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What are the best TS (timeshare) systems to own?

M

mkimber

TUG Member
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Location
Seattle, WA
Resorts Owned
Lake Chelan, WA
I am coming up to my 1 year anniversary of learning everything I could about Timeshares! One major lesson is wish I had found this website earlier. What a journey :) ! I even did a graduate econ paper on it last year to boot. I was obsessed with it for a while and devoured everything I could. So a question for all the Tuggers out there: In your opinion, what are the best Timeshare systems you have come across and why?
 
There isn't a "best" system for everyone. There are posts on this website about systems that people love, but to me they sound overpriced and cumbersome. It all depends on your budget, where you want to vacation, how far in advance you can plan, and how long you want your vacations to be (a few days here and there vs. one 7 day vacation per year).
 
mkimber said:
. . . . a question for all the Tuggers out there: In your opinion, what are the best Timeshare systems you have come across and why?
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I agree with @bnoble. Pick a system that you know that you'll use, is accessible without spending a lot (like airfares, theme park tickets, gaming 'costs', etc.) to use. Since we know that TS is not an investment, and that it's value is in the use you get and the memories you build.
IMO, given where you live, I'd recommend WorldMark. Lots of resorts in your quadrant of the country (assuming you are staying in the NW for a time) It's a system that holds value, is available resale, and doesn't seem to have a giant learning curve.
That said, I don't own WM, and it's a little late for changing. But if it was 20 years ago. . . .
 
The best timeshare systems are MVC and Worldmark. MVC is a fair amount more expensive than WM, but their resorts are also a higher level of quality than WM - i.e. 4 star vs 3 star. I do prefer MVC weeks over DC points but it depends on where you want to stay more frequently, as location is key to where you purchase.
 
Marathoner said:
The best timeshare systems are MVC and Worldmark.
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I mean, that isn't provable. HGVC and Vistana both have less locations than MVC, but are often lower cost and similar (or arguably higher) quality. Depending on where someone wants to go they could easily be superior.

I like and own Worldmark, but you could make the same argument with them. While Bluegreen/Diamond/Club Wyndham are all more expensive/less flexible on average for comparable quality, they have different locations. Someone who travels locally in the SE probably shouldn't buy Worldmark, so it wouldn't be the best system for them.
 
Diamond - regularly 4 weeks for 1 deals and lots of tricks to get more for your points. Sadly the Hilton purchase has stopped alot of the tricks. Access to 400 resorts without any fees, but again the Hilton purchase has reduced this #.
 
I own at Independant Timeshares at locations I want to go to on a yearly basis. I also own at Hyatt, and my week can give me multiple weeks if I stay in a smaller unit. This choice was right for me, but I did a lot of buying selling to get to my right mix.
 
We only own five weeks that we use every year. Those are Maui weeks. The rest of our ownership is all about trading. We travel 22 weeks a year, and we are probably going to be at 23 for 2022. We have spent an inordinate amount of time in Orlando this year with our various kids and grandkids. Leaves less time for our other trips.
My favorites for trading are Sheraton Broadway Plantation float that includes summer, and Sheraton Desert Oasis, weeks 1-52 (don't own any platinum). The lockoffs work very well because you can deposit the two sides separately and receive two exchanges for each week.

I am holding my breath for a major MF increase for 2023. That is always the unknown. If you buy several at one resort, are they going to do a special assessment at some point. A special assessment for our Sheratons would hurt. I worry about it because Sheraton Broadway Plantation doesn't quite reach the level of Marriott.

There is no magically perfect ownership. That is why we own so many. This is a diverse group and you will get a lot of opinions, all of them valid and worthy of your consideration. I just know what works best for us.

I also love Marriott and WorldMark.
 
Since you live in Washington, I would say 1) Worldmark 2) Marriott 3) Vistana (mandatory resort)

Worldmark's quality is consistent, more like 3*, clean and large generally except for locations in expensive cities like the ones in Vancouver and Victoria. With more than 90 locations along the west coast, low maintenance fees and no extra reservation fees, the value proposition is the best. Inexpensive to buy in the resale market, at 10 to 20 cents a point. If you want to trade outside of Worldmark, you can use either RCI or II.

Marriott's quality is consistent and closer to 4*, many locations in US and several in Europe and Asia. If you want low entry price, you will have to buy a less expensive maintenance week and trade in II. Marriott timeshare has priority period in trading back into another Marriott and Vistana (Westin/Sheraton). If money is no object, then buy a hybrid package, i.e. points and week, from Marriott to get it closer to $7 a point, with the option to use internal trading system, i.e Destination Club (to be renamed Abound), as well as free trading in II. I don't like to only buy resale points because Marriott Vacation Club points cannot trade back into Marriott in II. Points booking is easy and very flexible in Destination Club but it is more expensive for the stay.

