Vidanta time share advice

[TS2011]

Hi @TS2011,
Welcome to TUG ,
I assume you bought 10 years ago. Find your contract & read the details.
There will be a fee to renew the 2 residence weeks for another 10 years .

@Eric B is correct - your 2 weeks will continue to be useable
The sales person was trying to use "fear of losing" - a benefit to get you to open your wallet.

Note : There is no such thing as " booking power" when you call Reservations.

Advanced Booking Window is what matters - 12 months - 9 months - 6 months etc.
If you call at 9 am the morning your window opens ; you have access to all inventory that is available at that point.

Read your contract and look for the booking window.
Grand Luxxe contracts of your era of purchase probably list 12 months for both the registered weeks and the residence weeks.
[ note : based on TUG info - some more recently sold contracts may have a different window for residence weeks / or the window is shorter for
some parts of peek snowbird season- Jan- Feb- March ]


Vida Sales in Riviera Maya has been spreading the rumour of the demise of the Mayan Palace brand for at least 15 years.
[ Vidanta did tear down some Mayan Palace buildings in Nuevo Vallarta around 2010 to make room for Grand Luxxe NV buildings ]

Remember - Vida Sales also has a sales force that sells to Mexican Nationals. Back in 2010 I was basically told by a Mexican born bilingually saleperson-
" of course we are still selling Sea Garden to Mexicans - we are just no longer selling it to gringos "


The Vida Sales person wanted to sell you a new contract

Thank you all- this is very helpful.

Yes, he was definitely trying the "fear of losing" to get me to purchase an unbuilt level (I forget what he called it). I think he also said that my registered week provides all 3 weeks with a 12 month advanced booking window and that drops to 8 months for the RTU weeks once the registered week goes away.

He also said I had some kind of open option to purchase and tried to get me to sign paperwork that the situation had been explained to me and that I understood that by my turning it down, it is final. I refused to sign anything.

I'll read my contract when I get home..I wasn't planning on dealing with this while on vacation.

So glad I found this site.

 

[pittle]

FYI - I am in my first year of using Residence weeks instead of Registered weeks. I have not had any problems booking. The first week of January, I made reservations for Thanksgiving week 2024 in 2 units at the Mayan Palace Marina location with family. On July 1, I called in and made reservations for April 26-May 3rd at the GL in RM. And BTW - they are Senior Certificate weeks where I do not have to pay usage fees. Just read what your contract says for year 10-100 and it will give you the information you nee. It is in the last packet of the 3 you would have been given when you upgraded. Use a highlighter to find the pertinent information so much easier for reference when making reservations.

 

[TS2011]

FYI - I am in my first year of using Residence weeks instead of Registered weeks. I have not had any problems booking. The first week of January, I made reservations for Thanksgiving week 2024 in 2 units at the Mayan Palace Marina location with family. On July 1, I called in and made reservations for April 26-May 3rd at the GL in RM. And BTW - they are Senior Certificate weeks where I do not have to pay usage fees. Just read what your contract says for year 10-100 and it will give you the information you nee. It is in the last packet of the 3 you would have been given when you upgraded. Use a highlighter to find the pertinent information so much easier for reference when making reservations.

Thanks, Phyllis, that's good to know. What are Senior Certificates?

 

[zendog500]

Thank you! I was able to cancel by calling member services. I somehow got out of there in an hour! I do realize you have to sound very determined and ask to sign the rescind letter right away. Otherwise they look for any opportunity for you to waver. I have no issues and actually like Vidanta, but I definitely need to think through things like this thoroughly - not in a week while on vacation.

Email is ok but...Write a simple letter on paper, "I hereby cancel contract ITCP000001." Hand to sales people take a picture with letter visible as you hand it to them. Then mail a copy regular mail and certified mail. Not sure how you do this in Mexico. They made us make an appointment to meet with sales head before they would let us meet with contracting guy in "white florescent room."

