Is it worth time-- time share presentation to get a great pkg?
Apr 27th, 2006, 01:46 PM
#21
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We agreed and prepaid a similar deal at the Hilton Waikaloa Resort two years ago. It was $699 for 5 nights (we already reservations there) and they beat the military rate PLUS $100 to spend on the resort. I readily agreed with three provisions; 1. they would confirm the dates we would be there. 2. They would refund our money if my husband was activated to Iraq. (they sent a written confirmation) 3. We didn't have to attend the timeshare. I couldn't believe that they agreed to that! ha ha. They did, we had a great time for much less than we were prepared to spend and enjoyed spending their money. On check in at the Marriott Ocan Club in Ka'anapali, I was offerred one free night including parking for the one bedroom time share suite I had rented. That came to over $400. $400 for 90 minutes of my time? You betcha. Particularly at 8 am when everyone else in the family is just getting up and breakfast is included. We told him up front that we don't buy time shares but if we did, we wouldn't buy this one. No full kitchen. It doesn't matter what it is, just find fault with it, don't be impressed and they will show you the door. My husband has a harder time at that than I do. I believe in putting them out of their misery quickly instead of leading them on.
Apr 27th, 2006, 01:56 PM
#22
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I just called the toll free number listed on the offer and it sounds really tempting. The $749 includes taxes & resort fees. It is a "garden view" which could not be upgraded [but IF an upgrade was available at checkin...then maybe]. Can add up to 2 extra nights @ $250 per night [still below their regular rate] and all the amenities extend for the extra night[s]. The only extra cost was tax on car. Car is from Avis, is picked up at airport and you have to pay tax on car {$7 pr.day}.
Oh my...decisions, decisions!
Oh my...decisions, decisions!
Apr 27th, 2006, 02:10 PM
#23
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iceeu2: duh, 5 nights is, yes, 5 nights, but "6 days" is NOT 6 days. it is at best 4 1/2 days(3 p.m. check in arrival day, 10 a.m. check out leaving day); I was merely pointing out misleading wording in the offer.
Apr 27th, 2006, 05:40 PM
#26
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If it is a place you would really like to vacation, and both of you are good at standing firm in your resistance, why not go? I have been to a number of these, always at ski resorts, and felt like I got a lot of nice free lodging and skiing for my kids, in exchange for 90 minutes of sitting through the presentation (while I daydreamed about other things). Since I was single at the time, it was easier to say "no thanks"---they couldn't try the game of playing one partner off the other.
I have also been to one that made so much sense that my brother, sister and I talked it over, and we went back later (under no pressure) and bought a summer week at the resort. That was in 1999, and we have met there almost every summer since for a family reunion and a week of hiking, swimming, and tennis. Our teenage kids love the place. On the other years we traded for places in Colorado and in the Dolomites. We've been quite happy with it, and did not buy because of sales pressure.
But read all the fine print before you decide to do it.
I have also been to one that made so much sense that my brother, sister and I talked it over, and we went back later (under no pressure) and bought a summer week at the resort. That was in 1999, and we have met there almost every summer since for a family reunion and a week of hiking, swimming, and tennis. Our teenage kids love the place. On the other years we traded for places in Colorado and in the Dolomites. We've been quite happy with it, and did not buy because of sales pressure.
But read all the fine print before you decide to do it.
Apr 27th, 2006, 09:50 PM
#29
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DebitNM
Just answered you on another site I think
Be prepared to say no, be aware Embassy advertises in local tourist coupon books ("Get $100 for taking the tour") so might be a bit more pushy than others, but it's still a good deal and the "pitch" needn't last longer than you want it to.
As I said, go for it
Just answered you on another site I think
Be prepared to say no, be aware Embassy advertises in local tourist coupon books ("Get $100 for taking the tour") so might be a bit more pushy than others, but it's still a good deal and the "pitch" needn't last longer than you want it to.
As I said, go for it
Apr 29th, 2006, 01:54 PM
#33
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If you want to go on this trip, I'd say go and after the presentation ask them this--why would I pay full price when I can buy a resale (check out tug2.net). We bought a Marriott resale and I'm glad we did--it forces DH to take vacations--but I really like L84SKS's reply and plan to use that next time!!!
Apr 29th, 2006, 02:12 PM
#34
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Careful not to go to the same ones too many times if you are interested in taking advantage of the deals. I was reading my fine print in one of the Marriott timeshares, which said that I would not be allowed to attend more than 3 in my lifetime within the Marriott group.
I would definitely do a timeshare presentation as long as they take up time in the early AM. I mean like 8am. They claim they want to do it at your convenience, right? It'll give me time to think about it, whereupon, I will conveniently forget about it, then need to sleep on it.
I would definitely do a timeshare presentation as long as they take up time in the early AM. I mean like 8am. They claim they want to do it at your convenience, right? It'll give me time to think about it, whereupon, I will conveniently forget about it, then need to sleep on it.
