Purchased retail

[Burry]

Okay, I went into the sales talk fully intending not to buy but ended up buying at Wynham National Harbor ($15 K for 84,000 points plus extra 216,000 points and 6 RCI vacations for which I would pay $249 each). I did some research and am cancelling tomorrow. But I kind of liked the program, it just looks like we wildly overpaid for it. It looks like I could get some points with a reasonable maintenance fee. I also liked the idea of the last calls with RCI, although have since read that sometimes there are slim pickings. I know there is so much great info on this forum, but I really would appreciate any input anyone can add.
1) do you like the Wyndham points system? Is there another timeshare you would recommend I look at?
2) can you join RCI without a membership? Do you ever use last call and what do you think of it?
3) if we were to buy the Wyndham points, where would the lowest fees be -- and are there other considerations like oceanfront?

Thanks so much!!

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am glad you are choosing to rescind. Check eBay for a little insight on resale Wyndham points. You can get a much larger package close to free, with fairly low maintenance fees.

There are so many ways you can go with timeshare. Believe me, a timeshare purchase is a decision you want to make carefully, but there are so many great systems, and there are also fixed weeks that are great, too.

We like Wyndham. The resorts are nice, but it depends where you want to go. If you like Maui and go there every year, Wyndham will not be a good option. There are resorts on all of the other islands, though. I have Hawaii on the brain right now, since our Maui trip is 3 weeks away.

Rick and I love exchanging with RCI and recommend buying something coastal for the best trading power. It's a game for us, which we play quite well. We can get four-five weeks in Orlando 2 bedrooms (Gold Crowns) during off-season with one coastal summer week we own. We are older, so fall or winter in Orlando are ideal for us.

We got Shell Points free on eBay and got free usage for a year included in our $0 purchase price. Some people here on TUG would say not to buy Shell at all because the fees are high. The resorts are very nice, and we bought in the California Club of Shell to get access to resorts we would like to stay ourselves. Plus, we see lots of Hawaii availability in the system, but our priority into California was important. Shell does daily housekeeping for its members. That explains some of the expense.

I am considering Hyatt points and have been for a long time. They have resorts in places we like, and the quality is wonderful.

Bluegreen is a wonderful system that we have also considered, but we still haven't jumped into that one. It's another system to learn, and I don't know that I can hold that much info in my brain at once.

Ask questions and stick around here. We are a friendly bunch of know-it-alls.

 

[massvacationer]

1) do you like the Wyndham points system? Is there another timeshare you would recommend I look at?
Yes - I like them

2) can you join RCI without a membership? Do you ever use last call and what do you think of it?
You need to own a timeshare.....Last Call has good deals on the overstock inventory

3) if we were to buy the Wyndham points, where would the lowest fees be -- and are there other considerations like oceanfront?
National Harbor, San Francisco, Smokey Mountains, Las Vegas, etc

Thanks so much!!

Good Job Rescinding!!!

 

[Burry]

Thanks so much already. There is so much to learn!! I welcome more responses from everyone especially about the different timeshare systems. I think I'll jump in at some point because it really looks like fun.

 

[Passepartout]

Congratulations on finding us and the truth about retail TS. I think that for you, it's likely that Wyndham will serve you well. I find it a complicated system, but with the complexity comes flexibility. You are located on the Mid-Atlantic coast area so there are lots of Wyndham resorts within driving distance. I am not sure how important international travel is to you at this time, but other systems (Hilton, Marriott) are stronger overseas and in the West. Some of the smaller independent systems are good and well managed too.

Welcome to TUG. When you decide to commit to this and are curious about individual resorts, you might consider joining TUG ($15 for 1 year $25 for 3). This will give you access to reviews by TUGgers of resorts worldwide. A HUGE bargain.

You will have to buy a TS to join RCI, and yes, I DO use last calls and Extra Vacations. As an aside, if RCI last calls work for you, you can divest your self of your TS and keep the RCI membership. No one will ask.

