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

[Cathyb]

BocaBum: With all the places you have stayed, what is it about Wilderness Club that makes it to the top of your list?

 

[Cathyb]

Liz: Check out the very high HOA fees at any San Francisco timeshare before you make the jump

 

[eal]

I second some of icydog's choices. Affinia Dumont was the icing on the cake for a NYC holiday, and our spacious beautifully furnished suite at 2 Hyde Park made our trip to London a fabulous experience.

 

[lamb]

My favorite is one at which we own multiple weeks, Ocho Cascadas in Puerto Vallarta. Very relaxing, quite unique, exquisite view. The only timeshare that we return to each year.

We exchanged into the Houses at Summer Bay and our boys loved the indoor pool.

We visited Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach in Los Cabos and it looked appealing but we haven't personally stayed there.

 

[BocaBum99]

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

I went 2 summers ago in July. No, we were able to book it less than 6 months from check in. The location is unbelievable, especially right on the river. The units are standard WorldMark, but I don't deduct points for that.

 

[BocaBum99]

BocaBum: With all the places you have stayed, what is it about Wilderness Club that makes it to the top of your list?

A picture is worth a thousand words. Check these out and you will see why:

Pictures of the 3 bedroom cabin at the Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar

Pictures of the Bluegreen Wilderness Club

Pictures of Big Cedar Lodge

Thread on Big Cedar

Bluegreen is adding 4 and 5 bedroom houses right near Big Cedar in a resort section to be called Long Creek Ranch. Can't wait to see those Presidential style units and use one for a family reunion.

 

[icydog]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Check these out and you will see why:

Pictures of the 3 bedroom cabin at the Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar

Pictures of the Bluegreen Wilderness Club

Pictures of Big Cedar Lodge

Thread on Big Cedar

Bluegreen is adding 4 and 5 bedroom houses right near Big Cedar in a resort section to be called Long Creek Ranch. Can't wait to see those Presidential style units and use one for a family reunion.

Now I know why everyone wants to go there. I can't wait to try it out. I wonder if I go in shoulder season if the weather will be okay?

 

[icydog]

I second some of icydog's choices. Affinia Dumont was the icing on the cake for a NYC holiday, and our spacious beautifully furnished suite at 2 Hyde Park made our trip to London a fabulous experience.

You must be a RHC member as well. These places are not timeshare per se, and that makes it extra nice since you are in expensive residence hotels with room service, maid turn down service, daily cleaning, and the like. I am afraid that others will learn about the Affinia and we won't have a chance to get it. What a find that is. It beats the Manhattan Club by a mile.

 

[luv2vacation]

Where is the Wilderness Club at Big Cedar? I looked at the pictures and it is gorgeous! I love the mountains in the warmer weather.

 

[eal]

I get these two hotels through Geoholiday - RHC and Geo share some inventory like Pueblo Real in Costa Rica. I didn't realize that Affinia was a secret! My lips are now sealed...

You must be a RHC member as well. These places are not timeshare per se, and that makes it extra nice since you are in expensive residence hotels with room service, maid turn down service, daily cleaning, and the like. I am afraid that others will learn about the Affinia and we won't have a chance to get it. What a find that is. It beats the Manhattan Club by a mile.

 

[Larry]

1) Grand Mayan Acapulco

2) Melia Paridisus Punta Cana

3) Morritts Grand

4) Beaches Grande Ocho Rios

5) Playa Linda

6) Westin Kierland Resort

7) TImeshare Residence Vagrenier- French Riviera

8) Royal Mayan Cancun

Some of the above were selected for location, location,location. Others were selected for resort accomodation and ambiance and some for both.

 

[KevinRS]

I have a lot to visit it looks like....

My favorites to date (not ranked in order really)
1. Kauai Coast at Beachboy
1. Royal Reef
1. Westin St. John
1. Marriott's Manor Club
1. Cliff Club at Snowbird
1. Banff Rocky Mountain Resort
2. Sheraton Mountain Vista
2. Wintergreen at Midway
3. Whistler Vacation Club at Twin Peaks


Not ranked by most luxurious, best layout or even best location, more by recognizing what part the resort played in a GREAT vacation.... staff, location, unit... many things considered.

I tend to wake up at sunrise, and one of the best measures to me, is if I can get up, and enjoy a sunrise, or an incredible view, or mountains or Wildlife.... Banff Rocky Mountain Resort made my top because I LOVED being up at sunrise, with a heard of elk walking across the lawn, and the sun on the mountains...... ahhhh. The resort itself is just OK, but being there is incredible....

Cliff Club and Kauai Coast also were great in early morning...

 

[ownsmany]

Marriott Ko Olina
Marriott Grande Ocean

 

[Larry]

1) Grand Mayan Acapulco

2) Melia Paridisus Punta Cana

3) Morritts Grand

4) Beaches Grande Ocho Rios

5) Playa Linda

6) Westin Kierland Resort

7) TImeshare Residence Vagrenier- French Riviera

8) Royal Mayan Cancun

Some of the above were selected for location, location,location. Others were selected for resort accomodation and ambiance and some for both.:QUOTE]

Correction # 7 is called Residence Vaugrenier RCI 0550 not to be confused with Timeshare Vaugrenier RCI 1397. Both are in the French Riviera in the same town but are two seperate resorts. I wrote a TUG review for this but it's no longer there. I am making this correction since I already have received some Emails about my selection of this resort which is much nicer than #1397.

 

[grest]

"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.

I agree...what is best varies for everybody and in different ways. Interestingly, Keith, one of our all time bests is Plas Talgarth...
Connie

 

[eal]

Thanks for reminding us that a vacation consists of more than just the "physical plant" of the timeshare. I absolutely LOVE Banff Rocky Mountain Resort and Whistler Vacation Club at Twin Peaks because of the "peak" experiences that I have had when I was there.

