DRI maintenance fees Premier Vacation Collection

[marg2]

Just went online to see what my 2013 maintenance fees would be this year for the Premiere Vacation Collection. I notice, sadly, that it has gone up by over $100 and is now $558.00 compared to last year's $450. (the BSA increased by about $30 and the FPPSA by about $90).

In the experience of other DRI owners, do these fees go up this much every year? At this rate I'm not sure I'll want to continue owning even though I love Sedona ( I never trade or go to any of the other timeshares in the collection).

Also, I do not live in the U.S. nor am I a citizen, so why am I always being charged the $5 ARDA-ROC? To avoid paying this fee, I always need to call DRI to pay my dues over the phone rather than online. I wish they would remove this from my statement every year.

When ILX owned Los Abrigados, I had an every other year, silver, 1 bedroom unit at Los Abrigados, part of the Sedona Vacation Club, which I then upgraded to Premiere Vacation Club. Now under DRI, I belong to the Premiere Vacation Collection (opted out of the club).

 

[timeos2]

DRI is trying to build up a reputation for being a higher end system such as a Hilton or Marriott. Since their resorts are a mix from many different builders and many were financially hog tied (which is how they obtained them) the fees at those resorts are likely too low to allow them to pay to be upgraded to the DRI standards. And owners - not DRI - pay to raise the quality. So in many cases you will see fees go higher - often much higher - when DRI comes in.

You are not alone however. Even resorts that DRI or their predecessor Sunterra have long managed also often see big jumps in annual fees. It is partially due to more realistic reserve funding ( a good thing) but often also seems to reflect high costs of management from DRI (not so good IMO). It is a decidedly mixed bag and you have to decide for yourself if it is a value to you or not. So far it is to us & we stick with DRI but we are only voluntary Club members that can drop out any time by not paying the annual fee with virtually no loss of investment. Our actual week is a deeded one at an affiliated resort and that is the ONLY way we would own any DRI. We would not ever give up our deed or become a trust owner as that takes away our specifics rights to vote at ou resort & have control over the fees there. it is a rather complicated system when you look at it from the outside and isn't all that easy if to grasp if you're in it. And resale is made purposely confusing when it comes to DRI Club & what you can and cannot transfer.

Best advice - figure out if the fee/value is good for you or not & take the needed steps from there.

 

[dougp26364]

Once the fee's equal the amount necessary to maintain the quality DRI demands of the resorts under it's flag, the fee's will level out. The MF's for our Polo Towers units increased a modest 2.9% for our Villa's week and a more typical 4.8% for our Suite's week. Typically, I've budgeted for 5% increases across the board with all of the timeshares we own (Marriott, HGVC, DRI, Southwind and Grand Lodge). For the most part I haven't been very disappointed. Some go up more than 5% and others less than 5% but, on average, budgeting for a 5% increase has worked out reasonably well for us. In the event you're wondering where things will level out, we pay in the neighborhood of $1,200 for our 2 bedroom Polo Towers units.

 

[nightnurse613]

Additionally, there is nothing that requires you to pay the ARDA fee. Just pay your MF without the $5. If the $5 shows up as past due - DRI will eventually delete it (or you may have to call)-we have had both scenarios.

 

[marg2]

Thanks for your replies, timeo2, dougp and nightnurse.

Right now it's hard to put a value on having a timeshare to go to in Sedona. It's such a beautiful place, and I love Los Abrigados, so I guess I'll just see how things go over the next few years.

I also own a deeded week, and am trying to get a grasp of this point system.

So, right now, if the fees stabilizes in 2014 a bit, I'll be paying the equivalent of $1100 for one week's use, every odd year, for a 1 bedroom. Sounds like you have a better deal, doug, for your 2 bedroom Polo Towers.

I haven't paid the $5 fee yet, but it's a nuisance to deal with it every year.

 

[Rent_Share]

Thanks for your replies, timeo2, dougp and nightnurse.


I also own a deeded week, and am trying to get a grasp of this point system.

So, right now, if the fees stabilizes in 2014 a bit, I'll be paying the equivalent of $1100 for one week's use, every odd year, for a 1 bedroom. Sounds like you have a better deal, doug, for your 2 bedroom Polo Towers.

If you think your dues are hign now just wait till they add club fees if you buy into points the club

 

[marg2]

If you think your dues are hign now just wait till they add club fees if you buy into points

I didn't have a choice. I got switched over to their point system when DRI took over from ILX. I opted out of their "Club", though, which would have raised my annual fees more. The points I get, though, are less than what they say my unit is worth. But I'm grandfathered in and am promised access to that unit with the points I get....subject to availability, of course....

