Need feedback on VILLA GROUP - MEXICO

[vitabella]

Does anyone have good or bad experiences with the VILLA GROUP in Mexico? Just came from a presentation in Cabo @ Villa del Palmar, and was told their $455.00/year "HOA" fees have only increased a grand total of $149.00 in the past 10 years.
Also, I was told shown a very thin II exchange booklet in addition to the regular II catalog of exchange resorts. Has anyone who has purchased from the Villa Group had difficulty exchanging into these "prime" resorts? (i.e. no availability) Thank you.

 

[dioxide45]

Can't speak to them specifically, but general advice would be to never buy directly from the timeshare developer, especially in Mexico. Mexico is a pretty cheap place to travel and is over saturated with timeshares. Pretty much what you buy today is worth $0 on resale six days later (after rescission period ends).

 

[vitabella]

Thank you for your reply. I hadn't planned to buy from developer. My concerns were mainly about how fast and how much HOA fees increase and availability when trying to exchange to other popular destinations. Thanks again!

 

[TUGBrian]

can also use the search feature here to search for "villa group" and "villa del palmar"

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[T-Dot-Traveller]

Thank you for your reply. I hadn't planned to buy from developer. My concerns were mainly about how fast and how much HOA fees increase and availability when trying to exchange to other popular destinations. Thanks again!

Welcome to TUG

@easyrider and @beach.bar.bob are owners; and may give you info by posting on this thread.
You could also " Conversation / DM them .

 

[rboesl]

I have been an owner with the Villa Group for 6 years. My annual maintenance fee has never changed.

 

[beach.bar.bob]

I have owned at UVC since 2009. I have owned in the points program since 2010 IIRC.
During that time the maintenance fees have increased from 41 cents per point the current 45 cents per point. On a 1,000 point membership which you appear to be referencing this would be a $40 per year increase in 11 years.

I'm not an active exchanger. I have done so a couple of times. I have not found the UVC resorts to be terrifically powerful traders. Don't think you will find yourself trading into Hawaii or the Caribbean during high season nor into the mountains during snow season. I have found it best for trading into very nice locations during shoulder season. Your mileage may vary.

"IF" you are looking to buy a UVC membership I would only suggest it if you really plan to use the UVC resorts. I don't believe Mexican timeshares are known as great traders. The old timeshare adage of "buy where you want to stay" applies here. Perhaps others with more experience trading UVC can add more value here.

We love the resorts and stay there often so it works out really well for our needs.

FWIW

bbb

 

[Ty1on]

Thank you for your reply. I hadn't planned to buy from developer. My concerns were mainly about how fast and how much HOA fees increase and availability when trying to exchange to other popular destinations. Thanks again!

Mexican timeshares are generally not very good exchangers. They are better to exchange into than out of, unless they are mandatory all inclusive, then they are almost always terrible in exchanges for both parties.

 

[easyrider]

Does anyone have good or bad experiences with the VILLA GROUP in Mexico? Just came from a presentation in Cabo @ Villa del Palmar, and was told their $455.00/year "HOA" fees have only increased a grand total of $149.00 in the past 10 years.
Also, I was told shown a very thin II exchange booklet in addition to the regular II catalog of exchange resorts. Has anyone who has purchased from the Villa Group had difficulty exchanging into these "prime" resorts? (i.e. no availability) Thank you.

The VDP Puerto Vallarta is a decent trader which is odd as it isn't the best UVCI resort, imo. I think it is because the location. My mf's haven't went up that much in the last 15 years. Certainly not $149.00. I don't exchange too many of these and when I do it for another Mexican resort.

UVCI resorts have no mandatory All Inclusive so it is easy to trade into other systems. Mine are all resale premiere winter weeks. Currently they are selling points in three different resort systems. For trading I have used II in the past but now use SFX. I pulled a 2 bed Grand Lux winter week with a one bed VDP. I have recently been exchanging the VDP's with Vacation Internationale for VI points. We use these points for Hawaii winter weeks.

These were fairly easy to find resale. They still come up now and then. Most of the resale point memberships are not worth buying as most of them revert to a timeshare week with a home resort and retain the points mf.

These are very nice midsized resorts. If you look around you can find a premiere or gold winter week in at least a one bedroom unit. These are the good ones, imo, often with low MF's.

Bill

 

[Eric B]

For trading I have used II in the past but now use SFX. I pulled a 2 bed Grand Lux winter week with a one bed VDP.

