VIP Status versus Presidential Reserve

[rrlongwell]

... I haven't come to a conclusion yet about the relative value of PresRes status ... The presidential units seem to be very popular ... I'm don't agree that PresRes diminishes the value of VIP Platinum. They are quite different in concept.

Will see if their is at National Harbor. Am in a 3 bedroom this weekend, no newspaper for Platanium member, even after asking the Guest Services Manager for it. Will be in a Presidential Reserve Unit on the next trip. Maybe the newpaper is reserved for Presidential Reserve Units these days.

The National Harbor book in the rooms indicate that VIP Gold, Platium, and Presidential Reserve get delivered newpapers. The Resort Position is that does not cover weekend. Corporate could not even get them to change their postion.

Wyndham charges a huge premium for a developer purchase for VIP benifits but they give and take them away at will. it does not matter what the Fairshare Trust Policies are or what the Members Directory says.

 

[Dedibble]

I lost 2 at Bonnet Creek Christmas week. Had not rented them yet, but frustrating to tie so many points up for months only to lose them.

I booked an extra room for our family vacation, just in case, that was Ocean Walk in August, and rebooked 5 rooms no problem. (Amidst family threats of yes do it but don't screw up our vacation - gotta love it). Kept the extra room and kids got a little extra space/no one on couches (and loved it, probably spoiled them).

What scares me most is the capture routine Linda spoke of - I've heard of that before and wondered if it were true. Can't win at that game.

But all in all I have stretched our points (actually my Dad's) unbelievably. I think it's safe to say we never pay full points.

And about the Presidential Reserve. IMO, adding a level above VIP does devalue the VIP (well, i guess devalues everyones points). I hate to say this, but I do wonder if you are VIP Platinum, what it would cost to upgrade to Pres Reserve and if it's worth it. Some day I will find out, not in the near near future, but kicking around in my head (thoughts of future expansion).

Well, that is our point. Wyndham constantly "raises the bar", only effectively devalueing all the current owners points. In the 90's when we had 300,000 points down in Branson, we dreamed of getting to Gold Status to get the 35% discount. Over time I got lucky and experienced the VIP discounts, a few more purchases then found my self owning 721,000 points years later with only GOLD VIP Status. Now the dream is to be Platinum - or is it worth it? We sat through 3 "Updates" in the last 6 weeks only to find the offers outrageous! I think the last offer was around 279,000 points for $28,000 and of course we all know the maintenance fees after that are ours to pay till the end of time. Over the last year we have picked up some more points that put us over a million but the "catch" is we didn't buy from the developer so we do dot yield Platinum Status with those points added to our account. I have been told to "hold out" and only spend around $6,000 to convert everything and get the Platinum Status. Two things: is it worth spending that kind of money? Is it worth buying the Presidential Reserve while getting the Platinum? or wouldn't the resale points still work and as long a we are flexible? The salespeople keep ntelling us we are going to find ourselves with points we can't use. gotta go at Panama City and moving from a one bedroom to a 2 bedroom. looking for replies guys! love this site!

 

[ronparise]

Well, that is our point. Wyndham constantly "raises the bar", only effectively devalueing all the current owners points. In the 90's when we had 300,000 points down in Branson, we dreamed of getting to Gold Status to get the 35% discount. Over time I got lucky and experienced the VIP discounts, a few more purchases then found my self owning 721,000 points years later with only GOLD VIP Status. Now the dream is to be Platinum - or is it worth it? We sat through 3 "Updates" in the last 6 weeks only to find the offers outrageous! I think the last offer was around 279,000 points for $28,000 and of course we all know the maintenance fees after that are ours to pay till the end of time. Over the last year we have picked up some more points that put us over a million but the "catch" is we didn't buy from the developer so we do dot yield Platinum Status with those points added to our account. I have been told to "hold out" and only spend around $6,000 to convert everything and get the Platinum Status. Two things: is it worth spending that kind of money? Is it worth buying the Presidential Reserve while getting the Platinum? or wouldn't the resale points still work and as long a we are flexible? The salespeople keep ntelling us we are going to find ourselves with points we can't use. gotta go at Panama City and moving from a one bedroom to a 2 bedroom. looking for replies guys! love this site!

