Is Trendwest a good deal?
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Now that you know what Trendwest is all about, the value question logically follows. Does it make sense to buy in?
Like most of these questions, the answer is a potentially unhelpful “it depends.” However, in the interest of helpfulness, I’m going to elaborate and tell you some of the things it depends on.
The number one, most important question is: how much do you vacation? I’d say your answer to this question is about 70% of the “big picture.” That’s because the value of Trendwest ownership is greatest if you’re already spending money on vacations. You can take the money that you’re already spending, put some of it into Trendwest, and pay for future vacations as well as the current one.
For me, this is about where the value question stops. That’s because the kind of vacations we take usually involve tents, and our annual vacation expenditures are typically less than Trendwest’s maintenance fee. However, that’s obviously not going to be the case for everyone. For instance, we don’t have kids, and that saves us a bundle in addition to being able to take vacations that would bore kids silly.
The starting point for answering this question is figuring out how much you spend on your vacations annually. If you can, break it down by type of spending: you want to know how much your lodging is costing you, because that’s where the opportunity to save with Trendwest comes in. Armed with that number, you can look at the points cost and the annual maintenance fee, and do an accurate comparison of your long- and short-term costs.
Next question: would you vacation more if it cost less? The Trendwest folks will really push this question, though they’ll treat it as rhetorical. Prepare by coming to your own conclusion (outside of the high-pressure sales environment). If you have more time than money, this might be a good opportunity.
The main thing is to be realistic when answering the question. Frankly, I have a hard time taking time off for the short trips we take, and I can’t imagine telling my clients that I’m going to be gone for two weeks. I am very happy with our weekend camping breaks, and any increase in vacation time based on savings would be minimal… for me. But this is something you’ll need to figure out for yourself, one way or the other.
What kind of vacations do you take? Where you go on vacation and for how long will really impact the relative value Trendwest holds for you. This is because they are all about lodging, but vacations include costs for travel, food, attractions, etc.
If you like to travel in your area, say, for a weekend getaway just a few hours away by car, Trendwest will almost certainly make this more affordable (provided you are vacationing often). However, if your vacations typically involve air travel, or other expensive non-lodging costs, the value goes down.
Another reality check: food. Most of the Trendwest properties boast kitchenettes, which can be a fantastic money-saver… if you’ll use them. But don’t sell yourself on a fantasy of saving money if you really prefer the convenience of dining out. Remember, this doesn’t make you a good or bad person; you just need to be aware of what you’ll really choose when it comes down to it, and make the decision based on accurate info.
Hopefully these questions help you figure out what your accommodations are worth to you. Up next, some tips for actually attending a Trendwest presentation.