Sunset At Maui

RESORT COMPARISONS - WORLDMARK/TRENDWEST  (05/15/08)

This month's letter is specifically for those of you that have
never attended a timeshare presentation and for those that just
want to hear the latest prices. 

Just two weeks ago, I was invited to attend a timeshare
presentation by Worldmark, which also owns Trendwest now. They 
offered me a $50 American Express Cash Card, a two-night vacation at one of 6 cities, plus a $75 Gift Card to use at either Red Lobster 
or Olive Garden restaurants. As timeshare incentives go, this was 
nothing special, but the location was only 15 minutes from my home, 
so I agreed.

There was a short video presentation, an incredibly loud live speech, 
then a sitdown with a sales closer (with absolute pandemonium breaking out from time to time as they announced and introduced the newest owner of their program), followed by a short "confirmation" and final close. The noise was so loud it actually hurt my ears! Naturally, I didn't buy anything, but I was interested in the way they presented the situation.

They claimed that the average price of a nice hotel stay
(according to the AAA) was now $150 per night. This meant that a
10-day stay would run $1,500. After 10 years of 10-day vacations,
you will have paid $15,000 and, of course, have nothing tangible to
show for it except your memories. Another 10 years, and you've
spent $30,000 on your hotel stays and you don't actually own
anything. 

Next, they showed all the good features of a timeshare
(great locations, clean facilities, and pride of ownership
providing the incentive to actually take vacations every year),
followed by all the benefits of using THEIR program (which is a
points-based system). They showed how their basic program would
provide enough points to use for a nice one-week vacation in a
place like Hawaii, plus a couple of short, weekend, or overnight
stays.

They pointed out that their program did not tie you down to any one
location. They said they are building more locations each year and
you'll never have to pay more to stay at those locations. Then they
told us that if you needed to use more points one year, you could
save from the previous year, borrow from the next year, or buy more
points. 

Finally, they showed me the price for a membership with
12,000 points per year (conveniently failing to mention the
maintenance fees of $625+ per year). The price was $22,000 and I
could see how that might appeal to some people. But I already had a
membership that offers more benefits and cost me a lot less (and
which actually allows me to stay at most, if not all, of the
Worldmark locations without buying a single point!).

Comparing the Worldmark program to the Gold Crown program, the
biggest difference is the upfront price. Instead of paying $22,000
upfront, the Gold Crown program is only $2,995. Worldmark requires
maintenance fees forever, which are currently $625 per year for a
12,000 point membership while Gold Crown has none. Through Gold
Crown, our weekly rental fees range from $298 - $799 per week while
Worldmark seems to charge a small fee ($100 or so) every time you
vacation.

Over 20 years, the average traveler will spend about $30,000+, the
Worldmark owner's costs will exceed $36,500, and the Gold Crown
Member will pay just $19,000 for roughly the same amount of
vacation time (10 days per year), except the Gold Crown Member will
have access to a LOT more locations and very few would be
considered "average".

But here's the biggest kicker: if the Worldmark owner wants more
vacation days, he has to acquire more points, increase his
maintenance obligation, and still pay a small fee when he stays. 
The Gold Crown owner just books the extra days when he or she wants and pays the weekly fee. Plus, if a friend or relative wants to take a nice trip, you can book a week or two for them, they just pay the rental fee, and that's it. No big hassle. There is nothing easier 
or less expensive. 

Summertime is almost here; have you made your travel plans for this
year? Don't you want to stay somewhere GREAT, without spending a
lot of money? Call me now or send an email. Join the Gold Crown 
program and enjoy the best the world has to offer.

Michael Goodman

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