Just posted an ad on My Resort Network. I will let you know how it goes, but $19.95 for an ad is a great price!

[rickandcindy23]

Posted my rentals for this summer for one resort on the site. It's been years, since I listed with them, but I am hoping to rent a few for the listing price. Not much outlay of cash, and if I have luck, I will let you know. We need an alternative to RW that is DIY 100% for owners like us.

I am tired of the indifference RW has displayed with my rentals. I tell them I have oceanfront center at Westin, which is important for the renters to know, and they don't put that in my ad. They don't distinguish Sheraton Broadway Palmetto units from the older style of units (which are very different in size and floorplan). Sheraton Broadway has no ability to post a unit as a 2 bedroom lockoff, so the regular 2 bedrooms are thrown in with the lockoff units. The units are very different. I wouldn't want my small children in a lockoff unit with a separate entry door. I realize you can block the door to keep them from going out, but I don't like lockoff units for young kids. Never have.

Criticism of RW goes nowhere. Since the company was taken over by a big conglomerate, all of the personalized service is gone. Now they don't offer a DIY service.

I have rented very few of my summer weeks on RW that usually rent well. Owners are undercutting each other to get their weeks rented. It's not a game I want to play. How does someone rent a 3 bedroom lockoff using RW's service for $1,500 in summer and make anything on that? My fees for my 2 bedroom lockoffs are higher than that. I am sorry but have become generally frustrated with renting with RW for some properties. Others are still working. I still will have to reduce my price even on my verified/ protected rentals I have listed, just to get them rented. The competition is fierce.

 

[andre10056]

Posted my rentals for this summer for one resort on the site. It's been years, since I listed with them, but I am hoping to rent a few for the listing price. Not much outlay of cash, and if I have luck, I will let you know. We need an alternative to RW that is DIY 100% for owners like us.

I am tired of the indifference RW has displayed with my rentals. I tell them I have oceanfront center at Westin, which is important for the renters to know, and they don't put that in my ad. They don't distinguish Sheraton Broadway Palmetto units from the older style of units (which are very different in size and floorplan). Sheraton Broadway has no ability to post a unit as a 2 bedroom lockoff, so the regular 2 bedrooms are thrown in with the lockoff units. The units are very different. I wouldn't want my small children in a lockoff unit with a separate entry door. I realize you can block the door to keep them from going out, but I don't like lockoff units for young kids. Never have.

Criticism of RW goes nowhere. Since the company was taken over by a big conglomerate, all of the personalized service is gone. Now they don't offer a DIY service.

I have rented very few of my summer weeks on RW that usually rent well. Owners are undercutting each other to get their weeks rented. It's not a game I want to play. How does someone rent a 3 bedroom lockoff using RW's service for $1,500 in summer and make anything on that? My fees for my 2 bedroom lockoffs are higher than that. I am sorry but have become generally frustrated with renting with RW for some properties. Others are still working. I still will have to reduce my price even on my verified/ protected rentals I have listed, just to get them rented. The competition is fierce.

I did the same and tried myresortnetwork for the first time in years back in April. Not so much because Redweek had ended DIY but because Redweek had not been working for me. So far, on April 8 soon after placing my ad, I got a two word response from an email address entitled junk collection: "contact me".

And then soon thereafter I got this email from a myresortnetwork contact person:

"Hi,
Early this morning you received an email about your timeshare ad that is fraudulent. Do not respond to this person. This happened between 3am and 6:30am EST from one of these emails:

bayshoreboy28@gmail.com
bosslady02539@gmail.com
bosslady32127@gmail.com
cathywiebers43@gmail.com
danaprescott78@gmail.com
elenasullivan@aol.com
gracecooperedwards@aol.com
ismaelfernandez96@aol.com
junkcollection2020@gmail.com
livingthedream627@gmail.com
madison_allen1@aol.com
madisonwhyte1115@gmail.com
merlebrown@aol.com
prosavoirfaire02@gmail.com
prosavoirfaire03@gmail.com
randaschroer01@aol.com
reej1249@gmail.com
robbie.emma@aol.com
vshawnmiles@gmail.com

This person is trying to scam you, so please do not respond to this person."

