Shenandoah UDI/Qualified Bluegreen premier points question

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

Hello, I have a question about buying points from Pinnacle or Mr bum99(sorry, forgot his username). I'm in the process of going through closing on a UDI at Shenandoah Crossing in VA. I live right buy it, so I know we will use it tons. I'm looking to buy from Pinnacle a 2000 points biennial package with charter benefits for $2600. I would like to buy more points in order to become a bronze member or higher. But I know these premier points must be qualified points. I know this means I can't buy them from an individual. But can I purchase qualified points without charter membership from Pinnacle to achieve this? Further, can they be biennial or even triennial points and be qualified?

Thanks so much in advance, pinnacle is taking forever to get back to me.

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

But I know these premier points must be qualified points. I know this means I can't buy them from an individual. But can I purchase qualified points without charter membership from Pinnacle to achieve this? Further, can they be biennial or even triennial points and be qualified?

Charter membership is part of the whole "qualified points" thing. All qualified points will cost a minimum of $1.25/point (last I knew -- price may have gone up). Never heard of triennial points, but biennial points can absolutely be qualified.

If you're planning on getting more than one points package, one thing you need to be careful about is combining points. The points are in different Trust Funds -- Trust Fund E is the most common -- and BG calculates your yearly maintenance fees according to the trust fund. For instance, the formula for Trust Fund B for 2011 was $170 + $.063/point, while for Trust Fund E it was $320 + $.045/point -- if you owned 8000 Trust Fund E points, and bought another 8000 Trust Fund E points, then you would pay that $320 base price only once, which would save you a chunk of cash. For 8000 points, your MFs would be $680 ($0.085/points), but for 16000 points, your MFs would be $1040 ($0.065/point). If you have 16000 points all in Trust Fund B, your yearly MFs would be $1178. But if you had 8000 Trust Fund E points and 8000 Trust Fund B points, those 16000 points would cost you $1354 in yearly maintenance fees -- more than either kind of points by themselves. Which is why it's usually best to stick to one Trust Fund.

I don't know much about UDIs at Shenandoah, or whether you can even get them with points; the UDIs at CMV with points attached, I believe the points are in Trust Fund E. If the UDI has no points attached, you don't need to worry about combining points, obviously.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your ownership.

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

So with the $1.25 per point minimum, you would need to spend at least $18750 to reach bronze. Your 2000 biennial would only count as 1000 toward the annual amount of 15000 points you would need. While bronze members get some additional benefits, it would take a long time to justify the extra $16,000 you would have to spend. I think you would get an extra month to waitlist. You could potentially get upgrades 3 times but only if they are available the day before check in. That may be it for the "perks" of bronze. Another $6250 and 5000 more qualified points will get you to Silver.

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

Thanks! I am in the process of getting a UDI from a fellow tug member. It has 15 weeks/no points. I just read that if I can really get on top of my booking privileges, I could get up to 10 or 12 reservations. I have no idea how. I've never owned a timeshare. But I got advice not to get it because I don't have experience trading. But I'm at home all day with lots of time and when I get on something, I'm lime a dog with a bone.

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

Thank you! Great advice. I was looking at the big kahunas listing and he had a few biennial packages from the same trust fund that I've decided would be great to have. I'm just afraid that if I don't get points then I may just have lots of Shenandoah Crossing .

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Thank you! Great advice. I was looking at the big kahunas listing and he had a few biennial packages from the same trust fund that I've decided would be great to have. I'm just afraid that if I don't get points then I may just have lots of Shenandoah Crossing .

If you join the exchange companies then you'll have access to lots of other systems other than BG.
I own a UDI at another BG resort and it gets me into lots of Marriotts, Wyndhams, Disney, Starwoods, etc.
You do not need to own more BG points to have lots of vacation options.

Although I own a UDI at Christmas Mountain Village, I believe the Shenendoah Crossing UDI's work the same.
With a CMV UDI you can have 4 reservations on the books at one time.
Once a check in date passes you can make another reservation in the same season.
I'm pretty sure that's how your ownership works too.
If you time your reservations you can easily get 10 or more weeks to deposit to the exchange companies
that you can convert into weeks in other resort systems by of course paying the exchange fees.
Before you go taking on anymore units, learn to use what you have.
You may just find that it's all you need for right now.

