What should I buy

[Smtiger]

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

OC/Disneyland for now

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?

Trade probably

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Orange County/Disney, San Diego, San Antonio, Cabo, Seattle/BC

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

4-8

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

Any time

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

Yes but prefer more flexibility

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

Yes but prefer 3-5 nights

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

3-5

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
$1-3k

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?
$1500-2500

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Very

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

I’m looking at Wyndham/worldmark or Marriott. Worldmark looks like I can pick up for nothing and is in more locations, is the quality of unit a big drop with Wyndham/worldmark?

Also if I buy worldmark points do I have access to Wyndham ?

 

[vacationtime1]

You are not a good candidate for a Marriott timeshare. Four problems:

Weeks ownership is based on using the place for a full week; you prefer 3-5 night trips. It makes no sense to pay for a full week and not use much of it. Points ownership (Abound) is expensive -- both the acquisition cost (which immediately becomes valueless) and the annual maintenance fees which are often higher than paying rent.

The acquisition cost for either a week or for Abound points is above your stated budget.

If you want to reserve a prime Marriott resort during high season, you need to reserve at the 12 month mark.

Finally, Marriott doesn't have much where you want to go -- really only Newport Coast and that's not especially close to Disneyland.

 

[geist1223]

If you buy Worldmark resell you will not have direct access to Wyndham Resorts. Only Credits purchased from the Developer (WMTS) and WM+A can Book Wyndham Resorts through Club Pass. WM+A Credits are Credits acquired prior to November 2006 from whatever source. Upon resell all Worldmark Credits become WM Credits. They have full access to the 90+ Worldmark Resorts, 4 WaitLists, Bonus Time, Inventory Specials, and Monday Madness. These 3 are cash options in which the HouseKeeping Charges are included in the payment. Also the issuance of Guest Certificates and Housekeeping Tokens are the same.

 

[rickandcindy23]

WorldMark has Dolphin's Cove. That is a great stay in the Anaheim/ Disneyland area, about 3 stars. You can book 12 months out. You can book 3-5 nights.

Wyndham also has Dolphin's Cove. Same thing.

Marriott has Newport Coast. All 2 bedrooms, but full weeks. I exchange in pretty often through II and don't own there. I can stay there cheaper via exchange.

 

[Smtiger]

WorldMark has Dolphin's Cove. That is a great stay in the Anaheim/ Disneyland area, about 3 stars. You can book 12 months out. You can book 3-5 nights.

Wyndham also has Dolphin's Cove. Same thing.

Marriott has Newport Coast. All 2 bedrooms, but full weeks. I exchange in pretty often through II and don't own there. I can stay there cheaper via exchange.

I’ve noticed that Worldmark and Wyndham have some of the same properties. Is that just separate portals of inventory ? Most of my timeshare travel will be west of the Mississippi (western US) but there are some Wyndham locations I would like to visit.

 

[jp10558]

I’ve noticed that Worldmark and Wyndham have some of the same properties. Is that just separate portals of inventory ? Most of my timeshare travel will be west of the Mississippi (western US) but there are some Wyndham locations I would like to visit.

It is pools, yes. Buying resale you only get access to one. For western US travel, I think Worldmark is much better, Wyndham is more east coast. Given you're wanting to do shorter stays, you're basically forced into points.

 

[Smtiger]

Can you ever enroll your points with the developer to get access to both ?
My BIL wants to go in as well (who we always travel with) so maybe we need around 26,000 points.

 

[sue1947]

It is pools, yes

Not really. They are separate inventories and mostly, separate resorts. The confusion comes because Wyndham owns some units in some WM resorts and vice versa. In general, Wyndham has dumped less desirable units into WM. Some have been remodeled, but go in with low expectations. Only buy resale and only for access to the resorts that say Worldmark. If you want both, buy an account in each. Or rent.

Can you ever enroll your points with the developer to get access to both ?

nope. Your BIL could buy a resale Wyndham, but I'd wait to see how this works out in practice.

 

[jp10558]

Can you ever enroll your points with the developer to get access to both ?
My BIL wants to go in as well (who we always travel with) so maybe we need around 26,000 points.

I don't think it'd ever make financial sense. It would be way cheaper to get both systems if you actually want both systems. Though you would have 2 systems maintenance fees. IDK Worldmark, or if you an ever qualify with a developer purchase, but other systems the numbers seem to start at around $14k. Resale wyndham starts at $0. So let's say you want 300,000 wyndham points, that's free if you take CWA, your maintenance fees would be around $2,500 I believe. That's 5 years that are "free" vs paying for a small developer purchase. However, in CWA you get priority booking (I think that's 13 months out?) at a number of resorts, and 10 months booking at all of them. Club Pass from Worldmark only gets you 9 months out cross booking. That means potentially less ability to book high demand times and locations, though I have seen less in demand booking available from Wyndham closer in.

 

[loosefeet]

Look for "free" WM contract on TimeShare Nation--just be sure you feel comfortable with the MFs each year--and yes, they do go up. It is the best option for use in the West.

 

[geist1223]

Worldmark does not have enrollment to wash resell Credits.

 

[Tahiya]

We own some WorldMark credits and have traded into a four Marriotts. You asked about the difference in level of quality in the two systems. While the Marriott units are generally larger and more attractively furnished, I haven't found the amenities (pools, game rooms, etc.) to be way better. Both developers have created a number of units with poor views, if that's important to you. Worldmarks have been fine for our purposes, and with one exception, none of our guests has ever complained about their quality. They are generally clean and have everything you need to spend a week there, assuming you book units with full kitchens.