 

[zendog500]

Hi I need some help. I am currently staying at Vidanta Riviera Maya. I attended their sales presentation today. I was offered 2 weeks 1 bedroom studio at vidanta resorts + 4 weeks via sfx exchange at $ 13,000 usd + 150,000 points holiday inn club vacation(hicv) valued at $38,000. I am supposed to go back tomorrow to sign the contract and start the paper wok to transfermy hicv ownershipto them. I came to vidanta grand mayan for 1 week stay using my hicv/rci exchange program. Let me know your suggestions. Thanks

"....contract and start the paper work to transfer my hicv ownership to them .." I do not know what HICV is...But Vidanta does not take ownership of timeshares, BUT they will give you credit towards what you are purchasing from them. They will refer you to a company that will try to sell it for you, and fail, so in the end you will have 2 timeshares. This company may charge a fee ($1000?) but you will get it back in one year if they fail to sell it.

 

[rpennisi]

"....contract and start the paper work to transfer my hicv ownership to them .." I do not know what HICV is...But Vidanta does not take ownership of timeshares, BUT they will give you credit towards what you are purchasing from them. They will refer you to a company that will try to sell it for you, and fail, so in the end you will have 2 timeshares. This company may charge a fee ($1000?) but you will get it back in one year if they fail to sell it.

You may think you are getting a credit for a timeshare that you already own, but the reality is with or without a timeshare to "hand in", your purchase price will be the same. It's an old trick that most here know about.

 

[pittle]

Thanks, Phyllis, that's good to know. What are Senior Certificates?

These were only available a short time starting the fall of 2006. These are no longer available. If you got one, it stayed with you through any upgrades. It did not kick in until you were 75 when you paid 1/2 usage fee and then at 77, no usage fees. Two of my GL Residence weeks are covered by this. Until this year, I would have used the Registered weeks, but they dropped off at the end of 2023 and I have 4 Residence weeks - two I can use free, but have to pay if I use the other 2.

But my point was that if I can book a year out using those, then if you have whatever the earliest date to book reservations that is in your contract is still valid. I can do 12 months for GL, but supposedly either 9 or 6 months for lower levels. BUT - I got MP reservations for November when I called in early January. You just never know - it depends on who you talk to.

 

[jguti]

There is nothing wrong with owning at Vidanta. However, they will never truly buy your timeshare. It's just a ploy to get you to buy. The key is to get the level/unit you want and to get proper addendums written into the contract. Most who visit for the presentation do not understand that it is a negotiation and you have leverage. You have what they want - your money and signature. First, don't buy in at lower than the Grand Bliss level. If they tell you you can not then tell them you have ZERO interest. Trust me, they will come up with a way that a Grand Bliss level contract is suddenly available. Usually with some story that it just became available from a member who defaulted. It's all BS - EVERYTHING that comes out of the sales person's mouth is BS. Personally I would not enter a Vidanta contract at a level lower than Grand Luxxe. Again, they will try to tell you it's not available. Trust me, it is.

What you want is a typical Vidanta 1+ 2 contract. It is a registered week that is good for 10 years and 2 right to use contracts that are good for 100 years (renewable every 10 years). You want the Golf and Spa privileges. They used to offer 16 free round of golf and 2 free massages per week. Now it's $40/$60 golf and 2 for 1 massage. Push to get the former if you can. Next you want an addendum that gives you access to 100% of the available inventory up to 12 months in advance for all 3 week. This is very important. Next you want an addendum that you do not pay mandatory maintenance fees. This is easy to get and most of the time is offered up front. Most importantly, you want an addendum that states that if you sell your contract the transfer fee will be no more than the taxes originally paid for the contract. Otherwise, your Grand Luxxe contract will state that the transfer fee is 10x your usage fee. This will make the transfer fee somewhere between $18,000 - $48,000 depending on the unit you buy into. Taxes will only be between $2,800 - $5,000. You also want an addendum in writing that states all of your privileges will be available to your guests if you are not present at the resort. For example, if you let a friend, relative or renter use one of your weeks, Vidanta will not allow them to have any of your privileges because you are not there using the unit. This is a key addendum that you should demand and refuse to buy without it.

The theme park in Nuevo Nayarit is currently in a soft opening. I should be fully opened with the next 10 - 12 months. Be sure to get the VIP park package and gondola privileges included in your contract. It allows you VIP access to all of their parks, present and future. You can pay for 1.5 days at the park and get 7 days. Currently they have the Jungala water park in Riviera Maya and the theme park in Nuevo Nayarit. They are talking about building a theme park in Riviera Maya and they can do it as they have a very expansive amount of land across the highway where their Cirque Du Soliel show is. They are also building a larger Jungala water park at the Nuevo theme park that will be part of phase 2 across the highway. So the VIP package is going to be important.

