What's the Best Timeshare Resort You've Stayed In

[wcfr1]

It appears that on Aug. 11, 2005 someone started a thread called "Whats the worst timeshare resort you've stayed in"

Well as of April 4, 2008 that thread has 267 replies and 46,523 views! Awesome numbers.

I really enjoyed reading that thread and recently read on another thread that maybe one should concentrate on the best and not the worst. Personally I think that's a good idea. So, don't know if this has been done before but lets list the best. Even if it has been done before it would be good to bring up again and see who is the best now.

Anyone ready to start the list?

 

[Steve]

Four Seasons Aviara

I'll take the plunge. The best timeshare I have ever stayed at is Four Seasons Aviara. Simply beautiful grounds, pools, decor, furnishings, etc. Huge villas. Wonderful setting. Exceptional service including daily cleaning. I liked it so much, I bought a week (resale).

Steve

 

[Courts]

The best I have stayed is WKORV Maui. The only negatives about this resort are from people who are assigned the highway units.
.

 

[dlpearson]

From an overall resort experience, Harborside at Atlantis. The timeshares are very nice, but the access to the Atlantis pools, slides, aquariums, etc. are phenomenal.

The 3 bedroom pool villas at Westin St. John are pretty incredible, too. The resort itself is nice, but the island and especially its beaches make for an amazing overall experience.

David

 

[BocaBum99]

Here are the best resorts I've stayed at (off the top of my head in approximate priority order):

1) Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar - 2 & 3 Bedroom Cabins

2) Old Key West Resort - 3 bedroom Grand Villa

3) Marriott Maui Ocean Ocean Club - 2br Oceanview unit

4) Hyatt Coconut Plantation - 2br

5) Marriott Waiohai - 2br Oceanview

6) Four Seasons Troon - 2br

7) Four Seasons Aviara - 2br

8) WorldMark Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains - 3br Deluxe River front

9) Solara Surfside - 2 br Oceanfront

10) Morritt's Grand - 2br Oceanfront

11) Wyndham Bonnet Creek - 2br deluxe

12) Lodge Alley Inn - Charleston - 1br

13) WorldMark Depoe Bay - 2br Oceanfront

14) Marriott Ko'Olina - 3 br oceanview

15) Westin Kaanapali - 1br oceanview

I wouldn't hesitate to go back to any of these resorts at any time. In fact, I have and will continue to do so.

 

[anne1125]

I'll have to say Marriott's Ocean Club in Aruba. Perfect location and great 2 bedroom unit. It was 8 years ago and my kids still say it was best.


Anne

 

[barndweller]

#1 Four Seasons Aviara1 bedroom-Huge units with elegant decor, beautiful location close to all So. Ca. attractions, fantastic staff, fantastic service-I'd go back in a heartbeat.

#2 Hanalei Bay Resort 2bdrm-Large, newly refurbished units, big very private lanais with the most incredable view anywhere in Hawaii (IMHO) Beautiful grounds, lovely pool, helpful & friendly staff.

#3 Rancho Manana in Cave Creek 2 bdrm-Huge units, most fantastic timeshare kitchen I've ever seen with all top of the line appliances & cooking utensils, lovely grounds, beautiful pool, full service spa, good restaurant & bar on-site.

#4 Masters Villas in Mesquite 2 bdrm-1 story townhome style complete with garage & golfcart, overlooking driving range with free use from back yard, beautifully furnished including huge well equiped kitchen. For golfers, a great place. For non-golfers not so much. Pool is nothing. Close to Vegas & magnificent National Parks for sight-seeing.

#5 Greensprings Plantation Williamsburg 2 bdrm-our first timeshare stay and we were impressed by the large, nicely furnished unit with big balcony with peaceful view. Lots of stuff to see & do in the area. We have since been to fancier places but still think this one is great.

 

[Icc5]

Welk in Escondido

Let me say first, I own at Welk.

I have found Lawrence Welk, Escondido the one place where I feel as I can relax as soon as I walk in the door. I also feel I have moved up a class when I'm there and feel like I'm living the life of the rich and famous.
I have never felt this anywhere else.
Bart

 

[JLB]

Bad is pretty easy is to see/know, but you don't always know good, until you think back on it.

We've done 100-plus exchanges. Some are long-forgotten but a few seem to reach out, calling us.

