I Suffered Through a Timeshare Sales Presentation for a Cheap Vacation

JT Genter

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Timeshares: a word that probably elicits a range of emotions depending on your experience with them. My only knowledge about timeshares, however, comes from what I've read and listened to about the topic. None of my close friends or extended family members have bought or owned a timeshare. (Or, at least, they won't admit to it if they did).

That said, as a travel hacker, I'm enticed by stories from friends and TPG readers about scoring hotel discounts or bonus points for sitting through a timeshare presentation. So, when Choice Rewards emailed about getting a "seven-night resort stay" for 80% off plus a $100 gift card and 10,000 bonus Choice points for attending a "sales presentation and tour," I was intrigued.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Booking the Offer

The pre-Black Friday offer was for seven nights at a Bluegreen Vacations property for $499. The offer clearly stated that both me and my spouse would have to attend a two-hour sales presentation in order to get that rate.

After subtracting the $100 MasterCard and 10,000 Choice points (which TPG values at $60), I figured we'd be paying a net of $339 and four hours of time for seven nights at a two-bedroom property. Besides the sales presentation requirement, the other catch was the nights had to be used by May 31.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

After reading pages worth of terms and conditions, confirming we met the qualifications -- minimum income of $40,000, at least 25 years of age, minimum credit score of 575, no bankruptcy in seven years -- and agreeing to the restrictions, I purchased the package.

My wife, Katie, charged the $499 purchase to her Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, both to help her meet the card's minimum spending requirement and also to see if the purchase coded as 3x for travel (it did). We earned 1,497 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which TPG values at just under $30.

Reserving Our Stay

It wasn't until a full month after the purchase I received a confirmation that unleashed the emails from Bluegreen Vacations reminding me to book our nights:

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Unfortunately, finding availability isn't easy. While Bluegreen Vacations owners can search for openings and reserve online, this package required us to call to find and book dates. When we did, the calendar was far from wide-open. Ultimately, we booked a three-night stay midweek at Bluegreen's signature property in Orlando, The Fountains.

The call to book took 25 minutes, between finding available dates and reviewing the terms and conditions. Again.

We were able to book a two-bedroom condo at The Fountains that sleeps up to six people. The agent reminded us there would a $125 fee for changing our booking within 14 days -- a term in the original purchase terms -- but said that there would be no other charges or fees to worry about.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

A few days after booking, I received a call from Bluegreen Vacations to "confirm" my vacation reservation. The agent again went through all the qualification details. But this time, the agent mentioned $32 of "taxes and fees" required at check-in and a $200 no-show fee. The agent falsely claimed these terms were sent to me in an email.

At the time of the call, my grandmother was in hospice. The agent wouldn't say whether my grandmother's passing would be enough for me to avoid a late change or no show fee, merely telling me I'd need to call them at the time to see.

Frustrated by the additional fees and terms, I asked for a manager. After a 15-minute hold, the manager towed the same line, insisting I was made aware of -- and agreed to -- the fees. She quoted specific terms and conditions she said I agreed to at purchase. I forwarded her the purchase confirmation email and my screenshots to refute those specific terms.

Still, all I got out of the nearly hour-long call was an additional $50 for the gift card to counter the extra fees. After the call, I received a "confirmed" email from Bluegreen reflecting the newly-added terms for the first time:

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Enduring the Presentation

When we arrived for our stay at The Fountains, we were directed to check in at the Welcome Center after the 4pm check-in time, but before it closed at 9:30pm. No early check-in, late check-out or other benefits of being a Choice elite would be honored by Bluegreen. When we arrived just after 5pm, the grand Welcome Center was empty, before an agent emerged from the back office.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Upon arrival, we were reminded yet again about the terms of the package and had to sign a Guest Registration Form that noted the increased $150 MasterCard gift and 10,000 Choice points. In addition to our names and addresses, we needed to list:

  • Homeowner or renter.
  • Marital status (married; married but separated; living with significant other; single; divorced; widowed).
  • Age of both the primary guest and the spouse or significant other.
  • Combined household income.
  • Confirmation that either the guest or the spouse or significant other has a credit score of at least 575.
  • Whether or not the guest has declared bankruptcy or insolvency in the last seven years.
  • Signature to indicate a credit inquiry would be made.
  • Signature to indicate I've read the Details of Participation.

At the bottom of the form, the disclosure makes it abundantly clear that, "This advertising material is being used for the purpose of soliciting the sale of timeshare property or interests in timeshare property."

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

After filling out the form, the agent seemed surprised by my request for a copy of the forms I'd just filled out, but obliged. From the Welcome Center, we were directed to the Clubhouse to check into our expansive and well-stocked room -- which we are reviewing in a separate post.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Despite all previous correspondence indicating that we needed to arrive for the preview at least 15 minutes early, we were required upon arrival to agree to checking in at least 20 minutes before our 11am presentation.

Not wanting to risk violating the terms, we were sure to show up right at 10:40am. We noticed there weren't many people in the sales waiting room. At check-in, we received our $150 MasterCard gift card and a certificate for 10,000 Choice points. Bluegreen listed a $80 "MSRP" -- which typically stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price -- for the Choice points. That's effectively 0.8 cents per point, versus TPG's 0.6 cents per point value of Choice points.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

The rest of our 11am presentation group wasn't as punctual, causing a line to form at check-in that lasted through the top of the hour. While we waited, upbeat music played overhead an d a "refresh" bar offered caffeine and sugar fixes.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

At 10:55am, cheery salespeople filed into the room to find their assigned couple. Our agent introduced himself and started off with small talk before leading us to the sales center to brief us about Bluegreen Vacations.

Contrary to what we expected, most of the two hours wouldn't be with this agent. Instead, 24 of us who were there for the 11am presentation were gathered into a small auditorium for a group sales pitch. Our presenter for the 1:45 hour session was Chad Elliott, a licensed realtor who's been selling for Bluegreen for more than 15 years.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Elliott surprised us by addressing the elephants in the room, such as joking about how many people "came in to buy" and referencing how couples had surely psyched each other up to say no.

He also landed some stinging jabs, saying we were all too cheap to pay for a full-priced vacation and how romantic this must be for the wives in the room. Elliott also peppered in some interesting stats, like how we were in the largest sales center of all 69 Bluegreen properties.

Referencing Bluegreen's partnerships with Choice Hotels and Bass Pro Shops, Elliott also noted that Bluegreen pays between $500 and $800 — including the gifts we'd already received at check-in — just to get a couple into the sales center for this presentation. And, he noted, one in three couples sitting through his presentation would become owners.

Whether or not these details were true, his forthright nature was very disarming.

He was also fast and loose with the numbers. He clearly stretched the cost of what a typical vacation would cost, using preset filters to make his live-search of hotel costs serve his point.

He made a big deal about how Bluegreen properties were owned by "nonprofit trusts" of which owners were beneficiaries, implying that we'd only be paying actual maintenance fees rather than an exaggerated number to generate a profit.

But for all the numbers he threw around, he wouldn't mention any specific prices for Bluegreen -- whether it was cost of the points or the maintenance fees -- in the nearly two-hour-long presentation. The lack of transparency on pricing indicated that Bluegreen was likely making individualized offers to sales targets based on our profiles.

The presentation left out other relevant information, too. For example, while Chad often pointed to Bluegreen's partnership with Bass Pro Shops, the outdoor recreation retailer was just 12 days away from ending its partnership with Bluegreen, "unless the Company cures certain alleged breaches to Bass Pro's satisfaction."

