Vidanta Nuevo - Advice needed

[DS204]

Vidanta Nuevo - Advice needed.

Hi All, I’m new to the forum and looking for advice. My parents (74 years old) purchased a Vidanta timeshare many years ago and my dad was the one who negotiated and understood the details. He passed away unexpectedly in the last month and we never discussed the details of his contracts with Vidanta. My mom is left with this timeshare they had recently renewed and upgraded and it still has money owing, and there are many details that I am in process of trying to understand. My quick download from her is that they have 6 weeks Grand Luxxe (or DeLuxxe?) that they downgraded into a couple of months at the Grand Mayan each year. He had also negotiated into the contract 96 rounds of golf annually which he used while he was there (his favorite part of the whole thing). My mom mentioned that Vidanta keeps trying to take the golf away as they originally used it as a sales tactic in the early years to sell the timeshare but now they don’t offer it any more and try to remove it each time my parents have renewed. I am traveling to the Nuevo property in Jan of this year(2024) on a trip my dad booked for us before he passed. He had booked three rounds of golf with confirmed tee times and now when I called Vidanta to make sure all reservations are still valid, they confirmed the suites are booked but said the golf is unavailable if my father(primary owner) is not in attendance.

So now to my questions does anyone in this forum have any experience with using the golf at Vidanta NV without a primary owner in attendance? Has any ever tried to sell or heard of people trying to sell a timeshare with rounds of golf included? I’m sure my parents paid well for this golf package and I’m trying to figure out how to not lose what my dad really cared about in his package. Any advice or experience is appreciated.

 

[rboesl]

You should try to find the contract. Vidanta is a "letter of the contract" company. The contract I have also includes golf. My guests, whether I'm there or not are entitled to use it. But, Vidanta has many versions of contracts.

As far as selling the contract goes, it will be very difficult to sell. They usually include a clause that defines a "transfer fee" of multiple usage fees. In my case it's 10 times. Meaning anyone that buys my contract will have to pay a transfer of $20,000+. In addition, the rider that gives me rounds of golf doesn't allow it to transfer to the new owner.

Everything will be in the contract. Your father would have a copy. Hope you find it.

 

[Pizza67]

My contract has a golf discount and the 'fine print' states that the owner must be present (playing) for everyone playing to have the discount applied.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

@DS204
Welcome to TUG & sorry to know that you are here because of the loss of your father .

Both @rboesl & @Pizza67 have confirm some golf information & that your best option is to find & read the contract .

RE : Golf Specific Contract Details -TUG member @mikenk may be able to assist and you may wish to use the Private Message / Conversation feature - once you know more of the details of what your father negotiated.

You also will probably want to meet with VMS [ Vidanta Member Services ] during your Jan. visit.
This will need to be booked in advance.
[Note: as direct family you can be added or inherit a Vidanta contract at no cost and without a loss of
contract benefits ( however,, I am not sure how / if this works for free golf )

PS - It sounds like your Dad most recently contract change was to Deluxxe [ a newer brand with units within the Grand Mayan area]
and then he booked standard Grand Mayan units in order to stay more weeks for the MF / Usage Fee .

There is likely a sister resort grid or even a contract addendum that give use details .
[ example - The MF / Usage Fee for one week in a 2 bedroom Deluxxe might get 2 weeks in a 1 bedroom Grand Mayan ]

 

[DS204]

Thank You all for the replies.

I have dads copies of the contracts and just now trying to work my way through them some of the language used seems to be difficult by design. I will definitely spend time reading through them and try to book a meeting with VMS (thanks for the advice to book in advance) to help me better understand everything. I really appreciate the quick responses. I will comeback to the thread on questions that that I find.

 

[pittle]

When we upgraded to Grand Luuxe in 2013, we asked for a specific amendment that our sons could use the golf benefit even if we were not there. Neither Mike or I have ever been interested in golf, so it was a non-benefit in our case. Ours was not free, but highly discounted. The golf and spa benefits are no longer available now that our Senior Certificates are in effect and but with no MF, I could afford to treat the "kids" those things.

 

[mikenk]

Vidanta Nuevo - Advice needed.

