Need recommendation for strong RCI trader

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

No chance, at any size. The only way a Wyn FSP owner can get into DVC is through Plus Partners' access to pionts-side.

WynFSP in Weeks is mediocre, at best.

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

We know the Pink Shell. Big place.

All units at Bel Air have at least a partial gulf/beach view. The units that are not beachfront have a screen lanai that juts out off the living rooms, so they have a view. It's not available from RCI very often. A few of the units are full-ownership.

In the big picture on the BR&C site, our favorite unit, the one we almost always got and the one we almost bought, is the one on the right on the third floor. The view from it is the picture at the bottom, the one that says Estero Bay, only in real life it does not say Estero Bay.

We think it's an OK view.

There is bayview, Hickory Pass view, parking lot/tree view and parking lot/dumpster/restaurant next door view.

Both resorts look like a really good locations. A friend and I are staying at the Pink Shell Resort in May, which is just a little north of Bel Air, so I'll definitely take a look at it. Judging from the picture on RCI, it doesn't look like many units face the beach, although you might have a beach view from the units on the sides. Is that right? I see that Bonita is across the street from the beach, which I generally don't like but would consider. Is there a view? Is there easy beach access? The only beach I've been to down there is Barefoot Beach, which I loved, and is a little further south I think.

Jamie

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

No chance, at any size. The only way a Wyn FSP owner can get into DVC is through Plus Partners' access to pionts-side.

WynFSP in Weeks is mediocre, at best.

And in II. FSP is GREAT - too bad DVC went over to the dark side!

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

I frankly think that DVC will probably go back to II if there are enough complaints from DVC owners. I don't think I would jump ship to get a strong RCI trader just for DVC, because I do think RCI will probably make it 1 in 4 or maybe even 1 in 5 before long. Then you will have another trader, but still no DVC.

[jamstew Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamstew]

We know the Pink Shell. Big place.

All units at Bel Air have at least a partial gulf/beach view. The units that are not beachfront have a screen lanai that juts out off the living rooms, so they have a view. It's not available from RCI very often. A few of the units are full-ownership.

In the big picture on the BR&C site, our favorite unit, the one we almost always got and the one we almost bought, is the one on the right on the third floor. The view from it is the picture at the bottom, the one that says Estero Bay, only in real life it does not say Estero Bay.

We think it's an OK view.

There is bayview, Hickory Pass view, parking lot/tree view and parking lot/dumpster/restaurant next door view.

Thanks, you've given me a lot to think about. I see on BR&C's site that there are several resales available. Is there any way to know (without calling) which units have a water view. Is the picture at the bottom that says Estero Bay really the bay, or is it Hickory Pass? It's a nice view in any case. I'm definitely going to make time to take a look at Bel Air in May.

Jamie

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

In the words of an owner when I called the first time, and said, "Put the nearest owner on the phone please," BR&C is oriented north, south, east and West, two units on each side, eight units per floor, three floors, and then two 2-bedroom penthouse units on the fourth floor. North is the side of the building in the top big picture, and the picture that says Estero Bay is looking north to Estero Bay via the channel of water that leads to Big Hickory Pass.

The units facing west look at Big Hickory Pass and toward Estero Island/Ft. Myers Beach, a couple more passes away. Lovers' Key is between BR&C and FMB, on the other side of New Pass, the next one, where Dog Beach and the Hyatt's Beach Club are. Those units also overlook the pool.

The units facing south would have a gulfview if it wasn't for trees. Immediately adjoining BR&C property is a fairly popular public access to Big Hickory Pass. Across the road is another of the land-locked hoyty toyty residential developments beach club, and next to it is a County Park/Parking area. That is where you access the beach. There is miles and miles of beach there, and no stinky lagoon.

There is a sundeck on the roof, with an unobstructed view of the gulf and sunsets, with daily sunset parties.

The units facing east face Big Hickory Restaurant and Marina, a 1-story structure, with a midrise condo building on passed it. The restaurant's dumpster is there, with liquor bottles being tossed into it until closing time and a 6 AM trash pickup. BR&C rolls up the sidewalks and goes to sleep early, so . . .

The units facing north all have an unobstructed bayview, the higher the better. They also look over the pool/hot tub/BBQ/dock area.

