korndoc
TUG Member
I have been a member of TUG for many years and know all about buying on the 2ndary market. I have saved many friends and turned then on to TUG. And yet, here I am in the Grand Mayan, a Vida/Vidanta Resort in Nuevo Vallarta getting sucked in. Knowing I would have 5 days to rescind, I signed up figuring I would write to TUG for help right away.
So here is the deal: They take my Marriott 2 BR lockout at the Desert Springs Villas away from me (current MF close to $1400. I have only traded my 2 bedrooms for single weeks in Interval and have never stayed at my Marriott. I am not at all dissatisfied with my Marriott but thought this might be a better deal) For this deal I get 2 weeks at the Grand Mayan, 1 bedroom each, at any of Vidantas 7 Mexican resorts for 100 years plus a 3rd week for 10 years, plus 2 more weeks, 2 bedrooms each, using SFX exchange company. But this is considered a Residence and not a T/S so I do not give up any weeks to SFX (this concerns me. Why would SFX give me any priority if I am not giving them any inventory?) I only pay MF when I use the weeks. ($1000 for each of the 3 weeks at a Grand Mayan and up to $900 to SFX for a 2 BR or up to $700 to SFX for a 1 BR) I currently pay Marriott whether I use my weeks or not, of course. But if I elect to not use any of the new weeks, there is no MF
The cost would be $12,250 + 1500 closing costs +$2200 tax (about $16,000) + my 2BR Marriott.
And here is the bait: They have an Ambassador program. I am given 10 certificates for a free 1 week stay at the Grand Mayan in a 1 BR unit per year. I give these away to charities to use in their annual silent auctions. I receive $300 for every person who bids on a vacation and makes a reservation. They do not have to go to a sales presentation, but if they do and purchase, I get $500 commission. This commission increases per sale based on how many sales are made. So if all 10 certificates are redeemed, I get $3000 + any commissions based on sales. So let’s say only 5 certificates are redeemed at the charity auctions and there are 2 sales, that could equal $2500 per year to offset the $16,000 cost.
So 4-5 weeks vacations: 2 at a Vida resort x 100 years, 1 week at Vida for 10years, 2 weeks of 2 bedrooms at SFX plus the Ambassador program that could ultimately pay the $16,000. This is the only Vidanta resort I have stayed at and it is beautiful. Hopefully the rest are of this quality. I have never used SFX, so that is also a concern.
Waddaya think? I have 5 days from today (Tuesday March 1) to rescind.
Thanks,
Jeff
So here is the deal: They take my Marriott 2 BR lockout at the Desert Springs Villas away from me (current MF close to $1400. I have only traded my 2 bedrooms for single weeks in Interval and have never stayed at my Marriott. I am not at all dissatisfied with my Marriott but thought this might be a better deal) For this deal I get 2 weeks at the Grand Mayan, 1 bedroom each, at any of Vidantas 7 Mexican resorts for 100 years plus a 3rd week for 10 years, plus 2 more weeks, 2 bedrooms each, using SFX exchange company. But this is considered a Residence and not a T/S so I do not give up any weeks to SFX (this concerns me. Why would SFX give me any priority if I am not giving them any inventory?) I only pay MF when I use the weeks. ($1000 for each of the 3 weeks at a Grand Mayan and up to $900 to SFX for a 2 BR or up to $700 to SFX for a 1 BR) I currently pay Marriott whether I use my weeks or not, of course. But if I elect to not use any of the new weeks, there is no MF
The cost would be $12,250 + 1500 closing costs +$2200 tax (about $16,000) + my 2BR Marriott.
And here is the bait: They have an Ambassador program. I am given 10 certificates for a free 1 week stay at the Grand Mayan in a 1 BR unit per year. I give these away to charities to use in their annual silent auctions. I receive $300 for every person who bids on a vacation and makes a reservation. They do not have to go to a sales presentation, but if they do and purchase, I get $500 commission. This commission increases per sale based on how many sales are made. So if all 10 certificates are redeemed, I get $3000 + any commissions based on sales. So let’s say only 5 certificates are redeemed at the charity auctions and there are 2 sales, that could equal $2500 per year to offset the $16,000 cost.
So 4-5 weeks vacations: 2 at a Vida resort x 100 years, 1 week at Vida for 10years, 2 weeks of 2 bedrooms at SFX plus the Ambassador program that could ultimately pay the $16,000. This is the only Vidanta resort I have stayed at and it is beautiful. Hopefully the rest are of this quality. I have never used SFX, so that is also a concern.
Waddaya think? I have 5 days from today (Tuesday March 1) to rescind.
Thanks,
Jeff