Newbie questions

[pbshareman]

Hello everyone. First, let me say this board is great, and I'm glad to have found it. I'm still navigating the whole TS system as I evaluate whether it makes sense for me and my family (of six).

The funny thing is that I was sucked into the Wyndham sales pitch 3 1/2 years ago (when it was Fairfield at Bonnet Creek). We loved the accomodations and walked out with four things:
1. A cool blue bag
2. Some Disney dollars to spend
3. 168k points
4. BUYER's Remorse (almost instantly)

We decided to rescind before we even left Orlando, and I prepared the paperwork and delivered the notices before within hours.

Fast forward to today, and I still like the amenities at Bonnet Creek, and like them much better if I can get them without the huge buy in fee that I almost paid. We've looked at DVC, and I can see why some people choose that as an option, but it isn't quite for us.

That being said, I'm weighing my options. There are some decent (or what appear to be decent) deals on eBay (581,000 points for between $.005 and $.01 per point, with MF at $4.46 per 1k points) for Bonnet Creek. I like that as we could spend a couple of weeks in the 2BR during prime season, or even more during high or value season. What we wouldn't be able to do, as far as I can tell from reading this board, is exchange them for DVC stays.

So, my question is, would there be a benefit to purchasing a bunch of points from another home resort and using them to stay either at Bonnet Creek, or, if available, a DVC property? If I am determined to go to Orlando, would I be able to get at Bonnet Creek with points from another home resort (we generally like to travel in January/February and October/November)?

Another thing I've noticed from my limited research is that the MF appear to be higher than what I can get at Bonnet Creek with the auction above. Since the MF is a recurring cost, economically that's more important than the initial up front fee.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Leturno]

I'm sure the experts will be around soon ...

I'm sure the experts will be around soon but I have to say it sounds like you have learned MUCH already.
I own Wyndham/Fairfield points at two other resorts all purchased via ebay at what I thought then were good prices under $0.024 cents a point. While we are saddened with the hostility coming from Wyndham we have got so much out of our FSP points usage I make an effort not to complain. The prices as you pointed out now are GIVE AWAY pricing. While they could still go down what you will loose between a half cent and almost nothing isn't a whole lot and yes, the Maintenance fees are what you have to watch out for. Orlando in general is an easy trade in and your preferred times (Jan/Feb & Oct/Nov) are not peak seasons. That said I do not know how difficult Bonnet Creek is for trading into. The last few times we traded to Orlando we got into Orange Lake, Cypress Cypress Palms and now have traded into Cypress Point all by trading up with smaller off season RCI deposits. As you pointed out for DVC you can't get there from here since most DVC trades through Interval Int'l where Wyndham trades primarily through RCI. Perhaps you can make a friend that owns DVC but would love to travel to a Wyndham resort? I'm still looking for such a friend. ;-)

One thing I did want to point out is that living where you do you have an excellent location to use up unneeded points and that would be the Wyndham resort at the Wilderness resort in Wisconsin Dells. The units are some of the best Wyndham has and the water park is included. I am not suggesting you purchase there because I believe the MF are higher, but it is a cool place to use up your unneeded points near the end of your point use year.

It sounds like where ever you decide to purchase you will be making a positive vacation life style change for your family at a controlled cost. That really isn't a bad thing at all.

Scott

 

[Don40]

In response to your question about purchasing Wyndham points on the resale market the prices today are at give away levels, and IMHO Wyndham is the best timeshare bargain out there.

If you purchase a WYN timeshare in Florida you pay yearly maintenance fees and real estate taxes are billed separately so you have to take this into account. Buying at BC which is a large resort gives you ARP privilege where you can book at 13 months out this is good if you want to book a presidential unit other wise I would not really care about BC as a home resort. I stay at BC about once a month and do not own there and find it fairly easy to get the times that I want.

I would suggest that you look at the Wyndham resorts forum as there is a wealth of knowledge about WYN on the board.

Good luck

 

[Goofyhobbie]

Considering A Re-Sale Points Purchase

Pbshareman,

Please allow me to be among the first to welcome you to TUG.

Your experience is very similar to my experience with a Wyndham presentation followed by a rescission; but in my case the area of interest was Myrtle Beach as opposed to Orlando, FL. My experience is provided in part at the following link:

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?p=734611&highlight=Goofyhobbie#post734611

As part of your research consider my experience as well as the experience of other Tuggers as expressed in the threads in a sub-forum entitled "Ratings of Timeshare Related Businesses." (Here you can identify experiences others have had with various E-Bay Sellers and their Closing Companies):

Once you decide what to buy and where you want your home resort to be located you must determine the best possible company to deal with for the purchase. Their are excellent companies with very high ratings using E-Bay as a conduit for sales; but the experience can be very bad or excellent depending on who you choose to work with.