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

It does work the exact same way. So I was looking into buying a 2000 biennial bluegreen charter membership for $2600. I guess I thought I needed it. But if I join RCI, would I even need this charter membership?

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

But if I join RCI, would I even need this charter membership?

It depends on what you want to do with it, but it sounds like the answer is "no."

OTOH, you can buy "unauthorized" BG points for next to nothing (if the seller pays transfer fees, for absolutely nothing), and most unauthorized points come with a free RCI membership (only the very oldest ownerships lack one). It's a weeks ownership, but I don't think you can use it to trade your UDI weeks. It does give you access to Last Call and Extra Vacations and all those, however.

It sounds to me like you'd be fine just using the UDI for a bit, so you might want to wait on buying points. And, if you can be flexible on when you go, I'm not sure you need authorized points. The advantage of authorized points is bonus time (paying cash for units still available a month or two out) at all the resorts (unauthorized points only gets you bonus time at your home resort), the opportunity to sign up with Travelers' Plus (which costs extra) and, if you have enough point, premiere perks like being able to get on the wait list (not to actually reserve) before 11 months out. The real advantage to getting on the wait list is you have better odds of getting a summer week at Big Cedar, a holiday weekend at 'most anywhere, and some of the rare-er units here and there. If you're good with a regular unit, don't like going to resorts when they're most mobbed (i.e., 4th of July anywhere warm), don't plan on hitting Big Cedar in June or July, and and willing to reserve eleven months out, the wait list probably isn't worth the price of authorized points.

I'd stick with the UDI for a while, and if it turns out you want more, look into getting unauthorized BG points, or into another purchase entirely. RCI is the biggest trading system with the most options, but there are others that are cheaper per year or per trade you might look into as well.

Best of luck!

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

It does work the exact same way. So I was looking into buying a 2000 biennial bluegreen charter membership for $2600. I guess I thought I needed it. But if I join RCI, would I even need this charter membership?

Probably not unless you want to do lots of short weekends at nearby resorts if you have a few near you.
I have several near me in Florida so this would work for a Floridian but not sure where you live if it's worth it.

There are many exchange companies out there that will take your weeks.
Some of them are free to join.

DAElive.com
Platinuminterchange.com
tradingplaces.com
SFXresorts.com may or may not take your units. They are picky.
Intervalworld.com you pay a fee but they have the Starwoods, Marriotts and Hyatts in there so to me it's worth it.
RCI.com will get you Disney, Hilton Grand Vacations, Wyndhams and lots of nice independents.

You have a world of trading opportunities without having to trade in the BG club.
Of course they come with an extra $150 to $200 exchange fee but may be worth it if your weeks only cost $250 to deposit.
It roughly costs me $250 per week including housekeeping to deposit a week to the exchange companies.
The housekeeping fees are going up so it will be a little more soon but it's still not a bad deal.

Stick around and we'd be glad to help you learn how to use what you own.

Welcome to the forum.

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

Wow! I'm So happy! I Feel So Lucky! There Are Not Nearby Resorts Where I Would Want Short Stays. I Live In Louisa VA About 15 Minutes From Shenandoah Crossing! I Haven't Had A Vacation In Eight Years! I Feel Like The Whole World Is Going To Open Up To Me!!! I Feel Like I Won The Lottery! Thank You So Much!

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Wow! I'm So happy! I Feel So Lucky! There Are Not Nearby Resorts Where I Would Want Short Stays. I Live In Louisa VA About 15 Minutes From Shenandoah Crossing! I Haven't Had A Vacation In Eight Years! I Feel Like The Whole World Is Going To Open Up To Me!!! I Feel Like I Won The Lottery! Thank You So Much!

Well if you hang out here enough you'll be vacationing every month like the rest of us.
Don't say you haven't been warned.

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

I Haven't Had A Vacation In Eight Years! I Feel Like The Whole World Is Going To Open Up To Me!!! I Feel Like I Won The Lottery! Thank You So Much!