There was a time when I would have answered with the resorts that had the most bells and whistles, as it appears others have. But I don't believe that would be the case any more. A place can have all the amenities in the world, but not be a good resort providing a vacationy vacation for a lot of reason.

I believe our best resorts are the ones we feel best at, most comfortable, and that we miss when we cannot get them or cannot or do not go to them any more. As I think back on it, it has more to do with the area the resort is in, that timesharing has allowed us to be able to go to them, to have a comfortable place to hang our hats.

Our best resorts are pretty simple, Plain Jane. For me/us that would be resorts no one else would have on their lists and would probably disappoint others if they went to them on my referral.

The resorts that don't have that as their number 1 priority, providing a comfortable vacation for their guests, are missing the target, IMO.

I seem to be able to sense them before I see them.

 

[Kona Lovers]

I believe our best resorts are the ones we feel best at, most comfortable, and that we miss when we cannot get them or cannot or do not go to them any more. As I think back on it, it has more to do with the area the resort is in, that timesharing has allowed us to be able to go to them, to have a comfortable place to hang our hats.

Our best resorts are pretty simple, Plain Jane. For me/us that would be resorts no one else would have on their lists and would probably disappoint others if they went to them on my referral.

We feel exactly the same as you. Our list would be quite plain and unimpressive, basically being where we own, which we've generally preferred to what we've traded into. It's an incredibly personal issue, and our fondest memories aren't the places we've stayed, but the experiences/relaxation we've been able to enjoy.

Marty

 

[dougp26364]

I'm not certain that we've stayed in any one timeshare that we could rate as #1. What I have found is that the major hotel chains generally have very nice timeshares that we've been happiest in. The list of our experience has been with Marriott, Hilton and Westin. All have been excellent resorts, well kept grounds, well managed resorts and nicely kept units. I'd like to experience Hyatt but have been unable to grab one of their units to date, prefering mostly to do internal exchanges with our Marriott and HGVC ownerships (less expensive).

The independent or off brand resorts we've stayed at have generally been very nice and we've had very few complaints over the years. I'm not certain if that's just been luck or reasonably careful research. Even the one resort we've stayed at that has no ranking in the new I.I. system was acceptable accomadations for what we used to exchange into it with (Ridge Crest).

I guess our only issue was with one exchange and it wasn't even the unit quality but that we felt we gave up more than what we recieved. That was when we made the exchange into Westgate's Town Center and ended up in a one bedroom unit which was, more or less, a glorified studio unit with a door between the living area and the bedroom. The resort itself was nice enough IMO but, I made a bad exchange. From that I've learned to look more closely at the unit amenities and learned to read more about the resorts here on TUG.

 

[Transit]

Harborside at Atlantis

 

[Keitht]

"Best" for me changes depending on what I want from a specific holiday, but in different categories my 'best' would be the following.

Best furnished - OLCC
Best located - Banff Rocky Mountain Resort
Best for convenience - my home resort Plas Talgarth in Wales as it's only a couple of hours from home.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

This is very different from the others, not a resort, but a city timeshare in San Francisco. We stayed at San Francisco Suites at Nob Hill and we were so impressed we are thinking about selling something to buy a week there. The unit, a one bedroom was very spacious, by city standards, well decorated, and daily maid service. The concierge downstairs were very personable and friendly and made us feel like we were part of a family. We've stayed in a few other timeshares in San Francisco, Powell Place, Suites at Fisherman's Wharf and Donatello, and so far this is definitely our favorite.
Liz

 

[pjrose]

Any of the Royals in Cancun. The service, the cleanliness, and the friendliness are without par. HUGE pools, good and reasonably priced food, same friendly and efficient staff for years (that says a lot). Beautiful ocean. Lots to do in the area, or just relax and enjoy the resorts. More casual than upscale.

Westin Kierland in Scottsdale. The ONLY five-star we've stayed in where we weren't disappointed in comparison to the Royals. In some ways nicer than the Royals - more upscale kitchen, bathrooms, furnishings (heavenly bed, heavenly bath....really nice). Lovely landscaping, very clean, very nice pools (larger than in many places, but smallish compared to the Royals), gorgeous area. I've read negatives about it being in a suburban area, but once at the resort you wouldn't notice, and highways out of suburbia are very accessible.

