Need Help Deciding on Add On Direct Purchase

[Sakura Pixie]

I have been a lurker on DIS boards for many years ( just changed to a new account because I needed to change my user name) and I have gotten so much information from these boards! My ex husband and I owned at BLT and AKL for many years but we sold our contracts about 8 years ago. I recently remarried and my husband and I bought 325 points direct at Riviera. We are a blended family of 8... the oldest no longer lives with us but lives close by with his girlfriend and they usually travel with us as well as the 5 children at home ranging in ages 12-19. I had significantly more points when I owned before and am now considering adding on more points with this recent direct incentive. Our goal is to go to Food and Wine every year just the two us, and take the entire family (always 9 but sometimes 11 when the grandparents come which is happening in June 2022) at least every other year for at least 7 nights. My question is should I buy more points at riviera? Or should I buy more points at another resort to gain another 11 month booking window? And how many points do you think would be a comfortable amount? I really can't seem to decide on what the best thing to do would be. We don't want 1000 points ( well we would love it but wouldn't love the maintenance fees) so suggestions on what would be a comfortable amount and where and why?
Sorry I know that is a lot!!!

 

[Suzabella]

I read earlier today in another thread that there is special direct pricing on BWV right now. It makes the points competitive with resale based on what was said. F&W is why we added on there this summer. If I can find it, I'll link it.

 

[Suzabella]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/crazy-direct-incentives-at-bwv.3858786/page-3

 

[Sandisw]

With 325, you already have 650 every other year. I think another 300 should give you what you need, depending on the resort you want to stay..

There are advantages of adding on a different place if you have a second resort because you can vary each trip where you book 11 months out.

The benefit for more RIV points is that you then can use them all together and with a group of 11 for a 7 night trip, it might be a wise idea, especially since you’d want to be able to snag SV rooms there to stretch the points You can always trade out at 7 to other places depending on when you travel.

 

[Sakura Pixie]

Thanks for the link! BWV incentives and riviera incentives and AKL incentives.... considered BLT resale because I don't know that I can stomach the direct cost but at the same time I would like to be able to pool everything at riviera sometimes. This is hard!!

 

[Sakura Pixie]

With 325, you already have 650 every other year. I think another 300 should give you what you need, depending on the resort you want to stay..

There are advantages of adding on a different place if you have a second resort because you can vary each trip where you book 11 months out.

The benefit for more RIV points is that you then can use them all together and with a group of 11 for a 7 night trip, it might be a wise idea, especially since you’d want to be able to snag SV rooms there to stretch the points You can always trade out at 7 to other places depending on when you travel.

That is good advice! What would you choose to do?

 

[Sandisw]

That is good advice! What would you choose to do?

I am extremely biased and love RIV. We have 300 there! But we also have SSR points to supplement.

However, we no longer take large groups regularly. Honestly, if it were me, I’d just go with RIV…if you went as high as 300 points….get it in maybe 3 100 point contracts to downsize later if you needed…the current incentive brings it down to $167/point….which will make it a great price compared to the other resorts direct

If you went with only 250, it is $175/pt. Given the large group, having all the points to use together at 11 months is a good thing, IMO.

And, depending on when the family trip is, you May have good options at 7 months but at least, as I said, you can book SV rooms at RIV which can stretch those points when you can’t trade out.

 

[Sakura Pixie]

I am extremely biased and love RIV. We have 300 there! But we also have SSR points to supplement.

However, we no longer take large groups regularly. Honestly, if it were me, I’d just go with RIV…if you went as high as 300 points….get it in maybe 3 100 point contracts to downsize later if you needed…the current incentive brings it down to $167/point….which will make it a great price compared to the other resorts direct

If you went with only 250, it is $175/pt. Given the large group, having all the points to use together at 11 months is a good thing, IMO.

And, depending on when the family trip is, you May have good options at 7 months but at least, as I said, you can book SV rooms at RIV which can stretch those points when you can’t trade out.

I keep leaning that way too... But the BWV and possibility of GFV ...and even AKV keeps me second guessing myself. 300 sounds about right for an add on. Definitely doing smaller contracts .. I did at least break the 325 in two.. probably should have done 3

 

[Sandisw]

I keep leaning that way too... But the BWV and possibility of GFV ...and even AKV keeps me second guessing myself. 300 sounds about right for an add on. Definitely doing smaller contracts .. I did at least break the 325 in two.. probably should have done 3

The plus about BWV right now is the great incentive that makes it a good price for a direct purchase ..not far off resale and those points can be combined to be used at RIV with your other points which resale can’t. So your not paying the huge premium for that resort by boing direct.

VGF is a great choice and we do regularly split stay there as well. But you’ll have to wait to buy there direct until the new points go on sale. With all of that happening, it may make getting the larger villas harder since so many new points but only studios being added to the room count.

With an every other year plan, having a second resort can be a great thing because you could use all of those points for the trips with the 11 guests…assuming we don’t see a change to banking rules.

I think with BWV only being 20 years left…you pretty much have to assume the downsizing of your ownership will happen naturally when it expires.

We did sell all our BWV to buy RIV because we wanted the longer expiration. And figured in 20 years, even with resale restrictions, it would be worth something over BWV which would be worth $0 if we sold. But then again, we did not really use resale value as part of our decision because we bought and own where it makes sense for us.

Lots of good choices for you to consider!!