Vacation Internationale lost all three Sedona resorts and acquired three WG Resorts

[easyrider]

It looks like the Sedona Resorts are gone and in their place are WG Blue Tree, West Gate Palace both in Florida and WG Painted Mountain in Mesa AZ. Here is what VI says.

Bill

Announcing 3 New VI Resort Locations​

VI is happy to announce the addition of Westgate Blue Tree Resort and Westgate Palace Resort, located in Orlando and Westgate Painted Mountain Golf Resort in Mesa, Arizona, with availability beginning in 2026. View the resort pages, point charts and availability now!
With inventory added in these locations, future stays in 2026, at Cypress Pointe, Grande Villas, and the Sedona area will only be available through VI’s Instant Exchange. Additionally, VI has made the difficult decision to remove Sand Pebble Resort in Treasure Island, Florida, from the VI program starting January 2026. The area is still facing extended delays from the impacts of Hurricanes in 2024.

 

[dioxide45]

It seems the ones that were removed were all former Diamond properties? I know the two listed in Orlando are. What about the three in Sedona? Which resorts were these? Also, what does VI Instant Exchange mean? Is that done through Interval International or RCI?

 

[easyrider]

It seems the ones that were removed were all former Diamond properties? I know the two listed in Orlando are. What about the three in Sedona? Which resorts were these? Also, what does VI Instant Exchange mean? Is that done through Interval International or RCI?

We lost the inventory at Sedona Springs, Villas of Sedona and Villas at Poco Diablo. I'm a little bummed out about this. VI Instant exchanges are exchanges from VI to RCI or II using VI points and a fee. Below the line is from the VI site.

Bill

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

These exchange weeks are affiliated with either Interval International (II) or Resort Condominiums International (RCI). You may find more specific information in your printed resort directories.

Exchange Fees/Point Costs
Exchange Fee = $159 per weekly reservation. Instant Exchange reservations, including Hot Weeks, cannot be refunded, canceled, or changed (including name changes). Confirmed reservations will also be charged a Reservation Booking Fee.	Unit Size Points / week Studio 70 1 Bdrm 91 2 Bdrm 112 3 Bdrm 133 4 Bdrm 154

 

[gravityrules]

It seems the ones that were removed were all former Diamond properties? I know the two listed in Orlando are. What about the three in Sedona? Which resorts were these? Also, what does VI Instant Exchange mean? Is that done through Interval International or RCI?

The 3 Sedona resorts and Sand Pebble are managed by VRI (according to VRI's website)

 

[dioxide45]

The 3 Sedona resorts and Sand Pebble are managed by VRI (according to VRI's website)

So perhaps there was some type of affiliation agreement there vs. these resorts actually being part of the VI trust?

 

[JohnPaul]

VI Instant Exchange weeks also come from people turning in their week in exchange for VI points.

 

[JohnPaul]

It seems the ones that were removed were all former Diamond properties? I know the two listed in Orlando are. What about the three in Sedona? Which resorts were these? Also, what does VI Instant Exchange mean? Is that done through Interval International or RCI?

These Sedona resorts were managed by VRI (unless recently changed). When VRI managed VI (confusing right?) they tried to get owners of those 3 resorts to turn in their weeks for VI ownership. The response was less than they hoped for meaning the availability was quite limited.

Nevertheless, it is a loss.

VI makes more adjustments than most TS companies based on cost and usage of properties. However, they cannot have less properties than outstanding points and never have.

 

[california-bighorn]

We are VI members and have stayed at the mentioned resorts in Sedona several times. But, we were able get reservations thru other sources because the inventory thru VI was very limited. So won't make much difference to us.
I have been a TUG member for years, but, haven't been active in a while. I was wondering if there is a section in TUG for VI members I didn't find.

 

[jackio]

The 3 Sedona resorts and Sand Pebble are managed by VRI (according to VRI's website)

Sand Pebbles managed by VRI (now Capital) is in Solana Beach, CA. This one is in Florida.

