How many weeks are too many at the same resort?

[sernow]

How many weeks are too many at the same resort? Is it better to diversify to spread risk like in investing, or is it better to focus on the one resort that is the right fit and know best? Any opinions would be appreciated?

 

[bnoble]

I bought a second week at a resort that had proven its worth as a trader, even though it increases volatility in assessments and exchange quality. (If my resort gets devalued by RCI, II, or both, I'll have two worthless weeks, not just one.)

I figured a bird in the hand, etc. I paid very little for both, and they are both summer weeks in a decent resort/area, so if I had to get rid of them, I could. They've already paid for themselves.

 

[BM243923]

I purchased a 2nd week at my resort. That way I have the flexibility of going down for 2 weeks straight or trading 1 week away. They are fixed winter weeks. week 8, and 9. They are both one bedroom and the resort gave me the option of upgrading to a 2 bedroom for $250.00 processing fee. I took them up and awaiting for the processing of the paperwork.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Very Nearly Swapped Away My 1 For 2 More Across The Street.

The swap fell through when it couldn't be completed in a timely manner due mainly to unforeseen complications, unrelated to timeshares, affecting the other prospective swappee. (We're talking car crashes & work crises & other events that to sane people take priority over timeshare stuff.)

For a while I thought gaining ownership of 2 quiet-season 3BR lock-off floating weeks in exchange for the deed to my 1 prime-season 3BR lock-off floating week would be a beneficial swap, mox nix Phase Two (mine) & Phase One (the other guy's).

Then I realized that prime season ownership is way more advantageous than quiet season, so I felt no remorse when the 2-for-1 deal died.

Basically, prime season owners get to reserve any available week on the calendar, prime-time or quiet-time mox nix.

Quiet season owners, by contrast, have only a limited opportunity to request upgrade reservations for any remaining short-fuse prime-season weeks, plus there's a surcharge of $25 per night for the upgrade.

That's not necessarily how it is at other timeshares, but that's how it is with Floating Diamond Season & Floating Emerald Season at those 2 Orlando FL timeshares.

Live & learn, eh ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[laura1957]

Since I like to STAY at my home resort (usually take last calls/extra vacations for my other trips) - I own 3 weeks there. One week 6 2BR for skiing/snowtubing, one floating white 2BR for a spring or fall getaway, and my 4 BR week 24 for family get-togethers. Now that I have the third, I will probably exchange more also.

 

[riverdees05]

We have two units at one resort and it works out great. They are floating 1-52 weeks, so in years that a lot of the family wants to go, we reserve both units. In a regular year, we stay in one and exchange the other or exchange both.

 

[Bill4728]

There have been several polls of TUG members asking them if they owned muliple weeks of TS.

The HGVC owners who responded were 52% owned 1 week and 48% owned more than 1 week.

Granted, this wasn't anywhere near a scientific poll & these are TUG members (so they are into Timeshareing). But almost 1/2 of the 50 people who answered the poll had 2 or more weeks.

 

[brother coony]

I had own 9 weeks of thimeshare, five at one resort and 3 at another,
I am down to 7 wks now but 4 at one resort and two at one
Works great for my family and friends, invited 15 members of my family one year, to one resort,had a ball

 

[DianneL]

Resort in New Smyrna Beach

I never thought about the potential problems of owning two weeks or more at a single resort until our friends had hugh problems. In 2004 a hurricane blew away their resort in New Smyrna Beach (I think the name was Ocean Palms). They continued to pay maint. fees for two years on the two weeks they own, with no resort to go to and nothing to trade. The resort, due to mismanagement and possibly other problems, was never restored or rebuilt. And recently our friends have received assessment notices on the two weeks they own at this resort. with a threat of a collection agency if they don't pay. This being said, I do own two weeks at one resort, however, one week in Phase I and one week in Phase II. They have separate account numbers and are operated independently, but by the same management. But there is vulnerability there if a large hurricane comes in and destroys the area (Destin).

 

[Phill12]

How many weeks are too many at the same resort? Is it better to diversify to spread risk like in investing, or is it better to focus on the one resort that is the right fit and know best? Any opinions would be appreciated?

We own a every year unit and a eoy unit in a different building and I feel for us that is plenty!

We bought second unit for the reason I have been telling new owners to do for years. Buy where you love going every year and then exchange or renting is just icing on the cake.

Our problem was we love going up to Lake Tahoe for July 4th week and just couldn't make a exchange.

Now that we own two units every even year if we want we can make a exchange with II and still enjoy July 4th in Tahoe!


PHIL

 

[dchilds]

We owned 5 weeks at one resort, 4 at a second, and 3 at a third. We're down to 4 at the first, 3 at the second and 2 at the third. We're planning to sell one of the 4, and keep the other 3. Of those weeks, we plan to use two, consecutive weeks same unit, and rent the third. We plan to use one or two weeks of each of the remaining resorts and rent the rest.