 

[Rent_Share]

Sorry I meant to say Club

 

[nightnurse613]

I am not sure what you got yourself into however, $1100 for a one bedroom seems exceedingly high I own a few units in Sedona. This must include your resort fees and DRI Club Fees or ??? Right now you can rent a Jerome unit (TUG BBS) for $850 and you won't have recurring yearly MF or even a unit at Arroyo Robles (2/2) for $1050. Did you say you had a fixed week (EOY)? Unless it's a great week it's not going to be worth $1100 for a one bedroom unit...just sayin Based on my experience, Los Abrigados is due for some significant upgrades but should be special assessments, not boost in MF cuz MF never go down (at least special assessments do). And DRI is not afraid to ask for them (Ask an owner from Poipui)-although maybe now they are a little skittish after that fiasco. We had a similar water intrusion problem at The Ridge-DRI seemed to handle that pretty well and without a special assessment....

 

[fluke]

I suspect there is some sort of collection fee superimposed on the MFs as I believe this is a trust/points product( just like the fixed $205 US collection fee). These fixed fees really hurt small points owners. Can anyone shed more light on the Premier vacation collectionstructure?

 

[marg2]

I suspect there is some sort of collection fee superimposed on the MFs as I believe this is a trust/points product( just like the fixed $205 US collection fee). These fixed fees really hurt small points owners. Can anyone shed more light on the Premier vacation collectionstructure?

I'd like to know, too. My ILX fees for 2010 were $342; for 2011, $393; then when DRI took over in 2011, my fees for 2012 jumped to $450. And now, the 2013 fees are $558. I use my timeshare every other year, so this does work out to be quite a bit by the time I use the week. I don't have a fixed week...besides they are points now

There are no Club fees mentioned in the statement. Just Base Standard Assessment = $162 (fixed cost to operate the Collection, paid by all members) and Fee Per Point Standard Assessment = $390 (pays for upgrading, maintaining, operating of the resort, and depends on the number of points the Collection has in the resort).... I'm still trying to get a grasp of all of this.... (miss the ILX days, I have to say)

 

[fluke]

So the "Base Standard Assesment" Sounds like the typical collection fees that DRI has. So my presumption is that this a fixed amount per member no matter how many points they have - is that correct?

Obviously raising that fee would have a more dramatic effect on small points owners.

The fee per point standard assesment is the true MF.

 

[marg2]

Yes, according to the fine print on my statement, the Base Standard Assessment is "paid equally by all members regardless of the number of points they own. It is determined by the Association's Board of Directors."

The Fee Per Point Standard Assessment is based on a the budget for expenses the board of directors set for that year, and is divided by the number of points in the Collection, so yes, the fee I pay for this would be based on how many points I have.

I get 3000 points each year, so by the time I'm ready to use my unit on the odd year, I have 6000 points, but DRI says that my unit requires 6500 points to use. Because I was with ILX before they took over, I've been grandfathered in. I don't know, you'd think they'd just give me 3250 points each year so I'd have 6500. I'm not sure what it's going to be like if I decide to trade with II, what I'll be able to get with 6000 points. (Wish I had my weeks back.)

 

[ppmc]

Hi Marg, I have been a deeded owner since 1999 and have always used my every other yr 2br at Los abrogodos.The mt increases have been outrageous the last 2 yrs, but this yr is just insane. Mine went from 571.00 to 715.00. There isn't any property that is worth 1430.00 a wk. Is there any other owners out there that sees this as robbery? It doubled in a yr.I guess the hawaiian class action has solved nothing in keeping DRI in check. I'm done!

 

[fluke]

Unfortunately this has been DRI's pattern (Read timeos2's post above). They want to dramatically enhance the resorts they acquire but do it all on the backs of the current owners.

 

[marg2]

Hi ppmc, glad to hear from another deeded owner at Los Abrigados. I've been there since 1997. That's huge increase in maintenance fees for your 2 bedroom! It is robbery.

DRI is an unknown to me. This is not what I bought into. As fluke mentioned, though, why should we pay for their upgrades to meet their high standards. It's not like they've done much this year at Los Abrigados...installed wifi; replaced furniture at Morris House (where's that?...doesn't help me much, I bet), HVAC replacements; 2 new BBQ stations, and new Blue Ray DVD players.

Who looks out for our best interests? Wish we'd hear from other deeded owners there.

