Other Timeshares

[Dean]

Generally agree with Dean's comments, except that I do not characterize the II priority window for Marriott as an effective internal trade system. But I quibble. The bottom line is that I like the Marriott system and in the whole feel they give good value. Like littlestar stated above -- it is a trusted brand, like DVC.

I much prefer it to the Royals system where they have an internal system and also trade with II with no overlap of the weeks, and no II trade priority. At least with the current set up you have potential access to each and every week given up for exchange where with most systems including DVC, this is not true. Some quibble with their trade power formula for matching exchanges but I prefer it and think it's more fair than a first come/first served system.

 

[Metsoskil]

We own at Star Island, about 4 miles from WDW in addition to our DVC. We bought a 3 BR lock-off there for 99 cents on e-bay. It's during the week we usually go to Disney. We then bought a 25 pt. VWL contract resale, and added on 25 pts.

So we now own 50 pts at VWL and a week in a 3 BR off-site. We were familiar w/ Star Island before we bought since my father owns a 3 BR there during NYE week. It's a nice resort - not themed like Disney, but very nice. With both memberships we get our usual 10-11 day stay, with some time on-site. We'd love to be able to buy enough DVC points for a Grand Villa for a week (the DVC equivalent of what we own at Star-Island), but we're not in that kind of income bracket. That's like a $72,000 purchase. Sure we give up some perks owning off-site, but I saved $71,999.01, so I can live w/ it. Plus the MF on our place are about $800 as opposed to much, much more on 720 DVC points.

I'd also reccomend TUG. They are great over there. I learned (and still learn) a lot from that community.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We bought a timeshare about 15 minutes from our house. We have never seen the unit and will never stay there. We bought it to trade. We also use the facilites year round which is great. That way our maintenance fees are more like club fees. We use the outdoor pool and beach during the summer and the indoor pool during the winter. It has worked out great for us although this year and last the maintenance fees have been high because they are renovating.

I know many people say to buy a place where you want to stay but this has worked out great for us.

HTH!
Goofygirl

 

[Dean]

We bought a timeshare about 15 minutes from our house. We have never seen the unit and will never stay there. We bought it to trade. We also use the facilites year round which is great. That way our maintenance fees are more like club fees. We use the outdoor pool and beach during the summer and the indoor pool during the winter. It has worked out great for us although this year and last the maintenance fees have been high because they are renovating.

I know many people say to buy a place where you want to stay but this has worked out great for us.

HTH!
Goofygirl

I had mentioned this issue before but not in a while. Many timeshare allow day use so you can use the facilities all year around. I know a number of people who bought as you did to have access to pools and the like with no intention of using the units. It's often cheaper and better than a pool membership somewhere, usually with better pools and other facilities as well.

 

[littlestar]

We own at Star Island, about 4 miles from WDW in addition to our DVC. We bought a 3 BR lock-off there for 99 cents on e-bay. It's during the week we usually go to Disney. We then bought a 25 pt. VWL contract resale, and added on 25 pts.

So we now own 50 pts at VWL and a week in a 3 BR off-site. We were familiar w/ Star Island before we bought since my father owns a 3 BR there during NYE week. It's a nice resort - not themed like Disney, but very nice. With both memberships we get our usual 10-11 day stay, with some time on-site. We'd love to be able to buy enough DVC points for a Grand Villa for a week (the DVC equivalent of what we own at Star-Island), but we're not in that kind of income bracket. That's like a $72,000 purchase. Sure we give up some perks owning off-site, but I saved $71,999.01, so I can live w/ it. Plus the MF on our place are about $800 as opposed to much, much more on 720 DVC points.

I'd also reccomend TUG. They are great over there. I learned (and still learn) a lot from that community.

I enjoyed reading your post. This is a form of what we tend to do, too. We own 155 SSR DVC points (we've bought and sold 550 DVC points through the years).

We bought a resale Marriott 2 bedroom lock-off for around $2,400 a few years ago. Trading that week and using our Interval International membership access to cash Getaways, we stay in 2 and 3 bedrooms in Orlando for a very low cost and tack on nights with our DVC points for 10 or 11 day trips.

We uptraded a Marriott 1 bedroom into a Marriott 3 bedroom for spring break next March and then we're tacking on 3 nights on DVC points in a SSR treehouse villa for the extra nights.

We've got a large family group trip in October planned. I bought a II Getaway at Sheraton Vistana Villages in a 2 bedroom for a little over $500 and we've also got a Disney SSR 2 bedroom booked for that same week. I really like the combination of owning DVC points and having access to the other top vacation club brands in Orlando for bargain prices for the bigger units.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I forgot to mention that we also get a discount at the restaurant and on hotel rooms for friends etc. We haven't taken advantage of those perks yet. We have taken our kids to see Santa and the Easter Bunny there too. Kind of a funny perk but the kids love it. They have an Easter Egg hunt on the lawn right by Long Island Sound. Beautiful!

 

[tink4ever]

We own a Marriott timeshare in Myrtle Beach. It is beautiful and we love it but my 2 dvc properties are of course my favorites.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I own Marriotts and one Westin Timeshare. I like them all for different reasons. I've gotten some great trades with my Marriott timeshare. I've never had problems but I'm a huge planner so, I sketch out my trips at least one to two years in advance. You can see some of the places we have visited here: http://community.webshots.com/user/ciscogizmo

Our family loves timesharing and I don't think we'll ever go back to a hotel room for a week long vacation.

 

[tomandrobin]

We own several Westin/Starwood properties...Westin kierland (2), Westin Lagunamar (Cancun), Westin St John (USVI) and Harborside Resort at Atlantis.

We feel that our Westin/Starwood weeks really compliment our travel needs with Disney. Resale is the way to go and like the others here have mentioned, right now is a great time to buy some real nice timeshares, at rock bottom prices.

 

[emsip]

How is the Westin Lagunamar? I am thinking of taking my family to Cancun next year and Westin Lagunamar is one of the places available for exchange.

My other choices are Royal Mayan and Royal Caribbean.

 

[tomandrobin]

How is the Westin Lagunamar? I am thinking of taking my family to Cancun next year and Westin Lagunamar is one of the places available for exchange.

My other choices are Royal Mayan and Royal Caribbean.

I love my Westin's, but those Royals are top notch!

 

[IWantMickey]

I own two weeks at Palm Beach Shores. It's an awesome place.

We own one week in a 2 bdrm lockoff at PBS. Absolutely love it!!!