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

The presentation also referenced a Consumer Reports feature about timeshares claiming Consumer Reports said, "Your bucket of points will buy as much in 20 years as it does today," and that, "Eight in 10 timeshare owners said they would happily buy their timeshare again."

While those are exact quotes from the article, Consumer Reports didn't conclude that a "timeshare has a distinct advantage over hotel stays" or that "most timeshare owners would do it again."

The first quote is attributed to Michael Brown, the chief operating officer of Hilton Grand Vacations at the time. The second statement references a study commissioned by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

After a 9-minute-long video full of kids having fun, Elliott launched into the specific benefits for signing up today. One of the more appealing was called Bonus Time, which allows "charter" owners the ability to book any available Bluegreen resort for just $59 for a standard room, up to just $89 for a three-bedroom. He also said we'd be able to access over 150,000 condos across the world from just $269 per week through its RCI partnership.

Comparing the Offers

Elliott wrapped up the presentation around 12:45pm. At this point, Katie and I pushed our salesperson on terms of the benefits: Specifically, how availability worked for the Bonus Time and RCI partnerships.

When we finally got a chance to look at live availability, the Bonus Time perk did seem legitimate, with dozens of properties showing availability. While Elliott said there were no taxes or fees for owners on points stays, that's not the case on Bonus Time properties. Still, there were plenty of one-bedroom options available at $69 per night that increased to under $80 per night all-in.

It wasn't until 2.5 hours into the process that we finally got our first look at the cost of becoming an owner. In Elliott's presentation, he'd listed a variety of point purchase levels starting at 10,000 points per year. So, we asked to see what the purchase price would be for the bottom three packages: 10,000 per year; 15,000 per year; and 20,000 per year.

Our salesperson returned with just one offer at the 20,000 points per year level. The top line price: $48,800. That equates to 2.44 dollars per point, per year, compared to what the salesperson said is the standard price of 3.75 dollars per point, per year. This offer added another $570 of closing costs to finance the purchase and required 20% down. The interest rate for the example was 17.99%.

We said the price was too high and asked about the 10,000 points package. The salesman returned with a more-detailed offer for 10,000 points every other year for $14,520 -- equating to 2.9 dollars per point, per year. This offer listed the maintenance fees as $806 per year.

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Looking for another data point, we asked for another offer. He returned with an offer for 7,000 points every other year for $9,910 -- equating to 2.83 dollars per point per year -- with $714 in annual maintenance.

As we prepared to leave, the salesperson added a seven-night cruise for two if we purchased the package.

Overall Impression

I figured the sales presentation would be insufferable, but that it'd be just those two hours we'd have to give up for a cheap vacation. I didn't factor in the hours I'd have to spend on the phone searching for availability, booking, confirming and then reconfirming the stay -- with terms being changed or added along the way.

That said, the sales presentation wasn't as bad as we expected. Elliott was entertaining, and spending most of the time in a group presentation was better than we expected.

We went into the presentation sure that this would be a ripoff and there couldn't possibly be value. But we left the presentation interested in some of the ways we could benefit from the system, whether by staying at properties from Monday through Friday for the cheap points rates or by utilizing the Bonus Time benefit.

However, the purchase price and terms weren't anywhere close to reasonable enough or us to seriously consider buying a package.

Overall, the preview was an enlightening experience about how Bluegreen Vacations timeshares work. And, for those that don't mind spending a bit of time chasing down availability and holding Bluegreen to its terms, a preview package like this could be a way of getting a cheap vacation.

While I don't personally regret doing it, this isn't something for which I'd give a blanket recommendation.

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BlueGreen Vacations Time Share Presentation (The Fountains)

  • Thread starter blessedby3
  • Start date Jun 25, 2019

blessedby3

Actually Blessedby4 now, but cant change my userna

  • Jun 25, 2019

We booked a dreaded time share presentation to get a reduced rate and gift card through BlueGreen Vacations. Just wondering if anyone has done one with them and what their level of pushiness is. Hoping this isn't going to be awful like I have heard Westgate is.  

OSUZorba

DIS Veteran

  • Jun 27, 2019

My in-laws own at a Blue Green resort (Big Cedar). They used to do the tours every year to get a GC, but they stopped because they kept getting more and more pushy and would openly lie to them about many things. From what I've heard, if they tell you it is only 90 minutes, set an alarm on your phone and when it goes off tell them you are done. There are also techniques on avoiding the hard sale, the easiest to remember and follow is just say no on everything. No and only No. Don't give any reason, when they ask just say "Just not interested," etc. If you give any type of reason, they can play off of that to try to convince you why that isn't a big deal. FYI: Bass Pro just sued and settled with BlueGreen over their pushy sales tactics at their stores and with people they signed up for tours at their stores.  

OSUZorba said: My in-laws own at a Blue Green resort (Big Cedar). They used to do the tours every year to get a GC, but they stopped because they kept getting more and more pushy and would openly lie to them about many things. From what I've heard, if they tell you it is only 90 minutes, set an alarm on your phone and when it goes off tell them you are done. There are also techniques on avoiding the hard sale, the easiest to remember and follow is just say no on everything. No and only No. Don't give any reason, when they ask just say "Just not interested," etc. If you give any type of reason, they can play off of that to try to convince you why that isn't a big deal. FYI: Bass Pro just sued and settled with BlueGreen over their pushy sales tactics at their stores and with people they signed up for tours at their stores. Click to expand...

Hemlock

I’ve done the BlueGreen Vacations timeshare presentation. It wasn’t too bad at all. The actual presentation was about 90 minutes, but then they expected you to sit with a salesperson who gave you the sales pitch. We gave a firm no and the salesperson called over his manager who tried to sweeten the deal a bit. We gave a firm no again and were out the door within 30 minutes. It was my first timeshare presentation and I would do it again for such a great deal on the resort with tickets and a gift card.  

  • Jun 28, 2019
Hemlock said: I’ve done the BlueGreen Vacations timeshare presentation. It wasn’t too bad at all. The actual presentation was about 90 minutes, but then they expected you to sit with a salesperson who gave you the sales pitch. We gave a firm no and the salesperson called over his manager who tried to sweeten the deal a bit. We gave a firm no again and were out the door within 30 minutes. It was my first timeshare presentation and I would do it again for such a great deal on the resort with tickets and a gift card. Click to expand...

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An honest review of the timeshare... - Bluegreen Vacations Club 36, Ascend Resort Collection

  • United States    
  • Nevada (NV)    
  • Las Vegas    
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  • Bluegreen Vacations Club 36, Ascend Resort Collection

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

An honest review of the timeshare presentation

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Bellagio Las Vegas

Night Exterior

The Mirage Hotel & Casino

Exterior

Treasure Island - TI Hotel & Casino, a Radisson Hotel

MGM Grand

Luxor Hotel & Casino

bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

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Ckh SS HotelProperty SA

The Orleans Hotel & Casino

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Venetian Exterior

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Rooms are really spacious. All staff members we interacted with were so friendly and helpful. Indoor pool and outdoor sundeck was really nice. Like that they had music piped in. With all the road construction going on right now, made the traffic a little much at times. Grocery store close by. They have a shuttle to the Strip. There is a small strip mall downstairs with a few eateries, liquor store etc.

  • Cleanliness

Hello P A M, Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your stay at Club 36. We are pleased you enjoyed our staff, accommodations and shuttle. We hope to see you again soon!

Traveled with several couples and everyone had a great time. In-room kitchenettes and laundry are a nice convenience. Close to Strip without having to pay on-strip prices. Clean and comfortable. Would definitely stay there again!

Hello Lori B, Thank you for staying at Club 36. We are happy you enjoyed our accommodations and location. We hope to see you soon!

