New potential timeshare owner My Survey

[SPCharlotteNC]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
We live in NC and we have stayed at Sheraton Vistana multiple times, rented and also used old Starwood points. We especially liked this property when the kiddos were younger.
Recently, We stayed at Westin KOR over the Thanksgiving with a presentation during which we declined their gracious offer to buy from them.
But, we accepted the encore package, so we will be returning over the holidays next year.
We almost rented a week at Harborside for the Christmas week this year, when a really great deal at Lagunamar showed up and I jumped on it.
In short, there is not one place we would like to keep visiting over and over.

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?
We would probably trade more than half the time

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, Cancun, Asia Pacific

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
2 of us and 2 kids.

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

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
3-4

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
We can afford ~ $10k, but I am looking to stay under $2.5k to make it palatable to the decision maker and the one who must be obeyed

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?
$2000

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
I am

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

We are very familiar with the Westin/Sheraton system and the goal is to get 95k Star option points to have flexibility to book almost anywhere.

With all the above information, I seem to have cornered myself into an annual 2 Bedroom Lockoff at a mandatory SVV purchase? I understand Kierland has typically enjoyed lower MF but I see the difference diminishing compared to SVV.

Am I pursuing the best option or would you guys recommend something different?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Welcome to TUG. Few timeshares will get you Europe or Asia. Marriott Vacation Club will somewhat (France, Spain, Phuket) but that costs more than your budget. Alternatively, Hilton resale could (Scotland, Japan, Italy) and you could exchange for Honors points for hotels in cities where most tourists like to visit vs. the countryside, but there are better ways to earn Hilton Honors points than converting. So you should conserve cash for those trips.

For your other domestic locations:

Your purchase price and maint fees are low for the places you want to visit. I would recommend a mandatory Vistana a) Every Other Year (Westin Kierland 148k 2 bdrm platinum - about $8k purchase $2100/week or half that every year; or b) an every year SVV 81k 2 bdrm Bella or Key West mandatory unit only. About $2k to purchase. $1800 MF/year.

If this plus international put you over budget you should not buy a timeshare until you have more discretionary income to support your travel needs. I would keep using the promo stays and rent.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have had great luck with my 2 bedrooms at Sheraton Broadway Plantation for exchange purposes. I don't really go to Mexico, so I cannot advise on that. When you deposit any Sheraton week, you get a blended exchange power of the season you own. We used to be able to reserve a particular week in the season and deposit that, but it's been at least 12 years ago that they changed it.

I can usually get 2 bedrooms at Westin Nanea with ongoing searches over a year out with my Sheraton Broadway Plantation, but I can only count on the standard 2 bedroom to pull those. I have gotten them in January, February and March many times. I occasionally pull them with one bedrooms, but most of the time, I cannot see what's sitting online with my one bedrooms at SBP (I keep forgetting to take out the word plantation). I can easily get them during off-season times, when the whales are gone/ not yet arrived. Summer has been a little more difficult, but I have been lucky enough to get some summer.

Sheraton Desert Oasis pulls equally well. We only own a few SDO weeks.

There are so many ways you can go, all of them inexpensive, including platinum season Marriott weeks that you can lockoff for two exchanges. That is if you are okay using Interval International to exchange in and take your chances. It is kind of fun for me because I like to use the system, and I am retired and have time on my hands to do it. Ongoing searches work well, most of the time. I am struggling with some that aren't matching as easily as in the past. More people traveling, maybe?

The more expensive option would be buying something with mandatory staroptions.

I really love the Westin Princeville resort, which is an easy exchange for any season, but Vistana only deposits one bedrooms and small one bedrooms. It's okay for 2-4 people, if you kids can sleep on the sofa sleeper. I would do two exchanges and get the 2 bedroom lockoff for teens.

Some here will recommend Wyndham. I wouldn't take that advice. You want 4-5 star, and Wyndham is 2-3 star, except maybe a few resorts. I love a few that Wyndham offers, but most of the resorts are average at best.

Marriott has resorts in Asia Pacific. Maybe buy there? Harborside at Atlantis can be gotten through exchange, but again, ongoing searches a year out will pull one bedrooms. I don't see 2 bedrooms anymore.

I wouldn't get anything that exchanges with RCI. I am getting rid of everything I can in RCI.

.

 

[ScoopKona]

[Extraneous bullet points removed for clarity]

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?
We would probably trade more than half the time

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, Cancun, Asia Pacific

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

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

Add to this:

13) How many weeks of vacation do you expect to wring out of a single maintenance fee?

