My Survey

[dftbkatie]

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a couple of years now. I've gone to many timeshare presentations for free and discounted stays/other perks and never bit the bullet on purchasing one. However, I'm 27 now with a stable income and decent amount of savings and live in a good airport hub city (LAX). I'd like your advice on what program would be best for me!

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where? I'd like my points to be flexible... I don't enjoy going back to the same place multiple times.

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?
I want to trade more than half the time.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Florida, New York, Hawaii, Alaska, & international

4) How many people do you usually travel with?
Anywhere from 2-7

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
I'm locked into the school schedule.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes.

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
I prefer at least 4 stars, but wouldn't mind 3 star if it included breakfast.

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
I'm not looking to spend anything upfront... Aside from maybe transfer fees.

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?
$2000

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Yes, usually, but I'm also flexible.

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, I understand.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Congrats on educating your self on timeshares before you buy.

Given you are young, don't have a location preference and your trades include areas with few/no TS (Alaska, Int'l). I suggest that you rent for a while to figure out where you want to own and what system you want to join. Florida is easy to rent TS cheap here on Tug or Redweek.

You say you want free so you need to know what you own and how well it trades (low MF/high trading value). Trading rules and costs can change so know what you own. Also you want max trading value for $ so you can give it away someday.

 

[geist1223]

Remember there are very many options - fixed week, floating week, pure Points Programs, Modified Point Programs, etc, etc.

 

[dftbkatie]

Congrats on educating your self on timeshares before you buy.

Given you are young, don't have a location preference and your trades include areas with few/no TS (Alaska, Int'l). I suggest that you rent for a while to figure out where you want to own and what system you want to join. Florida is easy to rent TS cheap here on Tug or Redweek.

You say you want free so you need to know what you own and how well it trades (low MF/high trading value). Trading rules and costs can change so know what you own. Also you want max trading value for $ so you can give it away someday.

Thanks for your reply! Can you go into a little bit more detail on the last bit that you mentioned (how well something trades, etc.)

 

[dftbkatie]

Remember there are very many options - fixed week, floating week, pure Points Programs, Modified Point Programs, etc, etc.

From what I can tell, I think I'd prefer a pure points program.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

The problem with pure points programs is that they have the potential to devalue because the underlying currency is muddled into a trust e.g. Marriott pure points program.

By contrast, points from HGVC, Hyatt, Vistana, and Marriott enrolled weeks are tied to underlying deeded week so difficult to devalue = much better.

Since you don't want to use a particular location, you may need to trade it internally in a system e.g. HGVC, Vistana Staroptions (where you want the lowest MF/Highest points value) or via II or RCI. If you get a free week that has low trading value, then it is not worth as much a free/low cost week that has high trading value. You can research this on TUG but it helps to rent and see what kind of system you want then start researching the system of optimal units that get the biggest bang for the buck. You can then research the points charts in the system to figure out how many points you need to trade into the unit.

Hope that helps.

 

[SteelerGal]

I would definitely rent and see if TS is worth it at this time in your life. We are a family of 7 so that’s why we went the TS route. Cheaper for us but as a single person, I did rentals.

 

[JohnPaul]

No problem with the renting suggestion. However, based on your desire to go lots of places with varying numbers of people, I suggest you consider something like Worldmark. They are currently at something like 90 resorts (higher presence in the West). There are no exchange fees for staying within the system and you can stay in varying size units and for various lengths of stay based on the points/credits you have in your account. The also have a lot of cash options such as bonus time, Monday Madness, Flex Time and Inventory Specials.

That way you avoid the high exchange fees involved in trading a fixed week.

And...if you really want to exchange out of WM you can do that through RCI.

 

[rhonda]

Locations might be a problem for you ... especially with slim pickings in Alaska and New York (City). Note that building timeshare into urban locations is a fairly new trend. The legacy is to "vacation out of town," perhaps far away from town.

Also timeshare resort quality and hotel resort quality, in terms of "stars," are often different scales. Rarely does a timeshare include breakfast as it has a kitchen in the unit. You are your own chef. Unless a timeshare tour is involved ... then you will likely be offered breakfast.

As you are in the LA area ... you owe it to yourself to check out Worldmark the Club for both its in-network locations and trade flexibility. See if it works for you ... but rarely does an account come up for free. Cheap? Yes; Free? No often.

 

[Passepartout]

If'n it we're me in this situation, I'd be looking for a Grandvew Las Vegas that includes a big annual bundle of RCI points. Unlikely to score a free one, as the secret is out, but even paying a couple Grand upfront is a deal and with RCI, you can go anywhere.

Understand that exchanging is costly ($300+- each), but the flexibility makes it easy to get different size units as need dictates.

Jim

 

[dayooper]

If'n it we're me in this situation, I'd be looking for a Grandvew Las Vegas that includes a big annual bundle of RCI points. Unlikely to score a free one, as the secret is out, but even paying a couple Grand upfront is a deal and with RCI, you can go anywhere.

Understand that exchanging is costly ($300+- each), but the flexibility makes it easy to get different size units as need dictates.

Jim

I agree with this reply, but you really need to do your research on where you trade. RCI resorts can vary within their gold and silver crown status. I have noticed that sites like Trip Advisor have reviews that are a little too “easy” on some of the resorts/hotels. I love the TUG reviews as they really seem to keep the integrity of the reviewer. For $15, you get access to the entire bank of member generated reviews. I highly suggest becoming a member for that reason alone.