When I bought my week at Craigendarroch last year, the transfer fee was included in my purchase price. I think it took just under two months for the transfer to be completed.
I then enrolled via HGVC in Scotland. The enrollment fee was 200 pounds. They might have increased that in line with 2016 changes to the US rate card.
It only took a week to get my HGVC (US) account. At the time, they created a new HGVC account (I already had one for my Las Vegas Blvd week) but said I would only pay one annual HGVC Club Fee for both weeks. In December, they merged my two HGVC accounts.
Maintenance fees (607 pounds for 2016) are a bit higher at Craigendarroch vs Coylumbridge, but still low by 2BR HGVC standards. At both resorts electricity is not included in the maintenance fees and paid by the guest. This works out in favor of those using their weeks for exchanges or HGVC point conversions.
I chose Craigendarroch because I felt safer owning where the whole resort is HGVC: the Lodges where I bought a 2 br plat week 7000pts, as well as the adjoining hotel which was recently converted into timeshare units which HGVC is still selling. I think timeshare resorts that share facilities with adjoining hotels have a bit more uncertainty - if the Hilton Coylumbridge hotel was to be sold or the management contract change to another hotel chain, there might be a negative impact on guest experience and maintenance fees in the timeshare section of the resort.
In my opinion, Craigendarroch plat weeks are one of the best values in the HGVC universe with generally lower purchase and maintenance costs, and the added benefit of HGVC branding (which not all affiliates have).
