posted 03-03-2005 13:38               

While others here know more about the RVC options, I can speak a bit about Whiski Jack resale fixed and floating weeks, since that's what we've owned for over 10 years. We bought our resales through Sussex Realty in Whistler.

Basically, our fixed weeks are specific weeks in specific units that are deeded fee-simple real property. We can use them, rent them, or trade them.

With our floating weeks, we own the use of weeks during a specific float period in our specific unit. We can call WJ up to 10 months in advance of the week we hope to use to try to reserve that week. I'm not sure if all WJ floats work the same way... ours are in the Ironwood.

When we exhange, we can use RCI (if you join and pay annual membership fees) or other independent trading companies (we like SFX).

To trade for another Whiski Jack week (an internal exchange), we have to deposit with RCI and are then given internal trade preference to trade to another WJ property. We have to pay the normal RCI exchange fee. We have had great luck trading off-season weeks for other Whistler weeks.

In general, we prefer to own the specific weeks in the specific properties we like to use, in case the exchange systems ever stop working for us.

We've visited Whistler over 50 times over the years, during all seasons, and haven't yet grown tired of it :-)

Hope this helps a bit!
Kris

posted 03-04-2005 10:47            

I see that you own 6 weeks at WJ. Have you tried to trade those for other RVC locations. I had understood that if you are part of RVC you can do an internal trade for free. Also, have they said anything at WJ about a potential sale of Club Regina properties and if so what does that mean for RVC trades.

posted 03-04-2005 12:55               

We've opted not to join RVC, since they don't have resorts in Europe, which is where we usually exchange to, so I can't speak to internal RVC exchanges.

I don't know anything about potential changes at RVC, though I seem to remember the same Starwood Mexico-Properties-only rumor surfacing a couple years ago (which doesn't mean it's not true). I did notice at this year's Whiski Jack HOA meetings several of the old familar WJ faces have been replaced, but I'm not sure what that means.

posted 03-06-2005 01:31               

I did upgrade my Whiski Jack Tyndall Stone Logde to an RVC memebership. I love Mexico and especially the Westin Regina in PV (actually really didn't like the one in Cabo and won't make the mistake of going there again) so I wanted the benefit of forgoing the one in four rule and exchanging into PV yearly. I was only charged around $900 US for my RVC upgrade but it is more expensive now. I usually trade my platinum value Whistler week for two weeks ( one week in a two bed and one in a one bed) in PV in either June or October (low season). My first trade is free - but since I split my week (for the two weeks) they charge an additional $29 fee. I LOVE my RVC memebership and I think that Whiski Jack is the only smart way to get that benefit because you own your condo forever - nerer expires and the maintenance fees are resonable. I am concerned that when RVC falls apart the trading pool may change and I may no longer have the option of the Westin Properities if they go Starwood. People seem to have a static idea that if Starwood takes the Regina properities, that all of Raintree will go Starwood - while it may happen that way, I am thinking it will likely be not so clean a cut. So I caution you about purchasing and assuming you will have the same trade priviledges now as will be offered in the future. If I lose my Regina trade option - I will just have to buy another timeshare I guess

posted 03-09-2005 07:27            

I recently bought into 2 weeks fixed deede at Grand Regina being built in Cabo and part of RVC. At time thay made big deal of ability to trade "internally" to other RVC properties as well as externally through RCI. Seeing Wiskey Jack and Grand Teton properties was plus for us as we ski every year.

Being new to this I didn't ask alot of important questions. Now home I discovered that a subsidiary of Raintree has financial problems and filed for bankruptcy (not recent I might add) and there are rumors of a potential sale of part or all of properties. I'm very frustrated. Salesmen do not return emails or phone calls and web pages have nothing but rumors. I must say I don't know how Raintree keeps its self out of newspaper, but there is nothing available on web regarding status of bankruptcy. Any Houston members care to investigate at Bankruptcy Court and report back???

