Timeshare resort systems with last minute deals and discounts

[donno]

I am starting to prepare to retire in the next 2 years and plan to full time travel with timeshares for as long as it stays enjoyable. I am familiar with the last minute deals offered through RCI and II and those within the Wyndham and Worldmark systems (my timeshare points are with them). I also understand there are a few other smaller timeshare trading companies that can be used for last minutes deals. I wanted to find out if there are other timeshare systems that have last minute deals that offer good enough prices that might make it worth buying in with a small contract just for access to those deals. Thanks.

 

[Pennytx]

I am starting to prepare to retire in the next 2 years and plan to full time travel with timeshares for as long as it stays enjoyable. I am familiar with the last minute deals offered through RCI and II and those within the Wyndham and Worldmark systems (my timeshare points are with them). I also understand there are a few other smaller timeshare trading companies that can be used for last minutes deals. I wanted to find out if there are other timeshare systems that have last minute deals that offer good enough prices that might make it worth buying in with a small contract just for access to those deals. Thanks.

Great ?
Could you tell me what works mark offers last minute? I don’t have access to that system but am considering getting a small contract for the same purpose you’re looking at. Are the fees similar? 45 days out etc? Could you elaborate please and thanks

 

[Pennytx]

Worldmark … sorry for the typo

 

[donno]

Worldmark … sorry for the typo

Worldmark has a couple of different last minute specials. One is only within 14 days of check-in and the other can go out up to 4 months from check-in. Both require money instead of points and have a minimum $100/night price. They also offer these special rates on several resorts each Monday for reservations made that week for stays all the way through the 13 month booking timeframe.

 

[geist1223]

For folks not familiar with or new to Worldmark the 3 Cash Options are Bonus Time, Inventory Specials (mainly midweek but some weekends), and Monday Madness.

 

[jp10558]

Wyndham now has Bonus Time too, but only for bookings I think starting in the next 14 days, but the pricing doesn't seem limited to a minimum $100 a night - I know I saw someone see one for $480 for a week in a 2BR in Wyndham Smoky Mountains once, and I think I saw something similar with Shawnee (though as we know that's going away). Of course, sometimes they're way more than $100 a night.

 

[donno]

Wyndham now has Bonus Time too, but only for bookings I think starting in the next 14 days, but the pricing doesn't seem limited to a minimum $100 a night - I know I saw someone see one for $480 for a week in a 2BR in Wyndham Smoky Mountains once, and I think I saw something similar with Shawnee (though as we know that's going away). Of course, sometimes they're way more than $100 a night.

One difference is Wyndham requires hk credit or payment and Worldmark does not.

 

[easyrider]

Worldmark is pretty good for last minute trips using the cash payment options for fax time, bonus time , Monday Madness and Inventory specials. We use bonus time at resorts on our drives to other resorts.

Vacation Internationale has bonus time and hot weeks for cash. We use bonus time in this system on our road trips.

The exchange companies all have last minute deals too.

Bill

​

 

[wmgjr]

Sfx, thirdhome

 

[kwelty]

I posted this previously but will repost the following.

I look for "bang for buck" and have been very happy using RCI Points (not TPU's) where you get last minute type deals using their "7 Night Exchanges under 10k Points" option. This works great during shoulder season and sometimes a prime week will show up. There are a lot more choices than "Last Call" with better quality. I get 57,000 RCI points for my Gatlinburg Treetops resort with maintenance fees currently at $665, slightly over a penny a point. When I got this two bedroom unit free on ebay in 2018, MF's were $535. My week is a red week during Fall foliage time. Overall a great place to own and I get about eight weeks for depositing it.
The spreadsheet below shows an average cost of $478 per week since the beginning of last year and would be lower if I didn't include the three units I own with a MF in the $700 - $800 range. I also use I.I. and make use of their AC's but for me the real value is in RCI's discounted points program. The $ Cost column is my total cost for that week, however my yearly membership in RCI and I.I. is not.

