Bluegreen Timeshares La Cabana TimeShares in Aruba - Red Flags with Blue Green Aruba Other
We visited La Cabana in Aruba and attended the Blue Green Time Share presentation. They are trying to convert the owners of La Cabana to their points system. My first thought was the owner gives them a time share with value and they give you points. You give away something physical and get something back that is virtual. So I asked about the points. Am I guaranteed a room at a location where I want to stay? The answer: upon availability. If I book their maximum 11 months out at a resort where I want to stay for a specific week will I get a timeshare. The answer: upon availability.
During the presentation they pulled out 5 - 6 books of their locations and places where I could stay. When I asked if I could have a copy the answer was no. The presentation was based on literature that they have and will not give you, a paper and pencil, they use to write down what you say, and then a price, I was offered 18K points for around $25K. which they will finance at 16.9% interest rate.
When I got back to the states I searched and found this site and I was not suprised to find out that many people are not happy with their points plan. What a plan they have, when you give away your timeshare for their points. No investment on their part. Free timeshare for them and points that seem hard to use for you. As far as I can tell they have no investment in La Cabana. They took over the management of the property when the last company went backrupt. Now they list the property as a place you can use your points. I am not sure how many rooms they have their (since they will not give you any information). My feeling is not many. Their plan is to convert the owners to their points system.
Arubavisit
Boston, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Tirakotchi
Oranjestad,Other,
Aruba
Please.....research before 'bomming'
#4REBUTTAL Individual responds
Wed, January 30, 2008
Dear friend,
I do understand your concern...but....here are some REAL & valid facts:
How is it possible that the Bluegreen vacation club has about 200,000 owners TODAY??
How is it possible that on Ebay you don't see that many BG points being sold??
How did BG win the "Stevie" in 2006??
Why did Forbes and Fortune list BG as one of the Top 100/200 BEST companies??
Why do existing owners still upgrade from the charter to the Preferred Silver or Gold membership or even above that level??
Fact:
The same presentation YOU attended offers existing La Cabana Fixed week owners such as myself the opportunity to SELL back their suite(s) for the VERY SAME price we bought it for 17 years ago up to 2004. Meaning I vacationed for FREE! Try to sell back any timeshare for the same price you bought it for. When Bluegreen corp. buys the week they ask you to upgrade because there is NO such thing as an equal conversion in business from a deeded week to points backed up by deeded real estate.
You just cannot sell 1 fixed(restricted)week of 7 days at 1 resort(La Cabana) to BG and get the opportunity to use their over 40 club-resorts and growing anytime/anyplace and in any size combination year round Free of charge.
BTW does any airline guarantee you a seat on any flight?? NO!! you can be 'bumped' at any time/anywhere! That's the reason why you heard the words "availability". First come ...
All owners have an owners binder with all the resorts and access to www.bluegreenonline.com. A 1-stop system like Expedia.
All owners have legal documentation. Deeded week(s) and suite(s) converted into flexible points(time) year round.
Neuf150
Bowling Green,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Bluegreen at LaCabana, Aruba
#4Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 29, 2008
I booked 2, one bedroom units at LaCabana through Bluegreen points around 5 months ahead of time for spring 07. This was my 6th or 7th trip through Bluegreen using points. I think you should join Bluegreen and search the files. You will learn how to use Bluegreen points and see that the system works.
It does force you to plan your vacations ahead of time. There is a world of details to learn in using Bluegreen but it gives a flexibility that is not available with standard timeshare ownership. I will take the Blugreen method of using points at their 45 or so resorts even though it is based on "availability"
Neuf150
Smithiekid1623
Bacup,Europe,
United Kingdom
You are so wrong
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, January 25, 2008
You are so wrong --- you do not give up your timeshare and get nothing in return
Bluegreen are onwers at Lacabana and in fact have 22% of the inventory which as you well know (having been there) is a lot of accom. I am a Bluegreen owner and infact have stayed at Lacabana two years running 2 weeks in 2006 and 3 weeks in 2007 and had no problem in booking accom.
A lot of pople who complain on here have very little idea on how the club works and how to get the best out of their points and I am afraid it looks as if you have joined the flock of sheep.
To put matters striaght some of my points are infact deeded at Lacabana I have 1 week in a studio and 1 week in a 1 bed all the documetion you get tells you what week and which unit your deeded week is, the truth is that you can reserve your deeded week 12months out if you want to use it at Lacabana.
My M/F from Bluegreen for my points for those 2 weeks is less than half of what I would have paid if i owned them through the Lacabana Coop.
The special assesment fee for those 2 weeks if paid to Lacabana would be $2000 ie $500 per share and each of the units have 2 shares The Special Assesment fee I have paid to Blugreen is approx $50 yes $50 so who is the mug and who has ripped who off.
Yoy should have looked into both sides of the coin first before making the remarks you have.
As for not being able to use the points is a load of Bulls**T we have been with Bluegreen for at least 5 yrs and never yes never had a problem in using our points and please bear in mind that we live in the Uk and so have to also marry up airfares with fixed holidays so its not just a case of picking another date or going off season rememeber we have travelled 3000 miles before we set foot in the states.
Join the Bluegreen Group on internet on there are owners and can tell you how the system works etc
Also bear in mind there are aprox 160000 club members and 80 poeple on here (some are not members ) of have had a problem
Do the maths and for gods sake think for yourself in future and not follow like sheep
Regards
Phillip