Total Newb looking to purchase SC timeshare

[PantherCanada]

Hello everyone!

BRAND new to the whole timeshare thing, don't have anything yet but just starting to think about it. Just joined up to TUG today and I have a bunch of questions. Here's my deal.

34 year old female (married/NO KIDS) from Canada and huge Carolina Panthers fan. We try to make it down once/year to go to Charlotte to see a couple of Panthers games. We have been down every year since 2004 with the exception of 2008 and are planning another trip again in 2009. We went out to the beach in Wilmington and saw the Carolina Coast for the first time in 2007 and fell in love with it.

We are coming down in 2009 sometime during football season (Sept-Dec) depending on when the Panthers play the Bills (my husband's team) and will likely be staying at the Sheraton Broadway Plantation as my in-laws have a timeshare in Orlando they will be trading for Myrtle Beach.

We are looking at possibly buying into a timeshare in Myrtle so we can spend a week at the beach around our week in Charlotte with friends/fit the games in on the weekends. We try to come down for 2-3 weeks in total every year, but the exact timing of when we come is completely dependent on the NFL Schedule so we can maximize the Panthers home games we get to.

We would start the trip on a Saturday when the Panthers play away the following day (Sunday) and then checkout the following Saturday and go in to Charlotte to see back-to-back homegames that Sunday and the following. So, I would be looking at some way to secure a week during football season (Sept-Dec) I wouldn't know about until EARLY APRIL of the SAME YEAR (5-8 months out). I think I need what's called a "floating" week but I'm not really sure what that means. We would be trying to come down as late in the year as possible (November/early December ideally) so I am wondering if this is a pretty OK time to try to reserve a week if I leave it until April all the time, or is this not feasible?

We are looking for a one-bedroom which has a hide-a-bed for two more people as we will likely invite some of our Charlotte friends to stay with us during our "beach week". I am not a huge fan of kids, but I'm sure the time of the year we are coming down would not be overrun with children as they would be in school. I know Myrtle is beautiful in the summer, but I will take a bit cooler temps to get my Panthers games in, and being Canadian I have nothing against being in a swimming pool when it's 70 degress... That leads me to my next question... do resorts close the pools in the "winter"??

 

[ecwinch]

Hello everyone!
... be staying at the Sheraton Broadway Plantation as my in-laws have a timeshare in Orlando they will be trading for Myrtle Beach.

... so I am wondering if this is a pretty OK time to try to reserve a week if I leave it until April all the time, or is this not feasible?

... do resorts close the pools in the "winter"??

Right now there is plenty of availability starting in mid October for Myrtle Beach in Interval International (II). That will decrease over time, but Oct/Nov/Dec are not peak times for SC. It is primarily a summer beach destination.

Most major resorts have one pool that is heated in the off-season.

You would want a floating week or points system. Marriott, Sheraton, and Wyndham are all have resorts in that area. Wyndham has a major presence with 5 locations. Sheraton weeks are available on e-bay for next to nothing.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

We are looking at possibly buying into a timeshare in Myrtle so we can spend a week at the beach around our week in Charlotte with friends/fit the games in on the weekends....

If you are not commited to Myrtle Beach, consider Hilton Head Island (HHI). Nearly the same driving time to/from Charlotte.

I know you are looking at times when school is in session, but Myrtle seems more kid-oriented than HHI, IMO. Maybe others will weigh in on that suggestion....

 

[Patri]

I'd say go for a two-bedroom too. Sleeping in the living room is no fun for anyone.

 

[djs]

I'd say go for a two-bedroom too. Sleeping in the living room is no fun for anyone.

I would second that suggestion. Many of the resorts are quite strict on occupancy limits so a 2B would give you more options that way. This way you're unlikely to have to share a bathroom too.

 

[sernow]

I wouldn't buy an off-season week at any price (or even free), because rental rates are so low during the off-season. A little bit of searching and you should be able to find a rental that is the same or less than the owner's maintenance fee.

 

[clsmit]

You could also rent in Lake Lure or even in Pigeon Forge, for a change.

I agree that you might want to rent for a while in case life changes and you can't get to as many Panthers games in a couple of years. And you'd also see a bunch of timeshares, so that when you want to buy you'd know what you want in terms of ammenities, trading flexibility, etc.

Who knows, maybe you'll decide to follow the Argos instead and stay in Canada? (I went to high school with Michael Clemons.)

 

[Lazz]

I own a 2 bedroom with an extra bedroom lockout unit at Plantation Resorts in Surfside Beach. Surfside is the next town south of MB. it is about a mile off the beach, but has a free shuttle. The have an indoor pool and an out door pool with a small water play area for the kiddies. There are plans to heat the out door pool. They have multiple styles of units to purchase: points or weeks.

 

[Carol C]

I suggest you buy into Wyndham FSP and use points to trade into their resorts in the region. That way you could book just a few nights during game weekends.

 

[geekette]

Look into Bluegreen. They have several MB resorts and others in SE USA, including Florida for those fly-to away games.

It's a points system, so you can reserve only the amount of time you need in the size accomodations you want for that trip (all subject to availability, of course).