This was our 3rd stay at Club 36. Ronni, our concierge, gpt us great seats at Paris to see Jersey Boys. The meal at Hexx in Paris was also amazing with a view of the dancing water at the Belagio. Great time!

Hello Funnig611, Thank you for staying at Club 36 again! We are glad to see that you enjoyed our staff and views. We hope to have you back soon!

The unit (Side B) was cramped. They show it as being about 400 square feet. Parking a concern since homeless live near fence by complex. Need to drive or take cab to Last Vegas Strip. Condo Shuttle one way only so you're on your own to return. Too far to Walk and you pass empty lots. Retail complex is handy. Love ABC stores macadamia candy and Kona coffee.

Hello Debra N, Thank you for staying at Club 36. We regret to learn our location and accommodations fell short of your expectations. We appreciate your feedback and have noted your concerns. Please contact us at [email protected] with any additional comments. Thank you.

We came here for the PAC-12 basketball tournament in March, and used timeshare points to stay here. 2 rooms with 2 guys per room. In each room, one guy got the bedroom and one guy got the pull out sofa bed. They weren't my points, so I got the sofa bed. Memory foam mattress on the thin side. It worked. I could feel the bar through the mattress, but not too uncomfortable. My buddy got the bedroom. Bed sounded like it was just fine. Toilet ran about every 10 minutes and refrigerator door didn't close easily, minor issues that could point to a lack of maintenance. This place is just across the road from the airport, so those 5:45 AM flights with roaring engines woke up the guys in the bedrooms (and our rooms were across the hall and down the hall) both woke up with that. We sofa bed folk slept right through that. The other issue with the airport was the occasional smell of jet fuel outside the building, when wind conditions were just right. We were going to games at MGM Grand's arena and it was a 20 minute walk or so from there. The area around the resort was a little rough, but we didn't feel unsafe. Would I stay here again? I could, but would look into other options first.

  • Sleep Quality

Hello RandyEugene, Thank you for staying at Club 36. We regret to learn our accommodations did not meet your expectations. We have noted your concerns and would like to follow up with you at your convenience to discuss. Please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you.

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When Is a Timeshare Presentation Offer a Good Deal?

Carissa Rawson

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Would you sit through a two-hour timeshare sales presentation to get three nights at a hotel in Orlando, plus 15,000 Hilton Honors points — all for $199? How about for dinner or a spa voucher at a Marriott hotel in Dubai? Would three nights in Tahoe plus 10,000 IHG points for $249 be worth enduring a long sales pitch?

Companies dangle generous perks to try to sell you a timeshare, with offers ranging from free parking to free hotel nights to deeply discounted hotel stays — provided you sit through a timeshare sales presentation of 90 minutes or more.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering a timeshare sales presentation offer.

How timeshares work

What is a timeshare.

A timeshare is a fractional ownership of a vacation property or vacation property lease — usually at a popular travel destination or resort. It’s a lifetime commitment, although it’s possible to resell it. You’re basically investing in the opportunity to spend a week or more at select properties every year.

Many hotel chains have timeshares, including Hilton , Marriott and IHG .

The question "Is a timeshare a good deal?" is different from the question "Is this timeshare presentation offer a good deal?" Timeshares are often pitched as ways to save money on future vacations. Depending on your travel habits, it’s possible the timeshare pros and cons could tilt in your favor. But in most cases, collecting points and miles redeemable for travel is a better way to save.

But even if you know the timeshare route isn’t for you, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should skip out on the timeshare presentation offer. The perks could be well worth your time.

» Learn more: Are timeshares worth it? Possibly, if you buy smart

Timeshare presentation offers

A timeshare presentation offer is any benefit or discount — like free or reduced hotel stays, bonus points or free spa treatments — that you can receive by agreeing to sit through a timeshare sales presentation. These offers can include things like free parking at a resort where you’re staying, free hotel nights or deeply discounted hotel stays and resort experiences.

To determine whether it’s worth sitting through a presentation, consider the value of the perk being offered. In the case of free parking, you would probably be better off spending $50 to self-park and skip the sales pitch.

Can attending timeshare presentations offer a good deal?

Even still, there are times when sitting through a timeshare presentation can be worth your while. You can find good timeshare deals on offers for discounted stays, free nights and more online — or get offers through phone calls or targeted emails. In some cases, you might decide the savings are worth it.

Tip: Watch out for blackout dates, hidden charges and more

Depending on the hotel chain, your offer could be subject to blackout dates, high-season charges and package expiration dates. Read the terms and conditions carefully.

» Learn more: Find the best hotel credit card for you

Worthwhile timeshare offers, by chain

Here are a few offers from major hotel chains that, depending on how you feel about sitting through a sales pitch, might be worth grabbing.

Hilton has a timeshare presentation offer that gets you a three-night stay in Orlando or Las Vegas, plus 15,000 Hilton points for $199. That’s a pretty decent deal considering that rooms normally cost $175 to $500 per night.

This offer is good at several hotels, including the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista — an official Walt Disney World hotel. This means it gives its guests additional benefits, such as extra magic hours and access to FastPass. (Note that both services are currently on hold).

Other Hilton offers include a five-night stay at a resort in Hawaii for $649 plus taxes. The online offer includes 15,000 points. But a recent phone call to Hilton proved that sales representatives have some leeway to negotiate, in this case switching the offer to 5,000 Hilton points and a $200 Hilton gift certificate.

There are two different Hilton packages available for Hawaii — you can pick either Honolulu or the Big Island. Considering room rates here often hover around $500 per night, you can save a bundle by sitting through a timeshare presentation. For example, five nights in September 2021 at the Ocean Tower at the Hilton Waikoloa Village cost about $1,891.

That’s a big discount, not counting that $200 gift certificate and the value of those points, at a sprawling oceanfront resort featuring a saltwater lagoon.

Marriott Vacation Club has a number of specials for travelers willing to attend a timeshare presentation. In Dubai, for example, you can score two free nights at a number of hotels throughout the Middle East.

marriott timeshare deals

You can also participate in timeshare presentation in exchange for a dinner or spa voucher at select Marriott hotels in Dubai.

IHG’s vacation club is extending offers for properties in Gatlinburg, Tennessee; New Orleans; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Lake Tahoe, Nevada; among others.

At the Lake Tahoe resort, you can pay $249 plus tax and get three nights in a one-bedroom villa at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations: Tahoe Ridge Resort, as well as 10,000 IHG points .

Considering three nights at that resort can cost upward of $1,000, the timeshare presentation offer may be well worth it.

Some IHG hotels cost as little as 8,000 points per night, which means you can turn those 10,000 points into another free night.

Who qualifies for timeshare presentation offers?

Not everyone will qualify for these offers. Requirements vary by chain, so check the details of your offer before committing to one of these packages.

In the case of Hilton, you must not have attended a timeshare presentation within the past year at the property where you’ll be staying or within the last six months at any other properties. You’ll also need to meet certain other criteria, though they don’t publish details about what these are.

For Marriott’s Vacation Club offer in Dubai, you must be a married couple 30 to 65 years old with a joint income of over $130,000 who has traveled to Europe at least once in the past three years.

IHG’s Holiday Inn Club, meanwhile, requires that you be older than 25 with a minimum income of $50,000.

If you’re tempted by a timeshare presentation offer

Are all timeshare presentation offers a good deal? No, especially if you’re staying somewhere cheap or they’re just handing out free parking. But if you do some research, you can score serious discounts in truly exciting locations.

