Calling all Skyauction Experts!!!!

[FLA NUT]

I am considering bidding on a Home and Away auction. When I check availability there are several resorts available for my desired time. I prefer to have a 2bedroom unit but how do I know this will be available? The auction does not specifically mention the number of bedrooms and each resort description tells about all of the units that are offered.

I apologize if this question does not make sense or has been asked before. I'm terrified of being the one that ruins our vacation by getting stuck in a small unit.

Thanks for your help, any info is appreciated.

 

[riu girl]

I have won about 10 home and aways for myself and family members. My thoughts:

In the past you could check www.getawayweeks.com for exact check-in dates and unit size. Now skyauciton is having you check another database that does not list exact check-in dates or unit sizes, which can be frustrating.

Due to this I am done with home and away (unless I want a one bedroom unit since availability is so much better). But for a two bedroom unit, I am finished with home and away.

My new strategy for a 2 bedroom unit is to now use Ready Set Go. The fees are higher $295 (vs. $195 home and away) plus $20 admin fee but I feel more confident that I will get a unit that is more suitable since you check inventory and put it on hold prior to auction win. This is just my strategy, perhaps someone else will have a different approach for you to consider.

What dates are you looking for? I am on Skyauction daily and might be able to come up with an idea or two if I have your approx. dates.

What about the condo at grand Palms? Have you considered going back there?

 

[FLA NUT]

Thanks for the info riu girl. I would love to go back to the condo at Grand Palms, but I spoke so highly of it here on the Dis that it is booked for when I can go. This years trip was up in the air due to a family illness until recently. Now, I'm scrambling trying to put this together.

The home and away auction ended @ 5p today and I actually won it so I hope I can find decent availability. I debated on whether to do the Home and Away or the Ready, Set, Go. Oh well, live and learn. I'll let you know how it turns out. I better go ahead and schedule Grand Palms for next year now!!!!

 

[riu girl]

Congrats on your first skyauction win.

yes, please let me know how you make out. Our fav (or should I say only one we have been to in this part of Florida) skyauction resort in the Orlando area is Cypress Palms. Skyauction used to offer quite a bit of 2 bedroom availbility, but now seeing mostly one bedroom units. I have stayed in the one bedroom units (FULL kitchen) and they are also very nice and about 800-900 sq. ft. Also TONS of activities for kids also at this resort. If you do by chance end up at this resort, please pm me. I know someone who works at the front desk who may be helpful in getting you a recently refurbished unit.

Silver Lake looks like another nice resort. Have yet to stay here, but hoping to sometime in the future. The web site looks great.

Cypress Pointe Grand VIllas is another one I am hoping to try sometime in near future, but haven't seen 2 bedroom availbility for a LONG time on skyauction. The one bedrooms are only about 525 sq. ft and look really tiny (form pics I have looked at). The resort itself looks great though and gets a lot of great reviews on tripadvisor.

 

[rdevine10]

I bid and won on a Surf & Turf auction for my Mom yesterday, as the fees are only $195 total. I booked her at the Celebration World (as she is traveling with her small dog).

Good luck! We did skyauction for our upcoming vacation for the 1st time too. So excited to see how it works. Will defiently use them again!

 

[FLA NUT]

Well, that was a learning experience! No two bedrooms were available for my travel dates. A one bedroom just wasn't going to work this time although most looked wonderful. I was afraid that I was just STUCK.

After spending my entire workday trying to make contact with Skyauction for assistance, I finally got a "real person" who checked again for me and offered to refund my money. I good have kept the certificate and used it for next year since it was good until June 09, but I really didn't need to "invest" the extra money into next years vacation yet.

I will use Skyauction again, only next time I'll try to be sure of the unit size ahead of time like with the Ready, Set, Go auctions. If anyone is looking for a1 bedroom mid to late May, there are plenty out there at a good price.

 

[riu girl]

Glad to hear that skyauction refunded you the $. I have had several dealings with their customer service people and have always found them to be A+.

Please let me know how things work out for you with the ready set go auction type or what other avenue you decide to use for your May holiday.

have a great evening.

 

[FLA NUT]

riu girl:

I made it to Disney 2 weeks ago. It was wonderful. I ended up going back to Skyauction and bidding on another certificate. Paid $246 for 1 week. It ended up only being myself, DH, and 2DS's so we made a one bedroom work. I booked Celebration World Resort and loved it. It was nice, clean and peaceful. I would not hesistate to stay there again.

I am now a Skyauction addict. I find myself checking for family and friends almost daily.

 

[riu girl]

So glad to hear that things worked out great for you. Gotta love skyauction!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

also glad to hear that everything in the end worked out for you.

CWR - is the nice timeshare - but if you have a pet - is just about the only one.

that do a nice job. glad you liked them.

also don't like the new thing that doesn't tell you unit size.

you just don't know until you call them.

 

[FLA NUT]

Spiceycat - I was nervous about staying @ CWR at first. I couldn't find alot of information about it before we left. Everything was great. Customer service was excellant, the grounds were clean and neat. Someone was constantly cleaning the sidewalks and balconies. They even wiped down the stairrail with a citrus smelling cleaner. DH and I like the smaller resorts and this was perfect for us.

I do wish you could check unit size prior to bidding on the Home and Away Auctions but you just can't beat the price.

 

[FLA NUT]

Spicey -

I forgot to mention - your review and photos on Tripadvisor helped me make up my mind about CWR. Thanks

 

[DJT]

Could someone give me a quick synopsis of Skyauction? I'm interested in Florida but would also be interested in the Gatlinburg area. I don't really have a clue what Skyauction is. Thanks a bunch.

Donna