More on Select Connections and Traveler Plus

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

I have been digging into the new Select Connections offering and it looks pretty good so far. The only thing I don't know at this point is how much inventory will be made available.

I have seen the point table and it is very comparable to Bluegreen's. They have 4 seasons. Low, Mid, High and Peak. And, you can book partial week stays as long as you book within the proper reservation windows. It is 8 months for full weeks and 3 months for partial weeks. (I took note of this in the annual meeting, but I can't find it. I'll update this link later if I have it wrong).

Weekend days are about 50% higher than weekday nights. For comparison purposes, a 2br unit during the summer peak season is 17000 points. A 2br in Anaheim in the Summer (near Disneyland) is 10000 points.

For comparison, 2 br oceanview at Solara Surfide in the summer is 15000 points. An oceanfront unit is 18000 points. 2br peak at Lodge Alley Inn is 18000 points. Christmas Mountain Village is 9000-10000 points for a summer 2br unit.

There is a $49 booking fee. The IT department is trying to build on online booking interface. If they can get that done, it will be very exciting.

This will be offered as part of Traveler Plus for anyone who purchases it after July 1, 2006. The annual fee is now $59/year. The sales team will be rolling this out next week, so you will be able to get more details at owner updates and sales presentations. Not sure the first date that owners can book. I suspect it will be another month before that happens. We have reports of Shell owners booking Bluegreen resorts. So, that process has started.

Traditionally, I have been able to provide Traveler Plus as a free add on to an upgrade package. I have just been informed that for next year, there will be a fee associated with it. The formal enrollment fee is listed at $1349. I have always been able to get that waived. Starting next year, there will be some type of fee. I am not sure what it will be yet. I hope it is nominal.

If you were thinking about joining Select Connections some time next year, let me know ASAP so that I can get your grandfathered into the free upgrade.

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

Do I understand that the costs are:
Annual fee to be able to use Select Connections-$59/year.
Booking Fee-$49 per transaction
Traveler Plus annual fee-$39 (or is it $49?, can't remember).
The traveler plus does not include any joining fees, I consider those set appart from the normal fees.

Yearly costs, if used once a year, would be about $147, however, I will always keep my Traver Plus, so I would look at it as $108 additional to use it once a year.

Not a bad deal, but I can't use it because of the July 06 dealbreaker.

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

I think that TP is now $59...Select Connections comes with it if you bought after July '06. Do I have that right Boca?

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

I think that TP is now $59...Select Connections comes with it if you bought after July '06. Do I have that right Boca?

Holly has it right. TP is now $59, up from $49. The only limitation is that in order to get access to the Grand Yacht Club and Select Connections, you must have purchased from Bluegreen or a Bluegreen authorized reseller after July 1, 2006.

TP gets you a lot of benefits now, including:

- Hot weeks. Basically RCI last call weeks for 3000 points

- Grand Yacht Club. Private yacht cruises for afternoon, 3 night and 7 night cruises in the Caribbean

- Coast to coast campgrounds. Allows you to use points to book campgrounds around the country.

- ICE Gallery membership (Bluegreen's not a personal) for discounted cruises. Can use points to book cruises, but it's better to pay cash

- World Hotels. Use points to book any of these resorts.

- Discounted hotels, airlines, car rentals; good, but not the best rates

- Select Connections. Use points to book any of 18 Shell Vacation Club resorts.

- Rent points from Bluegreen. Costly at $.15/point for 1000 point increments. But, very valuable if you are short just a few points for your last vacation of the year.

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

Boca, you get that even if you purchased from a reseller, not just BG high pressure selling guys? Wow, if that is the case, I do qualify! I bought my last update from Pinnacle couple months ago.
I feel like Steve Martin after receiving the new phone book and finding his name in it 'I am somebody'.

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

Boca, you get that even if you purchased from a reseller, not just BG high pressure selling guys? Wow, if that is the case, I do qualify! I bought my last update from Pinnacle couple months ago.
I feel like Steve Martin after receiving the new phone book and finding his name in it 'I am somebody'.

Yes, you qualify, Mr. Somebody. What is your dogs name? lol.

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

The Pampered Princess Puppy's name is Steffi. Most spoiled dog I have ever known. DW says it is all my fault. Okay, so most spoiled I have ever made a dog.