What Should I Buy?

[WhaleyMama]

Our family of 6 (kids aged 3-11 currently) went to a presentation for Holiday Inn Club at Gatlinburg last week. We have family members with TS horror stories so went in as an absolutely no, and found ourselves very intrigued with the point model of timeshare ownership. Thank goodness we made it through the sales presentation without cracking, but we did purchase a $1,425 7 night vacation w/additional presentation that we decided to cancel since we are pretty set on making a resale purchase and are scared making a purchase before the trip would disqualify us and saddle us with another $1,000 in fees.
My husband was really sold on the RCI Last call since we have the ability and like to keep our vacation schedule flexible. I've probably spent 10-15 hours of research here on the tug boards this last week now, and I'm not exactly sold that HICV is the right plan for us with the added difficulty of the point transfers within 3 resorts and their seeming to be keeping tight reigns on their ROFR. We did like that the points could roll into the IHG program (although I'm aware that the exchange value is kind of lacking, I want to keep the points for vacations vs hotels for 1-2 night sports tourney overnights). All this to say, i'm not sure what other plan might be better for us out there, so I'm here to get advice from you experts here! Were do I need to learn about next?

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
We don't have a specific destination we wish to always visit. We like visiting new places, but somewhere on the east or gulf coast with a beach would be an ideal home base if we had to pick. I also love National Park-ing trips.

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?
I would anticipate saying we would do 75% trade and 25% home resort.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Cancun or Playa del Carmen
Disney
Hawaii
Florida Beaches (hubs loves Key West)
Utah or Western Colorado

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
6 to 8

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
We mostly travel August-March, homeschool flexibility with a insane summer sport schedule we are locked into for the next 15 years)

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Not easily. Much better with last minute plans.

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?
3-4

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
up to 10k

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?
We'd prefer under 2k

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Very!! Love the nitty gritty details when it comes to travel and vacation.

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?
Absolutely. Which is why I'm doing ALL of the research, good and bad, before buying a resale.

 

[curitiba_tapley]

I think Club Wyndham may be a great option for your family, based on what you like to do. It has a huge resort footprint in all of the places you described (Mexico is a little tougher), I think it hits closer to the accommodation level you specified and the amount you are able to spend. I also think that with the home schooling flexibility - and insane summer schedule - you should be able to find inventory in places on "off-peak" weeks to schedule your vacations.

Another option might be Marriott Vacation Club - strong on the East Coast (Hilton Head) and Florida; good locations out West (Colorado and Utah). However, Marriott doesn't have resorts in places like Gatlinburg (whereas Club Wyndham has many locations in places like Tennessee, N. Carolina, etc.)

Good luck!

 

[elaine]

RCI and II last minute options tend to be areas of oversupply (Orlando and Williamsburg are 2), esp in off-season and cancellations. Most advise only to own a TS only if you can make advance reservations, up to 12 months out. TUG has a low cost last minute rental forum. Id recommend trying that or other rental places for a year or so to decide if that works for you before you purchase.

 

[jp10558]

Given what you've said, I also think Wyndham might be the best bet - cheap to get into, mid MFs, and more availability than say HGVC closer in. That said, I think to the extent you want last minute - timeshares may not be a good idea at all. If you want to pick a location and unit size etc, you basically need to do that at the max time out in the system, like 10 months out in Wyndham. Once you get to say a month out, there's often no availability or say only Mon-Thurs (which might be fine for you IDK).

You might actually do best just with looking for RCI Last calls, last minute timeshare rentals here on this forum, and maybe Extra Vacations. But to do that you don't have to buy into a huge system, you can look for a cheap trader like GrandView and like a 1BR, maybe even bi or triannual because you won't actually be using it to trade or go there, you're using it to get an RCI account. I.e. the $600 or less each year you "have it" is more like the membership fee to unlock the Extra Vacations and Last Calls.

This will work well for Orlando, Vegas, Williamsburg, Massanutten, "random California" , "Random Hawaii", and more.
The "random" means somewhere at some time, you'll need to check back, and be OK with the 20 days notice for travel say. You'd have to be extremely lucky to get beachfront and ocean views, you'll probably actually be in slightly less desirable inland locations, but still nice enough IMO.

The "and more" means catching occasional deals and making the date, again, often in the next 30 days or less work. And the location, unit, etc will be random.

