Carolinian: Lodge Alley Inn just for you.

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

Carolinian,

Here is your chance to buy a converted fixed week at Lodge Alley Inn. Week 33. EOY. One bedroom suite. It has already been converted to Bluegreen points. And the maintenance fees are only $270/year.

Lodge Alley Inn eBay auction for Carolinian

You can use it every other year if you want to use it EXACTLY like a fixed week. You can exchange it through RCI or II. And, if you want to use it with DAE, just book white studio units at Big Cedar in January and deposit them with DAE. With 10,000 points already available, that is 5 exchange credits. Why get 1 exchange with them every other year when you can have 5 instead? SFX will take this resort as well.

If you buy it, I will pay for your first year Bluegreen dues. This timeshare has your name written all over it.

Just think, if you actually use it, you can really come up with good stuff on why points are bad. Or, you may find that it is a good program and you might like it.

Really. Bid on it. If you win, I will pay for your first year's Bluegreen fees. That is a bona fide offer worth about $125.

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

What? No response yet?

It must be that you have not yet come up with a reasonable argument for why you shouldn't buy it. You are already on the record saying you want a week at this resort.

You can't use price, because if you do, you know I will say that the market is declaring that the point features increases the value of the fixed week.

You may say that the unit size or the fixed week is wrong.

But, will you admit that you can't find a flaw in the system that prevents you from buying it?..... we are waiting with bated breath.

Oh, such a dilemma. Just to refresh your memory, I stated in my weeks purist theory that a weeks purist cannot acknowledge any benefits of point systems because that will lead down the slippery slope of incorporating those features into the weeks system. Let's see if this theory plays out in this specific example.

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

What? No response yet?


Oh, such a dilemma. Just to refresh your memory, I stated in my weeks purist theory that a weeks purist cannot acknowledge any benefits of point systems because that will lead down the slippery slope of incorporating those features into the weeks system. Let's see if this theory plays out in this specific example.

I am not sure if you would consider me a 'weeks purist', because I prefer fixed weeks to points.

However, I would be the first to admit that the points system has some real benefits that should be acknowledged.

I wouldn't mind if some of those benefits were incorporated into the weeks system. Every system can probably be improved upon. I am also interested in your theory regarding improving the Marriott system.......

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

I am not sure if you would consider me a 'weeks purist', because I prefer fixed weeks to points.

However, I would be the first to admit that the points system has some real benefits that should be acknowledged.

I wouldn't mind if some of those benefits were incorporated into the weeks system. Every system can probably be improved upon. I am also interested in your theory regarding improving the Marriott system.......

I would NOT characterize you as a weeks purist because you are opened to the benefits of point systems. I would call you a weeks enthusiast. I believe most people who prefer week for week exchanging are weeks enthusiasts, not weeks purists. There is nothing wrong with being a weeks enthusiast or a weeks purist or a points advocate or an arbitrageur. All it does is help to describe their preferences and most likely positions on various timesharing topics.

Here is a copy of the post I made on Marriott:

-------------------------

Marriott's, in general, are great. There are a few things they can do to improve their system overall.

Here are some ideas:

1) Create their own internal reservation system and only use Interval International to do exchanges to non-Marriott resorts. Eliminate the reservation fee entirely if you own 2 or more units.

2) Create a point system like Hyatt where all weeks get converted to points at the 6 month prior to check in mark. Then, owners can use their points to reserve units by the day instead of by the week. Up until the 6 month mark, it works exactly as it does today as a weeks based system.

3) Get rid of the 3 hotel room floor plan. Design all new resorts with more creative floor plans.

4) Fix the float periods at certain resorts so that supply and demand are evened out. Maui Marriott is a great example of a floating week system done wrong. Everyone wants summer weeks and it's virtually impossible to get.

5) Improve the food quality at the resorts to be comparable to Marriott hotels. Marriott is the world leader in providing great food at its hotels and the timesharing resorts don't compare.

These improvements would make Marriott the best system in the industry. It's almost there now.

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

I would NOT characterize you as a weeks purist because you are opened to the benefits of point systems. I would call you a weeks enthusiast. I believe most people who prefer week for week exchanging are weeks enthusiasts, not weeks purists. There is nothing wrong with being a weeks enthusiast or a weeks purist or a points advocate or an arbitrageur. All it does is help to describe their preferences and most likely positions on various timesharing topics.

Here is a copy of the post I made on Marriott:

-------------------------

Marriott's, in general, are great. There are a few things they can do to improve their system overall.

Here are some ideas:

1) Create their own internal reservation system and only use Interval International to do exchanges to non-Marriott resorts. Eliminate the reservation fee entirely if you own 2 or more units.

[Sounds good...would be nice.

2) Create a point system like Hyatt where all weeks get converted to points at the 6 month prior to check in mark. Then, owners can use their points to reserve units by the day instead of by the week. Up until the 6 month mark, it works exactly as it does today as a weeks based system.

I like this one too.

3) Get rid of the 3 hotel room floor plan. Design all new resorts with more creative floor plans.

I am happy with most current floor plans....I do think your point applies to their lock-out section of most units. They should be a bit larger, and could be designed better.

4) Fix the float periods at certain resorts so that supply and demand are evened out. Maui Marriott is a great example of a floating week system done wrong. Everyone wants summer weeks and it's virtually impossible to get.

Hence.....my preference to fixed weeks.

5) Improve the food quality at the resorts to be comparable to Marriott hotels. Marriott is the world leader in providing great food at its hotels and the timesharing resorts don't compare.

My timeshares are ones that are connected to hotels, so the food has always been pretty good.

These improvements would make Marriott the best system in the industry. It's almost there now.

I agree, these would make Marriott a better system. Now, if only Marriott agreed.....

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

I agree, these would make Marriott a better system. Now, if only Marriott agreed.....

Angela!!!!! Please pick a different font color. The medium turquise is almost impossible to read!!

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

Angela!!!!! Please pick a different font color. The medium turquise is almost impossible to read!!

OK, sorry......

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

Actually, the Charleston area resort I would like to find a good deal on is Isle of Palms Beach Club. Oceanfront and easy access to a great city like Charleston is a combination that cannot be beat. Of course, if I did find it, I doubt that week would be going to any exchange company!

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

Actually, the Charleston area resort I would like to find a good deal on is Isle of Palms Beach Club. Oceanfront and easy access to a great city like Charleston is a combination that cannot be beat. Of course, if I did find it, I doubt that week would be going to any exchange company!

That is a good reason for not buying it.

Question for you. If someone wanted to buy a summer fixed week at Lodge Alley Inn, would you recommend that they consider bidding on this auction?

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

That is a good reason for not buying it.

Question for you. If someone wanted to buy a summer fixed week at Lodge Alley Inn, would you recommend that they consider bidding on this auction?

Lodge Alley Inn is a nice resort well located for the historic area of Charleston, and on that basis would probably be a good choice. However, I would want to find out more about how the HOA is set up, and whether the developer keeps its thumb on that or whether it is given its legitimate authority. I only got vague answers to my questions on that score on the tour.