Grand Velas timeshare upgrade help

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Does anyone have additional information on the upgrade and if they converted? If I understood FSO correctly, there is still the 20% discount on the AI for non-peak season, however we did not interpret that there was any discount, just that the new schedule of AI fees would apply. We tend to use the Bonus Weeks (now Elite Weeks) for extra friends or extended stays, and are not happy with the change they are suggesting in addition with the cutback in the massages. We used to combine 3x 25min into a single 80min with a bit of sweet talking. We bought into a Parlour I a couple of years ago, thus there still is a bit of a differential price to upgrade (appx $15K).

None of the people we know and meet every year at the Grand Velas converted nor did we and we haven't even made reservations yet for next year. We own a condo there but you will not be pampered by a wonderful staff and having meals and drinks waiting for you at the restaurants or at the beach and pool, etc. That feels more like a vacation than staying in a condo and having to go shopping, cooking and do your own cleaning too.

Every time we go to our two timeshares in Mexico, they hit us up for more money but we just let them talk. Renting a condo is so much cheaper today or even staying at the Grand Velas or any other luxurious resort as a hotel guest. I can't believe the deals I see on the Internet. I wouldn't pay for upgrading because you can take many vacations at different places for that money any time you want to go. Also, timeshare rentals in Mexico are dirt cheap today.

Have you been to their newest resort? They offered it to us for a special price but you can find it for about the same price or even cheaper on the Internet too and not having to deal with a high pressure presentation.

Who or what is SFO?

[Divin-Dude Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Divin-Dude]

FSO was the reference to the original poster. I believe that was their username.

You make a good point regarding the costs and other options. Although we have yet to visit the new resort in Playa (and soon to come Cabo?), we were told that in order to stay at the other resorts, we had to convert to the Grupo Velas offering, aka Club Velas membership.

With 23 weeks remaining, assuming we use one week per year, paying the upgrade fee, and factoring in lost SPA services, our calculations show that we will pay slightly more if we do convert, however, if we stay as is, we have a contractual commitment to pay the maintenance fee. (Let's just assume here, we are more honest than their contractual commitment to limit the increase in maintenance fees, which is consistently not adhered to.)

We're going to discuss more this weekend to weigh the pros and cons against long term plans and hopefully an ever increasing travel calendar. However, we remain concerned that the rumours of inflated Maintenance and AI fees for the existing contracts may come to fruition as they attempt to entice people to switch over.

Thanks for the response!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

FSO was the reference to the original poster. I believe that was their username.

You make a good point regarding the costs and other options. Although we have yet to visit the new resort in Playa (and soon to come Cabo?), we were told that in order to stay at the other resorts, we had to convert to the Grupo Velas offering, aka Club Velas membership.

With 23 weeks remaining, assuming we use one week per year, paying the upgrade fee, and factoring in lost SPA services, our calculations show that we will pay slightly more if we do convert, however, if we stay as is, we have a contractual commitment to pay the maintenance fee. (Let's just assume here, we are more honest than their contractual commitment to limit the increase in maintenance fees, which is consistently not adhered to.)

We're going to discuss more this weekend to weigh the pros and cons against long term plans and hopefully an ever increasing travel calendar. However, we remain concerned that the rumours of inflated Maintenance and AI fees for the existing contracts may come to fruition as they attempt to entice people to switch over.

Thanks for the response!

Think twice before you spend so much money upfront. We love the resort but after having been back there so many times already, it is starting to get old hat. You may feel the same way eventually too and then you may dump it for pennies on the dollar because that is all you'll get.

What we object to so much is that they increased the maintenance fees much more than what the purchase agreement spelled out in the written contract plus they keep changing their plan constantly to make more money off you. The owners are so greedy but their staff is wonderful and quite a few have been there since the beginning and that makes us want to return because they make you so welcome and the resort is beautiful. We like that it isn't so big and it is on one of the nicest beaches in that area.

We find the meals not as good as they were when it first opened and the original Chef was there. He opened up their newest resort too and may still be there today? I would love to stay there but they won't let us do an internal exchange unless we convert the contract so we still have 14 years left on the contract.

This is how they get you because they tell you at the update that you still owe them 23 years (in your case) of maintenance fees so they offer you a figure less than that at the update so it sounds reasonable but it isn't in case you want to sell sooner because your lifestyle has changed or you get tired of it. In that case, you can sell it for whatever you can get or even give it away and you got rid of the obligation that way too. They don't tell you that.

Don't buy a timeshare in Mexico unless you buy one dirt cheap on the open market! We learned that too late but we do enjoy our stays. We own a second timeshare in Puerto Vallarta too and will finish that contract because it doesn't have these big mandatory A-I fees. All new contracts at the Velas Resorts will have mandatory A-I fees included in their contracts now and that make them more difficult to exchange with other resorts. JMHO.

Good luck with your decision!

[Cp3tk3 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cp3tk3]

Grupo Velas New Time Share Program

I would like to comment on your postings regarding the newest program offered through the Velas Resorts

Like many of you, we have been members through Velas Vallarta for the past 3 years. We were previously owners through another program.

This past April, my wife and I stayed at Velas Vallarta. Just the year before, we upgraded our membership from a villa to a villa plus. That timeshare still required MF's but not AIF. During our most recent stay, we were introduced to their newest program that is promoted as Grupo Velas.