Vistana, i.e. Westin/Sheraton, has been bought by Marriott and is in the process of being merged. It may not change for those who buy in the resale market, unless you want to shell out more money to Marriott to bring the week into the system. Buy a resale at one of the 5 mandatory resorts, and you should be able to use Vistana internal reservation system, or trade in II.
 
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Best is subjective and will vary by individual based on their needs and wants.

For me, I have a fixed summer week at Grand Pacific Palisades in Carlsbad, CA. I have used the fixed week almost every year as it is a perfect resort for our kids. As our kids are getting older, we will start to use the available HGVC points in lieu of the fixed week. With HGVC, it opens up many more options for us. I look at it as being two timeshares in one.
 
No timeshare system does everything. And you will have to supplement whatever you purchase with Airbnb/hotels/hostels/Agritourismo. (Agritourismo is my favorite kind of vacation. I'm opening one here at the farm.)

You don't have to limit yourself to just one system. But you're going to need to more accurately describe what you want to own, and what you want to do with it.

I own a trader which I have never used. I've never stayed there. I never will stay there. It's in my home town. And I have better options when I return home. Most people will tell you, "Buy something you will use." I didn't. And it's worked out great. (Although I also recommend buying something you will use.)

Since all I want to do with my unit is trade, it's value can be expressed as "the total annual cost, divided by the number of nights I get per year."

That number, most years, is $70. This year it's $90. And I'm getting far better quality for my $90 per night stay than I would if I rented a $90 hotel room.

But if you have a list of places you visit regularly, your calculus could be wildly different.
 
mkimber said:
I am coming up to my 1 year anniversary of learning everything I could about Timeshares! One major lesson is wish I had found this website earlier. What a journey :) ! I even did a graduate econ paper on it last year to boot. I was obsessed with it for a while and devoured everything I could. So a question for all the Tuggers out there: In your opinion, what are the best Timeshare systems you have come across and why?
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It's like asking what the best car to own is. As others have said, you have to find the system that you will use and can afford.

The No. 1 problem for people who acquire a timeshare is they don't use it because they didn't understand what they are buying, bought the wrong thing or never should have bought at all.
 
As others have stated, the "best" timeshare system is the one that works for you. One reason there is so much variety among timeshare systems, is that each system has its own high and low points. Some have many resorts, some are single destinations. Some are Weeks only, others are Points/Credits only. Some offer internal exchange options, others require you to go out of their system to make an exchange with a third party company. What works perfectly for one person may be a deal breaker for another. They each have their pros and cons, and there is no one right answer.

If the purpose of your question is to consider what to buy into, I'd suggest you not buy anything right away. Rent in different systems, and experience their resorts firsthand. Learn about how their systems work. Once you have some experience, you can make the right decision - for you. To do anything else could be a financial problem.

Dave
 
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I strongly agree with @DaveNV's advice to rent a few times. Renting gives you a chance to decide what is important (views? amenities? level of luxury? drive-to or fly-to?) and then decide which are important and which you are willing to pay for. These things will vary system by system, location by location, and vacationer by vacationer.

There is no "right" answer; the strong opinions expressed on TUG are because many of us have very different ideas of what is required for a good vacation.
 
mkimber said:
I am coming up to my 1 year anniversary of learning everything I could about Timeshares! One major lesson is wish I had found this website earlier. What a journey :) ! I even did a graduate econ paper on it last year to boot. I was obsessed with it for a while and devoured everything I could. So a question for all the Tuggers out there: In your opinion, what are the best Timeshare systems you have come across and why?
Click to expand...

What was your graduate school paper about? What did you learn about timeshares to write about? I assume you evaluated all the systems already.
 
mkimber said:
I am coming up to my 1 year anniversary of learning everything I could about Timeshares! One major lesson is wish I had found this website earlier. What a journey :) ! I even did a graduate econ paper on it last year to boot. I was obsessed with it for a while and devoured everything I could. So a question for all the Tuggers out there: In your opinion, what are the best Timeshare systems you have come across and why?
Click to expand...
Take a look at this thread.

[ 2021 ] What is your favorite timeshare brand and why?

I have purchased and sold many timeshare in the past 15 years I thought this might be interesting and educational. What is your favorite and runner up? Disclaimer, I only buy resale and resale is better/worse for some brands than others. Favorite - Hyatt - Love the flexibility of the HRC...
tugbbs.com
 
The one that works for you vacation lifestyle. We own HGVC, MVC and Independents. We are West Coast, tied to school schedule and tend to take long weekend trips locally and then trips out of state that can be driven to.
 
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