Just purchased BG membership and looking for feedback...

[NY Brian Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close NY Brian]

Hi guys, we are Brian and Donna from NYC and we just spent New Years week at LaCabanna in Aruba.
While there, we purchased 20,000 BG points for a price of aproximatly $25,000 and our MF will be around $833, plus the BG annual fee of about $129 per year.
While the package looks great and there are many BG resorts available, as well as the option to use RCI and II for vacation options, I am looking for feedback.
We can afford this, but, what I am wondering is, does this seem like a good deal?
The MF seems a bit high from what I have been reading and if I was to sell this timeshare today (wich we are not planning to) is this the kind of thing that will appriciate well?
I am not sure if we just got caught up in the hype of the sale or if this is a really good deal?
We are looking for advice from other BG members and other people who have purchased similar plans.
We love the idea of points rather than a fixed week, but almost $1000 a year in fees, plus the financing of the timeshare seems high, no??
A few other questions...
Is using RCI and II for vacations easy or is it a chore?
Are the cruise discounts really as good as the saleswoman claimed?
How easy is it to sell / rent / points?
Any feedback would be greatly appriciated and thanks in advance for all the info I have read here already.
We are not only new to BG, but we are new to timesharing. This is alot of info to comprehend, so we are looking to chat with other that can put this into "laymens" terms for us.
A little about us, I am 29 and in sales with a fairly easy to get vacation schedule and Donna is a NY public school teacher, so we will have a good amount of time to vacation for the rest of our lives.
Sincerely,
Brian and Donna in NY

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Brian and Donna,

Welcome to our Bluegreen Vacation Club Forum. Bluegreen is a very good timesharing point system and hopefully you will find it as enjoyable and I do and others on this forum.

The price that you paid is a good one when buying directly from Bluegreen. However, there are tremendous bargains to be had on the resale market. If you decide to purchase resale, you can save 50-70% off developer prices.

If you are still in the recission period, then it is something to consider. If not, stick around and we will help you learn how to use your points in ways the Bluegreen sales guys never imagined possible.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Now that we got that out of the way. Here's some input on your other questions.

First, $1000 per year in fees for 20000 points is a great deal. That will get you about 2 two bedroom units every year to use. That's about $500/week in a 2 bedroom unit. It's a bit more in the higher end resorts, but that is about average.

Second, II and RCI are exchange companies that you will need to learn how to use. One of the benefits of this site are the exchange opportunities that you will have access to seeing after you have 10 or 15 posts. Those sightings, as some of us call them, shows when something good becomes availble. I use it all the time and get really high end accommodations for really cheap.

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

I don't own Bluegreen, but if you are questioning the amount of your purchase and are in the rescission period, I would recommend that you rescind and purchase resale. You will save a considerable amount of money. I purchased all of my timeshares resale at considerable discount.

I believe that you don't lose many benefits, if any, buying Bluegreen resale, but BocaBum99 is the expert, and he can tell you.

If you do rescind, follow the rescission instructions explicitly.

As for exchanging with II and RCI, it usually requires advance planning or being able to travel on short notice. If your wife is a school teacher, you will likely be vacationing at the most popular times, which makes exchanging more difficult. I can't speak for Bluegree, but I haven't seen any timeshare cruise discounts that can't be beat using the online discount cruise websites.

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

BG is a great system

However, you can get the same package for a whole, whole lot less. I'm in NY as well. PM me if you'd like and I'll be happy to share what I know with you...I can point you in the right direction for a resale purchase.

One more thing...if you are having second thoughts, go with your gut, always. There is always another deal around the corner. If you do rescind, follow the instructions to the letter.

Either way, hang around here and you will learn a lot about how to get the most out of timesharing. Good luck to you.

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

As for exchanging with II and RCI, it usually requires advance planning or being able to travel on short notice. If your wife is a school teacher, you will likely be vacationing at the most popular times, which makes exchanging more difficult.

We were able to trade two weeks of a summer, two bedroom Christmas Mountain Townhome (10,000 points each) for two bedrooms on Maui and the Big Island this past summer using RCI. Units were of camparable quality.

Charles

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

We were able to trade two weeks of a summer, two bedroom Christmas Mountain Townhome (10,000 points each) for two bedrooms on Maui and the Big Island this past summer using RCI. Units were of camparable quality.Charles

Not sure I understand the point you are trying to make?

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

RCI can work

Not sure I understand the point you are trying to make?

A previous poster stated that the spouse was a teacher and they were limited on travel times (the same travel times as when all the kids are out of school!!). My wife and I are both teachers and have the same problem. But, we were able to get two weeks in Hawaii using BG property thru RCI.

My point was that it can happen.

Charles

[SEI BG Member Find all posts View Profile Close SEI BG]

Brian, I'm wondering what your Aruba resort experience was like, that's if you were staying in the BG one. A friend of ours just returned from there and was not pleased with the condition of the resort. It was his first BG vacation too since purchasing a rather large package. I feel bad for him, and we told him that his experience is not typical of BG quality.

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

I'd be interested in what, specifically, the Aruban vacationer experienced? If it was a matter of inflated expectations but a quality resort, that's not something anyone but the visitor can alter. I mention that only because we don't know what the person was upset about, nor what they expected versus what they experienced.

Also, BG staff are outstanding - anyone staying at a BG resort that has a problem of any kind should not hesitate to speak with the front desk, and escalate to management if necessary. They want you to be happy. But, you have to speak up to get action and satisfaction. If the visitor did this and came away unhappy, I would urge them to not let it drop. Alert management and ask for specific action. give them a chance to rectify the situation.

Please, details!!!