JAbbott
TUG Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2010
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 8
- Points
- 218
- Location
- West Kelowna B.C., Canada
- Resorts Owned
- Lawai Beach Resort, Wyndham Kona Hawaiian
Hi all, I am new to timeshares, and have not bought anything yet. I have two buddies who have them, one RCI (weeks only) and one Intrawest.
I have been doing some reading and asking and have figured out a few things relevant to our family dynamics etc.
I am going to concentrate on RCI. I think, for what we are after it will fit the closest.
For a first purchase I will buy a points based timeshare, for the flexibility.
I have been watching (and have unsuccesfully lowball bid) a couple of ebay timeshares.
So I understand a point is a point is a point. I have been told to get the most points for the least maintenance.
In watching auctions and though observation it seems to me that a maintenance charge of less than $100.00 / 10,000 points is a good deal, around $100.00 is average, and getting more expensive as it goes up.
I wonder why maintenance can be so much lower at one resort than another. I imagine the calibre (gold, silver, etc) would have some bearing on the maintenance. Are there risks indicated if the maintenance is ridiculously low?
As far as lifestyle, my wife and I (and the teenagers for a little while longer) still like to camp in the summer. We are thinking of a winter break somewhere. So in the neighbourhood of 40K points per year for a week, or building up two years worth for a longer vacation every two, also the possiblitily of buying points to top up? It would not bother me if I never saw the resort I bought, and strictly used it as an exchange!
What have I missed?
Thanks
James
PS, I think I have read most of the newbie advice here already.
I have been doing some reading and asking and have figured out a few things relevant to our family dynamics etc.
I am going to concentrate on RCI. I think, for what we are after it will fit the closest.
For a first purchase I will buy a points based timeshare, for the flexibility.
I have been watching (and have unsuccesfully lowball bid) a couple of ebay timeshares.
So I understand a point is a point is a point. I have been told to get the most points for the least maintenance.
In watching auctions and though observation it seems to me that a maintenance charge of less than $100.00 / 10,000 points is a good deal, around $100.00 is average, and getting more expensive as it goes up.
I wonder why maintenance can be so much lower at one resort than another. I imagine the calibre (gold, silver, etc) would have some bearing on the maintenance. Are there risks indicated if the maintenance is ridiculously low?
As far as lifestyle, my wife and I (and the teenagers for a little while longer) still like to camp in the summer. We are thinking of a winter break somewhere. So in the neighbourhood of 40K points per year for a week, or building up two years worth for a longer vacation every two, also the possiblitily of buying points to top up? It would not bother me if I never saw the resort I bought, and strictly used it as an exchange!
What have I missed?
Thanks
James
PS, I think I have read most of the newbie advice here already.