Looking for an opinion on what type of timeshare to purchase

We are potential first time buyers that have read the good, bad and the ugly of timeshare companies from developers to exchange companies and weeks versus points. We are looking for honest opinions on what type of timeshare, points versus weeks to purchase. Vacation clubs and trading companies to what area's to look at for trading power to help us. We have been to a timeshare pitch in Maui and know for sure resale is the way to go but at present a little overwhelmed with all that is out there. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I'm not that familiar with all the points systems (we owned fixed weeks only) but you can go to www.tugbbs.com to ask your question as there are forums for the different points systems there.

lawrenced43 wrote:

We are potential first time buyers that have read the good, bad and the ugly of timeshare companies from developers to exchange companies and weeks versus points. We are looking for honest opinions on what type of timeshare, points versus weeks to purchase. Vacation clubs and trading companies to what area's to look at for trading power to help us. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

As you should understand this is the worse time for timeshares! I own two units and have deeds for both and would never want points.

I really don't understand the points because of never having any interest in them.What I can tell you is we own two different units at our resort that has 302 units in seven buildings and we bought in the buildings we want to stay in. With points you get to use all the buildings depending on what is available at the time. Last year our resort started a points system and contacted owners as they stayed there to see if any would want to change over to points.From what I have heard not to many made the change. The few that did had to pay few thousand dollars and their maintenance fee's are almost double the deeded owners.

This is only my opinion but I have always recommended buy a timeshare where you and your family want to go every year and think of exchanging as a second option only. This way your family will always be happy with your timeshare. Trying to buy a timeshare where you have the best trade causes you many years to be trading with really no home resort.

Remember places like Hawaii are one of the best area's but at this time Hawaii in a world of hurt because of this down turn. You can find last minutes to Hawaii that few years ago cost you a bundle of money just to rent or buy.

You are always better off spending a little more if needed to get in a good resort but one your family will use every year if needed and be happy.

PHILL12

Thanks for your opinion, from alot of things we have read the point system is going to be the future or it seams that way. Maybe this is answering my question but we like to go to different places and see new things. We are struggling as there is a lot of bad reviews with depositing weeks for another resort (taken with a grain of salt) a year in advance and with points you see what is availiable and put your request in so they tell you. At the same time we have not traveled a lot to know what areas we would want to be in. Thanks for your input.

I own both a points and weeks systems. The are different but both have advantages and disadvantages. My points system gives me more flexibility as I use more or less points depending upon the season I am traveling and size of unit and when I make a reservation. I can get multiple vacations with my points if I am conscientious about what I am doing. I can exchange with the points an it easy simple and easy. I can see what is available and can use the points I have for that unit. I can also use points for airfare, hotel stays, cruises and tours if I want. However, these are not the best ways to use points and you don't get the same value by using them that way.

The major difference with points is that you can have split weeks. You use only the amount of points necessary for the length of stay. Thus, the longer your stay the more points you use. However, you can stay longer than a week if you wish as well. This is great when making reservations for airfare as you have more flexibility. I also have noticed that since my children are older I now don't always need a two bedroom all of the time, but a one bedroom. I now use less points and can either save the balance to next year or take multiple vacations. Also, when I have family members or friends join me, I can get additional units. Once I had 3 three bedroom units with family and friends. It was great! I like this a lot.

My weeks system is pretty simple. You make a reservation for the unit and you get to stay in the size unit you bought. If you have a 2 bedroom lock off unit, you can actually stay in one bedroom and exchange the other side with RCI or Interval International exchange companies. When exchanging you exchange like for like and it's very simple. With most weeks systems, you can only trade for a week at a time, although some are starting to let you split the weeks now. It will depend on which company you are dealing with. I like weeks because I love my property there and don't want any issues trying to get into it when I want to be there. I am guaranteed a two bedroom and have preference to that specific property as I have a home resort advantage and thus have the ability to make a reservation 12 months in advance which is important when you want to go during peak seasons.

Maintenance fees between points and weeks systems will depend on the companies you buy from. It is hard to determine if one costs more than the other.

An issue with the points systems for some seems to be availability of units as often there are a certain number of units set aside for points owners and some for weeks owners on the same property. In some systems there may be a bigger pool for weeks systems. This may be because many weeks owners may not have converted to points. Many points system owners complain about this but it seems to depend on what company they own with. Personally, I have not had this problem when using my points.

The big thing about points is that you need to have enough of them to be able to stay in the size units at even the most demanding times of year. If you don't have enough points, then it will be difficult to enjoy the timeshare because you will be handicapped with too few points. For example, you may buy 10,000 points and it may get you a two bedroom in Arizona in August. However, to go to Hawaii it may be 15,000 points for that same 2 bedroom in August. Thus, if you buy a points system, it is important that you have an idea of how many points various locations are in the system so that you can get an adequate amount of points to do what you would like and not be frustrated.

I like both for different reasons.

Thanks, have been reading through FAQ on TUG and some concerns there as well for point listed resorts and availability, did not realize they have reservation fees ect. It will be a learning curve as we have no experience with either. Some of the listings we are looking at are in or near Las Vegas and are points but were converted from weeks.

Has anyone heard of Utopia Vacation Specialists. Come across it on the internet. Looks like a travel club.

I just inherited 23 weeks of timeshares from my father who passed away in August. We own Marriott [4 wks], Wyndham [1M Pts], Diamond, Bluegreen and 6 misc properties. He purchased over $350,000 worth of properties. Some have retained their value. Some are worthless. Some are valuable to use, but worthless to sell. It is a buyers/renters market right now as the entire resort industry is in the tank. I have spent countless hours learning the ins and outs, pros and cons and would be happy to discuss with you.