Date	Resort	Location	Cost	$ Cost	Exchange Co.& Date
1/20/24	Southwind II #2150	HHI Shipyard	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 1/4/23
1/27/24	A Place At The Beach-Windy Hill #0823	N Myrtle Beach	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 1/24
3/1/24	Newport Onshore #5155	Newport RI	$299+6.5K Pts	364	RCI 2/12/24
3/8/24	The Soundings Seaside Resort #C788	Dennisport, MA	$299+6.5K Pts	364	RCI 2/17/24
4/13/24	Parkside Williamsburg Resort 8721	Williamsburg VA	323+30 Tax = $353 Platnum	353	RCI 3/30/24
5/4/24	Cottages at Shipyard Resort ID: 3298	HHI Shipyard	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 4/15/24
5/31/24	Samoset	Rockport ME	MF $537 + increase	591
6/7/24	Harbor Ridge	Mt Desert ME	MF $705	705
8/17/24	Brigantine Quarters From TUG member	HHI Shipyard	$750	750	TUG 7/24/24
8/24/24	Brigantine Quarters From TUG member	HHI Shipyard	$750	750	TUG 7/24/24
9/8/24	OBBC II	OBX NC	MF $820	820
9/15/24	Edisto Ocean Ridge Baypoint	Edisto Ocean Ridge	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 08-Sep-2024
10/5/24	OBBC II	OBX NC	?	387
10/26/24	Club Wyndham Ocean Boulevard 6777	Myrtle Beach	$448+54tx=$502 includes Plat+Discount	502	RCI sale 3/29
11/2/24	Waterside	HHI	$349 + 38 = $387	387	II 10/31 Cert
11/30/24	Southwind II	HHI	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 11/1
12/7/24	Island Club-Seawatch #0066	HHI	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 11/7
12/27/24	The Ocean Club on Smuggler's Beach 1638	Cape Cod	$199(sale) + 6.5K 1 BR $70 Fee	334	RCI 12/4
1/3/25	Harbor Ridge	Maine	$369+Tx=$402	402	II Cert 11/24
1/18/25	Egret Point by Spinnaker #4223 3BR	HHI	$299 + 7.5K/$88 = $387	387	RCI 12/19
1/25/25	Spinnaker at Shipyard #0984	HHI	$299 + 7.5K/$88 = $387	387	RCI 1/18/25
2/22/25	Land Of Canaan	Davis WV	$299 + 7.5K/$88 = $387	387	RCI 2/7
3/21/25	Wyndham Newport Onshore #5155	Newport RI	$299 + 6.5K/75 = $374	374	RCI 2/19
3/28/25	Wyndham Newport Onshore #5155	Newport RI	$299 + 6.5K/75 = $374	374	RCI 2/26
5/10/25	Wyndham Ocean Ridge #0955	Edisto, SC	$299 + 5350pts/62 = $361	361	RCI 2/20
8/10/25	Ocean Ridge II #6466 Sat Check in	Edisto Ocean Ridge	$299 + 6.5K/75 = $374	374	RCI 2/19!
9/7/25	OBBC II	OBX NC	$886	886
9/14/25	Marriott's OceanWatch Villas@Grand Dunes	Myrtle Beach	$229 + 77,000 II Pts ($660) = $889	889	II 12/29/24

 

[jp10558]

One difference is Wyndham requires hk credit or payment and Worldmark does not.

Ah yes, sorry - I generally have more HK than I can use cause I stay weeks, and so didn't consider that. If you have the smallest point contract that will add ~$200 for the HK credit, probably bringing things in line.

 

[jp10558]

I posted this previously but will repost the following.

I look for "bang for buck" and have been very happy using RCI Points (not TPU's) where you get last minute type deals using their "7 Night Exchanges under 10k Points" option. This works great during shoulder season and sometimes a prime week will show up. There are a lot more choices than "Last Call" with better quality. I get 57,000 RCI points for my Gatlinburg Treetops resort with maintenance fees currently at $665, slightly over a penny a point. When I got this two bedroom unit free on ebay in 2018, MF's were $535. My week is a red week during Fall foliage time. Overall a great place to own and I get about eight weeks for depositing it.
The spreadsheet below shows an average cost of $478 per week since the beginning of last year and would be lower if I didn't include the three units I own with a MF in the $700 - $800 range. I also use I.I. and make use of their AC's but for me the real value is in RCI's discounted points program. The $ Cost column is my total cost for that week, however my yearly membership in RCI and I.I. is not.