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bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

Free hotel stay in Orlando? How I survived a timeshare presentation

a pool with palm trees and a building in the background

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For a long time, I had heard of people going to a popular vacation destination for a small amount of money or free with a mandatory timeshare presentation. It is finally my turn! I recently took a travel package: a presentation from Bluegreen, who is milking Choice Privileges members through their partnership. We will discuss the whole event, and hopefully, we can provide some insights on those who have not received the lucky call yet.

During a phone call to ChoicePrivileges, the agent transferred me to a company called Bluegreen Vacations . The friendly agent offered me a travel package for $199, and I would get $125 back for a three-night stay within Bluegreen properties, mainly in the US. Then, when I told him that I had a Choice Platinum account, I got an even better offer: on top of the $100, I got an additional 40 dollars and 30,000 Choice points. The only catch was I needed to attend a 2-hour sales presentation.  

Out of curiosity, I took the offer and started to chat with the phone rep about the brand itself. I learned that the company has a long history; it began in North East America and moved to Florida in the 1990s.  

I also learned from Wikipedia that the parent holding company of Bluegreen also runs a successful chocolate factory in Florida. The change of ownership happened due to Bluegreen’s previous misconduct in northeast American states in the 1990s, resulting in a class action lawsuit and many settlements.  

Bluegreen currently has 60 resorts, mainly in the USA. Bluegreen Vacations uses a points system similar to many hotel chains where the members purchase a membership level, which grants them several points; the members can then use the points to redeem stays under the Bluegreen-owned resorts or their partner properties. I discovered that the redemption program is not as flexible as expected.  

Timeshare Presentation – Confirming the location

By default, the package you buy allows you to stay in every city and destination where Bluegreen has a resort or a partner property. In my case, it was a double tree. As a Hilton diamond elite status member who only wants to stay in WA, Canopy and Conrad, there was no way I would stuff myself in a shoebox, even if it were free. As I confirmed the stay, the Bluegreen website displayed an upselling page where I could book a condo on the resort. For an additional $240 fee, I opted for the 2-bedroom premium condo. By doing so, I could invite my friend’s family to come to Orlando with me and my son.

Two weeks before arrival, I got a call from Bluegreen asking me a series of questions to confirm my eligibility for this promotion package. After the phone agent confirmed everything, I explained to her that my friend’s flight would arrive earlier and asked how the guest of honour would work with the property. She assured me I needed to call the resort, and they could accommodate this request. At that time, everything seems fine.

Timeshare Presentation – Pre-arrival Surprise

Two days before arrival, I called the resort and explained the situation. I was then told they would not allow anyone to check in to the room before I arrived because of legal, policy and promotion terms and conditions. The response caught me by surprise. I informed the agent what I was told by the agent two weeks ago. The resort staff said they could not do anything and suggested I talk to the corporate office. Unfortunately, the corporate office agent I spoke to told me she did not know or care what the other agent told me two weeks ago, and my friend would not check in without me being present.  

At that moment, I started searching Marriott/ Hilton and IHG properties in the area and was ready to cancel and book elsewhere. The corporate agent suggested that my friend use resort amenities until I arrive, and the resort will take good care of them. I caved in after the agent said I was getting an additional $65 for the gift card.  

On the day of arrival

Bluegreen Fountains is a timeshare resort with a welcome centre, which looks like a regular hotel lobby, but its marketing team operates it. Then, the actual check-in facility for rooms is called the clubhouse. You can guess where the taxi driver will take the guest when they arrive at Bluegreen Fountains’ premises. The corporate agent only notified the clubhouse staff about my friend’s situation, but the fancy welcome centre staff had no idea what was happening.

My friend panicked about the situation, and the welcome centre staff roasted my friend as if we were trying to scam the property for their promotion package. My phone was getting calls from both my friend and the property. Soon, we discovered that the clubhouse never synced with the welcome centre, and both sides operated separately.  

After I arrived at the property a few hours later, I went to the welcome centre to pick up a package. It was an envelope with ONE piece of paper on where and when I should go to the sales presentation. My friend could not go to the room I booked after the standard check-in time because I needed to get hold of this piece of colour-printed paper. They let a young child sit on a couch and play on his iPad for hours.  

Timeshare Presentation – The “Premium” condo

I was too tired to complain to the property and called it a night. After arriving in my assigned room, I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the rooms. It felt like a rental apartment from my university days. Everything in this condo felt dated, and you could hear multiple noise sources from all over the building. I could also smell funny things occasionally, and I was not sure if they were sewage or some rotten objects. The secondary bedroom was too small for two beds, which resulted in zero air circulation capability. I had to turn on the ceiling fan almost the entire time. I am unsure why the HAVC was not working for this room, but it could be the wrong place for me to sleep in summer. The integrated vent fan in the over-the-stove microwave did nothing in the kitchen either. I had to open all windows and balcony doors to prevent the smoke detector from triggering when I tried to cook two strips of bacon and one fried egg.

a kitchen and dining area

Secondary bedroom

Timeshare Presentation – Attending the presentation  

The next day, after a tiring night, I dropped off my friend and his son at the Magic Kingdom. Despite my headache, I returned to the Fountains, awaiting my sales presentation. The presentation center has a more excellent setup than the hotel’s clubhouse, with comfy chairs and all-you-can-drink coffee and soft drinks.

Once I arrived, the receptionist at the presentation centre paired me up with a sales representative who got to know me and escorted me to the presentation room. The entire presentation centre is an L-shaped building consisting of the waiting area of the presentation centre. Then, an outdoor hallway connected the presentation rooms to the office floor. It was an excellent design from a sales point of view. A personal sales rep walked me to the presentation room. The sales rep I had was extremely friendly and provided me with tips about Disney World once he learned that I was going back to the park after the presentation.  

a group of people in a classroom

The sales rep led me to the presentation room, guided me to a seat of my preference, and excused himself from the room. The presenter of the leading sales event was highly engaging and had memorized the script perfectly. T he primary strategy for convincing me to buy their product;

  • She emphasized vacationing and how experiences are more important than making money.
  • She compared the much-discussed topic of rent vs. own, hinting that rent is worse than owning in a vacation context. 
  • She conveyed how lousy inflation has been since 1950 and how our hard-earned money will be valued less as everything is more expensive. 
  • After using the example of a hotel room’s cost, she estimated how much you would spend on a hotel room for the next ten years. 
  • Then she introduced Bluegreen’s points system and properties from her experiences and why we must buy from them today.  

She did give us the impression that I only needed to spend the money once to enjoy the resorts for life and pass my deed on to my children. 

After the presentation, the personal sales rep wanted to know more about me, in particular, how much money I spend on hotel rooms every year. If you know me, it would be a tricky question to answer truthfully. I had several indulging hotel expenses this year due to a few special occasions, including a stay at Cheval Blanc Paris. And most of the time, I did not even need to pay cash for my stays. After a rough calculation, I gave him an arbitrary number of $1000 per night. My sales rep did not expect that number and paused for a few seconds to collect his thoughts. Later, when his manager came, the manager thought the average spending was $100 per night. I looked at my sales rep, confused.  

After going through a questionnaire, the sales rep brought me to view the property I would get to stay at if I stayed in their resort. This was the first awkward moment of this presentation because most people who came to this sales presentation stayed at the Double Tree. Most people did not want to spend the extra dime to experience what they might buy the next day. After I toured around the 3-bedroom Premium condo, I asked my rep why my 2-bedroom Premium condo was so inferior compared to this. I also expressed my confusion about their thoughts when they assigned the apartment to me and decided to show me something completely different. The three-bedroom condo looked upscale, and the layout was way more practical than the one I got.

