How to be confident we are getting a good deal? [Shell Kauai Coast Resort merged]

[Ty1on]

We both love Kauai. We plan to go there yearly, but also have other locations we'd love to see too.

Also look at Wyndham points contracts for Kauai Beach Villas, Bali Hai, etc. If you find such a contract, you will pay for it (but less than the 7K Shell you are looking at), but the MFs should be more reasonable and Wyndham has many more options stateside.

 

[presley]

We both love Kauai. We plan to go there yearly, but also have other locations we'd love to see too.

If you plan to go there every year, it is a good thing to purchase. There are other Hawaii timeshare clubs that have lower annual fees. It boils down to if you are attached to Shell or not. Currently, Shell trades in Interval International. It's been said that they will change to RCI in a couple years. One of the reasons I like my Shell is because it trades easily in Interval. If they switch to RCI, I won't like it as much.

Look at all the locations for Shell. If you book any of their Hawaii locations, you can book that a year out. You can get an ocean front unit at Kaui Beachboy. They have studios on Oahu and several timeshares on the Big Island (none beach front). When you look at their other locations in the U.S. and Canada, you can book those about 9 months out. If you plan to stay elsewhere, you'll trade in Interval. Your Shell membership comes with a gold membership in II. Trades are easy to come by, but if they change to RCI, the resorts you can trade to will change.

 

[JerryCaldwell]

Have you visited other resorts on Kauai, or only this one?

Don't get me wrong, I like this resort, but the MF is unreasonable. I recommend that you consider other options, before you make your decision.

We have been to 2 others. This is by far our favorite because of the room we got had stupendous ocean views from everywhere including the bathroom mirror. 8 ) It was steps from the beach although it's not ideal for swimming.

What others might you recommend?

 

[vacationtime1]

It is true that maintenance fees are expensive in Hawaii. So is everything else. $1900 is high, but it is comparable to MF's at the Marriotts on island and less than at the Westin property. Paying a couple hundred dollars more in maintenance fees can be recouped by carefully shopping airfares, car rental costs, and restaurants. The Beachboy is probably the next best timeshare on the island. And it has a great restaurant on site.

If you want Hawaii, buy Hawaii. You don't need to play the trade game, at least with your first timeshare.

My only reservation would be if the unit is not a lock-off; lock-offs provide great flexibility in use.

But obviously you should buy it for a dollar if you can.

 

[DeniseM]

$1900 is high, but it is comparable to MF's at the Marriotts on island and less than at the Westin property.

Hi Robert - the MF is comparable to Marriott, but the properties IS NOT, it is a nicely remodeled hotel. That's why I suggest that the OP consider all his options before he buys a TS on Kauai.

 

[uscav8r]

Fees are 1900.00 / year

Wow. That MF rate is VERY high. You can get into a Wyndham resort on Kauai for a week in a 2BR for $1200-1400 and have the option (via points) to use throughout their extensive mainland system. Or you could buy at a low MF mainland resort and use the points in Hawaii (likely cheaper for same length of stay), though there are some hard-to-get locations such as Shearwater.

I agree with DeniseM: at $1900/year, you are pushing HGVC/Marriott/Starwood (i.e., true "luxury" TS systems) MF territory, though those options might require more upfront purchase cost (probably along the rough lines of the $8500 you mentioned for the Shell asking price).

 

[Ty1on]

OK thanks for the help!! This is kind of mind blowing and I really appreciate all the help!!
I am calling Shell now to try and get the MF directly from their Finance dept.

I found the info on another thread, and the 1350 point base rate I gave is for West Club. For Hawaii, the base rate is $601 for the first 2000 points, and .1899 per point above 2000. That puts you at $1,600 before the Club Fee is tacked on, which as far as I know is within a couple hundred a year. That would put you at 1,800 if you took those two Timesharenation contracts to get to 7,050 points. I think your salesman may have overstated your MFs a bit.

There are some bad reasons to want to by into a particular resort. In my humble opinion, absolutely loving the resort and visualizing yourself staying there yearly (or near-yearly) as a tradition is a very good reason to buy in, and Shell does give you some flexibility and location variety if you do decide to change up your routine once in awhile.

That $9K you will save by not buying the overpriced contract will buy you some airfare to Kauai, too.

 

[csxjohn]

How do you ensure you are dealing with an honest seller?

...

Even the honest sellers have some problems but the best way is to ask here on TUG and read the forum on Ratings Of Timeshare Businesses.

I mainly look for Vaca4life2 and Sumday. I will look at others but I don't really like some of them.

