Self-parking for The Jockey Club is inside the parking garage for The Cosmopolitan casino. Valet parking is $5 per day. If you want to self-park, you can still pull into Valet and take advantage of the bellman. You will definitely want to do this if you are staying in the Derby Tower as it is a bit of walk from the lobby, involving two elevators and a short flight of stairs. Getting around this resort is actually rather ridiculous, but I’ll address that a bit further down.

Jockey Club Vegas 1 Bedroom Unit

I’m staying in a 1 bedroom unit in the Derby Tower. The furnishings are comfy and spacious and both TVs are flat screen so my guess is these units have been recently remodeled. Other units are currently being remodeled at the resort so there’s a fair bit of unsightly construction detritus in some of the public areas, but I was never disturbed by any noise. Of course, if you are staying in the other tower, that may not be the case so ask before making a reservation.

This is the kitchenette in the 1-bedroom unit

The kitchen is small (more of a kitchenette, but with full size appliances), but adequately stocked for cooking and there’s a dishwasher, microwave and stove, as well as the full-size refrigerator. There is no ice-making. Instead it has ice trays.

The living room is quite large and features an L-shaped sofa with (I believe) a sofa bed inside it. there’s also a small dining table next to the kitchenette. In the bedroom, there is a walk-in closet, but the bathroom is kinda small, so I think I would have preferred a smaller closet and a bigger bathroom. No jacuzzi tub in this unit.

Unfortunately, there is no washer and dryer in this size unit, but the laundry room is down the hallway and there are laundry rooms on every other floor. You’ll need coins to do the laundry though.

Surprisingly, there’s daily housekeeping. Personally, one of the reasons I stay at timeshares is so I don’t have to deal with housekeeping entering my room every day, but if you miss regular housekeeping you will like staying here. They basically just remove trash, provide new towels and make-up your bed every day, but it is a nice amenity if you prefer it. Another surprise is that check-out is at 11 a.m. on the day you leave, rather than the usual 10 a.m. check-out at other timeshares.

View into the bedroom from living room

The way this resort is constructed, getting around is a bit of a pain. It iss a hell of a walk from the parking garage elevator in The Cosmopolitan to the Derby Tower, involving two separate elevators and stairs. I feel like I’m going on a cross-country trek every time I leave my room to make my way to the Las Vegas Strip. Thankfully, once you finally make it outdoors, the entrance of The Cosmopolitan is a few hundred feet away and the entrance to the Bellagio is a bit further than that. You also can take the elevated walkway from The Cosmo to the Planet Hollywood Casino and Miracle Mile shops or you can talk the walkway to City Center.

If you need to pick up convenience store items, I strongly recommend avoiding the mini-mart that’s inside The Jockey Club. It is outrageously expensive. You are better off shopping before check-in so you can have Bell Services bring your grocery bags to your room, or if you forgot something you can walk to the CVS that is just on the opposite side of City Center. Unfortunately, this CVS is also more expensive than it should be, but it is cheaper than the ripoff mini-mart.

Location Location Location

The other thing I’m finding a big pain while staying here is getting on and off the Las Vegas Strip in my car. Normally, I stay at an off-strip timeshare resort such as the Wyndham Grand Desert or the Grandview up by the South Point Casino. I often like to run to the supermarket in the evening to pick up freshly prepared items from the deli counter, but it is very much a pain to do so here as every trip involves the 10 minute walk just to get to the car and then negotiating both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the Strip itself. Personally, I won’t stay here again because of this issue, but if you are not traveling by car or plan on just parking it and spending all week on The Strip, then it won’t be a problem. It is a very excellent location for walking around and visiting all the casinos.

Info:
The Jockey Club
3700 South Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
800.634.6649

RCI Travel
RCI is the largest exchange company and many of the better known timeshare companies such as Wyndham, Bluegreen Resorts, HGVC, and Disney Vacation Club have this as their affiliated exchange membership. Many smaller independent timeshares are also affiliated through RCI.

In fact, if you are member of a mini-system such as Wyndham, you even have your own Wyndham RCI portal on the Wyndham Vacation Resorts website and your RCI annual fee is rolled into your regular Club Wyndham fees so you don’t have to pay a separate fee to Wyndham. This can actually save you money if you own some other timeshares as you can add them to your Wyndham-affiliated RCI account (or you can keep running a separate account in case you want to take advantage of features that aren’t available to Wyndham owners, such as RCI Platinum.)