------

I'm a 100% trader. I've been at it for more than 20 years. Some observations:

2) If you're really a trader, what you buy only matters in respect to how well it trades. I highly recommend doing a deep dive into all the hotel-brand systems (except perhaps Disney if you're not Disney people). Some systems are far more flexible than others. Some systems trade better than others.

3) If you're not picky about which island, the Caribbean and Hawaii are easy trades. Anything in Mexico is basically a "gimme." Europe is only going to work if you're very flexible and buy a timeshare which trades like a monster. Or, if Europe is mandatory, look in to the Hapimag timeshare system, which only has locations in Europe. (It's quite popular with those owners.) Asia is spotty. Thailand beaches, fine. Some places in China. But most Asian timeshares simply aren't worth it. You can rent a place for far less than your maintenance fee.

5) How long are you locked in the school schedule? It makes a big difference. People often buy way too much timeshare when they only need it for about five years. Then it's "how do we use all these points?"

8) I've stayed in roughly 100 different timeshares. Out of all of them, I can count the number of actual 4 star resorts on one hand. I've never once stayed in a timeshare I'd call a five. Timeshares aren't typically luxury stays. They're solid. They're sensible. They're comfortable. And they have kitchens. But I've never stayed in a single timeshare which comes even close to the cheapest room at Claridge's London. If you really want four and five star, don't buy a timeshare. Timeshares are mostly twos and threes. The best one I've stayed at -- Highlands Inn, Carmel-by-the-Sea -- is a solid four.

 

[Hindsite]

SVV won't enable you to exchange into any DVC Orlando resorts. If that matters and you feel the need for mandatory, look elsewhere or blend the SVV mandatory with a resale sheraton or westin flex (voluntary) to use in II for DVC.

 

[SPCharlotteNC]

Welcome to TUG. Few timeshares will get you Europe or Asia. Marriott Vacation Club will somewhat (France, Spain, Phuket) but that costs more than your budget. Alternatively, Hilton resale could (Scotland, Japan, Italy) and you could exchange for Honors points for hotels in cities where most tourists like to visit vs. the countryside, but there are better ways to earn Hilton Honors points than converting. So you should conserve cash for those trips.

For your other domestic locations:

Your purchase price and maint fees are low for the places you want to visit. I would recommend a mandatory Vistana a) Every Other Year (Westin Kierland 148k 2 bdrm platinum - about $8k purchase $2100/week or half that every year; or b) an every year SVV 81k 2 bdrm Bella or Key West mandatory unit only. About $2k to purchase. $1800 MF/year.

If this plus international put you over budget you should not buy a timeshare until you have more discretionary income to support your travel needs. I would keep using the promo stays and rent.

Thanks for your detailed analysis and recommendation. My wife and I both draw decent salaries and have discretionary savings to fund the more lavish vacation.
We are limiting our timeshare budget to primarily give us access to a week or two of vacation time. Kids are 10 and 12 so this would force us to take vacations while we still have them.

 

[SPCharlotteNC]

I have had great luck with my 2 bedrooms at Sheraton Broadway Plantation for exchange purposes. I don't really go to Mexico, so I cannot advise on that. When you deposit any Sheraton week, you get a blended exchange power of the season you own. We used to be able to reserve a particular week in the season and deposit that, but it's been at least 12 years ago that they changed it.

I can usually get 2 bedrooms at Westin Nanea with ongoing searches over a year out with my Sheraton Broadway Plantation, but I can only count on the standard 2 bedroom to pull those. I have gotten them in January, February and March many times. I occasionally pull them with one bedrooms, but most of the time, I cannot see what's sitting online with my one bedrooms at SBP (I keep forgetting to take out the word plantation). I can easily get them during off-season times, when the whales are gone/ not yet arrived. Summer has been a little more difficult, but I have been lucky enough to get some summer.

Sheraton Desert Oasis pulls equally well. We only own a few SDO weeks.

There are so many ways you can go, all of them inexpensive, including platinum season Marriott weeks that you can lockoff for two exchanges. That is if you are okay using Interval International to exchange in and take your chances. It is kind of fun for me because I like to use the system, and I am retired and have time on my hands to do it. Ongoing searches work well, most of the time. I am struggling with some that aren't matching as easily as in the past. More people traveling, maybe?

The more expensive option would be buying something with mandatory staroptions.

