Suggestions on my Wyndham Margaritaville Points

[liyunljst]

My wife and I have 154K Wyndham Margaritaville points (home resort is St. Thomas but I think it doesn't matter). We paid the full amount of $30K in 2014 and current annual maintenance fee is close to $1100, but so far we only used the points 3 times. We don't like to make plans for future (saying 3 months or 1 year in the future), so it's hard to use the points when we need them. Anyone has some suggestions on making the best use of the points?

Also I went through some of the posts here, seems the best way to get rid of the points is to return them back to Wyndham through the ovation program. Any better option is available?

Thanks a lot,

Yun

 

[55plus]

Depending how far you live from a resort, you could take short notice weekend getaways, etc., to a resort close to home.

 

[gsmith6312]

why dont you use your points for other Wyndham stays? your points are good everywhere

 

[vacationhopeful]

Glad you have found TUG. 154,000 points is not a very big unit or a multiple week vacation. And if your life is as busy as most of ours .... planning months or a year in advance it NOT for you... unless YOU decide that you got to get some WORTH out of your $33,300 you have spent so far.

Open up that pretty picture book of resorts ... labelled "Member Directory" or go to the website, to find resorts within a reasonable driving distance. Decide when you can go ... check availability ... and book it. JUST USE the points. Take your family, take a parent, go with just your spouse. Pull up the driving directions and go ... plan as you drive with your passenger doing the smart phone thing. I do it several times a year ... and many resorts in cold weather locations have indoor pools. Some have very nearby ski hills. Some have big outdoor fires with marshmellows or karoke or outlet malls ... But it is time with just your close family or a fun group.... that is WHY you brought this, RIGHT?

PS I usually travel alone. Wyndham resorts are great ... I can sit in the pool, hot tub or on a Tiki bar stool. I can read alone by the pool or walk on a nearby beach. I can enjoy my AM coffee on my private balcony or read a newspaper at MY dining room table. Or I can meet a new friend or two to share a beer or two with. If I try that at a hotel ... I might be looked at like "she is really OLD for a working gal".

And YES, I have favorite resorts ... of course, I am still very happy to visit a new (to me) Wyndham resort ... just give let me get a few free days ... and see where I can book 3 or 4 nights. And if I hate the place ... I can just leave and go home.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Or book a high demand unit at the 13 month mark at your Margaritaville property and try to rent it out. However at your point value you will only be able to book an entry level studio unit for a very high demand week, like Christmas or New Years. Those might rent for enough to cover your MFs and still pocket a bit of cash, until you can travel with less notice, or figure a better way to use what you have already sunk costs in.

 

[liyunljst]

We live in Michigan that does not have any close resort.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Ontario, Washington DC, Chicago, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, these are all places that are less than a full days drive away from MI. I guess close is all relative. Check them out.

 

[frankf3]

Is that annual maintenance fee for Margaritaville correct? I'm only asking because the resorts that have high points cost per night usually produce low cost per point in maintenance fees. $1100 for 154k points is a pretty high cost per point.

 

[happyhopian]

if it were me. I would look at the listings on ebay and list it myself. I have seen several of these. You can require the buyer pay closing and title cost. There are several timeshare title companies. If I got $10 it would be better than deeding it back to wyndham.

 

[liyunljst]

Thanks a lot to all of the friends who replied. Yes, our maintenance fee is close to $1100 and we feel it's expensive. Those points are good for all othe Wyndham resorts, but usually we need to book a few months or even one year earlier and we are not getting used to it. We have tried Smoking mountain resort and Fairfield Glade resorts, both of them are not bad. We may try others and when will really want to get rid of the points, we will try ebay as well. Thanks again.

 

[whitewater]

if it were me. I would look at the listings on ebay and list it myself. I have seen several of these. You can require the buyer pay closing and title cost. There are several timeshare title companies. If I got $10 it would be better than deeding it back to wyndham.

With longer than usual closing/ transfer process any amount you get resale will get eaten in MF paid waiting for transfer to go through.

Ovation may very well be fastest and cheaper.

Othersent will have views that should be considered beyond that of mine.

 

[Retired2thebeach]

With longer than usual closing/ transfer process any amount you get resale will get eaten in MF paid waiting for transfer to go through.

Ovation may very well be fastest and cheaper.

Othersent will have views that should be considered beyond that of mine.

My wife and I have 154K Wyndham Margaritaville points (home resort is St. Thomas but I think it doesn't matter). We paid the full amount of $30K in 2014 and current annual maintenance fee is close to $1100, but so far we only used the points 3 times. We don't like to make plans for future (saying 3 months or 1 year in the future), so it's hard to use the points when we need them. Anyone has some suggestions on making the best use of the points?

Also I went through some of the posts here, seems the best way to get rid of the points is to return them back to Wyndham through the ovation program. Any better option is available?

Thanks a lot,

Yun

 

[nicben]

We live in Michigan that does not have any close resort.

I also live in MI. Try the Dells it's only 5 hours and fun for the whole family. Looking to buy margaritaville.

 

[liyunljst]

Nicole,

Thank you. If you want to buy mine, please let me know.

I also live in MI. Try the Dells it's only 5 hours and fun for the whole family. Looking to buy margaritaville.

 

[nicben]

How much? Would you pay transfer fee?

 

[spackler]

There's one on eBay (but it ends in less than 2 hours)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222412350624?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Ty1on]

There's one on eBay (but it ends in less than 2 hours)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222412350624?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

It will be interesting to see how the final bid ends up after the snipes jump in.

 

[whitewater]

It will be interesting to see how the final bid ends up after the snipes jump in.

2 more minutes and we will all see.

 

[Ty1on]

2 more minutes and we will all see.

$920. Enough to pay the $299+$150 and pocket about $400 after ad cost.

 

[nicben]

I tried to bid but someone at the literally last second bid 10 dollars more

 

[spackler]

The seller isn't getting squat; they most likely paid Sean's Timeshares to get rid of it. Ovation would have been a better deal for them.

 

[Ty1on]

I tried to bid but someone at the literally last second bid 10 dollars more

Look into snipe bidding.....that's what just happened to you.

 

[nicben]

Wow. Not fair

 

[ronparise]

Wow. Not fair

I was out bid last night in the last second too but I would not say it wasn't fair. I was only willing to go so high. Someone else was willing to go higher. They won fair and square

My father used to say "opportunities are like streetcars; don't worry if you miss one, just wait and watch; there will be another one in a few minutes"

He also used to say "ideas are a dime a dozen, its execution that counts"

Like father like son, I'm bidding on something else tonight

 

[nicben]

That sounds like me.