 

[Aussie girl]

I haven't traded very often but all our trades have been to some of the top resorts in Interval.

Royal Sands x2 (2 bedroom)

Four Seasons Avaira (2 bedroom)

Marriott Newport Coast (2 bedroom)

Marriotts Grande Ocean (2 bedroom)

Marriotts Oceanwatch (2bedroom)

Marriott Desert Spings 11 (one bedroom)

Westin Kanaapali (one bedroom)

Fairmont Hotsprings (hillside home resort)

We have been impressed with all of these resorts. The Royals Sands is fabulous because of it's location but I don't think the units are in the league of the others. We love our home resort the best.

 

[SharonD]

A 3-way tie:

1) Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, in our 2 bedroom "super" unit with hot tub on the deck;

2) Marriott's Phuket

3) Hyatt Coconut Plantation

 

[rickandcindy23]

Shearwater 2006, unit 110
Shearwater 2007, unit 208
Shearwater 2008. unit 102
Embassy Poipu Point (now Sunterra) in 2000.

I think it has something to do with the location.

 

[eal]

Montebello II is Whistler is a 3-bedroom townhouse complex beautifully furnished and located in North America's best ski resort.

And you can sometimes find it in RCI's extra vacations inventory!

 

[BillR]

Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan

PUEBLO BONITO MAZATLAN​

The Cleanest - Most Friendly - Best Service - Great Pool and Waterfall - Great Restaurants on Premise​

. . . and a Duck I named DUCK . . .​

​

 

[icydog]

Here are the best resorts I've stayed at (off the top of my head in approximate priority order):

1) Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar - 2 & 3 Bedroom Cabins

2) Old Key West Resort - 3 bedroom Grand Villa

3) Marriott Maui Ocean Ocean Club - 2br Oceanview unit

4) Hyatt Coconut Plantation - 2br

5) Marriott Waiohai - 2br Oceanview

6) Four Seasons Troon - 2br

7) Four Seasons Aviara - 2br

8) WorldMark Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains - 3br Deluxe River front

9) Solara Surfside - 2 br Oceanfront

10) Morritt's Grand - 2br Oceanfront

11) Wyndham Bonnet Creek - 2br deluxe

12) Lodge Alley Inn - Charleston - 1br

13) WorldMark Depoe Bay - 2br Oceanfront

14) Marriott Ko'Olina - 3 br oceanview

15) Westin Kaanapali - 1br oceanview

I wouldn't hesitate to go back to any of these resorts at any time. In fact, I have and will continue to do so.

Wow thats's like reading the top resorts in the world list. How about the Westin in St John's? That on my list, as well as all of the above.

 

[icydog]

The ones I got on RHC.
The Affinia Dumont one bdrm in NYC- On 34th and Lexington-- what a wonderful place!! and we had it for a full week!!

The Domus Romanus one bdrm in Rome (a converted nunery) in the center of Rome- so quiet and so lovely

The 2 Hyde Park in London- the place wasn't the best but the large quarters in the middle of London was a coup!

Others:

3 bdrm- Houses at Summer Bay with our own swimming pool

3 Bdrm Disney Vero Beach beach cottage right on the beach

Sanibel Beach Cottages in Spring- gigantic vilas on the beach large screened in porches

Any DVC resort, except Saratoga Springs, in a one, two or three bdrm

Marriott Newport Coast- if you can get a villa with a view

Marriott Seaview for its location and proximity to the NJ Shore and it's lovely villas

Marriott Frenchman's Cove- I'm cheating on this one. We haven't stayed there yet but we did spend a day at the Marriott Resort and loved it.

Marriott Aruba Surf Club- We loved the villa (but hated the island and we were not too fond of the staff). We wish they had that same two bdrm villa anywhere else but Aruba.

BlueGreen's Lodge Alley Inn--Like a B&B in the heart of Charleston-great city location with a lot to do-beautiful rooms

 

[Cathyb]

...and don't forget the quaint village of Carlsbad (I live here)

 

[Cathyb]

BocaBum: What season did you stay at Estes Park and did you request at 13months out?

 

[Cathyb]

Marriott Phuket; Marriott Marbella; Village at St. James in Antigua; Harborside Resort in Nassau -- Good subject