lschaaf
TUG Member
I've been here for about 2 months, reading and trying to absorb everything!
1) Where do you want your home resort to be?
Driving distance from AZ, CA beach is #1.
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?
Resort at least next few years...and if in CA, maybe all the time. Looking for this to be first of several timeshares
3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Hawaii, CA, Destin/SanDestin, NY, Jackson Hole...more upscale locations
4) How many people do you usually travel with?
6 for the next few years (2 teenagers and each w/a friend), 2-6 once we are empty nesters in 4 years.
5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Prefer summer for next 4 years, though not opposed to traveling w/out kids! Especially once they are out of the home.
6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes, we always book vacations at least a year in advance (though we have flexibility for last minute trips too without kids)
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
9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
10K max, would like $5K or less
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?
prefer no more than $1200, but could/would go higher, if it was the right fit.
11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Yes
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
So here's what I've been looking at...both in Carlsbad, either Seapointe Resort Carlsbad, week 28-32, 2 bedroom, or Four Seasons Alviara. We have rented a week on Mission Beach in the past for $3K which has been great because the teens can just walk out on the beach and hang out, which is why Seapointe sound great, but in a few years when we have no kids, will we wish for a quieter resort?...Which is why Four Seasons sounds nice...but don't want to over pay if it ends up too sedate or out of the way. We are an active family, husband loves to run on beach in mornings, and we like to hike and bike (and shop and eat out, as well as in condo)
We want to build a nice tradeable timeshare portfolio.
Not sure if it's better to buy in Mariott or Hilton or (or Starwood, but the Flex thing is so uncertain), and try and trade into CA for the next few years?
Is Carlsbad a good trade?
Thanks for any insight! I've gone from Hawaii as our home base to CA in the last 2 months of research. Or maybe it's better just to keep renting in CA and work on other resorts for our timeshare portfolio....aaaaarrrrrgggghh, its just so confusing! Are the Four Seasons nice enough to justify the high maintenance fees (and is the Elite Alliance a good place to trade for other high end resorts), or is it just fluff and over priced?
We like nice things...but we're not snobs...just like really comfortable beds...and clean resorts!
Or should I throw it all to the wind and get 15,000 Worldmark credits?
1) Where do you want your home resort to be?
Driving distance from AZ, CA beach is #1.
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?
Resort at least next few years...and if in CA, maybe all the time. Looking for this to be first of several timeshares
3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Hawaii, CA, Destin/SanDestin, NY, Jackson Hole...more upscale locations
4) How many people do you usually travel with?
6 for the next few years (2 teenagers and each w/a friend), 2-6 once we are empty nesters in 4 years.
5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Prefer summer for next 4 years, though not opposed to traveling w/out kids! Especially once they are out of the home.
6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes, we always book vacations at least a year in advance (though we have flexibility for last minute trips too without kids)
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
9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
10K max, would like $5K or less
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?
prefer no more than $1200, but could/would go higher, if it was the right fit.
11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Yes
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
So here's what I've been looking at...both in Carlsbad, either Seapointe Resort Carlsbad, week 28-32, 2 bedroom, or Four Seasons Alviara. We have rented a week on Mission Beach in the past for $3K which has been great because the teens can just walk out on the beach and hang out, which is why Seapointe sound great, but in a few years when we have no kids, will we wish for a quieter resort?...Which is why Four Seasons sounds nice...but don't want to over pay if it ends up too sedate or out of the way. We are an active family, husband loves to run on beach in mornings, and we like to hike and bike (and shop and eat out, as well as in condo)
We want to build a nice tradeable timeshare portfolio.
Not sure if it's better to buy in Mariott or Hilton or (or Starwood, but the Flex thing is so uncertain), and try and trade into CA for the next few years?
Is Carlsbad a good trade?
Thanks for any insight! I've gone from Hawaii as our home base to CA in the last 2 months of research. Or maybe it's better just to keep renting in CA and work on other resorts for our timeshare portfolio....aaaaarrrrrgggghh, its just so confusing! Are the Four Seasons nice enough to justify the high maintenance fees (and is the Elite Alliance a good place to trade for other high end resorts), or is it just fluff and over priced?
We like nice things...but we're not snobs...just like really comfortable beds...and clean resorts!
Or should I throw it all to the wind and get 15,000 Worldmark credits?
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