Understand that the Vidanta sales people will lie to you and promise things that do not exist. Anything you are interested in, tell them to put it in writing. It will shut them up... Also, they will start with prices that are higher than a mansion here in the US. When they do, please laugh out loud at them. Make them uncomfortable - it will only help your cause. For Grand Luxxe your contract should be around this price: Grand Luxxe - Master Room (studio) $12,000, Junior Suite (small 1 bedroom) $16,000, Grand Luxxe Loft (studio) $19,000, 1 bedroom suite $22,000, 1 bedroom villa $22,000, 2 bedroom suite $30,000, 2 bedroom villa $33,000, 2 bedroom spa $30,000, 3 bedroom spa $38,000, 1 bedroom residence loft $58,000, 2 bedroom residence loft $79,000, 3 bedroom residence loft $99,000, 2 bedroom residence (in construction) $79,000, 3 bedroom residence (in construction) $105,000, 4 bedroom residence $160,000. Estates - 1 bedroom $150,000, 2 bedroom $210,000, 3 bedroom $275,000, 4 bedroom $500,000+. Empire estates will cost a little more than the Estates in the same unit sizes.

I recently went to the Vidanta at Nuevo Vallarta. We had no intention of buying anything during the presentation but we ended up bargaining a deal that to us, made sense. The deal sounds good to us but I have a nagging feeling we shouldn't of done it and was hoping to get some feedback.

We were sold the 1+2 contract but for a Legacy suite in Legacy Park Resort which can be interchanged with the mayan palace suite I believe. Red time. The weekly usage fee is $1423. This registered week is for 10 years. We then also got the 2 right to use weeks for 100 years (up 6 months before). This sounded standard but then things got crazy. They offered us another 2 promotional weeks for a 2 bedroom/sun pack at sea garden or mayan palace resorts but we could only use them April to December and to be made 3 months in advance. Then they also randomly threw in another 2 promotional weeks for a 1 bedroom/sea pack, same deal as the other 2.
We were also offered the gondola and park promotion (initially it was like 4.5k and we eventually took it for around 1.5k I believe). Also included in our deal was 2x1 golf, a third home lifetime membership, a club freedom 1yr membership with 5k cruise rewards, Hawaii Collection Plus 1yr membership, 1yr sfx diamond membership and then lifetime gold membership. This one comes with 2 sfx vida weeks which we can use in many different hotels/resorts. We were also offered the ambassador program which essentially pays you to send people to the resort and do the timeshare meeting. They gave us 10 certificates to give out. Finally we were also given a free week at a Mayan palace suite to use later.

Their initial price was 75k, then 46k until we worked them down to $19,468 after tax and closing costs. We put down $4872 and negotiated 3 months to pay the rest with no interest.

If I understood correctly, we got 7 weeks (6 after 10 years) + the 2 SFX weeks plus all of the other bonuses. I know many of the add ons are likely useless and we won't use but in the end we were sold. I would love any feedback as to whether we got a good deal or got screwed. We purchased on Wednesday so we are still within the 5 business days to cancel. Once again would love to hear from other to see what they think, I can answer any further questions or provide more info if needed. Thank you!

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Hi @jguti
Welcome to TUG

We paid $ 16K for 1 bedroom Mayan Palace in 2007 / 1 week + 1 week with the " no go / no pay "
addendum. We started using in 2010.

What size unit do you get for $ 1423 usage fee ?

If you are uncomfortable rescind
If you keep it & use it ; and your family is happy vacationing at Vidanta - it is a good deal for you.

 

[shomitax]

I recently went to the Vidanta at Nuevo Vallarta. We had no intention of buying anything during the presentation but we ended up bargaining a deal that to us, made sense. The deal sounds good to us but I have a nagging feeling we shouldn't of done it and was hoping to get some feedback.

