Review: Stormy Point Village

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

First, the developments abandoned, being abandoned, in danger of being abandoned, in this area, and there really are some, big ones, are not timeshares.

But, in any event, an abandoned development winds up in court, with everyone with an interest going through that.

As for buying here, I/we have, and are not concerned. The resort is 15 years old, well run, etc.

But, I would be hesitant to put $1 in a newer resort here that does not have some pretty solid backing, say like BCWC/Fairham/Marriott, until things shake out a bit.

Like I said before, you will probably see that things are about the same a year from now, only you will have more answers.

Come to think of it, we own three weeks at a resort elsewhere that is 20 years old, sold out, and I would not now buy at it, even for a buck. But, if you have a buck . . .

[kmansen Member Find all posts View Profile Close kmansen]

Oh, and we don't currently own any TS, so exchanging into SPV or getting a Getaway/Last Call isn't an available option for us (unless we befriended a RCI/II member!). I'm not looking for a trader, but just a nice, affordable drive-to family vacation spot with our young kids.

The cheapest summer rent I found last year was $700/w, so $429 MF is looking good to me. The earliest we'd use it would be June though, so I don't need to rush into anything if there is a compelling reason to hold off.

Karyn

[ace2000 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ace2000]

The cheapest summer rent I found last year was $700/w, so $429 MF is looking good to me. The earliest we'd use it would be June though, so I don't need to rush into anything if there is a compelling reason to hold off.

Karyn

Be careful about MF on a newer resort. Typically, a new resort will keep MF low so they can sell the units and then raise them later.

[kmansen Member Find all posts View Profile Close kmansen]

Typically, a new resort will keep MF low so they can sell the units and then raise them later.

Good point! At least it's low enough that even if it went up a couple hundred, it'd still beat the rent I paid though. For personal use, under $100/day is still not a bad deal for a nice 2BR/2BA detached home with resort amenities. Haven't checked vrbo.com lately for Branson though...


Karyn

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

Strange that you should say that exactly like you did, cuz, if I'm not mistaken, RCI offers a long-term Guest Certificate, whereby a person referred by a member pays a fairly reasonable fee to be able to get Bonus Vacations and Last Calls, as many as they want, for a set period of time.

The longer the time the lower the price per year.

Now, back to buying, I would be most leery of newer resorts with a stormy past.

(unless we befriended a RCI/II member!).

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

Here it is:

The Guest Pass allows you to add someone to your account and they will have the ability to confirm Last CallSM and Extra Vacations on their own! You no longer need to call on their behalf, nor do you have to buy a Guest Certificate each time.

The RCI Guest Pass is simple. Your guests help themselves and you save time and money!

5-year Guest Pass: $149.00 USD
10-year Guest Pass: $249.00 USDFrom here:

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...rentals-2.html

Branson should have an abundance of EVs, varying depending on time of year. I could check if you like.

[kmansen Member Find all posts View Profile Close kmansen]

if I'm not mistaken, RCI offers a long-term Guest Certificate, whereby a person referred by a member pays a fairly reasonable fee to be able to get Bonus Vacations and Last Calls, as many as they want, for a set period of time.

...if only Stormy Point was part of RCI. I believe Festiva is only with II, but not sure about Summerwinds.

Karyn

[kmansen Member Find all posts View Profile Close kmansen]

JLB, the RCI guest pass deal looks like a good deal, but are there any other developments in Branson besides SP and Cabins at Green Mtn that are detached?

For some reason I'm still hung up on the idea of feeling like I've got a private cabin vs. a condo

Karyn

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

Be careful about MF on a newer resort. Typically, a new resort will keep MF low so they can sell the units and then raise them later.

$400 to $500 is a pretty typical for a MF in Branson from what I've seen, even at the more mature resorts. Exceptions that I'm aware of would be Marriott and Silverleaf. Both have more amenities than the typical Branson timeshare to maintain.

Our 1 bedroom unit in Branson had a MF of $245 last year while our 3 bedroom unit was $514.

Of the resorts we own, I have not found your statement to be true about increasing MF's after the resort is sold out. Over the 10 years we've owned, it really hasn't made much difference. MF's have increased between 5% and 10% on average each year. FWIW Polo Towers actually kept it's MF's the same for 2 or 3 years AFTER developer sell out. Of course, they changed that drastically this year when DRI bought out Sunterra and jacked the management fee's through the roof.

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

I've been at CAGM and didn't realize they were detached. I thought they just felt that way.

BCWC has freestanding cabins.

Cross Creek, or whatever it is out east on 76 by Holiday Hills, has huge luxury homes.

The Long Creek development that is being discussed as part of Bluegreen or Big Cedar, or whatever, is freestanding duplex patio homes.

Grand Crown has very nice lodges on Indian Point.

The former Executive Hills, now Oakmont Hills, on 86 near Big Cedar, has separate log homes.

Wastegate Branson Woods has separate cabins.

There are developments where the apartment style units are not so ho-hum cookie-cutter. The original StoneBridge Village units are a tad more distinctive, rustic, in tune with nature.

And so on.

JLB, the RCI guest pass deal looks like a good deal, but are there any other developments in Branson besides SP and Cabins at Green Mtn that are detached?

For some reason I'm still hung up on the idea of feeling like I've got a private cabin vs. a condo

Karyn

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

Right now through RCI there are 5157 Last Calls @ 545 resorts. There are 494 units in Missouri, most of them in Branson. The prices appear to be $199 - $249. The Christmas Week unit I likely banked is $219.

It is a ways out for July Extra Vacations, but already there are 165 in Missouri, most of them in Branson. The prices appear to be $467 - $567. Essentially an annual fee, or thereabouts.

So, other than not being free-standing , there are deals without much looking.

Wanna know about any other areas or timeframes?

Yeah, me too, me too, I do!!!

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

If you're not too picky, just wanna get away from the cold, there's even 131 LCs in Florida in January. December, too. They would go good with those $121 air fares I saw yesterday.

A carry-on and a golf bag . . . yeah, that'll work.

[kmansen Member Find all posts View Profile Close kmansen]

[QUOTE=JWanna know about any other areas or timeframes?[/QUOTE]

We do go to FL a lot, but that darn school stuff keeps cramping my style! We're heading down in a few weeks, but if we have another winter like last year, I just may have to consider home schooling so we can head for the warmth more often without getting a call from a truant officer!

Does anyone ever offer deals shorter than a week? We live near Chicago and could head for the Wisconsin Dells or anywhere else drivable for a weekend, but can't spare too many weeks during the school year...

We have Christmas/NYE in FL booked, but we are flying to Raleigh, N.C for spring break and still want to book a few days for an excursion to a (cold) beach. Only a few days though, so a TS probably won't fit the bill??

The RCI deals do sound intriguing! I'll have ask my BIL/SIL (who own at Orange Lake in Orlando) if they're members...so we can get the guest deal! I'll also have to look into the places you mentioned!

Thanks!

Karyn

P.S.
I thought Cabins at Green Mtn were detached, but I could be wrong. Only saw pix and a drive by...

[kmansen Member Find all posts View Profile Close kmansen]

They would go good with those $121 air fares I saw yesterday.

Where? Where? Let me at 'em! Who had the cheap FL fares? Probably not for the prime time we need at Christmas break though--we couldn't find any good deals this year and resigned to driving 20+ hours with kids).

But heck, once we get back, we could turn right around and fly back to the warmth in a few weeks with cheap tickets! Forget about school...after all it's only grade school...no big deal, right

Karyn

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

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...oing-down.html