Help and info needed for Vacation Village Plus VIP

[feliciatd]

We have been approached at Vacation Village at Parkway to "upgrade" our existing ownership (80K points at Grandview Las Vegas, week 4) to 92,500 points at Parkway, week 52/53 and also get into the Vacation Village Plus program at the VIP level. Cost for this is $16k. The big selling point for us would be that they say you pay under 10K points for any week by using their concierge rather than working directly with RCI yourself. They also claim you can give them unused points for rental purposes, and at Parkway renting is always successful due to the high demand there, and you would always get a minimum of $1000 for a week. Sounds too good to be true, of course. Has anyone used this program? Thanks for any help.

 

[rboesl]

You are being quote "perks" that already exist in RCI and don't require any "upgrade".

RCI has an option for timeshare exchange for 10,000 points or less. The reason for this is it's "last minute" inventory (45 days or less before taking occupancy). You can do this using the normal menus in RCI or by calling the RCI Vacation Village customer support phone number.

The "rent unused points" in RCI isn't quite true. Vacation Village offers a rental agreement to their owners. You can find the contract at the Daily Management website. The same one you can use to pay your maintenance fees. BUT, you need to use your full points allotment (unless you own a 2br) and reserve your home week in RCI. It's your home week that you can rent.

The only real perks you get for VV Plus are discounted exchange fee if you exchange into another Vacation Village resort via RCI and your bonus certificate is good for weeks from 2-90 days in advance rather 2-45 days.

 

[feliciatd]

You are being quote "perks" that already exist in RCI and don't require any "upgrade".

RCI has an option for timeshare exchange for 10,000 points or less. The reason for this is it's "last minute" inventory (45 days or less before taking occupancy). You can do this using the normal menus in RCI or by calling the RCI Vacation Village customer support phone number.

The "rent unused points" in RCI isn't quite true. Vacation Village offers a rental agreement to their owners. You can find the contract at the Daily Management website. The same one you can use to pay your maintenance fees. BUT, you need to use your full points allotment (unless you own a 2br) and reserve your home week in RCI. It's your home week that you can rent.

The only real perks you get for VV Plus are discounted exchange fee if you exchange into another Vacation Village resort via RCI and your bonus certificate is good for weeks from 2-90 days in advance rather 2-45 days.

Thanks so much for the reply and info. I have taken advantage of the 10K points or less through RCI in the past; the only difference is that the sales staff is saying that through the VV concierge you can get that deal at any time, even months or a year in advance, with VV Plus. Any thoughts on this? I am skeptical and will probably ask RCI myself.

 

[rickandcindy23]

You can buy Grandview for much less via resale, and lower MF's, and save yourself a lot of money. RCI provides the value, not the sales' desk. I have to say, I have never sat through a longer, more ridiculous presentation in my life as I did with this one, and it was at least 15 years ago. Still stands out in my mind as total lies, over-the-top, and I didn't even own RCI Points yet. I found another way, and you should too.

 

[Patri]

Get the claims in writing.

 

[montygz]

We have been approached at Vacation Village at Parkway to "upgrade" our existing ownership (80K points at Grandview Las Vegas, week 4) to 92,500 points at Parkway, week 52/53 and also get into the Vacation Village Plus program at the VIP level. Cost for this is $16k. The big selling point for us would be that they say you pay under 10K points for any week by using their concierge rather than working directly with RCI yourself. They also claim you can give them unused points for rental purposes, and at Parkway renting is always successful due to the high demand there, and you would always get a minimum of $1000 for a week. Sounds too good to be true, of course. Has anyone used this program? Thanks for any help.

You can go on RCI.com website and search for exchanges under 10K points right now. It takes just a few seconds. Calling a concierge would take much longer and cost $16K more.

As a Grandview owner, you can have the resort rent your unit right now. According to the Grandview owner page on Facebook, many have received enough money to pay their maintenance fees. This requires no additional membership or anything. I think you just have to fill out a form.

I would not want to own at Parkway. It is harder to give away when the time comes to unload it. Frankly, it is just an "ok" resort in an area with 100 timeshare resorts and thousands of rental homes and traditional hotels.

Maintenance and taxes are likely higher for Parkway. There is a reason it isn't as popular to own and trade as the Grandview.

Think of all the vacations you could buy for $16K. It will pay your maintenance fees for 14 years.

