Branson trading power vs others?

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

We are trying to help our friends find a timeshare to buy to work for them. They already have 3 kids and invitro next month with their final embryos so it could soon be up to 5! Anyhow, they do enjoy Branson and could see going there every 3-4 years, but would like a decent trader in the other years to get to Orlando (fairly easy I know), Scottsdale (they live in Tucson), and maybe Tahoe in summer and others. So, it doesn't have to be a "tiger" trader, but decent for the $. I have no idea how Branson would trade, but since they wanted to go there I thought maybe it would be a good place to buy? Would Vegas be a better trader? Help!

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

I would recommend resale Worldmark account of 10,000 credits or a resale Wyndham/Fairfield account of 300,000 points.

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

Thank you. Would it matter which resort they bought at either of those? I know "points are points" from what I have read and to try to find a resort with the lowest maintenance fees, but are there any other things to watch out for? Worldmark sounds like a great system but I haven't researched it much. I did research FF a bit when we considered buying points for Vegas trips ourselves after loving the Grand Desert so much.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

I don't own in Branson so I don't know about the trading power there. But I do know that SFX accepts some weeks there, depending on the resort and time of year so I'd say there are desirable resorts there.

I have a 2 BR Orlando week. I haven't stayed there yet, but it's done very well for my trading needs. I've gotten to Hawaii (Maui and Big Island) and Scotland (upcoming), and I was able to pull a London week that I had to decline.

I wouldn't suggest that your friends buy in Las Vegas unless they want to take their family there on vacation. If they don't go for points, Branson or Orlando may be good locations for them because it sounds like they'll want family oriented activites for years. Both areas have lots of timeshares and people on some forums discourage buying where it's overbuilt. But as I've said, my Orlando week has worked very well for me. I'd suggest a floating week so that they have flexibility. One year President's week, another year Spring break, another year Summer....

Sue

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

We own two resorts in Branson and 4 in Las Vegas. IMO, Branson is overbuilt and Vegas is trying to get there.

That said our Vegas weeks trade better than the one Branson week we've exchanged. We bought in Branson to use the weeks and not exchange. The week we've exchanged has been because of a mix up. Supposedly it was an EOY usage. It turned out to be an "E" unit that was every year, not (E)ven years. Needless to say we had an extra unit to deal with one year. That unit is a non-five star unit and would pull good 5 star Orlando units very well. Lake Tahoe in early summer (very early June), Spring and Fall (late Sept. after labor day). The week we were looking with was a July week and July weeks in Branson seem to be about as good as it gets for strength.

Personally, I would not recommend buying into Branson as a primary exchange unit. We own there because we want to go there and use our units to exchange into other area's. Even though Branson is an extremely easy trade. It's not unusual for or Vegas studio units to pull 1,2 and 3 bedroom Branson units any time of the year with advanced planning.

Our Vegas weeks have done very well exchanging through I.I. but, all are on or very near the strip. I do not know how the off strip units exchange. I would think that, with all the building going on in Vegas, one would want to own at one of the resorts either on or very near the strip for best exchange power but, I really don't think I'd buy in Vegas anymore than I'd buy in Branson for a primary trade unit. I'd only recommend buying there if you want to stay there or, if you're in large points based system with good internal exchange options.

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

Thank you. Would it matter which resort they bought at either of those? I know "points are points" from what I have read and to try to find a resort with the lowest maintenance fees, but are there any other things to watch out for? Worldmark sounds like a great system but I haven't researched it much. I did research FF a bit when we considered buying points for Vegas trips ourselves after loving the Grand Desert so much.

With Worldmark, google for resalers. There is no home resort. You are looking for the lowest price with the most unused credits.

With FF/Wyn, personally, I would look for the lowest MF home resort. If there is a particular resort that your friends would want to have the Advance Reservation Priority in the 10 to 13 month period before checkin then buy there. Otherwise, a FF/Wyn Bay, Fl Sea Gardens 231k, Williamsburg Kingsgate 231k, (there are some others) are usually very good investments into low MF. The Williamsburg has one more year of a 3 year SA.

