InnSeason Vacation Club - any thoughts?

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

I have been looking at this resort group - a points package that trades with II and has some very nice North Eastern resorts - plus it is affiliated with a resort I like in Ireland.

There are fixed week owners but they converted/or I should say are now offering points memberships.

Has anyone had any experience with this group or know about the resorts - they certainly seem nice!

http://www.innseason.com/

New England is rich with history and staggering natural beauty; from the beaches of Cape Cod to the White Mountains and the majestic coastline of Maine. InnSeason Resorts, located in select destinations, allow you to fully appreciate the Northeast.

WHITE MOUNTAINS / Lincoln, NEW HAMPSHIRE
InnSeason Resorts Pollard Brook
On a mountainside across from Loon Mountain is New Hampshire’s only Five-Star condo resort, bordering 750,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest. InnSeason Resorts Pollard Brook has 133 rooms, all 1 to 3 bedroom suites with kitchens, whirlpool baths and either a balcony or patio.

InnSeason Resorts South Mountain
At the base of Loon Mountain, next to the Village Shops, InnSeason Resorts South Mountain is the perfect place for families seeking year-round adventure or couples looking for a romantic getaway. Choose newly renovated hotel rooms or luxury condominiums suites featuring island kitchens, master bedrooms with whirlpools and living rooms with fireplaces.

MAINE / Ogunquit & Jackman, MAINE
InnSeason Resorts The Falls at Ogunquit
Relax and rejuvenate in the friendly seaside village of Ogunquit. This resort boasts seventy-four luxury suites, all beautifully appointed with separate bedroom with an in-room whirlpool, a living room with fireplace, sleep sofa, a kitchen area.

Mountainview Resort
Jackman, Maine is truly the land for the outdoor adventurer; snowmobiling, ATVing, white water rafting, fishing & hunting. Cabins and lodge suite feature living rooms, kitchens and master bedrooms. Cabins offer fireplaces and whirlpools. Indoor & Outdoor Pools. Pool Table & exercise Room.

CAPE COD / Falmouth, MASSACHUSETTS
InnSeason Resorts Captain's Quarters
Located across the street from Falmouth Heights Beach over looking Nantucket Sound, this is the perfect spot for your escape to Cape Cod. Spacious one and two bedroom suites with whirlpool baths in the master bedroom, fully equipped kitchens, and fireplaces are available.
InnSeason Resorts HarborWalk
Overlooking Falmouth Harbor, this resort is minutes from the beach, downtown and the island ferries making ideal it an ideal base for exploring the Cape. Accomodations include spacious hotel rooms or newly renovated luxury suites featuring sitting areas with fireplaces and kitchenettes.
InnSeason Resorts Surfside
With the Atlantic Ocean at the front, Great Pond behind and Martha’s Vineyard on the horizon, this resort is surrounded by the natural beauty. Accommodations include studios, 1 and 2 bedroom suites with fully equipped efficiency kitchens and private decks with great views


InnSeason Vacation Club Benefits
InnSeason Vacation Club is an exciting new form of vacation ownership. A points program that offers all the benefits of traditional ownership as well as the extra benefits makes the InnSeason Vacation Club a unique experience.

Based on a points system, the InnSeason Vacation Club allows an owner to vacation for a week, just as a traditional timeshare does. It also allows an owner to divide his or her points over multiple stays within the InnSeason Resorts throughout New England.

You can use your points to stay anywhere from two to seven nights at any of the InnSeason Resorts. It’s as simple as choosing one of the InnSeason Resorts, choosing a week and then figuring out the points value for the stay. If the room is available, an Owner Service representative will be more than happy to book your vacation. You can use your points for one stay or ten stays!

If you, the owner want to use your points to travel outside the InnSeason network, at any of Interval Internationals 2,000+ resorts, first call the Owner Service office and determine where you would like to go. After determining how many points are needed to travel (and how many points you own), you can then call Interval International and if there is availability, book your vacation.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I think Tony is more familiar with most of these. I have driven by both resorts in New Hampshire's White Mountains (Pollard Brook and South Mountain), they look nice from the outside. Either would be a good spot from which to enjoy the area in summer, or a short drive to Loon Mountain for skiing/boarding in winter.

Also, check the reviews, but I'm pretty sure that Captain's Quarters is among the higher rated resorts on the Cape.

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

I like that all the resorts are in the Northeast--hence "achievable" for us NY/NJ/CT types. In the past couple of years, I've looked up some of these on TripAdvisor and they seemed pretty nice if not spectacular.

I guess I would have the same reservations about any points-based system--these locations have a VERY short high season, just six or eight summer weeks in most cases. How can every points owner squeeze into these few resorts during that short, short season?

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

I like that all the resorts are in the Northeast--hence "achievable" for us NY/NJ/CT types. In the past couple of years, I've looked up some of these on TripAdvisor and they seemed pretty nice if not spectacular.

