what to buy survey?

[mec3]

1) we do not have a vacation destination we particularity like to visit. We would however like the kids to visit every state by the time they finish high school (10 year old triplets)

2) Would likely not go to the same resort often.

3) top destinations may be Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, maybe D.C. some international. South america, Antarctica, Africa, some domestic Again, not over and over.

4) 2 adults, 3 10 year olds

5) locked into school schedule and both adults work. Both adults have about 15 years before travel will be difficult (old). (we started late).

6) Some times we can make firm plans but also may need to change them (I take care of 86 year old mother)

7) Can vacation for a week, but generally get bored after about 4 days in one place. so side trips would be good. Kids are very active.

8) As long as it is clean, good facilities, pool, etch and lots to do. more into scenery than the room.

9) Amount we can afford depends. and it also depends on all the other fees. Husband and I both work so we are OK.

10) Depends on what we get out of it.

11) Husband and I have basically grown up traveling (military brat etc) so I am great w logistics and travel. that being said sometimes the touristy stuff is nice, but we may tend to places to get away from crowds. we live in a big city and crowds can be exhausting.

12) I understand that selling a timeshare may be difficult, that is why I am researching.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Congrats on researching whether a TS makes sense. Given you don't want go to the same resort and get bored after 4 days, I would not recommend timeshares because most TS rentals are a week long. You would do better with flexible AirBnB's and hotels for short stays in the locations of your choice. Just be careful with AirBnB's as the housekeeping and other fees can add up for short stays as well. You can check out the TUG marketplace or Redweek for rentals when a week long rental is desired.

 

[mec3]

if Hawaii then a week is not long enough!! KWIM? thanks

 

[silentg]

You might do better with a points timeshare with a affiliated company Like Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn Club, Vacation Village etc.
Check the Bargain Deals there are some TUG members giving away timeshares.
Good Luck, I hope you find a timeshare that works well for you and your family.
Silentg

 

[mec3]

thanks, considering a Hilton but wondering it we would really use it. the cost for new is very high. and we are scheduling constrained with school.

 

[DeniseM]

9) Amount we can afford depends. and it also depends on all the other fees. Husband and I both work so we are OK.

10) Depends on what we get out of it.

Without knowing what your purchase and maintenance fee budget is, it is impossible to advise you. Prices vary widely.

Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, maybe D.C. some international. South america, Antarctica, Africa, some domestic Again, not over and over.

Timesharing doesn't work very well for international travel, and most of these locations are not going to be 4 days trips.

11) Husband and I have basically grown up traveling (military brat etc) so I am great w logistics and travel. that being said sometimes the touristy stuff is nice, but we may tend to places to get away from crowds. we live in a big city and crowds can be exhausting.

This question is more about the many details of making a timeshare exchange - to be successful with timesharing, you have to plan and commit well in advance (12 mos. is not too early) and have an excellent understanding of your system's reservation rules. Some people like to be more spontaneous, and that doesn't work well at all when you are locked into the school schedule and trying to make timeshare reservations.

 

[Panina]

Need to know your budget, what you are comfortable spending to purchase and each year pay in fees, to give you an opinion that means something.

 

[1st Class]

I suggest renting in a few different systems to see your likes and dislikes before taking the plunge into buying. Also consider your home resort location ... do you want drive to or fly to locations? Flying a family of 5 will be an ongoing expense if you decide to go that route. Whatever you decide be sure to buy resale not from a developer. You'll save big $$$. Do check out Bargain Deals as there are often gems to be had for pennies (or nothing) on the dollar.

 

[Lisa P]

Is this for real? All 50 states plus... and three more continents including... Antarctica?... in the next 8 years... and you're locked into a school schedule? (Maybe Christmas week in Antarctica may creep above freezing?) That's a LOT of travel to cram into a couple months over the next 7 or 8 summers. If this is seriously your agenda, wow, that's ambitious!

So, giving you the benefit of the doubt...

A family of 5 is often a challenge. In most timeshares, you'd be limited to 2BR units or larger. In many hotels, you'd need a larger suite or two connecting rooms anyway. Having a kitchen, even a kitchenette, with 3 preteens/teens would be helpful.