 

[dougp26364]

Hi ppmc, glad to hear from another deeded owner at Los Abrigados. I've been there since 1997. That's huge increase in maintenance fees for your 2 bedroom! It is robbery.

DRI is an unknown to me. This is not what I bought into. As fluke mentioned, though, why should we pay for their upgrades to meet their high standards. It's not like they've done much this year at Los Abrigados...installed wifi; replaced furniture at Morris House (where's that?...doesn't help me much, I bet), HVAC replacements; 2 new BBQ stations, and new Blue Ray DVD players.

Who looks out for our best interests? Wish we'd hear from other deeded owners there.

Although you've noticed a few upgrades already, you won't see most for a couple of years. Just like you have to put wood into the fire before you get any heat, a resort needs cash in hand to fund most upgrades/refurbishments.

Most of the time, when DRI takes over a for a failed management group, it's not because they had kept up on things like maintenance and replacing things before they break. Many times it's because they weren't collecting adaquate funds and now they're in crisis, even if the owners don't see it on the surface.

Very often there are shortages in cash reserve funding that must be made up. Cash reserve funding is there to protect owners from unforseen or unplanned large expenses. Cash reserves are also set aside to replace larger tickets items on a planned schedule. This would include painting, roofs, siding, concrete work, keeping pools/hot tubs functional, planned refurbishments to units with furniture, carpeting, bedding, kitchen appliances et....

 

[ccwu]

I get 3000 points each year, so by the time I'm ready to use my unit on the odd year, I have 6000 points, but DRI says that my unit requires 6500 points to use. Because I was with ILX before they took over, I've been grandfathered in. I don't know, you'd think they'd just give me 3250 points each year so I'd have 6500. I'm not sure what it's going to be like if I decide to trade with II, what I'll be able to get with 6000 points. (Wish I had my weeks back.)

Trading with II is not a problem depends on which resort and time. I traded into Cancun Westin Laganamar beach resort two bedroom ocean front unit for 4500 points en the end of October. I also traded into Kauai princeville for the same period in 2013 for Westin two bedroom for 4500 points. I traded into Westgate Park city in end of January 2013 two bedroom for 9000 points. So I really have no clue how the exchange points valued. I had to cancel the Park city due to my husband's schedule changed in the work and he could not go. I was only able to get a replacement week if available of my choice on the account for me to use. I cancelled a one bedroom Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba for one bedroom at 3500 points a year ago I had the same a week replacement unit of my choice and later I was able to use it to trade into a two bedroom Westgate in Orlando (which actually needs 4500 points). But whatever it seems that trading in II gets better value with DRI points. Imagine Westin two bedroom MF is over $2000 in Kauai and I got it for 4500 points. It worth it. This is why I like very much of my Diamond points. I can extend my vacation by trading into other resorts than staying in Diamond Resort (Kauai is one case). I traded into westin and Marriott in Maui in the past even I love and own KBC.

 

[marg2]

That's encouraging to know that my points can go for. Thanks ccwu.

ppmc do you happen to know if our points are tradeable only with Interval. Can we also use RCI (provided we pay for membership, of course)? When I go to the RCI site, they still list Los Abrigados as one of their resorts, but when ILX convinced me to upgrade to the Premiere Vacation Club, they told me we could no longer deal with RCI, only with II. I'm confused about this because RCI called my mom recently, who uses RCI for her timeshare, asking her about our Los Abrigados week, if we wanted to bank it.

 

[csalter2]

Trading with II is not a problem depends on which resort and time. I traded into Cancun Westin Laganamar beach resort two bedroom ocean front unit for 4500 points en the end of October. I also traded into Kauai princeville for the same period in 2013 for Westin two bedroom for 4500 points. I traded into Westgate Park city in end of January 2013 two bedroom for 9000 points. So I really have no clue how the exchange points valued. I had to cancel the Park city due to my husband's schedule changed in the work and he could not go. I was only able to get a replacement week if available of my choice on the account for me to use. I cancelled a one bedroom Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba for one bedroom at 3500 points a year ago I had the same a week replacement unit of my choice and later I was able to use it to trade into a two bedroom Westgate in Orlando (which actually needs 4500 points). But whatever it seems that trading in II gets better value with DRI points. Imagine Westin two bedroom MF is over $2000 in Kauai and I got it for 4500 points. It worth it. This is why I like very much of my Diamond points. I can extend my vacation by trading into other resorts than staying in Diamond Resort (Kauai is one case). I traded into westin and Marriott in Maui in the past even I love and own KBC.

