New Grandview Las Vegas Owner [merged]

[fuentesdad3]

Hello TUGgers! My wife and I are new owners of a week at Grandview Las Vegas and have no clue on what to do haha. In my quest for more information, I ran across some information from a website called tug2.com which thankfully proved to be EXACTLY what we needed. Now, I guess we are just trying to get some feedback on what people think of our purchase and if anyone thinks we can get more than just a week at the Grandview each year. We bought a 1br/1br week #14 that also has a point value of 49,000 points. With this, we also received a voucher for two extra vacations a year for the next three years. What can we do with our points? If we use our week in Vegas, do we still get to use our points? Can we use our points towards one of these other "extra weeks?" Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. And thank you in advance for being a great community! Oh and we bought through RCI if that helps.

 

[dbmarch]

Did you just buy from the developer while taking a tour?

 

[AwayWeGo]

You Get The Points OR You Get To Use The Week -- Either/Or But Not Both.

If we use our week in Vegas, do we still get to use our points?

The week is worth 49,000 points. If you use the week (i.e., show up & check in for a week), you get to stay in the unit for a week instead of getting the points.

Any year that you choose to use the unit rather than taking the points, you need to let Grandview know way ahead of time so that they reserve the unit for you instead of funneling points into your RCI Points account.

It's possible to use your points to "exchange" back into Grandview via RCI. But doing that involves paying an exchange fee to RCI for the points-based reservation. When you want to use your own timeshare week, it's simpler & cheaper to cut RCI out of the process by dealing with Grandview direct.

Full Disclosure: We like Grandview At Las Vegas. We stayed there last year (1BR unit, RCI Last Call) & again this year (straight points reservation, 2BR unit) -- enjoyed it greatly both times. (Details are in the TUG Resort Reviews section.) We briefly owned a Grandview 1BR unit (resale, 49,000 points), which we sold off only because we realize we don't need to own there in order to go there.

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

 

[Rent_Share]

Did you just buy from the developer while taking a tour?

Oh and we bought through RCI if that helps.

That doesn't quite make sense as typed

 

[AwayWeGo]

You Are Correct, Sir.

That doesn't quite make sense as typed

You typed a mouthful -- good catch.

People can buy timeshare units from a timeshare company (i.e., full freight) or from commercial resellers (e.g., eBay, storefront outlets, internet sites), or from individual private owners (e.g., eBay, TUG classifieds, RedWeek ads, etc.).

One place people cannot buy timeshares from or through is RCI.

That misstatement in the original entry in this discussion topic leads me to believe that fuentesdad3 bought at full freight from Grandview while getting understandably semi-confused about exactly what it is & precisely how it works, not to mention the distinction between the resort itself & the points-based exchange company.

If it were possible to undo (i.e., rescind) the full-freight purchase & start over fresh via resale, that would be a big plus for fuentesdad3. Unfortunately, in many instances buying resale takes a level of semi-savvy that the full-freight timeshare buyers don't have & that the full-freight timeshare sellers take unfair advantage of.

So it goes.

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

 

[Rent_Share]

They must have really pushed the points to the fact that the buyer thought he bought it from RCI

LIES LIES LIES

 

[Passepartout]

I sure hope he is within the rescission period. He can $ave many thou$and$ by buying resale.

Jim

 

[RX8]

They must have really pushed the points to the fact that the buter thought he bought it from RCI

LIES LIES LIES

I sat thru the Grandview sales torture presentation. You are correct in that they are pushing the RCI points. I didn't hear that we would LOVE staying at the Grandview but rather that these 80,000 points would allow me to stay ANYWHERE ANYTIME in the RCI world because I would have so many points. All that for only $49,500.

 

[Ron98GT]

Did you just buy from the developer while taking a tour?

Deleted my comment after re-reading the posts.

 

[pacodemountainside]

Rescission is only way to go as it is apparent OP does not know what he really bought. The mention of free vouchers indicates a Developer sale. However, if like most vouchers are pretty much worthless.

The other possibility is some scammers have bought up several RCI points contracts on e-bay for a couple bucks and now reselling for bargain price of several thousand. They were here in Denver about a month ago with a fancy lunch to entice one to a restaurant.

 

[RX8]

The other possibility is some scammers have bought up several RCI points contracts on e-bay for a couple bucks and now reselling for bargain price of several thousand. They were here in Denver about a month ago with a fancy lunch to entice one to a restaurant.

And if a company sold this resale it very likely would have NO rescission rights.

 

[AwayWeGo]

$49,500 Is Way Too Much -- Not Just For Grandview But For ANY Timeshare.

