How many time share points to buy?

[TinkOhio]

I'm note sure where to post this, so please move this if need be.

We are considering buying time share points resale for stays at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek, and we aren't sure how many points to buy. Our hopes are to stay for 7-10 days at a time, once a year. Unfortunately, these stays will most likely take place over Christmas or spring breaks, as we are stuck with educators' schedules.

Can anyone lend some advice on how many points we will most likely need per year to stay in a 1 or 2 bedroom unit? Any other words of wisdom on this situation?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[JimMIA]

I'm going to give you a little bit of info you asked for, but with one HUGE caveat -- a little bit of knowledge can be deadly when talking about timeshares!

First of all, there are two categories of 1 BR and 2 BR villas at Bonnet Creek -- Deluxe and Presidential. The points shown are for Deluxe; Presidential points costs are quite a bit higher. These point costs are for the lowest season and the highest -- there is another season (High) which will be in between, but these prices will give you the highs and lows.

One Bedroom Value Season -- 19,500 points per night Fri-Sat, 9,000 points per night Sun-Thurs, 84,000 points for a week.

Two Bedroom Value Season -- 23,500 points per night Fri-Sat, 13,000 points per night, 112,000 points for a week.

One Bedroom Prime -- 33,000 per night Fri-Sat, 20,000 Sun-Thurs, 166,000 per week.

Two Bedroom Prime -- 44,500 per night Fri-Sat, 27,000 Sun-Thurs, 224,000 per week.

*****
Points costs are really not the first question to look at in buying a timeshare. The first question to answer is whether you really want to get involved in a longterm (never-ending in the case of Wyndham) financial committment for vacation lodging. I'd struggle with that for a while, then consider which of several very good timeshare systems would best meet your needs. A key consideration there is the size of the system and where their resorts are located. If the system won't take you where you want to go, don't buy it. Then, and only then, worry about how many points to buy.

To be honest, I own Wyndham but I wouldn't buy Wyndham to stay at Bonnet Creek. Orlando is a very overbuilt market and you'll probably come out ahead renting from an owner there. No need to tie yourself down to a timeshare for the purpose of visiting Orlando.

And if I was going to buy Wyndham, I wouldn't buy Bonnet Creek. You won't need the home-resort booking advantage there, and the MF's are likely to go up once they complete active sales at that resort.

For Wyndham info, I'd go to the TUG Wyndham forum. Read the Advice Articles at the top of the page first to get a basic understanding of how Wyndham works first.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thank you.

 

[LadyBeBop]

JimMIA gave some excellent answers, and I bow at his knowledge of timeshares. But I think he neglected the one basic rule of buying a timeshare. One that I actually broke twice and cost me thousands of dollars.

Never buy from the timeshare company.

There are tons of timeshares that people are nearly giving away for next to nothing. With closing fees and such, you could buy a 150,000 points contract for a little over $1,000. That will easily get you into WBC during value season, and with pooling your points, it should get you into WBC every other summer with enough points for a short trip elsewhere during value season.

Where do you find these bargain points? Usually eBay. But there are other places. Go read the TUG forum as Jim suggested. In fact, invest $15 for a one year membership to TUG.

Jim is also right in not buying directly at WBC. There are several dozen Wyndham resorts. And you can use those points to get into WBC 10 months before your check-in date. The only advantage to buying WBC points is that you can reserve 13 months before your trip. That may come into consideration if you want Christmas/New Years week. But I'm sure you can get in at the 10 month mark any other week.

One more thing about not buying WBC. You can use Wyndham points to trade into the numerous RCI resorts. Meaning, if you have enough points (and good timing), you may be able to trade into DVC. However, you can't trade into DVC if your home resort is in Orlando.

Timesharing is not for everyone. You have to crunch the numbers to see if it would be worth it. Good luck with your decision.

 

[JimMIA]

JimMIA gave some excellent answers, and I bow at his knowledge of timeshares. But I think he neglected the one basic rule of buying a timeshare. One that I actually broke twice and cost me thousands of dollars.

Never buy from the timeshare company.

I agree, but I didn't mention it because OP was talking about purchasing resale anyway.

I think the first rule is to be sure you want to get involved with a timeshare in the first place. The second rule is NEVER, ever buy directly from the developer. Buy resale.

There are tons of timeshares that people are nearly giving away for next to nothing. With closing fees and such, you could buy a 150,000 points contract for a little over $1,000.

This is NOT an exaggeration. You can sometimes get a contract for $1, with free closing, and only have to pay the $299 transfer fee to Wyndham.

and with pooling your points, it should get you into WBC every other summer with enough points for a short trip elsewhere during value season.

"Pooling" is one of those fundamentals about a timeshare program that is critical to know before you purchase.

There are several dozen Wyndham resorts. And you can use those points to get into WBC 10 months before your check-in date.

There are about 80 Club Wyndham vacation (timeshare) resorts. In addition, there are another 40 or so "affiliate" or "associate" resorts, but availability is so limited at those that they should be ignored.

You can use Wyndham points to trade into the numerous RCI resorts. Meaning, if you have enough points (and good timing), you may be able to trade into DVC.

Virtually every timeshare system uses one or more timeshare exchange systems, usually either RCI, Interval International or both. RCI has about 4,000 resorts worldwide; not sure what II has.

However, you can't trade into DVC if your home resort is in Orlando.

This is true of many timeshares, but NOT Wyndham. Wyndham operates differently with RCI and Orlando area points CAN be used to exchange into other RCI resorts in the Orlando area...including DVC.

The reason I said don't buy in the Orlando area is that it's an overbuilt area where you really don't need a home resort booking advantage to get a reservation. You'll probably pay higher MF's, and will get nothing of value in return. Unless you have some specific need (New Orleans during Mardi Gras, Daytona for Race Week, etc), most will recommend focusing on low MF's rather than location of home resort.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I agree, but I didn't mention it because OP was talking about purchasing resale anyway.

Now I see it. Read her post twice before commenting. Did not see the "resale" phrase.

TinkOhio, you're already farther ahead than I was at the game.

This is NOT an exaggeration. You can sometimes get a contract for $1, with free closing, and only have to pay the $299 transfer fee to Wyndham.

Haven't seen them in a while (although I haven't been looking). How frequent are these?

There are about 80 Club Wyndham vacation (timeshare) resorts. In addition, there are another 40 or so "affiliate" or "associate" resorts, but availability is so limited at those that they should be ignored.

Wasn't sure about the exact number of Club Wyndham resorts. That's why I said several dozen. Should have said seven dozen (84).

This is true of many timeshares, but NOT Wyndham. Wyndham operates differently with RCI and Orlando area points CAN be used to exchange into other RCI resorts in the Orlando area...including DVC.

Oooh, I didn't know that. I always thought you couldn't use Orlando points to weeks to trade into another Orlando resort.

As I said previously, I bow to your knowledge of timeshares.

The reason I said don't buy in the Orlando area is that it's an overbuilt area where you really don't need a home resort booking advantage to get a reservation. You'll probably pay higher MF's, and will get nothing of value in return. Unless you have some specific need (New Orleans during Mardi Gras, Daytona for Race Week, etc), most will recommend focusing on low MF's rather than location of home resort.

Totally agree with you. But do you think Orlando during Christmas is one of those specific needs?

 

[DCTooTall]

Totally agree with you. But do you think Orlando during Christmas is one of those specific needs?

Orlando? No.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek Specifically.... possibly. (Especially as it gains more and more popularity on the rental market due to it's 'onsite' location and decent park shuttle)