Utltimately we plan to keep weeks to use or rent only. Some are driving distance from home, and we can use those as a three day weekend if we can't rent.

We didn't really consider the resorts having problems, and needing to pay multiple fees. It is nice to know the resort well, and being able to pick specific units and weeks you want to own.

 

[lprstn]

I personally am not that attached...

To anyplace. I like variety so I chose to own 2 different resorts and 2 different systems that give me access to both (II and RCI) without extra cost.

I say diversify! and get something to complement what you have. If you already own at a weeks resort...Try points! If you already own points...and love a particular location ... Try owning a week. If you currently have a resort that trades well with II, get one that trades well with RCI.

 

[bnoble]

I like variety so I chose to own 2 different resorts and 2 different systems that give me access to both (II and RCI) without extra cost.

Not a problem. The resort I own two weeks at is dual-affiliated.

 

[Mimi]

We have increased our ownership now that we are retired. We own two weeks at Pono Kai, Maui Schooner and Kona Coast II. We also own four weeks at Ocean Landings in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and three weeks in Las Vegas at Summer Bay Desert Club. When we bring family, we share our units. When we travel alone, we enjoy longer vacations. Thirteen weeks is alot, but it works for us at this time. We used to own South African weeks that were bought for trading with RCI, but we got rid of them when RCI fell from grace, in my opinion. Once they got into the rental business and our quality trades disappeared, we bailed! Now we own where we want to go.

 

[Happytravels]

haveing more then one week at the same resort

Eight weeks total. Still working full time and have more then 20 years before retirement. We own three weeks at one resort, two weeks at another and then three other weeks at other resorts. We do our trading with RCI, and we know what weeks trade well. Then we use the rest or rent them out. All are now within driving distance except for one (Bahamas).

WORKS FOR US

 

[AwayWeGo]

I Like Staying At The Same Resort. Ditto Different Resorts.

If I had my way -- a big if -- I'd stay 4 straight weeks at Cypress Pointe.

I could split both my Phase I & my Phase II 3BR lock-offs, then book 4 weeks of back-to-back-to-back-to-back reservations -- a Phase One 1BR followed by a Phase Two 1BR followed by a Phase One 2BR & then a Phase Two 2BR.

Wouldn't that be something ?

Then, before going home, we could stay another 2 or 3 weeks at various other Florida timeshares via Last Call or Instant Exchange or both.

Is this a great country or what ?

Full Disclosure : I can't do that back-to-back-to-back-to-back deal just any year I feel like it. Our Phase II 3BR lock-off is every year all right, but across the street at Phase I our 3BR lock-off is only EEY. So it goes.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[bnoble]

I can't do that back-to-back-to-back-to-back deal just any year I feel like it.

There's a solution to your problem, Alan.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Problem Solving.

There's a solution to your problem, Alan.

You're talking about ways of getting The Chief Of Staff to go along with it, right ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[bnoble]

When asked, my better half told me that under no circumstances was I to buy that second week at that resort. That is, until we came back from a DVC exchange with the kiddos that set us back only slighty more than Motel-6/Super-8 rates.

"If getting another week makes it easier to do this again, buy it."

Two months later, the right deed came up on ebay, and the rest as they say was history. It cost me $1 plus $274 closing/transfer.

 

[Jennie]

We own 2 back-to-back July weeks at the New Jersey shore, 3 back-to-back Cape Cod weeks (in the same unit) in August, and 4 February weeks back-to-back in the same unit at one resort in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.. We got tired of having to pack up and move at the end of each week. Several weeks are lock-off units that can be rented in case we don't need the entire unit. When the lock-off is rented, it covers most of the maintenance fees for the entire unit.

They were all bought resale at bargain prices. We use most of them ourselves every year. We are able to rent them easily, if need be. They are all dual affiliated with RCI and I.I..

Over the past two years I ventured into RCI Points and Wyndham Fairfield Points. I've been able to use them to obtain extra nights or weeks at some of the resorts where we already own the multiple fixed weeks. Or to reserve a week for family members or friends so that they can vacation "with us" but in their own unit. Points give us great flexibility re: obtaining extra time where we already own, or reserving time at totally different locations for a change of pace.

I did a lot of research before each purchase. I try to attend the annual meetings at the small resorts that are HOA controlled. One of our resorts is managed by VRI and they seem to have a very good track record of responsible management. We've been very impressed by the way they upgraded our resort. It had been badly neglected by the former company (before we bought it).

In each case I chose resorts that had no history of serious hurricane damage. That has always been a big concern, especially because we love to vacation near the ocean (but not too near!).

There are no guarantees, but if a resort is well managed and has no history of natural disasters, we hope that there will be no unwelcome surprises.