Hotweeks-Bragging is encouraged

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

Has anyone ever gotten anything good using hot weeks or bonus time? If so where and when-I want to hear the good and bad. I plan to buy over the summer from our favorite dirty little secret and I want to understand what I am buying. Right now I think using hot weeks is about like playing the lotto.

[SoundQ SVT Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SoundQ SVT]

I can't speak to the Hotweeks question, but I have used Bonus time a couple times. Our first BG stay was a couple years ago at Big Cedar for Fri/Sat nights in early November. And last summer I was able to successfully extend a stay at the Fountains from 9 nights with points to 11 by adding the last 2 with bonus time. It required a change from my original reservation to find a different unit with all 11 nights available, but it was fine. We were moved to a unit in bldg 8 that was more than fine and were able to stay in the same unit the whole time. We even got to see a shuttle launch from our balcony that we would not have seen with the original unit/bldg assignment.

[Holly Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Holly]

Has anyone ever gotten anything good using hot weeks or bonus time? If so where and when-I want to hear the good and bad. I plan to buy over the summer from our favorite dirty little secret and I want to understand what I am buying. Right now I think using hot weeks is about like playing the lotto.

I prefer to think of the whole timeshare exchange game as "fishing". With Lotto the odds are dramatically in favor of coming away a loser with nothing. With timeshares, you are likely to come away with something that you can use and maybe, just maybe, a REAL FABULOUS keeper.

[Ediesbeads Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ediesbeads]

We've done hot weeks once through BlueGreen online. It was a week in Kissimmee. We had just completed a week that consisted of 5 weeknights at the Sunshine on points, and 2 night at the Fountains on the weekend using bonus time. We were in love with Orlando, had the time, and wanted to stay longer! So we got a week at a standard resort in Kissimmee. I can't remember the name, but it was fine. Standard, not gold crown, but clean and had comfortable beds, and a nice outdoor pool. We spent most of our time at the parks anyway, but it was a decent place to crash and go swimming. Before we booked the hotweeks, we went to the RCI website and checked out the reviews for the resort. It was 3.5 stars... and I'd agree with that description... fine, but nothing fancy.

We've also used Extras Vacations and Last Call through RCI. Similar situation... medium 3.5-4 star accommodations.... good price.... a nice week! One of them was with family. We got three two bed units in Kissimmee at the same resort for about $400 each for a week. I thought it was awesome we got three units at the same place! Again... a fine mid level resort. Nothing fancy, but it was clean and comfortable.

Another note about bonus time... pay attention to the 48 day online reservation window. I've gotten some great bonus time reservations by jumping on early in the morning on the first day allowed to reserve online bonus time. Some examples... Memorial Day weekend 2009 at Patrick Henry, last week for 3 nights at Oddyssy Dells, two nights on a weekend at the Fountains.... lots of good ones if you are on top of things!

Hope this helps!
Edie