Hi,
I just recieved a "invitation" from Sheraton Vacation Services for their Maui hotel. Has anyone received one of these packets? Is it a scam and/or time share trap? The offer is five nights, $75 in dining, and $185 towards a rental car for $749. Would love to hear what you think!

Thank You,
Gem

it sounds like a timeshare deal to me. Check their website at starwoodvo.com and see if it is one of their timeshare locations. It is still a good deal, if you can resist buying and are willing to listen to a 2hr. presentation.

It's definately a timeshare trap! If you do take them up on this offer, remember, they are going to put you in a room at the back of the hotel. Your room will be with little or no view.

If you go to the presentation as we did, then expect a high pressure and very confusing 90-120 minutes of your time. After we got back to our room, we got many messages asking when we were going to sign. Thank goodness we didn't do it because as we have driven by it seems that a lot of the rooms face the street. The rooms inside look nice in the pictures I've seen.

If you want a trip to paradise, this may be the way. We are just getting over our jet-lag after five nights. Give one day per hour of time difference from where you live to where you are going. The Sheraton is nice, but has average rooms. They are quite small. $75.00 will get you lunch for two and maybe a snack.

DH and I have just returned from one of these packages. We had a lovely room with an ocean view at the Sheraton Maui, a nice Avis rental car and received a $100.00 hotel credit.

It was a time share presentation offer. When we arrived we checked in with the time share office and found that the presentation was OPTIONAL. If you went on the presentation you received an additional $100.00 credit, which could be used to book tours/shows, etc. with the concierge, as well as a 50% off voucher for 5 nights at any Starwood property outside of Hawaii. We felt that this would be of good use so we went.

THe presentation was 90 minutes total and was interesting. We were never pressured, never called afterwords.

The price of the package is great. You cannot go to Maui and stay at such a property for anywhere near this amount. Read the print and know what you're getting. If the words scam and trap are words you use often, don't go.

The last post is accurate. The time share presentation is optional. Because I am a Starwood Platinum, we received an awesome room on the 3rd floor with an ocean view. I suspect you could request an upgrade and have a decent chance of receiving it if the resort is not too busy. This resort is really, really relaxing and pleasant. Every night they have a cliff diving ceremony, which is a tad hokey but we loved it none-the-less. In addition, the beach is truly wonderful and the snorkeling is supreme. My husband was able to swim with sea turtles several times and the water is very clear.
This package is a good deal and is so worth it.

Thank you to everyone for replying with such great information. I am still waiting to find out if the dates we want are available. If they are, then I think that we will go.

Very Best,
Gem