80K points is really not much, but could be could for a couple weeks a year. Are you getting good use out of your ownership?

 

[feliciatd]

You can go on RCI.com website and search for exchanges under 10K points right now. It takes just a few seconds. Calling a concierge would take much longer and cost $16K more.

As a Grandview owner, you can have the resort rent your unit right now. According to the Grandview owner page on Facebook, many have received enough money to pay their maintenance fees. This requires no additional membership or anything. I think you just have to fill out a form.

I would not want to own at Parkway. It is harder to give away when the time comes to unload it. Frankly, it is just an "ok" resort in an area with 100 timeshare resorts and thousands of rental homes and traditional hotels.

Maintenance and taxes are likely higher for Parkway. There is a reason it isn't as popular to own and trade as the Grandview.

Think of all the vacations you could buy for $16K. It will pay your maintenance fees for 14 years.

80K points is really not much, but could be could for a couple weeks a year. Are you getting good use out of your ownership?

Yes, we really are getting good use of our points. We've been coming to Parkway for several years in the winter, and like it ok. We have gotten exchanges under 10K several times in the area. We were possibly looking for more points, and thought of buying resale at Parkway, but perhaps Grandview would be a better option. We've never been there, but as long as we can trade we're fine. A couple things I can't seem to find an answer to is their claim that the VV concierge can book 10K or less trades anytime, not just in the 2-45 day window. they somewhow have access to greater inventory that the rest of us may not see? And that owning 92500 VV points gives you VIP status, but does that include VVPlus? If you know anything about either of these, info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[feliciatd]

Get the claims in writing.

I'm sure that would be good for a laugh if I asked!

 

[montygz]

This thread has some info that might help...

Claims a Vacation Village made during recent presentation

I attended a presentation in Weston and the salesman said a few things I am not sure I believe. If you know for a fact that these statements are true or untrue, please let me know. When I become a Vacation Village Premier member by upgrading my Grandview ownership.... 1. I would have the...

tugbbs.com

 

[dioxide45]

Rarely do the words timeshare and upgrade ever go together....

 

[feliciatd]

This thread has some info that might help...

Claims a Vacation Village made during recent presentation

I attended a presentation in Weston and the salesman said a few things I am not sure I believe. If you know for a fact that these statements are true or untrue, please let me know. When I become a Vacation Village Premier member by upgrading my Grandview ownership.... 1. I would have the...

tugbbs.com

Thanks - this is very useful info. As a timeshare owner and RCI member for 35 years, I still get confused with all the changes that get made to all these systems. I don't see anything in VVPlus that RCI Platinum doesn't give me, except for the extra 45 days to book the Extra Vacation certificates. The claim that I would be able to book any week I want for 9000 points or less I just can't seem to verify, and so I don't believe it. Seems to me if I want more it would be smartest to buy more resale points. Thanks again.

 

[feliciatd]

Rarely do the words timeshare and upgrade ever go together....

Ha ha - you are correct. That's why I put quotes around the word upgrade in my post.

 

[montygz]

Thanks - this is very useful info. As a timeshare owner and RCI member for 35 years, I still get confused with all the changes that get made to all these systems. I don't see anything in VVPlus that RCI Platinum doesn't give me, except for the extra 45 days to book the Extra Vacation certificates. The claim that I would be able to book any week I want for 9000 points or less I just can't seem to verify, and so I don't believe it. Seems to me if I want more it would be smartest to buy more resale points. Thanks again.

These timeshare systems and add-ons are purposely made complex to confuse people into paying thousands of dollars for things that sound good but have little benefit.

The timeshare industry must always have something new and better to sell, especially because its best customers are those that have already succumbed to buying a timeshare from a developer.

 

[rboesl]

Yes, we really are getting good use of our points. We've been coming to Parkway for several years in the winter, and like it ok. We have gotten exchanges under 10K several times in the area. We were possibly looking for more points, and thought of buying resale at Parkway, but perhaps Grandview would be a better option. We've never been there, but as long as we can trade we're fine. A couple things I can't seem to find an answer to is their claim that the VV concierge can book 10K or less trades anytime, not just in the 2-45 day window. they somewhow have access to greater inventory that the rest of us may not see? And that owning 92500 VV points gives you VIP status, but does that include VVPlus? If you know anything about either of these, info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I think you are dealing with a slight twist on their phrasing. Yes, you can call the VV Concierge any time of the year for 10,000 or less reservations. But, those types of reservations are still only 2-45 days in advance.

