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Should we buy? What?

Sea&ski?

newbie
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Hello,

Reading and appreciating all the information in this user group. I realized that I may have posted in the wrong way so re-posting in a new thread. Sorry for double.

My husband and I have been trying to decide on this timesharing thing for a couple of years now, renting or borrowing from others, but we always get stuck on which system and location for home base. Thus, I am now asking for advice from all you wise people.

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
We travel everywhere but our extended families like only certain places and since we have limited ability to string together longer vacations, we are trying to figure out how to maximize time with family. Texas-side likes to go to Disney Orlando every year but California-side is not so interested in going every year or even every other year. California-side likes to go skiing in North Tahoe or Utah or Colorado, to which Texas people may or may not come. NJ-side likes sunny beaches. We live in San Diego and like to travel and have the smallest family so we go wherever. We do tend to do at least 1 one-week vacation, and many 4 or 5 day vacations. Thus, it is easier for us if we can book by days rather than any specific week.

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
Trade more likely than home resort unless it is a ski place. We do try to go ski twice every year, but not for a whole week.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
In no particular:
Orlando
Lake Tahoe, CA or Winter Park, CO
Hawaii (no preference on island)
Italy
Singapore

Because we like to travel, we think we would prefer that makes it for easier trading and would love if the locations existed in East or Southeast Asia where we also have family.

We also wonder if it is better to join places that allows us to rent for 5 days or do something like RCI's last call because we do tend to take last minute trips as well as plan something months in advance.

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
My family has 2 adults and one 8 years old.
We tend to meet up with one other family on each side once a year, they tend to be families of 4. Everyone has kids under 10. (All the kids love Disney so we kept thinking of Disney but my husband doesn't enjoy Florida.)

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Preferably school schedule but all of us frequently take kids out of school since they are in elementary school. Plus, none of our school schedules match, except for summer vacation.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes, we can but we tend not to do so.

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes. We do this at least 1x a year.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4 stars or higher generally.

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
We can go to $50k or $60k but it all depends on what that gets us and would prefer to avoid financing. We think we would prefer a 1 bedroom and bank for 2 bedrooms if needed, but then we are split on whether we should get 2 bedroom and be able to rent it or whatever based on what friends have.

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?
Again, that depends on what we get but preferably less than $1000 for one bedroom and don't know about the two bedroom - $2000?. We haven't really researched into this part.

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
I am not sure what this means but I plan out every part leading up to vacation and when we get there, I don't want to do anything to plan it. My husband plans nothing until he is on vacation and then wants to plan out each day. Opposites attract...or drive each other crazy...

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?
Yes and that is why it is taking us so long to decide.

Thanks for your assistance!
 

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
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Feb 10, 2007
Messages
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Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
Hello,

Reading and appreciating all the information in this user group. I realized that I may have posted in the wrong way so re-posting in a new thread. Sorry for double.

My husband and I have been trying to decide on this timesharing thing for a couple of years now, renting or borrowing from others, but we always get stuck on which system and location for home base. Thus, I am now asking for advice from all you wise people.
In the interest of brevity, I'll suggest you get a pure point system with no 'home resort' for max flexibility. Since you live in California, I think Worldmark makes the most sense. It isn't one of those FREE or $1 TSs on eBay, but it holds some value, and there is a market when you want to sell. You won't have to pay someone to take it from you. You use the points like currency, and the cost of different properties varies by size of unit, season, location, and you can use just a few days to a full week- you just have to watch out for extra housekeeping fees if you use a lot of short stays. I'm not a WM owner (but sometimes wish I was) so I have no dog in the fight.

Take a look in the WM forum (or Wyndham- they're related) or WMOwners.com

Jim

P.S. this doesn't answer the question of whether you should buy at all. That's up to you, but having a small to midsize stash of TS to add to other travel modes- cruises, camping, organized tours etc. isn't a bad idea. Oh and TSs internationally are not like the ones in US, Mexico, Caribbean. So I don't recommend it except marginally.
 
Last edited:

vacationtime1

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
5,159
Reaction score
2,750
Points
649
Location
San Francisco
Resorts Owned
WKORV-OF (Maui)
WKV x2 (Scottsdale)
The high end points systems are flexible as to number of days and locations, but they are expensive due to the upfront cost. I am thinking here of Marriott as it covers your US destinations; if you want 4+ star accommodations, I would not recommend Worldmark.

I suggest that you decide where your seven day trips will be and if you opt to purchase a timeshare, to buy a week, not points, to accomplish that more limited purpose.
 

