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my survey for where I want to buy?

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1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

Great Smokies mt the one with the waterpark, we have little kids


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? yes


3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

Orlando, destin, vegas, California and dells

4) How many people do you usually travel with? 6


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


6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?

yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?

Only in the summer

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

Three or more stars

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

$2,500

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? $200


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
 

Panina

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
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Jul 13, 2015
Messages
6,781
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Location
Florida
Resorts Owned
Hgvc Anderson, Blue Ride Village Resort
1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

Great Smokies mt the one with the waterpark, we have little kids


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? yes


3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

Orlando, destin, vegas, California and dells

4) How many people do you usually travel with? 6


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


6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?

yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?

Only in the summer

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

Three or more stars

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

$2,500

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? $200


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
There are no yearly Maintenance fees of $200. It you typed that correctly timesharing is not for you.
 

EZ-ED

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ID
that should have said $2000 and thank you for catching the mistake

I would look at a Marriott gold week resale (not points) that is a lock-off. Marriott can easily trade into any of the destinations you mention and if you were to split your week you can most likely get two bedroom units for each side of your Marriott unit if patient. Your $2,500 purchase price is not unrealistic (again if patient) and the $2,000 annual MF budget would cover any annual MF, split cost and trading company fees.

I am not a points fan so maybe others could weigh in on that option.
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
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Points
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Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
To me it sounds like you would be a good candidate for a resale fixed week timeshare in the Smokies. What is there, I am not familiar. I am sure another Tugger will have recommendations. You could also look for a resale points ownership with an underlying week in summer so that you know you can book that summer week every year. In that case, you will have to pay annual membership fees to the exchange company every year for the privilege of booking what you already own, however.

When we bought at Smugglers Notch in Vt we were in the same situation, though we were just a small family of 3. Wanted something in summer since our kid was in school. Wanted a guaranteed annual week and unit (that would make it feel like our second home). Wanted to be able to drive there instead of fly. Wanted to be able to trade if we had to or wanted to. I was a big planner and very organized. We bought a 2 bedroom that sleeps 8 with the pullout couch.

It all worked out wonderfully for us.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:

LurkerBee

TUG Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
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115
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32
Points
138
Location
Shadow of the Key Bridge, MD
Resorts Owned
Coconut Plantation
To me it sounds like you would be a good candidate for a resale fixed week timeshare in the Smokies. What is there, I am not familiar. I do know of Massanutten but have never been there. I hear it is really nice.

FYI - Massanutten is in Virginia's Shenandoah mountains. The Smokies are in East Tennessee. Its a roughly 6-hour drive between the two.
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
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Points
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Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
FYI - Massanutten is in Virginia's Shenandoah mountains. The Smokies are in East Tennessee. Its a roughly 6-hour drive between the two.


LOL! I had the wrong park! I will edit that in my post. Thanks!
 
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ok thanks, I was on ebay last week and it just seemed like they were going for higher price than normal?
can anyone explain buying RCI points?
 

RNCollins

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
3,329
Reaction score
1,200
Points
399
Location
Borscht Belt
Resorts Owned
Tradewinds, Divi, Quarter House, Casa Ybel
can anyone explain buying RCI points?

Below is a link to the RCI Points page.
https://b2b.rci.com/pre-rci-en_AE/discover-rci/rci-points.page

I’m relatively new at Timesharing but I will try to explain how the RCI Points work. With RCI Points you can choose to stay less than 7 days. You purchase a set amount of points, which are linked to an underlying home Week. If you want to stay during your home Week you need to call RCI and reserve 13-12 months beforehand. If you want to try a different resort you can use those points to stay at another RCI Points Resort. You can borrow points from the next year if you need more points.
 

RNCollins

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
3,329
Reaction score
1,200
Points
399
Location
Borscht Belt
Resorts Owned
Tradewinds, Divi, Quarter House, Casa Ybel
1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

Great Smokies mt the one with the waterpark, we have little kids

Is this the Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge?
 
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