Wyndham Kingsgate Points VS fixed week at Powhatan Resort

[bnr0212 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnr0212]

I'm so new to this timeshare thing I'm looking to buy in VA. I have a question should I buy (thru resale) a week in the middle of the summer at Powhattan (4br lockoff) or 305k at kingsgate? Which one makes more sense when I'm trying to exchange? I'd like to visit places like South Carolina (ocean blvd), florida, bentley brook in mass, atlantic city, rhode island, nc to name a few. I have a family of 5. Thanks in advance.

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

With Powhattan, you will only own the week. Powhattan is a DRI managed resort and, while DRI has an internal exchange program, you'll have to pay, at a mininmum, $2,995 to join THE Club in order to benefit from the internal points system DRI has. DRI also jumped MF's 25% last year, which is a HUGE increase in MF's for any timeshare. Word on the street is that owners could be expecting another large increase in fee's at DRI managed resorts of 10-25% again this year. If you plan to use this week then it's a decent resort. If you're looking to exchange, I'm not certain how well this resort will exchange, even if it is a popular summertime week.

Wyndham is a points based reservation system that, as far as I can tell, doesn't restrict resale buyers nor does it require a joiner fee to become part of their internal exchane system. Wyndham develops (builds) and manages it's own resorts (DRI adds through affiliation meaning every unit at the resorts in their system are not available to DRI owners). Wyndham has been agressive at expansion and has many fine resorts across a broad spectrum of locations. I have read complaints about the ability of Wyndham owners to exchange outside of the Wyndham system through RCI but, have no personal experience since I am not a Wyndham owner. For exchange purposes, Wyndham has what appears to be a good internal exchange program, even for resale buyers but I've read complaints about the value of Wyndham points for excternal exchanges through RCI.

My first rule of thumb is to buy where I believe I am most likely to use rather than exchange. Next would be to belong to a system that has respectable internal exchange rights. Finally it's a good idea to have a quality resort that can get the external exchanges you want if/when you want to make an exchange.

I believe either of these companies to be about equal. DRI's increase's in MF's last year are bothersome and the fact DRI will want to charge you a few thousand more to be a member of their club for internal exchanges might have me leaning towards Wyndham's system. Both are relatively easy to pick up very inexpensively on the resale market. Wyndham appears to have fewer costs associated after the purchase if you want to increase the number of points you own for internal/external exchanges.

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

I will not go VA's property and thinking of doing exchange with outside exchange company. Use VA's property for internal exchange is O.K.

Your description seems like working better for Wyndham. But if you have family of 5 I will guess you will go with school schedule. So don't expect SC, RI unless you own SC (RI is mainly fixed week).

Take these 2 place out, do you still looking for this?

How many weeks you plan to use the TS for your family? without external exchange, it probably all good for 2 primary weeks. Wyndham maybe a little bit short.

With a bad economic still sit in front of us, I will just try eBay renting.

Jya-Ning

[Lisa P Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lisa P]

...should I buy (thru resale) a week in the middle of the summer at Powhattan (4br lockoff) or 305k at kingsgate? .... I'd like to visit places like South Carolina (ocean blvd), florida, bentley brook in mass, atlantic city, rhode island, nc to name a few. I have a family of 5.

Easy, easy answer... the Wyndham points at Kingsgate!!! They'll get you all that you're seeking through internal points reservations. You just need to plan early (10 months out) to reserve in prime time. Wouldn't even need to trade through RCI to get what you want and no exchange fees. HTH!!!

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Not even a war - easy choice

Easy, easy answer... the Wyndham points at Kingsgate!!! They'll get you all that you're seeking through internal points reservations. You just need to plan early (10 months out) to reserve in prime time. Wouldn't even need to trade through RCI to get what you want and no exchange fees. HTH!!!

Agreed! The Powhatan isn't in the same league and will cost more. Go with Wyndham points (resale ONLY of course) and you are getting one of the best deals going in all of basic timeshare system ownerships right now.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I agree with Jya-Ning--- buy at some other location.

[Jerry in NJ Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jerry in NJ]

Watch your maintenance fees. You might be purchasing 2, 3, or even 4 converted fixed weeks at Kingsgate. Two 2 Bedroom prime fixed weeks are a good deal and equal 308,000 points.

Jerry in NJ