What (and if) to buy survey

[FFC]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
San Francisco for the next several years, then would exchange.

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
Home resort for the next four years (while youngest is in college in California).

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Not sure. Probably places that aren’t more than several hours by plane (live in Colorado)

4) How many people do you usually travel with?
Usually 2, may have up to 4

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Anytime.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Probably not for this timeshare.

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Would prefer to have a system in which I could book long weekends.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4-5

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
Could be flexible, but want a resale, if I can understand the different benefits resale owners and developer purchases have.

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?
1,00 - 2,000

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Yes

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?
Sure do.

 

[DeniseM]

For San Francisco trips now, and the ability to book weekends, I think Wyndham points is your best bet - SF has very few timeshares. You can buy Wyndham points on the resale market. For all the details on how many points to buy, where to buy, etc - please visit our Wyndham forum.

 

[sjsharkie]

Plus where do you want to stay in SF -- i assume it is near where your daughter is going to school? Parking does not always come with timeshares in SF and can be very expensive if you require a car.

Big difference between going to USF versus Cal Berkeley in terms of convenience and driving times.

Ryan

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[FFC]

My daughter is going to Stanford. I would ideally like to fly out and meet her in SF a few times a year. I don’t think we would need a car. After she graduates, I would use it to exchange.

I will check out the Wyndham threads (but I’ve gotten the impression Wyndham is the devil?)

 

[vacationtime1]

Unless your daughter has a car, you will need a car.

Stanford is a suburban campus in a suburb. Yes, there is public transit between Palo Alto and San Francisco, but it is a ways between campus and the train station in Palo Alto and between the train station in SF and anywhere in SF you would want to be.

 

[sjsharkie]

My daughter is going to Stanford. I would ideally like to fly out and meet her in SF a few times a year. I don’t think we would need a car. After she graduates, I would use it to exchange.

I will check out the Wyndham threads (but I’ve gotten the impression Wyndham is the devil?)

Stanford campus is 45 minutes away from downtown SF if there is no traffic. Worse if there is traffic. I would stay in a hotel in Palo Alto - there are a number of extended stays / residence inn type places if you need to cook. Or Airbnb is an option. Hotels in the area are generally cheaper on the weekends and expensive during the week due to the number of high tech businesses nearby.

I think you would be unhappy if you tried to stay in SF while your daughter was in Palo Alto. Rent first - Worldmark has a small property in SF. If then you decide that it is for you, take the plunge.

I know of no timeshares nearby. SF is closest to the north and Monterey to the south. Both are a minimum 1 hour away in the normal traffic you are likely to encounter.

Congrats on your daughter getting into Stanford. She will enjoy the Palo Alto area.

Ryan

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[FFC]

Thanks for the input. Just to clarify, I was hoping to get into a system that would allow my daughter to meet me in San Francisco a few times a year for long weekends. We would not be staying in Palo Alto - she would take BART up to meet me and we would use a Lyft to get around when public transportation wasn’t viable. I would prefer something with a kitchen or kitchenette so I could bring some of her favorite foods. After she graduates, would use it for exchanging.

Yes, she is the last one - so proud of her. Trying to ease the transition to empty nester.

 

[bizaro86]

Shell has 3 different properties in San Francisco, plus one in the wine country.

It might be a good idea to get a system with an SF property so you can use for other locations after you don't need to go there.

Worldmark, Wyndham and Shell all have SF properties. The other option would be Marriott destination points, as they are converting a hotel in the city.

 

[sjsharkie]

Thanks for the input. Just to clarify, I was hoping to get into a system that would allow my daughter to meet me in San Francisco a few times a year for long weekends. We would not be staying in Palo Alto - she would take BART up to meet me and we would use a Lyft to get around when public transportation wasn’t viable. I would prefer something with a kitchen or kitchenette so I could bring some of her favorite foods. After she graduates, would use it for exchanging.

Yes, she is the last one - so proud of her. Trying to ease the transition to empty nester.

Ok, that makes more sense though BART only goes from Millbrae. She will need to take Caltrain which as much more limited service on weekends unless she has a car.

Another poster mentioned the timeshares in SF. Hope you find one that works well for you. I own Worldmark and it is quite flexible, but you should look at what each system offers and how that might work for your travels once your daughter graduates.

Good luck!

Ryan

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