We returned to the office floor after the touring, and I learned my sales rep had a basketball scholarship from a college in Florida, and he got an academic dismissal because his dorm was robbed when he went out of town to play games. He then worked as a sales at the Nike store for quite a few years until he started working at Bluegreen as a sales rep. I expressed my anger towards his old college for dismissing him under such circumstances and discussed how he could have used Dropbox to avoid this tragedy if he had known me back then. We bonded pretty well, besides talking business through this process. Then, his manager came to introduce herself and started the final pitch to persuade me to purchase one of the packages. Although I told them repeatedly that I needed to run some scenarios before making a decision, they kept enhancing their offer. Eventually, I got out of the situation after my friend called me for an emergency as the kids were tired and wanted to leave the park. Even then, the manager tried to convince me to sign and kept enhancing the offer. A few calls later, I was finally returning to the Magic Kingdom. My sales rep was apologetic towards the end, and I agreed with the manager that we could discuss the offer further the next day. Unfortunately, the manager never called me, which was not a disappointment.  

During the presentation, I also noticed that Bluegreen’s points system was somewhat dynamic, where the high season was much more expensive than the regular season. This critical aspect did not receive much attention during the presentation. The presenter used colour on a slide to indicate the price differences in peak or non-peak seasons. Then, the remedy for this shortcoming was that you could pay a minimal amount of cash to stay at this property. I found this conflicting with their own words because you are again starting to rent, and the minimal money you spend is based on the initial payment you made to become a member of Bluegreen. Furthermore, based on the purchase proposal I had a chance to snag the photo from, you also need to pay about $1000 in fees each year, which is another $10k you need to add to the cost of your ownership. Lastly, if you need to finance your purchase to become a member, you will get a loan with an interest rate of 16.99%, which you will pay double on membership after the 10-year term.  

I did mention many times what happened to me throughout my experience at Bluegreen Resort; besides minimal sympathies and worthless verbal apologies, there was Zero effort in service recovery. From my experience and observations, the guest experience was the last thing they cared about at the Bluegreen. The only thing I got from this chaos was a $65 gift card the corporate staff provided me when I called two days before I came to Florida.  

One more thing

After returning to my room, I researched and noticed that in November 2023, Bluegreen had already sold their subsidiary Bluegreen Vacations to Hilton Grand Vacation for 1.5 billion dollars. I also found a Q&A for the current owner , and from the wording of this two-page document, I saw many things are somewhat vague on the current points-based system. The aggressive sales force I encountered at Bluegreen is unethical because no one ever mentioned the merger. After discovering these facts, I had a few celebratory drinks, as I was pretty proud of myself for making the right decision and keeping calm in a rather stressful situation.  

Timeshare Presentation – Conclusion

If you are willing to attend a presentation for a discounted rate but don’t want to sign up for the membership, it is best to tell your rep that you do not have time to travel because of your work or family situation. You should be able to get out of the presentation quickly. Everything they asked during this event is based on years of marketing experience they have accumulated through decades of successful deal closing. They have studied psychological human behaviour, which means they will get you to crack if you don’t research tactics before attending.  

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Before we left and I call my. Attorney to sign and make the payment, then the rep got upset because I told her I need time to see the papers and everything. They got so upset that give me a bad vibe and I had my children with me. Horrible the lady I as so upset she say this is it. You can go. No profession what so ever. Very unprofessional. I am so happy we didn’t make any buss with them.

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Three separate years as a Hilton Diamond member, during a phone call to Hilton on an unrelated issue, I have been offered and accepted a timeshare stay in Orlando. Knowing Orlando well, I insisted on staying at the Orlando Hilton on Destination Parkway receiving full Diamond recognition, although I did have to travel to one of their vacation timeshare properties for the 2 hour session. I do not find it difficult to get out of the session without any commitment; I level with the sales rep about only being interested in the free stay and that timeshare ownership does not suit my travel style as I travel using miles and points. It can be done:)

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This is such a great read, and reinforces that timeshares can be summed up in one timeless adage: “When you lie down with dogs, expect to get fleas. ”

Thanks for posting! Your experience should be required reading for anyone who is considering a timeshare.

Thank you Dan:)

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Exiting Bluegreen - positive experience

  • Thread starter seekingalways
  • Start date Dec 14, 2023

seekingalways

  • Dec 14, 2023

Thought I would share my experience with exiting Bluegreen timeshare to help anyone else who might be exploring this option. We purchased this timeshare 3 years ago, and almost immediately regretted it. Only used it one time and with the annual fees plus the restrictions on places due to number of points we had, it just seemed like a huge waste of money. We began seeking out information on how to get out of it, sell it, stop paying dues and maintenance fees, possibility of getting involved with a company that we could pay to get us out of it, etc... Ultimately we found the best solution right here on this website and it was so simple and didn't take much time at all! On November 28, 2023, I called 1-844-757-6932 which is the number listed on the Bluegreen website for the responsible exit program. The woman who answered was so helpful and very kind. She told me what we would owe to exit, which ended up being 18 months worth of maintenance fees. We agreed and paid right there with her on the phone. She told us to expect documents to sign via email within a couple of weeks. Took maybe a week to receive them. We signed electronically and sent them back. We received confirmation with the documents all signed and sealed via email 3 days later. I called back yesterday to confirm we are finished and "exited" from the timeshare and she assured me the process is complete and we are officially removed with no more obligations. Looking back on it all, I wish we had not bought it in the first place - lesson learned, but the experience of exiting out of it was surprisingly a very positive one. We had talked to a company that offered to do it for us and didn't feel it was legit and would cost more money and trouble than anything. We talked to a couple that said they stopped paying their fees and dues, but we didn't want to take a hit to our credit and didn't want to deal with collection agencies. So in the end, we are glad we went straight to Bluegreen for the responsible exit program.  

TUGBrian

very happy to hear you were successful in surrendering your bg ownership back even if they did charge you for the process. was this a regular points ownership?  

TUGBrian said: very happy to hear you were successful in surrendering your bg ownership back even if they did charge you for the process. was this a regular points ownership? Click to expand...

GT75

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

@seekingalways , congratulations, and thanks for sharing. Maybe I missed it but was your BG TS purchase paid off before initiating the process?  

RX8

Congrats on your successful exit. That other “company” would have charged you 4X to 8X your maintenance fees and, if they did anything at all, they would have done exactly what you did. The only difference being is that they would have pocketed the many extra thousands of dollars as their profit.  

VacationForever

VacationForever

Tug review crew.

I have the same question, was your ownership fully paid up, i.e. no loan, before exiting Bluegreen?  

GT75 said: @seekingalways , congratulations, and thanks for sharing. Maybe I missed it but was your BG TS purchase paid off before initiating the process? Click to expand...
VacationForever said: I have the same question, was your ownership fully paid up, i.e. no loan, before exiting Bluegreen? Click to expand...
RX8 said: Congrats on your successful exit. That other “company” would have charged you 4X to 8X your maintenance fees and, if they did anything at all, they would have done exactly what you did. The only difference being is that they would have pocketed the many extra thousands of dollars as their profit. Click to expand...

GrayFal

TUG Review Crew: Expert

  • Dec 15, 2023
seekingalways said: Yes it was fully paid. Click to expand...
  • Dec 18, 2023

I called Blue Green today. I was afraid to trust that Blue Greens responible timeshare exit team would follow through with cancelations after I paid them the 18 months of maintenance fees. The timeshare has been paid in full for years. I have till Jan 2 to call them back to follow through with this offer. I just pray my timeshare will be completely canceled after I pay them.  