SFX has a fairly tight relationship with Vidanta, making it generally easy to get into Grand Luxxe with them particularly at the suite level, though a 2 BR in January-April can be harder. I have gotten a 2 BR GL NV at Christmas through SFX, though. I've been banking my excess Wyndham points with SFX for a few years by booking inexpensive or discounted 1 BR weeks that SFX considers high demand season ones - with an SFX diamond membership I get a 1 BR upgrade on exchanges plus they have the lower resort fee arrangement with Vidanta. The exchange fee is a bit higher going into Grand Luxxe, but with an underlying MF cost ~$200 in points or so it evens out particularly with the lower resort fee.

 

[Gingerbyte]

I have owned at UVC since 2009. I have owned in the points program since 2010 IIRC.
During that time the maintenance fees have increased from 41 cents per point the current 45 cents per point. On a 1,000 point membership which you appear to be referencing this would be a $40 per year increase in 11 years.

I'm not an active exchanger. I have done so a couple of times. I have not found the UVC resorts to be terrifically powerful traders. Don't think you will find yourself trading into Hawaii or the Caribbean during high season nor into the mountains during snow season. I have found it best for trading into very nice locations during shoulder season. Your mileage may vary.

"IF" you are looking to buy a UVC membership I would only suggest it if you really plan to use the UVC resorts. I don't believe Mexican timeshares are known as great traders. The old timeshare adage of "buy where you want to stay" applies here. Perhaps others with more experience trading UVC can add more value here.

We love the resorts and stay there often so it works out really well for our needs.

FWIW

bbb

Hi Bob,

I’m new to the forum and wish I had found this site within my rescind period (signed 4/26). I’m pretty sure we’re stuck with what we have (Jr Suite 1000 plus 1000 (off season?) $14,985 paid in full via cc (for points and protection only) with $485 recurring.

Can I DM with you on how to make the most of it/any pointers you light have? Have you bought additional points? I don’t see much about Villa Group, but I love the Mexico location (we live in CA and I have Reynaud’s) and we recently became scuba certified. We’re in our mid-thirties and foresee maintaining this level of international travel biannually (planning to bank or borrow for 2 years to get 2-3 week stays while we go elsewhere on banked/borrowed years)

 

[douglasmhines]

Hi Bob,

I’m new to the forum and wish I had found this site within my rescind period (signed 4/26). I’m pretty sure we’re stuck with what we have (Jr Suite 1000 plus 1000 (off season?) $14,985 paid in full via cc (for points and protection only) with $485 recurring.

Can I DM with you on how to make the most of it/any pointers you light have? Have you bought additional points? I don’t see much about Villa Group, but I love the Mexico location (we live in CA and I have Reynaud’s) and we recently became scuba certified. We’re in our mid-thirties and foresee maintaining this level of international travel biannually (planning to bank or borrow for 2 years to get 2-3 week stays while we go elsewhere on banked/borrowed years)

Could you have bargained for a better price . . . of course. But, when have we ever bought something where the price is negotiated that we couldn't say that? 1000 points will get you one week in a studio (summer), and i think you will find that you really enjoy Villa resorts. I have stayed in many places, and Villa is hands down my favorite. Every time you go back they are going to push you to go to the sales meeting. My advice, do not go until you have visited their properties at least 3-4 times, no matter what they offer you to attend the meeting. It will eat up half of your day, stress you out and they may talk you into buying something you don't need.

Use your membership, visit various locations, see how it works for you, then after several trips under your belt . . . if you are considering upgrading, go to the sales meeting. if you are not considering upgrading, do not under any circumstances go to the meeting.

I think you will have tons of fun at their resorts. I bought in at 1700 points, and then upgraded to a 2550 membership so I have the rights to book a holiday week if I like. That said, our typical vacation is a two bedroom for two weeks in the summer (2200 / week). Initially I never thought I would need a two bedroom, or two weeks in the summer, but my family and I have come to enjoy our home away from home for two weeks every summer.

It is now a sunk cost so stop thinking about what you spent (because you cant change that) and start focusing on how you will get the best out of your membership purchase. Enjoy!

