Are you a Wyndham timeshare points owner? Or are you thinking of buying some Wyndham timeshare points? Do you want to better understand the points system for Wyndham or other timeshares which operate using points?  If you answered yes to any of these questions then this post is for you.  We will try to get you up to speed on using the points system for your greatest benefit.

When timeshare shares were first sold, your only option was to buy a fixed week.   As most of you are probably aware, many timeshares have now gone over to some kind of points system. This was done to give owners greater flexibility in using their timeshare purchases.  The beauty of these systems is you use more points for larger and nicer units, for example, a three bedroom vs. a studio.  Also, you use more points for prime travel time vs. off seasons for a given area.  You can also go for part of a week using less of your points.  So with that background information, let’s take a look at the Wyndham point system.

Example of point chart for Wyndham Nashville, Nashville, TN:

If you take a look at the point chart above, you can get an idea of how the system works.  You can see the weeks and the seasons along the left side of the chart, and if you look at the points you need, you can see how you can save points by traveling in off- seasons. Resorts have from one to four different levels of seasons.   Look at the above example to see the points needed for quiet, value, high and prime seasons.

Also, you can see the points needed for a Friday or Saturday stay, and the Sun-Thur nights.   Again, more points are needed for weekend days.  If you follow across the top you can see the room size and the point difference for the different sized units.  Some resorts will require different amounts of points based on the view.  You would need more points for an ocean view or for a high floor with an ocean view. In the example above, they have some presidential units which take more points.  You need to study the chart very closely for the resort you wish to travel to, and match what you want and need with the number of points you own or would like to buy.

Many people ask, “ how many points do I need?“  We suggest you start with around 105,000 to 154,000 points.  Use these for a couple of years to get an idea on how you like the system, and go on from there.  This number of points will not get you to some of the new higher points resorts, but it gives you a chance to get some nice timeshare vacations.

If you use the information on the chart, you can get more vacations for your points if you plan accordingly. Select the smallest unit you can for the number of people traveling, try to stay away from the weekends, and see if you can travel in one of the off- seasons.

Points chart using Wyndham points in RCI:

Season Demand Studio 1BR 2BR 3BR or more

RCI Red            Greater              70,000     105,000       154,000           254,000

RCI White        Average           42,000       77,000 128,000           189,000

RCI Blue           Lesser                 28,000      63,000         77,000             154,000

This chart shows how many Wyndham points you need to get an RCI unit to deposit into their system and use it to search for a vacation.

Another option you have with your Wyndham points is to take some points and make a deposit into the RCI System.  If you put them into RCI you can trade to resorts all over the United States and the world.  Also, when you deposit them, they will last for two years which gives  you a longer time to plan your vacation.  You can deposit a smaller amount, let’s say a studio in blue time, which only takes 28,000 points.  You can then search the RCI inventory and often get a 1 or 2 bedroom unit. You will need to pay the RCI exchange fee, but again you can get more vacation days for less Wyndham points. You can use these deposits with RCI to trade back into the Wyndham system, usually with far less points than if you would have booked directly with Wyndham.

This should give you a good overview of the Wyndham points system.  Keep reading this site as well as the Wyndham User Group site and enjoy many timeshare vacations.

It seems that the timeshare world is surrounded by negativity. Recently, USA Today did an extensive article that pretty much dumped on timesharing.  A financial “guru” that writes a column that runs in our local newspaper has also warned of the dangers of timesharing.  Even some of our close friends question the wisdom of our timeshare purchases based on what they have heard, rather than their own actual experience.  The following cartoon, courtesy of GoComics, says it all:

The Flying McCoys by Glenn and Gary McCoy

When we talk to people that we meet while timesharing, this negativity does not seem to be present. Yes, there is sometimes frustration and confusion surrounding the usage of their timeshares, but overall they are happy with the vacations that owning timeshares provides. So, we decided to accentuate the positive aspects of timesharing  in this post. Here are 21 reasons why we like timesharing:

1. Timeshares allow you the flexibility to travel all over the world.

2. Timeshares force you to take vacations yearly.

3. Timesharing is cheaper per night compared to most motels.

4. Timeshares provide deluxe accommodations.  Staying in a timeshare unit is like a home away from home.

5. Timeshares provide plenty of room so that you can invite family and friends.  Most timeshares sleep at least 4.  Some can sleep as many as 12, depending on the size of the unit.

