Bluegreen Availability

[andymul]

Hi All!

Wife and I just traveled to La Cabana in Aruba - a friend is a Bluegreen owner and let us use a week! It was awesome!

After the trip, I began looking into Bluegreen and see that there are several desirable resort locations and am looking into purchasing.

My question is: Will I have trouble making reservations with Bluegreen or will I be OK as long as I book as soon as I'm able?

Thanks!
Andy

 

[GrayFal]

Locations like La Cabana, Wilderness Club at Big Cedar, Big Sky & Marathon are very popular.
They need to be booked at 11 months out.
BG owns all the inventory at Big Cedar but it is wildly popular.
At La Cabana, they own 25-30 percent of the inventory.
Big Sky, much less.

Myrtle Beach locations are also very popular May thru October.

It seems there is always availability at The Fountains.

You just need to realize with any timeshare that you have to learn how the system works and use it to your advantage. If reservations open up at 11 months out, be prepared to be online to book at that time. It is the same with Marriott Westin Wyndham. That does not mean you can’t get reservations 6 months out, you can but you might have to settle on check in day or unit type.

It is a great flexible system, just be prepared to do your homework and use it to the best advantage

 

[m61376]

Hi Andy-so glad you enjoyed your trip! And this may or may not be relevant, since it certainly wasn’t what you asked, but a little food for thought, before you jump in:
Was this your first timeshare trip? First time to Aruba?
Did you fall in love with the resort or the concept of time sharing and/or the island itself? Aruba has that effect on people (including us), which is why I’m asking. And our first timeshare trip was to Marriott Ko’Olina, and my hubbie looked at me and asked “why would you ever want to travel another way?” Just not having to start out the day with where to go for breakfast was a huge bonus for us!!
There are several different systems out there, and many different resorts on Aruba alone if that’s a place you envision returning frequently to.
and it’s much easier to buy than to sell, so think about where you’d like to visit, the quality and kind of accommodations you want/need now and in 5/10/15 years before buying anything.
Bluegreen may be ideal for you, but it sounds to me like you might have be one enamored with your trip (which is great), in which case there may (or may not be) better options to consider.
nose around the different forums here to start getting a sense of what’s out there.
And welcome to Tug

 

[GrayFal]

Hi Andy-so glad you enjoyed your trip! And this may or may not be relevant, since it certainly wasn’t what you asked, but a little food for thought, before you jump in:
Was this your first timeshare trip? First time to Aruba?
Did you fall in love with the resort or the concept of time sharing and/or the island itself? Aruba has that effect on people (including us), which is why I’m asking. And our first timeshare trip was to Marriott Ko’Olina, and my hubbie looked at me and asked “why would you ever want to travel another way?” Just not having to start out the day with where to go for breakfast was a huge bonus for us!!
There are several different systems out there, and many different resorts on Aruba alone if that’s a place you envision returning frequently to.
and it’s much easier to buy than to sell, so think about where you’d like to visit, the quality and kind of accommodations you want/need now and in 5/10/15 years before buying anything.
Bluegreen may be ideal for you, but it sounds to me like you might have be one enamored with your trip (which is great), in which case there may (or may not be) better options to consider.
nose around the different forums here to start getting a sense of what’s out there.
And welcome to Tug

All great thoughts.

And there is a very active resale market for la cabana weeks - they are fixed weeks and fixed units so another option is to purchase a week there.
But agree about the advice to take your time and do research regarding your choices.

 

[andymul]

Hi Andy-so glad you enjoyed your trip! And this may or may not be relevant, since it certainly wasn’t what you asked, but a little food for thought, before you jump in:
Was this your first timeshare trip? First time to Aruba?
Did you fall in love with the resort or the concept of time sharing and/or the island itself? Aruba has that effect on people (including us), which is why I’m asking. And our first timeshare trip was to Marriott Ko’Olina, and my hubbie looked at me and asked “why would you ever want to travel another way?” Just not having to start out the day with where to go for breakfast was a huge bonus for us!!
There are several different systems out there, and many different resorts on Aruba alone if that’s a place you envision returning frequently to.
and it’s much easier to buy than to sell, so think about where you’d like to visit, the quality and kind of accommodations you want/need now and in 5/10/15 years before buying anything.
Bluegreen may be ideal for you, but it sounds to me like you might have be one enamored with your trip (which is great), in which case there may (or may not be) better options to consider.
nose around the different forums here to start getting a sense of what’s out there.
And welcome to Tug

Not my first timeshare trip but it was my first time to Aruba.

Over the past several years I've come to the conclusion that timesharing is the way we want to travel unless with a very large group then we'll opt for a large home or AI resort. Totally love the option to not go out to eat constantly and have a full pot of coffee made in the room in the morning to drink on the patio/balcony!

Definitely fell in love with the island and the the location of the resort. I wouldn't have any issues staying there over and over if we choose to go to Aruba regularly. We do like to explore though, so I'm not 100% on BG, but would like to find a system with good beach properties in the Caribbean to explore. I'd be good starting with one week (or equivalent points) and adding from there as we hopefully gain more vacation time and learn what we and our family like.

 

[andymul]

All great thoughts.

And there is a very active resale market for la cabana weeks - they are fixed weeks and fixed units so another option is to purchase a week there.
But agree about the advice to take your time and do research regarding your choices.

Do you think the amount of La Cabana Weeks on the resale market is a reason NOT to buy a La Cabana Week? If there's that much on the resale market, I would expect to see plentiful rentals as well.

 

[superman_32877]

Concerning the resale market, keep in mind that BG has the right to exercise its right of first refusal (ROFR) and has been doing so very liberally lately. I have lost 3 resale deeds since January, and I'm waiting on a fourth. As my wife says, we have at least gotten three people out of their timeshare!

 

[akp]

All great thoughts.

And there is a very active resale market for la cabana weeks - they are fixed weeks and fixed units so another option is to purchase a week there.
But agree about the advice to take your time and do research regarding your choices.

Hi there! Can you point me to the most active resale venue for la cabana weeks? I have a fixed week there that I'm thinking of selling. Thanks

 

[akp]

Hi All!

Wife and I just traveled to La Cabana in Aruba - a friend is a Bluegreen owner and let us use a week! It was awesome!

After the trip, I began looking into Bluegreen and see that there are several desirable resort locations and am looking into purchasing.

My question is: Will I have trouble making reservations with Bluegreen or will I be OK as long as I book as soon as I'm able?

Thanks!
Andy

Hi Andy! I am both a Bluegreen owner and a fixed week La Cabana owner.

Wilderness Club at Big Cedar is quite popular and reservations very challenging to get if you're a peak season / larger unit traveler. If you're more flexible & happy with a 1 bedroom, you are more likely to find joy.

At present, there isn't a single full week bookable at Aruba through the 11 month mark through Bluegreen. I looked a few nights ago at the 11 month mark and grabbed a studio poolside for next April.

If you take time to learn the system & understand the points chart, Bluegreen can be a very rewarding ownership -- we quite enjoy ours.

FWIW, i am looking to sell my La Cabana fixed week which I've rented every year & cover maintenance fees bc the time of year never seems to work forus.