What to expect from an inexpensive timeshare

[mprocopi]

Hi All!

First post to here so bear with me

My friend is an owner of Club Sevilla in Kissimmee, FL and has offered to sell it to me for a really sweet deal.

I only became interested when I found that it trades through Interval International (II) and I'm already a member. However, he currently trades through RCI and has reported success with his trading power.

His week is week 10, which has a much greater rank on the Travel Demand Index than any of the weeks I trade for my sport season at the Marriott Cypress Harbour. His Unit also can be locked off which is what I'd be interested trading.

So these are my questions:

1. If I pay my due diligence and deposit the best week I can and immediately request the week I want at a resort like (Renaissance Aruba - HTB), am I to be sorely disappointing in the trading power of this resort compared to my Marriott? Would it be worthwhile to pay a few extra grand up front and get the trading power equal (or better) than what I already have by purchasing another Marriott?

2. Since I'm an II member anyway can I expect to be able to trade this unit through II if I buy although my pal currently trades on RCI?

3. Anyone have experiences (good or bad) with this resort? I have no desire or plans to ever go there... only exchange.


Thanks in advance for all comments and suggestions!

Mark
-TUGBBS Newbie

 

[e.bram]

Sell? He should pay you to take it off his hands.

 

[gmarine]

I hope by sweet deal you mean for free or very close to free. Trading power for a standard Orlando resort is going to be mediocre at best regardless of the week. Even holiday weeks at high quality Orlando resorts are fairly easy trades.
Your not going to get high quality exchanges by depositing that resort. Dont buy it to exchange.

Better resorts sell for a few dollars to a few hundred on EBAY. I wouldnt take that resort for free.

 

[mprocopi]

Thanks!

Better resorts sell for a few dollars to a few hundred on EBAY. I wouldnt take that resort for free.

This is exactly what I wanted to know!

I'm definitely willing to pay more to get more. Should I just aim for something good in Hawaii knowing I could trade with ease? What other locations (and/or resorts) are great value? How much of a plus is the Marriott name?

I'd really like to save the additional membership costs and stick to II. Is this foolish?

Sorry for the barrage

 

[gmarine]

You dont have to buy Hawaii to have good trade power. If you want a Marriott consider Manor Club Platinum or Horizons Branson platinum. Both are good trading resorts, have less expensive maintenance fees than Hawaii and have lower resale purchase prices.

I much prefer II to RCI so sticking with II is the way to go IMO.

 

[bogeygolf]

This is exactly what I wanted to know!

I'm definitely willing to pay more to get more. Should I just aim for something good in Hawaii knowing I could trade with ease? What other locations (and/or resorts) are great value? How much of a plus is the Marriott name?

I'd really like to save the additional membership costs and stick to II. Is this foolish?

Sorry for the barrage

I think your logic is good but like the previous post, you don't have to buy hawaii to get great trading power. If you listed your desired travel destination and season, I think we can help you better.

The primary advantage to owning marriott for trading purposes is the 27 day preference that II gives to other marriott owners. So if there is a marriott available it will first be only available to marriott owners for 27 days before it is available to other non-marriott owners in II.

Stick with II they have some great resorts, you only pay one fee, and even their exch. fees are cheaper than RCI.

 

[janapur]

Oh and by the way . . . welcome to TUG!

While I don't own anything in Orlando, I can safely say that it is a very easy exchange with exception of DVC. We use our dog traders to get into Orlando.

Jana

 

[e.bram]

Hawaii. OP is an II member. Look at flexchange any place in hawaii is available anytime all the time. Try New York City, Key West(not huricane season) Boston ,Cape Cod summer, Coastal Ca. etc. Hardly ever see them in Flexchange(a good sign of trading power) If you see a lot in II's Flexchange, furgetaboutit.

 

[mprocopi]

Look at flexchange any place in hawaii is available anytime all the time. Try New York City, Key West(not huricane season) Boston ,Cape Cod summer, Coastal Ca. etc. Hardly ever see them in Flexchange(a good sign of trading power) If you see a lot in II's Flexchange, furgetaboutit.

Great stuff! So that leads me to another newbie question here... How do I look at the Flexchange resorts on the II site. Is the only way to find them to call II?