 

[Anthony Schmid]

We have been approached at Vacation Village at Parkway to "upgrade" our existing ownership (80K points at Grandview Las Vegas, week 4) to 92,500 points at Parkway, week 52/53 and also get into the Vacation Village Plus program at the VIP level. Cost for this is $16k. The big selling point for us would be that they say you pay under 10K points for any week by using their concierge rather than working directly with RCI yourself. They also claim you can give them unused points for rental purposes, and at Parkway renting is always successful due to the high demand there, and you would always get a minimum of $1000 for a week. Sounds too good to be true, of course. Has anyone used this program? Thanks for any help.

I am VV Premier and the only "perk" for me is the $99 internal exchange fee for the 1st 2 year and then $119 after. The 180 bonus week is for low season units and usually the smallest units at the resort. The VIP check in is never open at WESTON. I had to wait in line like a regular guest during check in

 

[theo]

Rarely do the words timeshare and upgrade ever go together....

...without someone getting taken to the cleaners, to their later regret and dismay.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Is the Vacation Village concierge someone in the Vacation Village timeshare operation ?

Or is it someone in RCI who handles that for Vacation Village timeshare owners ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[feliciatd]

I think you are dealing with a slight twist on their phrasing. Yes, you can call the VV Concierge any time of the year for 10,000 or less reservations. But, those types of reservations are still only 2-45 days in advance.

Thank you. I'm still trying to find out if anyone has been successful in getting units for 10000 points or less anytime and anywhere they want with VV Plus. The sales rep at Vacation Village at Parkway repeatedly assured us that this is completely possible, and is different than the last minute bargains with RCI. I would just like to hear from someone who has found success with this idea (the only reason we would be interested in this) but haven't found anyone so far.

 

[feliciatd]

Is the Vacation Village concierge someone in the Vacation Village timeshare operation ?

Or is it someone in RCI who handles that for Vacation Village timeshare owners ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

I was told this is a Vacation Village staff person who works with RCI for VV owners.

 

[feliciatd]

I am VV Premier and the only "perk" for me is the $99 internal exchange fee for the 1st 2 year and then $119 after. The 180 bonus week is for low season units and usually the smallest units at the resort. The VIP check in is never open at WESTON. I had to wait in line like a regular guest during check in

Thank you for this honest info.. Our only reason for being interested in VV Premier would be the idea that we would never spend more than 10000 points for a week at any time or any place, and we could reserve these far in advance, making it different than the 2-45 day bargain exchanges with RCI. I keep trying to find someone who has been successful in doing this, but so far with no success. As you are VV Premier, have you ever done this?

 

[Anthony Schmid]

Thank you for this honest info.. Our only reason for being interested in VV Premier would be the idea that we would never spend more than 10000 points for a week at any time or any place, and we could reserve these far in advance, making it different than the 2-45 day bargain exchanges with RCI. I keep trying to find someone who has been successful in doing this, but so far with no success. As you are VV Premier, have you ever done this?

This is correct but you have to check RCI often to snag these deals. Here is an example.

 

[duffy70628307]

We have been approached at Vacation Village at Parkway to "upgrade" our existing ownership (80K points at Grandview Las Vegas, week 4) to 92,500 points at Parkway, week 52/53 and also get into the Vacation Village Plus program at the VIP level. Cost for this is $16k. The big selling point for us would be that they say you pay under 10K points for any week by using their concierge rather than working directly with RCI yourself. They also claim you can give them unused points for rental purposes, and at Parkway renting is always successful due to the high demand there, and you would always get a minimum of $1000 for a week. Sounds too good to be true, of course. Has anyone used this program? Thanks for any help.

 

[AwayWeGo]

We are not members of Vacation Village Plus or Premier or anything like that, but we still make frequent use of the RCI below 10,000 points reservation feature -- we have to because 16,333 points per year are all we get.

We too were tantalized by the sales pitch that seemed to offer sub-10,000-point reservations any time we want them, but all such offers involved buying more full-price timeshare property that we didn't want & didn't need, so we didn't not spring for Vacation Village Plus.

We did, however, spring for RCI Platinum. It provides most of the features of Vacation Village Plus for only $99 per year over the cost of standard RCI Points membership. Platinum is worth it (to us) for upgrades & discounts even though it does not allow for unlimited under-10,000-point reservations.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​