If you could start over...what would you do?

[JimmyD Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyD]

I want to make the most of my small budget...

Hoping for some helpful strategy to enjoy vacationing on the cheap.

I know that alot of you wish you did it differently, so how should I do it?

I want to enjoy different resorts around the U.S. and also have a dream of Europe some day in the future...

I have noticed alot of points listed for the cost of maintanence fees...

What is the smart way to go????

JimmyD

Know this stretch of beach????

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Buy only what you can use and buy the weeks in area's that you can make use of. Buy something with low MF and will trade well.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

East Coast, carolinas is my bet on the beach picture. Handsome family.

How do you vacation? I'm betting school holidays and larger units?

Where are you most likely to vacation?

Find a points system that will 9 times out of 10 meet your needs without using an exchange system. Something easy to understand and use. Inexpensive on a points cost and easy enough to add on if you want to.

JMHO

[susieq Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close susieq]

Buy only what you can use and buy the weeks in area's that you can make use of. Buy something with low MF and will trade well.

I agree...


Jersey shore is my guess...............

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Nice of you to introduce yourselves with a photo - you certainly look like a family who would really enjoy the space afforded by timesharing

Do let us know where you think you'd like to go and how many trips a year you can take. I agree about buying what you can use first off. And don't pay too much (avoid buying from developers) - your wants/needs will change over time.

[JimmyD Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyD]

the beach is...

Clue: it is in front of a wyndham resort...


No school for my boys yet, and we will probably home school for a while when it comes up.

So, Sunday to thurday is fine for me.

And, I need a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit to bring Mom and sister-in-law...

I like the beach, and straight South from Nashville is the Pensicola area. A 6 hour drive that would work for us, I guess...

I can go for three different five day trips a year. Sunday to thursday to keep it cheap and less crowded.

But I would really like to get around a little bit to different places like Washington D.C. or ... where ever.

I just moved from California 2 years ago to Nashville. Looks like I am a 6 to 12 hour drive from everything...

Can you be more specific on the strategy?

Points sound like it could be easy...

I get the idea so far "buy what I can use".

What else? Points, weeks, clubs????

I am so green, I don't know what makes the most sense!

Or who has the cheapest MF that trades well. Any ideas here?

Thanks,

JimmyD

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Points is obviously what you're thinking and a good choice for you. You should check the Wyndham forum here if that's what you are considering.

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

Buy only what you can use and buy the weeks in area's that you can make use of. Buy something with low MF and will trade well.

Agree with this totally......I also buy the biggest unit I can afford, have a few studios, but I like space and also bathrooms, so now it is one or two bedrooms or up.....

My best advice, after seeing your great picture with the kids.......vacation as often as you can with them.....they will remember each vacation ( I ask my son what resorts we have gone to when I forget, he is 20), they grow up quick and life is short and has too many twists and turns so if you can squeeze in vacations while the kiddies are young, do it!!!!

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

Welcome to the wonderful world of timesharing! You have found the right forum for advice.

You have a beautiful family and I love the fact that you bring Mom and sis as well. Timesharing is great, and with three growing boys, eating meals in will save you money so you can splurge on other adventures. Is that Myrtle Beach?

The one thing I would recommend is buying at a home resort you want to visit. Although you are a prime candidate for a points system, the rules and affiliations with parent systems can change as the years go by so if you own where you want to go you will always be happy. It's also nice to build family memories at a home resort. My children now bring their children.

I don't know anything about Wyndham or Bluegreen points, but we have experts on this site who can help you. I think you can also use points systems to book out of network to all RCI resorts (Europe). Don't worry about buying a huge amount of points initially, there are always plenty of rentals and special deals to supplement your initial investment. You can add on as your vacation budget grows.

Have fun learning and and take your time to find a good fit.

Maria

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

OK I'm moving the beach to Pompano.

Of the points systems that I have worked with my two least favorites are RCI and Wyndham for lack of owner friendliness and ease of use.

They all have their particular nuances and take time to learn well. None are going to get you Europe on a regular basis in large units, so let's leave that out of the picture for now.

I like WorldMark for the west coast and Bluegreen for the east coast. Owners in those particular point systems seem to be the happiest on average. Once they know their particular systems they can get what they want with planning. I can't say that about RCI Points or Wyndham. I know next to nothing about Royal Holiday Club and Diamond Resorts International but there are people on these boards who do.