I sat thru the Grandview sales torture presentation. You are correct in that they are pushing the RCI points. I didn't hear that we would LOVE staying at the Grandview but rather that these 80,000 points would allow me to stay ANYWHERE ANYTIME in the RCI world because I would have so many points. All that for only $49,500.

When we got the Grandview spiel last year, it wasn't all that bad. Free buffet lunch next door at South Point. Discounted Terry Fator show tickets. The usual palaver & folderol about Grandview & RCI Points & bonus weeks, etc.

What made the presentation memorable was the closer's perturbation at learning we owned eBay resale points units at Vacation Village At Parkway (another link in the same corporate chain). Through clenched teeth he hissed, "You can't buy points resale, only the underlying weeks." I thought his head was going to explode.

Turns out you can buy points units resale, not just at Vacation Village At Parkway but also at Grandview At Las Vegas, as we know from personal experience. (We briefly owned a resale 1BR Grandview points unit -- sold it but kept the previously paid-for points. New owner gets points starting next year.)

Is this a great country or what ?

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

 

[fuentesdad3]

Wow!

You guys are all awesome! Unfortunately, I did not know you guys existed before. My wife and I did no research before we bought and so we bought directly from the developer. I felt like we got a good deal at $8,000 for a 1br. Of course now that I decide to do some research, I find out that I paid 7,999 too much. I'll just chalk it up to learning experience and try to get the most that I can out of it.

So, I guess we didn't buy from RCI. Again, thank you for all of your help!

 

[fuentesdad3]

Did you just buy from the developer while taking a tour?

Yes we did.

 

[csxjohn]

... I'll just chalk it up to learning experience and try to get the most that I can out of it.

So, I guess we didn't buy from RCI. Again, thank you for all of your help!

That's a good attitude. You will find value in your purchase if you study and learn how to get the most out of it.

If you just purchased it, you may be within the rescission period and if you are you need to rescind today. If not, welcome to TUG where you'll learn how to use your timeshare.

 

[AwayWeGo]

You Typed A Mouthful.

I felt like we got a good deal at $8,000 for a 1br. Of course now that I decide to do some research, I find out that I paid 7,999 too much.

You are correct, sir (more or less).

That is to say, while there are some timeshares on eBay with $1 opening bids, not all that many sell as cheap as that (although some do -- & there are some flat-out giveaways you can find in the TUG-BBS Bargain Deals section -- even Grandview now & then).

On the plus side, Grandview is a nice timeshare, & RCI Points can provide you with nice exchange opportunities to stay in other people's timeshares.

If your full-freight purchase is new enough that you are still inside the rescission period, then canceling the sale is a good idea. If that ship has sailed, then fret not. Eight grand is lots less than many full-freight buyers cough up before they wise up, & Grandview all in all is a decent timeshare to own.

Also -- welcome to TUG.

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

 

[fuentesdad3]

Did you just buy from the developer while taking a tour?

You are correct, sir (more or less).


On the plus side, Grandview is a nice timeshare, & RCI Points can provide you with nice exchange opportunities to stay in other people's timeshares.




We actually purchased a month ago, so way out of time now. As for the points, the sales guy pitched to us that the points thing really hard. I guess my question now is, can I get a nice vaca for my family with 49,000 points? Or do the points not hold any real value? The sales guy also told us that since we now own in Vegas and it is a very popular destination, we would always be able to trade weeks with pretty much anyone and have any type of vaca that we wanted whether it be in the US or out of the US. Is this true? Or was it all just a ploy to get my wife and I to sign on the .......... line?

 

[AwayWeGo]

Points Are Points.

I guess my question now is, can I get a nice vaca for my family with 49,000 points? Or do the points not hold any real value? The sales guy also told us that since we now own in Vegas and it is a very popular destination, we would always be able to trade weeks with pretty much anyone and have any type of vaca that we wanted whether it be in the US or out of the US. Is this true? Or was it all just a ploy to get my wife and I to sign on the .......... line?

Of course it was all aimed at getting you to shell out the money. That doesn't mean there's no value in RCI Points.

Still, there's nothing about the high-demand nature of Las Vegas timeshares that makes your points more valuable than any other RCI timeshare points. Regardless of source, within the RCI Points timeshare exchange system all points are valued the same. The points values of particular timeshares are calculated according to unit size, resort quality, location, & demand season. Once your account receives the number of points assigned to the unit you own, you can use'm for any exchange reservations at any other RCI timeshare that's available.

If the exchange you want takes more than this year's 49,000 points, no problem -- just borrow some points ahead from next year's 49,000 points.

If the exchange you're looking for requires fewer points than the number you have, also no problem -- you can save the remainder for another points exchange later.