The membership allows the owner to stay at any existing or new Velas property that is build. There are no maintenance fees with this membership. The $200 adm fee that one of you noted is correct. However it is applied to the AIF fees that you have to pay upon arrival. THe AIF fees are based on RCI rates, less either 20% or 25% if you're 65+. THe arrival date is not locked in nor are you locked into any particular room size. If there are only two in your party, you're given either a villa or villa plus. At no extra costs, you can also get either a 2 or 3 bedroom if there are 4 or 6 people in your party.

Through our negotiations, we did upgarde to this new membership. We now have 2 each 25 gold and 2 each 25 silver weeks. We were also given 150 bonus weeks through HSI. You're able to accelerate the weeks and stay more than 3 weeks if you choose too. Additionally, you can renew the membership up to 100 weeks by paying appx 5 AIF's x 2 people.

I just made reservations for next April at Velas Vallarta. Tino was very helpful and agreed to provide us a villa plus. The $200 adm fee and down payment were required at the time of reservation. At the time of arrival, I will be responsible for the balance.

[Cp3tk3 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cp3tk3]

I read your posting regarding the new membership program with the Velas properties. We have been members at Velas for appx 3 years. During our last April visit, we upgraded to the Grupo Velas program. The program is like you've noted above. No maintenance fees, access to any size room and at any of the current Velas properties. All that is required is that you pay the all inclusive fees. Our previous ownership gave us the choice of not having AIF.

One point I would make you all aware of is buyer remorse. The day after we signed the paperwork, my wife and I had buyer remorse and went to speak with the sales manager that we worked with. While there was a grace period to cancel the agreement, we were told that our previous Velas contract was null and void. This meant that while we would be reimbursed for what we paid to upgrade, the monies previously spent would not be reimbursed. So watch out and think through this seriously before moving forward. They also wanted you to decide on the upgrade on the spot. No thinking and coming back tomorrrow.

Our ownership includes 2 each sets of 25 gold and silver weeks. The gold weeks are renewable up until 100 weeks. The resort also threw in 150 HSI bonus weeks. Our daughter used one of the weeks in Cabo and loved the resort she stayed at.

If any of you have questions regarding this program, please feel free to contact me

[Mybobalong Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mybobalong]

Thank you for taking the time to do a write up on the update for the new Grupo Velas program. We had been members at the Velas Vallarta for about 8 years. 4 weeks left on our contract now. We have seen the AI fee doubled and had one special assessment for getting new furniture a few years back.

We really enjoy the fine dining at the restaurants plus all the pampering at the resort. I look forward to not having to cook for the week every year. This is the only week that I get a break from the kitchen..... The furnishings in the unit is not luxurious but we feel quite comfortable there.

I am so glad you gave us a heads up, so now we can discuss it first before going there for the "update" next Feb. Ahh...what to do?

[Cp3tk3 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cp3tk3]

Good to hear on your experiences at VV too. While we had seen some increases in the MF, we never took advantage of the AIF as we had the option. In the event you're interested, we are looking to sell half of our gold and silver weeks. When we upgraded, we received 50 gold and 50 silver weeks to be used over a 25 year period. Obviously, these can be accelerated and then renewed once all consumed.
Thanks,

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

We have no choice at the Grand Velas because it was a mandatory A-I resort right from the beginning. We knew it and we liked the idea so that didn't bother us. When we are there, we hardly leave the resort except for walking the beach.

I believe that all the new contracts now have mandatory A-I fees and you can stay at any of their resorts. They have copied the plan that the Grupo Mayan has.

We will be there in a few weeks so I am sure that they will give us an update again.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I read your posting regarding the new membership program with the Velas properties. We have been members at Velas for appx 3 years. During our last April visit, we upgraded to the Grupo Velas program. The program is like you've noted above. No maintenance fees, access to any size room and at any of the current Velas properties. All that is required is that you pay the all inclusive fees. Our previous ownership gave us the choice of not having AIF.

One point I would make you all aware of is buyer remorse. The day after we signed the paperwork, my wife and I had buyer remorse and went to speak with the sales manager that we worked with. While there was a grace period to cancel the agreement, we were told that our previous Velas contract was null and void. This meant that while we would be reimbursed for what we paid to upgrade, the monies previously spent would not be reimbursed. So watch out and think through this seriously before moving forward. They also wanted you to decide on the upgrade on the spot. No thinking and coming back tomorrrow.

Our ownership includes 2 each sets of 25 gold and silver weeks. The gold weeks are renewable up until 100 weeks. The resort also threw in 150 HSI bonus weeks. Our daughter used one of the weeks in Cabo and loved the resort she stayed at.

If any of you have questions regarding this program, please feel free to contact me

This is very important information that should be made a sticky of as it should be a warning to everyone who is contemplating making an upgrade here. I am going to forward this post to all my friends who we meet yearly at the Grand Velas. None of them upgraded last year but they better know this. Thanks for posting this.

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

Have a great time iconnections!

Would someone be so kind as to explain the difference between the gold and silver weeks in the new program? Thanks in advance.

[Cp3tk3 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cp3tk3]

Gold Vs Silver Weeks

With our Grupo Velas membership, Gold weeks consist of the prime period with exception to Christmas, New Years, and Easter week.

Silver consists of the period of May through October