6. Timeshares are good for your health.  See our previous post—–

7. Timeshares have cooking facilities so that you can save money by not eating out as often.

8. Timeshares allow you weekly stays which give you more time to explore an area.

9. Timeshares allow you partial week stays if that is your desire.

10. Some timeshares allow you nightly stays.  This comes in handy if you are traveling or need a “tweener.”  A tweener is a night in between—for example, if your timeshare accommodation ends on a Friday and your next timeshare week doesn’t begin until Saturday.

11. Timeshare resorts generally have more amenities than motels.  Most have pools, hot tubs, playgrounds and exercise rooms.  Some have basketball and tennis courts, mini-golf, etc.

12. Most timeshare resorts employ an Activities Director, who organizes games, crafts and social opportunities for kids, teens and adults.

13. Because of all the social opportunities and activities, it is easier to meet people at a timeshare resort.  This allows for sharing travel experiences and information about the area.

14. Timesharing allows you to plan ahead.  (Not everyone would see that as a positive thing, but it works for us!)

15. Owning a timeshare is much easier than owning a vacation home.  Someone else has to do all the maintenance work, yard work and upkeep.

16. Timesharing allows you to vacation in numerous, different locations, rather than returning to the same vacation home again and again.

17. If you buy resale, timesharing is a lower cost investment than buying a second home.

18. Timesharing wins over RVs—see our post —

19. Most timeshare resorts offer informative talks about the area—what to see and do.  They often provide discounts to area attractions.

20. Most timeshares consist of deeded property that can be passed down to family or friends.

21. Timeshare resorts lend themselves to special events like birthday celebrations, reunions, etc.  They provide a comfortable, home-like and fun atmosphere for extended family or friends.

As you can see, we are positive about timesharing, and hope that you are, too.  These are just some of the reasons that we love traveling this way—probably you can come up with others that we haven’t mentioned.  What do ‘ya say? Should we design a bumper sticker that says “HONK IF YOU LOVE TIMESHARING!!?

In our last post, we discussed some of the advantages and disadvantages of  traveling to timeshares vs. traveling with RV’s. We discussed amenities, locations, and the differences in accommodations. It really kind of comes down to what style of vacation you prefer, but the biggest issue is the one we’re going to discuss in this post: the issue of cost.

The first thing you need to look at  is the purchase price.  You can buy a pop-up camper for $4000.00 or a large, top-of-the-line motor home for over a million dollars.  It is also possible to purchase a used RV for a reduced price. When we look at timeshares, you can purchase from the developer at a cost of $15,000.00 to $50,000.00 for a week in prime season in a 2 bedroom.  Just like in the RV world, you can buy timeshares from the resale market at a fraction of the original cost. We have purchased several timeshares for a week in a one bedroom for a few hundred dollars.

Most timeshares are deeded property that you have forever, while the RV does wear out and must be retired or replaced. Of course, if you purchase an RV you could use it 365 days a year, while your timeshare just gives you a week for each one you own.

Another area to think about is your yearly cost.  In the timeshare world, you must pay a yearly maintenance fee which runs from $400.00 to over $1200.00 per week that you own. An RV needs yearly insurance, registration, storage fees, and vehicle maintenance. You must also look at your costs for each trip you take. When you go on a timeshare vacation, you need to get to your destination, and take care of food, either by eating out or cooking in your timeshare.  The RV people have the same decisions about food and they must pay nightly campground fees and fuel for their vehicles.

If you search the internet there are numerous cost comparisons between the RV trip and hotel, car, or flying trip. I think you need to work out the kind of vacations you will take every year and do the math. We timeshare 15 to 18 weeks every year and clearly make out better cost-wise than if we went the RV
route, but that could vary for everyone, depending on your lifestyle.

The last area is about lifestyle and vacations.  Some folks love the idea of having their RV with all their stuff in it when they travel. They enjoy going to parks and meeting people around campfires and the freedom to come and go when and where they want. Others don’t like the idea of camping, even in a motor home, and enjoy the luxury of their timeshares with plenty of room and all the comforts of home.