Interval International
The other major timeshare exchange brand is Interval International. While they are not as large as RCI, they have a reputation for having high quality of resorts as part of their portfolio. You will find Four Seasons, Hyatt, Marriott, Diamond Resorts International and most Westgate timeshares are affiliated with Interval International.

Dual-Affiliated Timeshare Brands
There are also a fair number of dual-affiliated brands and resorts. For example, Worldmark resorts are usually dual-affiliated. And most Westin and Shearaton resorts are affiliated with Interval International, but you will find that some of them are dual-affiliated as well. Just make sure that if you are looking for a dual-affiliated resort to buy that you check on the status of that affiliation before you purchase. Relationships can certainly change!

If you have been a timeshare resort owner for awhile you are probably already aware that your timeshare is affiliated with one of the major timeshare exchange brands. Most resorts are affiliated with either RCI or Interval, but some resorts are also dual-affiliated which certainly makes it convenient to find suitable exchanges for your timeshare week or points. What you may not know is that you can choose to use an independent timeshare exchange company if that is your preference. Here are the different independent timeshare exchange companies you might consider for your next exchange.

Dial an Exchange
Dial an Exchange is a popular alternative to both RCI and Interval International with offices located in the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe and Asia. One nice feature about DAE is that they offer a free membership so you can easily sign up to explore their interface and see what they have to offer before you make any commitments. In addition, they also have a Gold membership level which provides a priority booking window for Gold members and it also gives gold members priority for on-going search. Gold costs $89 per year.

DAE provides a “Search First” feature which means you also don’t have to commit your week to exchange until you have found a vacation week that you would like. Like RCI, however, you will likely get the most desirable exchanges by depositing your own week first and then setting up an on-going search for the exact vacation you want. Once you deposit your week, it is good for three years, that’s one more year than what RCI offers.

Exchange Fees: In the US, domestic exchanges are $125 each and international exchanges are $150.

SFX Preferred Resorts
Previously known as the San Francisco Exchange, SFX offers three different membership levels. There free membership is the Gold level and while it should give you an idea of what SFX has to offer, it is a very limited program.

For example, gold members have only a nine month vacation search window and are unable to “Request First”. Diamond and Platinum members can both “Request First” before depositing a week and Diamon has a 24 month search window, while Platinum offers an 18 month search window . Deposits for diamond members are good for 36 months. For Gold and Platinum members, they are good for 24 months.

It should be noted as well, that at the Diamond and Platinum levels, SFX membership is actually more expensive than RCI.

Exchange Fees: Exchange fees also depend on your membership level. Gold members pay $189 for exchanges, Platinum members pay $159 and Diamond members pay $149.

Trading Places International
Trading Places International, unlike some of the other independent exchange companies, does not require you to be a member in order to do exchanges. You can search their inventory online or you can call them up, let them know what you have to exchange and what you would like in return and you only pay for the exchange if they are able to confirm it for you.

Deposits with Trading Places are good for two years from the arrival date of the week you deposited and you can request specific exchanges up to a year in advance.

Exchange Fees: Domestic Exchanges are $149 and International exchanges are $159.

Platinum Interchange
Like Trading Places, Platinum Interchange has no membership or annual fees. You simply pay to Exchange when you find a great trade. Request First is available as an option or you can also search their inventory. If you decide to Deposit first, your exchange week is good for up to two years from the start date of the banked week.

Exchange Fees: $129 for domestic exchanges and $149 for international.

Hawaii Timeshare Exchange
HTSE naturally specializes in Hawaiian timeshare exchanges, but since many of their deposits are from mainland and international timeshares, they are well worth looking into for other locations as well. They have the lowest exchange fees I’ve seen. Membership fees are $49 a year and bonus weeks are available if you are depositing a Hawaii week for a future year. You will need to be a member to view inventory.

Exchange Fees: $99 for Hawaii and the Mainland, $109 for International.

Located in Lake Buena Vista, the Sheraton Vistana Resort is part of the Starwood timeshare program which covers the brands Sheraton and Westin. You don’t need to own at the Sheraton Vistana timeshare to book a vacation here as it is also a category 4 Sheraton property so you can book for cash or if you are an SPG member, you can use 10,000 SPG points per night. By booking through a regular SPG or Sheraton portal, you should get daily housekeeping service, but I do believe “no housekeeping” specials are available if you are happy to skip it and save the money. If you are an RCI member and looking to stay an entire week, your most economical option will probably be to exchange into the property or buy your week from Extra Vacations.

