TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Divi Timeshare Changes

Does anyone have any opinions on the changes at Divi Little Bay? Just got back from 2 fabulous weeks but was told our timeshare has changed to the points system.....not too pleased about that.

Don't you have a contract? I would be surprised if they can arbitrarily change that if you don't agree to it.

Yes, I think the details of your contract need to be reviewed. Belair strongly advised us to go RCI and points with our timeshares when it was first offered but we declined and never heard more about it.

When I was there this March the points deal was an option and I think it is a Divi in house program. It was a short meeting as I said I was happy with my unit and week and am starting to use up my accelerated weeks now that I'm retired.

A few years ago they were pushing RCI points on newly purchased units, but those with old contracts are locked into the old terms, don't go - don't pay etc.

Every year we go to the as my wife calls it "Snatch and Grab" owners update at the Flamingo. The sales department push the Diamond points and want to have us convert our fixed weeks to points. After I ask whats new at the Flamingo and that is why I'm there to get updated on future improvements. and they can't answer my questions. they give me my 150.00 and I'm out of there. Two years ago it took me 22 min and this year 31 min. Looks like I have to improve on my get out time. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
In your case I would revert to your original contract to see if they can impose points on you without your signed approval.

Becoming a points resort does not mean that previous owners have to convert their weeks to points. It only means that Divi will now be following the points system for others wishing to exchange there. If you want to stay for a few days or weeks you may now start your stay on any day of the week and not Saturday to Saturday as was the case. There is more flexibility with the points system and different other perks.If you want to keep your weeks status, everything would remain the same. They would probably prefer for you to convert to points since they are now following the points system.We were a weeks owner at our SXM timeshare for several years and converted to points at no charge about 10 years ago, and have never looked back. We are very happy with the points system!

The above post was meant to reply to you and not scuba.

Royal Islander also went to a points system years ago...They tried for years to get people to convert to points...some did...most didn't. If it's the weeks you like...the unit you like...no need to convert. If it's traveling one wants to do, and keep going from place to place, points would then be beneficial.

Elizabeth - I've heard of several folks who transferred to the points system who could no longer get the unit and/or dates they wanted. I'm not planning to change from my existing weeks and nonmandatory contract.

In order to get the unit and time you want with points at your own resort, you must reserve 10-13 months in advance. If you don't do that, there is no guarantee that you will get the unit and time you want.If you want a specific unit and time, it is best to stay with weeks. We are flexible and often vacation at different times so points is great for us. The best bonus for us is we can get up to 6 weeks at different resorts for the one week maintenance fee we pay at our own resort so that covers a lot of our winter vacation time. We usually rent a condo or villa in SXM and save our points to travel elsewhere because we get more bang for our buck that way. Points is not for everyone and you do have to know and understand how to use the system to your advantage.

I've heard the same, Linda. We were given the opportunity to change our La Vista Beach units to points and chose not to. There was a fee, and since we always use our units and weeks, it just didn't make sense to us. I think the points system works better for people who like to travel around to different locations.

Not necessarily different locations, but different resorts. We have stayed at Flamingo in St. Maarten for 3 weeks for our one week maintenance fee at the Atrium in the past. That was a good deal!

I remember you mentioning that, Elizabeth! Definitely a great deal.

Wouldn't that be the same as an exchange (II/RCI) for a weeks person? I can exchange for anywhere in the world AND if not, I will know exactly which unit and what week I will ALWAYS have at my home resort.

No 13 months in advance needed or potential lame unit to stay in.

With weeks a week is a week...no difference in points related to season or resort. If it's available that's that.

The only advantage I can see with points is partial week exchanges if you are into that.

No not the same at all. With points you can use your points to stay for one night or 21 nights.... your choice. You can choose from all the weeks resorts and all the points resorts if exchanging. Weeks owners can only exchange from weeks resorts. There are many other differences. Like I mentioned above, my one week points ownership at my home resort is equivalent to staying up to six weeks at other resorts of my choosing. Points is not for everyone, but it is the way most timeshares are going now because it is becoming very popular with a lot of people. We changed to points a few years ago because we got an offer to do so at no charge. We thought we would try it as we had nothing to lose. We were not sure we would like it as we were not fully aware of all the benefits. We tried it for a year and we were so happy with it we have never looked back!

I'm staying with my original contract. I like my week and unit

Glad it worked out for you...just not my bag.

One thing I do find easier with the points resorts that when I use II to exchange my week (not points) into a Westin (May-Scottsdale) and Marriott (in Las Vegas) I can easily get a room request granted (high floor, view etc.) because the exchange is not tied to a specific unit.

I never exchange my SXM weeks. I have a 1BR in Las Vegas that I use for exchanges.

As you have been advised, if you use your week and your unit, points provide you nothing for your money. BUT, as we found out when we wanted to go a few days earlier to save money on flights, they "said" that they had no rooms for the extra days and we would have to stay in their "hotel" rooms at a ridiculous fee. Turns out that they had signed over all of their timeshare rooms to RCI and we could not book them unless we were points clients and went through RCI where there were plenty of rooms.