Hi All, I’m new to the forum and looking for advice. My parents (74 years old) purchased a Vidanta timeshare many years ago and my dad was the one who negotiated and understood the details. He passed away unexpectedly in the last month and we never discussed the details of his contracts with Vidanta. My mom is left with this timeshare they had recently renewed and upgraded and it still has money owing, and there are many details that I am in process of trying to understand. My quick download from her is that they have 6 weeks Grand Luxxe (or DeLuxxe?) that they downgraded into a couple of months at the Grand Mayan each year. He had also negotiated into the contract 96 rounds of golf annually which he used while he was there (his favorite part of the whole thing). My mom mentioned that Vidanta keeps trying to take the golf away as they originally used it as a sales tactic in the early years to sell the timeshare but now they don’t offer it any more and try to remove it each time my parents have renewed. I am traveling to the Nuevo property in Jan of this year(2024) on a trip my dad booked for us before he passed. He had booked three rounds of golf with confirmed tee times and now when I called Vidanta to make sure all reservations are still valid, they confirmed the suites are booked but said the golf is unavailable if my father(primary owner) is not in attendance.

So now to my questions does anyone in this forum have any experience with using the golf at Vidanta NV without a primary owner in attendance? Has any ever tried to sell or heard of people trying to sell a timeshare with rounds of golf included? I’m sure my parents paid well for this golf package and I’m trying to figure out how to not lose what my dad really cared about in his package. Any advice or experience is appreciated.

It sounds like your Father had been pretty active in negotiations over the years; I suspect that most of the really important parts of the contracts will be found in addenda to the contracts and not in the actual contract. Make sure you look for those specifically.

A suggestion above was for you to schedule and meet with someone from Member Services. It is critical you do this; I would set that meeting up before you go. They will go over everything honestly with you and help you with the changeover in your family. HOWEVER, do not under any circumstances agree to a membership update meeting which someone will try to set up when you check in. This would be with a sales person - not someone from Member Services. They will have zero interest in helping you understand but totally interested in taking money from you - and they are very good at that and very dishonest.

Sorry about your Dad. I was an avid golfer also. The golf addenda vary greatly. The member services person will also help you there - the golf people will not be knowledgeable with your contract.

Good Luck,
Mike

 

[DS204]

It sounds like your Father had been pretty active in negotiations over the years; I suspect that most of the really important parts of the contracts will be found in addenda to the contracts and not in the actual contract. Make sure you look for those specifically.

A suggestion above was for you to schedule and meet with someone from Member Services. It is critical you do this; I would set that meeting up before you go. They will go over everything honestly with you and help you with the changeover in your family. HOWEVER, do not under any circumstances agree to a membership update meeting which someone will try to set up when you check in. This would be with a sales person - not someone from Member Services. They will have zero interest in helping you understand but totally interested in taking money from you - and they are very good at that and very dishonest.

Sorry about your Dad. I was an avid golfer also. The golf addenda vary greatly. The member services person will also help you there - the golf people will not be knowledgeable with your contract.

Good Luck,
Mi

 

[DS204]

It sounds like your Father had been pretty active in negotiations over the years; I suspect that most of the really important parts of the contracts will be found in addenda to the contracts and not in the actual contract. Make sure you look for those specifically.

A suggestion above was for you to schedule and meet with someone from Member Services. It is critical you do this; I would set that meeting up before you go. They will go over everything honestly with you and help you with the changeover in your family. HOWEVER, do not under any circumstances agree to a membership update meeting which someone will try to set up when you check in. This would be with a sales person - not someone from Member Services. They will have zero interest in helping you understand but totally interested in taking money from you - and they are very good at that and very dishonest.

Sorry about your Dad. I was an avid golfer also. The golf addenda vary greatly. The member services person will also help you there - the golf people will not be knowledgeable with your contract.

Good Luck,
Mike

Hi @mikenk,

Thanks for the advice, I have sent two emails to a specific Vidanta member services person (Tanja - apparently had helped my parents in the past) but haven't received a response to my request to meet so I will see if I can find a generic email address for member services to get a meeting booked. Your comment about the sales team is exactly one of my fears.

I have organized and captured digitally all of his contracts through the years and I can follow his process with the golf and it all makes sense. Based on the advice from @Pizza67 and @rboesl I have been going through the details with a fine tooth comb and I can see that the first 3 contracts he had did allow renters to use the golf but the newest contract he signed now limits the golf to members, family and guests. It doesn't specifically say that he needs to be there... but I guess I will see when I get there.

 

[DS204]

One more question for the group, I will ask this question to member services but if anyone here has some comments I am open to hearing the owners interpretations.