I really love the Westin Princeville resort, which is an easy exchange for any season, but Vistana only deposits one bedrooms and small one bedrooms. It's okay for 2-4 people, if you kids can sleep on the sofa sleeper. I would do two exchanges and get the 2 bedroom lockoff for teens.

Some here will recommend Wyndham. I wouldn't take that advice. You want 4-5 star, and Wyndham is 2-3 star, except maybe a few resorts. I love a few that Wyndham offers, but most of the resorts are average at best.

Marriott has resorts in Asia Pacific. Maybe buy there? Harborside at Atlantis can be gotten through exchange, but again, ongoing searches a year out will pull one bedrooms. I don't see 2 bedrooms anymore.

I wouldn't get anything that exchanges with RCI. I am getting rid of everything I can in RCI.

.

I agree with everything you have posted here. Thanks for your advice. We have liked every Westin/Sheraton resort we have stayed at. We are leaning towards getting something with mandatory 81k-95k Star Option points.

 

[SPCharlotteNC]

[Extraneous bullet points removed for clarity]


Add to this:

13) How many weeks of vacation do you expect to wring out of a single maintenance fee?

------

I'm a 100% trader. I've been at it for more than 20 years. Some observations:

2) If you're really a trader, what you buy only matters in respect to how well it trades. I highly recommend doing a deep dive into all the hotel-brand systems (except perhaps Disney if you're not Disney people). Some systems are far more flexible than others. Some systems trade better than others.

3) If you're not picky about which island, the Caribbean and Hawaii are easy trades. Anything in Mexico is basically a "gimme." Europe is only going to work if you're very flexible and buy a timeshare which trades like a monster. Or, if Europe is mandatory, look in to the Hapimag timeshare system, which only has locations in Europe. (It's quite popular with those owners.) Asia is spotty. Thailand beaches, fine. Some places in China. But most Asian timeshares simply aren't worth it. You can rent a place for far less than your maintenance fee.

5) How long are you locked in the school schedule? It makes a big difference. People often buy way too much timeshare when they only need it for about five years. Then it's "how do we use all these points?"

8) I've stayed in roughly 100 different timeshares. Out of all of them, I can count the number of actual 4 star resorts on one hand. I've never once stayed in a timeshare I'd call a five. Timeshares aren't typically luxury stays. They're solid. They're sensible. They're comfortable. And they have kitchens. But I've never stayed in a single timeshare which comes even close to the cheapest room at Claridge's London. If you really want four and five star, don't buy a timeshare. Timeshares are mostly twos and threes. The best one I've stayed at -- Highlands Inn, Carmel-by-the-Sea -- is a solid four.

13) How many weeks of vacation do you expect to wring out of a single maintenance fee?
2 solid weeks stretch 3.
We are leaning towards a 2 bedroom Lockoff which would give us at least 2 weeks.
Kids are 10 & 12. We are fine with a bed and a good pullout sofa, for another couple years at least.
------

I'm a 100% trader. I've been at it for more than 20 years. Some observations:

2) If you're really a trader, what you buy only matters in respect to how well it trades. I highly recommend doing a deep dive into all the hotel-brand systems.
I will try to do this. My wife is satisfied with the Westin - Sheraton level of comfort. Her standards are higher than mine, so I am leaning towards this system in case she doesn't like others.

3) If you're not picky about which island, the Caribbean and Hawaii are easy trades. Anything in Mexico is basically a "gimme."
I probably took the question too literally. We like to travel to all the places that I have listed. But I'm not looking for one timeshare to meet everything. Thanks for sharing your vast experience.

5) How long are you locked in the school schedule? It makes a big difference. People often buy way too much timeshare when they only need it for about five years. Then it's "how do we use all these points?"
Agree 100%. Which is why I have limited my budget here, when we can actually afford a lot more.

8) I've stayed in roughly 100 different timeshares. Out of all of them, I can count the number of actual 4 star resorts on one hand. I've never once stayed in a timeshare I'd call a five. If you really want four and five star, don't buy a timeshare. Timeshares are mostly twos and threes.
Maybee we have different scales. I'm considering WKOR as a 4. Maybe I should change my selection to 3-4.

Thanks again for sharing your wealth of information.

 

[SPCharlotteNC]

SVV won't enable you to exchange into any DVC Orlando resorts. If that matters and you feel the need for mandatory, look elsewhere or blend the SVV mandatory with a resale sheraton or westin flex (voluntary) to use in II for DVC.

