IS DVC the only point based timeshare?

[BrightScouter]

I've wondered that for a while. The only reason I bought into this was the flexibility that the points offered. Is Disney the only company that does this?

 

[Granny]

There are those who can provide the names of several other timeshares that are point based. I'm not familiar with the other ones (avoid them like the plague), but I'm sure others can post some of their names.

 

[anniet]

RonJon's in Kissimmee now known as Liki Tiki presented a "point based" timeshare to us when we took the tour, but somehow I think it was the same size unit you purchase, maybe just different seasons....I wasn't really listening very well, it was hard to hear with steam coming out of my ears, when I couldn't get straight answers!

The timeshare was through Club Navigo.

 

[TexasAggie]

There is the Shell Vacation Club which has a lot of resorts in Hawaii and elsewhere that is point based. You can even get airline tickets, car rentals with your points. also, I believe Marriot has point based resorts and I believe that Fairfield does too.
More and more programs are switching to the point based system.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I think Hilton Grand Vacations Club is points based.

 

[spruce]

Many resorts that trade with RCI are switching from fixed weeks to RCI points. There is a conversion fee for owners of fixed weeks to switch to RCI points. I can see some advantages to making the switch. Especially if you have a week that receives a high number of points. The point value assigned indicates how strong of a trader your fixed week is. With close in bookings, if we converted, we could get 7 weeks for our 1 week. We have not converted yet and I don't think we will until I retire if even then....spruce

 

[Lisa P.]

We're very happy with our Fairfield points timeshare. Fairfield and a couple of others actually had points programs before Disney. Here's a partial list of the points-based timeshares that I know of...

Hapimag (one of the first, in Europe)
Fairfield's FairShare Plus (mostly in the eastern U.S.)
WorldMark (mostly in the western U.S.)
Hilton GVC (mostly in Florida)
Hyatt (mostly in Florida, I think)
BlueGreen (mostly midwest/east)
Peppertree/Equivest (now run by Cendant/Fairfield)
Sunterra's Sun Options (mostly U.S. near the coasts)
Sunterra Pacific (Pacific rim)

Smaller ones are starting up lately, likely Starwood & Royal Aloha. I cannot recall if Shell or VRI or Silverleaf have points too or just a lot of resorts for variety in internal trading. Marriott's Rewards points are more like turning your week in for Frequent Flier Miles - not really a true points-based timeshare.

DVC charges higher dues than any other points-based timeshare I know about. Extra fees are rolled into the total annual dues. Other than the $75 fee for using DVC points outside of the DVC resorts, there are no added fees. With other timeshare companies, there can sometimes be small, added fees later in the year for various reasons.

If you are interested in other timeshares, consider reading TUG - Timeshare Users Group to learn a lot more before buying anything. Hope that helps!

 

[Dean]

Lisa's list is extensive. I'd also include the RCI points system itself in the list as well as Club Intrawest. I own at Paradise Village in MX which works independently on a points system. It has a lot of similarities to DVC but there are differences. Like many, they charge you to bank, borrow, cancel. You can bank or borrow but not have more than TWO YEARS points used in any year. Fees are less than $250 for what I own which will get me an Ocean front studio in Prime season or a 2 BR off season. I banked from last year and have a 3 BR Ocean view for 8 nights and a 2 BR for one night in June which is off season. It works well with II directly so it can be a good trader or a cheap trader or a compromise between the 2.

I think it's important to evaluate where you live, where you visit and what system might work with how you vacation. Some systems might allow shorter stays than one week but during prime season might require a full week or they might only allow shorter than a week reservations once a shorter window has arrived and the reservations have been picked over. They might charge you an extra fee for housekeeping. Maybe they have great resorts you'd like to visit but they are on the other side of the country and not practical for you to visit routinely. I could go on and on.

Just like DVC, I'd recommend finding a resort you would like to call your home resort and make it the one you plan to visit most. Hopefully it's close enough to you to drive to. Make sure the points system fits your expectations and there are a number of resorts in the system you would like to visit, then look for a bargain. From what I know about the systems Lisa posted, I'd consider Hilton and Hyatt to have the highest overall quality but all have some great resorts and all have a number of resorts most of us would enjoy staying at.