This particular resort is a large property built in phases. Each phase has its own name – Cascades, Falls, Lakes, Palms/Spas, and Springs. I’ve stayed in the Lakes and Cascades sections and they were both very nice. The Lakes area is probably my favorite. I just really like the furnishings and the layout of the two bedroom units here.

So far I have stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort three times, once on an RCI timeshare exchange and twice through RCI Extra Vacations rentals. I’ve also booked a week for my sister’s family and they loved it as well.

The entire property is well-landscaped and most buildings are just a few stories high so I think it makes the resort a lot more welcoming and attractive as a vacation destination than the massive apartment towers you will find at some other resorts.

Vistana Resort Orlando Amenities

On site, there is plenty to do at the Sheraton Vistana Orlando. There are several pools dotted around the property (I believe there’s one in each major area of the property) including an especially nice “super” pool that is located next to the casual restaurant, Zimmie’s. You can eat indoors at Zimmie’s or sit outside next to the pool deck at their “Sports Bar”. We watched the Superbowl there earlier this year and they had a buffet set out for the Superbowl and a large outdoor screen was erected so you could actually watch the game while sitting in pool or whirlpool. It was a lot of fun until it started raining!

Zimmie’s has five other TV’s as well. When they aren’t showing the Superbowl, you can expect a typical casual menu (burgers, snacks, etc) at Zimmie’s and they usually have specials during the week which you will get notice of in your info packet when you check-in to the resort. There’s also an All-You-Can-Eat BBQ on Wednesdays and Sundays.

In addition to Zimmie’s there’s also the Cascades Bar and Grill and the Coral Reef bar which are both open until sunset, the Oasis poolside bar (open seasonally), and the Fountains Food Court which has a KFC, A&W and Pizza Hut all on site. In fact, you can get the fast food places to deliver to your unit as well.

In addition to the casual dining, there is also a general store which sells groceries that you can prepare in your unit and you can buy prepared sandwiches, etc.

In addition to the pools and dining options, the Vistana resort has 9 tennis courts, basketball courts, a fitness center and a game room. I have never bothered to take advantage of any of these because I prefer the pools and I get most of my exercise just walking around Disney World. Like many timeshare resorts, there are also lots of schedule activities every day, but again I don’t realy participate in most of them because I’d rather be at the Parks. Though, the Superbowl night they hosted was lots of fun.

Vistana vs other Disney area Resorts

Of the resorts I stay at when I visit Orlando, the Sheraton Vistana is one of my top choices and I would usually book here before booking the Bonnet Creek Wyndham because I think the Sheraton Vistana has a bit more to offer in terms of amenities. In fact, in some ways it might even be a bit preferable to the Disney DVC resorts if you want to spread out a bit as the units are large and comfortable.

Resort Details:
Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, Lake Buena Vista/Orlando
8800 Vistana Centre Drive
Orlando,Florida 32821
Phone: (407) 239-3100
Website

I normally stay in a studio unit at DVC Hilton Head and they are pretty spacious, but missing a few amenities that you will find in the larger units. So if you would like a washer and dryer in your unit and a full kitchen, be sure to book at least a 1 bedroom. The studios are equipped with a kitchenette.

Bedding is exactly like what they have at DVC in Florida so the mattresses and pillows are terrific. I’m not quite sure how to describe the theming — maybe cottage rustic?? Disney’s own website claims it is themed as a hunting and fishing lodge, so I guess that works. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures because I never thought to take any last time I was there, but this photo from Flickr should give you a good idea of what to expect.

While Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is not located on the beach, DVC has their own beach house that is only 10 minutes away. I believe during peak visiting periods they have a shuttle bus that picks up in front of the resort every half hour to bring folks over to the Beach house, but if you have a bicycle you can get there yourself quickly. During the off season, which is when I usually stay, you can just go the the shuttle stop and call for the shuttle and someone will be along shortly to take you over. I found it very convenient and I really like the DVC beach house because you can either enjoy the pool, or take a walk down to the beach for a brisk walk along the Atlantic Ocean.

If you don’t prefer the beach, the Hilton Head resort has plenty of activities to keep you busy. You can go kayaking or fishing, go on a Dolphin excursion or the kids can spend some time doing crafts and enjoying storytelling. There is also a nice pool located at the resort itself, so you don’t need to travel to the beach house to go swimming.

For meals, the Disney resort at Hilton Head has a quick service snack bar at the resort and a snack bar at the Beach house, but I highly recommend you explore your food options on Hilton Head Island. You can easily walk to several restaurants from the Resort since it is right next to the Marina, and there are lots of restaurants a short drive away too. If you like to grill, there are also barbecue grilles located at the resort.

