FAQ & Links for Point-based TS Systems

[Bill4728]

This thread will have links to advice article and FAQ for the many different point based TS systems.

But first what is a "point based" TS system?

I'm going to define a "point based" TS system as a TS system which has a internal trading system which is based on points. ( so a Marriott would not be since you don't use "points" to trade within the TS system)

Some systems I call "Pure Points"
-these systems are more like stock in a TS system. You don't own a deed at a single resort but "points" in the TS system. The biggest of these is Worldmark but there are many others Like Club Intrawest, Vacations Internationale, Monarch Grand Vacations and others (I will add as I discover them)Added Aug 2010- Marriott new point based TS system

Some systems are "Deed based" or resort based systems.
- These system you own a deed at a single resort but are assigned "points" for use in doing internal trading within the TS system. Points are assigned by the system based on the resort, season and size of the underlining TS. Hilton, Starwood, Wyndham/Fairfield, Disney, Diamond (Sunterra), Hyatt, Shell, Bluegreen are but a few examples of these systems.

These "deed based" systems are broken down more by the resale rights to use the system if you purchase resale.
Some systems are designed so all resale buyers can use the point system no matter how they buy the resort. Other systems allow only those buyers access the the internal points system if the buy from the developer (or other special rules).

PS Here is a document comparing the 4 major hotel based TS systems chart of 4 hotel based sytems

[Bill4728]

Links to FAQ and advice articles for "Pure Point" based TS system:

Worldmark WM
Club Intrawest CI
And the Clubintrawest Wiki http://clubintrawest.pbwiki.com/
Monarch Grand MGV
Vacation Internationale VI
Added Marriott which now has a pure point TS system
Marriott Marriott

[Bill4728]

Links to FAQ and advice articles for "DEED based" TS system:

Hilton Grand HGVC
Starwood SVN FAQ
Starwood SVN Advice
Wyndham/ Fairfield FF
Diamond Resorts International (formerly Sunterra) DRI
Bluegreen BG (Not working yet)
Shell Vacations SVC
Hyatt Hyatt
Disney Vacation Club DVC
Raintree Vacations/Whiski Jack/ Club Regina www.raintreevacationclub.com
Welk Resorts http://www.welkresorts.com/

[Bill4728]

OK, let the comments begin.

Also anyone who want to help with this, I really like the help.

Like a Bluegree FAQ or Advice and a Raintree or advice.

PS I'll be taking your advice and edit the earlier posts to keep this thing clean

[smbrannan]

I'm trying to keep clubintrawest.pbwiki.com up-to-date with info about Club Intrawest as an alternative to the TUG pages, which are quite stale.

S

[luv2vacation]

Okay, I checked the FAQ stickey at the top. Any info yet on Bluegreen?

[nyparadigm]

I have a pdf version of the Raintree Users Guide which I can forward to you if you can post it. It lays out the program and has a decent faq section.

Please let me know.

Chris

[gomike]

Do any of these point based systems come with a free II membership?

[bccash63]

How about the Amber Vacation Club--it is a pure points based system
thanx, Dawn

[dtdt]

If we purchase Wyndham deeded points, can these be used on Wyndham hotels also??

[tenthousandvolts]

Originally Posted by Bill4728

PS Here is a document comparing the 4 major hotel based TS systems chart of 4 hotel based sytems

Hi- just curious- is the above document up to date? I am wondering because I see some of the membership fees include memberships to II and they are lower than a regular II membership. Wondering if these prices have gone up or if the reduced fee is a perk of ownership.

[jamstew]

Originally Posted by Bill4728

This thread will have links to advice article and FAQ for the many different point based TS systems.

Some systems I call "Pure Points"
-these systems are more like stock in a TS system. You don't own a deed at a single resort but "points" in the TS system. The biggest of these is Worldmark but there are many others Like Club Intrawest, Vacations Internationale, Monarch Grand Vacations and others (I will add as I discover them)

This is probably going to be a really stupid question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway If you don't own a deed at a single resort, how to you go about buying the points? I'm curious as to what I should be looking for, for example, on eBay.

Obviously, I have zero experience with points.

Second question. I'm assuming that if you own WM points and you want to stay in a non-WM property, you'd deposit your points with with RCI? Is that right? Would it be possible to get Bonnet Creek?

[Bill4728]

Originally Posted by tenthousandvolts

Hi- just curious- is the above document up to date? I am wondering because I see some of the membership fees include memberships to II and they are lower than a regular II membership. Wondering if these prices have gone up or if the reduced fee is a perk of ownership.

They may not be up to date. But some systems have a special deal with their exchange companies so there is a special price to belong.

If you don't own a deed at a single resort, how to you go about buying the points? I'm curious as to what I should be looking for, for example, on eBay.

Instead of owning a deeded property you own "points" in the company which holds the deeds to the resort. So when you buy someones points, they have the ownership of those points transferred to you much like buying stock in a company.

Second question. I'm assuming that if you own WM points and you want to stay in a non-WM property, you'd deposit your points with with RCI? Is that right? Would it be possible to get Bonnet Creek?

Yes, But with worldmark, you have access to both RCI & II. So you can use either exchange company.

[Sou13]

What can you find for us about the Festiva Adventure Club?

[LannyPC]

Any information about RCI Points and how that system stacks up to other points systems? What about the (dis)advantages aginst the RCI Weeks system?

We are currently on RCI Weeks but are contemplating converting to RCI Points.

Any advice or input?

[Kdjk5467]

Im surprised at the age of most the overview docs. The forum is certainly active and I'll keep at it but it is sure difficult finding starter docs like this but up date. This did help and I am happy to have found it but I would love to see more comparison stuff like the benefits of the pure points versus deeded like rci versus Wyndham .

Thanks for time everyone, I know I'll get there eventually.

[Bill4728]

Originally Posted by LannyPC

Any information about RCI Points and how that system stacks up to other points systems? What about the (dis)advantages aginst the RCI Weeks system?

We are currently on RCI Weeks but are contemplating converting to RCI Points.

Any advice or input?

Originally Posted by Kdjk5467

Im surprised at the age of most the overview docs. The forum is certainly active and I'll keep at it but it is sure difficult finding starter docs like this but up date. This did help and I am happy to have found it but I would love to see more comparison stuff like the benefits of the pure points versus deeded like rci versus Wyndham .

Thanks for time everyone, I know I'll get there eventually.

RCI points isn't a TS system but a product that any TS can offer if the resort system signs up for it. THEREFORE this thread doesn't contain any info about RCI points.

[Kdjk5467]

Originally Posted by Bill4728

RCI points isn't a TS system but a product that any TS can offer if the resort system signs up for it. THEREFORE this thread doesn't contain any info about RCI points.

Ah! Thanks. I think I am on the way to enlightenment. I tool RCI to be a "Pure Points" system as described above. Where "You don't own a deed at a single resort but "points" in the TS system. "

Don't worry, I'll be back with more newbie questions.

Thanks again,
JK (One half of KDJK).