Newbies need a bit of advice....

[Reno1979 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Reno1979]

My girlfriend and I are looking to buy in the TS world. I have read a lot of stuff on this and the TUG board and am a bit overwhelmed. In a snapshot...

We are young and can't really travel during the peak holiday seasons due to work constraints. We like the point system idea so we can take multiple short trips. We would like to travel to a variety of places, during the mid summer and early fall times, mostly. SO...

How much should we spend? Where should we buy? Help? THANKS!!!

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

Welcome to TS4Ms.

You'll get a lot of help and support and advice here.

Where are you located? This will have a part in which points program would work best for you and those long weekend getaways.

Also remember to think ahead. There may be kids in your future and you will need larger units and have to travel during peak times someday. and BTW mid-summer is peak season.

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

Assuming from your moniker that you live in Reno. I suggest you look into Worldmark and Vacation Internationale. Both are points based systems, with many resorts in the western US.

WM has more resorts and is a lot bigger. VI has the (to me) nice advantage of being owner controlled instead of developer controlled. VI also contracts with VRI to manage their resorts, which means that you get owner advantages with VRI. VRI operates quite a few resorts throughout the US and as a VRI resort owner you can also get great last minute nightly rates (space available basis) at other VRI resorts.

[Reno1979 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Reno1979]

Sorry... bad me. We live in the Philly/Baltimore area. Just born in Reno. Thanks for the warm welcome!

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Reno1979
If your screen name gives us a hint to where you live, I'd consider one of the point based TS in the west.

<<Deleted info in wesern TS companies>>

If you live the eastern part of the US, there are several great choices there, which I haven't mentioned.

Good Luck an welcome.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Sorry... bad me. We live in the Philly/Baltimore area. Just born in Reno. Thanks for the warm welcome!

In that case, I would look at Fairfield, Bluegreen and Club Sunterra. We have forums right here on this message board that can help you.

Those resort groups have lots of resorts within driving distance of where you live. And, they have a ton of side benefits.

If you post some questions in those forums, you will probably get all the answers you need.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

As far as pricing goes, an entry level Bluegreen package would be anywhere from 6-8000 points. For that number of points, I would look for a cheap, old program package on eBay or somewhere else which you can get for around $.40/point. That would mean a total out of pocket cost of $2000-3000 dollars. Maintenance fees would be between $325-425/year. As with that package, you can get bonus time to travel off season for $39-49/night when it's available.

An entry level Fairfield package of 126,000 points would cost you around $2500. The MF would be $550-650. That will get you the equivalent of a 1 bedroom unit every year. But, you could break it up. I really like the quality and number of Fairfield resorts.

Club Sunterra can be bought resale for pretty cheap. But, you will need to pay $2995 to become a member. So, the entry cost is pretty high.

RCI Points is also an option. You can buy a cheap RCI point package for around $1000-2000. There are a lot of RCI point resorts within driving distance to where you live. But, there are exchange and housekeeping fees you need to add in as well.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

If I were you I would look to buy an Ocean city summer week. You can use it yourself since it is close to you, Or Rent it for more than your MF or get a great exchange for it.

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

Spence is our Sunterra "whizbang" and moderates the Sunterra forum. I have stayed in quite a few Sunterra properties and been pleased with them.

I'm a weeks gal and cannot advise re Points systems. But there are plenty of Points mavens here who will help you.

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

For a first purchase BocaBum hit all the high points for you, look into each of those mentioned further.

I think Fairfield will have the most and closest locations to you so you may want to look at them first.

Things are not a one size fits all, I own in a points based system, a fixed week individual resort (a non group) and another weeks based mini system, so far. Each provides something the others lack, for me points, availability most of the year (spring and fall weeks/times very easy to get and I actually appreciate those the most now) but sometimes difficult during summer hence the fixed week(s), mini system provides a large selection of resorts and I primarily use that for trading now but will be a source of great value bonus time in the future when I am able to use it.

So, for a first purchase try to obtain most of what you want in a timeshare.

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

copy Kat.

Don't rush. Rent instead! All the fun, none of the ongoing obligations.

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

I would strongly suggest buying where you would like to vacation. The whole exchange system is in flux right now, and who knows what it will be like in a few years. That way you will have a home resort you are happy with no matter what happens to the exchange system.

I would also join as many of the independent exchange companies with free membership as you can. These can give you additional options. Try www.daelive.com , www.platinuminterchange.com , and www.tradingplaces.com

[Reno1979 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Reno1979]

what we did...

Alright... thanks to all who posted and messaged.. Great info, I really appreciate it.

BUT...

Me being so darn impulsive... here's what we did.

Checked out a few auctions, ebay, bidshare, etc... and found a pacakge on ebay we liked. We had really decided we like the Bluegreen system, and this was a nice group of points to start.

9,000 every year points, with last years included as bonus and new points coming July 1st. The home resort was in FL right inbetween both of my girlfriends grandparents homes. Bluegreen as lots of nice FL locations, as well as lots of great golf spots (for me). We also want the freedom to book short trips, during the week. I am self employed and she is in retail management, so holidays are out.. but we are really flexible during the offseason and weekdays.

We paid just under $3200 plus $500 closing with MF of $530. I read through the PDF charts that Boca put together and decided this was in a decent price range per point, not great, but good. The bonus points that we will have right away are a big plus, and MF aren't due until '07.

So anyways... Thanks again for the warm welcome. I look forward to sharing some great stories!

Nate

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Nate,

Welcome to the Bluegreen family. Come back to our forum here on TS4Ms and tell us about your experience in buying on eBay.