 

[TUGBrian]

We are VI members and have stayed at the mentioned resorts in Sedona several times. But, we were able get reservations thru other sources because the inventory thru VI was very limited. So won't make much difference to us.
I have been a TUG member for years, but, haven't been active in a while. I was wondering if there is a section in TUG for VI members I didn't find.

VI is on the short list of getting its own forum along with innseason! just not too very many topics on these sofar but maybe if they had their own place to go there would be more!

 

[JulieAnderson]

Hi, I’m new to Tugs, we’re thinking about buying a VI membership on the second hand market so that we can stay at a certain resort specifically in summer. I was told by a VI director who works at that resort that we cannot buy VI on the second hand market and still be able to deposit our Worldmark weeks into that VI account.
He said we have to buy an original account directly from VI to do this.

Do any of you have any experience with this? We already own Worldmark and RCI and I really don’t want to buy an $8000 VI membership plus dues to get into this resort. That’s way too much $ and not a good value. I am willing to buy a cheaper account but I’d like to buy one time use credits from WM, reserve an inexpensive week at WM and deposit that week into VI. This would be a good value I believe.

I’ve confirmed that unfortunately, RCI does not work with this resort. Homestead in Lynden, WA. (Even though it shows up on RCI as a possible exchange.)

Any advice or great ideas would be very much appreciated!

Thank you

 

[easyrider]

Hi, I’m new to Tugs, we’re thinking about buying a VI membership on the second hand market so that we can stay at a certain resort specifically in summer. I was told by a VI director who works at that resort that we cannot buy VI on the second hand market and still be able to deposit our Worldmark weeks into that VI account.
He said we have to buy an original account directly from VI to do this.

Do any of you have any experience with this? We already own Worldmark and RCI and I really don’t want to buy an $8000 VI membership plus dues to get into this resort. That’s way too much $ and not a good value. I am willing to buy a cheaper account but I’d like to buy one time use credits from WM, reserve an inexpensive week at WM and deposit that week into VI. This would be a good value I believe.

I’ve confirmed that unfortunately, RCI does not work with this resort. Homestead in Lynden, WA. (Even though it shows up on RCI as a possible exchange.)

Any advice or great ideas would be very much appreciated!

Thank you

I've bought a few VI memberships off Ebay. The first was a large membership that had 8 years left on the contract. These are called a right to use ( rtu) and they expire. Before these expired I bought a smaller VI membership off Ebay that is a Perpetual membership that doesn't expire. Currently, the best prices for VI are on Facebook. VI sales are now operated by West Gate who are known liar heads. You can buy resale with no problems.

The reason I bought a smaller membership is I deposit some of my timeshares to the VI Instant exchange for points. Depositing Worldmark in a low season will often be accepted so even with the $159 instant exchange deposit fee the cost can be similar to regular VI points.

I mostly use our Worldmark for exchanges in RCI, II or SFX. Worldmark exchanges better than VI. I like VI because many of their resorts are driving distance from us.

Bill

 

[JulieAnderson]

I've bought a few VI memberships off Ebay. The first was a large membership that had 8 years left on the contract. These are called a right to use ( rtu) and they expire. Before these expired I bought a smaller VI membership off Ebay that is a Perpetual membership that doesn't expire. Currently, the best prices for VI are on Facebook. VI sales are now operated by West Gate who are known liar heads. You can buy resale with no problems.

The reason I bought a smaller membership is I deposit some of my timeshares to the VI Instant exchange for points. Depositing Worldmark in a low season will often be accepted so even with the $159 instant exchange deposit fee the cost can be similar to regular VI points.

I mostly use our Worldmark for exchanges in RCI, II or SFX. Worldmark exchanges better than VI. I like VI because many of their resorts are driving distance from us.

Bill

Hi Bill, I can’t find VI memberships on FB marketplace.

 

[easyrider]

Hi Bill, I can’t find VI memberships on FB marketplace.

You need to join the VI owners FB page for buy, sell and rent which is different than the FB market place. There is a couple on eBay. One is a 77 point every other year. So you pay a lower maintenance fee but you have every year access to bonus time and can use your point in any year. If you decide to join Tug please use me as a reference. It would be the best $15 you ever spent, imo.