Best wishes, and get that rescission letter off tomorrow for your own peace-of-mind.

Jim

 

[AwayWeGo]

All Last Call Pickings Are Slim, But Some Are Slimmer Than Others.

I also liked the idea of the last calls with RCI, although have since read that sometimes there are slim pickings. I know there is so much great info on this forum, but I really would appreciate any input anyone can add.

Just about all our timeshare vacations in recent years have been via Last Call & Instant Exchange -- with the balance tipping lately in the direction of Last Call.

Sure, Last Call & Instant Exchange reservations are mostly for the off-season dogs & cats of the timeshare universe -- but some of those are awfully nice for the price, & in off-season they include plenty of nice resorts, not just the dogs & cats.

Plus, we've been traveling mainly off-season even before we got into timeshares, so Last Call & Instant Exchange work great for us -- luxury timeshare resort accommodations at Motel 6 & Super 8 rates.

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

 

[Burry]

Thanks for the additional advice. I actually do like international travel so researching other timeshare systems will be great.

I will definitely join TUG, too, when the time is right. Is it useful to join now for the reviews or are they only relevant for timeshare owners?

Glad to hear from several of you the last call is useful. With kids out of the house, we are able to travel off-season now, too. It just looked like fun!

I'm grateful for having gone to the presentation yesterday since it has opened up a new world that I think could be very interesting. The rescind letter is written and will be sent tomorrow -- certified, return receipt requested. Thank goodness for that law! I actually asked about it before I bought and wouldn't have signed without it. I also asked some other questions that were not answered correctly I realize now.

 

[ronparise]

Always nice to talk to someone from back home..I grew up just across the county line from Silver Spring in PG County. I spent most of my adult life in Annapolis, moved to Florida 16 years ago

I did the same thing you are doing...Bought a 84000 point retail contract and rescinded the next day. I dont know what the rescission period is in Maryland, some states are just 3 days. so get it done

Also like you I like the Wyndham system..and I discovered the resale market place...I liked it enough that I bought over 700000 points in the last year for a whole lot less than that 84000 point retail contract

Wyndham its a large system with lots of resorts within a half days drive of my home and the maintenance fees are reasonable....There are systems with better quality resorts, and there are systems with better located resorts, but I dont think there is any system with the breadth that Wyndham has..beach, mountains, urban, country..they have it all.....

What sold it for me is the fact that there are several resorts within a days drive of my home, and Wyndham is the only system with resorts in Washington DC, (my wife and I still have family there) and in SanFrancisco where my daughter and grandkids live.

 

[Passepartout]

We enjoy off-season travel as we happen to live in a very nice area in the Summer, so why leave? TSs in Europe ar mostly in out-of-the way places. It would be great if they were in the major cities, but they aren't. So be it. Spain, Greece, Portugal, rural Italy aren't bad either.

You might try renting a few times before you take the plunge. In fact, many here have found they can get as much benefit from the luxury of TS without the never-ending commitment of MF by just renting where/when they want to go. Check the TUG Marketplace in the red stripe above.

Have some fun with this, it's a great way to travel.

Jim

 

[AwayWeGo]

Timeshare Reviews Are Not Just For Timeshare Owners.

I will definitely join TUG, too, when the time is right. Is it useful to join now for the reviews or are they only relevant for timeshare owners?

The time is right. Go ahead & send in your $15 for TUG membership.

TUG reviews tend to be more forthcoming than, say, RCI reviews.

The reviews are helpful in deciding whether to rent somebody's timeshare, not to mention going to timeshares on straight exchange or Last Call or Instant Exchange or Extra Vacation Getaway, etc.

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

 

[Burry]

Thanks so much for the direct, helpful advice! I'll send in that membership - it sounds like fun. Thanks, too, for the advice to rent for awhile. I'm irked at the laws and intimations from the sales presentation, but glad that it brought me to this forum.