So thus far I'd say my results have not been satisfactory. But it's at least nice to know there's someone actively managing the site. Someone apparently concerned about his advertising clients.

Additionally, I stopped by Redweek recently. And I didn't spend much time there but it appeared to me at the time that they may have restarted accepting DIY ads. Again, I didn't look into that too closely but that's how it appeared at first glance.

 

[dioxide45]

I did the same and tried myresortnetwork for the first time in years back in April. Not so much because Redweek had ended DIY but because Redweek had not been working for me. So far, on April 8 soon after placing my ad, I got a two word response from an email address entitled junk collection: "contact me".

And then soon thereafter I got this email from a myresortnetwork contact person:

"Hi,
Early this morning you received an email about your timeshare ad that is fraudulent. Do not respond to this person. This happened between 3am and 6:30am EST from one of these emails:

bayshoreboy28@gmail.com
bosslady02539@gmail.com
bosslady32127@gmail.com
cathywiebers43@gmail.com
danaprescott78@gmail.com
elenasullivan@aol.com
gracecooperedwards@aol.com
ismaelfernandez96@aol.com
junkcollection2020@gmail.com
livingthedream627@gmail.com
madison_allen1@aol.com
madisonwhyte1115@gmail.com
merlebrown@aol.com
prosavoirfaire02@gmail.com
prosavoirfaire03@gmail.com
randaschroer01@aol.com
reej1249@gmail.com
robbie.emma@aol.com
vshawnmiles@gmail.com

This person is trying to scam you, so please do not respond to this person."

So thus far I'd say my results have not been satisfactory. But it's at least nice to know there's someone actively managing the site. Someone apparently concerned about his advertising clients.

Additionally, I stopped by Redweek recently. And I didn't spend much time there but it appeared to me at the time that they may have restarted accepting DIY ads. Again, I didn't look into that too closely but that's how it appeared at first glance.

The true DIY still doesn't show as an option for me when I go in to start a listing. There is DIY Verified & Protected, but that really isn't DIY.

 

[tschwa2]

Additionally, I stopped by Redweek recently. And I didn't spend much time there but it appeared to me at the time that they may have restarted accepting DIY ads. Again, I didn't look into that too closely but that's how it appeared at first glance.

I think you are just seeing DIY ads that were placed before they stopped accepting them.

 

[andre10056]

The reason I had visited Redweek a few days ago was not to explore whether or not they had changed their policies with regards to DIY ad placements.

Instead, I wanted to see if there was evidence that their site had recently achieved successful rentals. And, to see that, I visited their Galleon, Key West page.

I remembered from a few weeks ago that they had ample April listings but almost no May listings and then it picked up again in June.

And I knew that Redweek likes to tout its RENTED! listings going back many weeks in the past.

So what did I find? Despite still crowing about having RENTED! a March 22 thru March 29 listing, it had ZERO such indications for its April listings. Since those weeks had passed, they were simply gone and obviously unrented. Indeed, its May 3 thru 10 listing is still available only because the week is not yet over but it., too, will soon disappear.

Going forward, there ARE a few indications of successful rentals, but I believe I saw them a few weeks ago (I wish I had printed out the page from a few weeks ago so I could be certain about that).

To me, it appeared that there was ample evidence that even a resort like the Galleon where rentals were always met with a feeding frenzy of demand had stopped renting altogether as of April.

No longer like what you might see at Robbie's in Marathon in the Keys:

Instead, zero nibbles so I'm not sure myresortnetwork will make a difference.

After having paid many tens of thousands for their Galleon timeshares (and that's resale as the resort no longer has inventory), it looks like Galleon owners may now be unable to recoup their 1600 or so maintenance fees if they can't themselves travel.

 

[hurnik]

The reason I had visited Redweek a few days ago was not to explore whether or not they had changed their policies with regards to DIY ad placements.

Instead, I wanted to see if there was evidence that their site had recently achieved successful rentals. And, to see that, I visited their Galleon, Key West page.

I remembered from a few weeks ago that they had ample April listings but almost no May listings and then it picked up again in June.

