We went on an owner update July 4th (really just to get a cheap weekend trip to NYC over the holiday). We ended up buying more CWA points and am not sure if we should rescind. Here is are situation and I would love any feedback.
We have owned a mere 77,000 points every year since 2000 and have done very well with these points. We started as Fairfield owners than we were bought out by Wyndham. We are affiliated with II and have always transferred a 1 bedroom week into II almost every year and have been able to go pretty much wherever we wanted. Hawaii, Palm Beach, Aruba, etc. We only used Wyndham resorts once (Bonnett Creek) because we really don't have enough points to use anything in the Wyndham inventory. Over the last 20 years, this has been fine with us!
We also own a 2 BR week at Mountainside Villas in Massanuten that is a FIXED week (we like this week this because it is the same week #33 each year and drivable). We NEVER trade it because we go each year. However now our boys are going into high school and the week is toward middle of August and we realize we won't be able to use if for a while due to high school sports starting in middle of August. So we just bought a resale 2 BR week in Mountainside Villas(week #25) which we will be able to use in June and we were thinking of renting out the August week until we can use it when the kids are older. We like it that much and again it is easy, enjoyable and drivable from Maryland.
So that is the background....
We own 77, 000 CWA points (Williamsburg Governor's Green)
TWO - 2 BEDROOM weeks Mountainside Villas
We thought we were living large UNTIL we went to this presentation on the 4th of July....when the sales people basically laughed at us and told us we were not using our membership well at all.....they told us for an additional 64, 000 CWA points we could PIC both units (doing one at the presentation and one on the "back-end") then we would be SILVER VIP members.
We would have total 449.000 points:
141,000 CWA points
308,000 PIP plus points (154, 000 for each 2 bedroom).
This cost us $13,700 for the points but now we have an additional $600 or so in maintenance fees PLUS I think it will be about $240 a year to put the PIC units in the program. Also, it is 89 dollars for each unit to place it into Wyndham if we don't want to use them at Mountainside/massanuten. We thought we could use the extra points to go to Wyndham hotels but learned that is costs $59 each reservation plus the points and this seems like a lot. We feel like we are spending a lot of money and not sure if the benefit is worth it.
So when my DH and I came home, we thought we made a mistake. I have the rescission letter written but before sending it I thought I would get some feedback from this group. TUG is great and people here have SO much insight.
Is this a good deal or should we rescind? Is VIP Silver worth it? All I can see is that we can upgrade units (if available) closer to the check-in...we seldom use guest certificates.
Before the presentation our yearly fees were approximately:
1800 dollars for maintenance fees yearly
After the presentation: We are looking at 2640 in fees yearly plus the $13K payment.
Thanks is ADVANCE for any advice you can share. I think I need to send my letter out within 7 business days.
We have owned a mere 77,000 points every year since 2000 and have done very well with these points. We started as Fairfield owners than we were bought out by Wyndham. We are affiliated with II and have always transferred a 1 bedroom week into II almost every year and have been able to go pretty much wherever we wanted. Hawaii, Palm Beach, Aruba, etc. We only used Wyndham resorts once (Bonnett Creek) because we really don't have enough points to use anything in the Wyndham inventory. Over the last 20 years, this has been fine with us!
We also own a 2 BR week at Mountainside Villas in Massanuten that is a FIXED week (we like this week this because it is the same week #33 each year and drivable). We NEVER trade it because we go each year. However now our boys are going into high school and the week is toward middle of August and we realize we won't be able to use if for a while due to high school sports starting in middle of August. So we just bought a resale 2 BR week in Mountainside Villas(week #25) which we will be able to use in June and we were thinking of renting out the August week until we can use it when the kids are older. We like it that much and again it is easy, enjoyable and drivable from Maryland.
So that is the background....
We own 77, 000 CWA points (Williamsburg Governor's Green)
TWO - 2 BEDROOM weeks Mountainside Villas
We thought we were living large UNTIL we went to this presentation on the 4th of July....when the sales people basically laughed at us and told us we were not using our membership well at all.....they told us for an additional 64, 000 CWA points we could PIC both units (doing one at the presentation and one on the "back-end") then we would be SILVER VIP members.
We would have total 449.000 points:
141,000 CWA points
308,000 PIP plus points (154, 000 for each 2 bedroom).
This cost us $13,700 for the points but now we have an additional $600 or so in maintenance fees PLUS I think it will be about $240 a year to put the PIC units in the program. Also, it is 89 dollars for each unit to place it into Wyndham if we don't want to use them at Mountainside/massanuten. We thought we could use the extra points to go to Wyndham hotels but learned that is costs $59 each reservation plus the points and this seems like a lot. We feel like we are spending a lot of money and not sure if the benefit is worth it.
So when my DH and I came home, we thought we made a mistake. I have the rescission letter written but before sending it I thought I would get some feedback from this group. TUG is great and people here have SO much insight.
Is this a good deal or should we rescind? Is VIP Silver worth it? All I can see is that we can upgrade units (if available) closer to the check-in...we seldom use guest certificates.
Before the presentation our yearly fees were approximately:
1800 dollars for maintenance fees yearly
After the presentation: We are looking at 2640 in fees yearly plus the $13K payment.
Thanks is ADVANCE for any advice you can share. I think I need to send my letter out within 7 business days.