Apr 30th, 2006, 08:15 AM
#35
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We did several time share presentations
in our *leaner* years and it was
a good *value* for us at the time.
However now, our *time* is of
greater value than any money
saved, so won't be doing them any
time soon.
in our *leaner* years and it was
a good *value* for us at the time.
However now, our *time* is of
greater value than any money
saved, so won't be doing them any
time soon.
Apr 30th, 2006, 08:39 AM
#36
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I found some useful info from another posting...
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for Hawaii has a "Time Share Bill of Rights" and in it, it says that "you have the right to receive any promotional device promised prior to the sales presentation". And you have "the right to say NO".
http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/rico/r_brochures
Anyone considering doing a timeshare presentation in Hawaii MUST read this!
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for Hawaii has a "Time Share Bill of Rights" and in it, it says that "you have the right to receive any promotional device promised prior to the sales presentation". And you have "the right to say NO".
http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/rico/r_brochures
Anyone considering doing a timeshare presentation in Hawaii MUST read this!
Apr 30th, 2006, 08:57 AM
#37
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My husband and I went to a wedding in Maui last year. During our stay, we went to the Embassy Kaanapali Beach time share presentation, mostly to get $$ off activities the wedding party was attending.
We did not buy a unit, but at the end of the presentation, they offered us a deal. The deal was about $1200 for a week at an Embassy properties- our choice of four locations: Maui, Kauai, Lake Tahoe, or Orlando. The catch was we had to go sit through another presentation at the resort we chose.
We took the deal fully intending not to buy ANYTHING. It was a great way to get a fairly cheap vacation. I'm happy to say that we just returned from a lovely week in Kauai, wihout buying a timeshare.
The Embassy sales people were not very pleased with us, a young couple, that we would be so stubborn when we just kept saying "NO." They tied to shame us and even turned on the cold shoulder. But, we started at 8:00 a.m. and we made it to our 10:00 a.m. SCUBA lessons.
I have been buying and trading time shares with my family for almost 15 years. I now know to buy resale!!
We did not buy a unit, but at the end of the presentation, they offered us a deal. The deal was about $1200 for a week at an Embassy properties- our choice of four locations: Maui, Kauai, Lake Tahoe, or Orlando. The catch was we had to go sit through another presentation at the resort we chose.
We took the deal fully intending not to buy ANYTHING. It was a great way to get a fairly cheap vacation. I'm happy to say that we just returned from a lovely week in Kauai, wihout buying a timeshare.
The Embassy sales people were not very pleased with us, a young couple, that we would be so stubborn when we just kept saying "NO." They tied to shame us and even turned on the cold shoulder. But, we started at 8:00 a.m. and we made it to our 10:00 a.m. SCUBA lessons.
I have been buying and trading time shares with my family for almost 15 years. I now know to buy resale!!
x pm. Then get up and leave.
Apr 30th, 2006, 09:24 AM
#39
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I go to these presentations all the time. I know up front that I'm not going to buy but by attending it has worked well for my family. When the kids were young, I used to attend the ones in Florida to go to Disney World (would get free park tickets, free dinners) also because I live in Maryland, I have gotton wonderful deals to Busch Gardens for the weekend as well.
Once in St Thomas, I attended a presentation and got a certificate for 4days 3 nights to come back and when I mentioned that I wanted my sister and her husband to join us, they gave me 2 certificates. So the following year the 4 of us went back to St Thomas using our free certificates, we each upgraded to a 1 bedroom 2 bath condo from the studio and we purchased 3 additional nights. We each paid less than $400 for our 1 bedroom condo for the entire 7nights.
In Hawaii, I use the free gifts for the attractions and $$$ off the green fees, we got a buy one get one free for an airplane tour of the Big Island and saved more than $120 plus a big discount on the green fees at a nice golf resort.
If you go in and stick to your guns and not buy the timeshare, it can definately work to your advantage.
Once in St Thomas, I attended a presentation and got a certificate for 4days 3 nights to come back and when I mentioned that I wanted my sister and her husband to join us, they gave me 2 certificates. So the following year the 4 of us went back to St Thomas using our free certificates, we each upgraded to a 1 bedroom 2 bath condo from the studio and we purchased 3 additional nights. We each paid less than $400 for our 1 bedroom condo for the entire 7nights.
In Hawaii, I use the free gifts for the attractions and $$$ off the green fees, we got a buy one get one free for an airplane tour of the Big Island and saved more than $120 plus a big discount on the green fees at a nice golf resort.
If you go in and stick to your guns and not buy the timeshare, it can definately work to your advantage.
Apr 30th, 2006, 09:38 AM
#40
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well, i hear they spend your entire stay accosting you. they find you in the lobby, wait for you after your meals, track you down at the pool. i hear it ruins your attitude the enitre vacation because they are so aggresive. has anyone experienced that?
corwin
corwin