I am so with you on this. I have used my DRI points to stay at several Marriott properties and feel that they are worth it. I own at Marriott Ko Olina and have been able to book into there with DRI points for an extra room. I have even used the points for Marriott's Newport Coast Villas in Newport Beach, CA so DRI does pull. However, it is important to remember that you are still paying exchange fees of $149 for the exchange and also you must remember to be flexible. The best exchanges through II can be had during less demanded times or flex time, so the more flexibility you have the better you can travel and get the most value.

 

[csalter2]

That's encouraging to know that my points can go for. Thanks ccwu.

ppmc do you happen to know if our points are tradeable only with Interval. Can we also use RCI (provided we pay for membership, of course)? When I go to the RCI site, they still list Los Abrigados as one of their resorts, but when ILX convinced me to upgrade to the Premiere Vacation Club, they told me we could no longer deal with RCI, only with II. I'm confused about this because RCI called my mom recently, who uses RCI for her timeshare, asking her about our Los Abrigados week, if we wanted to bank it.

If you own a deeded property and have been with RCI in the past, I believe you can still trade with RCI. However, if you go to points with DRI you will need to go through II. DRI has a contract with II and your club membership covers your II membership.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

If you own a deeded property and have been with RCI in the past, I believe you can still trade with RCI. However, if you go to points with DRI you will need to go through II. DRI has a contract with II and your club membership covers your II membership.

That's true, with the caveat that the resort at which you have the deed remains affiliated with RCI. RCI only accepts weeks from affiliated resorts, so if the resort drops the affiliation, then RCI won't take deposits from that resort.

******

This is the basis of some confusion involving DRI. I'll try to sketch it out, and a key thing to be aware of is that membership in the DRI Club and ownership at a DRI resort are separate and distinct from each other. Membership in the Club is an add-on to ownership. You can can own at a DRI resort and not be in the Club, but you get into the Club unless you own at a DRI property, and attach that ownership (or those ownerships, if you have more than one ownership) to the Club.

When you have an ownership, you have the reservation rights and use privileges that are attached to that ownership. So if you own a deeded week at a DRI resort, you can make reservations, deposit that week with an exchange company that is affiliated with your resort, or deposit your week with an independent exchange. The only thing that governs you is your deed and the timeshare program set up at your resort. Not the DRI program, but what is in effect at your resort.

The situation changes when you join DRI's Club. At that point you surrender your reservation rights to the Club. So at that point you can no longer make reservations with your resort, because you no longer have that right - you gave that right to the Club. You are now obligated to make your reservations and exchanges through the DRI Club. So if you want to exchange, you can only do so through the DRI Club. And since the DRI Club is not affiliated with RCI, Club members cannot exchange through RCI using any ownership that has been added to their Club account.

 

[marg2]

Have to say, this is all so very confusing. But I'm getting the impression that I can still exchange with RCI because I have a deeded with with Los Abrigados and have been with RCI in the past (still am, I guess); in fact, we renewed our membership with RCI until 2016 a couple of years ago, mostly for our other timeshare in Virginia, but it includes the Sedona one, too.

Thanks everyone for your assistance with this.

 

[timeos2]

Have to say, this is all so very confusing. But I'm getting the impression that I can still exchange with RCI because I have a deeded with with Los Abrigados and have been with RCI in the past (still am, I guess); in fact, we renewed our membership with RCI until 2016 a couple of years ago, mostly for our other timeshare in Virginia, but it includes the Sedona one, too.

Thanks everyone for your assistance with this.

Yes, exactly correct. Once your resort is affiliated with RCI or II you can use your deeded (not necessarily any type of club or points) to trade in that system even if the resort "dis-affiliates". You control a deeded week not the resort.

 

[PamMo]

Los Abrigados MF's

It's not surprising at all to hear from Los Abrigados owners who aren't happy about DRI taking over the resort. Here's a brief history of MF's for an annual 1BR Silver/Jerome unit (1-52 floating week):

2007 - $560.00
2008 - $590.00
2009 - $620.00
2010 - $635.00
2011 - $787.65 (First year with DRI) 24% increase in MF's
2012 - $891.20 ($275 for PVC Base + $616.20 for 6K PVC points) 13% increase in MF's
2013 - $1,106.20 ($325 for PVC Base + $781.20 for 6K PVC points) 24% increase in MF's

Starting with DRI in 2011, Los Abrigados owners were offered free enrollment of their weeks into the Premiere Club Connection (27 resorts in the U.S. and Europe), and were offered half off The Club fees for the first year only. The numbers above do NOT include The Club fees.