What’s important is that you take vacations and enjoy yourself. The issue of RV vs. timeshare needs to be looked at keeping each person’s likes and dislikes in mind.  We think you should do the math based on your lifestyle.  List the advantages and disadvantages as you see them and then go for it and ENJOY!!!

Most of us are interested in getting the best vacation for our dollars. We hear many who think they can get more bang for the bucks doing the RV thing. Being timeshare folks, we also hear many who say that they can go more and get a better vacation for their dollars using their timeshares.  We thought we would try to break down some of the numbers and look at both sides of the coin in reference to timesharing and RV’ing.

The first area we might take a look at is the accommodations. RV’s come in numerous sizes, so it can be a little hard to compare with timeshares. Clearly, the larger they are, the more they cost.  Many are well- equipped and provide nice accommodations for a small family, while others are simply a pop-up tent on wheels. Everything is very compact to make use of all the available space.  Some people feel cramped. But on the plus side, you pack it up at home and do not have to hassle moving in and out of a hotel or timeshare. Many have a small kitchen, and you can prepare meals at a savings vs. eating out for every meal.

When we compare this with the timeshare accommodations, there are some clear differences. Timeshares are usually larger, with more square footage. Most come with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, TV’s in each bedroom, large living room and dining area.  There is plenty of room for a family. You can get  1-3 bedroom units that works great for extended families or friends.  We have, on some occasions,reserved more than one unit to include more people.  The timeshare wins in this area with better accommodations.

Let’s look at the amenities and activities at both the timeshare resort and RV park. Many parks and timeshares have pools, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc. They are all a little different but seem to have nice facilities for folks to use as they wish. Some parks and timeshares have very few amenities. You should be aware of what each has and book your stay according to your needs and desires. Some provide all kinds of activities for all ages, and on the other end you can find both parks and timeshares that don’t offer much. I think I would call this one a draw.

Location is another area which we should cover. There are parks and timeshares all over the country. There are also timeshares all over the world, which expands the places you can go as you can trade through your exchange company. It would be hard to take your RV out of the country.  Also, you can fly to locations to get to your timeshare, but your only choice with an RV is to drive. If vacation time is an issue, the RV has its limits when you have a long way to drive. Also, you have the hassle of driving a large rig with the RV and some people might find this difficult. Many have the problem of towing a car along to provide transportation when they reach their destination.  It seems that timesharing wins here.

We’ve just scratched the tip of the iceberg here with our RV and timeshare comparisons. Stay tuned for our next post in which we’ll discuss the financial issues.

If your family takes a vacation every year, the question that often arises is, should you return to the same great place you went last year or head to some new location that you have never been? We thought we would take a look at some of the issues involved in this process to help you and your family decide.

We have talked to a lot of friends, family and others that are of the opinion that they should go back to the same place every year because they enjoy it so much. They might go to Disney every year because they and the kids love it. There are also numerous parks and things to do in the area, so they never get bored. A lot of people head south for a vacation to escape the winter weather. They love the resort and beach and have a great time relaxing, soaking up the sun, swimming, and other water sports every year. A number of people we know own a fixed week at a timeshare resort and go every year at the same time and stay in the same unit. We also have talked to folks who only trade within the timeshare system they own, like Hilton or Wyndham.  This is fine, because they are using their timeshare, but it seems like they are missing out on some great opportunities.

On the plus side of going to the same place every year is you know the area. Things like the resort itself, shopping, eating, activities, driving, and costs are familiar to you and there is little unknown. This makes it easier to plan budgets and what to take. You might also, in some cases, meet up with the same people who are doing the same thing that you are doing. Many people develop great friends and enjoy doing things with these new friends every year.

On the other hand, if you keep going to the same place every year you will miss out on so many great new vacations. There are untold places both in the United States as well as around the world that would make for fabulous vacations, and to some extent you are selling yourself short to keep going back to the same place. This is why the trading companies like RCI and II were developed, so that you could trade your timeshare week to almost anywhere in the world. The opportunities for new adventures and experiences are so vast that you need to take a risk and go somewhere new and different. This requires you to do research about the new location, which is half the fun. Also the learning opportunities are endless when you go to a new area, whether they are historical, natural or cultural.

