[OLD THREAD - 2015] Shell vs Wyndham

[vacationhopeful]

Shell is a smaller system of resorts ... I own and like the resorts, but the US population (and the older population) is MORE on the East Coast and center of US. Timeshares started on the East Coast --- Shawnee is RCI0001 resort.

Wyndham is LARGER and been around longer. Their old resorts which are cheap to use points to book ... newer resorts cost WAY more points.

 

[Beefnot]

Thank you all for your help. I am going to present an offer to her and hope she takes it. I'm almost positive she will. With a family of 4 the idea of a timeshare is very appealing to us. We have the means to travel so we are hoping to get some good use.

Out of curiosity, why are shell points being given away while others are not?

Any offer you make her for the Shell points which doesn't involve you keeping your wallet in your pocket and her paying for the transfer costs would be, shall we say, a "philanthropic offer".

I don't know why they have zero value, but they do. Maybe the limited locations, I dunno. I own a boatload of points that I have not paid a penny for.

 

[Beefnot]

Region matters.

If you buy into SVC, you buy into a pool of intervals all over that region. You have ARP at any resort in your region, and standard booking window in other regions.

If you find a Shell resort on ebay, it's deeded, not Club.

Clarification: If you find a Shell resort on ebay that has no points attached, it's deeded, not Club.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Shell fees are very high. The more you own, the cheaper they are, so we own 25,300 annual points. I still dislike paying those fees, which are over 20 cents each. That's over $5,000 in MF's, if you do the math.

Shell had an advantage because of II. Now II is going by the wayside for RCI. I will never be happy with RCI has my exchange company because I already use it with RCI Points and Wyndham Points. I don't want it for Shell.

II is just the better exchange company. Sorry RCI.

Wyndham points are a dime a dozen too. I wouldn't take either one.

 

[Ty1on]

Clarification: If you find a Shell resort on ebay that has no points attached, it's deeded, not Club.

Yes, that's what I meant. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Ty1on]

Wow there are a lot of confusing rules to owning a timeshare. Has anyone looked at alternatives?

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Alternatives are actively preached here. Rent from timeshare owners, use conventional hotels, buy a minimal contract resale to get your name on the exchange systems so you can rent from them on the cheap in the off-season. Timeshare isn't for everyone, and I think that if you don't have the patience or drive to learn all the intricacies of how to maximize your timeshare investment, you are throwing money away.

 

[Ty1on]

Thanks what's a 'minimal contract resale'?

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Something like Grandview@LV with RCI Points in Vegas, has really low MF and gets you into the RCI exchange (you have to pay the RCI membership fees) and they are sold fairly cheap. Without RCI points attached, Grandview@LV and many other weeks contracts are also given away free. Watch out for the MF, find the lowest you can, if the goal is to get on the exchange for last minute and other rental opportunities.

There are free intervals given away that are registered to Interval International that allow you to have an II account, as well.

I've heard you can pay for membership with SFX without having a trader, and take advantage of their rental specials.

 

[Ty1on]

Thanks for the info. I'd like to have a bunch of weeks per year.

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So let's back up a couple steps. You could get several weeks for year, free or at little cost via resale. BUT you are committing yourself to maintenance fees and potential special assessments for life or until you pay to get rid of them as someone else paid to give you a free one, or you sell it at a loss like your seller did.

You can own timeshare and have several weeks a year without committing yourself to several weeks a year. That's what learning the systems is all about, and most experienced people here advise that you rent first and learn the systems before committing yourself to contracts, especially multiple ones.

 

[dgotwisner]

I've been offered both properties from a close family friend following the death of her husband. I'm new to time sharing and have been roaming the site so thought I'd ask for your assistance on whether to buy and if so which property/ company is best. Details are as follows:

1) Kauai Coast Resort at Beachboy
- $5,000
- 6,750 points. She described as a 2 bedroom oceanfront property
- Shell resorts
- she banked this years points so I'll have those to use as well.
- MF $1600

2) Dolphin Cove in Anaheim, CA
-$2,000
- 175,000 points. 3 bedroom. (2 bedroom and 1 bedroom with joining door)
- Wyndham
- She has not used this year points either
- MF $980

I live in the Phoenix area so it's easy for us to get to CA but we would like travel to as many places as possible. Do any of these offer discount cash reservations for last minute travel? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

I can't speak to Dolphin Cove. We've been with Shell (now Wyndham for like 20+ years), and have been to the Beachboy probably 20 times (or more). Kauai is our favorite island, but Shell was bought by Wyndham, and unfortunately, it's gone down hill over the last 5-6 years. Can't speak to discounts, and being in Northern CA, I have no desire to vacation in Anaheim (my Disney days are long in the past).

It completely depends on what you want to do - vacation / veg out, or do amusement parks and touristy things. The first is Kauai, the second is Anaheim.

 

[rickandcindy23]

This is a post from 2015.

Shell used to take great pride in its resorts, and some have seen improvement, like Peacock Suites is better than it was before.

I recommend trying Little Sweden, if you are trying to decide how to use your points for future trips. I am sure using them for San Francisco is probably not something you want to do.

Using RCI is very expensive. I will not do it, unless I just need a one bedroom somewhere that makes sense. The points required for a one bedroom is 2,500, 5,000 for a 2 bedroom, 7,500 for a 3 bedroom. Geez. Plus exchange fees.