TheTimeTraveler

harris1ac said: I called Blue Green today. I was afraid to trust that Blue Greens responible timeshare exit team would follow through with cancelations after I paid them the 18 months of maintenance fees. The timeshare has been paid in full for years. I have till Jan 2 to call them back to follow through with this offer. I just pray my timeshare will be completely canceled after I pay them. Click to expand...

CalGalTraveler

Why wouldn't Bluegreen do this? Sweet deal - they sell for $20k (?) upfront 3 years ago no mortgage so all cash, get 3 years of MF + an 18 month runway to sell this all over again. This is what gives timeshares a bad name. OP I am glad this worked out for you but (sigh) what an expensive and painful lesson with your hard earned cash! The value in timeshares is in using them. I am sorry you couldn't find a good way to use this to extract more value and had to learn the hard way. Good luck.  

seekingalways said: We had the same reservations but truly it was on the up and up, easy, and quick. When I called I spoke with a woman named Kelley. She followed the process and kept us updated the whole way through. It took less than 3 weeks since we chose to receive and sign the paperwork electronically. Click to expand...
CalGalTraveler said: Why wouldn't Bluegreen do this? Sweet deal - they sell for $20k (?) upfront 3 years ago no mortgage so all cash, get 3 years of MF + an 18 month runway to sell this all over again. This is what gives timeshares a bad name. OP I am glad this worked out for you but (sigh) what an expensive and painful lesson with your hard earned cash! The value in timeshares is in using them. I am sorry you couldn't find a good way to use this to extract more value and had to learn the hard way. Good luck. Click to expand...
GrayFal said: I also agree that you can trust the Exit Team. You will receive everything in writing and be sure to read thru everything and then sign. I am selling some of my Bluegreen contracts. I paid the transfer fee and submitted my contract online with their form. 45 days ( they have 30 business days) after I submitted my transfer form I received a call from the Talcott Law Office in Boca Raton who was sending me the transfer forms as BG exercised their ROFR. The next day I received the forms via email, I printed them, notarized them and mailed them off to the law firm. Next step is to receive my payout from BG Click to expand...
  • Jan 16, 2024

May I ask if you did receive money back from BG? I didn't know if they would do that.  

Beth_Curt said: May I ask if you did receive money back from BG? I didn't know if they would do that. Click to expand...
  • Feb 27, 2024
theallens5 said: I wondered the same, sounds like it was paid off. I need to know if there are options if you still owe on a loan? Click to expand...
  • Feb 28, 2024

Good to know! We have had companies reach out to us stating they are able to help us get out of Bluegreen because of lies and deceptions told to us when we bought more points. We have a loan currently, and they are aware of this and yet still claiming to be able to help us.  

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  • Bluegreen Vacations

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Unsolicited - verified purchase.

Bluegreen Vacations has a rating of 1.4 stars from 24 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Bluegreen Vacations most frequently mention maintenance fees, and pro shop problems. Bluegreen Vacations ranks 112th among Vacation sites.

Bluegreen Vacations product 0

“Wonderful experience”

I spoke to a great agent named Max who was very knowledgeable about scheduling my vacation making sure I have all the information and phone numbers to be in contact if I need them for anything. We need more kind and professional people that cares about giving good service to clients.Many blessings to him.

“Do not buy into this!”

Biggest regret in life is buying into this timeshare. Sick to my stomach every time I think about it. Points system is skewed and creates little to no value. You're better off buying a resort vacation by yourself every time after all the money you put towards your points, maintenance fees, and other fees they don't tell you about in the beginning. You also have to pay to transfer points at the end of the year otherwise they just vanish.

Reviews (24)

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  • Follow Eddie W.

Got suckered into the bass pro shop deal. The presentation was awefull. The salesman was pushy and wouldn't take no for answer. Then the guy had the nerve to get pissed off when I didn't purchase anything. Even at the end when I had to sigh a paper to leave he got all pissed off because I wanted to read the paper before signing. If I could have gave him a beat down with out getting arrested I would have. Horrible sales people. They should be arrested

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Reviews 1.4.

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I had a stay booked today at Branson…

I had a stay booked today at Branson Missouri check in at 4 pm called them at 8 am to reschedule because they admitted my girlfriend in hospital for blood infection. The guy who answered the phone said I had to pay 125.00 for canceling I told him I wasn’t canceling I was rescheduling because girl friend was in hospital and she was required to be there I already paid up front for 2 night stay and they were going to give me gift card at bass pro shop after your to reimburse me. He wouldn’t consider it and if I don’t show it’s going to cost me 200.00 for no show. What a racket organized crime has better judgment and I ain’t paying nothing more I’ve already spent 175.00 for two nights I’ve lost. I hope you’re happy the way you treat people. I can’t believe Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris allow you people in the stores to prey on people.

Date of experience : November 10, 2022

I would suggest that everyone stay away…

I would suggest that everyone stay away from this place. When I booked my vacation, I was told I would be in this luxurious resort in San Antonio but on the way to the resort, we were moved to a Courtyard hotel. They say they don’t do a high pressure sales pitch but every time we said no, they came back with a different offer. The first one was $53000, the second was $43000 and the last was $18000. We still said no and ran out as quick as we could. I’m glad we did after reading the other reviews!

Date of experience : August 02, 2023

Horrible Experience

I had a horrible experience with this company. They have 1.8 stars for a reason. I wish I had seen that before I spent money. They sold me a vacation package to any of their destinations and told me that the resorts were pet friendly. Not one of the resorts are pet friendly. Then they advised me to just tell the resort that my pets are service animals! That's not even legal!! You can't lie and say your pets are service animals. When I tried to get a refund they refused and just offered to extend my dates. Their customer service is the most uncomfortable fake friendly I have ever experienced. What a waste of money!!

Date of experience : February 28, 2023

Thieving Sleazebuckets

Just got off the phone with one of these lying scumbags. Of course didn't have my dates available, but could "upgrade me" for 4X my initial investment. Turns out the resorts they advertise on their website cost WAY more than what they steal from you initially. Then when you go to book you find out those places cost MUCH more, and what you paid for was just a standard room in a 3 or a 2.5 star hotel/motel somewhere in the vicinity of the resort. Apparently you are STILL expected to attend their meeting even after you have learned you have been cheated out of staying at a resort for a discount price. Wondering if I should just take the lo$$. Anyway, remember the old saying I chose to forget: "If it sounds too good to be true it is."

Date of experience : September 23, 2022

extremely high pressure and rude!

This company is extremely high pressure. They promise a lot and are all friendly until you tell them no numerous times, then they get all short and very rude with you. Best not to buy in and just get the “free” or discounted nights because the annual fees are outrageous. Been an owner now for 12 years and would love to know how to get out. I can say we definitely use it year to year as to not pay all the fees for nothing. However, I can find a much better deal on my own without the cost of the actual points mixed with the annual fees.

Date of experience : February 08, 2023

I 100% would not recommend

I 100% would not recommend. I feel that I was taken advantage of by this company. When they reached out to me to schedule a trip, I was given incorrect information that led to me being charged a $125 cancellation fee even though I was never told when and under what conditions the cancellation fee would take effect. The unclear and conflicting information that I received makes me feel as though I had been lied to.