I discount rumors that Starwood is/has bought proerties. First, if Starwood had owned any meanigful amount of Raintee debt (as rumored) it would have to disclose it in its SEC filings. If you look at current Starwood financial statements you would see just such disclosure concerning Le Meridian hotel debt it acquired and it's efforts to use debt to acquire hotel chain. So while possible, unlikely. Other rumors have Starwood now operating and renovating Club Regina properties in anticipation of a closing. This goes against common business practices. You don't fix up a property you don't own and if Starwood had a contract to acquire Club Regina and were acting prior to closing, as a public company Starwood would have to disclose it. So whats real and what is rumor?

So while I share many peoples concerns regarding RVC, my biggest concern is that there are no buyers or RVC is not interested in selling, and is letting properties run down. Based on TUG dialogue during this time they are busy selling, upgrading people and renting out properties. Where do the $$$ go.

Can anyone help peal this onion??

posted 03-15-2005 20:41               

First of all, I would be surprised if your Cabo property is truly deeded, as it is not legal for foreigners to own within 50 miles of the Mexican coast line. That is why Mexican properites are Right To Use - basically a long lease. You can get a trust account to hold the title and some other messy arrangements so that you can kind of own your property but it is not equivalent to the type of deeded ownership we expect in the US.

The relationship with Starwood is interesting. They are managing the hotel properties in Mexico but I don't see why people think that just because a salesman says they are planning to take over that it is somehow a credible source??

Raintree declared bankruptcy about 4 years ago after outlaying cash to buy Whiski Jack, Villa Vera expansion, and arrangeing long term contracting for rooms with the Hawaii property, Polo Towers and the Jackson Hole and Cimmeron Property. I am not sure how much Raintree really OWNS. Whiski Jack is a model built on buying 3 or 5 units in a full ownership condo building and selling timeshares for those units only - not the whole building. It is a way to get a timeshare business off the ground with lesser cash outlay and kind of pay as you go. It is possible that they are selling memberships that are point based without the units to back them up. This is illegal in Canada and why you get a deeded week even if you are a float owner. It been a problem in other countries. They sell lots of points memberships and then there are not enough weeks available. My understanding is that Bancomer owns the Regina land and buildings and that Starwood is leasing them. My guess is that Raintree has the contract for the timeshare managment and sales but does not own the buildings. It is an American company and can't own in Mexico in the usual sense. They also can't own part of something owned by someone else.

Where is the money going? Probably to pay for the debt problems. The building maintenance will suffer and has suffered since the bankruptcy. They used to have free beer in the fridge in the club room at PV - not anymore. They used to have a nice owners party weekly - gone. They tried to charge extra for daily maid service - didn't fly. The pools are not so clean as they used to be. But all in all what will suffer is the furnishing that won't be updated because that is part of the Raintree piece - the management of the units.

Unfortunaly this is all rather convoluted and it is interesting to talk to owners at CR PV and have them tell you that Starwood owns the buildings. They really have no clue what they bought. How could you know when the salemen will say anything to make a sale and it is really hard to get a piece of paper that helps you see what you own. I have asked for a RVC membership card for 3 years and still don't have one.

At one point they did have a buyer for part of Raintree, but the sale failed. I think it was Leisure Resorts maybe? It has been very quiet and I too have tried to research the situation with little success. Some think they will pull out of it. Others rumour that disolution is around the corner. If you love what you own then it will be a loss but maybe something nice will come of it. If Starwood does fold CR into the Sheraton Timeshare group then that would offer many nice properties. Of course just because Starwood assumes management of CR does not mean that they will merge the two groups into the same trading pool as some seem to indicate. We shall see in time.

posted 03-16-2005 09:38               

To add to the confusion, I read in Street Talk that RVC is opening a new resort in Birchbay in Washington. Don't remember the details, but Whiskijack also had that information.

posted 03-27-2005 16:24               

I know Sussex Realty in Whistler (they have a website) used to handle the majority of WJ resales, and is where we purchased ours. Owners will often accept offers below thier asking prices. I think Steve Nelson has more recent buying (and selling) experience, so it might be worth e-mailing him about prices, though I think he's skiing in Whistler this week :-)

I know WJ Lake Placid Lodge is currently having an ~$1500 special assessment, so it might be worth contacting WJ or Sussex to try to make a low offer to a disgruntled owner.

I can't think of any 2 bedroom lock-offs that we've stayed in in Whistler, but there are so many properties I assume there are some...

Kris