Key West very very occasionally shows up for rent here, but often what I consider exorbitant prices - $5,000 for a week for a 2BR. That's one location where buying there specifically and likely paying for a fixed week if possible is the best plan if you want to go all the time. But that purchase price might be expensive, and the MFs won't be cheap, but "probably" less than renting unless you get the occasional last minute deal where someone had an emergency and can't go and is trying to get something. That almost never happens though - at least not in the last 2 years I've been paying attention.

I will say, for all the "talking down" I've done of the RCI Extra Vacations and Last Calls, that's more to dispel saleweasels lies. In reality, for me, I've used them 10 times or more in the last 2 years, the most expensive was $1,000 in the UK, almost always for a 2BR for a week. Most have been more like $650, some as low as $500. That's including the resort fees I recall. Pricing online is usually ~ $100ish less as there's a fee at check in I'm including. Not including parking fees, most haven't had them - but some do, especially in cities. These deals are well worth the buy in for me - but I'm OK going "out of season", and I'm more into nature / hiking so don't want "right on the beach". I have spent a lot of time within a 5 minute drive of a beach this way however, and I think that's a steal. Even if I had to "waste" the $600 or whatever MFs every 2-3 years for "membership" - I would find a lot of value. However, I actually mix in more expensive MFs so I can also choose (10 months out) several trips in more in-demand locations or times scattered in with the rest.

 

[elaine]

Also, no matter what you buy, ALWAYS consider exit strategy--that "free" TS might be free because it's a fine place and there is just an oversupply of resale units or an owner just wants to divest quickly--there are plenty of "free" TS on TUG bargain that fall into that category. But, many times, it's because annual fees have gotten too high for the value owners get out of it, it's off-season, etc.
Something like Wyndham or Worldmark points do not necessarily have that issue, but pay attention to the annual fees/per point and investigate extra fees (reservation, cancellation, cleaning, resort fees).
Good luck! We had many happy years with our kids in TS vacations in CA, HI, Banff, Bermuda, Disney, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, NC, VT, NH, etc. (but all of those were planned at at least 6+ months out, usually 12 months out).

 

[DeniseM]

I don't think you are a good candidate for owning a timeshare because of your answer to #6. The best timeshare reservations are available 8-12 mos. out. At the last minute, you are looking at the left overs.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Not easily. Much better with last minute plans.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I agree with @DeniseM Your #6 indicates that you will be a frustrated owner since the best properties are available 8 - 12 months in advance.

Why don't you try renting from owners on TUG2.net, Koala and Redweek. There is no obligation and you can see if different systems work for your family.

 

[jp10558]

Yea, I kind of ranted about a way I might make it work, but TBH, last minute is not the best for timeshares at all.

That said - it's also gonna depend on where you want to go. I've actually had good trips to Smuggs and Massanutten with 1-6 months planning but not in the winter / for skiing (as I don't ski). Hiking, sightseeing, eating out all were quite fun. I also did end of January in HHI that way. My one 1wk out booking in Wyndham was in Destin FL the week later made while I was in HHI, first week of Feb. Also reasonably fun. But it was a fluke and maybe these ideas aren't what you'd want to do or consider a good use. I also don't know what you mean by last minute, and I don't know if 2BR units are "big enough" for you. Do you currently book 2-3 hotel rooms?

 

[vacationtime1]

I don't think you are a good candidate for owning a timeshare because of your answer to #6. The best timeshare reservations are available 8-12 mos. out. At the last minute, you are looking at the left overs.

+1

If (and only if) you think RCI Last Calls (or Interval Getaways) will get you the vacations you want, you may wish to consider buying something so you can enroll the week in RCI or II in order to gain access to their "leftovers" (a fair description). You could then sell your week; neither II nor RCI have any way of knowing that you did. You could then continue paying membership fees to RC/II so you could snag last-minute vacations. But before you do this, make very sure the Last Calls or Getaways will work for you and make very sure that the unit you buy can be just as easily resold.

Otherwise, I go with @CalGalTraveler's advice to rent.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I view RCI last calls and II Getaways as good for 2 retirees if you have an extremely flexible schedule. OP has family of 6 but somewhat flexible winter schedule due to home schooling but if they are crammed in a unit and kids have homework while traveling, this will not be a good vacation.

