Back from a Member Getaway/LONG

[DVCLady]

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[SleepyatDVC]

DVCLady,

Wow, sorry you had such a disappointing experience! Hoped you at least enjoyed the island itself. Thanks for sharing. It might help those considering using points for this resort. Maybe Disney needs to re-evaluate whether to keep this resort as an option for DVC Getaways.

 

[Laurabearz]

Originally posted by SleepyatDVC

Maybe Disney needs to re-evaluate whether to keep this resort as an option for DVC Getaways.

How does a member go about complaining about the state of a Getaway Resort?

DVCLady.... so sorry to hear th eplace was not up to DVC standards.

 

[DVCLady]

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[Kick it up a notch!]

I thought that all member getaway resorts were supposed to be of the same quality as DVC and were hand picked by DVC. I would definately send this post to DVC and call and complain. You paid big money for these points and the assurance that the points were going to assure you quality resorts to trade out for. I would be outraged and let someone know, that's just me.

 

[soluc]

You really need to complain to the right people.
You also forgot to mention the construction going on right outside Divi and how dangerous it is to walk on the road leading to the resort (dangerous because of the maniacal drivers!)
We actually do have rules here, it's just that a lot of the drivers do not know them.. (it's not that bad, you just have to be alert)
As for the animals, this is true I must admit. But the island is really trying to get this under control. All 3 dogs I've had here have all been ones picked off the side of the road. The amount you see now though is so minimal, compared to a few years ago.

From what I've been told, Divi used to be a wonderful resort, they had financial problems and everything has gone downhill from there(from what I've heard)
DVC really needs to change resorts here. Does St. Maarten have any other DVC hotels? There are so many beautiful resorts on this Island and it's a shame they are using Divi.

I'm sorry you had a bad trip but hope you return one day and give the Island another chance!

If someone tells me which Resorts are on the ms DVC list for St. Maarten, I can give you the lowdown(my opinion) on them all..

 

[rbuzzotta]

I think DVC should know about this resort. It sounds like it is definately not DVC quality!!! I would have been very upset too.

Thanks for informing us all of this place. It's one I will not visit!!

 

[Dean]

This resort is rated 7.64 on TUG and is not a 5* resort. This should give members a comparison reference for other exchanges. Please find out about an exchange before you accept it, a little information can head off a lot of problems. Now you know why I say an exchange is frequently not a good use of points. Write to DVC member services, they file all the letters and take the information into account. I'd suspect they will drop that resort soon.

The other resorts on the island on the list are 8.3 rated.

 

[DVCajun]

YUK!

You definitely didn't get your 196 points worth.

Dean, MS tells us that all of the resorts offered through concierge are thoroughly screened to make sure they are up to par. If we go through them we shouldn't have to do homework like you suggested. I know it's a good idea, but I still think that's part of what you're paying for when you use points to stay elsewhere.

However, this is just another example of why I will rent my points and make my own independent reservations when I go somewhere else. This definitely was not a $2000 vacation. Their whole experience sounds icky, and even depressing.

 

[DVCLady]

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[soluc]

Did ms offer you any kind of compensation? Especially if they had already had complaints shouldn't they have warned you while you were booking?
Can't they return some points to you or something?

By the way, Royal Palm is lovely!

 

[POLLY ANN]

That's awful, DVCLady! I'd be a little more than disappointed, I would have been ticked off! Hopefully, no one else will have to have a vacation like that!

Don't give up hope on Members Getaways, however. My dh and I and 3 kids (ages 5, 3 1/2, and 6 months) spent a 3night/4 day stay at The Sagamore in Lake George, NY. It was beautiful, and definitely a first class place. We didn't stay in the main hotel but in a lodge suite. It was definitely adirondack style decor, but it was clean, and even had an efficiency kitchen. We had someone knock on our door every evening and ask if we wanted turndown service (which we declined) and they would give us a handful of Godiva chocolates (which the kids loved!). The staff is very professional and courteous (and don't make you feel like they are going out of their way for you). We used the indoor pool, which was very nice and had windows that overlooked the lake.

I was thrilled with the Sagamore and would like to go back without children, so we could golf, use the spa, and have dinner in their one restaurant, The Trillium.

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

Dean,

I have always valued what you have written on these boards but I have to agree with DVCajun, as members we pay quite a bit for to be members with the purchase of points and through dues. The club touts their pride in choosing the best resorts for us to trade out for and that should be expected from the members. This experience doesn't sound like the person didn't like the resort, rather they were disgusted with the condition of it. I pay a lot of money each year and I expect the same quality in other resorts I may want to trade out to. That's what Disney brags about and that's what I expect. Maybe I am kidding myself, but this is what I expect and I shouldn't have to spend the time to research the reputation of a place when I spend the money to ensure that someone else does for me. If that is not what they are supposed to do, then they really should not be promoting the select resorts that reflect Disney's commitment to quality.

 

[Doctor P]

While I, too, agree that one should not expect the resort to be as described, I think it is also unreasonable to expect the resorts on the Member Getaways to be equal quality and equally as well maintained as DVC resorts. It would be nice, but there are cultural differences in amenities and maintenance, and I am willing to accept that sometimes our expectations might be too high. I know some of the higher quality hotels I stayed at in Europe would be unacceptable according to many Americans, but quite nice in comparison to other properties. Expect to have a clean and safe environment, yes. Expect U.S. 4or 5 star standards--probably not IMHO.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Kick it up a notch!
Dean,

I have always valued what you have written on these boards but I have to agree with DVCajun, as members we pay quite a bit for to be members with the purchase of points and through dues. The club touts their pride in choosing the best resorts for us to trade out for and that should be expected from the members. This experience doesn't sound like the person didn't like the resort, rather they were disgusted with the condition of it. I pay a lot of money each year and I expect the same quality in other resorts I may want to trade out to. That's what Disney brags about and that's what I expect. Maybe I am kidding myself, but this is what I expect and I shouldn't have to spend the time to research the reputation of a place when I spend the money to ensure that someone else does for me. If that is not what they are supposed to do, then they really should not be promoting the select resorts that reflect Disney's commitment to quality.

It doesn't sound like there's much disagreement overall. The problem is that only about 30-40 resorts in II are truly up to the Quality of DVC. That means that DVC must offer other II resorts to round out the travel and trade options. If one takes an exchange through II assuming that "if it's on the DVC list, it must be ok" shame on them. One should always check out their choices before accepting an exchange.

While I'd still put the major potion of the responsibility on the exchanger, what happened to them was unacceptable. Do realize though that not everyone is going to have a good experience even at a DVC resort. I know of exchangers who had what was a bad experience in their mind at OKW. My main reason for responding to this thread was more to give a ruler how to measure other potential exhanges.

Personally, I'd prefer MS offered all resorts in II and left it totally up to the members to decide on an appropariate exchange.

 

[Cris]

YUCK!!! I am so sorry DVClady, I know my wife would make me go to another place!!! Just doesn;t sound sanitary to me at all. Again I am sorry! -Cris