Quote:
Originally Posted by RedMan
I don't mean any disrespect at all but for me this is not about becoming stepsiblings. Obviously, DRI members would have a right to know about resorts being added to their system. I have greatly enjoyed every BG resort I have stayed at. I realize BG is not of the level of some of the bigger hotel chains but that is fine with me. It beats any motel I’ve stayed at. My current budget wouldn't allow ownership in one of those chains. I was attracted to the location of the BG resorts because most are within an 8 to 10 hour drive for me. West coast resorts don't attract me at this time.
My biggest concern is thinking that I am about to be jacked on club dues, maintenance fees, and special assessments. I remember reading some of the posts when DRI bought Sunterra and about the large increase in fees. I felt bad for the owners that were affected. Now I feel like I am about to live that nightmare!
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Keep in mind that Sunterra was, IMO, a distressed company that had allowed maintenance at some of their resorts to fall. I remember reading about pools being closed or units badly in need of refurbishment. There was, IMHO, a lot of work to be done with the Sunterra resorts just to update and repair things that needed to be done.
Bluegreen, on the other hand, appears to be a well run company that has maintained their resorts. I feel like they've been more fiscally responsible than Sunterra. Sunterra seemed to do everything as inexpensively as possible. I don't get that impression with Bluegreen. I'm not sure I'd be as worried about fee's being jacked if this goes through as I don't see as much that will need to be improved upon in short order like I did with Sunterra.
DRI seems to have done quite a bit with some of the old Sunterra resorts as far as maintenance and refurbishment is concerned. The Deluxe unit we had at Fall Creek in Branson was one of the nicer units we've had at any resort. Of course those upgrades come at a price and it's the owners that pay for it. Sunterra allowed resorts to fall behind, DRI has attempted to bring them up to standards and owners, who bragged about the low MF's of Sunterra and the good trading power felt the brunt of the expence. If Bluegreen has been better run and better maintained than Sunterra, Bluegreen owners shouldn't see huge increases in fee's IMO.
