Opinions: What is the best Timeshare?

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

Family of 5 (3 kids) -- looking for a longterm timeshare.

We are looking for a timeshare where we can select places to stay around the world and not timeshares that force you to stay in 1 location.

We travel a lot: 3-6 vacations a year.

Please advise. Hilton? Marriot? Other? Pros and Cons of each?

We are new to timeshare and have never owned one. THanks

[scootr5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scootr5]

What quality of units? Do you typically stay in Westin/Hyatt/Fairmont type hotels, or Hampton Inn/Wyndham type?

The Wyndham points system is very flexible and has a lot of US properties (more on the east coast) and can be had very cheaply on the resale market. Those would generally be 3-4 star level.

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

We are looking for a 2 bedroom unit. The Hilton Kings Landing 2 bedroom condos with a kitchen and laundry are pretty amazing.

I usually stay in Marriot only because I have a points card not because I like Marriot... don't recall anything unique or different about Westin/Hyatt/Fairmont type hotels, or Hampton Inn/Wyndham types.

No really particular to any single brand.

The most important factor is how much value we can get out of the package as well as the flexibility for trying different locations (and, of course, PRICE!)

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

Bob,
This question is hard to answer you without a little more info on the locations that you want to visit.

The mini-systems like DVC, HGVC, Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood, Wyndham, Worldmark, Bluegreen, Shell and a few others all have their strengths and weaknesses.

I suggest you read a few of the past threads on each system or look a the official site for each mini-system and see if you like the resort collection in each system and go from there.

Personally I have found that being in more than one system works for me for different reasons. On that note I favor owning biennials so that I can keep my maintenance fees in check but yet have great choices every other year. I will own an odd year in one system and an even system in another so that I've always got something good going on every other year.

Tell us a little about where you want to go so we can suggest suitable options for you.

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

Visit all the websites of the brands you have named and see where their locations are. Once you know if they are in locations that you will visit, that will help you narrow down your choices.

BTW, I saw a nice King's Land on Ebay last night. If you are attached to that location, you might want to check it out.

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

only you can answer your OP. You need to spend 6 months reading every post on this site and others, then make a decision, there is a sucker a minute that provides the opportunity, in time, for those who read these forums.

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

Find out which system is reasonable enough for you to get rid of when you no longer need or temp can not use it.

You will enjoy most of the point system.

So all you do is select one that covers your area, MF is within your range, the point you get can reasoable afford you to vacation at a discount range compare to the quality they offer.

Just read some of the post, you will be able to get a feeling of the most point system.

Some people like to concentrate all their point on one system, usually it will allow them to reduce the MF a bit (not much), and some system will provide more benefit when you finally make developer purchase and you can arrage to have more point recorgized.

Some like to have points around few system, so they can have extra flexibility.

Since you have Maririot point card, you should first start with that one, since you maybe able to combine the point. But usually timeshare conversion is not great one.

It will be more pricy, but should be better quality and about reasonable management so your vacation experience should not be turn too bad.

In this environment, I would actually suggest you to just use rent. It is much more flexibility and gives all the point system with just few extra cost. But no initial cost, and not continuation cost, and not much chance of sudden unexpect special assessment.

Jya-Ning

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

I would recommend a points-based mini system. The main players with ample resale market availability are Wyndham, WorldMark, and Bluegreen. Marriott has also entered this space, but I do not know what their resale market looks like. There are others (HGVC, Disney), but I think both of them are a little too limited in terms of locations offered for what I wanted. That might not be true for you, particularly HGVC.

None of them are "expensive" on the resale market, so if it were me, I would focus on the resort portfolio first. Pay attention only to the "club" resorts, not the "affiliate" or "associate" locations, as those are usually very hard to book. Then, look more carefully at the system(s) with the broadest set of locations you find interesting.

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

Marriott has also entered this space, but I do not know what their resale market looks like.

I've been looking at Marriott resales and I don't suggest going that route for the OP. You can only get the points system by buying direct. Unless you find a home resort in Marriott that you love, buying it on resale is really just another exchanging gamble.

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

also check into what fees you incur in-system and for going out of system. Bluegreen has very few "extra fees" and a nice selection of resorts that I can go to "free" once my maint/club dues are paid.

Also look into what your restrictions are as far as exchanging, since you are wanting to see the world. Do you get to pick the week to deposit? does it cost anything to deposit? How far in advance can you deposit?

Soooo many factors to consider, you are really going to have to narrow the field some before selecting a direction.

IMO, the system that has the most resorts of interest that are drive-to would get a hard look from me. If I can dodge airfare and go to places I would want to return to, that works for me.

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

Where do you live? Some have more resorts on the East coast, others more on the West coast.

Take your time, there is no rush. Bargains are everywhere. Read, read, read. Then pick what works best for you.

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

very few of the points systems are around the world, most of them are primarily in the US. You tend to have to use exchange company if you want to go international.