Sunterra Question for Spence

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

But my understanding of these arrangements is that the only inventory a Hawaii Trust member can draw from at 13months is the Trust inventory.

Which would be an advantage to Sunterra of having owners convert their deeds to the Trust. The more owners who add their inventory to the Trust, the more inventory Trust owners can draw from at 13 months.

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

Which would be an advantage to Sunterra of having owners convert their deeds to the Trust. The more owners who add their inventory to the Trust, the more inventory Trust owners can draw from at 13 months.

How is that an advantage to Sunterra?

[Eileen A. Member Find all posts View Profile Close Eileen A.]

Spence,

I'm a newbie. How do I contact you to get the new contact for the $2,995 conversion.

Also - what should I pay if I go the 2,000 points to convert all properties. I'm looking to pick up something else to convert at the same time. I would need 4,500 points to become plat. Any suggestions?

Also I understand from a thread you wrote that you can upgrade when you make your initial reservation if you are elite. You don't have to wait for a window period. Is this true. If so I'm thinking plat. may be the way to go.

Thanks again for all the help!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

How is that an advantage to Sunterra?

I'm just running with thoughts here, trying to find where there might be an advantage to Sunterra.

Maybe it's a marketing advantage. Another possible advantage is that when someone converts to the trust, they also give up their membership in, and votes for, the Homeowners Association and Apartment Owners Associations. The trust takes on those responsibilities, and votes as a bloc. So if Sunterra can control how the trust votes, they can also pretty much control the resort - it would take a very concerted effort by non-trust members to counter the bloc power of the trust.

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

I'm just running with thoughts here, trying to find where there might be an advantage to Sunterra.

Maybe it's a marketing advantage. Another possible advantage is that when someone converts to the trust, they also give up their membership in, and votes for, the Homeowners Association and Apartment Owners Associations. The trust takes on those responsibilities, and votes as a bloc. So if Sunterra can control how the trust votes, they can also pretty much control the resort - it would take a very concerted effort by non-trust members to counter the bloc power of the trust.

That's exactly what I was alluding to in Post#6.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

That's exactly what I was alluding to in Post#6.

Ok - I see that.

[Eileen A. Member Find all posts View Profile Close Eileen A.]

Sunterra Question for Spence

Spence,

I have the opportunity to purchase a biannual studio floating week at Villa Mirage and am trying to figure out once I convert how many points it would be worth?

In the Sun Options book High Season is worth 4,000 pts and Peak Season is worth 6,000 points. I know I would receive half since the deed is EOY. Is a floating week figured on High Season or Peak Season?

Knowing how many points I would receive would help in my decision. Thanks for your help!

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

Spence, I have the opportunity to purchase a biannual studio floating week at Villa Mirage and am trying to figure out once I convert how many points it would be worth?
In the Sun Options book High Season is worth 4,000 pts and Peak Season is worth 6,000 points. I know I would receive half since the deed is EOY. Is a floating week figured on High Season or Peak Season?
Knowing how many points I would receive would help in my decision. Thanks for your help!

I will assume it's a 1-52 Float as you did not say otherwise and that's the only kind of float I've seen at that resort. Since it's all year it will take some sort of average of all the weeks of the year.

6 Mid weeks x3000
40 High weeks x4000
6 Peak weeks x6000
= 4115/wk
so my guess is 4000 is what they give out for an annual, 2000 (annually) for EOY.

You would ostensibly be able to book the Peak weeks at SVM for the number of SunOptions that they allot you as your Float could have booked it.

This property is not worth the time, money or effort to convert and there are deals out there, I recently had/gave away a SVM 30,000 contract for $5K and last week lined up a SVM 20,000 contract for $3K.

[Eileen A. Member Find all posts View Profile Close Eileen A.]

Thanks Spence,

I'm in the process of closing on 30,000 SVM. I paid $6,650. I need 4,500 pts to become platinum and SVM told me I would have to buy at least 2,000 points from them to bring everything into club. That is why I'm looking for something for about 2,000 - 3,000 points. Thanks for the advice. I will keep looking. I didn't want to buy more than 2,000 - 3,000 points as I don't want to increase my MF any more than I have to.

I you have any more suggestions I would appreciate it. Thanks again!

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

Thanks Spence,
I'm in the process of closing on 30,000 SVM. I paid $6,650. I need 4,500 pts to become platinum and SVM told me I would have to buy at least 2,000 points from them to bring everything into club. That is why I'm looking for something for about 2,000 - 3,000 points. Thanks for the advice. I will keep looking. I didn't want to buy more than 2,000 - 3,000 points as I don't want to increase my MF any more than I have to.
I you have any more suggestions I would appreciate it. Thanks again!

Sounds like a plan! I would go to eBay and search completed auctions for a Trust property (advertised as points). See what they are going for there. PM to follow.

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

This property is not worth the time, money or effort to convert and there are deals out there, I recently had/gave away a SVM 30,000 contract for $5K and last week lined up a SVM 20,000 contract for $3K.

