Talk to me about benefits of owning a GPX SoCal resort

[JulieAB]

It seems grand pacific resort ownership is promoted here, but the maint fees are expensive compared to many other SoCal resorts (or trading in). What is the value? I've heard of GPX exchange possibilities here and there, but I don't know much about details and availability. I also know it lifts the 1 in 4 RCI restriction, but it seems there has to be more to this system to justify the cost?

 

[rhonda]

When we purchased a Grand Pacific Resort (GPR) property in 2001 our biggest decision drivers were:
a) getting around the RCI inbound trade restrictions;
b) day use at our home resort including a variety of on-site activities;
c) exceptionally high RCI trade power (now diminished and a rather bitter topic)
d) access to bonus time, GPX exchanges, ResorTime options

For us, the glory days of GPR ownership is past-tense.

 

[SmithOp]

There isn't a membership cost, its included with ownership in the system. RCI and Interval have membership fees. No fee for guest certs. Exchange fee $189.

Maint fees are equal or cheaper than HGVC or Marriott, not sure which resorts you are comparing that are cheaper. I pay $900 for a one bedroom at Seapointe.

They get inventory deposits from other systems like DRI and BlueGreen that sell for cash and frequently have bogo and half off sales. There are also lots of cheap insider weeks worldwide ($349 or less inside 90 days). I have rented many of these bonus weeks and pay less than TUG bargain deals rate ($100/night). There are some expensive weeks in there, I avoid them. I think they jack up the rates on those to deter owners from renting bonus weeks.

There are some daily resort fees that are a pain. Owners have already paid it with mf so its double billing imo.


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[rhonda]

There isn't a membership cost, its included with ownership in the system. RCI and Interval have membership fees. No fee for guest certs.

Great point! Thanks for that encouragement.

Maint fees are equal or cheaper than HGVC or Marriott, not sure which resorts you are comparing that are cheaper. I pay $900 for a one bedroom at Seapointe.

I'm not thrilled by the resort quality of my GPR property at GPP. GPP isn't Marriott. The units underwhelm me by their lack of in-room laundry; I'm disappointed by decreased RCI trade power and policy changes regarding the 'adult' pool. If I compare my satisfaction level against Worldmark, I find myself growing frustrated with GPP's dues (>$1000/week for a 1BR unit). I consider GPP's dues excessive in recent years.

 

[SmithOp]

Great point! Thanks for that encouragement.

I'm not thrilled by the resort quality of my GPR property at GPP. GPP isn't Marriott. The units underwhelm me by their lack of in-room laundry; I'm disappointed by decreased RCI trade power and policy changes regarding the 'adult' pool. If I compare my satisfaction level against Worldmark, I find myself growing frustrated with GPP's dues (>$1000/week for a 1BR unit). I consider GPP's dues excessive in recent years.

I've never stayed at GPP, just a walkthrough of the model during a sales pitch. I agree there are a lot of variances in quality and cost across the system. I had one of the tiny one bedroom with the curtain at Coronado, that one is all about location.

Not sure about decrease in RCI, I got 30 tpu for a June week end of float season. I was able to trade for Bay Club so it was a wash in fees.


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[VegasBella]

Well the main reason I own a GPX resort is that I fell in love with the resort: Carlsbad Inn. We love the location, the activities, the vibe. Also, for me it's the staff. They seem far more professional and helpful than staff at other, more independent resorts.
I appreciate the day use and take advantage when I can, but that's more of just a perk. If I owned at GPP then I would use the facilities a bit more (I like the large lap pool).
I have not traded through GPX but I have booked two rental vacations through them and the inventory and prices are pretty good.

 

[JulieAB]

what kind of options are there for summer socal weeks in GPX?

 

[rhonda]

what kind of options are there for summer socal weeks in GPX?

I think the website is open for searching w/out a login. Search away!

 

[JulieAB]

I think the website is open for searching w/out a login. Search away!

Oh! I didn't realize that was the same as what members saw!

 

[klpca]

The primary reason to own a GPX property (imo) would be to use it. The locations in Southern CA are awesome. We bought within GPX primarily because of location (Seapointe, Coronado) but have found the day use to be our favorite feature. We're down at Coronado almost weekly. The trading power in RCI has been all over the place in the past few years (my Seapointe week 32 1 bed has gone from 50 to mid 30's - then mid 40's) but there are many more cost effective RCI traders out there. I wouldn't buy this as a trader. As far as the maintenance fees, I think that they are on the average to high side, but the quality has definitely increased recently with the new renovations.

I have heard that there is GPX preference on RCI but have not tested this. I am thinking of giving GPX a try with our Coronado week and try to exchange into Hanalei Bay Resort.

Btw, I have definitely seen summer weeks on GPX in the past, but I think that it's hit or miss. If I recall correctly, I think that I saw summer 2017 weeks earlier this year - maybe late winter or early spring. Presley mentioned that she didn't think that the ongoing searches in GPX were automated, so you are rolling the dice when requesting. The bonus weeks are awesome. I sent my dad and his wife to the Ka'anapali Beach Club about two years ago for about $500 all in. They were even given a partial ocean view room.

 

[VegasBella]

I have heard that there is GPX preference on RCI but have not tested this. I am thinking of giving GPX a try with our Coronado week and try to exchange into Hanalei Bay Resort.

A member of the RCI team told me that there is no preference in RCI no matter what resort you own. But I think that might not be true.

 

[JulieAB]

A member of the RCI team told me that there is no preference in RCI no matter what resort you own. But I think that might not be true.

Or it might be a thing of the past. Once upon a time VRI managed resorts had an RCI preference.

 

[rhonda]

Another GPR Perk, at least at GPP, is "discounted, automatic RCI subscription renewal."

I don't know the current rate as we've not taken advantage of this particular perk ... but if memory serves correctly, it was $55/year in 2001. I do wish I knew the current renewal rate as I'm running out of pre-paid years from the way-back-when South Africa purchase.

 

[SmithOp]

Another GPR Perk, at least at GPP, is "discounted, automatic RCI subscription renewal."

I don't know the current rate as we've not taken advantage of this particular perk ... but if memory serves correctly, it was $55/year in 2001. I do wish I knew the current renewal rate as I'm running out of pre-paid years from the way-back-when South Africa purchase.

Its $79 now, and they don't transfer the money to RCI until Feb 1st, even if you pay in November. I ran into that this year as mine was expiring in Feb and I couldn't search past the expiration. Once AVCO paid my one year RCI renewal I still had to add more time because I wanted a May 2018 trade.


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[rhonda]

Its $79 now, and they don't transfer the money to RCI until Feb 1st, even if you pay in November. I ran into that this year as mine was expiring in Feb and I couldn't search past the expiration. Once AVCO paid my one year RCI renewal I still had to add more time because I wanted a May 2018 trade.

Thank you, Dave! My RCI renewal is Dec with expiration at 2020, so perhaps I should switch back to GPR's coverage before next year's invoicing cycle to keep two years paid forward? Hmmm.

Thanks for the info!