Guidance requested...

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

I bought my points during a moment of insanity in 2005 in Gatlinburg, TN. My deed is for Shore Crest II. I have 11000 points in the EOY plan. Earlier this year, in another moment of sales-induced ecstasy, I signed a contract changing my plan to an annual one for 10k points per year - with a corresponding increase in annual fees and mortgage payments. Luckily, I regained my sanity and got out of it. I have only recently started to use the plan - we spent spring break at Mountain Loft last year - but I am still wasting opportunities. I have a 10 year old, so travel time is limited. The thing that drew me to the annual points was the lack of restrictions (I didn't find out about the "stale" points until this spring - the original salesperson neglected to mention that little nugget), plus it seems that annual memberships (silver/gold memberships?) allow reservations further in advance (I have been trying to get into Gulf Shores forever). I would like to take at least a week long trip in the summers and a couple extended weekend or school break (3 or 4 day) trips a couple times a year. I have talked to Bluegreen about this, but all I get is the hard sell. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Kevin

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Not BG owner. But I thought with 10 year old school kids, mini. point system like BG is the best way to go. With school, you need to figure out their vacation and holidays (perfer few years before), and just get those days at the earliest time slots as possible.

So, if they say you can reserve these resort at 13 month, call in at 13 month. If they say at 10 month, call in at 10 month. If there is a way to get at 24 month with no extra charge, do it. But don't pay any extra money just because it gives you extra time to make reservation before other people. Chances are, you will find time slots most people think they just need to make reservation at that time, and you will find time slots which you like to enjoy and less people fight with you.

1st try to make reservation through their internal exchange. After you get an idea (I will guess about 4 to 5 reservations later), then you can go through using different exchange company.

It is easier to just commit to take vacation at a time slot first. You can always find enough places you have yet visit or want to visit again.

Jya-Ning

ps. I don't know if they give you on-line access to their inventory or not. But if they do, find all the time slots you can take, and do search on-line until you know which one is gone at what time. Or if they have occupancy statistic somewhre, that will be as helpful too.

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

Gulf Shores is very difficult to get into. I also have not been able to book it, but I admit to only periodically inquiring. I believe both resorts there are Affiliates, meaning, BG does not own all the inventory. This is what makes it so difficult to get in. I don't know how many unit weeks there are, but, Not Enuf!

Annual points vs bi-annual work differently for saved points but do not have different reservation rules. Basically, half of your 11000 become "saved points" at the end of the first year. That means that half are still "current points". Doesn't sound like this was explained correctly to you either time.

Yes, it can be difficult to get prime time, but, try to be more flexible in the location and plan far ahead. If you can call right at the 11 month window, your chances of booking your first choice are better. It can be difficult to plan so far in advance, but the other option is to take what is available in the timeframe you wish to travel. Honestly, I've found that holding either to the date OR the location increase my chances. If I'm inflexible on both date and location I usually don't get what I want.

BG is a nice system with a lot of resorts. Call frequently to inquire, you just never know when someone has cancelled the week you want.

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

Kevin,

Welcome to our Bluegreen Vacation Club forum. Please feel free to ask any questions you want here. We will do our best to help you learn how best to use your Bluegreen points.

First of all, Gulf Shores is a Club Associate resort with very little available inventory. Even if you were a Silver or Gold, you would have a tough time getting into that resort. You would have a better chance if you learn to use the wait list properly (as a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum owner). But, it would still be tough.

Every other year points have some pluses and minuses. The biggest plus is when you first buy it, you get 2 years worth of points to use immediately. 1/2 of the points turned to saved points after one year. So, your best bet is to always borrow ahead. When you borrow ahead, you will get an extra year to use high red season.

If you are intersted in getting a larger account, send me a private message I will let you know the options available to you.

Best of luck and welcome to our forum.

Jim

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

Never let your points expire. If you have some points that you will not use then get a week to deposit in RCI.

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

Never let your points expire. If you have some points that you will not use then get a week to deposit in RCI.

EXCELLENT ADVICE!!!!!

I have done this periodically using 2000 pt white weeks at Big Cedar as my anniv date is in Feb and booking these cheapo January weeks has used up any 'spare' points. Not great trading power, but, we don't need it, travelling mostly off-season.

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

Forgot to mention - you can also deposit to DAE, where trading power is a non-issue. They give you 3 years to use the deposit.

Free to join @ daelive.com

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

Thanks for all of the tips. I can see that I was looking at the club in the wrong way. It is kind of difficult for us to plan a year in advance - our son's activities change almost daily - but we can try and be more flexible.