Hi Spence, i recently bought a resale (CSV1) with 3000pts for $400 on eBay. I also bought another one for $2600 with 6500pts. However, i got a refund because the contract stated that the points we good for this year and it was interchangeable with RCI and/or II. When the sale was complete, Sunterra cooperate stated that the trust (Florida/UDI) does not not give me trading power with II or RCI and I could not enjoy the benefits of the travel options they offer. My questions are, is this true and where do you find the 20,000 SVM for $3K. I WANT those type of deals!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

Nate.

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

Hi Spence, i recently bought a resale (CSV1) with 3000pts for $400 on eBay. I also bought another one for $2600 with 6500pts. However, i got a refund because the contract stated that the points we good for this year and it was interchangeable with RCI and/or II. When the sale was complete, Sunterra cooperate stated that the trust (Florida/UDI) does not not give me trading power with II or RCI and I could not enjoy the benefits of the travel options they offer. My questions are, is this true and where do you find the 20,000 SVM for $3K. I WANT those type of deals!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!! Nate.

There seem to be a lot of eBay resellers with conflicting information on resales of the TRUST (CSV1). My understanding originally was that you got use of the 19 or 21 TRUST properties and that was it. Kind of a mini sub-set of Club Sunterra.

Now I see one reseller claiming that for his listing all of Club Sunterra transfers at no cost. I'll believe that when someone buys it and reports back that it is true. This same reseller lists some strange rules such as available Wait Lists that to my knowledge don't exist in TRUST or Club.

Lot's of people misunderstand the relationships with the exchange companies and it's different for different resorts. At Powhatan if you are a tracitional weeks owner you can trade with RCI only (or an independant if they'll take it) if you are in Club Sunterra then it's II only. At Cypress Pointe where they have kicked out Sunterra management an dual affiliated you can trade your traditional week with anyone but if your ownership is in the Club you can only use II.

I've seen reports that those in the TRUST and not in the Club can trade with II, I don't know if that is really true or not. I own some TRUST points but they are in the Club.

I'd be interested to know what kind of 'benefits' of the Travel Options you are referring to.

Deals are out there, the $3K 20K SVM was from a TSBO listing on eBay for something like $18K, I inquired and that is what we agreed on. I recently got a 21K VdSF for $2600 all told.

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

I'd be interested to know what kind of 'benefits' of the Travel Options you are referring to.

First of all thanks, for responding so quickly. I really appreciate it. As of January 1, 2006, Sunterra allows members to use their SunOptions to book Cruises, Airline tickets and Car rentals. They call it Travel Options (i think). The Club member has to pay an exchange fee of (I believe) 100-149 per person for cruises and i'm not sure if there is any other fee for the other services. I was interested in doing this because i wanted to book a cruise with my wife using sun options instead of my cash or cards and according to corporate you need to have a minimum of 2500pts to start. I asked if they could send me a chart to see how i could try to reserve a cruise and that is when they told me that my type of membership was not applicable. And if i paid the $2995 conversion fee i could call the Sunterra Travel Services for more info: 877-258-2786.


Deals are out there, the $3K 20K SVM was from a TSBO listing on eBay for something like $18, I inquired and that is what we agreed on. I recently got a 21K VdSF for $2600 all told.

Also, i apologize for my ignorance, I am kind of a newbie. What is SVM and TSBO?

Thanks!

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

I'd be interested to know what kind of 'benefits' of the Travel Options you are referring to.

First of all thanks, for responding so quickly. I really appreciate it. As of January 1, 2006, Sunterra allows members to use their SunOptions to book Cruises, Airline tickets and Car rentals. They call it Travel Options (i think). The Club member has to pay an exchange fee of (I believe) 100-149 per person for cruises and i'm not sure if there is any other fee for the other services. I was interested in doing this because i wanted to book a cruise with my wife using sun options instead of my cash or cards and according to corporate you need to have a minimum of 2500pts to start. I asked if they could send me a chart to see how i could try to reserve a cruise and that is when they told me that my type of membership was not applicable. And if i paid the $2995 conversion fee i could call the Sunterra Travel Services for more info: 877-258-2786.


Deals are out there, the $3K 20K SVM was from a TSBO listing on eBay for something like $18K, I inquired and that is what we agreed on. I recently got a 21K VdSF for $2600 all told.

Also, i apologize for my ignorance, I am kind of a newbie. What is SVM and TSBO?

Thanks!

Those 'benefits' are terrible use of your SunOptions, do the math. You can find much better cruise values anywhere on the internet.

We're talking Sunterra here... SVM is Scottsdale Villa Mirage; VdSF is Villas de Santa Fe

TSBO is TimeShares By Owner a rip-off up-front fee company that does little to sell your property once you pay them. They do run eBay auctions for the exhorbitant amounts that they say they'll sell your property for. These auctions never get bids as they're 5-10 times what the market will bear.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Spence , have you rec'd your 2007 Club Sunterra membership invoice? I understand that it is $151.00 for 2007.