Each unit's living room has sliding glass doors leading onto a screen lanai, and we normally leave those doors open.

Here's the way units are numbered:

08 & 01 face West. 08's lanais have a bayview to the right.

02 & 03 face South. The one for sale in Snowbird season is 203.

04 & 05 face East.

06 & 07 face North.

Concerning the pontoon boats, they are available to owners and guests for AM of PM sessions each day. As exchangers we never had a problem getting one any day. Rapmarks have gone out with us several times. The only charge is to pay for the gas, normally less than $10, with the gas pumps right next door at the marina.

BR&C has bicycles, too.

There is an elevator up the center of the building and stairwells on the east and west side. The stairwells are locked and the elevator is after dark. Guests have keys to use them.

You could always call and tell them you are interested in buying, what units/weeks, and it would get posted.

I suggest you googlemap a sat view. I would, and post the link, but Ole POC does not like googlemapping.

Thanks, you've given me a lot to think about. I see on BR&C's site that there are several resales available. Is there any way to know (without calling) which units have a water view. Is the picture at the bottom that says Estero Bay really the bay, or is it Hickory Pass? It's a nice view in any case. I'm definitely going to make time to take a look at Bel Air in May.

Jamie

[jamstew Member Find all posts View Profile Close jamstew]

More great info--thanks again. I'm amazed about the free pontoon boats. I was thinking paddle boats until you mentioned gas. What a huge perk! You mention 2-bedrooms on the 4th floor--does that mean that the rest are 1BR? I guess I should have asked that in the beginning.

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

As conjecture goes, that's as pure as it gets.

I frankly think that DVC will probably go back to II if there are enough complaints from DVC owners.

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

Yeah, 24 1-bedroom units and 2 2-bedroom ones.

You mention 2-bedrooms on the 4th floor--does that mean that the rest are 1BR? I guess I should have asked that in the beginning.

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

My better friend musta heard me thinking from 600 miles away.

He just called to tell me about two-bedroom units for sale at Sea Oats in Englewood, and Tropical Sands in FMB.

They're on Holiday Group. The Sea Oats are floating weeks, but include all but 2 or 3 Snowbird Weeks.

The Tropical Sands was a Week 51.

None are something I would buy, but might be good traders.

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

voluntarily deleted -- duplication of info apparently already provided

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

Some of my SW FL trading power info gathered over the years, with the caveat that nothing with RCI is permanent:

A person OY owned a very late Snowbird Week (15 or 16) at Tropical Sands. All of my 6 or 7 years of availability study was done with a top trader, one that saw everything anyone doing Ex Ops/Sightings saw. I compared with many other known good traders. I was at the top of all public trading power tests

I did a comparative test with the Tropical Sands and she saw everything I saw. That was with a resort generally regarded as being in the bottom 1/4 of SW FL resorts.

I also searched through HGVC, with an Internet buddy's HGVC, and did not see anything more.

Same with Points, with someone's Points account.

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

I scoured several of the major resale sites last night and it's amazing how strong SW FL is during Snowbird Season. It is one of those few areas where timeshare prices are buoyed by the free market, supply and demand, rather than developer methane.

The better areas/resorts on Marco and Sanibel have five figure resale prices. The lowest I saw was $12500 and the highest $45000. Most were in the $25000 range.

Recently I stumbled onto one of the original brochures for the major SW FL timeshare developer from the 70's and early 80's. Todays prices have actually gone up from the prices in it, so I guess TSs do increase in value in some cases.

I did see an $800 week 3 or 5 at Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda, one of the lesser resorts. I can't vouch for it's tradability, but I have been told by a well-placed source that even stuff like Lehigh Snowbird Weeks are good traders.

Most of the resorts that I would recommend owning, for economic, are not available online. Their resales are closely held through internal programs. So the best bet is to call the individual resorts.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I have a good Rci trader, I say good not top trader good but just below it. The MF is high but it has gotten me the best trades from the 16 TS I own. I am giving it away free just take care of all the paper work. PM me if you are interested in owning at Telemark in WI.

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

I'm sitting with a friend with a San Clemente Inn that's seeing 2000 more than my best trader.

Under $500 MF.

$1000