Question for those with land in cold, wintry area

[UGLI baby]

That one time the cool kid in school sat with the nerds for a lil bit and the nerds were like, "dude yor lame."


£¥£

 

[bigb]

We bought into Trendwest which became Worldmark which I think since has changed hands again, about 8 or 9 years ago when our kids were on the verge of their teens and it has been one of the best purchases we have ever made. We bought it with part of the proceeds of a house we sold so we bought it outright, and we bought at the right time and got a great deal on it. We have enough credits to get 2 weeks a year or a few weekends scattered throughout the year, although mostly we have used it for a solid week or 10 day vacation each year. You can also save a year's worth of credits and borrow credits from the next year to do something wild or longer term (like Hawaii or stay a month in San Diego or go to Mexico, whatever). This was also a great purchase after I got laid off because it gave us a way on very limited funds to still get away with our family for a few days to help disperse the stress a little.

We also let our family and friends use it. For example I was able to book out several resorts to help my brother-in-law and my sister get comfortably to Texas when his son (living with his ex-wife) committed suicide, so they didn't have to worry about accommodation at all.

Two of our favorite resorts are Vegas (right at the south end of the strip, has a couple pools, several hot tubs and a lazy river, gorgeous resort) and St. George (usually go there for Tuacahn). My parents travel often with us and it has made for some fantastic memories over the years. We have mostly gone to California from San Diego to Disneyland to the wine country in the north and San Francisco.

One of the best trips we had was when GPS's in cars was still relatively new and we broke in our new GPS by getting lost off the freeway to the northwest of the Golden Gate bridge. Found and experienced things we will never forget and probably wouldn't have seen any other way. We also wandered around the city and found some of the best italian food I have ever had when we stumbled on a small restaurant in the middle of a residential part of San Francisco where we found out they were having a wedding celebration for the owner's grandson, and they just invited us in even though they had closed off the restaurant for the event, made us feel like family, and the food was incredible. That was a good 6 or 7 years ago and we all still talk about that vacation and how close it brought our family together.

I wouldn't trade that membership in Trendwest for anything. Except maybe for a lot of money. And a blonde eastern european goddess.

You want to buy my credits?

 

[bigb]

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned (I just perused most of the posts) is you're going to have to furnish this new place. Even doing it slowly will still be expensive.

 

[Dr. Jones]

We bought into Trendwest which became Worldmark which I think since has changed hands again, about 8 or 9 years ago when our kids were on the verge of their teens and it has been one of the best purchases we have ever made. We bought it with part of the proceeds of a house we sold so we bought it outright, and we bought at the right time and got a great deal on it. We have enough credits to get 2 weeks a year or a few weekends scattered throughout the year, although mostly we have used it for a solid week or 10 day vacation each year. You can also save a year's worth of credits and borrow credits from the next year to do something wild or longer term (like Hawaii or stay a month in San Diego or go to Mexico, whatever). This was also a great purchase after I got laid off because it gave us a way on very limited funds to still get away with our family for a few days to help disperse the stress a little.

We also let our family and friends use it. For example I was able to book out several resorts to help my brother-in-law and my sister get comfortably to Texas when his son (living with his ex-wife) committed suicide, so they didn't have to worry about accommodation at all.

Two of our favorite resorts are Vegas (right at the south end of the strip, has a couple pools, several hot tubs and a lazy river, gorgeous resort) and St. George (usually go there for Tuacahn). My parents travel often with us and it has made for some fantastic memories over the years. We have mostly gone to California from San Diego to Disneyland to the wine country in the north and San Francisco.

One of the best trips we had was when GPS's in cars was still relatively new and we broke in our new GPS by getting lost off the freeway to the northwest of the Golden Gate bridge. Found and experienced things we will never forget and probably wouldn't have seen any other way. We also wandered around the city and found some of the best italian food I have ever had when we stumbled on a small restaurant in the middle of a residential part of San Francisco where we found out they were having a wedding celebration for the owner's grandson, and they just invited us in even though they had closed off the restaurant for the event, made us feel like family, and the food was incredible. That was a good 6 or 7 years ago and we all still talk about that vacation and how close it brought our family together.

I wouldn't trade that membership in Trendwest for anything. Except maybe for a lot of money. And a blonde eastern european goddess.

Great post. I was an executive VP for Cendant (that purchased TW) and have a past that is as substantial as any in timeshare.
I always said that timeshare had a bad rap by those that don't use it. But loved by those that do.

Again, great post.

 

[JAZZGASM]

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned (I just perused most of the posts) is you're going to have to furnish this new place. Even doing it slowly will still be expensive.

That was one of the advantages for my buying a pre-built house in a vacation destination is many of the places we looked at were fully furnished. And I liked most of what was there. Only added a few tvs, beds and a whole office set.

 

[Dr. Jones]

That was one of the advantages for my buying a pre-built house in a vacation destination is many of the places we looked at were fully furnished. And I liked most of what was there. Only added a few tvs, beds and a whole office set.

Best kind, tbpfhwy.

 

[QuinSnydersHair]

Also, while everyone is different and there's no way to predict your children's personalities, I think in general kids tend to be pretty social creatures and while the idea of something isolated might appeal to you for a month at a time, your kids may end up wishing for playmates. Once they're older you can always bring along a friend, but that's not so easy when they're younger (under 10).

THIS big time. MsSerp and I have thought of this too, mostly because I went camping a lot when I was a kid...and HATED it. Well, hate may be a bit strong but let's just say the sleeping aspect of it sucked for me...and getting bit by mosquitos non-stop. That too. And being away from friends and unable to do anything I deemed fun of course. So we will definitely go up to Maine (and elsewhere) before purchasing anything to see how our kids to take to it. I would also get them involved in the buying process too, as far as maybe looking at pics online to see if they think they'd like it. Though that could be a slippery slope.