Smuggler's Notch - Fees

[RLS50]

Recently we took ownership of a Smuggler's Notch summer week. We own a Trapp Lodge summer and winter week, which my brothers and their families use all the time. In fact one of my brother's family might enjoy Vermont as much as any other travel destination.

The cost for the Smugg's Pass for Owners and linear family isn't bad, at under $300 for the week and inclusive of most pools and activities. Seems reasonable enough.

However since my Brother and his family are not part of our "linear" family, if they used the week they would have the pay the regular Daycation rates of $70 per day per Adult and $50 per day for children under 17. There is no weekly discounted fee, it's all daily rates.

For their family of 5, the cost would be $310 per day, or $2,170 per week....in addition to the Maintenance fee they would reimburse me for. That seems crazy to me. Just as one example, you can get a 7-10 day park hopper pass to Busch Gardens / Water Country for $80-$125 per person (depending on how early in the season you buy the pass). So $400-$600 for the family for the week to Busch Gardens / Water Country...but at least 4 times that cost for Smuggler's Notch. Smuggler's Notch is very nice, but it isn't a Vidanta Riviera Maya or Paradise Island Bahamas level aquatic complex.

Can anyone fill me on the history of how / why Smuggler's Notch implemented this system? Do you have any experience on how other family members may have used the week if you weren't physically there yourself? Just curious on this since the program at Smuggler's Notch seems like such an extreme deviation from the norm.

Trapp Lodge seems so much easier and simpler to own at.

 

[tschwa2]

I think RCI exchangers still get the $300 per week pass. It sounds like they are punishing owners and limiting their ability to rent by not allowing any discount to the passes. The rates you quoted are the same day rate passes as they charge to the general public who are not staying onsite. They do the same thing to Wyndham points owners who allow someone who is not on the Wyndham account to stay (friends/family or renters), https://www.smuggs.com/pages/summer/water/daycation.php

Certain unit types have a single pool included without the amenities pass. Check to see if yours does. Then maybe only purchase the pass for 1-2 days only for those family members who would use it fully.

Massanutten doesn't give waterpark tickets to anyone so if a family of 5 wanted to go all 7 days it would be over a $1000.