If you are looking to stay at the Disney Hilton Head Island resort and you own DVC, you will find that the points are pretty good value. I often stay here in January or February and can really stretch my points out, especially for a January visit. If you don’t own DVC and would like to stay here, it is easy enough to book directly through Disney, but Disney timeshare rentals by owner are usually a better deal and not significantly more work than booking directly with the Mouse!

For many years, owning a timeshare in South Africa was a great way for many RCI members to ensure themselves of great trades, even if they never got around to visiting the actual timeshare that they owned. I have heard some rumors lately that SA timeshares don’t quite hold the trading power that the used to, but I’m finding that with the new “trading power” system that is now in place for RCI Weeks memberships, there are still tons of resorts with exchange trading power in the 20s. For example, the Sun City Vacation Club located in the North West Province has a trading power between 21-25 depending on dates and size of unit.

Another great advantage of RCI South Africa timeshares is that many of these resorts are located in great places to visit, such as Cape Town with its beautiful beaches, Johannesburg for casino excitement at Sun City, and there are many resorts located near Kruger National Park which would make a great base for exploring both Kruger NP and the Selati Game Reserve .  Both areas are renowned for their abundant wildlife and you will be able to take safaris into the parks.

Cape Town Resorts

Some of the popular Cape Town resorts include The Place on the Bay, a beachfront resort located in the suburb of Camps Bay. It’s only about 10 minutes from downtown Cape Town and it has an amazing beach and great views of the Twelve Apostles.

You can also stay on the Peninsula at The Peninsula Resort with its great views of the Atlantic Ocean and you are no more than five minutes from great shopping at the Waterfront district.

Kruger National Park Resorts

Try the Kruger Park Lodge for amazing scenery and lots of great outdoor attractions and their 9 hole golf course. Kruger National Park is less than 30 miles away and the Elephant Sanctuary is close by as well. Accommodation at the Kruger Park Lodge is in thatched roof cottages so you will have plenty of privacy and room to spread out.

Or spend time with the hippos at the Sabi River Sun Lifestyle Resort. A short stroll from your chalet will bring you to a great spot for watching the Hippos, or you can play golf at the Sabi River Sun 18-hole golf course. Again, you also have great access to Kruger National Park.

Timeshare Resales South Africa

Another great thing about South Africa timeshares is that they also tend to be very inexpensive to buy and routinely have low maintenance fees compared to what you would pay for a timeshare located in someplace like Florida. Right now, I don’t see many listings for timeshares for sale in South Africa on Ebay, so you may need to check out some other options, such as Red Week or buying from a timeshare dealer who specializes in South Africa. This may be your best bet if you will be buying a resort before visiting it, as a professional can offer you advice on the best property for your needs.

If you want to find one, keep your eyes open near the various exits of the different hotels. Near the valet desk is a good place to scout them out as I believe they are most interested in visitors who are hotel guests. The timeshare reps normally have a permanent desk set up so they aren’t that hard to find. Also, any time you come across a ‘raffle’ for hotel accomodation in Vegas, sign up. That is almost always going to be linked to a timeshare promotion.

You can expect two different types of offers in Vegas. The most common will likely be for attending a timeshare sales presentation on your current visit. Usually the enticement is coupons for dinner or shows in Vegas. I usually go with the dinner coupons since they will normally be good for several different hotels and I’m not interested in the kinds of shows they have in Vegas. But if dinner or show coupons don’t interest you, you can try pushing for cash or gift cards with no restrictions.

The other kind of timeshare promotion that is common in Las Vegas is the “bounce back”. Usually you will be offered a discounted rate to return to the same hotel you are currently staying at (such as the Golden Nugget) in exchange for attending a timeshare presentation on your next trip to Las Vegas. Generally, you will have six months to a year to return so if you are a regular visitor, it is a great deal. Normally, you can extend as well if you really need to (though that might cost a little extra money). To sweeten the deal, once you attend the presentation, you will get the value of the money you paid back in coupons to use for restaurants or shows. So basically, your Las Vegas hotel stay will only cost you your time.

Usually if you are going to sign up with an off-site Rep to go on a tour at one of the local Las vegas timeshare resorts, you will be requested to put down a deposit of $20. The first time I was asked for this I hesitated, but now that I have experienced the same thing in Orlando and done it a few times I have no worries about it. As long as you are sure you will attend, go ahead and put down the deposit. It will be returned to you at the gift desk after your timeshare presentation is over. The deposit helps the sales teams cut back on no shows.