A points-based or credits-based timeshare system with a large range of resort locations may help with some of this travel, not all. Look for 2 or more systems which don't overlap too much (maybe WorldMark and Bluegreen... or WorldMark and Wyndham... resale points generally don't cross over) and buy just enough resale points/credits to provide split stays annually, planning a year ahead for those primetime reservations.

Family-friendly suite hotel stays and/or rental RV road trips could help increase your state count in regions with relatively fewer tourist centers (and timeshares).

For overseas travel, locate a good local travel agent who'll work with you to find great package deals and airfare sales. Antarctica? Only a tour with kids/teens! Lol! Good luck!

 

[exyeh]

Even at 13 months before, you will have a hard time getting a reservation at a worldmark popular resort during summer high season. For less experience owners, not very likely.

 

[mec3]

thanks, we will likely rent now and, maybe buy used later. an issues with the right of first refusal? also what advice can you give on getting airfair? is that part of it of are you on your own. hubby and I have tons of miles but thinking long term.

by the way just the states w the kids, maybe lots of driving, maybe RV, some flying. (they have already been to Alaska) The international is just my own bucket list, can wait till kids are out of the house. so I think I still have most of my marbles (I hope) but triplets can make one nutty lol.

thanks for all the advice, I will keep learning.

 

[NewbieMom]

Even at 13 months before, you will have a hard time getting a reservation at a worldmark popular resort during summer high season. For less experience owners, not very likely.

I second this! Don't buy Worldmark if you want summer at prime locations. I've been getting up at 5:45am for about 7 days over the past month trying to book for 2019 summer (flexible on exact summer date since kids are out of school) but still no luck!

 

[Steve Fatula]

Congrats on researching whether a TS makes sense. Given you don't want go to the same resort and get bored after 4 days, I would not recommend timeshares because most TS rentals are a week long.

They did say they get bored, but on their list is also places like S America, Africa, etc. Well, by the time you get there are possibly get over jet lag, you will wish your flight wasn't 4 or 5 days after you arrive!

For the variety noted, I don't think points will be a good choice. It is ok for some of the 50 states, but who has properties in all 50? Let alone international?

I agree this is more aggressive than can likely be done. If you truly want to visit all 50 states, many of them can be done via driving, and rentals. That way, you can hit many states in one trip.

I think rentals are the way to go for you given your requirements. We've been owners for 20 years, and, we've been to many international locations. But it's taken us 20 years to hit many of the spots we want to go, but there are many left such as Egypt, Thailand, Uganda, Alaska, etc.

 

[mec3]

yes international is likely after kids are out of the house. and many of the states is via driving. I think they have about 10 so far. I don't think they would bore overseas, it just if they are at the pool or a single beach for 7 days..especially if we have been there before. we could hang out in Hawaii for weeks as far as I am concerned haha. lots to learn....

 

[rhonda]

(Maybe Christmas week in Antarctica may creep above freezing?)

Well, in all fairness, Christmas is in the Austral Summer. We visited Antartica in late Feb and the weather was quite fair. We were fortunate?

But sadly, no timeshares on that Continent that I know of. I think expedition-style cruising will be the OP's best bet for that area.

 

[swiftyman]

I second this! Don't buy Worldmark if you want summer at prime locations. I've been getting up at 5:45am for about 7 days over the past month trying to book for 2019 summer (flexible on exact summer date since kids are out of school) but still no luck!

I am under the impression that you can call in and make an 8 day reservation split over 2 resorts, so you can throw away a night somewhere cheap to get Hawaii a day before you normally would.

 

[taterhed]

I am under the impression that you can call in and make an 8 day reservation split over 2 resorts, so you can throw away a night somewhere cheap to get Hawaii a day before you normally would.

I'd suggest taking your comments/questions on grouped WM reservations to the WM thread or to https://www.wmowners.com

 

[NewbieMom]

I am under the impression that you can call in and make an 8 day reservation split over 2 resorts, so you can throw away a night somewhere cheap to get Hawaii a day before you normally would.

