I'm letting everything I have just die on the vine and shifting over to Armed Forces Vacation Club.

[Daytripz]

I booked the Wyndham Rancho Vistoso in Tucson through AFVC for New Year’s week, I was looking for getaway availability at this resort through Interval, and when I couldn’t find it, I looked on AFVC. I paid $50 more than weeks go for on Interval. I’m unclear if I will owe any resort type fees. I prefer timeshares over Airbnb, so I’m happy to have this extra place to search - although Interval and Marriotts are my preference. However, Interval has this ranked as an Elite property, so I’m hopeful it lives up to the Elite standard.

I should mention my husband is retired military, so we are eligible. And according to website, my kids are eligible to use the AFVC site too.

 

[gravityrules]

For unexplained reasons, Armed Forces Vacation Club never offers reservations for Vacation Village At Parkway (Kissimmee FL). That is, I've never seen any Vacation Village At Parkway availability through Armed Forces Vacation Club even though I check semi-frequently.

Plus, in the fine print that comes with RCI reservations for Vacation Village At Parkway, it says that any & all Vacation Village At Parkway reservations from Armed Forces Club are null & void & will not be honored. That's mox nix since Armed Forces Vacation Club doesn't even offer Vacation Village At Parkway reservations in the 1st place.

It's not a major matter, but it is curious.

Anybody here know what's up with the bad blood between Armed Forces Vacation Club & Vacation Village At Parkway ?

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

FWIW, received an email this morning from Skyauction that Berkley Group Properties in Nevada and Florida are back on the website, starting at 549.99 and include weeks through Summer 2025.

Locations are:
The Grandview Las Vegas
Vacation Village at Parkway
Mizner Place at Weston
Vacation Village at Weston
Vacation Village at Bonaventure

I realize this isn't AFVC, but interesting to see rentals available for less than maintenance fees.

 

[bshanebowl]

Good to know. Just when I think I have cracked the code some other potential solutions show up.

 

[wmgjr]

I booked the Wyndham Rancho Vistoso in Tucson through AFVC for New Year’s week, I was looking for getaway availability at this resort through Interval, and when I couldn’t find it, I looked on AFVC. I paid $50 more than weeks go for on Interval. I’m unclear if I will owe any resort type fees. I prefer timeshares over Airbnb, so I’m happy to have this extra place to search - although Interval and Marriotts are my preference. However, Interval has this ranked as an Elite property, so I’m hopeful it lives up to the Elite standard.

I should mention my husband is retired military, so we are eligible. And according to website, my kids are eligible to use the AFVC site too.

I haven't stayed at that property yet but I've been surprised by all of my WM/Wyndham stays.
My first stay I was expecting the worst based on the hotel brands they own.
I hope you have a great experience.
Report back

 

[wmgjr]

FWIW, received an email this morning from Skyauction that Berkley Group Properties in Nevada and Florida are back on the website, starting at 549.99 and include weeks through Summer 2025.

Locations are:
The Grandview Las Vegas
Vacation Village at Parkway
Mizner Place at Weston
Vacation Village at Weston
Vacation Village at Bonaventure

I realize this isn't AFVC, but interesting to see rentals available for less than maintenance fees.

That's not less than MF.
GV mf are 455 for a 1 bedroom

 

[GTLINZ]

I seem to be one of the few on TUG that admit to having used Skyauction.com

I was not aware of this site. It has some decent inventory and appears to be another option where you have no commitment with having to own a timeshare. Sheraton Vistana seems one of the better options - i have stayed there. Huge place, most building with no elevators, but well run.

Glad to hear it worked for you.

 

[dioxide45]

I was not aware of this site. It has some decent inventory and appears to be another option where you have no commitment with having to own a timeshare. Sheraton Vistana seems one of the better options - i have stayed there. Huge place, most building with no elevators, but well run.

Glad to hear it worked for you.

The only problem is that SkyAuction inventory isn't always consistent. Sometimes they will have a bunch of stuff and other times nothing.

 

[DaveNV]

I've known about AFVC for years, and checked them out a few times. As a disabled retired Navy guy, benefits to veterans are important to me. I honorably served my country for 20 years, and I appreciate my country giving back to me a bit. I've seen AFVC linked from the recreation and activities pages, on some of the military base websites, which was how I learned about them.

When I looked at the resorts offered (at the time) I never saw anything that caught my eye. What I saw was the same kind of thing RCI had in their Extra Vacations offerings. It seemed like RCI was just extending its rental fingers into that military market. I never tried renting from them. It's possible things have improved, and now that I'm completely a rental market user (sold my last timeshare two years ago) I'll check into them again. But at the time it didn't seem to offer me anything more than I couldn't get through an RCI exchange.

Dave

 

[gpj555]

AFVC. Has worked out well for me? If they have something you want

 

[chapjim]

I've known about AFVC for years, and checked them out a few times. As a disabled retired Navy guy, benefits to veterans are important to me. I honorably served my country for 20 years, and I appreciate my country giving back to me a bit. I've seen AFVC linked from the recreation and activities pages, on some of the military base websites, which was how I learned about them.

When I looked at the resorts offered (at the time) I never saw anything that caught my eye. What I saw was the same kind of thing RCI had in their Extra Vacations offerings. It seemed like RCI was just extending its rental fingers into that military market. I never tried renting from them. It's possible things have improved, and now that I'm completely a rental market user (sold my last timeshare two years ago) I'll check into them again. But at the time it didn't seem to offer me anything more than I couldn't get through an RCI exchange.

Dave

Seeing as AFVC and RCI are both Wyndham companies, it's not surprising that there would be similarities in the resorts offered.

Thank you for your service! (From one retired Navy guy to another!)

 

[Cruiser Too]

Do I qualify ???

According to its website:
A membership with Armed Forces Vacation Club is free to all active duty, guard, reserve and retired U.S. military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

I am none of the above but... I am a US Army veteran.
I did NOT retire from the Army.

 

[sponger76]

Do I qualify ???

According to its website:
A membership with Armed Forces Vacation Club is free to all active duty, guard, reserve and retired U.S. military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

I am none of the above but... I am a US Army veteran.
I did NOT retire from the Army.

From the FAQ page:

Looks like you qualify.

 

[sponger76]

I've known about AFVC for years, and checked them out a few times. As a disabled retired Navy guy, benefits to veterans are important to me. I honorably served my country for 20 years, and I appreciate my country giving back to me a bit. I've seen AFVC linked from the recreation and activities pages, on some of the military base websites, which was how I learned about them.

When I looked at the resorts offered (at the time) I never saw anything that caught my eye. What I saw was the same kind of thing RCI had in their Extra Vacations offerings. It seemed like RCI was just extending its rental fingers into that military market. I never tried renting from them. It's possible things have improved, and now that I'm completely a rental market user (sold my last timeshare two years ago) I'll check into them again. But at the time it didn't seem to offer me anything more than I couldn't get through an RCI exchange.

Dave

Same. I've looked a number of times both before I ever bought into timeshares and after. Never saw anything compelling enough for me to book. With that being said, there are others I know that are more than happy to book some of those stays at those prices.

 

[fountaindw]

I am a Veteran and feel that the Interval International Resort Accommodation Certificates get you higher quality than AFVC. But you have to own a timeshare to receive the the Resort Accommodation Certificates from I.I.