Date	Resort	Location	Cost	$ Cost	Exchange Co.& Date
1/20/24	Southwind II #2150	HHI Shipyard	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 1/4/23
1/27/24	A Place At The Beach-Windy Hill #0823	N Myrtle Beach	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 1/24
3/1/24	Newport Onshore #5155	Newport RI	$299+6.5K Pts	364	RCI 2/12/24
3/8/24	The Soundings Seaside Resort #C788	Dennisport, MA	$299+6.5K Pts	364	RCI 2/17/24
4/13/24	Parkside Williamsburg Resort 8721	Williamsburg VA	323+30 Tax = $353 Platnum	353	RCI 3/30/24
5/4/24	Cottages at Shipyard Resort ID: 3298	HHI Shipyard	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 4/15/24
5/31/24	Samoset	Rockport ME	MF $537 + increase	591
6/7/24	Harbor Ridge	Mt Desert ME	MF $705	705
8/17/24	Brigantine Quarters From TUG member	HHI Shipyard	$750	750	TUG 7/24/24
8/24/24	Brigantine Quarters From TUG member	HHI Shipyard	$750	750	TUG 7/24/24
9/8/24	OBBC II	OBX NC	MF $820	820
9/15/24	Edisto Ocean Ridge Baypoint	Edisto Ocean Ridge	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 08-Sep-2024
10/5/24	OBBC II	OBX NC	?	387
10/26/24	Club Wyndham Ocean Boulevard 6777	Myrtle Beach	$448+54tx=$502 includes Plat+Discount	502	RCI sale 3/29
11/2/24	Waterside	HHI	$349 + 38 = $387	387	II 10/31 Cert
11/30/24	Southwind II	HHI	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 11/1
12/7/24	Island Club-Seawatch #0066	HHI	$299+7.5K Pts	374	RCI 11/7
12/27/24	The Ocean Club on Smuggler's Beach 1638	Cape Cod	$199(sale) + 6.5K 1 BR $70 Fee	334	RCI 12/4
1/3/25	Harbor Ridge	Maine	$369+Tx=$402	402	II Cert 11/24
1/18/25	Egret Point by Spinnaker #4223 3BR	HHI	$299 + 7.5K/$88 = $387	387	RCI 12/19
1/25/25	Spinnaker at Shipyard #0984	HHI	$299 + 7.5K/$88 = $387	387	RCI 1/18/25
2/22/25	Land Of Canaan	Davis WV	$299 + 7.5K/$88 = $387	387	RCI 2/7
3/21/25	Wyndham Newport Onshore #5155	Newport RI	$299 + 6.5K/75 = $374	374	RCI 2/19
3/28/25	Wyndham Newport Onshore #5155	Newport RI	$299 + 6.5K/75 = $374	374	RCI 2/26
5/10/25	Wyndham Ocean Ridge #0955	Edisto, SC	$299 + 5350pts/62 = $361	361	RCI 2/20
8/10/25	Ocean Ridge II #6466 Sat Check in	Edisto Ocean Ridge	$299 + 6.5K/75 = $374	374	RCI 2/19!
9/7/25	OBBC II	OBX NC	$886	886
9/14/25	Marriott's OceanWatch Villas@Grand Dunes	Myrtle Beach	$229 + 77,000 II Pts ($660) = $889	889	II 12/29/24

The one thing I'm wondering is the unit size? I would expect Studios to be more common than 1BR, more common than 2BR for low cost. I'm hoping starting next year with my Grandview week I picked up on TUG for transfer fees to replicate your usage. Do you also include the RCI account fee in your calculations? I guess with the amount of trips you're amortizing it down to $20 or less per trip though. Also, I'm not sure if you're including resort fees or not?

There are a lot more choices than "Last Call" with better quality.

Edit: And this might also be amazing because I've been reasonably happy with Last Calls, so making that even better is exciting.

 

[kwelty]

The one thing I'm wondering is the unit size?

One, possible two are one bedroom or studio. I usually set my search filter for a minimum of two bedrooms.
My membership fees in RCI and II are not included but the exchange fees are.

 

[donno]

One, possible two are one bedroom or studio. I usually set my search filter for a minimum of two bedrooms.
My membership fees in RCI and II are not included but the exchange fees are.

Those numbers are very convincing. Is there a list somewhere of the best timeshares to buy for rci points to get it as close to a penny a point as possible?

 

[kwelty]

Those numbers are very convincing. Is there a list somewhere of the best timeshares to buy for rci points to get it as close to a penny a point as possible?

I'm not aware of a list but Vacation Villages is often mentioned as a good example of a penny a point resort.

 

[jp10558]

Those numbers are very convincing. Is there a list somewhere of the best timeshares to buy for rci points to get it as close to a penny a point as possible?

Grandview is also quite good, my math put me on the one I'm getting around 1.1 cents a point. IDK about getting another new to me FL properties, aside from a select few it seems to me like they're expensive and getting worse.

 

[chosshaul]

Interesting topic, why are certain rci properties given more points when depositing? I’ve only researched Hilton and Worldmark so far and I think those give equal value to their respective timeshare points