold to use at a Timeshare Presentation in San Antonio as a "Try it before you buy it" package to explore timeshares for $3900. It had interest like a credit card and ended up being $4600. It only ended up being 4 trips, two were weekend trips to New Orleans and back to San Antonio ,as well as a 4 day work trip to DC and 1 nice trip to Freeport Bahamas, nothing special. We still had to pay for airfare. I think it was not a good deal we could do better on our own using a travel wholesaler where everything is included, Air Fare ,Drinks Meals Activities and transportation from the airport to the property. The good locations in the Discovery Program which are the actual timeshare properties are booked 1 to 2 years in advance. Converting points into dollars I could get the same price room online. We bought it because we felt sorry for the Timeshare SALESMAN really.

 

[Floridaman76]

Wyndham doesn't have a resort in Freeport, Bahamas, so i'm wondering where you will be staying.

I don't know anything about Discovery so I can't answer any of the rest.

 

[Teripid]

So I'm 1/2 through a Discovery package with all of the points booked that sounds very similar to OP... Paid $4000 upfront for 400,000 points and got(getting) pretty decent value out of it honestly. Pretty good pile of gift cards and incentives for attending and saying "no" again to presentations as well. Booking window was the same as general (10 months out) you don't have a property with advantage since it is just temporary. I think the inventory is also restricted and not every property available to Discovery.

Wyndham doesn't really do the "all inclusive" from what I've seen and in terms of value it really depends but we're not looking for that. Airfare and other things can be bought for points but is likely a worse deal. Assuming $1/point, which is exactly what we paid I don't think I could have found an equivalent property (kitchen setup) at that price in 3 of the 4 instances we're booking. 4 trips seems about right over the 2 years they give you to use the points but depends on where you're staying and # of BRs.

We normally go a bit more spartan with very little time spent in the room/property so it was an interesting change. I dunno, it has been interesting and not a bad experience. When we're older (kids away) we might do a resale purchase. Still the flexibility of cash is really handy and planning so far out was unusual for us.

 

[valuemkt]

As a long time Marriott owner (Oceanwatch), we purchased a 300,000 pt Discovery package in aug 2024. It was too late for buyers remorse, so we have until Aug 2026 to use it. We live in Florida and can easily get to any via car. Unfortunately, several years ago we visited a Wyndham Sandestin and had a miserable experience. Would like to know how folks have successfully used their "VIP" points. Also, if you split into several visits, do you have to endure a presentation at each one, or just the first one. thanks

 

[Pennytx]

Very limited knowledge here
But I do understand, yes you must attend presentations at every place you book
I’m sure others with deeper knowledge will chime in
Try to book emerald in Destin
That’s a lovely resort
I also like Wyndham at pompano
Even Wyndham at Daytona
Those should all be easy drives
Good luck

 

[chapjim]

The Discovery Package was sold to use at a Timeshare Presentation in San Antonio as a "Try it before you buy it" package to explore timeshares for $3900. It had interest like a credit card and ended up being $4600. It only ended up being 4 trips, two were weekend trips to New Orleans and back to San Antonio ,as well as a 4 day work trip to DC and 1 nice trip to Freeport Bahamas, nothing special. We still had to pay for airfare. I think it was not a good deal we could do better on our own using a travel wholesaler where everything is included, Air Fare ,Drinks Meals Activities and transportation from the airport to the property. The good locations in the Discovery Program which are the actual timeshare properties are booked 1 to 2 years in advance. Converting points into dollars I could get the same price room online. We bought it because we felt sorry for the Timeshare SALESMAN really.

Not true, although it may seem that way.

The booking window is from fourteen months before check-in to ten months before check-in. There are some minor exceptions but none of those extend the booking window beyond fourteen months before check-in.

 

[basilray]

Very limited knowledge here
But I do understand, yes you must attend presentations at every place you book
I’m sure others with deeper knowledge will chime in
Try to book emerald in Destin
That’s a lovely resort
I also like Wyndham at pompano
Even Wyndham at Daytona
Those should all be easy drives
Good luck

Just wrapping up my Discovery package...

We were told we had an obligation to attend another presentation on our first trip. That may/may not have been true. We didn't really press it, we just went.

We did not on our second or 4th and final trips. We opted to attend on our 3rd trip because they covered a pretty big chunk of cost on some tickets we would have otherwise paid full price for. They also comped us some VIP tickets for a local show as well.

 

[WManning]

No deals can be found attending a presentation! You could of bought a resale deed at a lower cost maintenance fee location for pennies all in. The ownership would of been yours in forever.

 

[Jan M.]

Very limited knowledge here
But I do understand, yes you must attend presentations at every place you book
I’m sure others with deeper knowledge will chime in
Try to book emerald in Destin
That’s a lovely resort
I also like Wyndham at pompano
Even Wyndham at Daytona
Those should all be easy drives
Good luck

You are only required to attend one 120 minute presentation. It's supposed to be on your first stay.