How does the Bluegreen game work?

[amerikrainian]

Hello,

My parents own wyndham, but I'm interested in BlueGreen as well. Mainly, I like the locations (esp. Hershey and Marathon). And I hear good things about them. (Here, mostly

But there isn't much info about them.

Do you buy weeks or points? Or can you buy either?

If either, what's the advantage of one over the other?

With wyndham, you can reserve within a 60 day window for a discount. Does that apply to BlueGreen, or anything similar? And if so, is there availability at any worthwhile place on short notice?

That's the "game" I'm referring to in the title. There are other ways to benefit, though i'm not familiar with them all. I hear BlueGreen (and welk?) are very friendly toward resale points. But how do i play the BlueGreen "game"? Or isn't there one?

It seems that owning a week (if thats the way BG works) is the most expensive way to vacation as there is no chance of getting a last minute discount booking. You just own it and use it, and always pay full price, in points, for it. Correct?

Thanks.

 

[Glynda]

It's a point system, though there are still some weeks that come up for resale from time to time. Those are for older resorts that Bluegreen acquired from another timeshare company where the week's owner didn't convert to BG points. I'm not sure, but I don't think you can trade a fixed week like that through the BG system. I think you would have to either use it, rent it or trade through RCI or another trading company.

Some point requirement examples: A two bedroom high red at Marathon takes 18,000 points for a week. Hershey high red, 2 bedroom, requires 15,000 points for a week. The resorts acquired more recently are higher. A two bedroom in Cashiers during Ultra High Red is 20,000 points a week. A studio at The Manhattan Club during Ultra High Red is 43,000 points for a week. Ultra Red in Charleston SC for a two bedroom is 18,000-24,000 points for a week. And so it goes.

For our needs, the perfect amount of points would be 30,000-40,000. However, we've owned 10,000 developer purchased points for 20 years.They don't meet our needs so we mainly trade through RCI and use Bonus Time. Yes, within 45 days of occupancy, one can get a two-bedroom using Bonus Time for $79 a night if available. Smaller units are less. BUT, if you buy resale you only can use Bonus Time at the resort where the deed is based. You have to buy from the developer or through Pinnacle to have access to all resorts for Bonus Time.

The "game"? Buy resale with a deed based where, and when, you want to go, or that is a strong trader. Buy the smallest developer pkg to get full Bonus Time use, if you will use it at resorts that are available. Some don't come up for Bonus time often.

 

[amerikrainian]

Okay, thanks. So you don't buy a week; you buy points. And for instance, one might begin by buying the amount of points they would need to reserve a certain size room at a certain time of year (in a particular location). Got it.

So outside of red and ultra red time, how much do marathon, hershey, and branson cost? How about 1 br?

And do any/all of these have bonus time offers, typically?

How much is the cheapest developer package?

What happens in you have 10k points and only used 9K? or if you need 11K? What then?

And do maintenance fees vary between locations?

 

[MrockStar]

Maintenance Fee's are set based on trust fund and are reviewed/increased per year as a percentage per point. Example= trust fund E @ .064 cents per point. the more point owned in that trust fund the cheaper the maintenance fees get overall per total points owned. 10,000 trust E X .064= $640.00 + base club dues $350= $990.00. 100,000 trust E X .064=$6,400+$350=$6750 so less per point overall. Plus as a Platinum owner 60,000 points or more you get 3 Free white weeks(no Maint fee's) and 10 free cancellations per year, free unit upgrades (when available), Priority wait listing @ 15 Months VS 11months resale points and non premiere owners, Bonus time discounts, priority check in, Free RCI membership ECT. Is all this worth the High developer prices, probably not. Doing it again over i would only buy weeks/locations at a few resorts 8 hrs drive or less in desirable locations that i or family would use every year and one smaller points week from Pinnacle for the bonus time/developer purchase.

 

[bbodb1]

Current situation allowing, our next (hopeful) vacation is Banner Elk, NC. Anyone here have any experiences or insights about that location?

Can I assume we will be seen as sales prospects when we check in?

 

[alexinorlando]

Current situation allowing, our next (hopeful) vacation is Banner Elk, NC. Anyone here have any experiences or insights about that location?

Can I assume we will be seen as sales prospects when we check in?

No sales staff at this resort. I was there this past November. Older resort that was purchased by Bluegreen. Big property, nice amenities and very close to Sugar Mountain Ski Resort.