Vacation Internationale questions

[Tahiya]

I'm considering adding a timeshare to our portfolio. Vacation International is one of the timeshares I'm considering. I've found information difficult to locate on the web. If you own points there, I would much appreciate learning the answers to these questions:

1. How many points are needed to book most two bedrooms in High season? (I saw an old post that said 106-133. That's quite a range.) We vacation in HI and the West Coast mostly.

2. Does maintenance fee cost per point decrease as one owns more points? I might buy half as many points as needed to essentially create an EOY situation if it's cost effective.

3. Is there a base fee that everyone pays the same as part of the maintenance fee calculation?

4. How does exchanging work--especially with Interval? I have WorldMark credits and would love an even better trader.

5. Do you enjoy your ownership, and do you recommend this system?

Your responses will be most appreciated!

 

[Alfred Sun Sand]

Hello Tahiya

I have had Points for over 35 years and really enjoyed it. More than 45 locations is one of the plus. I will try to respond your questions to the best of my knowledge.

1. Most two bedrooms in high seasons range 24-38 points. Being Vallarta and Mazatlan (Mex) some of the highest. In Florida you can find for 10-18.

2. No. We pay $8 usd per point/yr.

3. This is the only fee and it is for everyone. It is reviewed by the Board every year. To make reservation you have to pay $ 25 usd for the whole stay.

4. You call helpdesk and chose a destination; they do most of the paperwork and will let you know the available options.

5. Certainly I do. Positive; my 35 years owning it asy it all.

Anything else I can help with?

Alfred
52-444-829-7665
alujambio@mercalta.com

 

[Alfred Sun Sand]

Hello Tahiya

I have had Pints for over 35 years and really enjoyed it. More than 45 locations is one of the plus. I will try to respond your questions to the best of my knowledge.

1. Most two bedrooms in high seasons range 24-38 points. Being Vallarta and Mazatlan (Mex) some of the highest. In Florida you can find for 10-18.

2. No. We pay $8 usd per point/yr.

3. This is the only fee and it is for everyone. It is reviewed by the Board every year. To make reservation you have to pay $ 25 usd for the whole stay.

4. You call helpdesk and chose a destination; they do most of the paperwork and will let you know the available options.

5. Certainly I do. Positive; my 35 years owning it say it all.

Anything else I can help with?

Alfred
52-444-829-7665
alujambio@mercalta.com

We enjoyed it with children and grandchildren. Family grew and memories were recorded there.

 

[sue1947]

I own both VI and WM.
VI dues are on a flat rate basis unlike WM where there is a base rate + $/credit.
You pay the $25 booking fee for any reservation; non-refundable. There is an optional point protection fee that allows for cancellation up to the last business day before check in.
There is a waitlist but you can also pay to do an Advanced Waitlist which moves you to the head of the line for booking. It costs $200 and there is a $100 fee if you decline. I don't like it, but they didn't ask me. This makes it almost impossible to get some high demand spots. I mostly look for off season time so this hasn't been much of an issue for me.
2 BR units at Sunriver cost 18.5 points per night. Some times, usually in low season, there is a discount for Sun-thurs while high season it doesn't vary. The point values vary by resort but as Sunriver is close to you, I thought it would provide a good reference point.
VI has some purpose built, VI owned resorts, but also some where they own only some weeks or a few units worth. For instance, they got 3 2BR and 3 1 BR at Otter Crest when they purchased a Hawaii based timeshare. Or there are the weeks at Shuswap in Canada where they own some weeks fall -spring. You can't look at the map of resorts and count on one of them for a summer road trip, for instance. If you are interested in a specific resort, let me know and I can look up what is available what is in the system.
There are no guest fees and while people rent out units, it doesn't seem to be the big issue it is at WM. In general, VI seems easier to get popular weeks than WM, but there will always be more demand for some weeks than others.
It's run by an Owner controlled board without the shenanigans we see at WM. The website is easy to use and competently run.
I haven't exchanged through VI. There is an internal program that utilizes the weeks that owners deposit in exchange for VI points. There is usually a good selection, but more SW locations than any other. There used to be more WM weeks, but the guest name business at WM has limited those. These exchanges cost $159 + a set number of points based on unit size from 70-154; a 2 BR is 112.