 

[jp10558]

I view RCI last calls and II Getaways as good for 2 retirees if you have an extremely flexible schedule. OP has family of 6 but somewhat flexible winter schedule due to home schooling but if they are crammed in a unit and kids have homework while traveling, this will not be a good vacation.

I don't think it's limited to retirees - it's more about how flexible your schedule is. And how flexible about location and accommodations you are. I.e. it depends on how you schedule.

If you're literally "last minute" as defined as within the next 30 days and not tomorrow, and are willing to look at the list and go where there's a deal - it can work out great. I've taken a bunch that are near enough for me to drive a day or two to get to them, but also passed up a number that I'd have done except I'd need to fly, and I can't fly last minute affordably.

I've also seen a lot at the major locations, so Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Branson, Massanutten, Williamsburg, Smuggs, Berkshires, Las Vegas, Smoky Mountains, parts of AZ, parts of CA, Hawaii... I see them almost all the time. I know you're not getting Christmas + New Years, and you're not getting whatever prime ski weeks are, but Jan-March and Sept-Dec I see a lot of postings at least for the last 2 years again. Especially if you can go "off season". But the resorts aren't going to be right on the beach or the absolute prime ski resort location.

Going on RCI right now, doing my normal "no-mandatory All Inclusive" and 2BR units which all claim to sleep 6 (and with 4 kids I think you can make it work) -
Going from check in this weekend the 23rd through check in end of September, so about 5 weeks out, here's what I see:
Las Vegas,Massanutten,Fairfield Glade (basically golf), Kissamee FL, Orlando FL / Disney area, Weston FL, Palm Springs CA, Williamsburg, Myrtle Beach, Flint TX, Canyon Lake TX, Smuggs VT.

These are all around $379 + $130 or less resort fees.

If I add in more expensive Extra Vacations which I'll go up to $1,500 for the week (Note, I'm not clicking through, these are the lowest prices available for a week in that 5 week period)
I get Hawaii Island, Marble Falls TX, Hilton Head SC, Mazatlan Mexico, Steamboat Springs, CO, Park City UT, Angels Camp CA,Big Bear CA, Solvang, CA and Fraiser CO.

Right now Mexico is hard because of the stupid resort fees Vidanta is charging, so IDK about that.

I get these are leftovers, and you have to pick from the list - but to me, this is also a lot of choices for very cheap to reasonable. I'll probably need at least another year or two to exhaust going to each one one time, mixing in the ones I want to go back to.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't think you are a good candidate for owning a timeshare because of your answer to #6. The best timeshare reservations are available 8-12 mos. out. At the last minute, you are looking at the left overs.

Exactly what I was going to say. The RCI last call is a sales' ploy that seems to attract more people than it should. Very limited options. It's also not 2-3 nights without fees. Exchange fees + housekeeping fees + trade power add up.

RCI Points might be better for you. I just checked last-minute and see some Orlando options for 7,500 RCI Points. Calypso Cay for 8/31 7 nights showed as available. This is in Kissimmee off of Irlo Bronson. This is different from Holiday Inn points. Different currency, like pesos to dollars. The exchange fee is $299. My cost with RCI Points is $75 + $299. That is the deal they were showing you, and those do exist, but not any time you want. You have to watch for it. RCI Points is way better for those last-minute options.

Wyndham is an okay idea others have mentioned. You can get it cheaply enough, really free, because that is all it gets resale. You won't get any "bargain" weeks through RCI for last-minute travel. That seemed important to you. Wyndham doesn't trade through RCI for last-minute bargain travel. I have tested it against my RCI Points many times and it's not going to work.

The fact that it's cheap via (free) resale is such a shame. It's a decent product with lots of resorts. It leaves you open to some ridiculous sales' presentations where they will talk you into buying additional points to get "status."

Even someone who took one of my resale contracts really wants status after going to a presentation. The salespeople put that idea into one's head and it's rather like brainwashing. Seems that you cannot get out of there without being convinced how great status will be. Kind of like what you just saw with Holiday Inn's presentation.

You should probably look at MF's per 1,000. Something that is over $8 per thousand with program fees (about .72 per 1000) included would be too high. Those will be the cheapest contracts (free). Try to stay around $6-7/ 1,000. There is information on MF's on the Wyndham forum here on TUG.

Bonnet Creek is great, easy to get at 8 months out. Some 2 bedrooms are 112,000 points, making it about $800 for a week, depending on your MF's. You can look at point charts without even owning by going to clubwyndham.clubdestinations.com. Wyndham also has sales of 25%-50% off of off-season stays. That could work to your advantage.