And I knew that Redweek likes to tout its RENTED! listings going back many weeks in the past.

So what did I find? Despite still crowing about having RENTED! a March 22 thru March 29 listing, it had ZERO such indications for its April listings. Since those weeks had passed, they were simply gone and obviously unrented. Indeed, its May 3 thru 10 listing is still available only because the week is not yet over but it., too, will soon disappear.

Going forward, there ARE a few indications of successful rentals, but I believe I saw them a few weeks ago (I wish I had printed out the page from a few weeks ago so I could be certain about that).

To me, it appeared that there was ample evidence that even a resort like the Galleon where rentals were always met with a feeding frenzy of demand had stopped renting altogether as of April.

No longer like what you might see at Robbie's in Marathon in the Keys:

Instead, zero nibbles so I'm not sure myresortnetwork will make a difference.

After having paid many tens of thousands for their Galleon timeshares (and that's resale as the resort no longer has inventory), it looks like Galleon owners may now be unable to recoup their 1600 or so maintenance fees if they can't themselves travel.

IF you're on Facebook, there's the GROB (Galleon Resort Owners Board) group that filters out the scammers (they literally verify you are an actual owner, or have rented/stayed there in the past). Not sure if you have a 1 BR, Studio, or 2 BR unit. The 2 BR units seem to rent and the ask is usually around $3400 on up (depending on say, Fantasy Week, etc.)

Now what they actually rent for, I don't know.

 

[andre10056]

IF you're on Facebook, there's the GROB (Galleon Resort Owners Board) group that filters out the scammers (they literally verify you are an actual owner, or have rented/stayed there in the past). Not sure if you have a 1 BR, Studio, or 2 BR unit. The 2 BR units seem to rent and the ask is usually around $3400 on up (depending on say, Fantasy Week, etc.)

Now what they actually rent for, I don't know.

I just checked all of the "Galleon Owners" variations and none allow you to advertise to outsiders. Indeed, they're all private sites and you're allowed entry only if you're a verified owner. Great if you're trying to sell your timeshare to a co-owner who has an appetite for more, and the same for rentals to existing owners, but how would you find a non-owning party who simply wants to rent?

 

[rickandcindy23]

My Resort Network used to be a major player in the timeshare rental ad business, also for sales. I bought my 3 bedroom at Bali Hai on that site for a bargain price at the time. I couldn't believe the price I got on that week, and then I converted it to Wyndham points. Such a great value for a 3 bedroom upper level unit.

Redweek is drowning out other ads. They come up #1 on a Google search, RCI shows up too, and also Koala down the page a bit.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Didn't meant to post twice.

 

[hurnik]

Wrong. The

I just checked all of the "Galleon Owners" variations and none allow you to advertise to outsiders. Indeed, they're all private sites and you're allowed entry only if you're a verified owner. Great if you're trying to sell your timeshare to a co-owner who has an appetite for more, and the same for rentals to existing owners, but how would you find a non-owning party who simply wants to rent?

No, the GROB allows non-owners (it's not quite clear, but if you read the rules/invite) it's also for verified past renters/guests.

The Galleon Resort Owners Board (THE GROB) Buy, Rent, Sell or Trade

Is the name of the FB Group. I don't own there and they did verify me (literally multiple phone calls, emails and sending proof/verification of my past stay via RCI).

"
The GROB is the most efficient way to secure your time in paradise. No ads, no gimmicks, no chatter, just results.
The GROB offers owners and Galleon Aficionados a pathway to BUY, SELL, RENT, TRADE or EXCHANGE units. Market on your own or engage The Galleon Sales Office, whatever you prefer.
We are the ONLY Galleon Group that vets every member on our site. Anyone on THE GROB is an owner or former renter. No scams, no phishing no fake rental ads.
The end goal is to create a space where Galleon lovers can easily access information pertaining to the most sought-after Time Share Resort in Florida."


There's also the:
The Galleon Resort Rentals & Resales
Group on FB. Note that they do NOT vet anyone (owner, renter, etc.) There's been a few posts where someone (renter) paid thousands to rent a unit that wasn't legit.