I like VI. The key, though, is whether they have the locations you want.

 

[Passepartout]

@Alfred Sun Sand I saw this and your post inquiring about selling your VI Points. Would that I'd seen something similar 30 or so years ago, but alas, that ship has sailed.

I casually look around facebook and found a fairly active buy/sell forum there, as well as info on the use of VI points for the uninitiated. Those sites do seem to require an application for membership, but that usually doesn't take long.

My understanding is that VI is not a deeded membership, but rather the transfers to and between owners is handled in house. You might contact them as to the process and cost to transfer your points to another person.

I also see that you are a TUG member, which gives you access to the TUG Marketplace (in the blue stripe above) where you can advertise those points.

All the best!
Torres Maz is probably our favorite resort in the world, and we were there at the Solar Eclipse last month. Our timeshare activity is also aging out and winding down. We're down to one VRI RCI Points resort left, and it's on the market, but we remember all our TS stays fondly.

Jim

 

[Alfred Sun Sand]

@Alfred Sun Sand I saw this and your post inquiring about selling your VI Points. Would that I'd seen something similar 30 or so years ago, but alas, that ship has sailed.

I casually look around facebook and found a fairly active buy/sell forum there, as well as info on the use of VI points for the uninitiated. Those sites do seem to require an application for membership, but that usually doesn't take long.

My understanding is that VI is not a deeded membership, but rather the transfers to and between owners is handled in house. You might contact them as to the process and cost to transfer your points to another person.

I also see that you are a TUG member, which gives you access to the TUG Marketplace (in the blue stripe above) where you can advertise those points.

All the best!
Torres Maz is probably our favorite resort in the world, and we were there at the Solar Eclipse last month. Our timeshare activity is also aging out and winding down. We're down to one VRI RCI Points resort left, and it's on the market, but we remember all our TS stays fondly.

Jim

Thanks Jim! I will try those. Regards. Alfred

 

[JohnPaul]

Hello Tahiya

I have had Pints for over 35 years and really enjoyed it. More than 45 locations is one of the plus. I will try to respond your questions to the best of my knowledge.

1. Most two bedrooms in high seasons range 24-38 points. Being Vallarta and Mazatlan (Mex) some of the highest. In Florida you can find for 10-18.

This answer seems to be incorrect to me.

Here are some examples of the 7 day cost in VI points of a two bedroom during the highest season.

The Pines, Sunriver, OR. 129.5 VI Points July 1 - August 31 and December 15 - January 2
Point Brown, Ocean Shores, WA. 154. VI Points. Holidays - Christmas season, Memorial Day, President's Day and Memorial Day weekends
Point Brown, Ocean Shores, WA. 129 VI Points June 16 - October 15
The Oasis, Palm Springs, CA. 119. VI Points. December 15 - April 30 and Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends
Sea Village, Big Island, HI. 129.5. VI Points. December 15 - April 30
Torres Mazatlan, Mazatlan, MX. 129.5. VI Points December 15 - April 30



All of these are standard 2 bedrooms. In some case there are larger 2 bedrooms or Ocean View 2 bedrooms or 2 bedroom penthouses that will require more points.

 

[JohnPaul]

Please note that the $25 reservation fee took the place of any housekeeping fees. Yes, the reservation fee is not refundable if you cancel. However, if you make 7 one day reservations you will pay 7 $25 reservation fees but no additional housekeeping fees (regardless of unit size).

 

[JohnPaul]

One last item. With regard to days of the week - the VI cost system is simpler than many others. Within one season, either all 7 days of the week are the same cost or Sunday to Thursday are one cost and Friday and Saturday are more expensive.