Posts: 163
From: Thorold, Ontario, Canada, Owner:Costa Linda Beach Resort, Aruba, Orange Lake Country Club, FL, Scottsdale Villa Mirage, AZ, Mayan Palace, PV,Mexico
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 04-20-2005 08:34               

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Planning on purchasing a platinum 2 bdrm (l/o) unit. Difference in price is approx $7000. Which one would you buy and why? Trading to Carribbean? Any help would be appreciated.

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Posts: 46
From: Southeastern, PA; Owner at Disney (Old Key West, Beach Club Villas) and Marriott (Shadow Ridge, Canyon Villas, Cypress Harbour)
Registered: May 2004

posted 04-20-2005 10:06               

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Where do you want to stay most often? That has guided all of our purchases so far.

We own enough Orlando time with DVC and Cypress Harbour to handle our Disney and non-Disney FL vacation time. Of the Orlando MVCs our first choice was Cypress Harbour. It had a more laid back and relaxing feel to it and the resales were very reasonable.

We like vacationing in the southwest so Shadow Ridge and Canyon Villas were great selections for us. They have lock off units as well (a requirement since we were buying them direct on the 50/50 EOY program).

We believe the southwest resorts will do fine when trading the studio portion, but only time will tell on that. We also bought platinum seasons in the Southwest.

[This message has been edited by JimC (edited 04-20-2005).]

[This message has been edited by JimC (edited 04-20-2005).]

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Posts: 855
From: SF Bay Area
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-20-2005 15:38               

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[This message has been edited by LisaH (edited 04-20-2005).]

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Posts: 855
From: SF Bay Area
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-20-2005 15:59               

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I didn't have too much luck trying to trade my Canyon Villas lock-off units. As it got closer to the expiration date, I used my studio for a studio unit at Disney's Old Key West for this coming July. I had an on-going search for this June at Marbella more than a year ago, and it's finally confirmed yesterday (within a 60 days period). Even though it worked out well at the end, I will not trade my Canyon Villas with II again. My WorldMark points can pull more and larger units at Marriott resorts than my platinum Canyon Villas week which is something I still can't quite figure out.

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LisaH

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Posts: 362
From: berkeley, ca, us
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-20-2005 17:00               

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quote:

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Originally posted by LisaH:
I didn't have too much luck trying to trade my Canyon Villas lock-off units.

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What weeks have you reserved at CV? My lock-off (reserved March weeks) got Four Seasons Aviara (studio) and Marriott Grande Ocean.

[This message has been edited by wilma (edited 04-20-2005).]

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Posts: 855
From: SF Bay Area
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-20-2005 19:23               

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April 18, 2004.

I guess I came out OK, just that my initial expectation was too high. Certainly no complain about buying this timeshare.

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LisaH

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Posts: 2849
From: Toronto
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 04-20-2005 20:41               

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When you can rent a getaway week at Grand Vista for 1/3 the annual maintenance charge that owners of that resort pay, and seldom get a bonus week for it, my vote would go to Canyon Villas. In prime time, CV has just got to have more trading power, if there is such a thing -- even owners at CV have problems getting their floating week in prime time as the demand is so great, and the area a long ways from timeshare saturation that you'd find in Orlando. In addition, I think over time you would lose interest in Orlando as the kids grow up and leave the nest.

Brian

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Those who dream most, do most.

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Posts: 163
From: Thorold, Ontario, Canada, Owner:Costa Linda Beach Resort, Aruba, Orange Lake Country Club, FL, Scottsdale Villa Mirage, AZ, Mayan Palace, PV,Mexico
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 04-21-2005 04:40               

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Thanks for all the help. My intention is to buy a Marriott property to trade throughtout the Marriott system. I already own fixed weeks in areas I like to travel to, being Aruba, Mexico, Orlando and Scottsdale. I would like to utilize a platinum week to travel to other locations and stay in top notch facilities. Does this make sense or should I be upgrading to beach front resorts?

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Posts: 46
From: Southeastern, PA; Owner at Disney (Old Key West, Beach Club Villas) and Marriott (Shadow Ridge, Canyon Villas, Cypress Harbour)
Registered: May 2004

posted 04-21-2005 05:31               

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That is what we will do with our studios -- trade within the Marriott system. We thought about beach front properties as well but they seem to be more expensive to buy and own. Surf Club and Ko'Olina and Ocean Pointe are the properties we would be most interested in.

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Posts: 14
From: Abilene, Tx. USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 04-21-2005 17:38               

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Right now the getaway prices for a studio are more at Grande Vista than Canyon Villas. The prices a few years ago were really cheap, but they have raised them alot. They usually run about the same as the maintenance fees now. When you can get a two bedroom Hawaii Ko Olina for a studio at Grande Vista and a two bedroom Maui Marriott for a one bedroom Grande Vista, I don't know how you can justify paying 25,000 for a platinum Canyon Villas vs about 12,000 for Grande Vista resale. Every year I usually split my Grande Vista and get two (2 bedroom) units with a trade. This year I also got an accomodation certificate when I deposited my one bedroom. So I will get three weeks for my one two bedroom.

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