UMTravels

Most of you know about my mileage runs (flying someplace just to fly home usually on the same plane), but this week I did a points run for Wyndham Rewards points.

How it works in this case, is booking a Bonus Time stay at one of the WorldMark resorts that also has a sales center in it. Yes, time share presentations, but I’m already an owner, so they are slightly more gentle. I booked one night at The Camlin in downtown Seattle, and then the next night up at Birch Bay. Each was $80 a night, plus tax, plus $20 parking in downtown Seattle. So, all in about $200.

First up, The Camlin. Studio, SMALL. But it’s one night and I’m here for the points!

Love this building, but here is my room:

And the lobby:

So – when I checked in, got my key, they sent me to the concierge desk where they “made the pitch” to attend the “education” update. They started with 2,000 WorldMark bonus points, which is a joke, can’t even get a night for that, and they’d want to charge you housecleaning. I said I wanted Wyndham Rewards points – they offered 15,000. My response was 30,000 or it’s not worth me getting out of bed for. 30,000 it is!

Value of those points? He says they are worth 1.1 cents each, so they value them at $330, Wyndham says they have a “Verifiable Retail Value” of $390. At the end of the post I’ll show you what I used those first points on!

Went to the presentation at 10:30 Tuesday morning, the points arrived in my account before I’d left the presentation, saying no to more points.

Then I took off for Birch Bay!

So, the guy at the concierge desk at Birch Bay was a little green, and said he said he didn’t have the power to offer more than 25,000, and I said, sign me up for a 10:30 slot and call your boss for approval. They time share business works in both directions for the hard sell!

Much larger room (one-bedroom as opposed to studio), so a little more room to spread out, even if just for the night:

I was only in there for a few minutes before I was back on the freeway headed north – to visit Will and Solus for dinner, then come back before dark – don’t think I’ve ever just popped over the border for the day.

At the rest stop:

And along the road:

Lovely dinner up north ONCE I GOT THERE. Stopped for Caesar Mix (Bloody Mary with Clamato that the Canadians are famous for).

But one of the main bridges was closed due to an accident so it doubled my time. Did see this lovely Lambo with an “N” sticker, which means, New Driver:

New Driver with a lot of change rolling around his pants.

Was having such a lovely time at dinner, ginger pork and several side veg, that didn’t even get a shot of dinner.

Was back south by 8:30 (hour door-to-door with no traffic) – watched a little telly before crashing out early. Can’t drive the distances like I used to.

Morning I was at the “Presentation Center” where they eventually brought me my chose of breakfast – I went for the Kolaches:

Could have been a little warmer (I blame WorldMark for being slow in picking them up), and a little more mustard, but tasty! Rooted By The Bay is the coffee shop that has them.

Headed home after the exactly an hour presentation (new record for short) with another 30,000 points in my account.

So, let’s do the math:

Out-of-pocket: $200
Points received after two presentations: 60,000
Worth at least $660 (according to the Points Guy)

That alone, not a bad ROI, but I needed a hotel in Waikiki next March for two nights, and usually the Ramada is 15,000 per night or lower $200’s. Wyndham Hotels go for 7,500, 15,000, 30,000 points a night depending on location and quality.

This is what I scored….

Two nights, studio apartment at the marina (the one Gilligan left from on his three-hour cruise), 500 sq.ft., full kitchen, 15,000 points a night. I haven’t seen that property in the system since the pandemic!

Retail on that unit, $348.00 a night, so $696.00 total.

And I still have another 30,000 points to book worth at least another $300. Woohoo!

To be honest, it is rare that I get that good a redemption, but gotta brag when I do.

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