An introduction to Trendwest
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Ever since I posted a quick blurb about going to a Trendwest presentation, I’ve been getting comments, emails, and searches about Trendwest. It’s clear that people are looking for info, so I’m going to do a short series on Trendwest and you.
This first post is kind of an overview designed to help you understand what Trendwest does.
Trendwest is basically an improved timeshare program. In a traditional timeshare setup, you buy partial ownership in a property, and then are guaranteed a certain amount of time each year to use the property (a week is common). Typically, you have the same week each year at the same property. It’s much cheaper than owning a vacation home, but provides many of the same benefits.
Timeshares were really big in the sixties and seventies because of their affordability and convenience. After a while, though, some of the owners decided they wanted to mix it up a little, and started trading their weeks (”my week in Arizona for your week in Florida?”). This made the timeshare idea a bit more flexible.
Trendwest has effectively formalized the trading system and abstracted it from the “my week” concept. With Trendwest, you buy points, not time at a specific place at a specific time. Your points can then be spent for time at any of the Trendwest locations (of which there are many). This improves on the timeshare idea because you have more flexibility with less hassle.
When you buy Trendwest points, you’re buying them permanently. For instance, if you buy 12,000 points, you get 12,000 points each and every year for your one-time cost (plus an annual maintenance fee). Trendwest emphasizes this (as they should) because of the long-term value. They like to point out that you can even leave your Trendwest ownership to your kids. The comparison is “owning vs. renting”, and it mostly holds up.
In addition to their core program, Trendwest also offers some other associated perks. The one that interests me the most is something they call Bonus Time, which allows you to pay cash (instead of points) at a drastically reduced rate. You can also save up points over time and borrow ahead, both of which are convenient options for longer trips at more exotic locations.
The bottom line is, Trendwest is very convenient. In the next post, I’m going to help you consider the value they offer, and whether it might be a bargain for you.