I dont think that there is any "conversion" of existing points or fixed weeks in the Wyndham system to get to Platinum

I am in about your situation 700000 points but Im just regular VIP (not Gold) and the only way for me to get to Platinum is either buying enough points from Wyndham to to it (in my case 615000) or to buy a fairly small retail contract and PIC two weeks from another resort....If you really want Platinum...take a look at the PIC program

 

[Dedibble]

I dont think that there is any "conversion" of existing points or fixed weeks in the Wyndham system to get to Platinum

I am in about your situation 700000 points but Im just regular VIP (not Gold) and the only way for me to get to Platinum is either buying enough points from Wyndham to to it (in my case 615000) or to buy a fairly small retail contract and PIC two weeks from another resort....If you really want Platinum...take a look at the PIC program

It's my understanding to get Platinum you need one million points - like us, you are real close. I have been told to get a couple of RCI Red Weeks and use the PIC program but I'm kind of scared to - a guy that has much more than a million points told me its real important to get prime two plus bedroom units in order to make it work. He also expressed great concern that Wyndham may be well on it's way to shut that down. What is a girl to do! I feel like I am always trying to outsmart them.

 

[chapjim]

Will see if their is at National Harbor. Am in a 3 bedroom this weekend, no newspaper for Platanium member, even after asking the Guest Services Manager for it. Will be in a Presidential Reserve Unit on the next trip. Maybe the newpaper is reserved for Presidential Reserve Units these days.

The National Harbor book in the rooms indicate that VIP Gold, Platium, and Presidential Reserve get delivered newpapers. The Resort Position is that does not cover weekend. Corporate could not even get them to change their postion.

Wyndham charges a huge premium for a developer purchase for VIP benifits but they give and take them away at will. it does not matter what the Fairshare Trust Policies are or what the Members Directory says.

I'm not surprised at anything that happens at National Harbor. For the most part, guests are an annoyance to the staff. National Harbor is located in a third world jurisdiction (no offense, Ron, but PG County isn't what it was when you lived there!) and is seen by much of the staff as a social program, designed to provide jobs to the surrounding area. Since the job is an entitlement, work is not a necessary part of the deal.

We used to be PresRes owners at NatHarbor. But, we live about twenty minutes from there, which means we probably would have attended owners' meetings. I'm not sure my blood pressure would have stood it. We bought another 154K points and traded to Bonnet Creek.

 

[ronparise]

It's my understanding to get Platinum you need one million points - like us, you are real close. I have been told to get a couple of RCI Red Weeks and use the PIC program but I'm kind of scared to - a guy that has much more than a million points told me its real important to get prime two plus bedroom units in order to make it work. He also expressed great concern that Wyndham may be well on it's way to shut that down. What is a girl to do! I feel like I am always trying to outsmart them.

heres the PIC chart

Remember the PIC week has to be from an RCI affiliated resort and not RCI points

A salesman at Wyndham corporate tells me that you can PIC in a week with a retail purchase of 50000 points..In my case I need 2 of the red week 3 bedroom units (254000 x 2 - 508000) plus a retail purchase(107000) plus what I own thats vip eligible (385000) to bring me to Platinum. That retail purchase will cost me $12000 to $15000 depending on the "discount" I can negotiate

Your calculation will be different


The bigger question is: why do this at all?...for me the the additional 10 guest certificates and the 50% discount on last minute reservations will I think make it worth while, especially if I add another 3 or 4 million points (bought resale since they will enjoy the discount too and since Ill be going from a 25% discount to 50% (and remember too, I rent nearly everything I own)

I cant answer the question for you...in fact you might be better off just buying the additional points resale and forgetting about the Platinum discounts...In fact I will probably be better off forgetting about Platinum. and just shopping for some good fixed week rentals

 