My favorites to date (not ranked in order really)
1. Kauai Coast at Beachboy
1. Royal Reef
1. Westin St. John
1. Marriott's Manor Club
1. Cliff Club at Snowbird
1. Banff Rocky Mountain Resort
2. Sheraton Mountain Vista
2. Wintergreen at Midway
3. Whistler Vacation Club at Twin Peaks


Not ranked by most luxurious, best layout or even best location, more by recognizing what part the resort played in a GREAT vacation.... staff, location, unit... many things considered.

I tend to wake up at sunrise, and one of the best measures to me, is if I can get up, and enjoy a sunrise, or an incredible view, or mountains or Wildlife.... Banff Rocky Mountain Resort made my top because I LOVED being up at sunrise, with a heard of elk walking across the lawn, and the sun on the mountains...... ahhhh. The resort itself is just OK, but being there is incredible....

Cliff Club and Kauai Coast also were great in early morning...

 

[lvhmbh]

Costa Linda, Aruba

 

[Jaybee]

Bart, I absolutely agree with you about LWRV. We feel so at home there the minute we walk in. Our kids love to join us there, too, and a few yrs. ago we got 2 units, and had a small family reunion. They still talk about it, and my one son comes out every year to join us there. We became premium members last year, and I'm still trying to get used to the change. I've never had experience with points before, but as John Chase mentioned, dealing with II with a corporate membership is a whole different ballgame. Happy travels!

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

 

[jerseygirl]

My favorites:

Fun/Attractions:

• Harborside
• Hyatt Coconut Plantation
• Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch
• Hyatt Breckenridge
• Disney's Old Key West (have stayed at all the others except for Wilderness -- and it's the only one we go back to -- we love the wide open out feeling)
• Valdoro Mountain Lodge

Hanging at the beach:

• Marriott Aruba Surf Club (but we were there when it was brand new -- not sure I'd love it if I had to fight for a pool/beach chair)
• Disney's Vero Beach

City Locations:

• Carlton Court - London
• Powell Place - San Francisco
• Quarter House/Club La Pension - New Orleans
• Residence Dehon - Rome (obtained as a Getaway -- have never seen as an exchange -- off the beaten path but great public transportation nearby and thoroughly enjoyed having a living room & kitchen)

Expect to add to the list -- upcoming exchanges:

• Westin St John
• Four Seasons Troon

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I have been holding out posting here as it asks where I have stayed in, not visited.

Thus, the nicest I have actually stayed in are:
Westgate Park City
DVC - all 8 of them

I wish I could add my HCC properties, but they are Destination Club properties, not timeshares.

 

[Bourne]

They are in random order...

Q= Quality
L=Location with decent quality

Four Seasons Aviara(Q)
Four Seasons Troon North(Q)
Hilton Hawaiian Village (Q)
Westin Ka'anapali(Q)
Westin Keirland(Q)
Virgin Grand Villas ( RCI booking into Westin St John )(L)
Windjammer Landing(L)
Morritts Grand(L)
South Seas Resort, Captiva(L)
Voldoro Mountain Lodge(Q)
Manhattan Club(L)
Grand Mayan Acapulco(Q)

Notable additions
Hilton Seaworld on I-Drive - I kinda like that place.
Manhattan Club - A bit dated but decent enough

Again, wish I could add the HCC properties to the list as they would be at the top of the list. Would be in Outer Banks later this year.
http://www.reidrolls.com/clients/hcc/outerbanks/

 

[Lisa P]

Our stays have not been nearly as exotic as most posted here. However, here's where we've enjoyed our favorite timeshare vacations:

• Charter Club of Marco Beach - lovely sunset view over warm Gulf waters, relaxing atmosphere, fishing, airboat ride, sailing, lots to do at resort
  
• Disney Hilton Head Island - fun crabbing off the pier, warm pool w/slide, relaxing atmosphere, friendly service, naturalist-led activities, lots to do at resort
  
• Wyndham (Fairfield) Flagstaff - huge airy condo w/loft, family hot tub on the deck w/views, amazing day trips to area sights, good resort amenities
  
• Wyndham Smoky Mountains - our whole family always has a great time together at this relaxing and pretty place, nice indoor pool, good activity gatherings, just a fun area and we never tire of this resort

We've stayed at several nice Marriotts and Hiltons, Manhattan Club, a few WDW DVCs, many other Wyndhams and lots of independents. They've almost all been quite pleasant places, but our most enjoyable stays were at the 4 above. In each of them, we liked the surrounding area a LOT but it was really something about these resorts that just made those trips all the more special.

 

[LAX Mom]

Wow, I had a difficult time ranking the places I've stayed in the past 5 years. They have all been great! I guess my favorites would be:

*Fairmont Heritage Franz Klammer Lodge, Telluride

*Marriott 47 Park Street, London

*Maui Marriott Lahaina Tower, Maui

*Westin Maui Villas, Maui

*Four Seasons Aviara, Carlsbad

*Marriott Ko'Olina, Oahu

*Marriott Waiohai, Kauai

*Marriott Newport Coast Villas, Newport Beach

*Marriott Village Ille de France, Disneyland Paris

*Harborside at Atlantis, Bahamas

*Marriott Boston

*Marriott Grande Ocean

 

[Cathyb]

Lisa: What did you use to deposit and with whom to get such great places? Was it in off seasons? Inquiring minds want to know

 

[chellej]

My Favorites in random order

Pahio Shearwater
Ram's Horn Estes Park
Hilton Hawaiian Village
Royal Mayan
Grand Mayan Riviera Maya
Bay Club Big Island
Regattas of Abaco
Grand TImber Lodge - Breckenridge
Island Park Village
Fairfield Pagosa