I guess I would have the same reservations about any points-based system--these locations have a VERY short high season, just six or eight summer weeks in most cases. How can every points owner squeeze into these few resorts during that short, short season?

That is a good point Wackster - but I am more of a fall/spring traveler.....and the driveability is attractive...I am thinking of this as a 'use myself' ownership - I really enjoyed my trip to Smuggs last year Sept 23-30....I also imagine that the summer weeks are owned by 'fixed week owners' who aren't about to switch to a points system, why should they????

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

I think Tony is more familiar with most of these. I have driven by both resorts in New Hampshire's White Mountains (Pollard Brook and South Mountain), they look nice from the outside. Either would be a good spot from which to enjoy the area in summer, or a short drive to Loon Mountain for skiing/boarding in winter.

Also, check the reviews, but I'm pretty sure that Captain's Quarters is among the higher rated resorts on the Cape.

Yes, these resorts really are well rated.....with recent renovations.
MFs quite reasonable....
I pm'd Tony to get his input.
Will see what Frank thinks when he gets back.

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

How easy and how expensive would it be to rent in those resorts in the shoulder season, do you think? I guess the NH ones have a big leaf-peeping season?

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

I have no experience with any of the resorts listed, probably because they are II resorts. My one comment would be that, even the nicest New England resorts probably have decent availability during foliage season with enough planning (I know Smuggs does), so if you like traveling during that time you probably won't have a problem getting in. While, points-based systems always make me nervous that I won't get in when I want, I would think that since you don't have a need to be anywhere during a school vacation week that you would be in good shape!

Sharon

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

I own two prime oceanview 2br weeks units(only 2 2br in complex) at Surfside Resort. I would never convert to points. Probably the only units available to points will be off season without a view. If can live with that I guess it would be OK. I don't see prime unit owners converting, since they either use or rent. Anyone who converts can only get subprime weeks for their points.

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

I'm not familiar with how the point system operates, but they do have some very nice resorts. I've looked at the new section at Pollard Brook and also South Mountain and would really like staying at either. It really looks like these folks want to build quality resorts. My biggest reservation would be the point system and it's intricacy. At one time Harbor Ridge was an affiliated resort- but I'm not sure if that's still the case

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I don't have any experience with any of these resorts either. If you are going to vacation on the off-season, you may get a good value for the points you purchase. The proximity to Long Island is nice, plus don't your parents live in MA?

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

I own two prime oceanview 2br weeks units(only 2 2br in complex) at Surfside Resort. I would never convert to points. Probably the only units available to points will be off season without a view. If you can live with that I guess it would be OK. I don't see prime unit owners converting, since they either use or rent. Anyone who converts can only get subprime weeks for their points.

There is a simliar situation at Bluebeards BeachClub - there were originally fixed week owners - then they started selling 2 floating seasons and now finally Fairfield/Wyndham is selling points.
I own a fixed week 3 - out of 72 units - maybe week 3 has 45 fixed units, 20 float units and only 7 units available for a points reservation - I fear this would also be the case with this group as the whole point system is only 2 years old? (I think I read this someplace)
DIVI is also trying to push a points based system now.

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

I don't have any experience with any of these resorts either. If you are going to vacation on the off-season, you may get a good value for the points you purchase. The proximity to Long Island is nice, plus don't your parents live in MA?

Yes and Yes...

The points could be used for 2 weeks in the Fall Spring season - they can also be split into 2 day stays or 10 day stays....very flexible.

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

I'm not familiar with how the point system operates, but they do have some very nice resorts. I've looked at the new section at Pollard Brook and also South Mountain and would really like staying at either. It really looks like these folks want to build quality resorts. My biggest reservation would be the point system and it's intricacy. At one time Harbor Ridge was an affiliated resort- but I'm not sure if that's still the case

Harbor Ridge is an 'affiliate' resorts as are several other Cape Cod resorts, another Maine resort, Liki Tiki in Orlando, Ormond Beach in FL and Old Killarney Village in Ireland

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Pat I have no experiance with innseason but I can say that I have been to most of the areas listed. All are good areas to go to. White Mountains in NH as a nice trip.

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

Yes and Yes...

The points could be used for 2 weeks in the Fall Spring season - they can also be split into 2 day stays or 10 day stays....very flexible.

Just wanted to let you know i decided to pass on this ownership for now.

Here is the link to the ebay auction

eBay: FIVE STAR InnSeason POINTS Red WEEK Timeshare Deed (item 190130823292 end time Jul-20-07 18:30:00 PDT)

The MF is $330 for 110,000 points which can be split into 2 fall-spring weeks (which can be deposited into II) or divided into 2 day+ stays (any reservation that is more then 1 - 7 day stay has a $40 housekeeping fee) I wouldn't purchase this and think I could get summer reservations anywhere.

It still looks interesting but I really want a resale at Old Killarney Village...I think!

Thanks for your input