Thinking about buying and need advice.

[Hooscrazy? Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hooscrazy?]

I am looking at buying into Shenandoah Crossings near Gordonsville, VA. I live about 20 miles away and I am interested mainly in access to the campground for occasional weekends and daily access to the pool(s) and other resort facilities.

Disclaimer: I am completely ignorant about time shares and am just starting to do some research, which is what brought me here.

1. Can I get reduced rates to the campground as an owner?

2. Will ownership in the resort allow my family daily access (not lodging) to the resort facilities?

3. Do I even neede to worry about buying points? Could I just get a resale option and have access to the campground and facilites as an owner?

4. What is the best way to accomplish what I am trying to achieve?

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any light you can shed on these questions?

Hoos

[Tom in GA Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom in GA]

You Are Doing It Right !!!

Welcome to our BG forum. You will learn more here about how things work. While I don't camp (except we may make it to a yurt), I believe you may want to communicate with Bocca Bum (Jim). He is a very knowledgeable and honest about BG and purchase arrangements. In general, once you buy a timeshare with BG, you get a certain number of points. Those points can be used to make vacation reservations at any of the Bluegreen resorts. There are additional options with a purchase, but I will keep it simple. You will pay a maintenance fee once each year. The amount is basically $320 plus .045 cents per point (ex: 10,000 points = $770 per year). Your camping reservation will be taken out of your point reserve. You normally have the run of the resort...pools, golf, sauna, etc. Some activities come with a separate fee....like getting a massage at The Fountains. Keep reading. Take your time....and talk to Bocca Bum.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I know of instances where owning at a timeshare gets year-round privileges like beach access or golf. I own one for golf.

Your question in that regard would be best answered by the resort.

BTW, owning a timeshare for that reason, year-round use of a nearby resort's amenitities, is one of the few remaining good reasons for owning a TS.

JMHO, shared by others.

[JoshA Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoshA]

I know of instances where owning at a timeshare gets year-round privileges like beach access or golf. I own one for golf.

Your question in that regard would be best answered by the resort.

BTW, owning a timeshare for that reason, year-round use of a nearby resort's amenitities, is one of the few remaining good reasons for owning a TS.

JMHO, shared by others.

It is a good privilege for TS in the US and Canada I guess, because in Mexico they don't want to see you there unless you are using your time....

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

That won't be a problem for someone in Georgia.
- - - - -
But, you are right that at many (most?) timeshares there are not many privileges outside of the owned week.

Some of the beach resorts in SW FL have owners who live locally, and can park at the resort to access the beach. At one we traded into several of the locals come to the morning welcome meeting each week, and it's hard to get a donut because of them.

At the local gated country club community where we own to get golf, the original 15 units of timeshare include year-round golf rights, cuz they needed that to get the development kicked off. Subsequent unit owners have that level of golf rights only during their week.

[Hooscrazy? Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hooscrazy?]

Thanks for the replies

Working on talking to the resort. Placed a call to Bluegreen yesterday and still waiting to hear back. Surprised in this economy they have not been more responsive.

Will keep reading and appreciate any advice/wisdom anyone feels like sharing.

Hoos

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

Don't trust bluegreen

Talk to Jim (Boca Bum). I don't trust the Bluegreen sales people at all. Bluegreen's sales staff will misrepresent the truth.

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

Your options are to buy into the BG points system, or buy a fixed or floating week if you can find one. Either of these can be purchased resale. Bocabum on this board is an authorized agent of resale BG points, and can probably help with a fixed or floating week.

I'm pretty sure it's the resort management's decision to allow "day use" of the facilities to owners when you are not staying there. I would suggest calling the resort directly and ask the management. Even though all the resorts comprise the BG system, the resorts act independently on some things.

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

For some resorts, they will let a BG owner that is not staying there, have use of the facilities based on availability. So if its a peak season, with all rooms booked, you probably would be denied use of the resort's ammenities. In a time when there are fewer patrons at the resort, you have a better chance of being allowed to use the facilities as a member. Like others have said, call the resort and find out what their policy is.

Also remember, with Bluegreen, when you buy ownership your deed may be tied to one location. However, Bluegreen is a points based system. So you can use your points to stay overnight at any location, not just where you are deeded at.

My wife and I visited some of her family in South Carolina, and although we didn't stay at a Bluegreen resort, we called ahead to one of their locations and they gave us the ok to stop in and swim in their lazy river. The fact that we are deeded in an Orlando BG resort didn't matter.

The biggest difference between buying directly through BG or a BG authorized reseller as compared to buying points in the secondary market is bonus time. Bonus time allows you to pay a small amount ($79, $89, or $99 per night) to stay at a BG resort where there is availability up to 48 days in advance without using any points.

If you buy any points through BG directly, you are eligible to book bonus time at any BG resort. If you buy points through the secondary market, those points are considered "non-authorized" and you can only book bonus time at the resort where you are deeded. You can use any points (authorized or unauthorized) to book normal reservations to any BG resorts, this only affects bonus time.

A lot of information, I know. hopefully I don't confuse you.