SteelerGal

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2019
Messages
1,758
Reaction score
835
Points
224
Resorts Owned
WKV, SDO, HPP, Bay Club
You should look into HGVC as well. They do have International options outside of the US. It’s home resort w/ points. I would check out the stickies.
 

mcsteve

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
303
Reaction score
275
Points
174
Location
Ontario, Canada
Resorts Owned
HGVC Elara - Las Vegas
Southwind, Egret Point & Waterside by Spinnaker - HHI
Vacation Village @ Weston
+1 on the HGVC option. We own in Vegas due to the low maintenance fees but have never stayed at our home resort since purchasing. The point system allows you to travel through their various properties (many which meet the goals you have listed) as well as being able to utilize the RCI system. While RCI is loosing some of its luster among TS owners it still offers quite a range of flexibility. The HGVC system also is not one you will get for free or $1. HGVC has ROFR and this keeps the resale value between $.50 and $1 per point depending on how much they have bought back in a year. Read through the HGVC forum for details but I would suggest nothing less than a 7,000 ownership to provide the best flexibility.

As mentioned by Passepartout, the Worldmark system also gets high points from many people on this forum. Because of this it is also on my hit list of future TS locations to acquire. There are several other TS systems which members here have spoken highly of so I won't express opinion on those. I am sure several others will share their first hand experiences for you to consider while trying to decide. The best advice I believe I have seen offered to those asking similar questions as yours is to "be patient" and "don't rush in". You will be enjoying your choice for many years to come if you take your time and choose wisely. I love my TS ownership's and will be adding many more weeks to my options in the coming years because I have read what is posted here and taken the advice of those who have watched this industry evolve.
 

RNCollins

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
3,329
Reaction score
1,200
Points
399
Location
Borscht Belt
Resorts Owned
Tradewinds, Divi, Quarter House, Casa Ybel
Hi Sea & Ski,

Welcome to TUG!

The two big exchange companies for Timeshares are RCI and Interval International. Below I have listed a link to each directory (you can explore timeshares located around the world). Just because there is a Resort in the directory does not mean it is available to exchange into. If you choose to join an Exchange company you then will see what is available to trade into, or set up an ongoing search for a resort you would like.

RCI:
https://www.rci.com/resort-directory/landing

Interval:
https://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1500
 

bizaro86

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
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Mar 5, 2008
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Location
Calgary, AB, Canada
Given your budget and ambivalence toward planning far in advance and preference for short stay options, I think Marriott DC points might be your best bet.

The accomodation will be consistently high quality, you can get smaller or larger units depending how many people come, and you can get different lengths of stay.
 

Mouseowner

newbie
Joined
Nov 28, 2019
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Resorts Owned
Sycamore Balsams Section
Hello,

Reading and appreciating all the information in this user group. I realized that I may have posted in the wrong way so re-posting in a new thread. Sorry for double.

My husband and I have been trying to decide on this timesharing thing for a couple of years now, renting or borrowing from others, but we always get stuck on which system and location for home base. Thus, I am now asking for advice from all you wise people.

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
We travel everywhere but our extended families like only certain places and since we have limited ability to string together longer vacations, we are trying to figure out how to maximize time with family. Texas-side likes to go to Disney Orlando every year but California-side is not so interested in going every year or even every other year. California-side likes to go skiing in North Tahoe or Utah or Colorado, to which Texas people may or may not come. NJ-side likes sunny beaches. We live in San Diego and like to travel and have the smallest family so we go wherever. We do tend to do at least 1 one-week vacation, and many 4 or 5 day vacations. Thus, it is easier for us if we can book by days rather than any specific week.

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
Trade more likely than home resort unless it is a ski place. We do try to go ski twice every year, but not for a whole week.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
In no particular:
Orlando
Lake Tahoe, CA or Winter Park, CO
Hawaii (no preference on island)
Italy
Singapore

Because we like to travel, we think we would prefer that makes it for easier trading and would love if the locations existed in East or Southeast Asia where we also have family.

We also wonder if it is better to join places that allows us to rent for 5 days or do something like RCI's last call because we do tend to take last minute trips as well as plan something months in advance.

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
My family has 2 adults and one 8 years old.
We tend to meet up with one other family on each side once a year, they tend to be families of 4. Everyone has kids under 10. (All the kids love Disney so we kept thinking of Disney but my husband doesn't enjoy Florida.)

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Preferably school schedule but all of us frequently take kids out of school since they are in elementary school. Plus, none of our school schedules match, except for summer vacation.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes, we can but we tend not to do so.

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes. We do this at least 1x a year.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4 stars or higher generally.

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
We can go to $50k or $60k but it all depends on what that gets us and would prefer to avoid financing. We think we would prefer a 1 bedroom and bank for 2 bedrooms if needed, but then we are split on whether we should get 2 bedroom and be able to rent it or whatever based on what friends have.

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?
Again, that depends on what we get but preferably less than $1000 for one bedroom and don't know about the two bedroom - $2000?. We haven't really researched into this part.

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
I am not sure what this means but I plan out every part leading up to vacation and when we get there, I don't want to do anything to plan it. My husband plans nothing until he is on vacation and then wants to plan out each day. Opposites attract...or drive each other crazy...

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?
Yes and that is why it is taking us so long to decide.

Thanks for your assistance!
WHICH rESORT OWN THE BEST BEACH SIDE ?
 
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