We were sold the 1+2 contract but for a Legacy suite in Legacy Park Resort which can be interchanged with the mayan palace suite I believe. Red time. The weekly usage fee is $1423. This registered week is for 10 years. We then also got the 2 right to use weeks for 100 years (up 6 months before). This sounded standard but then things got crazy. They offered us another 2 promotional weeks for a 2 bedroom/sun pack at sea garden or mayan palace resorts but we could only use them April to December and to be made 3 months in advance. Then they also randomly threw in another 2 promotional weeks for a 1 bedroom/sea pack, same deal as the other 2.
We were also offered the gondola and park promotion (initially it was like 4.5k and we eventually took it for around 1.5k I believe). Also included in our deal was 2x1 golf, a third home lifetime membership, a club freedom 1yr membership with 5k cruise rewards, Hawaii Collection Plus 1yr membership, 1yr sfx diamond membership and then lifetime gold membership. This one comes with 2 sfx vida weeks which we can use in many different hotels/resorts. We were also offered the ambassador program which essentially pays you to send people to the resort and do the timeshare meeting. They gave us 10 certificates to give out. Finally we were also given a free week at a Mayan palace suite to use later.

Their initial price was 75k, then 46k until we worked them down to $19,468 after tax and closing costs. We put down $4872 and negotiated 3 months to pay the rest with no interest.

If I understood correctly, we got 7 weeks (6 after 10 years) + the 2 SFX weeks plus all of the other bonuses. I know many of the add ons are likely useless and we won't use but in the end we were sold. I would love any feedback as to whether we got a good deal or got screwed. We purchased on Wednesday so we are still within the 5 business days to cancel. Once again would love to hear from other to see what they think, I can answer any further questions or provide more info if needed. Thank you!

Hi, I’m curious what else you learn and what are you ended up doing?

 

[geist1223]

I am confused - What income?

 

[Slabrock]

There is nothing wrong with owning at Vidanta. However, they will never truly buy your timeshare. It's just a ploy to get you to buy. The key is to get the level/unit you want and to get proper addendums written into the contract. Most who visit for the presentation do not understand that it is a negotiation and you have leverage. You have what they want - your money and signature. First, don't buy in at lower than the Grand Bliss level. If they tell you you can not then tell them you have ZERO interest. Trust me, they will come up with a way that a Grand Bliss level contract is suddenly available. Usually with some story that it just became available from a member who defaulted. It's all BS - EVERYTHING that comes out of the sales person's mouth is BS. Personally I would not enter a Vidanta contract at a level lower than Grand Luxxe. Again, they will try to tell you it's not available. Trust me, it is.

What you want is a typical Vidanta 1+ 2 contract. It is a registered week that is good for 10 years and 2 right to use contracts that are good for 100 years (renewable every 10 years). You want the Golf and Spa privileges. They used to offer 16 free round of golf and 2 free massages per week. Now it's $40/$60 golf and 2 for 1 massage. Push to get the former if you can. Next you want an addendum that gives you access to 100% of the available inventory up to 12 months in advance for all 3 week. This is very important. Next you want an addendum that you do not pay mandatory maintenance fees. This is easy to get and most of the time is offered up front. Most importantly, you want an addendum that states that if you sell your contract the transfer fee will be no more than the taxes originally paid for the contract. Otherwise, your Grand Luxxe contract will state that the transfer fee is 10x your usage fee. This will make the transfer fee somewhere between $18,000 - $48,000 depending on the unit you buy into. Taxes will only be between $2,800 - $5,000. You also want an addendum in writing that states all of your privileges will be available to your guests if you are not present at the resort. For example, if you let a friend, relative or renter use one of your weeks, Vidanta will not allow them to have any of your privileges because you are not there using the unit. This is a key addendum that you should demand and refuse to buy without it.

The theme park in Nuevo Nayarit is currently in a soft opening. I should be fully opened with the next 10 - 12 months. Be sure to get the VIP park package and gondola privileges included in your contract. It allows you VIP access to all of their parks, present and future. You can pay for 1.5 days at the park and get 7 days. Currently they have the Jungala water park in Riviera Maya and the theme park in Nuevo Nayarit. They are talking about building a theme park in Riviera Maya and they can do it as they have a very expansive amount of land across the highway where their Cirque Du Soliel show is. They are also building a larger Jungala water park at the Nuevo theme park that will be part of phase 2 across the highway. So the VIP package is going to be important.

