Bluegreen to Choice Point Conversion

Details
Written by: Dustin Rocksvold

Bluegreen's sales team would like Bluegreen Owners to believe that they can get more money out of their Bluegreen points by converting to Choice Privilege points and then exchanging the points for gift cards, etc.. A simple search of the various Bluegreen Facebook Groups will show quite a few hits where the poster mentions the salesperson or closer showing them (usually very rapidly) how they can get more money back doing the Choice Priveleges points conversion. Let us take a look at the process and see for ourselves

How does the Choice Priveleges points conversion actually work?

  • Every Bluegreen owner enrolled in Choice Privileges can convert Bluegreen Vacation Club Points to Choice Privilege points.
  • Choice Privileges points never expire as long as you have qualifying activity on your choice account within 18 months.
  • Bluegreen can also change the exchange rate at any time.
  • Premier owners can get an early conversion bonus if they convert points six months or more prior to their expiration date.
    • The conversion bonus depends upon the Premier level of the user and is in addition to the standard conversion rate
  • The conversion process must be completed over the phone
  • There is a $60 fee per conversion
  • The standard conversion rate of 2:1 typically appears within your Choice Privileges account the same day. The bonus conversion rate will be processed adding the additional points to your account within 5 business days.
Conversion RatesBronzeSilverGoldPlatinumDiamond
Standard Conversion Rate 2 2 2 2 2
Early Conversion Bonus for Choice Priveleges x2 x3 x4 x5 x7.5
Total Conversion Rate with Bonus 4 to 1 6 to 1 8 to 1 10 to 1 15 to 1*

 

Redeeming Choice Reward Points

  • Reward nights worldwide are available from 6,000 to 35,000 points (excluding all-inclusive resorts stays, where points required are up to 100,000).
    • Most Choice Hotels require 8,000 or more points for a free room.
  • Members must make their free night reservation by phone or through their online account no more than 100 days prior to planned arrival for all locations worldwide.
  • Members may redeem Choice Privileges points for airline miles or points/rewards in other participating eligible loyalty programs.
    • Exchange ratios can be found on the Rewards Exchange online portal.
    • Ratios can change from time to time and unless otherwise specified, Members must redeem a minimum of 5,000 Choice Privileges Points when exchanging for airline miles or points/rewards in other participating eligible loyalty program.
    • Members can exchange 5,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,000 miles by phone or online with the following:
      • Aeroplan®
      • Alaska Airlines®Mileage Plan™
      • Aeromexico Club Premier®(1,600 kilometers)
      • Spirit Airlines FREE SPIRIT™United MileagePlus®
    • Members can exchange 6,000 Choice Privileges points for 1,800 Southwest Rapid Rewards points by phone
    • Members can exchange 2,000 Choice Privileges points for 800 Qantas Frequent Flyer points by phone
    • Members can exchange 2,000 Choice Privileges points for 800 Velocity Frequent Flyer points by phone
  • Members can exchange 8,000 Choice Priveleges points for $25 gift cards to various locations
    • Limited to 1 gift card transaction every 48 hours
    • Limited to 4 plastic gift cards of the same denomination, from the same vendor
    • Limited to 2 digital gift cards of the same denomination, from the same vendor
    • Cannot be shipped to a PO Box

So let's look at an example of a Bluegreen to Choice point conversion in order to redeem for a hotel room

Read more: Bluegreen to Choice Point Conversion

Determining Your Bluegreen Priority Use Period

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Written by: Dustin Rocksvold

The Bluegreen reservation window starts 11 months prior to the check-in date at midnight eastern time.  As an owner, you can reserve the use of your deeded accommodations (specific week, for specific unit at a specific resort) as outlined in your Certificate of Beneficial Use (COBU) between 11 months and 1 day and 13 months prior to the check-in date.  This is called your Priority Use Period.

If you do not own a full week, you can only book the specific days of the week you are deeded for, not the full week.  For example we have two contracts deeded at the Club at Big Bear Village, one annual and one biennial-even.  Our first (annual) contract is written as follows: 17AK/28F, 17BJ/10F, 17CI/37F, 17CI/38F.  The second (biennial-even) is written as follows: 17DL/35E, 17DL/49E, 17DL/39E.

The breakdown on the first contract is as follows:

  • Unit 17A Thursday (17AK) of week 28 every year (F).
  • Unit 17B Wednesday (17BJ) of week 10 every year (F).
  • Unit 17C Tuesday (17CI) of week 30 every year (F).
  • Unit 17C Tuesday (17CI) of week 38 every year (F).

