Vidanta sells a product that can really only be bought retail. They charge transfer fees in the $10,000-$30,000 plus while at the same time stripping any program/contractual benefits. The best you can probably do is find an older contract for one of the lower level Vidanta properties and then come back and use it as a trade it and be prepared to negotiate for hours after having spent 20+ hours familiarizing yourself with every aspect of their program and contracts. Unlike most timeshares where you can buy resale and save thousands, you can't do that with Grand Luxxe.
If you buy direct be prepared to pay in the neighborhood north of $80,000-$250,000 for a rtu with no resale value. Buying for any other reason than to use the resort most of the time makes no sense whatsoever. For most SFX, II and renting from an owner is the much more economical way to go.
I agree mostly with this post but would like to add a few points from my perspective.
Vidanta has indeed structured their contracts largely to kill resales and force people to buy through them - but that does not mean you have to pay what they ask or actually anything close to it. I have found largely everything in the contract is negotiable - sales price, free benefits, different resale options, splitting weeks, no pay unless you go, and on and on.
To be honest, from a business perspective, I would do the same thing. Zero value resales will eventually kill the cash flow that allows resorts to grow and prosper. While I despise their high pressure sales tactics, when you get past that to the contracts people, it is another story - but it does take work and willingness to do so to be successful.
IMHO, even if you are willing to do the negotiations, the only way it makes sense to buy into Vidanta is if that is going to be your primary or only resort. We never exchange as we can't get even close to even value with amenities like free golf, but that is perfect for us as we use several times a year taking family and friends. We do get a couple of weeks a year at SFX to use when we want at other places.
I think the OP made the right decision at this time as they do not understand the Vidanta system; however, any blanket statement that buying through Vidanta is always a mistake is wrong. It depends on the individual's vacation goals for themselves and their family - but realize, it won't be handed to you on a silver platter.
Mike