Understand that the Vidanta sales people will lie to you and promise things that do not exist. Anything you are interested in, tell them to put it in writing. It will shut them up... Also, they will start with prices that are higher than a mansion here in the US. When they do, please laugh out loud at them. Make them uncomfortable - it will only help your cause. For Grand Luxxe your contract should be around this price: Grand Luxxe - Master Room (studio) $12,000, Junior Suite (small 1 bedroom) $16,000, Grand Luxxe Loft (studio) $19,000, 1 bedroom suite $22,000, 1 bedroom villa $22,000, 2 bedroom suite $30,000, 2 bedroom villa $33,000, 2 bedroom spa $30,000, 3 bedroom spa $38,000, 1 bedroom residence loft $58,000, 2 bedroom residence loft $79,000, 3 bedroom residence loft $99,000, 2 bedroom residence (in construction) $79,000, 3 bedroom residence (in construction) $105,000, 4 bedroom residence $160,000. Estates - 1 bedroom $150,000, 2 bedroom $210,000, 3 bedroom $275,000, 4 bedroom $500,000+. Empire estates will cost a little more than the Estates in the same unit sizes.

I sure wish I had had this kind of info. when I purchased a 1 + 2 contract on a 1 BR DeLuxxe at Celebrate Park for $28,000 in March 2018! This is also a 1 BR Grand Mayan level, which I have been using at the sister resort locations, as I intended to do. I was told Celebrate Park was the only available contract at that time and assumed that was true. I'm obviously terribly naive and weak at negotiating, and wanted Vidanta access for me and my family. I see now that I way overpaid for the level of contract I purchased and what my family has access to. Any advice moving forward? I've refused to get talked into anymore upgrade purchases at "updates", but maybe there is something I can do to improve what we have access to, given how much $$$ I sunk into this contract. Much appreciated!!

 

[bnoble]

I've refused to get talked into anymore upgrade purchases at "updates", but maybe there is something I can do to improve what we have access to, given how much $$$ I sunk into this contract.

Realistically, the only way to upgrade your access is to pay more money.

 

[Slabrock]

Realistically, the only way to upgrade your access is to pay more money.

That's what I figured, and the amount of $$$ they ask for to upgrade to just a 2 BR GM is outrageous once again. Once a fool, I will never live that down.

 

[bnoble]

Well, if you go in with a number you are wiling to pay, you may be able to get them to bite. You don't have to take their word for what it costs.

 

[WorldT]

This is excellent advice. If you want the upgrade, think about how much you are willing to pay for it. Make sure that number is fixed. Make the offer, they will counter. Don't go any higher. Of they don't like your offer, walk away. Make sure any offer is put down and writing and read it yourself.

 

[woj027]

Hey all, Rather than starting a new thread I figured I'd just add to this one since it seems on topic.

I'm looking to learn more about buying a Vidanta Contract. I love all the info that's been included in this thread.
First to confirm, if you buy a 1+2 contract (One Registered/Reserved week plus Two [Hotel Name] Weeks) you get up to 3 weeks of usage your first 10 years.
Once you renew you only get 2 [Hotel Name] Weeks?

What is a "Premium" Membership? are there others? where does this fall in the hierarchy?
What is a "Charter" member are there others? where does this fall in the hierarchy?
What is a "Platinum" member are there others? where does this fall in the hierarchy?
I saw there are Maintenance Fees and Usage Fees, are these the same or are they different?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Eric B]

What is a "Premium" Membership? are there others? where does this fall in the hierarchy?

The only things that really matter are what's in the contract. "Premium" isn't one of the things that's typically in a contract though sales will happily tell someone that what they are getting is premium. The hierarchy is generally always in flux; for a while it was the Estates, Grand Luxxe, Grand Bliss, Grand Mayan, and Mayan Palace. Then they started building higher tiers and side tiers because the business plan for Vida Vacations is such that they make money through sales; hence the non-mandatory usage every year, etc.

What is a "Charter" member are there others? where does this fall in the hierarchy?