I won't bid with a seller that uses the "private auction" format.
I won't bid with a seller that won't take CCs or charges a fee to use them.
I don't like 30 day auctions for timeshares.

The seller linked above does all three so you won't get a recommendation from me for that seller.

I usually print out the entire auction when I'm thinking of bidding. I've seen things differently on paper than I saw on the screen.

 

[csxjohn]

We have been to 2 others. This is by far our favorite because of the room we got had stupendous ocean views from everywhere including the bathroom mirror. 8 ) It was steps from the beach although it's not ideal for swimming.

What others might you recommend?

Is that view/room guaranteed with this purchase? Very important if that's your reason for buying.

 

[JerryCaldwell]

Booking in Hawaii

Has anyone been able to book the suites you want when you have a Wyndham Shell Vacation timeshare in Hawaii? We read so many online stories of people who were paying the fees but could never find availability.

 

[JerryCaldwell]

Is there a way to get guaranteed booking at a resort we like?

We know we like ocean front Kauai Coast Resort Beach Boy which is offered by Shell. If we knew we could book that every year last week of September, even 12 or 13 months in advance, we wouldn't mind paying mf if we bought from resale. But we were scared off by stories of people who got into contract to pay mf of about $2k/yr and then could never book the week and resort they want. Is there a way to guarantee we could get ocean front at that resort every year?

 

[Ty1on]

We know we like ocean front Kauai Coast Resort Beach Boy which is offered by Shell. If we knew we could book that every year last week of September, even 12 or 13 months in advance, we wouldn't mind paying mf if we bought from resale. But we were scared off by stories of people who got into contract to pay mf of about $2k/yr and then could never book the week and resort they want. Is there a way to guarantee we could get ocean front at that resort every year?

I would argue that in the vast majority of those cases, the "victims" attempt to make their reservation 6 months or less before check-in. I don't have Shell, but from what I've read, your chances are great if you reserve the moment your booking window opens. You can't have the same confidence to get a certain view unless you have a deeded view or unit.

If you can't reserve the first minute of the first day a check-in date opens, you may end up disappointed with your ownership.

 

[magnolia]

shell hawaii timeshares

We have Shell Hawaii points. The first small amount we bought before we found TUG. The vast majority of other points we bought during the past recession, many for $1. The maintenance fees are higher, but it works for us for vacation. Before the timeshare, we used to stay at the Grand Hyatt which now causes real sticker shock.

I plan our vacations in advance. It is much easier now with retirement. We have not had a problem booking the Kauai Coast one year out for oceanfront two bedroom units. Since Whydam became the managers, some things have changed. I did notice that the tennis courts have become a fire pit area with weekly local entertainment and some products for sale. I never received a free breakfast there or daily maid service. I know that those who purchased all points through Shell (not resale) and have a certain number of points are eligible for the daily maid service. We are on holiday so that the midweek cleaning is just fine with us.

There is no elevator at the site so people should be aware of that when booking. I do believe that it time to change the carpet in the interior hallways and replace the sleeper sofas. Any issues with maintenance have been quickly handled. The staff has always been welcoming and remembers us from years past.

 

[presley]

We know we like ocean front Kauai Coast Resort Beach Boy which is offered by Shell. If we knew we could book that every year last week of September, even 12 or 13 months in advance, we wouldn't mind paying mf if we bought from resale. But we were scared off by stories of people who got into contract to pay mf of about $2k/yr and then could never book the week and resort they want. Is there a way to guarantee we could get ocean front at that resort every year?

You will be able to book it if you book it when the booking window opens. I ready many horror stories that said people couldn't book room because Wyndham or Shell was using all of them for rentals. There was even a class action lawsuit about it. It simply is not true. People cannot book if they wait too long. It is like that in every timeshare system.

As a non-Hawaii owner, I have booked that resort at the 9 month window. I wasn't able to get ocean front, but it was easy to get a room there for a week. At 4 months out, not easy to get any room there.

You have to plan and book far in advance, but that is nothing unusual in the timeshare industry.

 

[JerryCaldwell]

OK thanks for the help!! This is kind of mind blowing and I really appreciate all the help!!
I am calling Shell now to try and get the MF directly from their Finance dept.

We are so grateful for all the great advice! We are cancelling the planned purchase and as Denise and others suggested just hang around here awhile and learn more before we do anything..:whoopie:

Hopefully the broker and escrow service will refund our deposit but if not we've still saved substantial $$$.

Thank you!!