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Re: So New to TS (by Mary D.):

imanm3 wrote:

I am very new to the timeshare concept. Many years ago, in my young free days I bought a timeshare through Trendwest but it ended up getting charged off. I think I would like to buy again but I am not sure where to start. Where exactly do you purchase the TS? Also, if I join II or RCI or even Red Week, how does exchanging generally work? What if I can't exchange my week? Should I go with points like Trendwest or go with weeks? How does a red week or float work?

Thanks in advance!

========== Give serious consideration to resort groups that use a points system. (This is not talking about RCI POINTS resorts.) They are very flexible and give you access to many resorts within their group, usually with no internal exchange fee. RCI or II or even RedWeek will charge an exchange fee when you want to go outside your own resort group. This fee seems to rise from year to year! An interna tional exchange will be around $200. (Deposit early for best results.)

Since you would not own a fixed week that is yours to use in the same place every year, it pays to make your reservations as far ahead as you can. How many points you own will determine the size units you can request and how long you can vacation. The high demand seasons will require more points than the same unit in a low demand season. If you are only able to travel in the summer, this can be a problem. However, if you buy a summer fixed or Red floating week that will also be more expensive than a low season week, so it is six of one, half dozen of the other!

If you buy into one of the RCI POINTS network of resorts, there would still be an exchange fee, though it would be lower than that charged to RCI WEEKS users. Your "home resort" week would be automatically deposited with RCI each year, so you would never have the option of renting it out when you could not get away for vacation. Like resort points users, you would have the option of using your points for more or less that 7 nights at a time.

Points do not tie you to a unit of one particular size, but the "package" you buy is usually based on the point equivalent of a Studio, 1 bedroom, or 2 bedroom. Since the value of "a point" in one resort group is probably NOT the same as "a point" in another group, be sure to judge them by what they will rent for you, not the raw number. Learn what the maintenance fees would be for the home resort you choose and be sure you can afford it. This fee may vary widely, even among members of the same resort group.

If you have specific questions about the point systems at Fairfield/Wyndham or Bluegreen resorts, I'd be glad to help answer them. We have owned with both of them for several years. MD