That was fun

[ronparise]

Its not exactly the way I wanted to spend my Easter Sunday morning, but Mardi Gras 2013 is exactly 10 months away. So I was on the Wyndham website this morning at exactly 7am to make a few reservations.

I only had enough points to try for two and I got them both...so I feel pretty good. I had planned to go back to bed...but I'm so pumped up with coffee and adrenaline I think Im going to finish the yard work I started yesterday...I may even wash my wife's car....

I should make enough renting these that I will be able to pay the mf for them and another 200000 points that Ill use for my own vacations.

By the way, there was still availability at 7:10 so it seems to me that everyone that wanted a reservation got one.....at least everyone that did a little advance planning and was up at 7 on Easter Sunday, got one. I dont understand the Wyndham critics that say "I can never get a reservation for when I want to vacation"

 

[Twinkstarr]

Its not exactly the way I wanted to spend my Easter Sunday morning, but Mardi Gras 2013 is exactly 10 months away. So I was on the Wyndham website this morning at exactly 7am to make a few reservations.

I only had enough points to try for two and I got them both...so I feel pretty good. I had planned to go back to bed...but I'm so pumped up with coffee and adrenaline I think Im going to finish the yard work I started yesterday...I may even wash my wife's car....

I should make enough renting these that I will be able to pay the mf for them and another 200000 points that Ill use for my own vacations.

By the way, there was still availability at 7:10 so it seems to me that everyone that wanted a reservation got one.....at least everyone that did a little advance planning and was up at 7 on Easter Sunday, got one. I dont understand the Wyndham critics that say "I can never get a reservation for when I want to vacation"

I don't either Ron, just got back yesterday from a week stay at Old Town Alexandria, which I booked at the 10 month mark. I own at OTA, but a long story why I couldn't use ARP. Yes I was online booking at 7am, but that is no big deal.

And no I didn't get a ticket in the parking circle, wasn't bothered by the sales staff. DH gave them a few polite no's and that was it for the week.

You hear the samething from some DVC'ers, In 6+ years of ownership I have never not gotten what I have wanted. Booked Grand Californian last Monday for our November trip.

 

[antjmar]

Its not exactly the way I wanted to spend my Easter Sunday morning, but Mardi Gras 2013 is exactly 10 months away. So I was on the Wyndham website this morning at exactly 7am to make a few reservations.

Good thing you live on the east coast!

 

[Sandi Bo]

Agree, booking what we've needed just hasn't been an issue.

If you aren't able to book in advance, picking up rooms last minute does not seem to be a problem. If I know at least 3 weeks out, I have always gotten what people need. The only exception to that has been Bentley Brook the week after Christmas. I've gotten bike week at Ocean Walk, the week after Christmas at Smuggler's Notch, Alexandria during Cherry Blossom season (minus the cherry blossoms), and New Orleans for the final four.

Some nice situations that recently fell into place -

* Friends won a drawing of some sort for tickets to the Final Four. At the time they won them, there was nothing in New Orleans and they booked(cancellable) rooms a Comfort Inn. I was able to pick up rooms at La Belle Maison -- they needed 2 bedrooms -- 4 of the nights in the 2 Bedroom Presidential. They had a back up plan and were flexible, including understanding they would need to change rooms.

* My Dad's significants others favorite place is Alexandria. They go every year for the cherry blossoms. Due to some major health issues, they did not book anything for this year. Dad was able to travel, and I was able to book him into a 2 Bedrrom Lockout for 8 days the last week of March. I was able to join for some of the time - what an awesome place and what a great staff.

I have to say I have never been disapointed with a Wyndham visit. The staff everywhere we've stayed has just been great, the properties are always well kept. If you can get the sales dept. to leave you alone...

 

[massvacationer]

Ron:

I like your posts.

I think this board sometimes gets muddied by semi-truths by folks who repeat things that read or hear elsewhere.

Your posts often bring a lot of truth, that comes from actual experience, to this board. Thanks. I too get the reservations that I want quite easily. I either get the difficult ones early (nine or ten months out) or pick up cancellations later. The system works well for me.