Thanks for your response.
I am mostly looking at Vistana to keep costs low to get 81k - 95k points.
We have never been fans of DVC. We don't see much value and feel it is overpriced. Even when we took our kids to WDW, we stayed at Vistana as it was very comfortable. I know there are people who love DVC, especially if they bought if before it exploded in pricing.

 

[ScoopKona]

13) How many weeks of vacation do you expect to wring out of a single maintenance fee?
2 solid weeks stretch 3.
We are leaning towards a 2 bedroom Lockoff which would give us at least 2 weeks.
Kids are 10 & 12. We are fine with a bed and a good pullout sofa, for another couple years at least.
------

I'm a 100% trader. I've been at it for more than 20 years. Some observations:

2)I will try to do this. My wife is satisfied with the Westin - Sheraton level of comfort. Her standards are higher than mine, so I am leaning towards this system in case she doesn't like others.

13) You don't need a lock-off to do lock-off type exchanging, depending on the timeshare system. Some of the hybrids are unbelievably flexible in what you can do with your points once you have them. Ideally, throw out everything you've ever learned about timesharing -- especially the "buy a week, deposit a week, exchange for a week, it's always a week" aspect. Learn each system on its merits and independent of one another. There's only half a dozen which need to be taken seriously. So it's not like the homework is all that bad.

I'm not OK with a pull-out couch. But if your children can live with that, you could buy an inexpensive trader, and reliably get three weeks of vacation every single year on a single maintenance fee. When the kids head off to university, that jumps up to five or six -- if you're OK with studios. Or three or four if you have to have the larger one bedroom unit.

2) Five star to me means five star. The kind of hotels featured on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," if Robin Leach was still around making that show. The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, for instance. That's five star. Not even the same ballpark as timeshares. I'm OK with 1-4 stars as long as a one is still clean and comfortable. I've stayed in ones in the UK -- converted castles and similar. They're fine. But Paris Hilton would be appalled.

My metrics for a trading timeshare are simple:

1) Can I go where I want to go? (Sing it like the Mamas and Papas.)

2) What is the cost per night when dividing the maintenance fee by the amount of days. Our current number is $100/night. That jumps around from year to year. We've had that number as low as $40/night and as high as $120. Usually, it falls around $70/night. That's better than Motel 6, and we're getting much better quality than a Motel 6 for less money. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only way to "win" at the timeshare game. I would not buy any system unless I had penciled out a few typical years -- points received, for how much maintenance fee, and used for how many nights? Run it for three or four "easy" years -- Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico. Europe is absolutely possible. But with most systems, unless the timeshare company has resorts in Europe, it's going to be a very hard ask.

 

[SPCharlotteNC]

I have had great luck with my 2 bedrooms at Sheraton Broadway Plantation for exchange purposes. I don't really go to Mexico, so I cannot advise on that. When you deposit any Sheraton week, you get a blended exchange power of the season you own.

@rickandcindy23 - Would 2 bedrooms with or without Lockoff make a difference while trading in II? What would you recommend between the two?
Also, would a dedicated Gold Plus week be preferable or a floating one? Does it matter which one from II perspective?

 

[rickandcindy23]

@rickandcindy23 - Would 2 bedrooms with or without Lockoff make a difference while trading in II? What would you recommend between the two?
Also, would a dedicated Gold Plus week be preferable or a floating one? Does it matter which one from II perspective?

The MF's for a 2 bed Sheraton Broadway (floating weeks 9-43) are listed in the Vistana maintenance fees sections thread. The two bedroom lockoffs are slightly more than the two bedrooms in MF's. There is a difference, definitely, in exchange power between the two bedroom and the two one bedrooms that make up the lockoff. Lockoffs are tough to find lately. Sheraton Desert Oasis, also great exchange power.

 

[TravelJoy]

13) You don't need a lock-off to do lock-off type exchanging, depending on the timeshare system. Some of the hybrids are unbelievably flexible in what you can do with your points once you have them. Learn each system on its merits and independent of one another. There's only half a dozen which need to be taken seriously. So it's not like the homework is all that bad.

Can you list which systems you are referring to, please.

...you could buy an inexpensive trader, and reliably get three weeks of vacation every single year on a single maintenance fee. .

Can you give some examples of traders that will yield

My metrics for a trading timeshare are simple:

Completely agree.

Thank you for your insight.

 

[ScoopKona]

Can you list which systems you are referring to, please.

The major hotel systems -- with the exception of Disney (if you're not Disney people). Just run down the sub forums, looking for the stickied post about how the system works. If any of them seem to work for you, do a deep dive into that system and then ask system-specific questions in the appropriate sub forum.