If you decide to go with a Wyndham Resort Points purchase your two most important considerations after deciding who to purchase from is maintenance fee history and ARP advantage. ARP will not be a major factor when booking into Orlando because there are so many resorts available. But, maintenance fees as an on-going cost will be a major factor.

Study carefully.

Before deciding which Resort to purchase consider looking here to get a good reference regarding maintenance fee history at Bonnet Creek as well as at other Wyndham Property Owner Associations (POA) under the Wyndham umbrella:

http://forums.atozed.com/viewtopic.php?f=164&t=5890

Remember when looking at the above maintenance fees the cost of the "Program Fee" charged to Points owners is not included.

To test your assumptions about various combinations of contracts that you might consider purchasing use the "Maintenance Fee Calculator" which you can access here:

http://forums.atozed.com/viewtopic.php?f=164&t=6823

You have much that you can learn from Tug Members specificily and from the Wyndham Forums site.

Be careful and get as much knowledge as you can before committing to a purchase.

 

[ausman]

Dave,

The links won't work directly for non members of the forum.

It would be better if you advised people to join and then follow the links once done.

 

[sandkastle4966]

just to add on...

DVC now trades through RCI. BUT you still can't there from Wyn - there are not deposits strong enough from Wyn to pull DVC (nor Manhatten Club, ocean front summer, etc.) I use other timeshares for that.

Otherwise, I am quite content with what I do with my points - 2 bedroon Myrtle beach in summer, great 28k trades for off season, and 3-4 day weekend trips. Except for MB summer, I do a lot of last minute travel and get some good deals.

 

[Jya-Ning]

If I am determined to go to Orlando, would I be able to get at Bonnet Creek with points from another home resort (we generally like to travel in January/February and October/November)? .

BC when finish will have over 1500 units. Unless you want to get in at President week or Thanksgiven week, you should have very good chance even if you don't own it.

Jya-Ning

 

[pbshareman]

Thanks everybody...there is a lot of good advice to be found on this board. I joined the Wyndham board, but I'm waiting for the e-mail to be able to activate my membership. I'll plunge in and take a look there.

I did notice that there were some Dells properties in the Wyndham family that I would be able to use if I needed to use some excess points at the end of he year.

I need to learn a little more about "trades" and how they work.

 

[hjtug]

Wyndham trades primarily through RCI.

If you want RCI make sure you don't purchase points at one of the few Wyndham resorts that trade through II - and vice versa.

 

[Twinkstarr]

Thanks everybody...there is a lot of good advice to be found on this board. I joined the Wyndham board, but I'm waiting for the e-mail to be able to activate my membership. I'll plunge in and take a look there.

I did notice that there were some Dells properties in the Wyndham family that I would be able to use if I needed to use some excess points at the end of he year.

I need to learn a little more about "trades" and how they work.

I just got my Wyndham points, took me a year of reading to get a good idea of how the system works, what would be a good starting point total and resale pricing before I pulled the trigger.

I'm a DVC member and really like point systems.


I was pretty surprised when I got on line and started looking at availability at 10 months. I think Wyndham will work very well for us and our vacation style.

I think there are alot of ways to use your points in the system, personally I would only deposit if necessary(ie deposit or lose). Wyndham is not going to get you DVC, I'm assuming it probably trades on a level as my fixed Bluegreen week in N. Mich. Not that great.

 

[jjalbert]

another sort-of newbie question

Although we are not new to t/s as we own Hilton and Disney, I was thinking of picking up some WYN points for Washington DC. I find DC almost impossible to get into through RCI and I like the multitude of Wyn locations. My question is:
1) I would pay about $700 for 290K points. That's considerably more than other Wyn properties. Is it worth it?
2) OR if I pick up another WYN property for much less with less maintenance, will I be able to reserve Washington DC or will I have the same problem?
3) how easy is it to book W/Mark locations?
4) Can you book on-line with Wyn?

Thanks for your advise.

 

[ausman]

Mike H gave you the answers on your other thread, A general question ...

 

[pbshareman]

OK, I think I'm ready to pull the trigger. I have a timing question. We are looking to go to Orlando in late January (1/23 - 1/30). If I were to purchase a sufficient number of points at Wyndham Palm Aire (I'm not really interested in the resort, but I like the price point and MF), what is the likelihood that I would be able to close the deal (with Timeshare Closing Services) and be able to make reservations for those dates at Bonnet Creek for those dates (I'll need two rooms, one 2 bedroom and one single bedroom).

Pat

 

[Jya-Ning]

Expect close to be like 3 months. That put it close to the discount and upgrade period. And most seller may not make reservation for you now. But end of Jan usually is not demanding month, you should have decent chance, but not sure how you will feel to watch for the cancellation period.

Jya-Ning