This is a bit less of a sure thing, but another way to get in on deals for Las Vegas timeshare promotions is to make sure you have some rewards credit cards for the different hotel chains that have timeshare resorts in Vegas.

For example, I have a Hilton Honors Visa card and Hilton Grand Vacations Club has a resort on the Las Vegas strip. Well recently I was able to take advantage of a Hilton timeshare promotion while on phone call making reservations with a Hampton Inn (a Hilton affiliate). After finishing up my reservation call, I was transferred to an agent who offered me a great deal to stay at their resort in Vegas for two nights, with the caveat that I attend their two hour presentation. It was a bit random, but having the Hilton Honors card certainly got me on their radar and I’m sure at some point I will receive a solicitation by mail as well.

If you have any tips on locations and ways to scout out additional Las Vegas timeshare promotions, such as hotels where you know the timeshare reps have a desk, let me know in the comments. Also just make sure that if you do go on a timeshare tour, don’t get pressured into signing on the dotted line. And if it does happen, well be sure to submit your timeshare cancellation as quickly as possible. Nevada’s rescission law gives you a 5 day window to cancel the contract.

Wyndham Grand Desert, Las Vegas
I stayed in two-bedroom unit at the Wyndham Grand Desert. Furnishings are comtemporary and comfortable. The resort has two pools and one of them is 18+ only, which is wonderful for adults. This resort is located off the strip and far enough away that you will probably not want to walk to the Casinos, with the exception of the Hard Rock Casino which is also off strip and maybe a 10 minute walk. I had my car with me for the last trip so I had no problems getting around and I believe the resort also has a shuttle bus that takes you to the Flamingo. From there you can make your way to other nearby casinos. There are not a lot of timeshares directly on the Strip so I think the Grand Desert makes a good alternative. It also provides a nice break from some of the noise and crowds so common in Las Vegas.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek, Lake Buena Vista, FL
I’ve already written my thorough review of Wyndham’s Bonnet Creek Resort, so you can check that for further details, but if you are looking for a timeshare right near Disney property that is less expensive than staying at a DVC resort, and also has much larger units, then Bonnet Creek is a great choice. The units are spacious and well decorated. I usually stay in a two bedroom here, but you can also get three and four bedroom units if you have a big crowd.

The resort is also very close to Downtown Disney (thought not really walking distance) and it is close to Epcot and Disney Studios as well. This is a huge resort and so they usually have good availability if you are booking directly with Wyndham, but I’m not so sure how good their availability is for exchanges. I usually even have good luck waiting until the 45 day discount window to book here, but it really depends on how flexible your travel plans are.

Wyndham Cypress Palms, Kissimmee, FL
The Cypress Palms Resort in Kissimmee is actually my first pick when I’m in Florida during the winter and I usually stay here at least three weeks, sometimes more. The resort usually has good availability in Last Call or Extra Vacations Getaways for most months, in case you want to save your exchange week or Wyndham points. It can be difficult to get a rental here in February.

Wyndham Cypress Palms is an older resort, but the interiors were recently refurbished and it is very conveniently located on US Hwy 192, about 10-12 minutes from most of the parks. They only have one pool and a small activity center, but you can walk to a half a dozen chain restaurants and an all night CVS, which makes up for the lack of some activities in my opinion. There is also a pond out in front of the resort which makes for a nice stroll.

Wyndham Smoky Mountains in Seiverville, TN
Wyndham’s Smoky Mountains resort is located right next to Pigeon Forge and about a 20 minute drive or so to Gatlinburg. On an hour drive if you are visiting the area during peak times. The traffic here is horrible. The resort’s unit layouts are very similar to the Bonnet Creek resort, with more rustic furnishings to suit the location. This is a big resort split across a road. My only complaint is that depending on where your unit is, you might find it more convenient to drive to the swimming pool and activities complex.

Star Island Resort, Kissimee, FL
Of all the Wyndham resorts I have stayed at, Star Island resort is my least favorite. This is probably because I stayed in the smaller 1 bedroom lock-off unit and it was much too small and I found the furnishings uncomfortable. It also had two double beds in bedroom rather than a king. I wouldn’t stay here again. Also, only part of the resort is controlled by Wyndham (you’ll note it is the only resort listed here that doesn’t have Wyndham in its title), which makes getting support and customer service rather a pain.

