Does Cabo Generally Have Good Trading Power?

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

Hi Everyone! I don't own a timeshare, but am considering purchasing one through a reseller. The resort (Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach) is extremely highly rated, and I'd be picking it up for a real bargain ($750 for a two-bedroom suite, floating week 1-50). Although I've been to this resort before and I would be happy to spend most years vacationing at this resort, I obviously will want to trade it occasionally.

I have had great difficulty finding out whether Cabo is a desirable location, and therefore I don't know whether I'll have good trading power. I've heard conflicting things. Some web sites say that trading power for Mexican timeshares is low, because they're overbuilt and the recent decline in travel due to the surge in kidnappings. Other sites say that Cabo is a very popular destination and has good trading power.

Can anyone tell me whether timeshares in Cabo generally have good trading power? Does anyone know of a web site or anything that maintains a chart about which geographic locations have the best trading power and which have the worst?

Thanks!

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

Using the New RCI site

Depositing a 2 bedroom for March of 2012 RCI gives 24 points, for the studio side 16, and the 1 bedroom side 20 so you are much better off splitting the unit.
So it is an Ok trader deposited at least 276 days in advance.

A good trader is in the 35-50 range, and as Mexican annual fees tend to be a little higher do to the extra maid service and deluxe resorts, they do trade, but are not really cost effective as traders. Greg

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

with rare exceptions - and PB Sunset Beach is not one of them - Mexican timeshares are weak traders. It's just too easy to exchange into top quality resorts in Mexico. The only reason to buy a Mexican timeshare is if you intend to use it almost every year.

If you plan on regularly trading, buy a good trader elsewhere, and use that to trade into Mexico when you want to visit.

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

Thanks!

Thanks, guys. Those were extremely useful answers. I'm conflicted, because we love this resort and could see ourselves going here most years, but probably not every year. We generally have some flexibility to travel to other locations during lower demand times, but we're wondering (for example) if we'd ever even have a shot at booking someplace like Disney World even during off season. I guess you never know until you try.

[Parenthetically, we actually were stupid enough to purchase the smallest room for $12,000 from the developer back in 2007, but amazingly, we managed to get our money back a few months later. The opportunity to purchase the biggest room at the same resort for a mere $750 seems like quite the bargain compared to that.]

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

[Parenthetically, we actually were stupid enough to purchase the smallest room for $12,000 from the developer back in 2007, but amazingly, we managed to get our money back a few months later. The opportunity to purchase the biggest room at the same resort for a mere $750 seems like quite the bargain compared to that.]

No rule fits all cases.

If that 2-bedroom unit at Sunset Beach has value to you, personally, then you should seriously consider it. This is a personal assessment as to value compared with price. Just keep in mind that it probably has more value to you, personally, than it does to the world at large.

And the question I would pose is why, specifically, Sunset Beach has unique value to you?? There are many nice resorts in Cabo - what is unique about Sunset that would justify taking you paying a premium for that property?

Please be aware that I'm not saying that no property is worth a premium - the timeshares we own have been selected because they have unique value to us. But I have checked around and satisfied myself that among available options those have value to us. (and having done so I have purchased at prices that reflect overall market value and not the (greater) value to us personally).

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

I have been to Sunset Beach and I agree it is a great resort. The $750 is an extremely attractive price. But you have to wonder why someone is willing to sell it for that. My guess is that the yearly maintenance fees are quite high. And most fees continually go up.

Trading into Orlando is a very easy trade with most any timeshare. There are many many large very nice timeshare resorts in Orlando and you should have no problem trading into one.

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

You would be buying a mediocre trader in a resort which is RTU meaning you get so many weeks and then that is it. How much time is left on the RTU?

Mexico is very easy to trade into so I would never buy there. I would buy a good trader, ie Coastal California, which is a deeded property. You should be able it find one with a lower price and lower M/F. Your preferences can change over the years as ours have in our 23 years of timesharing.

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

Would These Be Better Purchases?

Hi Everyone!

In my opinion, I wouldn't be paying a "premium." I'd be paying only $750 for a 2-bedroom suite at a resort, I love, and $750 seems like a bargain basement price (I've never seen it lower anywhere on-line). The maintenance fees are $950/yr., which seem pretty comparable to timeshares I've seen in the U.S. And we really do love this resort, and would probably return here 3 years out of 5.

However, I live near San Francisco. I understand that SF is a hot timeshare market because of limited availability. As a result, however, very few timeshares can be purchased for low prices. However, there are a couple that can be had very cheaply. However, these timeshares either 1) are too small for my family, and/or 2) seem to be real dumps. Frankly, I'd rather be obligated to spend a week in Cabo each year than to spend a week in SF in one of these places if I was unable to trade.

Do you have any advice for me? Would it be better to purchase a smaller room or a dump in SF than the 2-bedroom in Cabo. The maintenace fees are very comparable, and would not be a factor in my decision.

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

I can't speak to PB resorts, but I own a Mayan Palace holiday weeks which has a location in Pabo, and my New Year's week gets 35 TPUs (the new RCI 'points lite' program). This is for 1/2 of a 2bd deposit, deposited way late, less than 60 days before checkin. I know a lot of MX t/s don't offer holiday weeks, or they're hard to reserve, but we've had good luck with them. Plus our m/f are pretty low, at under $600. for a 2 bd.

I've also heard PB is a very nice resort, so for that low price and your intent to stay there often, and it's not that long of a flight from where you live, it may be worth considering.

Just keep in mind: Probably won't resell for much if anything, may rent if you can reserve a very good week, and how early can you book your preferred week after paying the m/f? This will impact your ability to get good airfare or advertise it for rent, should you decide to do so. Also check the RTU expiration.

Best of luck!

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

I say go for it! I have seen PBSB and it's lovely. If you are thinking about using it EOY and trading the other, it makes sense to own there. Owners get better view units than exchangers, and 36 TP is pretty decent. You should have no problem getting into most of the timeshares with leftover points.
Good luck!