 

[Gingerbyte]

Could you have bargained for a better price . . . of course. But, when have we ever bought something where the price is negotiated that we couldn't say that? 1000 points will get you one week in a studio (summer), and i think you will find that you really enjoy Villa resorts. I have stayed in many places, and Villa is hands down my favorite. Every time you go back they are going to push you to go to the sales meeting. My advice, do not go until you have visited their properties at least 3-4 times, no matter what they offer you to attend the meeting. It will eat up half of your day, stress you out and they may talk you into buying something you don't need.

Use your membership, visit various locations, see how it works for you, then after several trips under your belt . . . if you are considering upgrading, go to the sales meeting. if you are not considering upgrading, do not under any circumstances go to the meeting.

I think you will have tons of fun at their resorts. I bought in at 1700 points, and then upgraded to a 2550 membership so I have the rights to book a holiday week if I like. That said, our typical vacation is a two bedroom for two weeks in the summer (2200 / week). Initially I never thought I would need a two bedroom, or two weeks in the summer, but my family and I have come to enjoy our home away from home for two weeks every summer.

It is now a sunk cost so stop thinking about what you spent (because you cant change that) and start focusing on how you will get the best out of your membership purchase. Enjoy!

It really says a lot with how many people enjoy the place which is your favorite property?

 

[SML123]

Villa Group is a great place to accidentally buy a timeshare. Ditto for Tafer, which they are related to. I bought resales though. Having said that, we love going each year to our Mexican timeshare retreat. Fabulous. Fees are reasonable compared to most. I dont trade my Mexico weeks, I have old deeded Florida weeks for that.

 

[douglasmhines]

Villa Group is a great place to accidentally buy a timeshare. Ditto for Tafer, which they are related to. I bought resales though. Having said that, we love going each year to our Mexican timeshare retreat. Fabulous. Fees are reasonable compared to most. I dont trade my Mexico weeks, I have old deeded Florida weeks for that.

I agree with you on the resale aspect. I have two weeks with Villa Group; one week I purchased retail and the other I purchased resale. The only issue with resale is what rights it transfers with. I was very lucky in that I *accidentally* purchased one that transferred with full rights and Tafer. The only reason I don't recommend people to make their first Villa purchase via resale is because it is complicated to ensure you will be getting full rights, and in my opinion it is a bit of a crap shoot. I bought a 2550 contract good for 45 years that is what is referred to as "club caribe". I paid about $2500. For me it was a worthwhile gamble, because at $2500 I was willing to take the chance that they strip away most of the rights.

 

[douglasmhines]

It really says a lot with how many people enjoy the place which is your favorite property?

Our favorite property is Loreto. We like Loreto + a rental car (or we drive there). Loreto is a bit out of the way, so without a vehicle some folks won't enjoy it. I am perfectly happy relaxing at the resort for two weeks, but it is nice to have a car so we can make our own excursions and go into town whenever we want. Just my opinion, because of it's location Loreto has the best beach because it is on the "Sea of Cortez" side, and furthermore shielded as a bay. It also has what I consider to be the "pebble beach" golf course of Mexico and numerous hiking trails that we enjoy.

You should really check it out. I think you would fall in love and maybe never want to visit another property.

 

[Gingerbyte]

I agree with you on the resale aspect. I have two weeks with Villa Group; one week I purchased retail and the other I purchased resale. The only issue with resale is what rights it transfers with. I was very lucky in that I *accidentally* purchased one that transferred with full rights and Tafer. The only reason I don't recommend people to make their first Villa purchase via resale is because it is complicated to ensure you will be getting full rights, and in my opinion it is a bit of a crap shoot. I bought a 2550 contract good for 45 years that is what is referred to as "club caribe". I paid about $2500. For me it was a worthwhile gamble, because at $2500 I was willing to take the chance that they strip away most of the rights.

I saw another point one available to buy through TUG Marketplace. How do you find out the full rights vs stripped? Did the years of the contract reset to 50 when your name went on it?

 

[douglasmhines]

I saw another point one available to buy through TUG Marketplace. How do you find out the full rights vs stripped? Did the years of the contract reset to 50 when your name went on it?

I have been told that it is on the current owner to research with corporate (las vegas) to determine what benefits will transfer. With that said, if they are incorrect, is there any recourse, no idea . . . and that is why i think resale value is so low. A person really doesn't know what they are getting, until they get it. As for the contract length, mine stayed at the original length. That said, mine was not stripped of any rights from the original owner, expect that it would not count towards elite status. It is possible that after conversion things change, no idea.