There are housekeeping fees for some stays. You get just so many, then you have to pay. Again, look at Wyndham forum for more info on that.

 

[geist1223]

As others have said. Join TUG and rent from Owners on TUG.

 

[jp10558]

I also realize with @rickandcindy23 and perhaps others - you may not know what we're talking about or what the salespeople said WRT RCI vs reality. There's actually to my mind at least
5
different "versions" of RCI. Or ways to use it anyway.
I've been talking about using the "Cash" Last Calls(LC) and Extra Vacations(EV). You literally put in a credit card and pay dollars and cents for the stay. As far as I know, every RCI method lets you do this. So I think about this as 2 of the 5 methods, LC and EV. The difference is the price and how far out they go. LC is short term and more limited locations for lower prices.

Then there's exchanges - where you give up a week, or points that you own for a different RCI location.

There's RCI via a portal, like Wyndham (or HGVC for that matter). This still gets you LC and EV, but it doesn't get you most exchange deals - you get a fixed rate the timeshare system company got in making the portal, and the points values are converted to that systems currency in points. So the same RCI exchange in Wyndham might be 125,000 Wyndham points and 7,200 HGVC points. And every RCI exchange costs $299 unless there's a rare sale. (This is the access I have)

There's RCI WEEKS which is what you get if you've got a traditional week you're depositing (as far as I know). It's pretty much all weeks and they're fixed Fri-Fri, Sat-Sat or Sun-Sun. This is where TPU values come from if you see them mentioned.

There's RCI POINTS which is what @rickandcindy23 are talking about - where you get a points ownership at a specific RCI affiliated resort. Again, you're trading the valuation of your week or whatever they use for going somewhere else. But I think these can be shorter stays also.

As @rickandcindy23 point out - because of the high exchange fee AND resort fees, RCI exchanges don't often make a lot of sense, unless you just need to do something with your week / points. It can be a way to extend a points use from this year to up to 2 years from now. The "cash" LC and EV don't have this problem because you're just paying cash, and you can then use your week inside the system you're in, at the location, or target the exchange where it at least breaks even or is a good deal.

I don't have a RCI weeks or points account, so maybe there's also LCs in RCI points / TPU? I knew there were sales in that method, but IDK how that all works as I don't have access to that.

 

[rickandcindy23]

When you book full weeks for 7,500 points + $299 exchange fee, you shouldn't have any additional fees at the resort, unless they are disclosed on the confirmation. Less than 7 nights, there will definitely be housekeeping fees. We pay them quite a bit for our home resort on Maui, when we book extra nights. Totally worth it for Maui, but only for Maui.

I just realized that Calypso Cay may be related to Hilton/ Diamond, which would add fees of $25 per day for anything in the Disney area.

Extra fees are such a surprise to those of us who trade regularly. This is why a mini-system like Wyndham or Hilton has great advantages over using RCI.

I still prefer owning Sheraton and Marriott, different exchange company and great option for those of us who love preference into various resorts. Interval International has better options, but we own both RCI and II exchangers.

 

[iftravel]

When you book full weeks for 7,500 points + $299 exchange fee, you shouldn't have any additional fees at the resort, unless they are disclosed on the confirmation. Less than 7 nights, there will definitely be housekeeping fees. We pay them quite a bit for our home resort on Maui, when we book extra nights. Totally worth it for Maui, but only for Maui.

I just realized that Calypso Cay may be related to Hilton/ Diamond, which would add fees of $25 per day for anything in the Disney area.

Extra fees are such a surprise to those of us who trade regularly. This is why a mini-system like Wyndham or Hilton has great advantages over using RCI.

I still prefer owning Sheraton and Marriott, different exchange company and great option for those of us who love preference into various resorts. Interval International has better options, but we own both RCI and II exchangers.

Calypso Cay is with Capital Vacations. Not sure of resort fees but just no better resort of last minute in Orlando? Lol

 

[bizaro86]

I think you might be a good candidate for a Grandview small triennial rci points contract. The upfront fee/mf would be very low, and it gets you into rci for last calls. Just realize that while some of your locations will be good for that (Orlando) some will be much harder (eg hawaii) and some pretty much impossible (key west).