[Dedibble]

heres the PIC chart

Remember the PIC week has to be from an RCI affiliated resort and not RCI points

A salesman at Wyndham corporate tells me that you can PIC in a week with a retail purchase of 50000 points..In my case I need 2 of the red week 3 bedroom units (254000 x 2 - 508000) plus a retail purchase(107000) plus what I own thats vip eligible (385000) to bring me to Platinum. That retail purchase will cost me $12000 to $15000 depending on the "discount" I can negotiate

Your calculation will be different


The bigger question is: why do this at all?...for me the the additional 10 guest certificates and the 50% discount on last minute reservations will I think make it worth while, especially if I add another 3 or 4 million points (bought resale since they will enjoy the discount too and since Ill be going from a 25% discount to 50% (and remember too, I rent nearly everything I own)

I cant answer the question for you...in fact you might be better off just buying the additional points resale and forgetting about the Platinum discounts...In fact I will probably be better off forgetting about Platinum. and just shopping for some good fixed week rentals

And basically we are better off buying resale because of the actual cash layout - points are points are points in Wyndham - right?

 

[Dedibble]

And basically we are better off buying resale because of the actual cash layout - points are points are points in Wyndham - right?

Also. I guess I have misunderstood the PIC Program. I thought PIC was a scenario of which you take an RCI week that you own and give it to Wyndham for that calendar year, in turn they give you points to use for that year. What I am hearing from you is you have to another purchase with them.

 

[am1]

Also. I guess I have misunderstood the PIC Program. I thought PIC was a scenario of which you take an RCI week that you own and give it to Wyndham for that calendar year, in turn they give you points to use for that year. What I am hearing from you is you have to another purchase with them.

Yes a retail purchase is required. It use to be more than 50k per week. I would be surprised if they lowered it.

 

[jjmanthei05]

Last I heard it was 77,000 for 1 week and 110,000 for 2 weeks.


Jason

 

[ronparise]

I'm not surprised at anything that happens at National Harbor. For the most part, guests are an annoyance to the staff. National Harbor is located in a third world jurisdiction (no offense, Ron, but PG County isn't what it was when you lived there!) and is seen by much of the staff as a social program, designed to provide jobs to the surrounding area. Since the job is an entitlement, work is not a necessary part of the deal.

We used to be PresRes owners at NatHarbor. But, we live about twenty minutes from there, which means we probably would have attended owners' meetings. I'm not sure my blood pressure would have stood it. We bought another 154K points and traded to Bonnet Creek.

PG county was the wrong side of the tracks when I lived there too,,,1950-1968..The area close to DC..whats now inside the beltway filled up with the "white flight" folks and folks like my parents, who all of a sudden found that their new family had out grown an apartment in town...PG county is where you went if you couldnt afford Bethesda/Chevy Chase...Most of our neighbors were, ex GI's that came to Washington after the War..ie immigrants from from other parts of the Country...Now PG seems to be full of the children and grandchildren of the Great Migration and immigrants from all over the world...Nothing has changed...its still the place to go when you cant afford anything better

I had a completely different experience at National Harbor...I found the staff helpful and accommodating...I even had a nice morning with the sales staff...Once it was clear that I wasnt buying we had a nice chat about National Harbor's past and future

As a PG native Ive got to say, that National Harbor is a whole lot nicer to visit than the Smoot's Sand and Gravel pit, that it used to be...and I hardly noticed the Blue Plains Sewage treatment plant just up river (300 million gallons a day)

 

[ronparise]

And basically we are better off buying resale because of the actual cash layout - points are points are points in Wyndham - right?

For most people and most situations, yes..but as the cost of resale points at the most desirable properties (low mf) goes up. I can make an argument for using the PIC program and making a retail purchase to do it...If your goal is to own over 3 million points

 

[ronparise]

Yes a retail purchase is required. It use to be more than 50k per week. I would be surprised if they lowered it.

The corporate sales person Im talking to says it has been lowered to 50000 points per week...but then again...her lips were moving

 

[Dedibble]

The corporate sales person Im talking to says it has been lowered to 50000 points per week...but then again...her lips were moving

LOL! I think they were telling us we would need to buy 107,000 or 126,000 points but I can't remember. I read the The Book or should I say: I read a couple of pages of the book - the light bulb went on concerning PIC!