Wyndham Ocean Walk, Daytona Beach
The Daytona Beach Ocean Walk Resort is a large resort located directly off the beach. Location-wise, it’s pretty excellent if you like Daytona Beach. There’s the Ocean Walk shopping center attached to the Wyndham resort, which is convenient for dinners out if you don’t feel like getting in the car (not that any of the restaurants here are particularly good, but at least you have the option). I would consider the unit carefully however before decided to stay here. I stayed in 1 bedroom unit with no outside windows. It felt a lot like living in a box for a week. Also, the wireless internet here costs money and the connection is LOUSY. You’ll need to go the lobby for the free wireless and a much better signal. Personally, I don’t think I would stay here again.

Wyndham Ocean Boulevard, N. Myrtle Beach
On the outside, I think Wyndham’s Ocean Boulevard Resort at North Myrtle Beach looks a lot like their Daytona resort. But the similarity ends there. With the exception of Tower 4 which is across the street, the Towers are configured in such a way that ALL units have an ocean view. So if you can book into Towers 1, 2 or 3, you will have a great view of the ocean. The furnishings are not as high end as what you might find at Bonnet Creek, but they are bright and cheerful and I found the 2 bedroom unit quite comfortable, though not as large as Bonnet Creek or Wyndham Smoky Mountains. I believe internet was free here as well.

Wyndham Sea Gardens, Pompano Beach FL
This is another older resort and most of the property is quaint and rather pretty. I stayed in a well-furnished studio unit a few years ago and found it perfectly adequate to my needs. It also felt spacious due to the open layout. There’s a pool located in the center of the complex and as a guest you also have beach access, but unfortunately the beach is on the opposite side of a very busy street and if I’m remember correctly, there was no traffic light. If the beach is important to you, I would stay elsewhere or try and get one of the units on the ocean side of the street (a limited number of units).

I have stayed at the Bonnet Creek resort a few different times now. I usually stay in a two-bedroom unit when I stay here as most of the time I book Bonnet Creek when my Dad joins me during my winter stay in Florida. The resort is huge, encompassing several different tower buildings and they are still building, so it is worth noting that construction projects are on-going at this property. Personally, I have never been bothered by it, except for the occasional poor view from the unit. Construction equipment doesn’t make for great scenery.

Location
As far as location goes, you are smack dab in the middle of Disney. It is less than a five minute drive from the resort to Downtown Disney and only a few minutes more to either Epcot and Disney Studios. Of course, the Magic Kingdom is still annoying to get to as you have to transfer to either the boat or the monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Authority.

That said, you cannot exactly walk to Downtown Disney as there are no sidewalks, so the advantage of being so close is not that big a deal as far as I’m concerned. You will have to get in your car and drive anyplace that you want to go, or rely on the resort’s shuttle to the Disney locales. Since there is little in the way of food at this resort, when I’m in Orlando by myself and not staying at a DVC resort, I almost always choose to stay at Wyndham Cypress Palms rather than the Bonnet Creek Wyndham because there are many restaurants within walking distance of the resort, as well as a 24 hour CVS. I only stay at Bonnet Creek because my Dad likes it, but lately I’ve been booking Sheraton Vistana Village and he likes that just as well and they have tons of amenities (i.e. FOOD) on-site so if we don’t feel like going out to eat, we don’t have to.

Availability
Since the resort is so large, it is generally easy to book the Wyndham at Bonnet Creek if you own Wyndham points. There is almost always availability here through Wyndham. In fact, I sometimes will wait until the 90-day express reservation window to book so I can get the unit for discounted points, but if you don’t have date flexibility for your travel arrangements, or want to book a holiday week or at peak travel times, then you should probably make your reservation as far in advance as possible.

For those who don’t own Wyndham I have occasionally seen the Bonnet Creek timeshare in the listings on RCItravel, but since it is such a popular resort, you will probably want to conduct an “on-going search” if you are looking to snag specific dates. It is rarely available as an RCI Last Call or Extra Vacation though, so plan on doing a timeshare exchange if you really want to stay here and don’t already own Wyndham.

UNIT SIZE and FURNISHINGS

View into the Living Area and Kitchen Bar at Bonnet Creek Wyndham Resort. If you want to use the internet, you

Wyndham Bonnet Creek floor plans are pretty generous. I usually stay in a two bedroom deluxe unit which is around 1200 square feet. The master bedroom has a king-size bed and I think the other bedroom has two doubles in it. There is also a jacuzzi in the Master Suite and both bedrooms have their own bathroom attached. The living area is quite sizable with a full-length dining table and there’s plenty of room in the kitchen to move around. The furnishings are comfortable and the beds more than adequate. They are not as good as Sheraton’s beds or Disney’s, in my opinion, but they are good enough.