If you could plan more in advance I'd recommend worldmark. It's the best for national parks, and has locations everywhere else you mentioned except key west. But some of those locations (eg hawaii) need to be booked at 13 months out to the minute, so if that doesn't work for you then it isn't a fit.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Calypso Cay is with Capital Vacations. Not sure of resort fees but just no better resort of last minute in Orlando? Lol

I didn't look all that closely at what was available. Once you take out the Hiltons because of the $25 per day fees, not much left that are rated Gold Crown. Most of the resorts in RCI either have fees or are not quality resorts. I don't see Orange Lake last-minute. Maybe I should look closer at those.

I used to think places like Blue Tree or Westgate were great, now I am completely the opposite. Cypress Point is still a good option. I think it's Diamond now, so that would put it in the category of extra fees. I am unsure.

 

[WhaleyMama]

Thank you all soo much for the feedback!! There is so much gold here to spring board off of. My husband and I felt pretty hot about making decisions after our presentation last week, but now have decided to take the slow boat on this and do a lot more research and maybe take a few trips to a few different brand resorts to make a well informed decision. With all of the negativity surrounding TS out there, I'm really thankful to have found TUG and see if this is something that will work for us!

 

[GT75]

but now have decided to take the slow boat on this and do a lot more research and maybe take a few trips to a few different brand resorts to make a well informed decision.

I think that is a great decision and always advise someone thinking about getting into this to take their time.

 

[DeniseM]

@WhaleyMama - Have you checked out the TUG Last Minute Discounted Rental Forum? Lots of great deals there.

 

[WhaleyMama]

@WhaleyMama - Have you checked out the TUG Last Minute Discounted Rental Forum? Lots of great deals there.

I've been looking through it! I am planning to come back to it when we are ready for our next trip

 

[elaine]

A (resale) TS purchase that you know how to use to get the most out of can be a great thing...we had 15+ years of wonderful vacations with our kids using TS. A poor choice TS purchase is the opposite. Renting (especially using Tug last minute deals) is a good option for a year or two! Good luck! Elaine

 

[Stayls181]

Our family of 6 (kids aged 3-11 currently) went to a presentation for Holiday Inn Club at Gatlinburg last week. We have family members with TS horror stories so went in as an absolutely no, and found ourselves very intrigued with the point model of timeshare ownership. Thank goodness we made it through the sales presentation without cracking, but we did purchase a $1,425 7 night vacation w/additional presentation that we decided to cancel since we are pretty set on making a resale purchase and are scared making a purchase before the trip would disqualify us and saddle us with another $1,000 in fees.
My husband was really sold on the RCI Last call since we have the ability and like to keep our vacation schedule flexible. I've probably spent 10-15 hours of research here on the tug boards this last week now, and I'm not exactly sold that HICV is the right plan for us with the added difficulty of the point transfers within 3 resorts and their seeming to be keeping tight reigns on their ROFR. We did like that the points could roll into the IHG program (although I'm aware that the exchange value is kind of lacking, I want to keep the points for vacations vs hotels for 1-2 night sports tourney overnights). All this to say, i'm not sure what other plan might be better for us out there, so I'm here to get advice from you experts here! Were do I need to learn about next?

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
We don't have a specific destination we wish to always visit. We like visiting new places, but somewhere on the east or gulf coast with a beach would be an ideal home base if we had to pick. I also love National Park-ing trips.

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?
I would anticipate saying we would do 75% trade and 25% home resort.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Cancun or Playa del Carmen
Disney
Hawaii
Florida Beaches (hubs loves Key West)
Utah or Western Colorado

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
6 to 8

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
We mostly travel August-March, homeschool flexibility with a insane summer sport schedule we are locked into for the next 15 years)

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Not easily. Much better with last minute plans.

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?
3-4

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
up to 10k

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?
We'd prefer under 2k

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Very!! Love the nitty gritty details when it comes to travel and vacation.

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?
Absolutely. Which is why I'm doing ALL of the research, good and bad, before buying a resale.

Wow, you've done your homework! Based on your answers, I think you should explore other points-based systems like Wyndham, Diamond, or Disney's DVC. They offer more flexibility and a wider range of destinations.

Since you liked RCI's Last Call, look into other RCI-affiliated resorts too. And don't forget to explore resale options - you can find some great deals!

Create a spreadsheet to compare the programs and their features. That'll help you visualize the pros and cons and make a more informed decision.