Bluegreen Travelers Plus - Do you have it and like it?

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

We used to have BG Travelers Plus but let it expire a couple of years ago. I see they now have added new features to this program, and was wondering if it was worth the @ $50/year fee.
Chris

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

We used to have BG Travelers Plus but let it expire a couple of years ago. I see they now have added new features to this program, and was wondering if it was worth the @ $50/year fee.
Chris

I've never used it and I was wondering the same thing. There is a feature called "hot weeks" or something like that where you can get a whole week for a couple thousand points. That seemed pretty good.

Also, the World Hotels option seemed like it had potential.

In general, I have never found these add ons very cost effective. So, it would be interesting to see if anyone has had success using it.

[iceeu2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close iceeu2]

I just renewed my TravelersPlus after letting it lapse for a couple of years. I really got the hot button on "hot weeks" and have used them already. I used them at FoxRun at Lake Lure and watch them daily for Hawaii and the TN/NC Smokey Mountains. They also have Fairfield Glade frequently and that's a really nice area. Right now, I am tracking Cancun vacations which are appealing. It only cost 3,000 points for an entire week in any season....which is good for me, because we can frequently go to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. It costs me more than 3,000 points just for a Pigeon Forge weekend normally. So, I like the check in...Friday ....and we stay until late Sunday or sometimes even until Monday.....

They go fast...I look at them first thing every morning and during the day once in a while....and oh, yes, they are only 10 days out.....

I think it was only $39 for the membership to be reinstated. I wasn't charged any other fees.

[Robo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Robo]

I think if you are flexible on last minute travel, Traveler's Plus is a good enough value all for the Hot Weeks by itself. For my teacher wife, I see her and my daughter taking a couple weeks in the summer at resorts around Michigan and Wisconsin at 3000 points each. I see a 1, 2, and 3 bedroom available at Mountain Run at Boyne right now! Plus some Timbers and other units at the Dells. Plus you can use saved points!

As far as the World Hotels is concerned, if you have points to burn it may be OK. I checked on one in Boston and it was 3500 points per night. We're not that uppity so we can find a typical hotel for one night during our travels. Plus, since it is a "luxury" hotel, there is no pool for the kids.

If you use an Entertainment Book, the traveler's Plus card is a part of this system. You don't get all the discounts for your area, but it's good to print off coupons for where you are going. We used the Dixie Stampede coupon when we were in Orlando.

Overall, just like anything, I think it is worth it if you can use the specialty features it gives. The travel discounts are pretty worthless as you can get the same things anywhere on the net.

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

3500 PER NIGHT?!?! Holy crap.

Are the "hot weeks"/3000 pointers the same "price" for all number bedrooms, or does it start at 3000 and go up by bedroom? Or even season?

Are potentially all BG resorts part of that?

[Robo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Robo]

Boardgirl, I'm e-mailing you a PDF printout of what's on there today. Yes, all seasons and unit sizes are 3000 points.

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

So far we aren't making a killing with it, but we do more than break even every year. At this point we mainly use it for the Entertainment Card advantages. We've used it a number of times for 50% off for AmeriSuites near Minneapolis and Chicago and also for Treasure Island in the Dells. Some of the printable coupons are worthwhile, also. We have found that many of the places listed on the website as offering discounts don't honor the card without the coupon.

If the hot deals are still available once we can travel at will again I'm sure we will use those. We were really looking forward to the hotels for points until we checked on the points required....

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

Are there only Bluegreen resorts listed on the hot weeks or are there others listed? And it's only 10 days out that you can get these deals?
Chris

[Robo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Robo]

Yes, it is for only 2-10 days out. There are more than just Bluegreen in there. There are some Bluegreen with Mountain Run at Boyne and and CMV. There are also some Westgate, Fairfield, Silverleaf, Sunterra and many others.

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

I just checked out the Travelers Plus Hot weeks site and it has an unbelievable amount of availability. I think I will be keeping this feature. It will certainly breakeven with one usage.

I have a .pdf file of what is available as of today. But, the file is too big to post. If anyone wants to see a copy, send me an email and I will email it to you.

There was 34 pages of availability. It probably has more availability than RCI does for exchange.

Wow! For 3000 points. That is a smokin deal. This blows away RCI's Last Call. The cost for 3000 points is between $78-162 depending on how many points and what type you own.

[iceeu2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close iceeu2]

If anyone can jump on it...."hot weeks" has 2br Pono Kai for 05/06! This is wonderful. Would cost you 10K thru normal Bluegreen booking. Bet it doesn't last long this am.

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

I called Bluegreen today to ask additional questions about Travelers Plus.

Here is what I found:

1) Today, Hot Weeks can only be purchased using Bluegreen Points. But, in the future, they will be allowing guests. The only reason they don't do it today is because their system doesn't allow putting in a guest name. If they do allow this, then it would be possible for Bluegreen owners to RENT last call vacations via a back door. We'll see if this manifests itself. I doubt that it will.

The Vacation Specialist told me that the inventory comes from both RCI and II. And, since it is inventory that is likely to expire, they any exchange or rental is considered a win-win. This could just be her opinion, as opposed to company policy.

2) There is a tab called "Condo Vacations" which is basically access to most RCI Extra Vacations inventory. You do not have access to all of it and the prices are significantly higher than in RCI. Since you get an automatic membership into RCI with your Bluegreen ownership, this is not a benefit. You should just use Extra Vacations.

3) There is a tab called "Resort Getaways" that is the Interval International Getaways inventory. It doesn't even try to hide the fact that it is the identical interface. I did a search on inventory for II getaways and Bluegreen Resort Getaways and I found that Bluegreen does NOT provide access to all II getaway inventory, but most of it. For instance, Marriott's were not offered in Bluegreen, but they were in II. The price was about $50/week more in Bluegreen than in II. So, if you do NOT have an II account, this is a good benefit if you only book 1 getaway since the premium will be cheaper than your II membership.