New potential timeshare owners-my survey

[SeaLaVie]

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

Las Vegas

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?

Trade

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

Hawaii, Mexico, New York, Puerto Rico, San Diego

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?-

4 of us. My husband and I, my toddler and my 80 year old dad

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

Travel Anytime

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? 4 stars

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing? $5000

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?
$1200

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


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[CaliSunshine]

Easiest trader to get a good four star in Hawaii would probably be Marriott Grand Chateau. However at that maintenance fee level you’d be looking at a 1BR which may or may not be suitable given you’re travelling with your dad.

A lot of people get 2BR lock offs and lock it off and trade it for two weeks of vacation but maintenance fee would be higher.

Regardless of what you do make sure to get a Platinum week.

 

[vacationtime1]

I agree with the Grand Chateau recommendation; it will meet most of your specifications very well. But realistically, you will need a 2bd unit. MF's will be about $1,500/year; trading costs are additional.

 

[jp10558]

Understanding that New York has very few 2BR, I'd maybe suggest looking into getting a 2BR Scotland HGVC - that's going to be around $1,100 MF right now, but can vary with exchange rates. However, it's almost always available pretty easily I think, just make sure to get one that gives you the 11,200 pts. I personally think HGVC is around 4 stars most places, and they have some Hawaii Properties I'm pretty sure that are at that point level, of course there are newer ones that are way higher points cost though. HGVC only costs ~$69 booking (think like a trade) vs the exchange companies higher fees. HGVC also has lots of vegas properties, and I think Paradise maybe also has very low MF/pt but might take a bit of watching for one to come up to buy. HGVC does have the 2 / 3 properties in Mexico you can exchange into through them, plus RCI (though that does have the painful $300 fee). I'm pretty sure Mar Brisa is close to San Deigo. I don't know about Puerto Rico, but RCI has exchanges or extra vacations there. All of these is basically thinking 2BR except NY and the new Hawaii locations. Like I said, NY HGVC doesn't have 2BR sadly, and even if they did, you'd probably need like 35,000 pts or something stupid to book it. That's what some of the "insane" to me new Hawaii locations are around 28,000 last I checked, which is silly when there are older Hawaii locations at the 11,200 IMO.

I do think you're limited to probably Marriott and HGVC if you want 4 star all the time. And in that case, for your locations, I think you can get cheaper 2BR MFs in HGVC.

And actually, for your specific case if doing HGVC and interested in the Scotland option - you might see if you can stretch for the 3BR platnium week, you'll get a little extra points for not much more MFs that might get you a 3BR in some locations or help save towards an extra trip EOY or something.

 

[SeaLaVie]

Easiest trader to get a good four star in Hawaii would probably be Marriott Grand Chateau. However at that maintenance fee level you’d be looking at a 1BR which may or may not be suitable given you’re travelling with your dad.

A lot of people get 2BR lock offs and lock it off and trade it for two weeks of vacation but maintenance fee would be higher.

Regardless of what you do make sure to get a Platinum week.

Thank you for the suggestions we are looking into the Marriott Grand Chateau right now. And yes i think your right the 2br is probably our best option. Maybe even a 3 BR.

 

[SeaLaVie]

I agree with the Grand Chateau recommendation; it will meet most of your specifications very well. But realistically, you will need a 2bd unit. MF's will be about $1,500/year; trading costs are additional.

Thank you for your suggestion about the 2br


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[SeaLaVie]

Understanding that New York has very few 2BR, I'd maybe suggest looking into getting a 2BR Scotland HGVC - that's going to be around $1,100 MF right now, but can vary with exchange rates. However, it's almost always available pretty easily I think, just make sure to get one that gives you the 11,200 pts. I personally think HGVC is around 4 stars most places, and they have some Hawaii Properties I'm pretty sure that are at that point level, of course there are newer ones that are way higher points cost though. HGVC only costs ~$69 booking (think like a trade) vs the exchange companies higher fees. HGVC also has lots of vegas properties, and I think Paradise maybe also has very low MF/pt but might take a bit of watching for one to come up to buy. HGVC does have the 2 / 3 properties in Mexico you can exchange into through them, plus RCI (though that does have the painful $300 fee). I'm pretty sure Mar Brisa is close to San Deigo. I don't know about Puerto Rico, but RCI has exchanges or extra vacations there. All of these is basically thinking 2BR except NY and the new Hawaii locations. Like I said, NY HGVC doesn't have 2BR sadly, and even if they did, you'd probably need like 35,000 pts or something stupid to book it. That's what some of the "insane" to me new Hawaii locations are around 28,000 last I checked, which is silly when there are older Hawaii locations at the 11,200 IMO.

I do think you're limited to probably Marriott and HGVC if you want 4 star all the time. And in that case, for your locations, I think you can get cheaper 2BR MFs in HGVC.

And actually, for your specific case if doing HGVC and interested in the Scotland option - you might see if you can stretch for the 3BR platnium week, you'll get a little extra points for not much more MFs that might get you a 3BR in some locations or help save towards an extra trip EOY or something.

Thank you for all your recommendations. Just curious why Scotland? Scotland UK right? I’ll definitely look into HGVC as an option. Possibly one in LV.


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[jp10558]

Thank you for all your recommendations. Just curious why Scotland? Scotland UK right? I’ll definitely look into HGVC as an option. Possibly one in LV.


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2 reasons.

1) Scotland is sold direct through their craig lodges site and almost always has something you can just write / call to buy at reasonable resale rates. No waiting for the right ebay acution, dealing with broker fees, or redweek etc. Also my understanding is because it's technically RTU, there's way less closing costs, so it's cheaper on that part too.

2) The MFs / point are among the cheapest in the HGVC system, at least at recent exchange rates.

Oh, and it's one of the properties that gets you the ability to also get II and just recently DEX exchange options in addition to the HGVC standard RCI. It's just the most bang for your buck right now IMO. I really want to get a week myself, just don't have the funds currently.

 

[CaliSunshine]

Here’s the list of what’s on sale at Craig: https://www.craigendarroch.com/wp-content/uploads/CD-Website-Spring-2024-12-April-Update-1.pdf

It is cheaper in maintenance fees at current exchange rates.

Downside is HGVC in Hawaii is limited to Waikiki and Big Island. And be aware that you probably need to go a size up for Hawaii (ie 2BR Scotland is roughly enough points to book 1BR Hawaii)

The way I see it is Grand Chateau is the easier option and Craigendarroch is the more advanced option.