The Galleon is extremely popular (probably why you almost never see any on RCI/II nor get an OGS hit on either one). If owner are getting $3200+ for rentals direct (vs. Redweek) that may explain why Redweek doesn't show many rentals offered.

But I have no proof to the latter.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I should put Galleon on my trade requests through Wyndham's RCI Portal. Supposedly, our trading power is very high.

The weather is probably cooler in April or January. We go to Maui in February-March.

 

[andre10056]

Wrong. The

No, the GROB allows non-owners (it's not quite clear, but if you read the rules/invite) it's also for verified past renters/guests.

The Galleon Resort Owners Board (THE GROB) Buy, Rent, Sell or Trade

Is the name of the FB Group. I don't own there and they did verify me (literally multiple phone calls, emails and sending proof/verification of my past stay via RCI).

"
The GROB is the most efficient way to secure your time in paradise. No ads, no gimmicks, no chatter, just results.
The GROB offers owners and Galleon Aficionados a pathway to BUY, SELL, RENT, TRADE or EXCHANGE units. Market on your own or engage The Galleon Sales Office, whatever you prefer.
We are the ONLY Galleon Group that vets every member on our site. Anyone on THE GROB is an owner or former renter. No scams, no phishing no fake rental ads.
The end goal is to create a space where Galleon lovers can easily access information pertaining to the most sought-after Time Share Resort in Florida."


There's also the:
The Galleon Resort Rentals & Resales
Group on FB. Note that they do NOT vet anyone (owner, renter, etc.) There's been a few posts where someone (renter) paid thousands to rent a unit that wasn't legit.


The Galleon is extremely popular (probably why you almost never see any on RCI/II nor get an OGS hit on either one). If owner are getting $3200+ for rentals direct (vs. Redweek) that may explain why Redweek doesn't show many rentals offered.

But I have no proof to the latter.

I probably can find the "proof" of my having stayed there in the past via rci records. That was actually a pretty fortuitous RCI exchange. I was working in the Miami area at the time, was about finished and about to head home, and just happened to check RCI for "the Keys" which I had never visited. And found a Galleon 2 BR the very next week for a TPU "price" of 12. Woohoo did I grab that baby! And my family came down on check-in day for an unexpected Key West family vacation.

I've seen Galleon 2 BRs costing 60 plus TPUs. One bedrooms costing 42 TPUs. Even studios 35 or so TPUs.

And the Galleon was definitely nice. That huge balcony overlooking the marina was amazing. The accommodations, etc. were among the best I ever experienced. I loved the tiki bar for refreshments and relatively low cost food items. Pool, excellent. Steps to Duval Street and Mallory Square and all manner of nighttime live music, restaurants, street performers, etc.

The beaches, however, were disappointing. Horrible beaches. Either very painfully rocky at the shoreline and/or your feet sink into nasty feeling sludge (seaweed, seagrass) in the water. We had to go to a Bealls discount department store to buy thick-soled beach shoes to make it tolerable.

OK. Let me get back on topic. So even if past "stayers" can get into Facebook's Galleon Owners page, the numbers I would imagine aren't that high. So I'd be curious about how successful owners might be in renting out their units. Redweek used to have a hundred plus rental listings at any given point in time and, you're right, now it appears to have relatively few. Which is puzzling to me. As you say, you don't often see Galleon exchange opportunities so it couldn't be that exchange renter-outers could no longer list their exchanges on Redweek.

But, of course fraudulent listings, to which you made reference, could have been a certain percentage of Redweek prior listings. In any case, I continue to believe that something significant happened in April to make it less likely that we will all be able to achieve a successful rental of our timeshares for the foreseeable future, no matter where we advertise..







.

 

[hurnik]

I probably can find the "proof" of my having stayed there in the past via rci records. That was actually a pretty fortuitous RCI exchange. I was working in the Miami area at the time, was about finished and about to head home, and just happened to check RCI for "the Keys" which I had never visited. And found a Galleon 2 BR the very next week for a TPU "price" of 12. Woohoo did I grab that baby! And my family came down on check-in day for an unexpected Key West family vacation.