As the previous person posted, you can read more about tips and tricks in the WM thread or owners' forum. I've read them, but 1) my account is small so I can't afford to throw away any credits unused and 2) you still need to get up at that 5:58am to book that one popular resort to group a reservation.

 

[swiftyman]

I'd suggest taking your comments/questions on grouped WM reservations to the WM thread or to https://www.wmowners.com

How is that even remotely helpful advice based on the conversation in this thread?

Worldmark was brought up by others and I was simply sharing an option that hadn't been mentioned, and could be the solution to a problem that had.

 

[taterhed]

How is that even remotely helpful advice based on the conversation in this thread?

Worldmark was brought up by others and I was simply sharing an option that hadn't been mentioned, and could be the solution to a problem that had.

I'm being sarcastic, not mean. So, don't get steamed....

First, the OP is talking about visiting multiple continents and Antarctica--and getting bored after 4 days. Seeing as how it takes almost 4 days to complete some of these travels, I think this is an exercise in 'what if' more than 'which timeshare.' I would NOT recommend timeshares to anyone that gets tired of locations after 4 days and want's to travel to multiple continents etc.... It's possible, but not a very good starting point for newbies.

Second, your comments about Worldmark and grouped reservations are not inappropriate...they do address the 4 day issue I suppose....but they are just too technical, given the OP's tenuous stipulations. IMO

Besides, I'm pretty sure you're remembering the 'good old days' before the group restrictions that went in effect a few years ago to frustrate the megarenters. Plainly spoken, grouped reservations allow you to book long reservations or bypass the 7 day rule and cherry-pick some weekends with some (now) expensive fillers and HKT's. Gone are the days of linking peak red-weekends together with blue studios and $49 housekeeping. It's now all red, expensive HKT's and all within 13 mos. So, as @NewbieMom pointed out to you, you still must be able to make the tough, peak season reservation in 13 mos. Given that you would also need a pretty large account for all those red weekends and HKT's, it's really not a viable suggestion for someone that's exploring or thinking about dipping a toe in the timeshare pool. My opinion. If you'd like to explain this to the OP, then by all means, give it a shot. I don't think it's even remotely possible at this stage.

Again, if you have questions about why the WM grouped reservations wouldn't get the OP 4 day reservations in Africa, Antarctica and Depoe Bay in peak season.....then perhaps you should review some of the postings in the WM thread or on WMOwners.com IMO.

BTW: Is there a peak season in Antarctica? Don't forget the suntan lotion.... LOL

(courtesy of @alwysonvac )
Changes to the Grouped Reservation Guideline

As part of the Board's efforts to increase availability at the most sought after resorts, the Board of Directors for WorldMark, The Club recently updated the Grouped Reservation Guideline. The suggestion came from an owner who identified a scenario specific to grouped reservation booking patterns, which provided an advantage in booking beyond the 13 month window. This member also delivered to the board a possible solution to address the scenario.

After evaluation, the Board approved an update to the grouped reservation guideline to require that all segments of a grouped reservation must be within the 13 month window at the time the reservation is made. The change is effective January 1, 2016. Collectively, the Board of Directors feels this solution reinforces equitable access for all owners at the 13 month mark. The Board has asked that we continue working to identify opportunities to increase availability at the most sought after resorts. Please visit the Board of Directors page for more information on how your Board serves WorldMark owners.

 

[rhonda]

BTW: Is there a peak season in Antarctica? Don't forget the suntan lotion.... LOL

Source: https://www.antarcticaguide.com/best-time-to-visit-antarctica/
Snippet:
As a tourist, the only time of year you can reach Antarctica is during the summer period. However, when you go during the summer will very much depend on what you wish to get out of your Antarctica cruise adventure. The Antarctica summer/tourist season is roughly 5 months long from late October through to late March.

And to be sure, pick your timing carefully based on what you want to see/experience. Be mindful of breeding and chick-raising cycles as you will encounter many, many penguins. Do you wish to see courtship? Egg care? Hatchlings? the scruffy first-molt of juveniles ... ?

 

[taterhed]

Only on TUG...... I'm surprised that Wastegate doesn't have a resort there!