Living Room at the Bonnet Creek Resort. The couch folds out into another guest bed.

Even a 1-bedroom deluxe at the Bonnet Creek Resort is between 800-900 feet, so I doubt you will be feeling cramped here. The three bedroom units are 1500 Sq. ft. and up and the brand new four bedroom presidential units are over 2200 square feet, so you can bring the whole family. All units, regardless of size, have a balcony (very nice), washer, dryer and jacuzzi. Whether you have a flat screen tv in the unit, or an old fashioned tv, depends on how recently the unit has been refurbished, but the last few times I stayed here, it was a flat screen TV so maybe all the older televisions are gone now.

Master Bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek

My only complaint about the units here — and actually is is a pretty big complaint for me since I work when I travel — is that if you want to use the ethernet port to get online, you will be stuck sitting at one of the bar stools at the kitchen area counter, since the ethernet port is just behind the the phone on the kitchen counter. It is massively inconvenient, and there is no wifi in the units, so if you need to be online a lot, I highly recommend bringing a long ethernet cable of your own. Theirs is rather short. If you are going to be using more than one computer, you may even want to bring your own router.

Jacuzzi in Master Suite at Bonnet Creek Resort

Amenities
Now we get into the nitty gritty. For such a large timeshare resort, I find the Bonnet Creek resort to be oddly lacking. Other resorts of this size usually have at least an eatery or two and usually a small grocery. There is a small store in the lobby, but it is mostly touristy knick-knack crap. I think they offer pizza delivery and the pool bar (Escudo’s) has burgers and such, but they aren’t that great and I would never eat there again. So you really have to leave the resort or go grocery shopping and cook in your unit if you want some decent grub, or even just a snack to tide you over.

Bonnet Creek does have a lot of pools and a nice lazy river (or two),and a lot of their scheduled activities revolve around these great pools, but that big lake in the middle of their property is just for walking around. There’s no water sports there. Oh well.

Also, while you have to drive onto Disney property to get to the Bonnet Creek resort, this resort is NOT on Disney property, so you get none of the Disney amenities such as early entry to the parks, Evening hours, the park shuttle service, or shop deliveries from the theme parks to the resort. You can be just as close to Downtown Disney staying at Saratoga Springs and then you will be able to walk to Downtown Disney as well as take advantage of all the amenities that Disney offers. For my money (and points), I would sooner stay at Wyndham Cypress Palms Resort or the Sheraton Vistana Resort which is nearly as close to all the Disney action as Bonnet Creek is.

And finally, the sales staff at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort are very aggressive. You’ll get your first pitch when you go to get your parking pass and if you don’t sign up for an “owner’s update” or “breakfast” then you can expect many phone calls. So if you do stay here, I highly recommend unplugging your phone as soon as you get in the room, unless you really enjoy timeshare presentations. I usually go to them myself to get the freebies, but I usually skip it here because I find them much more aggressive than other Wyndham sales teams.

For example, if you’ve never stayed at a timeshare before it may be a big surprise to you that there is no daily housekeeping service. For many of us who own timeshares, this is actually one of the primary advantages, but if you are used to the daily bed-making and tidying it can be a bit disconcerting. I like it because it means there is no one coming to your room every day to interrupt whatever you might be doing. I hate that knock on the door in the morning before I’ve even had my shower. And sometimes I forget to leave the card hanging on the door. But with timeshares, daily housekeeping is generally not provided.

Trash and Towel Service
What you can expect is that there will be a trash and towel service mid-week if you are staying at least 7 nights. For this service, someone will either come to the door and exchange towels with you and collect any trash bags — or they will come into the unit and exchange all of the towels for you and empty all of the trash bins and replace the bags.

Daily Housekeeping for a Fee
If you really want daily housekeeping, or just need the room extra-tidy on a particular day, at most resorts you can pay extra for the service. Expect to spend between $30 and $50 per day, depending on the resort and timeshare brand.

A Fully Stocked Kitchen
Another great advantage of timeshares is the fully stocked kitchen. Even when I have stayed in small studio units, I rarely have to purchase anything to do some cooking. The only exception has been at the Disney DVC villas, where the studio units are rather meagerly stocked. They usually have a microwave, toaster and small college-sized fridge, with no oven or stovetop. Also, paper plates and plastic knives and forks. Thankfully, they do provide real ceramic coffee cups for your morning fix. The larger Disney units, however, are properly stocked just like any other timeshare you would visit.