A "Charter" member is something they sometimes call someone that buys into a new tier early. It doesn't really convey any privileges that I know of though it is touted as something you wouldn't want to miss out on (FOMO).

What is a "Platinum" member are there others? where does this fall in the hierarchy?

A "Platinum" membership is one that someone has spent a lot of money on. Not sure what the cut off is now; it used to be the Grand Luxxe Lofts level. Then they introduced the "Estates" level in the hierarchy above that, and the "Emperor's Pavilion" above that. They are all aspirational levels that you wouldn't want to miss out on (FOMO).

I saw there are Maintenance Fees and Usage Fees, are these the same or are they different?

They are fundamentally the same thing. With Vidanta, because you don't have mandatory usage every year but instead merely the right to try to reserve a stay that works for you, they term them usage fees. After all, you don't really own anything.

As far as the contract structure goes, they now sell 20 year contracts rather than 10 year contracts. Your understanding matches how the 10 year contracts worked. One thing they won't tell you is that if you own a contract with any level of Vidanta, they will not allow you to exchange back into any Vidanta property, or if they do you will be limited to Vidanta levels at or below the level you own. The net result is that the only way you can stay there is to pay the usage fees, which generally exceed the costs to non-owners.

In my recent experiences staying at Vidanta, they have let the quality of the hotel side of things slip a bit. The latest thing I have learned is that they are converting all of the desirable units at the Grand Mayan Los Cabos into a new level of ownership, which would result in someone that owns a Grand Mayan contract based in Los Cabos only being able to stay in the lower floors unless they invest more in an upgrade to the new level.

 

[woj027]

Eric. Thanks for the quick reply.
I know it's impossible to do, but having the type of information shared in this thread and many others here (and on the web) that relate owners real experience and understanding is great when going into a sales meeting, especially if you are really interested in buying.
Coming out of a meeting after buying (not having planned on it) then finding this website seems to be the norm and the mantra I see repeated here besides "if their lips are moving..." is "you have 5 days to rescind!!!)

Oh another question, since I can't search for a three letter word on this site.
if the contract has a Red usage classification does that mean I have black out dates like Christmas and Easter?

 

[Eric B]

Yes, red usage does not include Christmas, New Years, or Holy Week (Easter).

 

[woj027]

I understand the first part of your response. In a 10 year renewal contract someone who had a 1+2 only has 2 weeks per year in years 11 and beyond (as long as they renew every 10 years)

One thing they won't tell you is that if you own a contract with any level of Vidanta, they will not allow you to exchange back into any Vidanta property, or if they do you will be limited to Vidanta levels at or below the level you own. The net result is that the only way you can stay there is to pay the usage fees, which generally exceed the costs to non-owners.

I don't understand what you mean by this statement. If the contract is for Grand Luxxe (Nuevo Nayarit) one may or may not be able to stay at say the Grand Bliss (NN)? And if they do you pay "usage fees" or "maintenance fees" How would that exceed the cost to non-owners?
I have a Grand Luxxe (NN) contract would I be able to stay at the Grand Luxxe (Rivera Maya) for just the Maintenance Fees?

 

[Eric B]

In general, the all in cost for someone going to Vidanta on an exchange is the underlying maintenance fees they pay for the usage they give up plus the exchange fee plus whatever resort fee Vidanta imposes on exchangers. In my experience, the sum of those is less than what it would cost me to pay a usage fee because I use low cost TS to exchange rather than high cost ones. However, because I own with Vidanta, I am not permitted to exchange to Vidanta in several of the different systems they provide availability to. There were times when I could exchange in but only if it were a downgrade for me - if they let me exchange in at a higher level it would have eliminated the leverage to try to sell me an upgrade.

Vidanta and Vida Vacations are set up to get you on a never ending upgrade cycle. If you look at the structures of the buildings they put together (in particular the Estates building in East Cape) the public spaces are very very impressive. The accommodations are quite nice, too, but there is so much expenditure on the part of the developer to things that can only drive sales rather than the guest experience that it strikes me that the organization is way too sales oriented that I don't really want to give them any more of my money. Everyone's experience may vary; in the past they did nice things for people that could motivate them to continue to visit (e.g., the senior certificates they only gave for a few years), but now the balance seems to have tipped to just investing in sales. The actual accommodations quality has slid as a result, in particular for the tiers that aren't selling anymore. There are much better options out there unless you are willing to go through the upgrade cycle to keep in the most recently developed tiers that have not yet degraded or been upgraded to a new tier and are no longer available to book.

