What should I buy? How many points?

[MattG]

Hi There,

New to TUG and considering buying a timeshare. I like to vacation regularly and have 2 adult kids with families that could also benefit. I am currently considering DVC and HGV. The family loves Disney but I also love the idea of exploring more places I have not yet been to. I'm sure in terms of things like HGV or Wyndham how many points to buy.
Thanks for the advice!



1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where? - Yes. Florida.

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? - Don't care would prefer points based

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations? - Florida, Europe, Caribbean, Japan, Middle East

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself? - Usually 2 but sometimes 8 if the kids go

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule? - Yes, anytime

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance? - Yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time? - Yes

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

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing? - depends...I could go up to $20K

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? - up to $4K

11) Are you a detail oriented planner? - sometimes

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? - Yes

 

[GT75]

if so where? - Yes. Florida.

Well, I can only discuss from HGVC perspective because that is all I know about. But, in the HGVC system, Orlando is one of the easiest places to book because there are many resorts. In general, Orlando has an over abundance of TS, so it may be cheaper to rent than purchase. If you did purchase, then I wouldn't recommend purchasing a resale deed in Orlando. I would look for one with both cheap buy-in price and low MFs.

Europe, Caribbean, Japan, Middle East

I see this also as a problem. I don't think that HGVC system will work well for you. Now, there are some HGVC resorts in Europe but very limited. I have stayed at the HGVC resort in Italy, a couple of times.

Good Luck

 

[Hindsite]

from what I know, you could buy DVC resale and get access to II to go to other places. Exchanging DVC via II isn't great value but II's getaways can be great value and plenty of availability for Orlando. Getaways are also more available in Europe via II than for exchange, ther are some decent, but not excellent former Diamond resorts.

In general few timeshares make the bar of 4-5 star, more usually +3 star, so it would be worth calibrating what features are important to you when you say 4-5 star.

Japan and Middle east are more scarce for timeshares, and quite rare for II. If you wanted to use your ownership to go to those, then they way forward would be to rent your DVC ownership and then use the money to book where you want.