Date of experience : October 03, 2022

After reading other reviews I realized…

After reading other reviews I realized I wasn’t the only one lied to (free breakfast) and held hostage until we purchased four hours later (they held my drivers licenses and credit card and despite my asking no one seemed to have it until we agreed to but) but we bought the lowest possible program. THEN, , we were later told we were required to visit together on our first visit and required to attend ANOTHER sales scam presentation and get a gift. Hahaha ..in today’s presentation they offered to “upgrade” us to owners, no cost to us EXCEPT a monthly maintenance fee ($100 I later learned) and we refused. The gift??? Discount tickets to local concerts and shows. The Marquee (NOLA) has no food, no restaurant, no bar, no music and no hors d'oeuvres at the pool. It’s a nice hotel actually. My Chinese wife summed it up “they are serial scammers running a pyramid scheme. If you said you wanted to go to Mars they would claim to know Elon Musk”. I think the concept is ok and the facility (Marquee in NOLA) is beautiful but it lacks a life inside the property. It’s a hotel, it’s a place to sleep but the sales team and sales methods are a real turn off. I would never give them another dollar.

Date of experience : April 25, 2023

I would rate 0 starts if possible

I would rate 0 starts if possible. Save your money and time and NEVER associate yourself with this company. There is hardly any value to their points system. You are so much better off booking a vacation on your own. They are also loaded with fees. I’m desperately trying to get out of my contract. They pressure you in to buying more points every step of the way.

Date of experience : November 05, 2022

My husband was approached at a bass pro…

My husband was approached at a bass pro shop to take advantage of a “free stay” at one of Blue Green’s resorts in exchange to listen to two- hour presentation. We chose to travel to Williamsburg, VA to stay at company’s resort at Patrick Henry Square. I knew going in that we were not going to purchase a timeshare and we held fast to that. While the sales rep was professional and pleasant, her manager was extremely condescending and could not seem to grasp why we were unwilling to finance a $17,000 vacation package over 10 years at 17 percent, as well as pay $1,000 in yearly maintenance fees. We walked out of there after 2 1/2 hours with a $100 gift card which we spent on souvenirs in Colonial Williamsburg. I wish I had read the reviews about this company before attending presentation so I would have had more ammunition in presenting my argument in why we did not wish to purchase. In general, do your research before making the decision to buy one of these timeshares. I am so glad that we did not purchase.

Date of experience : June 01, 2023

When i purchase the package the sales…

When i purchase the package the sales man told me that you have to attend to a presentation which they did not explain that all the family had to attend if not you were going to charge a fee of a lot of dollars! This is bull…. i purchase the package at the mall And the men told me that one of us can attend not all had to! Please be aware before you purchase with blue green vacations!

Date of experience : June 09, 2023

We have been owners for over 25 years

We have been owners for over 25 years. We have had wonderful vacations. The resorts are beautiful and clean. Staff is friendly and helpful. We don't attend the update which are really sales meeting because we don't need more points and sales staff lie. So we stay away. But overall we are happy with BG.

Date of experience : March 25, 2023

If I could give a 0 star rating I…

If I could give a 0 star rating I would. I spoke with someone one day, she had me on hold so long I hung up the phone. Bluegreen took it upon themselves to pick and book a destination and date for my vacation on the following day (not the same day). I called someone and he was suppose to transfer me to the correct department and hung the phone up in my face. I was never rude or loud. Very disappointed.

Date of experience : March 01, 2023

I wish that I could give a -10 score

I wish that I could give a -10 score. They lure to their presentation, lie about the gifts, and there is no honest customer service. Steer clear of this company.

Date of experience : February 24, 2024

Scammed $50 & shady practices

Literally lied to us and pressured into signing up for a possible vacation. The people at the Austin Texas Barton creek mall lied and incited that the $50 gift card is a ‘gift’ for signing up with the $150 and can get the FULL $150 back if decided to cancel before a month. Well, they absolutely lied and charged the refund back deducting the $50 ‘free’ gift card provided from the mall & bluegreen ‘refunding’ ONLY $99.. pure scammers/liers & from reading the others reviews showing similarities we got lucky that we didn’t proceed to use bluegreen for ANYTHING in the future or present. Wish we never wasted our time and I would of saved my $150 which sadly turned into $99 from being lied too. STAY AWAY AND DONT FALL FOR ANYTHING THESE PEOPLE SAY OR TRY TO PRESSURE. AND … the people on their customer service line is horrible and super rude + aggressive.. the ‘highest’ management lady that issued the $99 refund instead of the $150 was super super DISRESPECTFUL.

Date of experience : October 11, 2022

Poor Service Experience. Lost a Sale.

Booked hotel. Drove 6 hours to presentation. Followed directions to center that were given to me. Got lost. Was late for Staff member stated that it happens all the time. Center would not accommodate me for a presentation as I had scheduled and booked this presentation. I was available for the rest of the day for a presentation. In a four hour window of time, staff could have presented what they needed to present. Was given 2 other presentations time the following day. I was already booked and scheduled with previous plans. If these staff members really wanted to make a sale, I think that they have made time with a four hour window of time to meet with me. Avoid this business.

Date of experience : March 02, 2023

Waste of time with the presentation

Waste of time with the presentation. Too expensive and dishonest. Then they charged extra charges on my cc after we left the resort. Don't use them, just another scam.

Date of experience : July 24, 2023

We had a 3day weekend reservations at…

We had a 3day weekend reservations at Wisconsin Dells Christmas Mountian Resort (resv.50XBL) for DEC 16th thru 18th. Checked in about 5:30 after a nice day in the Dells and proceeded to unwind and get ready for a day of shopping with our daughter and 2 granddaughters. Went to bed around midnight only to be awakened an hour later to bedbugs in our granddaughters king size bed. Although they offered to move us to another unit, our granddaughters were unable to bring themselves to sleep there that night. We had to drive home at 2 in the morning (2hr drive) the overnight manager told us to call customer services on Monday. Customer services said "we are sorry for your experience - we will give you back your points". I told them giving me back the points I never had opportunity to use is the very least they should do considering the "experience". Their supervisor said there is nothing more they can do - I would have to talk to the site manager. The site manager (Tiffany) said that since we didn't take a different unit at 2 in the morning - I can have my points back and call it a day. I requested some type of compensation for the situation they caused and us having to drive home at 2AM but she said she didn't have anything to offer. Be Very Wary if you decide to go there. I won't ever go back or recommend them to anyone.

Date of experience : December 16, 2023

Bluegreen salespeople are nothing but…

Bluegreen salespeople are nothing but hustlers and do not tell the potential buyer the truth about anything! I was shown great “cabins” that were absolutely beautiful and actually finally made me buy into this rip off. I have used the points (might as well since I paid through the nose for them) BUT I have never seen or stayed at a Bluegreen resort that came close to those cabins they showed in the beginning. Most of the rooms are no better than regular hotel rooms! I was told “oh it’s no problem selling the points if you decide to get out— we will help you sell it”. What a as load of crap I paid pinnacle to sell the timeshare and have not even received one call from them offering to help to sell. You basically have to pay people to take it off your hands! There is a special place for people like this that blatantly lie and cheat people!!!!

Date of experience : September 16, 2022

Can’t sign in to make a reservation

Can’t sign in to make a reservation. Don’t know what’s wrong with their website. They’re never there on the weekends really poor customer service would never use again.

Date of experience : March 18, 2023

Give it back

If your points are paid for you can give them back by paying 1.5 years of maintenance fees to rid yourself of this timeshare. It’s called responsible exit. They can be reached by the same phone number used to call BG.