You sound like us when we discovered points systems! If you're frugal, then one of the advantages of owning is that you want to get your money's worth out of it, so you're highly motivated to take vacations.

Virginia Beach is less than three hours from you -- haven't paid much attention to availability there, but between VB and Williamsburg there's a boatload of places with RCI, so your odds of getting in off season look good. I've been tempted by many slightly-off-season or late-in-the-season deals at Basye, Massanutten, and McGaheysville, which are all close to you as well. Myrtle Beach is only a six hours drive from you; tons of nice resorts out there, and it's still a nice, warm beach with the warmest water of the year in late August or early September, plus once school kicks in, the crowds are mostly gone. Hershey's even closer to you, and, while it's tough to get through RCI during the summer or holidays, not so hard off season. We went there during a very cold March once and had a great time; some of the bigger attractions are closed but the Hershey tour, the Lititz chocolate and pretzel places, and Gettysburg are open year 'round, and so are a lot of the Amish places, plus there are all manner of factory tours and what not. Then there are the Pittsburg Poconos resorts (5 or 6 hours from you, and many of the resorts are close enough to NYC for a day trip) , the Chesapeake Bay ones, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge TN or Asheville, or Lake Lure NC (those TN or NC locations are around 6 hours drive from you) -- oh, the places you'll go!

In my experience, if you do some research (dead easy with the Internet), and you're willing to drive a bit, just about anywhere you want to go, any time of year, there's stuff to do. There's plenty do do when it's busier, of course, often without looking a'tall; there the challenge is getting a reservation! But if you're flexible, you'll be fine -- and you can always get your home resort if nothing else is available.

Enjoy yourself.

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

I'm sticking around and going to read and learn! All of those places sound like fun and you are right, just a little driving and we are there! I don't mind driving at all either. Listen to an audio book and take in the scenery. I think I'll get to know the easy coast first.....or.....oh decisions decisions. What a great dilemma! I'm psyched! And I can be very flexible! I'm trying to get a seasonal job with delta airlines so I can have flight benefits. And my husband only gets 3 weeks, but I can take my parents, or even just myself! But had anyone noticed, Shenandoah Crossing isn't available on RCI. I wanted to read the reviews they have and it said "this resort is no longer available" or something just like that. For all I know, it's been like that forever. I was just looking for curiosity' sake. I can't wait to tell my hubs and parents about the locations mentioned above!

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I'm sticking around and going to read and learn! All of those places sound like fun and you are right, just a little driving and we are there! I don't mind driving at all either. Listen to an audio book and take in the scenery. I think I'll get to know the easy coast first.....or.....oh decisions decisions. What a great dilemma! I'm psyched! And I can be very flexible! I'm trying to get a seasonal job with delta airlines so I can have flight benefits. And my husband only gets 3 weeks, but I can take my parents, or even just myself! But had anyone noticed, Shenandoah Crossing isn't available on RCI. I wanted to read the reviews they have and it said "this resort is no longer available" or something just like that. For all I know, it's been like that forever. I was just looking for curiosity' sake. I can't wait to tell my hubs and parents about the locations mentioned above!

Really? Hmmm.
I'm surprised that it's not affiliated with RCI.
I thought all the BG resorts were dual affiliated.
I wonder if this is something new.

Regardless, they are affiliated with II and you'll get great vacations from II too.

[scootr5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scootr5]

I'm sticking around and going to read and learn! All of those places sound like fun and you are right, just a little driving and we are there! I don't mind driving at all either. Listen to an audio book and take in the scenery. I think I'll get to know the easy coast first.....or.....oh decisions decisions. What a great dilemma! I'm psyched! And I can be very flexible! I'm trying to get a seasonal job with delta airlines so I can have flight benefits. And my husband only gets 3 weeks, but I can take my parents, or even just myself! But had anyone noticed, Shenandoah Crossing isn't available on RCI. I wanted to read the reviews they have and it said "this resort is no longer available" or something just like that. For all I know, it's been like that forever. I was just looking for curiosity' sake. I can't wait to tell my hubs and parents about the locations mentioned above!

I just did a search in RCI, and I see quite a bit of availability. It's resort ID 1657.