We take several vacations every year and we like to do some of both. We have some favorite places that we go to and we like returning to those spots, some every year and some every couple of years. We also like to see new places and have some new experiences, so we plan to go every year to some place that we have not been to before. The choice is yours, but DO make sure to take those trips, because studies have shown that vacation travel is good for you!

Who is going to clean up this mess?  What about the dirty dishes?  When are we going to do the laundry?

These are some of the questions we often ask ourselves when we are traveling, whether it is in one of our timeshares or when staying in hotels.  We thought it might be helpful to cover some of the housekeeping issues. Because we have bought deeded property with our timeshares, we have the attitude that this is our home and we should treat it as such. We try to keep it in good shape and leave it in good shape.

One of the first differences between timeshares and hotels is that you do NOT get daily room service. We have stayed at a few that will come in during midweek to take out trash and do a quick tidy up.  Also, some do a towel exchange for guests mid-week. We find that timeshares are doing this less and less and, unless you want to pay extra, it is your responsibility to take care of the unit for the week.  We know many people that really like this, as they don’t have to worry about someone coming into the unit all the time.

Let’s talk about dishes.  Most timeshares come with a full kitchen. This, of course, helps to save money on eating out or is great for a quick breakfast, snacks and light meals; but it does produce dirty dishes.  The full kitchens  come with a dishwasher, which we use.  Most timeshares ask you to fill and run the dishwasher when you check out, so they only have to put the dishes away when getting the unit ready for the next guests. So when we leave there are NO dirty dishes and we clean up the kitchen.

Another area that you need to deal with is the trash. Because no one comes in during the week, and we are doing some cooking, we tend to generate some trash.  Again, each timeshare is a little different, but you still need to deal with it. Most give you an ample supply of trash bags and let you know where the dumpsters are or where a trash chute is located for you to place your trash.  Some have you put it out in front of your unit before noon each day and they pick it up. A lot of timeshares ask that you take care of the trash when you check out and we always do, even if they don’t ask.

A quick note about furniture.  We often move some of it around to suit our living style, but we always return the furniture to the original places as we found it. Some timeshares have indicated that there would be a charge if they have to move furniture back.

Another nice benefit of staying in timeshares is that most have washers and dryers in each unit.  Some have a central laundry room for the resort and most are free or charge a nominal fee. Most resorts  give you one or two packets of laundry soap.  We usually do laundry a couple of times a week, so we take extra.  This is nice because you don’t have to pack as many clothes, and we try to go home with clean clothes.  We have discovered a new 3 in 1 laundry product from Purex.  It is a laundry sheet that contains detergent, softener, and anti-static. If interested, you can buy from Amazon.com.  It is simple to use, works great and is easy to pack and store.

Housekeeping is never fun (at least in our book!), but with a little planning it should only be a minimal distraction during a great timeshare travel experience!

Our recent timeshare travel trip to Atlantic City and Wyndham’s Skyline Towers was mostly a good experience.  But, unfortunately, it didn’t get off to a very good start.

We had a Friday check-in, but because of other commitments we did not arrive until Sunday afternoon.  We had called ahead earlier in the week to inform them of this.  We anticipated that checking in on a Sunday afternoon, after all the weekend traffic had checked out, would be a breeze, especially since we technically had the unit reserved since Friday  WRONG!

  It was obvious that other people were also waiting to check in and were becoming disgruntled.  After waiting 40 minutes past the Sunday check-in time, we asked to speak to a manager.  After a somewhat unpleasant exchange, they found us a newly refurbished unit on the 28th floor.

This incident would not have bothered us nearly as much if it had been our actual check-in day.  But coming in 2 days late, AND HAVING CALLED,  we didn’t really think there was any excuse for not putting us right into a room.  The closest they could come was that all the clocks were changed to Daylight Savings Time and people were late checking out.  DUH!  Then, the clincher—John inquired at the desk the next morning as to how full they were (he does this everywhere we go) and they said only 40%!  To our way of thinking, this shows poor management on Wyndham’s part.

That being said, our 2-bedroom unit was lovely, with new carpeting and mattresses.  Approximately 30% of the rooms are being redone at this time.  Our balcony overlooked the lighthouse and the ocean.  An interesting feature of the 2-bedroom units here is that there is a king bed in each bedroom.  So with the sleeper sofa, the unit sleeps six.