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

Thanks to all who responded. Sometimes it's a bad thing when I start researching, I don't want to buy another timeshare/points system! I am glad to know Branson is starting to be overbuilt because I hadn't read that before.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Thanks to all who responded. Sometimes it's a bad thing when I start researching, I don't want to buy another timeshare/points system! I am glad to know Branson is starting to be overbuilt because I hadn't read that before.

Not starting but is overbuilt and they keep on building more. Branson has always been extremely easy for us to exchange into with our other resorts. It's also one of the most inexpensive places to pick up a timeshare. I've seen many go for less than $500 with several in the $100 to $200 range.

Odd that we bought in Branson not because we coulnd't trade into it eaily but because I didn't want to waste a decent exchange on such an easy trade. Which is why I was really surprised when the first unit we purchased actually exchanged reasonably well if I stuck with shoulder season. I really though it would be a dog of a trader.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Then you haven't read much, not that that is a bad thing. I've been on these boards for nearly 10 years and that was being said back then, and before I suspect.

I can only advise based on experience, and since you are suggesting buying something primarily to trade, they should be looking at the most popular areas during the most popular season. In my experience that would be SW FL Weeks 1 through 16.

There are resorts there with their own resale programs, so that prices are fairly reflective of real market value. If they decide to resell someday they could recover their investment, investment actually being an operable word in this case.

I'm sure there are others areas and timeframes where there is less supply than demand (say Hawaii during the same timeframe), but that is the one I am most familiar with, and one where annual fees approach being reasonable.

Feel free to contact me directly for info on specific resorts.

Areas to avoid buying to trade, basically the most popular timeshare areas: Branson, Orlando, Wiliamsburg, Vegas

Thanks to all who responded. Sometimes it's a bad thing when I start researching, I don't want to buy another timeshare/points system! I am glad to know Branson is starting to be overbuilt because I hadn't read that before.

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

Thank you to all, I have only been in the "timeshare" world for about 2 years and have read TUG quite a bit during that time. I see constant discussions about why not to buy in Orlando and Vegas, but I don't see much discussion on Branson generally. I will forward them the valuable information here and then begin the search since they aren't in a rush.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

These forums are just a small bit of all of timesharing. The discussions will be skewed toward where those doing the discussing own and go. There are not many Branson owners on these forums.

I see constant discussions about why not to buy in Orlando and Vegas, but I don't see much discussion on Branson generally. I will forward them the valuable information here and then begin the search since they aren't in a rush.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

These forums are just a small bit of all of timesharing. The discussions will be skewed toward where those doing the discussing own and go. There are not many Branson owners on these forums.

What's sort of funny is not only do I own in Branson but also in Vegas. Two that are on the list for overbuilt area's.

Branson has many fine resorts and they trade all right but, if I was buying strictly with the thought of exchanging I don't think I'd own any of the resorts we have.

[beach2mountains Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close beach2mountains]

I own in Branson

Hi there. I have owned FF which is now Wyndham in Branson (616000 points) for 4 1/2 years and have had no trouble trading through II.
I have been considering selling my points as I have other interests at this time. My grown kids would probably be upset with me since they use more points than I do lately but they would have to deal with it... .
My home resort is Mount Vista in Branson....it is a very nice resort. I have been impressed with FF resorts decor in all the different areas we have visited.

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

We are trying to help our friends find a timeshare to buy to work for them. They already have 3 kids and invitro next month with their final embryos so it could soon be up to 5! Anyhow, they do enjoy Branson and could see going there every 3-4 years, but would like a decent trader in the other years to get to Orlando (fairly easy I know), Scottsdale (they live in Tucson), and maybe Tahoe in summer and others. So, it doesn't have to be a "tiger" trader, but decent for the $. I have no idea how Branson would trade, but since they wanted to go there I thought maybe it would be a good place to buy? Would Vegas be a better trader? Help!

If they live in Tucson, I would strongly recommend Coastal California. Coastal California resorts are great traders as they are in heavy demand and there is a limited supply. The area will never be overbuilt due to coastline restrictions and high development costs. They would also be able to use it as coastal California is very popular with the Zonies.

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

A former regular participant on these boards, Bootleg, an RCI employee frequently posted that the areas RCI was overloaded with inventory much of the year were Orlando, Williamsburg, Branson, and Massanutten. All are nice places, but they have just built too much timeshare there. In Europe, you could add the Canary Islands and Costa del Sol.