I've seen Galleon 2 BRs costing 60 plus TPUs. One bedrooms costing 42 TPUs. Even studios 35 or so TPUs.

And the Galleon was definitely nice. That huge balcony overlooking the marina was amazing. The accommodations, etc. were among the best I ever experienced. I loved the tiki bar for refreshments and relatively low cost food items. Pool, excellent. Steps to Duval Street and Mallory Square and all manner of nighttime live music, restaurants, street performers, etc.

The beaches, however, were disappointing. Horrible beaches. Either very painfully rocky at the shoreline and/or your feet sink into nasty feeling sludge (seaweed, seagrass) in the water. We had to go to a Bealls discount department store to buy thick-soled beach shoes to make it tolerable.

OK. Let me get back on topic. So even if past "stayers" can get into Facebook's Galleon Owners page, the numbers I would imagine aren't that high. So I'd be curious about how successful owners might be in renting out their units. Redweek used to have a hundred plus rental listings at any given point in time and, you're right, now it appears to have relatively few. Which is puzzling to me. As you say, you don't often see Galleon exchange opportunities so it couldn't be that exchange renter-outers could no longer list their exchanges on Redweek.

But, of course fraudulent listings, to which you made reference, could have been a certain percentage of Redweek prior listings. In any case, I continue to believe that something significant happened in April to make it less likely that we will all be able to achieve a successful rental of our timeshares for the foreseeable future, no matter where we advertise..







.

I have only managed to snag The Galleon once in the past 10 years with an RCI OGS. But it was pre-COVID, and during the July 4th week. Hot and VERY humid. And it snagged like 6 weeks in advance, so plane ticket prices were astronomical (even in coach).

We vowed never to go in the summer again due to the humidity.

I've had my II and RCI OGS in since last year for NEXT year Feb-Mid-May. Nada/zilch so far. Since we have to fly (well I'm not spending 3 days driving down and back anyway), "last minute" hits aren't really feasible for us.

If we lived closer, I'd do it.

Or if I can get a 1 BR to rent. $3400 is a bit much for a 2 BR, IMO, unless we find another couple to go with us, but herding cats and all.. haha

The beach, yeah, but when we had gone in that July, the beach on the other side (by the Hilton/Waldorf) smelled to high heaven of sewage (I think it was the seaweed). I believe that the Sargassum grass now affects that side of Key West pretty much March/April-Sept. now (just like it affects pretty much any east-facing thing like the entire Yucatan peninsula and even the Virgin Islands/Caribbean islands). You have to be on the west side to avoid the seaweed, which also usually means no (or not good) beaches.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Is Galleon in RCI Points at all, or is it only in weeks?

 

[hurnik]

Is Galleon in RCI Points at all, or is it only in weeks?

Weeks only, AFAIK. But then again my RCI access is via my Hilton account, so I see things differently than "regular" RCI folks.

When I queried the Galleon owners, I was told that it's a week deposit ONLY and ONLY for Sat-Sat. (although the latter may have been the 1 BR units).

Even renting directly from an owner, it seemed you could NOT do like Wed-Wed or anything other than a Sat-Sat.

 

[rickandcindy23]

As bad as RCI is, I can see why owners do not deposit weeks at these extremely nice resorts. With RCI exchange fees of $299 + fees Hiltons charge for exchangers, it's very expensive to use RCI.

When I see people depositing Shearwater weeks into RCI with the high fees we pay, I feel badly that an owner has only that route for deposit. Maybe most are Wyndham deposits, but I don't think so because when we exchange into Shearwater, we often get penthouse units.

 

[andre10056]

I have only managed to snag The Galleon once in the past 10 years with an RCI OGS. But it was pre-COVID, and during the July 4th week. Hot and VERY humid. And it snagged like 6 weeks in advance, so plane ticket prices were astronomical (even in coach).

We vowed never to go in the summer again due to the humidity.

I've had my II and RCI OGS in since last year for NEXT year Feb-Mid-May. Nada/zilch so far. Since we have to fly (well I'm not spending 3 days driving down and back anyway), "last minute" hits aren't really feasible for us.