 

[learnalot]

Hi Ron,

Glad you got what you were looking for. Good for you! I have also almost always been able to get what we want by planning ahead.

Point of clarification please: Did I correctly understand you to say that you were able to make your ARP reservations online rather than by phone? If so, a programming update has taken place.

 

[ronparise]

Hi Ron,

Glad you got what you were looking for. Good for you! I have also almost always been able to get what we want by planning ahead.

Point of clarification please: Did I correctly understand you to say that you were able to make your ARP reservations online rather than by phone? If so, a programming update has taken place.

No, this wasnt ARP. It was at the 10 month point.

What did upset me about this was that the points I used today, at the 10 month mark are Club Wyndham Access points. and the Avenue Plaza property is supposed to be one of my "home" properties and eligible for ARP....last month in the ARP window I called with the hope that I could get these reservations made then, but was told no availability.....I know the reason why, but it still pisses me off that I couldnt make my reservations in the ARP period, but I could in the standard reservation period

 

[rrlongwell]

Based on your post and a few others pertaining to Club Wyndham Access, that is not real suprising and a good thing to know. I like the other posters, have had no significant problems making reservations where I want to go when I want to go. I do not know what you need for the profit margins but maybe pick up a couple more of the reservations you want using rented points. You would be eligable for a bunch of them.

 

[pacodemountainside]

Ron: Congratulations:



I was up at 4:55AM this morning and logged on to reservations at 5:00AM MDT as was GF.

She got a 1 BR but I got knocked off with error message, only one reservation can be made at one time with same ID number.

She immediately logged off and at 7:03AM EDT it said no availability for 1 BRs. At this stage of my life cannot deal with a studio although probably should have gone for it and rented.

As far as CWA I tried regularly since month 13 and no luck. Yes, that is what computer used to book my reservation. Considering the high demand for 5 black out weeks and week 5 is super bowl 2013 I am sure what limited CWA inventory was available was grabbed immediately! Accordingly, I am still a confirmed CWA basher!

Circa 2004 when Wyndham bought they were selling left over original Developer inventory, best I recall converted fixed weeks(140,000) points for around $15K. Gal I bought from said Wyndham offered original owner chance to convert for $995 but at this point hated Wyndham and just wanted someone to take over MF!

It really does not make sense to pay $2,395 to convert to get ARP when one should be able to pick up event week deed for $500-$1,000 although seldom on the market. Also floating weeks do have extra benefits/week sans fees and no POA fee but must be booked way out!

It is also interesting when I called reservations on Saturday LBM which is all UDI points was booked solid via ARPs!


Both cars do need washing but crawled back in sack!

Paco

 

[learnalot]

No, his wasnt ARP. It was at the 10 month point.

Got it. Thanks. I see now that you clearly said it was exactly 10 months out, but somehow I read it as exactly 13 months out...that will teach me not to try and read posts before I've had some coffee

 

[ronparise]

Got it. Thanks. I see now that you clearly said it was exactly 10 months out, but somehow I read it as exactly 13 months out...that will teach me not to try and read posts before I've had some coffee

...I was up at 6 am to make this reservation..I needed that hour before to have coffee...I would never have tried to push those buttons without my coffee

 

[funtime]

Ron you are Mr. New Orleans - and a good advocate for Wyndham Avenue Plaza! Congratulations. Funtime

 

[ronparise]

Ron: Congratulations:



I was up at 4:55AM this morning and logged on to reservations at 5:00AM MDT as was GF.

She got a 1 BR but I got knocked off with error message, only one reservation can be made at one time with same ID number.

She immediately logged off and at 7:03AM EDT it said no availability for 1 BRs. At this stage of my life cannot deal with a studio although probably should have gone for it and rented.

As far as CWA I tried regularly since month 13 and no luck. Yes, that is what computer used to book my reservation. Considering the high demand for 5 black out weeks and week 5 is super bowl 2013 I am sure what limited CWA inventory was available was grabbed immediately! Accordingly, I am still a confirmed CWA basher!

Circa 2004 when Wyndham bought they were selling left over original Developer inventory, best I recall converted fixed weeks(140,000) points for around $15K. Gal I bought from said Wyndham offered original owner chance to convert for $995 but at this point hated Wyndham and just wanted someone to take over MF!

