What's your "Sleeper" resort

[BaillieCH]

I've been a Wyndham owner for 3 years now and have made good use of my points (i feel anyway). Done BC, EG, Glacier Canyon and will also be at Great Smokies this next spring break. We've even squeezed in a couples trip and Wyndham Reef through RCI.

We use our points for spring break and generally are only getting one vacation out of them for now as we have three kids (one more and the oldest is off to college so points will go a little farther).

Was looking to see if people had any "sleeper" resorts they might recommend for future spring breaks. Places that some might not initially think of as a spot to spring break or a resort that is better than the location or points required would lead one to believe?

 

[chapjim]

Where are you starting from?

Tons of things to do in and around Smugglers' Notch in northern Vermont, although Spring Break will be in "mud season."

 

[Shiba]

One of our favorite spring break trips was Old Town Alexandria. Tried to do as much of the historical sites/ museums in Washington DC, but definitely need to go back. The train is in walking distance to OTA no need for a car.

 

[BaillieCH]

Where are you starting from?

Tons of things to do in and around Smugglers' Notch in northern Vermont, although Spring Break will be in "mud season."

We're just north of Detroit, not afraid of a drive, did three years in a row down to Florida one of which to Orlando with no stops. I drive the first 12 to 14 while everyone sleeps and switch after breakfast and I sleep.

One of our favorite spring break trips was Old Town Alexandria. Tried to do as much of the historical sites/ museums in Washington DC, but definitely need to go back. The train is in walking distance to OTA no need for a car.

Really didn't think about that. Used to work in DC area for 4 years so it's kinda been there done that for me, but my 2 older kids would love it.

 

[Floridaman76]

How old are the kids?

 

[chapjim]

Not really a sleeper but how about Williamsburg, VA? Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown are musts for history buffs. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville is an easy day trip. Norfolk and Virginia Beach are easy drives.

Tons of timeshare resorts in Wmsburg.

 

[BaillieCH]

How old are the kids?

17, 13 and 8

 

[BaillieCH]

Not really a sleeper but how about Williamsburg, VA? Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown are musts for history buffs. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville is an easy day trip. Norfolk and Virginia Beach are easy drives.

Tons of timeshare resorts in Wmsburg.

Is Charlottesville really that close of a drive from Williamsburg? Never really looked. While I know I could keep the younger two entertained and engaged in DC, Williamsburg might be a stretch. We went there with my in-laws timeshare 4ish years ago and the younger two were not impressed. My oldest loved it though.

 

[Floridaman76]

Is Charlottesville really that close of a drive from Williamsburg? Never really looked. While I know I could keep the younger two entertained and engaged in DC, Williamsburg might be a stretch. We went there with my in-laws timeshare 4ish years ago and the younger two were not impressed. My oldest loved it though.

It's not. 2 hours drive each way to me is not exactly close. And that's without traffic. Traffic can back up on I-64 and I-495 randomly for no reason at any given time so it can easily turn into 3 hours.

We have made the mistake of staying in Williamsburg and travelling to DC Metro to visit my wife's family because I could not book either Old Town Alexandria or National Harbor and that drive can be an absolute nightmare. Granted, you won't have to deal with I-95, but just trying to make a point.

 

[Floridaman76]

17, 13 and 8

That's quite a range in ages.

I see you are going to Smokey Mountains, they will like that, lots to do for kids of all ages. If they like that, I would recommend Myrtle Beach too. Similar vibe, but at the beach instead of mountains. Also Branson, similar vibe to Smokey Mountains area.

Williamsburg too, there's tons to do. Also you can take a day trip to Norfolk, the harbor tour and USS Wisconsin tour is nice, there's a few other things to do there in Norfolk/VA Beach.

You say you are from the DC area, not sure if the kids were old enough to experience that or not, but Old Town Alexandria is a great base of operations for DC trips because free parking and a metro stop right next door to the resort.

With kids, I would not recommend the following resorts:
Sapphire Valley
Lake Lure
Edisto (Ocean Ridge)
Fairfield Glade

There just isn't much to do there for kids, and they will be bored. At some of those mentioned resorts, cell service is nonexistent so the teens will be miserable because they can't be on the apps 24x7.

 

[jp10558]

One warning I'd make on Williamsburg (given I don't know what "spring break" means to you) - out of season it's a lot less interesting, so before Memorial Day lots is shut down. I'd say like 50% isn't open. Yorktown was more interesting and open when I was there the week before Memorial Day in 2023. IDK about sleepers or Wyndham specifically, but on my current trip down I stopped in St Augustine for a couple hours and that was really cool and I'd love to plan to go there someday for more time. It was too bad timing wise as it did look like they had a cool night of lights thing going on. We enjoyed that area a lot more than Williamsburg out of season FWIW.