At most resorts, you will have enough dishes to meet the room occupancy level (in other words, if the unit can have 9 guests, then there will be 8 dinner settings, but if the unit only can have 4 guests, you will have four dinner settings). There will be frying pans and baking dishes and the cooking utensils you need, such as spatulas, measuring cups, etc. You will certainly have a toaster, microwave and coffee maker as well. In fact, usually there will be some small packages of coffee, enough for your first day or two in the unit and possibly your salt and pepper. Wyndham timeshare resorts actually includes tiny salt and pepper shakers that you can either throw out or take with you at the end of your stay. They also usually include at least one microwave bag of popcorn and hot cocoa, which is a nice touch.

In many of the timeshares that I have stayed at, basic cleaning supplies are included as well, so there is no need to buy paper towels, scrub brushes, dish-washing liquid or laundry detergent. Everything should be on hand. Since on occasion there are things that you might expect to be provided, but aren’t, I usually save my shopping trip to the local supermarket until after check-in. In fact, that is the first thing I do after checking in and putting away all my luggage. I first check the kitchen and bathroom to see if there’s anything additional I need, then I check to see if it is on the inventory for the timeshare, which will usually be found in the resort guide in your unit. If there is anything that should be provided, but isn’t I’ll make a quick call to housekeeping to have it sent over. Anything that isn’t provided, but that I need gets added to my shopping list and then I go to find the nearest supermarket. I turn the ice maker on before I leave (or fill the ice trays) and so by the time I get back I have some ice and can pour myself a nice cold drink

Washer and Dryer
Whether a washer and dryer is available in your unit usually depends on the size of the timeshare you have booked. If you stay in a one or two bedroom unit, then generally you can expect that the unit will have a washer and dryer in it. If you book studios, it is a fair bet that they won’t. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a studio timeshare that had a washer/dryer combo. The convenience alone may be worth upgrading to at least a one bedroom unit, even if only two of you are going on this trip.

Activities
Nearly all the best timeshare resorts will have lots of activities planned throughout the week, depending on the season. Most resorts will have an assortment of activities for kids and adults and some will be free and others will have a nominal charge. You can expect things like ice cream socials or jewelry making for the kids, or water aerobics in the pool each morning. Some resorts may even handle tours off-site for a fee, which would make avoiding a car rental convenient. Some resorts are fully self-contained and you honestly would never have to leave the resort during your vacation. For example, Sheraton Vistana Villages in Orlando has restaurants, pool bars and a food shop on-site and plenty of activities that would keep you busy. Or you can spend your days just relaxing by the pool. The Orange Lake Resort Orlando also has tons of amenities, activities, entertaining shows, a restaurant and their own golf course and tennis courts for a truly self-contained resort. But I bet you will still want to spend at least a day or two at Disney World!

One of the biggest things you have to consider is when your usage dates are. If you have usages dates that are in the off season, this will greatly affect the amount of money you can get for your timeshare. If your dates are in the prime season, it is possible to end up with an amazing deal when you go to sale. Another thing you should keep an eye on is who you are going through to sell the timeshare unit. There are a lot of companies that you need to be wary of; they will want you to commit to an upfront payment before they will even start attempting to sell your timeshare. Watch out for these companies.

One of the best ways to go is by listing your timeshare unit on eBay. This allows you to set a decent price and have people bid on it so that you can see what people are willing to pay for your timeshare. If you list your unit on eBay, you should make sure to include the location of the timeshare and the dates that they can use it. There should be no hidden information for the person that is bidding on your unit, whatsoever. Ebay timeshare resales are quite popular, but you will also want to keep in mind that most of these buyers are pretty savvy. So do not overprice your timeshare or you will end up having to relist it.

Other line online sites you can use to sell your timeshare include Timeshare Users Group, Bidshares, and Redweek. These are all places that are frequented by people in search of timeshares to purchase. Your unit has a great chance of selling on any of those sites.

If you decide to go with a company that specializes in timeshare selling make sure they are members of the ARDA (American Resort Development Association), as they have rules that must be followed to make sure the selling of your timeshare is ethical and above board. You should also do some research into the timeshare laws of your state as well as the state where your timeshare unit is located in the event that it is located in a different state. There are many more things that you will need to be aware of when you go to sell your timeshare, and this information is fairly easy to find online. Taking a bit of time to research the information you need to know can make all the difference in the world as to the price you are able to get for your timeshare unit.