Club Wyndham and Worldmark: Your Diverse Vacation Ownership Journey
Wyndham Destinations offers two distinct yet interconnected timeshare networks: Club Wyndham and Worldmark by Wyndham. Both provide access to a vast global portfolio of resorts, catering to different vacation preferences and offering flexible ownership models designed to enhance your travel experiences.
Who are Club Wyndham and Worldmark For?
Club Wyndham is ideal for travelers seeking experiential travel in premier destinations, prioritizing access to “must-see” locations and flexibility in exploring a wide array of sought-after resorts. It appeals to those who appreciate a points-based system with tiered benefits for enhanced booking power.
Worldmark by Wyndham is tailored for those desiring a “home-away-from-home” vacation experience, emphasizing comfortable accommodations with amenities like fully equipped kitchens and separate living areas. It’s perfect for families and individuals who value a consistent, comfortable base for their travels across a broad geographic footprint.
Together, these networks really benefit individuals that want to explore myriad destinations. While the individual resorts may lack the grandeur of Hilton or Marriott resorts and their grounds, the geographic footprint and an increasing number of updated rooms across that footprint make Club Wyndham and Worldmark an attractive options for travelers looking for more variety in destinations.
Understanding the Systems
Club Wyndham operates on a flexible points-based system, where points serve as the “vacation currency.” The number of points required for a stay varies based on the resort, suite size, duration, and season. Club Wyndham features a tiered VIP structure (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Founders) that rewards owners with enhanced benefits as their point ownership increases, including points discounts and extended booking windows.
Worldmark by Wyndham operates on a credit-based system. Owners receive an annual allotment of credits, valid for 12 months. The number of credits needed for a stay is determined by suite size, seasonality (Red, White, Blue seasons reflecting demand), and resort demand. Unlike Club Wyndham, Worldmark credit values are fixed when the suite is initially registered. Worldmark also has a tiered VIP by WorldMark program (Bronze, Silver, Diamond, Platinum, Founders) offering enhanced benefits.
Points/Credits Usage and Booking Dynamics
Both networks employ dynamic pricing based on demand, suite size, and season.
Club Wyndham Points Usage:
Points values fluctuate by resort, suite size, duration, and season. “Prime” or “High” seasons require more points, while “Value” or “Quiet” seasons are more point-efficient. Weekday stays generally require fewer points than weekend nights, allowing for strategic point optimization. Owners can deposit unused points into a future Use Year for a fee, with VIP levels offering extended deposit windows.
Worldmark Credits Usage:
Credits are required based on suite size and seasonality (Red, White, Blue seasons). Red season indicates high demand and requires the most credits, while Blue season requires the fewest. Larger suites and weekend nights typically demand more credits. Credits can be borrowed from the next Use Year or carried over for up to two years.
Here’s a sample credit chart for Worldmark Discovery Bay (2024-2025) to illustrate:
| Suite Type | Season | Mon-Thu (Credits/Night) | Fri-Sat (Credits/Night) | Sun (Credits/Night) | Weekly Total (Credits) |
| 2-Bedroom (Sleeps 6) | BLUE | 600 | 925 | 750 | 5000 |
| WHITE | 850 | 1250 | 1100 | 7000 | |
| RED | 1100 | 1600 | 1400 | 9000 | |
| 2-Bedroom Deluxe (Sleeps 6) | BLUE | 1000 | 1450 | 1100 | 8000 |
| WHITE | 1250 | 1800 | 1400 | 10000 | |
| RED | 1500 | 2100 | 1800 | 12000 | |
| 2-Bedroom Loft (Sleeps 8) | BLUE | 600 | 925 | 750 | 5000 |
| WHITE | 850 | 1250 | 1100 | 7000 | |
| RED | 1250 | 1800 | 1400 | 10000 |
Booking Windows:
- Club Wyndham: Standard Booking Window is 10 to 3 months prior to check-in. Reciprocal Advance Reservation Priority (RARP) offers an earlier window (11 to 10 months) for eligible owners.
- Worldmark: Standard reservations can be booked up to 13 months in advance.
Both clubs offer the Club Pass internal exchange program, allowing eligible owners to access resorts within the other’s portfolio. This option becomes available within a nine-month booking window.
Destinations and Resort Portfolio
Wyndham Destinations boasts an expansive global resort portfolio with over 200 properties for both Club Wyndham and Worldmark, spanning numerous countries and regions.
