Interested in Points

[BrentS]

1) Where do you want your home resort to be?
Im not sure I know what a home resort is.
I dont want a resort in the same local area where I live.

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
I think you mean, Is the place I will stay at the most?
No. I want to buy points so I can go anywhere.
I dont want to be limited to the same weeke every year.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
South Lake Tahoe.
Las Vegas NV
Hawaii
Mexico
Carribbean

4) How many people do you usually travel with?
4 adults, No children

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Anytime.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Perhaps. I have never thought that far ahead about vacation plans.

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes.
When I go to South Lake Tahoe, that will probably be for only 2 or 3 nights.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4 or 5 star.

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
$3000

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?
$1000

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Yes.

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?
Yes.

 

[DeniseM]

A home resort is where your deeded ownership is. Most, but not all, points system have an underlying deed at a specific resort. In general, you have priority to reserve your home resort, so you want to pick one that you like. *One possibility is choosing a home resort within driving distance for the years when you don't want to, or can't fly.

With timeshare vacations, the earlier you can plan, the more likely you are to get what you want. If you are a last minute planner, then timesharing isn't for you.

Remember, using timeshare points isn't like picking up the phone and making a hotel reservation. You are competing with other owners for prime weeks at prime resorts. However, since you are flexible, that helps a lot.

South Lake Tahoe - easy to reserve fall and spring - more difficult summer and ski season

Las Vegas NV - super easy to reserve year round - more supply than demand - don't buy here - trade in

Hawaii - more difficult to reserve the top resorts during high season

Mexico - easy to reserve - more supply than demand - don't buy here - trade in

Carribbean - more difficult to reserve the top resorts during high season​

*If you can plan 10-12 mos. in advance, I think you are a good candidate for Wyndham points.

 

[Ty1on]

I think you might like Worldmark. It has coverage everywhere you want to go, and trades in Interval International, which can get you exchanged into Marriott and Starwood properties. I'll defer to Worldmark owners on this, but I don't think WM resorts are typically in the 4-5 star range, typically 3-ish?

The 12 month planning thing is paramount to making timeshare the most successful for you. Even longer, if you want to exchange into a highly sought Marriott or Westin, for example.

 

[DeniseM]

I'll defer to Worldmark owners on this, but I don't think WM resorts are typically in the 4-5 star range, typically 3-ish?

Good point - To get up into the 4-5 Star range consistently, you would need to buy in a Hotel affiliated system: Starwood, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt.

However, those systems are more expensive than what you are looking for.

With Wyndham, the range is 2-4 stars, for the most part.

 

[tschwa2]

If you want 4-5 star, you will need to spend $1400-$2000 in MF and that would be for a single 7 nights stay or a split 4 night and 3 night (one weekend and one mid week stay).

If you buy Hilton points (platinum in Vegas), you might get the MF down but you would be looking at twice your purchase budget.

If you can drop down to 3 star, and be choosy about which Worldmark properties you stay at your MF's will go much further.

 

[DeniseM]

With your location in Sacramento, Tahoe might be a good home resort for you. Although, I am not sure about the cost - Tahoe is probably more expensive than some other areas.

 

[GregT]

I think you might like Worldmark. It has coverage everywhere you want to go, and trades in Interval International, which can get you exchanged into Marriott and Starwood properties. I'll defer to Worldmark owners on this, but I don't think WM resorts are typically in the 4-5 star range, typically 3-ish?

The 12 month planning thing is paramount to making timeshare the most successful for you. Even longer, if you want to exchange into a highly sought Marriott or Westin, for example.

I agree with this -- Worldmark might be an excellent system for you. However, it is definitely B-grade accomodations. If you want A-grade, you will need one of the hotel systems, and those are going to challenge your economic parameters.

I would do lots of investigation, and maybe stay in the Worldmark at Zephyr Cove -- if the accomodations are acceptable to you, then you will love Worldmark. If you find the accomodations very basic and functional (and want more) then you may end up with Marriott, which is a much more expensive option. Plus if you do go Marriott, you are more likely to end up with a week than with points, so that will complicate things too.....(but Marriotts rock).

Best,

Greg

 

[Passepartout]

BrentS should be aware that these exchanges are not free- or even 'included' in most point systems. There is dues of a hundred bucks or so to an exchange company plus somewhere between $150 and $250 EACH exchange week, and depending on the system, additional housekeeping charges (usually on short stays or after the first annual exchange). These charges are on top of annual Maintenance Fees (MF around here).

So let's say, he owns a week somewhere within a day's drive of his Sacramento home (something we recommend), like Tahoe, Sedona, Las Vegas, and the annual nut is $1000/per week. and he gets 80,000 RCI Points. Those will usually get a 'good' resort week with a few points left over for a shoulder season week. so that's currently $209 each exchange plus the $90 RCI membership. So those 2 weeks will cost about $1500 plus possibly a housekeeping fee. And those numbers WILL go up every year.

Just an example of a math exercise in time sharing.

Just because one CAN exchange for different scenery doesn't mean one should.

Jim

 

[Ty1on]

BrentS should be aware that these exchanges are not free- or even 'included' in most point systems. There is dues of a hundred bucks or so to an exchange company plus somewhere between $150 and $250 EACH exchange week, and depending on the system, additional housekeeping charges (usually on short stays or after the first annual exchange). These charges are on top of annual Maintenance Fees (MF around here).

So let's say, he owns a week somewhere within a day's drive of his Sacramento home (something we recommend), like Tahoe, Sedona, Las Vegas, and the annual nut is $1000/per week. and he gets 80,000 RCI Points. Those will usually get a 'good' resort week with a few points left over for a shoulder season week. so that's currently $209 each exchange plus the $90 RCI membership. So those 2 weeks will cost about $1500 plus possibly a housekeeping fee. And those numbers WILL go up every year.

Just an example of a math exercise in time sharing.

Just because one CAN exchange for different scenery doesn't mean one should.

Jim

I was thinking more in terms of true points systems, like Wyndham, Shell, Worldmark, Marriott DC.

My remark about exchanging was getting into one of those 5 star resorts once in awhile without the higher cost-in and MF involved. Yes, there is an exchange fee. Wyndham's RCI membership is already included in the club fees that are charged with the MF, and I'm not sure, but I think Worldmark and Shell RCI or II memberships are included, too.

And Sedona would be a loooong day's drive from Sac. Maybe take that off the list and add Bay Area and coastal Oregon in its place.

 

[DeniseM]

Jim - I know you are an old truck driver, but IMNSHO, Sedona and Las Vegas are a looooong drive from Sacramento.

Since Tahoe is on the OP's list, he could start by expiring the options there.