If we lived closer, I'd do it.

Or if I can get a 1 BR to rent. $3400 is a bit much for a 2 BR, IMO, unless we find another couple to go with us, but herding cats and all.. haha

The beach, yeah, but when we had gone in that July, the beach on the other side (by the Hilton/Waldorf) smelled to high heaven of sewage (I think it was the seaweed). I believe that the Sargassum grass now affects that side of Key West pretty much March/April-Sept. now (just like it affects pretty much any east-facing thing like the entire Yucatan peninsula and even the Virgin Islands/Caribbean islands). You have to be on the west side to avoid the seaweed, which also usually means no (or not good) beaches.

Yes. The Sargassum seaweed, which starts its journey from West Africa and ultimately hits all of the Caribbean including Brazil and Key West, can be unbelievably bad. When tons of it washes ashore and rots (mostly during the summer), it produces hydrogen sulfide gas. It 's not only one of the worst smells imaginable, but it's also toxic.

And it's not just Key West although I've heard it can become overwhelming in Key West, moreso than elsewhere. It's also Miami Beach:

Southeast Florida and the Keys with seaweed issues and the Gulf with its toxic red tide make for somewhat less optimal summer travel conditions.

And yes, air travel to Key West is oftentimes very expensive. But Miami or Fort Lauderdale may not be. And that Miami area to Key West drive is a vacation highlight for many people.

Alternatively, Allegiant Airlines flies from Pittsburgh and some other cities non-stop to Key West for oftentimes less than a hundred dollars (and sometimes less than fifty dollars). That's one way but friends of mine did a last minute Friday to Friday round trip for $78 plus $46 equals $124. Not too shabby.

 

[jeffox]

that Miami area to Key West drive is a vacation highlight for many people.

My Father is currently driving his RV from Arizona to Key West.

 

[andre10056]

My Father is currently driving his RV from Arizona to Key West.

I've never owned nor even been in an RV. So I don't know much about them and your father likely knows about all manner of RV sites in the Key West area.

But, just in case he doesn't, I've heard good things about Boyd's in Stock Island (which is part of the city of Key West).

Here's their price list and, fortunately for your father, it became "offseason" as of May 1:

https://boydscampground.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Rate-Sheet-Boyds-1-14-25.pdf?_ga-ft=aB4yoA.AA.AA.AA.AA.xbJEMrbjQSClOoPCqU4aqg..0.naswa.

I have no idea if $105 per night for a "Standard RV 30 amp- Full Hook Up" is reasonable or unreasonable especially since you have to provide your own RV. But I guess Key West would be more expensive than an RV site in rural Pennsylvania, for example.

There are other RV parks in the Key West area and I presume they're equally good options (some with onsite restaurants).

He'll of course be unable to move the RV since I can't think where in Key West, aside from RV parks, he might be able to park. Assuming he's towing his own car or whatever, and he wants to go to Old Town, what locals do is drive along the free Duval Shuttle route and look for a parking spot on the street that is free. Some are free for everybody, some are free for only Key West residents with a sticker. There are, for example, both types of free spots on the street outside the Key West library. And then you hop on the shuttle. Obviously, not an option if you're going to be drinking and potentially driving, but a fine option otherwise. And, of course, there are cabs, Ubers, Lyfts.

Of course, if you're the designated driver, that "parking along the shuttle route" and hopping on the shuttle is also a fine option even if others will be drinking as the following people may have done for the Christmas season SantaCon Pub Crawl (which is normally scheduled for mid-ish December):

 

[andre10056]

Another week has passed since I got a "don't respond to the person who emailed you about your listing because it's a scammer" on April 8 (as described above) sent by a myresortnetwork monitor. Other than that email, nothing.

I, too, would like to hear that somebody got a "real" response to a myresortnetwork ad.

Somewhat strange is the fact that there are some apparently very legitimate timeshare sales brokers that list many ads on that site. Since we've been discussing Key West, check out timeshare resorts in that city. So maybe that site is not as dead as many of us believe.

 

[rapmarks]

I have had a really bad year so far.
Don’t get any interest in my ads