I am a recent owner to GL at Vidanta. I just got a call from Vida Lifestyle which is ICE which also owns SFX. They are selling me to upgrade to a "Ultra" package.
The portion of the package that is intriguing is the expanded reservation window.
Any insight or advice as I do love Vidanta
but don't trust anyone close to them.
Short Answer : “Ultra Package “ will give you access beyond 12 months . If you want access from mid- Dec. to mid April / Christmas to Easter access . Then the answer is maybe.
If Vidanta Grand Luxxe is your only timeshare this could work for you .
*********
Long Answer :
Vida Lifestyle is run by ICE / Vida Dollars & store is run by ICE
To my understanding SFX is a separate company / they also have a strong relationship with Vidanta and run Vida SFX Weeks (outgoing as a Vidanta owner) and SFX offers access to Vidanta for incoming exchangers . The outgoing exchange uses,a “bonus”week that does not impact your usage of your registered week at Grand Luxxe .Use of a Vida -SFX (bonus) week to go elsewhere would require a payment to SFX .
Using exchange companies can get you confirmed reservations at Vidanta resorts that exceed the ARP in owner contracts . There are generally added costs .
RCI has weeks listed at Grand Luxxe NV through Nov 2020 - (ie) 20 months from now .resort code RB 71 has 2 bedrooms & smaller . <There are no weeks currently listed from mid Dec 2019 to mid March 2020.>
I have RCI weeks and the TPU amount currently needed ranges from 12 (low season -fall) to 24 (summer)You then have the added RCI exchange fee and the Vidanta exchanger resort fees .
Intervals International has extensive Grand Luxxe access / again with exchange and resort fees.
SFX has Vidanta access - for folks who deposit other resorts into SFX .The SFX resort fee is lower -likely because of a different revenue split contract with Vidanta.
Vidanta has also sold Grand Luxxe registered week contracts that include Privilege Weeks .
These are weeks that give the buyer Vidanta access without an added resort fee but do not necessarily include all addendum of an owner contract - such as discounted golf fees .
I know some Privilege Weeks are administered by SFX . I believe ICE under one or more of their brands also administers Privilege Weeks . The term “concierge “ may be used by Vidanta to explain the company(s)that give Privilege Week access .
The reasons (IMO) for this structure seems to be :
1) It allows Vidanta to expand owner access ,without any need to count these as registered weeks .
2) It gives bonus weeks to new full contract owners that are part of the sales pitch .
3)It give an “exit package “product that is sold under ICE brand Vacation Clubs . (Destinos / Private Reserve Ttravel Club-PRTC )
4) It gives Vidanta a better revenue split on “ off season / partner “access then they get from II or RCI.
5) Vidanta reservations always controls the actual availability .
Privilege Weeks come with lesser or no ARP ; and access is totally subject to availability . (ie) Your registered week contract component requires that you CAN book a RTU week .
Privilege Weeks and any other bonus weeks are " if available usage" / which is generally no problem post Easter/ mid April to mid December.
(I have a 2006 Mayan Palace contract that terms my bonus week Vacation Fare / It is for non- snowbird season use (ie) 45 day ARP,for Feb - March / 6 months April- Dec )
Since Vidanta builds for Mexican Holiday & Peak Snowbird Season - there has always been good availability access from mid April to mid December .
This peak build formula seems to work for Vidanta and other Mexican Developers because they build and staff in pesos but colllect MF & exchange revenue in USD $ .
IMO -One of the reason for Vidanta’s Celebrate Park concept is to increase summer occupancy with Mexican Nationals visits.
IMO - exchange company and Privilege Week “concierge” listings by Vidanta work more like how hotel or airline seat listings function on all the various booking companies .
The same week is listed on multiple platforms . As bookings occur - Vidanta reservations removes the inventory . They also set aside enough inventory for the various owner ARP points based on prior use statistics etc .
Past history has shown Vidanta doing developer bulk deposits that include peak season Jan- April . In May 2018 RCI had Feb 2020 weeks for various Vidanta brands . high demand weeks can go quickly when made available .[/QUOTE]