That would be great, not sure of the process to do this, as far as discussing this topic. Thanks,

Please do not confuse all points systems as being RCI Points! There are huge differences. I love my points system (Bluegreen) but will never be involved with RCI Points.

It really is impossible to tell you what would be best for you since I have no idea how large your travel complement is, where you live, where you wanna go, how long you wanna stay, etc etc etc

Definitely spend more time on Tug. that is the single largest universe of timeshare people.

but while you're here, what are your travel priorities?? what are you looking for your timeshare to do for you?

We would like warm (winter months January to March) and beach front. We would also like muliple locations as we enjoy seeing different areas and then in future we will have a better idea as to where we would like to spend most of our vacation time. When we go to Hawaii we would like to be able to spend at least 10 days to 2 weeks. Luxury is not extremly important to us as long as where we stay is kept up and clean. We like the resorts with BBQ areas. Not to be picky but have not heard a lot of great things with the exchange companies with membership fees and exchange fees so if possible resorts with multiple locations and the ability to transfer between them looks more inviting to us. Some of the points systems are hard to locate charts to be able to see where they will get you and what you would need.

How kind! Thank you for the all these information.

Anyone know where I should serch for best resale point for World Mart? How much should I pay for 6000 points?

Lawrence,

If you would like to send me a message thru the Redweek system, I can provide a Bluegreen points chart. I agree - hard to be able to compare apples 2 apples, so ...

Solara Surfside (Miami) right on the ocean - 1 br, 7 nights, in High Season = 10000 (wk 1 - 17, covers your timeframe); 8000 all other weeks (this is a VERY NICE resort but must get 2 br for ocean front, 18000 pts in your timeframe)

Panama City - 1 br ranges 5000- 7000 pts for one week

St Augustine - 1 br 5000 - 8000 pts one week in winter

Marathon, FL - 1 br one week 13000 pts

Huge assortment of resorts on FL beach.

In Hawaii we have Pono Kai - 1 br winter 7000 - 10000 pts (minisuite = 5000 - 7000)

MANY other resorts in Fl. Bluegreen has consistent quality but not 5* avg (some resorts are 5*!!) Never below 3* that I've seen (and would complain about).

Bluegreen seems to understand about the grills, and we also seek them out. Some resorts have more of them than others, and a quick call to the resort will tell you gas vs charcoal, how many, do they provide utensils (usually, YES).

Clean, great staff, easy to work with owner services/reservations and even book points vacations online.

(another reason to send me a message, I can tell you EXACTLY how many points for what you are seeking)

I would be happy to help you determine if Bluegreen would suit you (take a cruise thru bluegreenonline.com to see if locations are appealling - I'm not sure they show them all to non-owners, but I think we're over 50 resorts now).

lawrenced43 wrote:

We would like warm (winter months January to March) and beach front. We would also like muliple locations as we enjoy seeing different areas and then in future we will have a better idea as to where we would like to spend most of our vacation time. When we go to Hawaii we would like to be able to spend at least 10 days to 2 weeks. Luxury is not extremly important to us as long as where we stay is kept up and clean. We like the resorts with BBQ areas. Not to be picky but have not heard a lot of great things with the exchange companies with membership fees and exchange fees so if possible resorts with multiple locations and the ability to transfer between them looks more inviting to us. Some of the points systems are hard to locate charts to be able to see where they will get you and what you would need.

We are looking at a MROP floating red week in Maui at the Kuleana Resort. It is our impresion that they are associated with VRI and there is no membership fees for MROP owners to belong to VRI. Also the exchange rates are supposed to be lower than the big exchange companies but they have access to them as well.

My wife and I own Wyndham and, overall, we love it. In fact, we've purchased two different points packages through Wyndham. Their system is based on points and provides a great deal of flexibility for us. Yes - there's a learning curve, but there are a lot of helpful people out there.

Sounds like you need to buy into a large firm like Wyndham, Blue/Green, Shell Vacation Club so that you can go to various places with the points system depending on where you want to travel to. Bought Wyndham/Fairfield as it has resorts mainly in the Southeast although they do have a few in the West such as San Francisco, and purchased Shell Vacation to cover the West Coast and Hawaii.

I hope you are able to pay the maint. fees each year. I am aware of legimate firms, one located in Branson, that will only do the closing paperwork, and onely one firm that I am aware of that does not ask for funds up front, Timeshareresales, Carsbad, CA. I am not affliated with either one, however, too man companies require "up front" funds to list a property. The 3 bedroom in Branson has 244,000 points. I am guaranteed 3 weeks in Branson or use the web site of Interval Int. to exchange these units, I was really suprised to book Fiju Islands 3 years ago with II. . . .

roberts1192 wrote:

I hope you are able to pay the maint. fees each year. I am aware of legimate firms, one located in Branson, that will only do the closing paperwork, and onely one firm that I am aware of that does not ask for funds up front, Timeshareresales, Carsbad, CA. I am not affliated with either one, however, too man companies require "up front" funds to list a property. The 3 bedroom in Branson has 244,000 points. I am guaranteed 3 weeks in Branson or use the web site of Interval Int. to exchange these units, I was really suprised to book Fiju Islands 3 years ago with II. . . .

rafaelp16 wrote:

You can always buy points which allows you to travel to different places...

In short, merely having the "points" to do so doesn't necessarily mean (and there is absolutely no guarantee) that you are going to be able to go where you want to go, when you want to go.