I can see in the 3 contracts (1x Kingdom of the Sun, and 2x DeLuxxe contracts) that he has that the use terms like:

• Registered weeks,
• Residence Weeks,
• Paramount Weeks / Resort weeks,
• Freedom weeks.

Thing that isn't making sense is that on the front page of the contract it will say 1 Registered week and later in the contract it will say 2 Paramount weeks.

I'm mostly just trying to make sense of it all.

Thanks again for all of the help

DS

 

[rboesl]

I can only speak to my contract, but it may help. My contract had 2 sections. The first was pertinent to the first 10 years. That one referred to a registered week, which is what I could use to make a reservation.

The second section, which comes in force if I decide to renew by paying a fee, has no mention of a registered week. In that 2nd section I do have 2 weeks to use for the next 10 years with which to make reservations.

I have the option to renew the second section of the contract up to 9 times. That gives me a total of 100 years of usage. Should I live that long or add a family member to the contract. Which I can do with no fee.

 

[DS204]

I can only speak to my contract, but it may help. My contract had 2 sections. The first was pertinent to the first 10 years. That one referred to a registered week, which is what I could use to make a reservation.

The second section, which comes in force if I decide to renew by paying a fee, has no mention of a registered week. In that 2nd section I do have 2 weeks to use for the next 10 years with which to make reservations.

I have the option to renew the second section of the contract up to 9 times. That gives me a total of 100 years of usage. Should I live that long or add a family member to the contract. Which I can do with no fee.

Ok that adds some clarity I heard him talk about 100yrs but everything I saw was 10 years.

 

[mikenk]

Hi @mikenk,

Thanks for the advice, I have sent two emails to a specific Vidanta member services person (Tanja - apparently had helped my parents in the past) but haven't received a response to my request to meet so I will see if I can find a generic email address for member services to get a meeting booked. Your comment about the sales team is exactly one of my fears.

You might try "customerservice@vidanta.com". Regardless, you can go personally to the Member Services / Contracts location while there to get an appointment - didn't use to be a problem at all to get an appointment. It is probably still on second floor In Grand Bliss.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

One more question for the group, I will ask this question to member services but if anyone here has some comments I am open to hearing the owners interpretations.

I can see in the 3 contracts (1x Kingdom of the Sun, and 2x DeLuxxe contracts) that he has that the use terms like:

• Registered weeks,
• Residence Weeks

• Paramount Weeks / Resort weeks,
• Freedom weeks.

Thing that isn't making sense is that on the front page of the contract it will say 1 Registered week and later in the contract it will say 2 Paramount weeks........

DS

I will try to explain.

All Vidanta / Mexican TS contracts have to initially have a REGISTERED week component.

This is the special ingredient required to make a sausage [aka Timeshare] in Mexico as per the Mexican Government.
Before 2010 Grupo Mayan / now Vidanta Contracts had a registered week for every year of the 25 year contract [+ a(non-registered) optional use / bonus week termed VF / Vacation Fare] Those contracts are renewable 3 times = 100 years / and the registered week is renewed as a registered week.

In 2010 they moved to a system that had 3 weeks for the first 10 years and then 2 weeks [Residence Weeks] that could be renewed 9 times = 100 years
The registered week goes away at year 10.

[Some / All ? ] contracts in the last 1-3 years may have the registered week end at 10 years and the first renewal time line of 20 years for the 2 other weeks

# 1) In my opinion : Vidanta needed / needs to recycle & stretch the registered week component [ special ingredient ] to sell new TS contracts.
# 2) In my opinion : As long as Vidanta keeps building ; the terminology doesn't impact the ability to book a week to vacation.

I believe Resort Week is newer contract term that is parallel to Residence Week [ but may have some differences]

Paramount Weeks -[ the most recent version of this term] is a week that can be booked 4 months ahead for the period Nov 15 to March 15 and 6 months ahead the rest of the year. [ these are not "registered weeks" ]

Freedom Weeks : are likely bookable through Club Freedom - a recent private label brand of Arrivia that was designed for Vidanta.
[ These are not "registered weeks" ] Club Freedom is generally free for a year and then requires an annual fee.

 

[LCLC]

One more question for the group, I will ask this question to member services but if anyone here has some comments I am open to hearing the owners interpretations.

I can see in the 3 contracts (1x Kingdom of the Sun, and 2x DeLuxxe contracts) that he has that the use terms like:

• Registered weeks,
• Residence Weeks,
• Paramount Weeks / Resort weeks,
• Freedom weeks.