Our favorite way to use RCI timeshare points is known as Instant Exchange. For 9,000 points (or fewer), plus exchange fee, you can reserve a full week in an RCI Weeks timeshare when the reservation is made within 30 days of check-in. Of course, at short notice like that the pickings are slim & mainly limited to the off-season dogs & cats of the timeshare world. But for people who like vacationing off season anyway, there can be some real gems in there among the so-so weeks available -- not always, but sometimes.

Since we took the timeshare points plunge in 2005, we've done straight-points exchanges exactly twice. All our other points exchanges have been 7,500-point Instant Exchange reservations -- into some really nice, highly rated 3BR-3BA timeshare units at favorite locations.

Play your cards right & you should be able to snag some nice timeshare vacation accommodations for your family.

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

 

[Passepartout]

We get approximately that many RCI points every year and am able to get more than one vacation a year from them. That said our needs may be different. We are not tied to the school calendar and don't need bigger than 1 bedroom units. Both of those items will 'cost' more points per exchange.

What Alan said about those 9000 point instant exchanges is accurate, but don't expect many large, luxurious, ocean front or Disney quality resorts to show up inside 45 days from move-in. Just not gonna happen. You will find 2nd tier clean, nice, older, usually well located independent TSs predominantly on the Last Call and Instant Exchange lists. Also places where travel is down for one reason or another, like Mexico. Those specials are set up to get occupancy where vacancies exist otherwise.

So Sorry you didn't find us a month ago when we could have saved you a few thou$and$, but you aren't alone. Many TUGgers found us the same way. Now buckle yourself in and learn how to make the best use of your RCI Points. They will prove more usable than that fixed week at Grandview which can almost always be had for under $300/week on Last Calls- no points required.

Best!

Jim

 

[fuentesdad3]

Thank you sir! Do you have any reccomendations on great family vacation spots? This will be the first time we will be looking to vacation outside of Oregon. I have a 5 yr old and an 8 yr old that love to travel. Also, the sales guy told us about using our points towards airline tickets, car rentals, etc. Is this true?

 

[AwayWeGo]

45 Days, 30 Days -- But Who's Counting ?

What Alan said about those 9000 point instant exchanges is accurate, but don't expect many large, luxurious, ocean front or Disney quality resorts to show up inside 45 days from move-in. Just not gonna happen. You will find 2nd tier clean, nice, older, usually well located independent TSs predominantly on the Last Call and Instant Exchange lists. Also places where travel is down for one reason or another, like Mexico. Those specials are set up to get occupancy where vacancies exist otherwise.

Instant Exchange used to be offered 45 days ahead of check-in, back when we got into it.

Then within the past couple of years RCI narrowed the window to 30 days.

So it goes.

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

 

[Passepartout]

the sales guy told us about using our points towards airline tickets, car rentals, etc. Is this true?

This won't be the first or last time someone here mentions that if his lips were moving........you know the rest. Short answer, you CAN. Good idea? NO. RCI will happily take your points then charge you very close to what you can get the flight/car rental/cruise for at a discounter for cash. Use your points for timeshare stays. Use cash for the rest.

Jim

 

[AwayWeGo]

True -- But A Wasteful Use Of Timeshare Points.

Also, the sales guy told us about using our points towards airline tickets, car rentals, etc. Is this true?

The main thing timeshare points are good for is making points-based timeshare exchanges.

Gimmicks like airline tickets, cruises, etc., are possible but are way expensive by contrast with just paying for your flights & luxury cruises.

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

 

[Passepartout]

Ah yes, favorite family places? What do you like to do? Last time I looked, Oregon has an ocean, and you DID vacation in Nevada and see what that cost you. How about Skiing? Nice resorts- all 2br in Bend/Redmond. If you work the points some- and maybe combine the 2 years you have access to, Anaheim Disneyland is do-able. If you have a boot full of airline miles, the world is your oyster. We regularly go to Europe (Spain or Greece) and stay in a TS for 35,000 points or less. Mexico is eminently do-able on those numbers too. Mazatlan or Puerto Vallarta come to mind. Williamsburg Virginia is a great family destination. Hawaii is wonderful, but may be a hard exchange during school vacations- but it CAN be done.

Stick around TUG for a while and you'll get more ideas than you have time for.

'Course you can be like the rest of us and own more TS. You can get the next one for a few bucks and combine the points into one account.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Jim

 

[pacodemountainside]

Heed prior posters. I had an RCI points account several years ago. It cost 45K points for basic plane reservation $300-$350. MF were close to $500 on these points.

Using TSs for anything other than lodging is generally a loser.

Easy to check, just call RCI and get a quote! Then go to a travel website or air line.