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What should I buy?

mikkey12601

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Hello I travel a lot, and I am an SPG platinum member. However, we have 2 young kids so having extra room for weeklong vacation (and laundry is a must). We live in middle America, but have direct flights to most locales. We have been going to Kierland every year on Explorer packages, but thanks to info on this sight I have been turning down the Vistana pitch. I am interested, however, in buying something on resale just need some advice on what and where to look. See my survey responses below, and THANK YOU!

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

Something beachfront, Florida, South Carolina. We also would visit Kierland/Disney, and not opposed to Mexico or Hawaii but those are much further flights.


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?
Would visit home resort half the time, but being able to trade for skiing or longer trip to hawaii would be a nice perk to have.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

Disney, Scottsdale, Colorado (ski location), Carribean or Hawaii


4) How many people do you usually travel with? 2 adults, and two young children.


5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule? Somewhat locked into school schedule, Spring/Summer breaks would be ideal, however, the kids are young enough they can miss a week and its not a problem.


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?

$25-$35k


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?

$2000-$3000


11) Are you a detail oriented planner?

Somewhat. Willing to make calls etc, exactly 365 days in advance


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
 

mikkey12601

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After spending many many hours reading TUGBBS forums today, I think I am most interested in buy resale Platinum week at the Kierland. My though is its a mandatory property, comes with 148,000 Star options, and have very low maintenance fees (~$1480) relative to the star options. I would probably stay at the Kierland 50% of the time, and try for a Hawaii, St Johns, Disney and Skiing the other years.

Should I be worried that the Marriott merger could throw a wrench in my plans? Also will this new Vistana flex which offers the Kierland as an option make it more difficult for me to get popular weeks?
 

bizaro86

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Based on your survey, I would have recommended the WKV plat. You'll always be able to use it for Scottsdale; and Orlando will remain an easy trade whatever happens with the merger. The merger could change staroptions in some way, but probably not for years, and WKV plat is desirable enough that it should come out fine, imo.

I wouldn't worry about flex taking availability. WKV has the best resale value of anything in the trust (even the Hawaii non-view units are less) so they are likely to get the least trade ins there, imo.
 
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