Club Wyndham Key Locations:
- U.S.: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida (Orlando, Miami), Hawaii (Waikiki), Nevada (Las Vegas), New York (Midtown Manhattan), South Carolina, Tennessee (Smoky Mountains), Texas, Utah, Virginia.
- International: Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Fiji, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and various European locations.
- Notable Resorts: Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort (Orlando), Club Wyndham Star Island (Orlando), Wyndham Smoky Mountain (Tennessee), Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk (Hawaii).
Worldmark Key Locations:
- U.S.: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii (Kona, Kapaa), Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada (Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe), New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington.
- International: Canada (Canmore-Banff, Vancouver, Whistler), Mexico (Isla Mujeres, San Jose del Cabo), Fiji.
- Notable Properties: WorldMark Angels Camp (California), WorldMark Marble Falls (Texas), WorldMark Avenue Plaza (New Orleans).
Member Benefits & Additional Programs
Club Wyndham:
- VIP Tiers: Offer escalating benefits like points discounts (15% to 60%), extended suite upgrade windows, and increased complimentary guest confirmations.
- Bonus Time: Cash-only option for last-minute bookings (within 14 days of arrival) at a cost of $5 per 1,000 points.
- Owner Rental Program: Allows owners to rent out unused vacation time through Extra Holidays and VacationShare, with no upfront fees.
- PlusPartners: Enables conversion of points into other travel benefits like airline tickets, car rentals, hotel accommodations, and cruises.
Worldmark by Wyndham:
- VIP by WorldMark: Offers benefits such as complimentary Wi-Fi, additional guest certificates, enhanced FAX Time rates, and complimentary housekeeping services (unlimited for Platinum and Founders).
- Bonus Time: Cash option for bookings within 14 days of arrival (or 5 days for guests) at approx. $0.085 per credit.
- Exotic Bonus Time: Similar to Bonus Time but for specific “exotic” resorts with a 30-day booking window.
- FAX Time: Allows owners to rent one-time-use credits directly from the developer, with rates varying by VIP tier.
- Fun Time & Inventory Specials: Provide additional cash rental options for last-minute or discounted stays.
Exchange Network Affiliation
Both Club Wyndham and Worldmark by Wyndham are affiliated with RCI (Resort Condominiums International). This affiliation provides owners with the opportunity to exchange their points or credits for stays at thousands of affiliated resorts worldwide, significantly expanding their vacation options beyond the respective Wyndham portfolios. Some Worldmark owners also have access to Interval International (II) for exchanges, depending on their membership level.
Fees and Nuances
Beyond annual maintenance fees, which cover resort operations, taxes, and refurbishment, owners should be aware of various booking and transfer fees.
Club Wyndham Fees:
- Club Pass Exchange Fee: $79 (online) or $149 (phone). Additional guest fee of $49.
- Guest Confirmations: Complimentary based on VIP level; additional confirmations cost $99 (online) or $129 (phone).
- Points Protection: $149 to protect points if a reservation is canceled less than 15 days prior to arrival.
- Waitlist Request Fee: $25 if a match is found and booked.
Worldmark Fees:
- Housekeeping Fees: Vary by suite type ($98-$213) for additional services beyond the included annual service.
- Guest Certificate Fee: $99 (online) or $129 (phone).
- Club Pass Exchange Fee: $49 (online) or $149 (phone); additional guest fee of $49, plus a $159 housekeeping fee.
- External Exchange Fees: RCI Weeks Membership ($109), RCI Weeks Exchange Fee ($299), II Membership Fee ($89), etc.
- Credit Completion Rental: $0.15 per credit to cover insufficient credits for a booking.
- Local Taxes: Occupancy, tourist, or municipal taxes may apply at many resorts.
Resale Nuance:
Purchasing Club Wyndham or Worldmark on the resale market offers potential upfront cost savings. However, it’s crucial to understand significant limitations:
- Non-Transferability of VIP Benefits: For both Club Wyndham and Worldmark, the enhanced VIP benefits (e.g., points discounts, suite upgrades, complimentary services) are generally not transferable to resale buyers, except to immediate family members.
- Club Pass Restrictions: Eligibility for the Club Pass internal exchange program (accessing the other network’s resorts) is typically restricted to points/credits purchased directly from the developer. Resale contracts generally will not grant access to Club Pass.
- PlusPartners (Club Wyndham): Benefits from the PlusPartners program are also generally not transferable on resale.
- Transfer/Processing Fees: A processing fee of $399 is typically charged for ownership changes for both Club Wyndham and Worldmark.
