Ok, after spending (rescission window) days reading the contract and attached documents, and many inquiries in writing and by phone to really understand it - this is actual result: You will GIVE UP all of your Shell points and status (Signature included) and all Shell perks. None of that stays in place. The only way to book at a Shell Resort is to remain Shell, or hope it is in RCI inventory or gets added in the future to WCA or CWP, as some Shell Resorts currently are - for example Peacock Suites. I would say it is highly unlikely that Vino Bello will be available based on my search of their online search capability. It is theoretically there, but only as 1 night stays here and there, while WCA requires minimum 2 nights. So - plan on that being a big "no."
In exchange for thousands of developer fee dollars for whatever amount of points they are selling directly as WCA, Which you COULD "buy" the minimum to do this, you will have completely converted to Wyndham Club Access (at 40:1), so maintenance fees technically can decrease since WCA is cheaper overall than is Shell. In addition, once converted, all with additional membership access through Windham Club Partners, and if you are Signature now, you may end up being WCA Silver / Gold/ Platinum with those benefits. If, and only if, WCA adds Shell Resorts to their inventory will you have that 10 month advance window to book into Shell. But no more Point and Play and grab a night here or there. You will get a larger point discount, depending on Signature level exchange to WCA level exchange. (For example, Shell's Signature Elite is a 20% discount at 45 days out; potential free upgrade up to 4 times a year in that window. WCA Gold is a 35% discount at 60 days out; potential upgrade at 45 days out). Worldmark bookings cost $99 internally and are open to you between 9 months max in advance or 60 days (maybe 15? days) before check in. Once Gold or higher, some Margaritaville resorts become available as well. All WCA exchanges and all CWP exchanges are at no charge. Seems they stick you on housekeeping fees if you are not at least Silver (equivalent to Signature's lowest level). Also, WCA keeps right if first refusal to sell your timeshare back to them (for free, I am sure). Whereas under Shell you can sell it yourself. The transfer of points to WCA from Shell costs you $189 per eligible contract. There is no fee to have each contract join WCA (the $2k plus quoted elsewhere here for enrolling your WCA resale purchase into the whole she-bang.) WCA has a better deal on Norwegian cruises, if you like to cruise, than the Shell by Sea. The airline choices change for WCA from Shell by Air options. No more PlayDeck cards (which were a terrible exchange idea anyway) Both WCA and Shell give similar discounts on rental cars, etc.
TBH, we wanted to have it all in one pile for a while now. Will be selling our Riverpointe -am in progress now. Shell was good for us for a long time, but getting too limited on options. Also - seems Shell is cutting back on its perks. Wyndham will do that. So Blue-Green for a $5 exchange fee will be gone soon. Playdeck is now one form of card only, and only in the Shell member name (we gave them to our kids one Christmas for restaurants). So expect less flexibility with Shell, not more. Expect fewer perks, not more.
Few things. I do think not having access to the Shell resorts that are not in Club Wyndham is the biggest draw back. If you are within driving distance of those resorts and not as many Club Wyndham resorts, you might not have as many choices if you like to drive to places. If your favorite resorts are not in Club Wyndham, that would be a bummer too. However, as people start converting, that inventory will be added to the Club Wyndham system. It will take years to do it, but there will be more availability eventually. Obviously if you’re up there on age, you may not want to wait years. Bottom line is they will start adding more Shell inventory over time, which means more availability for Club Wyndham Plus members, and less for Shell members. Most of it will likely go into CWA but Club Wyndham Select members will still be able to book it at 10 months.
Club pass is available at 9 months from check in. They stop taking reservations at 15 days from check in.
You get a certain number of housekeeping credits every year along with your points. If you run out, it’s $2.25 per credit. How many you need depends on unit size. Supposedly they are supposed to be changing how they handle housekeeping when the changes take effect late next year. Instead of credits, it’s “number of free cleans”. I am not sure if everyone gets the same amount of free cleans, or it goes by point level or membership level. There is also no word on how much housekeeping will be if you run out of “free cleans”. It will be a much simpler system for people to follow then trying to calculate how many housekeeping credits they will need for their vacations when they plan for them. If they only have one trip plan for the whole year, it’s usually not difficult. However, if they have multiple vacations with different size units, it can be hard to keep track of, if you’re not as experienced with the system. Number of free cleans is easier to plan for. Whether it will be enough free cleans is a whole other story. Current VIPs and anyone who becomes VIP before the changes take effect will keep their unlimited housekeeping benefit. New VIPs after the changes take effect, will not have unlimited housekeeping.
There were some recent changes to Margaritaville that haven’t been updated on the site as far as I can tell. It was announced in an email to Non-VIP members. Margaritaville Rio Mar and Margaritaville St. Thomas is available to everyone five months from check in. Pigeon Forge is not available to non-VIP. Silver has access to all Margaritaville resorts six months from check in during any season. Gold and Platinum can check on during any season at 8 months and 10 months respectively.
Wyndham does not have right if first refusal in their contracts. Individual resorts have ROFR on Presidential reserve contracts though. The way ROFR works, is if I sell a PR contract for $10,000, the resort has the option to buy that contract at that price. They cannot refuse the sale and take the contract back for free. If they want to refuse it, they have to pay whatever the sale price is. So the seller gets their money and the buyer gets a refund on their money and no contract. ROFR works great if you’re a seller and they decide to exercise it. Otherwise, you can sell or give away your contracts to anyone who is eligible to be a Club Wyndham member. As far as I know, you only have to be 18 to own, but resorts require you to be 21 to check in. However, I believe they make an exception if they are the owner.
It does not cost $2,000 to enroll a resale contract. It’s $299 plus whatever the closing company charges.
I’m not sure about the cash discounts, but point costs for cruises is a terrible deal. The maintenance fees on the points you would use are about double the cash value if the cruise, depending on your maintenance fees.
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