 

[woj027]

Does anyone keep track of the usage fees for the different Hotels/Locations? I know it would be a pretty big list. I see Toes_in_the_sand posted good purchase prices in post #16 from April 2024.
I'm just trying to determine best value for a contract, either purchased at Vidana or through resale. Also hoping to learn what doesn't transfer in a contract sale.

​

 

[pittle]

The only things that really matter are what's in the contract. "Premium" isn't one of the things that's typically in a contract though sales will happily tell someone that what they are getting is premium. The hierarchy is generally always in flux; for a while it was the Estates, Grand Luxxe, Grand Bliss, Grand Mayan, and Mayan Palace. Then they started building higher tiers and side tiers because the business plan for Vida Vacations is such that they make money through sales; hence the non-mandatory usage every year, etc.


A "Charter" member is something they sometimes call someone that buys into a new tier early. It doesn't really convey any privileges that I know of though it is touted as something you wouldn't want to miss out on (FOMO).


A "Platinum" membership is one that someone has spent a lot of money on. Not sure what the cut off is now; it used to be the Grand Luxxe Lofts level. Then they introduced the "Estates" level in the hierarchy above that, and the "Emperor's Pavilion" above that. They are all aspirational levels that you wouldn't want to miss out on (FOMO).


They are fundamentally the same thing. With Vidanta, because you don't have mandatory usage every year but instead merely the right to try to reserve a stay that works for you, they term them usage fees. After all, you don't really own anything.

As far as the contract structure goes, they now sell 20 year contracts rather than 10 year contracts. Your understanding matches how the 10 year contracts worked. One thing they won't tell you is that if you own a contract with any level of Vidanta, they will not allow you to exchange back into any Vidanta property, or if they do you will be limited to Vidanta levels at or below the level you own. The net result is that the only way you can stay there is to pay the usage fees, which generally exceed the costs to non-owners.

In my recent experiences staying at Vidanta, they have let the quality of the hotel side of things slip a bit. The latest thing I have learned is that they are converting all of the desirable units at the Grand Mayan Los Cabos into a new level of ownership, which would result in someone that owns a Grand Mayan contract based in Los Cabos only being able to stay in the lower floors unless they invest more in an upgrade to the new level.

Interesting about the Los Cabo resort. I am going in late April with some friends. I am downgrading from my Grand Luxxe, because it is a GM resort and I can get A GM 2-bedroom there.. I will use my "lock-off" unit for a 1-bdr GB in NV to extend my November vacation. I did see photos once about how they renovated some of the units on the top floor, but they were not very impressive in my opinion. To get to the living room from the 2nd bedroom, you had to go out in the hallway and come in through that door. The patios also had a divider.

I am going because my friends have never been there and Cabo San Jose is easy to walk around.

BTW - there is also Gold status. I have that with a special phone number not the normal 1-800-AWAY-I GO #. When I call it, they say it is for Gold & Platinum owners.

 

[rpennisi]

Does anyone keep track of the usage fees for the different Hotels/Locations? I know it would be a pretty big list. I see Toes_in_the_sand posted good purchase prices in post #16 from April 2024.
I'm just trying to determine best value for a contract, either purchased at Vidana or through resale. Also hoping to learn what doesn't transfer in a contract sale.

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When you pay for a resale contract you lose any perks (golf, massages, etc) that were with the original contract. You also pay a large Vidanta fee to have your name put on the contract unless you are a family member of the contract owner.

As an example of something that might (or might not) help you. I bought a paid 2001Mayan Palace 2Bd2Ba contract for $1500 in 2007 on Ebay (total cost around $3000 with a year of MF paid for and 19 years usage). It expires 2026. If I want another 25 years it would cost 5MFs around $6000. Not doing it only because of age, otherwise I would re up. By the way, in 2008 when the banks were failing that $1500 would have dropped to $1 to purchase.

In my opinion, resale is almost always going to be cheaper that original purchase price. But you have to do your own due diligence.