Thing that isn't making sense is that on the front page of the contract it will say 1 Registered week and later in the contract it will say 2 Paramount weeks.

I'm mostly just trying to make sense of it all.

Thanks again for all of the help

DS

Hi! I'm curious how your meetings went with VMS in January? We're dealing with a dispute on a Deluxxe contract that looks similar to your fathers.

 

[Heidibgwriting]

We were offered a discount if we gave them $80,000 more to buy into the Estates. Hah, some offer when we've already given them so much money only to be down graded. We were told that a company has been hired to look into the complaints about the DeLuxxe and what can be done to remedy the situation. However, this is all smoke and mirrors as far as I'm concerned. We'll see what develops. There have been many complaints as what was promised has not been done. I hope all the owners that bought into the DeLuxxe continue to complain and write the management of Vidanta as I did. Complaining on this website is fine in terms of getting information, but everyone needs to put their complaints into writing which they should send to the Vidanta team.

 

[Heidibgwriting]

When we upgraded to Grand Luuxe in 2013, we asked for a specific amendment that our sons could use the golf benefit even if we were not there. Neither Mike or I have ever been interested in golf, so it was a non-benefit in our case. Ours was not free, but highly discounted. The golf and spa benefits are no longer available now that our Senior Certificates are in effect and but with no MF, I could afford to treat the "kids" those things.

We placed our daughter's name on the original contract so she is also an owner. I think you can add your children to your existing contract which gives them access to all of the benefits. Check it out.

 

[pittle]

We placed our daughter's name on the original contract so she is also an owner. I think you can add your children to your existing contract which gives them access to all of the benefits. Check it out.

Yes - that is true. My son is not a fan of huge resorts and he and his wife did come to NV with me this past November and we were at Grand Luxxe. He thought the unit was really nice, but they like to get out and about. He told me just to take my friends - so right now, I am in Tower II with a friend. She & I are planning where to go next year and include a couple of other friends. I am using my 2nd week with my brother and his wife this November as they have not been to NV.

 

[Toes_in_the_sand]

We were offered a discount if we gave them $80,000 more to buy into the Estates. Hah, some offer when we've already given them so much money only to be down graded. We were told that a company has been hired to look into the complaints about the DeLuxxe and what can be done to remedy the situation. However, this is all smoke and mirrors as far as I'm concerned. We'll see what develops. There have been many complaints as what was promised has not been done. I hope all the owners that bought into the DeLuxxe continue to complain and write the management of Vidanta as I did. Complaining on this website is fine in terms of getting information, but everyone needs to put their complaints into writing which they should send to the Vidanta team.

There are two facebook groups, one called Vidanta Owners and the other Vidanta Resort Owners. If you are not a member of those groups you should join them. Grand Mayan Deluxxe is the second project in a row where Vidanta did not come close to building what they promised. The Estates were supposed to be single unit detached residences but as you can see are multi unit buildings. Grand Mayan Deluxxe is also not anything like what the sales department promised. There is a group of Estates members who sent two separate letters to Vidanta to open discussions about the issues. Vidanta didn't respond to either of them. In fact they partially blacklisted the approximately 50 Estates members who signed the letters. That group is now over 200 and they are preparing to file a formal complaint with PROFECO. There are hundreds of upset Grand Mayan Deluxxe members who find themselves in the same boat as the Estates members. They should organize and join the Estates members in filing a complaint with PROFECO. PROFECO will take these complaints very seriously and open an investigation.

 

[formertimesharesalesguy]

As a former vacation club salesperson who worked for Vidanta, you can easily cancel your Dad's membership without any repercussions. However, do not expect a refund of any kind because the membership is only that - a membership because the company that sold you the timeshare is separate from the company that owns the resorts. Mexico does not sell timeshare, but vacation cub memberships. You own nothing more than the documents and can cancel anytime without paying anyone. Read this article. Hope this helps.

 

[rpennisi]

As a former vacation club salesperson who worked for Vidanta, you can easily cancel your Dad's membership without any repercussions. However, do not expect a refund of any kind because the membership is only that - a membership because the company that sold you the timeshare is separate from the company that owns the resorts. Mexico does not sell timeshare, but vacation cub memberships. You own nothing more than the documents and can cancel anytime without paying anyone. Read this article. Hope this helps.

Kudos to T-Dot-Traveller who always writes about the timeshare side vs the hotel side of the resorts. Also to the many who have written about cancelation of payments after the 5 day recision period.