So we went to Branson for the 1st time and fell in love with it~

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

The way I remember it is that they stopped allowing membership without owning, but allow members to continue even after they no longer own.

As many know, our weeks, which happen to be in Colorado, were purchased from the association for very little money, and with a low annual fee. They certainly trade into Branson in October. But I don't find that especially pertinent since I have already posted to Branson is readily available through EVs or LCs. Why waste a deposited week on it?

There's not much October left to search, but even at this short notice for the next five weeks, here is what I see:

Silverleaf's Holiday Hills
Surrey Vacation Resort/Carriage Place
Palace View by Spinnaker
The Colonnade
Branson Yacht Club at Rock Lane
Roark Vacation Resort
Surrey Vacation Resort
Fairfield Branson
Westgate Branson Woods
French Quarter
The Falls Village
Sunterra Resorts The Plantation at Fall Creek
Westgate Branson Lakes
Silverleaf's Ozark Mountain Resort
Kimberling Inn Resort & Vacation Club
Escapes! to Stonebridge Village
Escapes! to Branson Yacht Club
Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar

For October, 2007, I am seeing 17 resorts, everything except for Big Cedar which shows up closed to check-in because Bluegreen folks get first shot at it. For 2007, I see more larger units, including 3 resorts with 3-bedroom units and 12 resorts with 2-bedroom units.

Of course, that is just RCI.

You should consider the exchange company in making your purchase decision, too. II has made considerable headway in Branson in the last ten years, with three of the resorts that are being discussed a lot being II, but the heartland of America is not their forte. I can assure you that you will not find 18 resorts in Branson available through II, nor will you find as good a overall selection as the one above.

I remember a conversation about joining without owning but thought the conclusion was that if you sold your timeshare, they would not know that you sold, so you could keep your membership.

I think the OP should buy a $1.00 week right here, Spence has one for sale, and trade into Branson. It is an easy trade at that time of year, but with kids, she might not want to go in October regularly.

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

I Have An Idea

Since you say you don't live far away, and you appear to be willing to spend the time to make the decision best for you, why not ally yourself with someone familiar with Branson, both an RCI member and an II member (gosh, is you can find one of each ).

Between now and next April or so you will likely be able to get into just about any resort you want through EVs, LCs or Getaways (II). Have some exchange company members book you into as many resorts as you want to take a look at and come stay in them, check them out as a guest rather than a prospect, even if just for a weekend.

For instance, here is what it would cost for a week at Big Cedar, the best resort here, or just about anywhere:

Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar
*Price Range - $136.71
Available Unit Size - S - S
Check-in Date Range - 11/03/2006 - 11/03/2006

That would be for a studio in a lodge building, but owner services would show you the cabins. There is a $5/day amentities fee at BIG Cedar and there may be a Guest Certificate fee.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

How quickly we forget.
I posted in late august that my friend joined RCI and didn't own any timeshares. they gave her three years for the price of two. She has already booked a week in Orlando in january.

she has never owned a timeshare and has no intention of owning a timeshare. RCI lets anyone join.

As long as you can join RCI why bother to pay maintenance fees on a week, just so you can trade into Branson in the off season.

[wandering gnome Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wandering gnome]

Since you are traveling off season, you might want to explore skyauction, and other sites (for govt. employees, military and allumni) rci lists it's "over stock of rentals" for an inexpensive rental.

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

Take a look at Bluegreen. They have Big Cedar and another Branson resort, plus another 40 in various locations (and one to be opening in Vegas).

It's the best of both worlds - use it as points or use it as fixed or float weeks for deposit.


bluegreenonline.com

also a Yahoo Group for Bluegreen

I was also not a fan of the early 'welcome' here so WELCOME!

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

There are so many ways to get what you want. I have a nephew and niece who are very well off and have considered timeshare, but they want to get in as cheaply as possible because they know they can. Anyway, they asked me what they should do and I told them one way, then another, then another, until finally my nephew said, "you have us so confused." The fact of the matter is that there are MANY ways that will get you the same thing. The goal is to do it as cheaply as you can. I told you about some free ways to get involved with timeshare that I KNOW will work for you. I guarantee that you will be happy with the way my resort trades, but it is not the only way. I can think of at least twenty different ways to go.

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

You're right - there are as many ways to get into timeshares as there are ways to skin a dead cat!

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

I musta missed that post, not that I would have remembered any way. That goes against the last comment Madge made about it.

Leca (that's her name as we are now talking off the board) should just join RCI and go to Branson on EVs and LCs.

Then if she wants to buy something later on, okey dokey.

There, that takes care of that.

How quickly we forget.
I posted in late august that my friend joined RCI and didn't own any timeshares. they gave her three years for the price of two. She has already booked a week in Orlando in january. .

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

Let me amend this, because in this modern era of timesharing II does have a decent selection in the Branson area. By my quick look, it appears they have 19 resorts, most of which were originally RCI but are now dual-affiliated.

RCI has about 25 resorts in the area, again with a lot of duplication. Just a few are exclusively RCI or II.

You should consider the exchange company in making your purchase decision, too. II has made considerable headway in Branson in the last ten years, with three of the resorts that are being discussed a lot being II, but the heartland of America is not their forte. I can assure you that you will not find 18 resorts in Branson available through II, nor will you find as good a overall selection as the one above.

[nursetanya1973 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nursetanya1973]

Conflicting info, again

How quickly we forget.
I posted in late august that my friend joined RCI and didn't own any timeshares. they gave her three years for the price of two. She has already booked a week in Orlando in january.

she has never owned a timeshare and has no intention of owning a timeshare. RCI lets anyone join.

As long as you can join RCI why bother to pay maintenance fees on a week, just so you can trade into Branson in the off season.

It will never cease to amaze me, how many different answers one gets from RCI. It is probably how little their counselors actually know. When I asked RCI, for a friend, about buying a membership without ownership, I was told emphatically, "not possible". That was last fall. Maybe it is all in who you talk to.

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

So we went to Branson for the 1st time and fell in love with it~

llggood

8 Posts

[nursetanya1973 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nursetanya1973]

llggood

8 Posts

Yes, a rather lackluster response to all our hard work. But, I believe that Jim is helping her outside of this thread.

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

Well, I guess I thought it was decided. I am going to try to join RCI. Sorry I have worked every day the last week and had four kids with homework every night. I haven't been on the computer once.

Anyway, I am going to try join RCI. If not, then back to the drawing board.

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

Like I said before, let us know if you can join without owning. We have gotten mixed signals on that.

Well, I guess I thought it was decided. I am going to try to join RCI. Sorry I have worked every day the last week and had four kids with homework every night. I haven't been on the computer once.

Anyway, I am going to try join RCI. If not, then back to the drawing board.

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

I plan on calling this week. I will report back once I do. Wish me luck!