Date of experience : September 12, 2023

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IMAGES

  1. My experience with a Bluegreen Vacations timeshare presentation

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  2. Bluegreen Vacations

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  3. Vacation Ownership , Timeshare Resorts

    bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

  4. BlueGreen Vacations Mountain Loft Timeshare Tour, Gatlinburg, TN

    bluegreen vacations timeshare presentation reviews

  5. Bluegreen Vacations

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  6. Choice Privileges Bluegreen Vacations Timeshare Preview Offer

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VIDEO

  1. Dump your BlueGreen Timeshares! Latest News on how to get rid of them

  2. Bluegreen Vacations 4 Wide Shenanigans From The Stands

  3. Testimonials -- Flexibility -- Vacation Your Way

  4. BLUEGREEN VACATIONS GRAND VILLAS AT WORLD GOLF VILLAGE PROPERTY TOUR at night

  5. Power Of Vacation

  6. Capital Vacations Timeshare Is A Scam??

COMMENTS

  1. I Suffered Through a Timeshare Sales Presentation for a Cheap Vacation

    The interest rate for the example was 17.99%. We said the price was too high and asked about the 10,000 points package. The salesman returned with a more-detailed offer for 10,000 points every other year for $14,520 -- equating to 2.9 dollars per point, per year. This offer listed the maintenance fees as $806 per year.

  2. Top 925 Reviews From Legit Bluegreen Corp. Buyers

    Bluegreen Corp. author review by Lisa Ann Schreier. Bluegreen is a company that specializes in timeshares and adventure vacations, and it was founded in 1966. The company caters to more than ...

  3. BlueGreen Vacations Time Share Presentation (The Fountains)

    I've done the BlueGreen Vacations timeshare presentation. It wasn't too bad at all. The actual presentation was about 90 minutes, but then they expected you to sit with a salesperson who gave you the sales pitch. We gave a firm no and the salesperson called over his manager who tried to sweeten the deal a bit.

  4. Beware of sales presentation

    Bluegreen Vacations Club 36, Ascend Resort Collection: Beware of sales presentation - See 1,175 traveler reviews, 421 candid photos, and great deals for Bluegreen Vacations Club 36, Ascend Resort Collection at Tripadvisor. ... I have been to other timeshare sales presentations (I own a timeshare) but never attended one as high pressure as this ...

  5. An honest review of the timeshare presentation

    Bluegreen Vacations Club 36, Ascend Resort Collection: An honest review of the timeshare presentation - See 1,177 traveler reviews, 421 candid photos, and great deals for Bluegreen Vacations Club 36, Ascend Resort Collection at Tripadvisor.

  6. Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc.

    04/13/2024. Bluegreen Vacations (BGV) sales reps, in my opinion, are aware of the unethical practices they engage in, which has left us feeling deceived and financially burdened.During our initial ...

  7. Bluegreen Vacations Reviews

    So in total, they were wanting to charge me $419 plus tax and a 2-3 hour timeshare presentation for my "free" luxury vacation. RUN as far away from these crooks as you can! If you do happen to get sucked into their lies, make sure you cancel within 30 days to get your money back. Unfortunately I waited too late.

  8. Are Timeshare Presentation Offers a Good Deal?

    Hilton has a timeshare presentation offer that gets you a three-night stay in Orlando or Las Vegas, plus 15,000 Hilton points for $199. That's a pretty decent deal considering that rooms ...

  9. Bluegreen Vacations Reviews

    Bluegreen Vacations Reviews 104 ... I do NOT recommend that anyone even attend a Bluegreen Timeshare presentation. They will tell you it is no obligation but pressure you relentlessly until you give in. They had me in tears on my honeymoon! You cannot get help from their representatives and once they have your signature you are stuck.

  10. Welcome to the Bluegreen Timeshare Owners Discussion forum!

    A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners! Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost! ... Bluegreen Vacations. Contact BBS Admin; Terms and rules;

  11. Bluegreen Vacations Reviews

    Join the 105 people who've already reviewed Bluegreen Vacations. Your experience can help others make better choices. ... I understand those questions are to qualify you for being eligible to make a purchase of their timeshare. But to word it in such a humiliating way. ... Read 1 more review about Bluegreen Vacations. MA. Marlene. 3 reviews. US ...

  12. Bluegreen Vacations : r/travel

    On one of their timeshare presentations right now in the Ozarks. We got suckered in around Xmas time at Cabelas, I knew what was coming. Drove 12hrs this wknd to get here bc the airlines suck right now. We had our presentation this morning everyone must of showed up early because we started 1hr earlier. I'd say it only lasted 2.5hrs.

  13. Free hotel stay in Orlando? How I survived a timeshare presentation

    For an additional $240 fee, I opted for the 2-bedroom premium condo. By doing so, I could invite my friend's family to come to Orlando with me and my son. Two weeks before arrival, I got a call from Bluegreen asking me a series of questions to confirm my eligibility for this promotion package.

  14. Exiting Bluegreen

    Bluegreen. Dec 14, 2023. #1. Thought I would share my experience with exiting Bluegreen timeshare to help anyone else who might be exploring this option. We purchased this timeshare 3 years ago, and almost immediately regretted it. Only used it one time and with the annual fees plus the restrictions on places due to number of points we had, it ...

  15. Working at Bluegreen Vacations: 147 Reviews

    147 reviews from Bluegreen Vacations employees about Bluegreen Vacations culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. ... you walk up to unaware people in Bass Pro Shop and try to twist their arm into buying a $199 vacation package to see a timeshare presentation. You are on your feet all day, you can't ...

  16. Bluegreen Vacations Reviews

    Bluegreen Vacations Reviews 104 ... Subject: Complaint Regarding Unacceptable Treatment During Bluegreen Vacations Timeshare Tour on 1/30/2024. ... -Told there would be a large breakfast at the vacation presentation, which I showed up to and there was no breakfast or food at all.

  17. Bluegreen Vacations Reviews

    Bluegreen Vacations has a rating of 1.4 stars from 24 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Bluegreen Vacations most frequently mention maintenance fees, and pro shop problems. Bluegreen Vacations ranks 170th among Vacation sites. Service 11. Value 11.

  18. Vacation Ownership , Timeshare Resorts

    To add even greater value for our Vacation Club owners and their families, Bluegreen has created strategic alliances with industry leaders to provide exclusive benefits like one-of-a-kind experiences and a greater range of vacation options. That's why Bluegreen Vacations is the Official Vacation Ownership Provider for Bass Pro Shops® and ...

  19. Working at Bluegreen Vacations: 363 Reviews

    363 reviews from Bluegreen Vacations employees about Bluegreen Vacations culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. ... you walk up to unaware people in Bass Pro Shop and try to twist their arm into buying a $199 vacation package to see a timeshare presentation. You are on your feet all day, you can't ...

  20. Bluegreen Vacations Reviews

    Join the 104 people who've already reviewed Bluegreen Vacations. Your experience can help others make better choices. | Read 41-60 Reviews out of 100 ... Bluegreen Vacations Reviews 104 ... I have owned bluegreen timeshare for over 25 years, and for 20 years it was pretty great. It had its ups and downs, but what doesn't.

  21. Bluegreen Club 36™

    Bluegreen Club 36™. Club Resort. 372 East Tropicana Avenue. Las Vegas, NV 89169. 702.856.2900. Get Directions Resort Map. Bluegreen Club 36 is the perfect retreat from the non-stop action of the Strip. Guests can relax by the covered pool and sunbathe on the outdoor deck. The resort is conveniently surrounded by a retail center filled with ...

  22. BOOK A GETAWAY

    We Deliver a Better Way to Vacation. At Bluegreen Vacations, we're in the business of creating lasting vacation memories. Our purpose is to provide our 220,000+ owners with a great vacation experience, every time. We fulfill that purpose by going above and beyond to deliver the unexpected, and by putting the needs of our owners and guests first.