Bill

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VACATION INTERNATIONALE 77 ODD YEAR POINTS TIMESHARE FOR SALE! | eBay

VACATION INTERNATIONALE. The two most common forms of usage are Annual (every year) and Biennial (every other year). 77 ODD YEAR. Usage:Odd Years Starting 2025. 231 Points Banked Points Available. Availability: Odd Years Starting 2025.

www.ebay.com

 

[JulieAnderson]

I thought I was a member haha. If I become a member, what is the difference between now and membership? What are the benefits?

 

[easyrider]

I thought I was a member haha. If I become a member, what is the difference between now and membership? What are the benefits?

You are a member. I missed that, sorry.

If you do want the eBay VI you might want to use the Gixen sniper. You can always combine another VI account latter.

Bill

 

[JulieAnderson]

Vacation Internationale $1,400

20 Points For Sale / Posting R1273427

www.redweek.com

Do you think this one or the ebay one is better?

 

[JulieAnderson]

You are a member. I missed that, sorry.

If you do want the eBay VI you might want to use the Gixen sniper. You can always combine another VI account latter.

Bill

Bill, or anyone. You guys are so much more experienced with VI than I am. Do any of you have an opinion on which timeshare is a better deal?

This one has such cheap maintenance fees. I’m thinking if I can do one time use points from www.WMCredits.net at 6 cents a credit, which is somewhat normal for his price, (I’ve already done it once a few days ago) that low maintenance fees is a cheaper deal in the long run. What say you?

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[JulieAnderson]

Vacation Internationale $1,400

20 Points For Sale / Posting R1273427

www.redweek.com

 

[easyrider]

Vacation Internationale $1,400

20 Points For Sale / Posting R1273427

www.redweek.com

Do you think this one or the ebay one is better?

It depends. 77 points gets you 5 nights in a 1 bed unit and 20 points gets you 1 night in a 1 bed unit both during red season. Both get you bonus time.

A full week in red season at the Carriage House is about 125 points a week while others might come in around 105 points a week. When you deposit a one bed unit WM week you only get 91 points and you pay $159 to VI for the exchange fee. If you deposit a 7000 credit WM 1 bed unit into the exchange the cost is about $600 for the credits + a housekeeping token + a guest certificates + the $159 VI exchange fee. There usually is an occupancy tax on both units.

Our first VI account was 215 points which got us 2 weeks in a 1 bed unit at the VI resorts we like. To me it doesn't make any sense to own anything less than a week so 115 points would be my minimum.

I would own Worldmark before owning VI. One of the reasons we like WM & VI is many are within driving distance for us.

Bill

 

[Tom353]

I currrently have four VI contracts. All were acquired through brokers or inheritance. My family has been with VI for 50 years so we’re pretty familiar with the system.

It’s a shame losing Sedona. I felt the same way losing Elkhorn. But time takes its toll. VI does a pretty good job shedding the worn out properties. The Lodge in Tahoe will NOT be missed.

The reason I have four contracts is because of the banked points included in the resales. The value of those points has always exceeded the broker fees, and they are useable immediately. With my last purchase I got 750 points (5 years worth) and I hope they last me a couple years of bookings. I’m curious whether any other timeshare secondary contracts transfer points this way.

 

[easyrider]

With my last purchase I got 750 points (5 years worth)

I though the points expire after two years. Mine do.

Bill

 

[Tom353]

If you look at the amount of banked points in listings and divide by the contract size you can see how many year’s worth. I thought it was only three years but with the last contract I got four years, plus the 2026 points I paid annual maintenance for to close it.

I’m pretty sure these contracts are coming out of estates, and have been inactive but with owners keeping up with the annual maintenance fees. My dad was diligent in paying his, even though he could no longer use it. It took my sister and I about a year to use up all his banked points. I have seen VI contracts that have the points fully depleted, and would guess that they’re in active use. I avoid those.

I used to get these from a broker in Bellevue who appears to have retired. His fee was reasonable and he could execute transfers very quickly.