It really does not make sense to pay $2,395 to convert to get ARP when one should be able to pick up event week deed for $500-$1,000 although seldom on the market. Also floating weeks do have extra benefits/week sans fees and no POA fee but must be booked way out!

It is also interesting when I called reservations on Saturday LBM which is all UDI points was booked solid via ARPs!


Both cars do need washing but crawled back in sack!

Paco

I have some of those black out weeks...week 8 and a week 9, which are guaranteed for the week before Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras respectively...I picked them up for next to nothing, but the seller didnt know what he had and I didnt realize what I bought until after I owned them...Both transactions were pure luck. I think if I was to sell the Mardi Gras week I could get a few thousand..Week 8, not so much..although this year its good for Super Bowl (which Ive also reserved and rented). The other black out weeks might be nice to own but I picked up 8 Jazz Fest reservations with my points in the last few months watching for cancellations. and Ssugar Bowl is available now

Im working with a guy that owns at La Belle Maison...he called last week and learned what you did..There would be no LBM availability this morning. That was important information for me. Otherwise I would have wasted time looking there first. As it was I went straight for Avenue Plaza.

 

[timeos2]

In over 15 years of Wyndham ownership and, like everyone, needing the Holiday / non-school times with no use of ARP or any VIP we got virtually every resort/unit size/date we wanted which included some very "hard to get" or high demand times/resorts. We also never paid a housekeeping fee and very few reservation fees. I never once worried about booking exactly 10 months out.

Unless things have dramatically changed in the past year and a half (very doubtful) all that worry & complaints about no availability are nonsense. All you have to do is use a bit of advance planning and/or relatively last minute planning to get stuff in the Wyndham system. The so called extra or nickle & diming on fees is easily avoidable - we enjoyed the Wyndham system & the ease of obtaining what we wanted with points during our whole ownership.

Only when it became all too clear that financially ownership made no sense vs renting (which makes getting even a specific unit you desire easier than reserving with points owned) did we decide to sell our points. If we still had decades of travel ahead of us we may have held on longer but the time seemed right. We still recommend Wyndham (resale only) as a great value in timeshare for those looking for 10-20+ years of use ahead of them.

 

[ronparise]

Ron you are Mr. New Orleans - and a good advocate for Wyndham Avenue Plaza! Congratulations. Funtime

I like this place a lot, Location is not the French Quarter but as Paco has said on the Wyndham Owners Forum....and Im paraphrasing here..its better for old farts like us....Courtyard, rooftop deck, gym, haunted house, cheap parking, Garden District, Street Car, Mr Johns Steak House, and a small grocery nearby. Not to mention every room has a cooktop and La Belle Maison does not

What I like best is the floating weeks ownership...no transaction fees, no guest fees, no Wyndham program fee, split week reservations, any day check in, and right to use weeks...whats not to like.

The only thing I worry about is a special assessment...I own 9 weeks there and plan to buy more. , a special assessment would ruin me...or at least ruin it for me....But they just completed a top to bottom renovation and have budgeted work in the courtyard and pool for this year, with no SA and no significant increase in fees...so maybe Im safe.

 

[pacodemountainside]

Ron:

Easy to put your mind at rest! Just call resort and ask for 2011 Financials and copy of "major component replacement workksheet". Document showing what it is going to cost to replace major systems over next 10 years and how much cash is in bank. If in equalibrum you are good to go. If no cash, and million dollars in replacements we are in deep *bleep*!

I was really impressed with renovated units I stayed in for New Years and Mardi Gras. Actually, stayed in my deeded #406 for New Years. A first!

There was big special assessment after Katrina as even though resort had hurricane/flood and replacement insurance it had to bring up to 2006 Code which is much stricter than circa 1960 when built. Did not have betternment insurance.

All the operating guts were in basement and had to be moved to second floor,
$10 GFIs rather than $. 50 outlets, etc. Best I recall HOA actually had to buy a couple units on second floor to make room for all the "machinery"!

 

[Sandi Bo]

A couple observations on your booking at 5 am your time paco.