 

[Floridaman76]

One warning I'd make on Williamsburg (given I don't know what "spring break" means to you) - out of season it's a lot less interesting, so before Memorial Day lots is shut down. I'd say like 50% isn't open. Yorktown was more interesting and open when I was there the week before Memorial Day in 2023. IDK about sleepers or Wyndham specifically, but on my current trip down I stopped in St Augustine for a couple hours and that was really cool and I'd love to plan to go there someday for more time. It was too bad timing wise as it did look like they had a cool night of lights thing going on. We enjoyed that area a lot more than Williamsburg out of season FWIW.

Savannah and St. Augustine are 2 areas which I feel need timeshares. At least Savannah you have Hilton Head nearby, but there's nothing close to St. Augustine. Daytona is over an hour away. There used to be an unaffiliated fixed week timeshare in St. Augustine but i'm not sure it's still there.

I've been to Williamsburg in off season (January even) and there's plenty open. Colonial Williamsburg even offers cheaper rates. Although there are some parts of it that are not fully open.

 

[paxsarah]

I'm not sure what's not open in Williamsburg in the off season. I've been there in October, Christmas, and spring break and there's been plenty. I've always considered it a place where I can't see everything there is to see in a full week, so even if some areas weren't running (or maybe it's just fewer special events/activities?) I wouldn't feel like I was missing much unless I had a longer trip with not much planned outside of Williamsburg proper (like Jamestown/Yorktown/Busch Gardens, etc).

 

[BaillieCH]

Spring Break for us is last full week in March or last week/first week in April. Depends on the year. At that point we are really looking to ditch the snow. That's why so many years in Florida and the last and this year at places with large indoor water parks. The hope is that Smokies are far enough south that it's at least in the 60s during the day so we can enjoy some of the non-resort related stuff in the area. Been 17 years since I lived in the BWC corridor so I don't remember quite what the weather was that time of year. I do remember being ammused that the schools would close at the "hint" that there might be ANY accumulation of snow.

 

[jp10558]

Clearly your mileage will vary but my family basically found pre memorial day Williamsburg (the colonial exhibition specifically) incredibly disappointing and it really felt like OFF SEASON with like I said, about half the stuff closed. It's no fun to walk down a "main street of stores" with 3 out of 30 open. That said, if you just want the "big houses" tours, those were running.

There's also for me just the feeling of a place that's kind of "not quite firing on all cylinders" that can feel a little ... IDK the word. Like I'm embarrassed for them being underwhelming. However, if the stuff you want to do is open, you'll probably not feel the same as me. The other thing is the cost of admission with a significant portion not running feels disappointing to me also.

 

[BaillieCH]

Thank you all for the info, greatly appreciated. Much to take into consideration

 

[Timeshare Von]

Williamsburg to Washington, DC is painful and IMHO requires at least 1 night stay in the DC area to enjoy it. As for Williamsburg to Charlottesville, that is a day trip I wouldn't avoid but then again, I'm OK with doing a 2-3 hr each way day trip. Just goes to show we're all hard-wired differently.

 

[Eggrollcreative]

Seagull Beach Club if you go on their facebook page owners are renting their weeks for a good price. I have week 15 which maybe is too late for spring break but in 2026 you can rent my (tiny) 2 bedroom steps to Cocoa Beach for $700… location Can’t be beat. You can see rockets launching from the beach there. Kennedy Space Center…Disney an hour away. They keep maintenance pretty low which I appreciate but also means it‘s pretty basic. My cousin sold it to me and they always traded it in through Interval and stayed in Hilton Head. I should probably do the same but I don’t feel right staying in a fancy place knowing someone may be disappointed in my basic tiny unit on the beach.

 

[BaillieCH]

Seagull Beach Club if you go on their facebook page owners are renting their weeks for a good price. I have week 15 which maybe is too late for spring break but in 2026 you can rent my (tiny) 2 bedroom steps to Cocoa Beach for $700… location Can’t be beat. You can see rockets launching from the beach there. Kennedy Space Center…Disney an hour away. They keep maintenance pretty low which I appreciate but also means it‘s pretty basic. My cousin sold it to me and they always traded it in through Interval and stayed in Hilton Head. I should probably do the same but I don’t feel right staying in a fancy place knowing someone may be disappointed in my basic tiny unit on the beach.

Very much appreciate the offer, but I've already got spring break this year booked. Next year is my oldest last spring break with us and we are letting her choose. She's trying to decide between key west, Aruba or Germany.