Need Advice – Upgrade from Legacy Flamingo Resale Points to MAX - Worth $25K?

[svarma81]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some objective advice from experienced owners.

I currently own 11,200 points at Flamingo Las Vegas, which I bought as resale / legacy points (purchased through an Intertense presentation in New York). At a recent presentation, they offered me an upgrade to what they’re calling MAX, tied to New York – The Quin, for $25,000.

Here’s what they’re offering:

• 6,000 points every other year in addition to 11200 points.
• $2046 maintenance fee every other year
• 35,000 bonus points to be used in 2 years
• Upgrade supposedly converts me into the MAX program
• They claim I would get 9-month booking access to New York hotels and other properties, compared to roughly 45-day access for non-MAX / resale owners
• They said this improves access and availability versus legacy resale points

Any real-world experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.

 

[HuskerATL]

Just so that I understand. You would pay $25k to lose an annual deed for an EOY one, have less points/year, and have a higher MF/pt but get in Max?

Nope....

I assume that they are asking you to trade in your Flamingo deed, so you wouldn't have the 11,200 deed any longer.

Those MFs, for your new option, are 0.34 MF/pt which is terrible. Ideally, you are 0.10 or less and your Flamingo deed is probably close to that.

 

[svarma81]

Just so that I understand. You would pay $25k to lose an annual deed for an EOY one, have less points/year, and have a higher MF/pt but get in Max?

Nope....

I assume that they are asking you to trade in your Flamingo deed, so you wouldn't have the 11,200 deed any longer.

Those MFs, for you new option, are 0.34 which is terrible. Ideally, you are 0.10 or less and you Flamingo deed is probably close to that.

I will keep the annual deed at flamingo and that will be converted to Max program and will continue to pay the maintenance fee there.

To convert, I will have to buy 6000 eoy deed for 25K and additional maintenance fee of around 2400 every other year.


In addition

 

[HuskerATL]

Those points have a terrible MF/pt and $25k for 6k trust points is very expensive. Max would not be worth it to me. We have spent about $30k for over 100k HGVC points on the resale market and have much better access to the Diamond properties via DEX.

It is common for them to offer "deals" for trade in and $25k cash so that is why it looks like a trade in.

 

[RebelR]

At my first timeshare sales presentation, I was talking to the sales lady about this timeshare I found and she said "on redweek" and I said no, just on zillow (or something like that) but those 2 words changed my timeshare life. Before you buy anything, check redweek to see what something similar would cost. I don't know what these 6000 points are but suspect they are HVC points which are usually free, even that many points at the Quin is much less than $25k. Check out redweek if you want more, MAX isn't worth it, you get access to HCV/ex-Diamond properties and eventually maybe Bluegreen but availability is spotty at best and quality I have heard is much less.

 

[HuskerATL]

At my first timeshare sales presentation, I was talking to the sales lady about this timeshare I found and she said "on redweek" and I said no, just on zillow (or something like that) but those 2 words changed my timeshare life. Before you buy anything, check redweek to see what something similar would cost. I don't know what these 6000 points are but suspect they are HVC points which are usually free, even that many points at the Quin is much less than $25k. Check out redweek if you want more, MAX isn't worth it, you get access to HCV/ex-Diamond properties and eventually maybe Bluegreen but availability is spotty at best and quality I have heard is much less.

I would buy a resale deed at Bay Club, Plantation, or Craig Lodges to get access to DEX before I would buy trust points... especially $25k for only 6k. You can get trust points on the resale market for free but they come with restrictions.

 

[HuskerATL]

Also look at the TUG marketplace for comparison

 

[svarma81]

Thanks. I skipped it.

The main selling point they were saying is that I will have access to New York 9 months in advance rather than 45 days.

Also, all my 11200 years points will be converted to max.

Guess not worth $25K.

 

[GT75]

First off, bHC deeds (in this case, The Quin) are good if you want to stay at that particular property and use the pts available. Is that what you want?

Secondly, you can "buy" that deed for free, but you will not get max nor those bonus points.

 

[RebelR]

Deleted

 

[kanerf]

In a word, Nope! Will you go to the Quin every other year? If, not it is a waste to buy there. I own at the District in D.C., but I actually stay there. I will be there in a few weeks in fact.

 

[muscae]

If you want to book New York before the club booking window opens, a cheaper way is by buying VIP. You can get 5 nights.

 

[GT75]

cheaper way is by buying VIP.

Please explain.

 

[HuskerATL]

If you want to book New York before the club booking window opens, a cheaper way is by buying VIP. You can get 5 nights.

Or use RCI. Less points than HGVC and you can book further out if you are flexible on dates

 

[muscae]

VIP can book further out than the club booking window. 5 nights new york for $1695.

 

[brp]

VIP can book further out than the club booking window. 5 nights new york for $1695.

Sure, but that's a one-time deal.

Cheers.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Sure, but that's a one-time deal.

Cheers.

Sort of, you can buy these multiple times. Though you do have to sit through a presentation each time.

I think it will depend how often you want to visit, and your tolerance for sales presentations.

It's not for us, but I can see the appeal of the approach.

 

[brp]

Sort of, you can buy these multiple times. Though you do have to sit through a presentation each time.

I think it will depend how often you want to visit, and your tolerance for sales presentations.

It's not for us, but I can see the appeal of the approach.

Yeah, what I meant is that it's "one time at a time" and each new purchase requires a separate process and sales pitch. As opposed to real points, which are recurring.

Cheers.

 

[svarma81]

Hi,

So I am getting 15360 points annual platinum floating at Craigendarroch for $2000. MF is $2414.

Is it a good offer? Will it give me access to DEX?

Thanks

 

[HuskerATL]

Hi,

So I am getting 15360 points annual platinum floating at Craigendarroch for $2000. MF is $2414.

Is it a good offer? Will it give me access to DEX?

Thanks

which Craig? Suites or Lodges? Is that a 3 bedroom +? For a Craig Lodges, $2k would be cheap for that but I am not sure which lodges that would be, which makes me think that it is Craig Suites which is a whole other property and not usable in DEX EU. That would be a 2 bed plat week at Craig Suites but the MFs are lower than that that, $1,574.

 

[svarma81]

which Craig? Suites or Lodges? Is that a 3 bedroom +? For a Craig Lodges, $2k would be cheap for that but I am not sure which lodges that would be, which makes me think that it is Craig Suites which is a whole other property and not usable in DEX EU. That would be a 2 bed plat week at Craig Suites but the MFs are lower than that that, $1,574.

I confirmed with the realtor. It is the suites and not the lodges.

 

[HuskerATL]

I confirmed with the realtor. It is the suites and not the lodges.

Unfortunately, Suites isn't in DEX EU so that won't be an option

 

[HuskerATL]

Unfortunately, Suites isn't in DEX EU so that won't be an option

Btw, I would lean toward Lodges before Suites. Compare the MF/pt from the TUG MF thread and options for use (Access to DEX EU, II, and rental services) plus the ability to offload through the resale office there. You can email Kyrstie at Craig for the availability.

 

[Jason245]

Put $25k in the bank today earning 4%. Use the $1k/year in interest to rent where you want for the week if you find you don't have enough options with what you own now. (well if EOY... then you have $2k EOY to do that)