I suggest you read up on all of them, ask questions and fine tune what exactly you want from your ownership.

[Kentonmag Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kentonmag]

I'm guessing the Ocean Walk resort in Daytona Beach?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I agree with Wyndham Ocean Walk, Daytona is where this is.

Since you are homeschoolers assuming you are going to stay homeschoolers you are ideal candidates for travelling off season.

I agree with owning a mini-system like Wyndham, Bluegreen would be good for you but you also might want to consider RCI points to take advantage of their discounted deals.

If I had it to do over again, I'd own only biennial units whether points or weeks and just watch for the bargains to be had renting from RCI, II, DAE etc. I also would have purchased smaller contracts and done banking and borrowing to mix up my vacation options. Your needs change thru the years and so do your tastes. What I purchased 10 years ago I still enjoy but am ready to try other places and so many new opportunities require a change in TS strategies to get into those places.

I'd also take my time studying the different resort systems to see what works best for me, not just what most people like. I find that I enjoy the little resorts much more than the mega resorts but the concensus seems to be sometimes that bigger is better if you judge by others opinions. TS's are not going anywhere and will probably stay cheap for a long while so take your time and don't rush into anything.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

That red round building looks like is Ocean Walk.

Nashville is very close to you. So Wyndham should work. Including Glade, Smokie Mountain, MO, you should be able to reach serval places with 3 to 4 hr drive. Except you did mention budget.

If Budget is a concern, I will just go rent route.

Jya-Ning

[JimmyD Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyD]

The beach is....

And the WINNING ANSWER IS.
Ocean Walk Daytona Beach Florida!!!
Who would have guessed that people on this forum would recognise this place? Very cool!



We used my moms, worldmark points to book this 5 day stay last week through wyndham.
Lots of fun but it was a 12 hour drive each way!

When I mentioned that I am on a budget, I mean, I can't afford retail, and need to get the most time for the least amount of money.

After reading on this forum - I don't want to feel regret because I didn't understand how a deal "could have been".

So, I want to learn what a "GREAT" deal "could be".
So please tell me what great strategy you have in mind. Thanks, JimmyD

I loved riding my bike on the sand!!!!!!! California didn't have beaches like this, But Cali had SURF...

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

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We used my moms, worldmark points to book this 5 day stay last week through wyndham.
Lots of fun but it was a 12 hour drive each way!

When I mentioned that I am on a budget, I mean, I can't afford retail, and need to get the most time for the least amount of money.

After reading on this forum - I don't want to feel regret because I didn't understand how a deal "could have been".

So, I want to learn what a "GREAT" deal "could be".
So please tell me what great strategy you have in mind. Thanks, JimmyD

That is why you will wait..you will read..you will hone it on what you think you want-you will ask questions-we will answer them or direct you to where you can get the answers and then you will wait some more...ready to pounce when the "right" deal comes along. It may take a while. Don't ever regret "losing" a deal because another one will come along soon. There are always deals.
Some of us wait a long while to get exactly what we want-but when we do-we have no regrets.

Love my Worldmark-if you were still in Calif-I'd recommend that system.. I like the idea of a points system for you-offers a lot of flexibility and if you are willing to learn whatever system you choose inside and out-I think you would be satisfied. Start looking through the resorts offered in each system and see if they interest you.

For instance-when I started out-I only owned Maui. I knew I liked Maui and could see myself returning year after year...then I went to Kauai. Oh MY-I could dump Maui and live on Kauai-I liked it that much better. Now what? I had been researching Worldmark before I bought the Maui t/s. I realized WM offered me not only Maui, but Kauai, the Big Island and even a little Oahu if I played my cards right..along with about 60 others resorts. I learned the system-bought WM and sold the Maui only t/s...then I bought some more WM-LOL. Did I make a mistake? Not really-I bought the Maui t/s resale, bought the WM credits resale and then sold the Maui t/s for what I paid for it.

I guess the moral is to just do your homework-lot's of it-don't rush-buy something you will use-don't count on trading/exchanging-just know it's available and has it's own learning curve.

When it's all said and done...you will make beautiful family memories. It's simply the best part of timesharing.