Bluegreen - Vacation Club Review

My mother and I purchased Bluegreen this past year in Aruba after renting from a Bluegreen owner.  It was a fabulous vacation, and after 2 months we added more points to get to Gold status.  This allows both of us to split the costs and trade off on who uses the points if one of us wants to take a bigger (ie. more expensive points vacation) or longer vacation one year.  In less than a year, we've also separately been to Williamsburg, Suites at Hershey, Shennandoah Crossing and Club 36.  Our main vacation will be Aruba every year, but with all the bonus time (and yes, we've booked vacations with bonus time), extra week vacations, etc., we feel we're getting a lot for our vacation points.  I've also exchanged into RCI once so far with our Bluegreen points - and I've gotten one week in the Canary Islands at a top resort for Easter break time and am hoping to get a second week at the same resort to make it a two week vacation.

The key is too plan early, and if you're a premier member, get on the waitlist.  If you don't want primetime summer weeks, or winter Aruba & Carribean weeks, then you can also do a lot of last minute vacations with bonus time.  You can really make the most of your points if you reserve Sunday to Thursday (least amount of points), then try for bonus time on Friday and Saturday.  I almost hate going to hotels now that I've been spoiled by Bluegreen.  I have a young son, and it's so nice to put him in his own bedroom at 7 or 8 at night and we can stay up as late as we want.  At this age, they are also still picky eaters, so its great having the kitchens.

I agree the sales people are pushy and probably outright lie sometimes (although looking back, I think it's more because they don't know enough about the club), but since I am lawyer, I knew everything they were saying could be wrong and just made sure to see all the paperwork and get everything I wanted in writing (which I did).  But of course, I find sales people in all areas pushy. 

Overall - absolutely great vacations for families wanting 2 or 3 bedroom condo accomodations.  Just don't come into this without the ability to plan early or thinking the vacation resorts will be the Ritz.