To articulate my goal I just want to have a good trader that can be locked off. I'm leaning toward Marriott because II gives Marriott to Marriott trades priority. The Cypress Harbour Unit doesn't lock off and it doesn't always make sense to have 2br when I vacation.

Thanks for the loads of valuable information all!

Mark

 

[bogeygolf]

Great stuff! So that leads me to another newbie question here... How do I look at the Flexchange resorts on the II site. Is the only way to find them to call II?

To articulate my goal I just want to have a good trader that can be locked off. I'm leaning toward Marriott because II gives Marriott to Marriott trades priority. The Cypress Harbour Unit doesn't lock off and it doesn't always make sense to have 2br when I vacation.

Thanks for the loads of valuable information all!

Mark

On II website click on exchange tab, put in destination and put in dates within 59 days of checkin & checkout from today. Flexchange are any exchanges occuring within 59 days of checkin from today. Use your cypress harbour to view but don't accept exchange. There is more info on sticky for II on exchanging forum.

If your interested in marriott you should post on marriott forum. The experts there will give you all kinds of advice on which is good trader. Lockoff is definitely a good idea if you don't always need 2br. Depending on resort and season you deposit either a 2br or 1bd lockoff deposits with II will give you "accomodation certificate" (bonus week) so you can get 3 weeks from a 2br lockoff. Read the faq on marriott forum sticky.

 

[Bill4728]

As the others have implied, Your Marriott resort in Orlando trades well because it is a Marriott. When I looked to exchange into Orlando for my DD, I looked only at the Mariott & Shearton resorts in II. I didn't even look at the standard resorts. So getting a standard Orlando resort IMHO is NOT a good deal.

 

[GoodWitch]

Hawaii. OP is an II member. Look at flexchange any place in hawaii is available anytime all the time. Try New York City, Key West(not huricane season) Boston ,Cape Cod summer, Coastal Ca. etc. Hardly ever see them in Flexchange(a good sign of trading power) If you see a lot in II's Flexchange, furgetaboutit.

What about Myrtle Beach? Is that often in Flexchange, or hard to get? I'm a Newbie from the Northeast. I was thinking of buying in Myrtle Beach because it's warm and a days drive. But if Cape Cod summer has better trading power I will reconsider.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[vacationhopeful]

As a fellow NJ-ite, I would look at which I-95 traffic jam do you want to be in: NYC and Connecticut OR Baltimore & Washington, DC?

My vote is Myrtle Beach which has a longer summer season and is warmer in the winter (plus snowbirds use it as a stopover to Florida) attracting a good Thanksgiving/Xmas crowd. Also, a strong early spring golf season for NE visitors.

 

[GoodWitch]

As a fellow NJ-ite, I would look at which I-95 traffic jam do you want to be in: NYC and Connecticut OR Baltimore & Washington, DC?

My vote is Myrtle Beach which has a longer summer season and is warmer in the winter (plus snowbirds use it as a stopover to Florida) attracting a good Thanksgiving/Xmas crowd. Also, a strong early spring golf season for NE visitors.

All good points, hadn't thought about the longer vacation season. One more question if you don't mind...

What is the demand for Virginia Beach? I was at a timeshare presentation a few years ago where they mentioned that the proximity to NY and Philadelphia made it highly desireable for Northeasterners. I believe this, but if the attraction is mostly regional and not national, that may limit it's trading power. Would love to hear comments on this. Thanks.

 

[e.bram]

Newport and Cape Cod are a lot closer drive from NJ. About 3 1/2 hrs to Newport and 5hrs(at most) to CC by car. Not a bad drive either.

 

[raeuven]

I am looking to purchase a 182,000 points at Riverside San Antonio for up to $1500 plus closing and MF's. It is a converted week, week 26 for a 2 BDRM presidential suite. Is that a reasonable deal?

Does this trade only through II or does it trade through RCI? I know it is a Wyndham Resort now. Does this unit have good trading power? If I buy the points, and it is a deeded week, how does Wyn handle that? Am I given that week or do I have to deposit into Wyn and try to trade back into via WYN or II or RCI?
I am already a RCI member with weeks membership. Is there an advantage to being a RCI weeks member and a Wyn/II points member, also or should I try to get a resort that is Wyn/Rci points to enhance my RCI weeks membership?