* Correct, you can't login to the same account twice or you get the error you described. However, you most likely had the reservation tied up for 15 minutes and could have waited exactly 15 minutes and your 1 bedroom very likely would have beeen available again.

* While you can not login on 2 computers, or even in 2 browser windows, you can open multiple sessions in multiple tabs. (This is using IE). Once you have committed to a reservation (and are in the 15 minute hold window), if you open another tab and get to the 15 minute hold window you can't go back to the first window (well, if you do, you get the multiple reservation error).

This is the fastest way that I know of to grab the second reservation.

The system is fraught with "glitches". By watching the behavior of the screens, I've been able to avoid the dreaded 'multiple reservation' error most of the time.

 

[jjmanthei05]

I have some of those black out weeks...week 8 and a week 9, which are guaranteed for the week before Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras respectively...I picked them up for next to nothing, but the seller didnt know what he had and I didnt realize what I bought until after I owned them...Both transactions were pure luck. I think if I was to sell the Mardi Gras week I could get a few thousand..Week 8, not so much..although this year its good for Super Bowl (which Ive also reserved and rented). The other black out weeks might be nice to own but I picked up 8 Jazz Fest reservations with my points in the last few months watching for cancellations. and Ssugar Bowl is available now

Im working with a guy that owns at La Belle Maison...he called last week and learned what you did..There would be no LBM availability this morning. That was important information for me. Otherwise I would have wasted time looking there first. As it was I went straight for Avenue Plaza.

Ron,

In the past I have been able to call Wyndham before the 10 month mark and use something along the lines of "I know I don't have ARP but I was wondering if XYZ reservation was available for this date. I don't really want to get up at 6 am to try and get one of these if everything is already gone. Thanks for your help"

It has worked for us in the past. We have a 4 night reservation in august that the week before the 10 month window they said there was exactly 1 2 bedroom unit left and I got it at 6 am (central) that day.

Jason

 

[rrlongwell]

Ron,

In the past I have been able to call Wyndham before the 10 month mark and use something along the lines of "I know I don't have ARP but I was wondering if XYZ reservation was available for this date. I don't really want to get up at 6 am to try and get one of these if everything is already gone. Thanks for your help"

It has worked for us in the past. We have a 4 night reservation in august that the week before the 10 month window they said there was exactly 1 2 bedroom unit left and I got it at 6 am (central) that day.

Jason

Are you a VIP Gold or Platinum Member? If so, you would be entitled to one or two Receipical ARP reservations. If not then you found a neat exception to the rule.

 

[jjmanthei05]

As of now resale only. I didn't find an exception I just asked. I doesn't say anywhere in the directory they aren't allowed to tell me what availability is at a resort, I'm just not allowed to book it.

Jason

 

[ronparise]

Ron,

In the past I have been able to call Wyndham before the 10 month mark and use something along the lines of "I know I don't have ARP but I was wondering if XYZ reservation was available for this date. I don't really want to get up at 6 am to try and get one of these if everything is already gone. Thanks for your help"

It has worked for us in the past. We have a 4 night reservation in august that the week before the 10 month window they said there was exactly 1 2 bedroom unit left and I got it at 6 am (central) that day.

Jason

There are usually two ways to get something done..the easy way and the hard way...and sometimes all you have to do is ask.

Thanks for the tip

 

[MaryH]

Ron,

I own at both New Orleans and Hyatt Key West and I expect between the 2, I will have a special assessment within the next 5-10 years. Weather patterns are so unpredictable these days, the probably of something happening had been going up.

 

[jjmanthei05]

There are usually two ways to get something done..the easy way and the hard way...and sometimes all you have to do is ask.

Thanks for the tip

The worst thing that could happen is you get told "No I can't tell you that..."

Jason

 

[learnalot]

Are you a VIP Gold or Platinum Member? If so, you would be entitled to one or two Receipical ARP reservations. If not then you found a neat exception to the rule.

He didn't BOOK something before the 10 month window - he just called to ask about whether there was still availability so he didn't get up at the crack of dawn to try and book something if all the inventory was already gone 3 weeks ago. I have done the same thing.