There are no washers or dryers in the rooms—they are on the 6th floor, and are free.  Actually, most everything is on the 6th floor:  a beautiful activities  room, computer room, fitness center, indoor pool and arcade.  There are some craft activities, a wine and cheese party, some fitness activities, etc. You can also do a trip to New York City for the day.

Parking at the Wyndham Skyline is $8 per day and is valet, only.  It seems that all casinos and everyone else in AC charges for parking, so I guess this is to be expected.  The elevators have a reputation here for being incredibly slow, but I think they are getting better.

As a tourist city, AC is somewhat disappointing.  It ‘s sad to see so many homeless people, and we were approached many times for money.  The new casino, Revel, has shut down production on the inside until the economy improves.  Supposedly they’re going to destroy some dilapidated homes nearby, and there is lot of litter everywhere. The Boardwalk is kind of neat—maybe when summer comes, things will look better.

We spent 5 nights in AC, and that was just about right.  In spite of some drawbacks, we enjoyed ourselves, especially the day we took a side trip to Philadelphia.  Watch for an upcoming post on that trip!

If you are staying home this winter and dealing with ice and snow, probably about now you’re ready to insure that NEXT winter you can travel somewhere nice and warm, or at least someplace not freezing.  If your circumstances allow and you want to do it, NOW is the time to start planning for a nice 2, 3, 4 or more week getaway.

“Yikes!  Isn’t that kind of complicated?” you say.  Actually, it’s not, but it does take a little bit of work, and it takes a good understanding of your timeshare systems.   We’ll be using our recent Florida trip to illustrate what we did to plan a timeshare vacation.

First, you need to block out your time parameters.  Decide when and for how long you can be gone, keeping in mind how long you would LIKE to be gone.  Our max is usually 3 weeks at a time, and 2 is probably more average for us.  Those are just our preferences—we’d rather go more often, but not stay as long as some people might.  Be sure you take into account your mode of transportation, as driving might add extra days to your itinerary.

Now you are ready to decide where to travel—or maybe you already know.  Sometimes choosing a general area is good, because then you can research in your timeshare books and on the internet to narrow things down.  We’ve often used Las Vegas as a hub, spending some time there and then driving to other places like San Diego, Sedona, Phoenix, and the National Parks in Utah.  If this is a longer trip, you might want to leave some of the time open until you can find out what’s available.

One you decide on an area, it’s generally best to book the “hardest to get” week first.  When we decided on Florida, we knew that we wanted a week on Sanibel or Marco Island, and we knew that both places are tough to get.  So we relied on our Hilton timeshare, called at the exact time 9 months out, and managed to snag the Charter Club.  Nothing was available on Sanibel.

We were pretty happy about that, and began searching RCI for the Sarasota area the week before and after Marco.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t pop up very often, and we were getting discouraged.Then one day we noticed a spacebanking for the Wyndham resorts in Panama City Beach and Destin.  We had had to cancel a trip there back in 2004 when a hurricane came through, and had always wanted to go there.  Yes, it would be cooler, but not as cool as Michigan—and it’s an 8.5 hour drive from PCB to Marco, but we decided to book it!

A week or so later we were searching RCI Points online when Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas came up.  We’d been looking for a week after Marco, and it seemed like Orlando was about the only area coming up anyway.  It took us about 2 minutes to decide that, yes, we would love to stay at a Disney Resort, especially if we could have a savannah view!

Bingo!!   Florida vacation planned!  EXCEPT for a few details.  Having just flown in November (one of us is really not fond of flying), we decided to drive. Because of this, we had to book motels for 2 nights on the road—one going and one coming back.  We also had a night between Marco and the Animal Kingdom where we would have to sleep on the beach or the savannah.  So we needed 3 nights of what some timeshare people call “tweeners,” meaning you are in-between residences.

If you travel frequently, you might want to consider The Hilton Honors program.  When we charge on their American Express card we accumulate points that can be used for Hilton family hotel stays.  Usually we choose Hamptons, because they offer free breakfast and require the least number of points.  Marriott has a similar program and there may be others.   We have not paid for a hotel room in a very long time. 

So two of our ‘tweeners were spent at Hamptons, and we didn’t really sleep on the beach or the savannah!  That night was spent at Bonnet Creek, using Wyndham points.  Watch for trip reports on this trip and other timeshare vacations!