The breakdown on the second contract is as follows:

  • Unit 17D Friday (17DL) of week 35 in even years (E).
  • Unit 17D Friday (17DL) of week 49 in even years (E).
  • Unit 17D Friday (17DL) of week 39 in even years (E).

So a word of warning, IF you are considering an upgrade where you are trading a deed back to Bluegreen, be very careful to check the new deed information.  Make them explain it to you. We surrendered a full week deeded stay at The Fountains that we could have used for it's priority use period for deeds at Big Bear that are worthless for their priority use period!  They are only good as points...

The codes for the days of the week are different based upon the resort.  The table below outlines the Week Codes for Different Bluegreen Resorts.

Read more: Determining Your Bluegreen Priority Use Period

Banner Elk Recommendations

Details
Written by: Dustin Rocksvold

BANNER ELK RESORTS

Blue Ridge Village

  • 1 Bedroom, 2 bedroom (loft or villa), 3 bedroom cabin, 4 bedroom combined
  • Parking: On site, no charge, one vehicle per villa. Auxiliary parking available.
  • This resort is set in a rustic location, and due to the nature of the terrain, there are many stairs and steps on property. This includes entry into vacation units as well as on paths around the property. This resort does not have an elevator

BANNER ELK RESTAURANTS/FOOD

  • Alpen Restaurant and Bar
  • Banner Elk Café and Lodge Espresso Bar and Eatery
  • Bayou Smokehouse & Grill *
  • Bella's
  • Bodegas Kitchen and Wine Bar
  • Brick Oven * (Beech Mountain) good pizza.
  • Cam Than Bay
  • China House Restaurant
  • DT's Blue Ridge Java * (Spruce Pine)
  • Dunn’s Deli
  • Eat Crow
  • Elevations Restaurant
  • Famous Fast Eddie’s
  • Fred’s Backside Deli
  • Grandview Restaurant
  • Ham Shoppe Deli, Bakery and Market
  • Hickerman’s
  • High Country Taproom
  • Holy mokes
  • Louisiana Purchase
  • Mellow Mushroom
  • Nick’s Restaurant & Pub
  • Over Yonder
  • Peddlin Pig
  • Perto Nuevo Restaurant
  • Reid’s Cafe and Catering
  • Sorrento’s
  • Stone house
  • Stonewalls Restaurant *
  • The Italian Restaurant * (Pineola)
  • The Old Hampton Store & BBQ * (Linville)
  • The Pineola * (Pineola)
  • The Local
  • The Painted Fish
  • Tin Trout * (Crossnore)
  • Valle de Bravo Mexican Grill

BANNER ELK BARS

  • Beech Mountain Brewing Company
  • Banner Elk Winery
  • Grandfather Vineyard & Winery
  • Kettell Beerworks
  • Flat Top Brewing

BANNER ELK ATTRACTIONS/ACTIVITIES

  • Banner Ellk Elementary School * (has a book exchange and an art gallery inside the old school)
  • Beech Mountain Adventure Tours
  • Beech Mountain Resort
  • Blue Ridge Parkway *
  • Blowing Rock *
  • Bobby McClain Memorial Park
  • Carlton Gallery
  • Elk Falls
  • Emerald Village (Mine & Gem tour) *
  • Ensemble Stage
  • Flattop Mountain
  • Foggy Mountain Gem Mine
  • Grandfather Mountain State Park *
  • Grandfather Trout Farm
  • Hawksnest Resort (zipline)
  • Julian Price Park
  • Land of Oz
  • Linn Cove Viaduct
  • Linville Cavern *
  • Linville Falls *
  • Linnville Gorge Wilderness Area
  • Moses Cone Manor
  • Mast General Store *
  • Otter Falls
  • Pisqah National Forest
  • Rough Ridge Lookout
  • Seven Devils Town Hall
  • Sugar Creek Gem Mine
  • Sugar Mountain Resort
  • The Valle Crucis Community Park
  • Tweetsie Railroad
  • Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster *
  • Wiseman’s View

BANNER ELK GROCERY STORES

  • Lowe’s Foods *
  • Food Lion *

BANNER ELK OTHER INFO

BANNER ELK ADDRESSES

NOTE: This is information I have compiled from comments posted on this site and other timeshare Facebook sites. I have been to some of these places (with * at end of name) and the others are recommendations from other people.

Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge / Sevierville Recommendations

Details
Written by: Dustin Rocksvold

GATLINBURG/PIGEON FORGE/SEVIERVILLE RESORTS

Wyndham Smoky Mountains (Sevierville)

  • 3.9 miles to Dollywood
  • 4 pools & 2 hot tubs
  • Building 23 (very good) (pool right next to it)
  • Building 24, 25, & 26 are the best buildings
  • Can see Dollywood fireworks (to left of mountain)
  • Unit 2546 is a three-bedroom deluxe
  • Units 18 – 23 have been remodeled
  • Units 24 – 27 have the best views of the mountains

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Great Smokies Lodge (Sevierville)

  • 3 water parks & adventure park on site (water park is amazing)
  • 8.8 miles to Dollywood
  • Adventure Forest unlimited card is worth the cost (covers bowling, mini golf, ropes course, laser tag,
  • rock climbing)
  • Building 6 closest to water park but backside overlooks the highway
  • Cabanas have a fee per day
  • Evergreen building (all golf view units are in this building) (across parking lot from water park)
  • Games at arcade are half price till 10 AM
  • Have access to Eagles Landing Golf Course
  • Request a top floor unit

Margaritaville Island Hotel Pigeon Forge (Associate Hotel) (Pigeon Forge)

  • 5.2 miles to Dollywood
  • Hotel rooms (no refrigerator or dishes)
  • Located in The Island complex
  • Not a scenic area
  • Some units have separate bedroom & living room with small refrigerator & microwave
  • Very crowded & noisy (quiet after 10 PM)

Mountainloft *

  • 2 Bedroom Chalet, Combined 3 Bedroom Townhome, 2 Bedroom Townhome, 1 bedroom townhome, combined 2 bedroom, 1 bedroom deluxe, 1 bedroom standard, 3-bedroom Presidential untis
  • Fitness center
  • Hot tubs
  • 3 heated pools
  • Sauna

Laurel Crest *

  • Combined 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Townhouses, 1-bedroom, combined 2 bedroom, hotel room
  • Indoor pool
  • Fitness center
  • Outdoor hot tubs

Mills Springs Lodge

  • Expected to open in 2024

GATLINBURG/PIGEON FORGE/SEVIERVILLE RESTAURANTS/FOOD

  • Alamo Steakhouse (in Gatlinburg)
  • Applewood Farmhouse Grill (Apple Barn Cider Mill & General Store) (great food, big portions)
  • Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant (Apple Barn Cider Mill & General Store)
  • Aunt Granny’s (in Dollywood)
  • Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que
  • Big Daddy’s Pizzeria * (Gatlinburg)
  • Bluff’s (wing place)
  • Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company (in Gatlinburg) (Landry’s Select Club)
  • Bullfish Grill (steaks & seafood)
  • Bush Bean Café (in Dandridge, TN) (try the pie, never know it is made from beans)
  • Cherokee Grill (Gatlinburg)
  • Crockett’s Breakfast Camp (Gatlinburg)
  • Crystelle Creek Restaurant & Grill (Gatlinburg)
  • Delauder’s Smoky Mountain BBQ (very good) (call ahead to make sure they have not run out)
  • Dick's Last Resort (The Island) *
  • Elvira’s Café (on wears Valley Road)
  • Flapjacks Pancake Cabin
  • Goats on the Roof
  • Harpoon Harry’s Crab House (great food)
  • Holston’s Kitchen
  • Huck Finn’s Catfish
  • Joe’s Crab Shack (near Smoky Mountain Resort)
  • Local Goat Tavern (great food & service) (excellent ribs) (excellent shrimp & grits)
  • Loco Burro
  • Mad Dog’s Creamery & Donuts
  • Mama’s Farmhouse
  • Margaritaville
  • McCloud Mountain Restaurant (La Follette, TN) (reservations required)
  • Mellow Mushroom *
  • Nino’s Pizza
  • Old Mill Pottery House Café & Grille
  • Pancake Pantry (Gatlinburg) (cash only)
  • Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen (many people didn’t care for it, claim it is not that good & overpriced)
  • Pigeon Forge Deli
  • Split Rail Eats (Gatlinburg) *
  • The Chop House
  • The Chop House Steakhouse
  • The Fox & Parrot Tavern
  • The Inn at Christmas Place
  • The Lost Sea
  • The Old Mill Restaurant* (go early or could have a long wait by 6 or 7)
  • The Peddler Steakhouse (Gatlinburg)
  • The Wild Plum Tea Room (Gatlinburg) (open Tues. – Sat. 11 AM – 3 PM)
  • Three Jimmy’s (in Gatlinburg) (awesome mac & cheese)
  • Typhoon Harry’s Restaurant (great food) (deco is worth the trip to see)
  • Ye Olde Steak House (Knoxville, TN) (one-hour drive)

Read more: Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge / Sevierville Recommendations

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