I got a call offering me 7 nights in Westgate Palace for $159

[djm99]

I was offered $159 for 7 nights in Westgate Palace. Now, I haven't seen the Palace since they rehabbed them. I remember those pink towers - which looked horrible to me. Since the rehab they have pretty reviews on tripadvisor.com. They are now a grey or blue (can't tell with the pictures and the rooms are really nice). I know how hard a sell Westgate is, and I'm probably gonna have to convince DH, but $159 for 7 nights in a 2 bedroom suite. You can't beat it! Also, I had to make sure they were not gonna stick me in a hotel vs. the Palace but yeap it is confirmed - a 2 Bedroom suite for that price.

 

[kilee]

That is a really incredible rate. I'm not tough enough to handle the pressure of the timeshare pitch. I envy those that can though.

 

[ceroarty]

Don't do it. It was horrible. We had a two bedroom. It had a mini kitchen. It had a full size fridge but no oven. In my opinion, we wasted our money. Plus, the people around there we shady. They had the staff living there. This was a year ago but I can't imagine that much of an improvemnet. However, I could be wrong. Just MTCW.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

We are leaving to stay at the Palace for 3 days before we check in at Silverlake this Wednesday. When I return I will tell you how it is. I do agree you have to have nerves of steel to do the presentation but HEY we are just cheap like that and we go thru the grind in order to afford a vacation.

 

[kilee]

Definetly post a review when you get back. It will be great to have some up-to-date info. Have a great trip!!!!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

From what I have seen on these boards most people have little regard for WEstgate and run as fast as they can from them. I have never stayed there just for that reason. I have gotten excellent info on these boards and if enough people say not to do I do not. I would rather go with a sure thing.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

My HUBBY and I have just made it our personal mission to slam these creeps. Because of them we had to cut our vacation short. First I will give you the unbiased pro's and con's of the Palace

Pro's Very well decorated
full kitchen and utensils
clean
better than a hotel but not a resort condo
make sure you get the view facing the lake because on the other side their is nothing but parking lot with construction

Con's If you have small children or children at all ABOSULETELY nothing for them to do
Our family of 6 plus my sister we were cramped this place is small.
The bathtub jacuzzi is made for someone under 5'5" my three small girls could not fit in their at the same time
absoulutely the worst customer service I have delt with
It is not even in the same league of their Lakes and Villa location.

NOw you are asking me how did they ruin our vacation. Well because on Sunday when we went out to breakfast and returned THEY THREW AWAY OR STOLE ALL OF OUR BELONGINGS!!!! YES YOU READ RIGHT THEY THREW AWAY EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN OUR ROOM. When our family returned from breakfast we walked in our room and we were pleasantly surprised we thought that we had maid service and they just tidy up our stuff and placed it in the closet> WRONG these sharks (this is the dis board and I must keep it clean) hijacked all our property and tossed what they did not want and STOLE THE REST. If you do not believe me calll down their and ask if they had the COPS their on Sunday morning because the manager blatantly lied and said that we had checked out and their was nothing left. Well my hubby and I found the trash laying by the door where they had tossed the stuff that they did not want like body wash and deodorant and tooth brushed but all our clothing shoes, souveniers I mean down to the un open box of cereal that we had was GONE. IT was a blessing that my hubby and I left our camera in my backpack that I carry. THe worst part about it is that when we ask to speak to house keeping the Manager JUAN *** would not produce the alleged criminal, I can say that because we have a case number on this. Do you want to know what westgate offered us NOTHING> NADA not even a sorry our offer a gift certificate to get my kids some clothes to wear home on the return trip. NEedless to say that we have no clothes or anyof our personal belonging only the stuff we have on and the thing we kept in the van. AFter having the cops, myself and the manager arguing in the lobby for 2 hours we ended our vacation and now we will have to deal with the corporate beaucracy of this nonesense. SO to anyone who willingly stay their beware. I have heard all the horror stories but I now have first hand knowledge of these LOW CLASS sleaze bucket. So there is my review of the PALACE. THey made what was starting to be a great vacation the weather was nice, light park crowds, and just great atmosphere end in the vacation from ....!!! I am not making this up you can call the Orlando POLice department and they have this case on file. JUST BEWARE of WESTGATE!!!

 

[mbb]

I don't even know what else to say..other than

I'm sorry your belongings were stolen...that's an awful event to have happen. How are your kids coping?

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

oH, THAT IS HORRIBLE!! I, too, don't know what to say. I'm so sorry that happened. What an absolute nightmare!!

djm...............we can help find you a 2 bedroom on Skyauction, with full kitchen, at a much nicer place, for around $260 and it won't require any timeshare meeting. I would do that instead. It's not that much more, and then you have YOUR time back.

I was going to tell you this even before that horrible story, but now I strongly urge you to go the SA route.

 

[djm99]

Was it your check out day or something? What was THEIR "reasoning/or excuse" from putting out your stuff?

Where you required to do a timeshare presentation? How did you book with them - via what site, or did you book directly with them?

 

[djm99]

oH, THAT IS HORRIBLE!! I, too, don't know what to say. I'm so sorry that happened. What an absolute nightmare!!

djm...............we can help find you a 2 bedroom on Skyauction, with full kitchen, at a much nicer place, for around $260 and it won't require any timeshare meeting. I would do that instead. It's not that much more, and then you have YOUR time back.

I was going to tell you this even before that horrible story, but now I strongly urge you to go the SA route.

At what location? I'm looking at Skyauction and I can't find anything even comparable in price. I want Silver Lakes at $520 but the last day for booking at that price is July 14 or 15th (of course one week before our dates - can't change either). I'd love to have any other suggestions.

 

[spiceycat]

NOw you are asking me how did they ruin our vacation. Well because on Sunday when we went out to breakfast and returned THEY THREW AWAY OR STOLE ALL OF OUR BELONGINGS!!!! YES YOU READ RIGHT THEY THREW AWAY EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN OUR ROOM. ...... I am not making this up you can call the Orlando POLice department and they have this case on file. JUST BEWARE of WESTGATE!!!

boy - they treated you worst than me!!!!

I am so sorry this happened to you.

I hope you also complaint to the BBB, plus the attorney general for florida.

all florida timeshares have rules they must apply. Stealing and throwing out a guest stuff is something I have a feeling applies.

here is a site that might help you
http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/lsc/timeshare/index.shtml

http://www.orlando.bbb.org/newsearch2.asp?ComID=073300101774

here are some reviews with a different point of review
http://www.hotelsuperportal.com/Reviews-379244.2809783.html

but don't put too much faith in them - Westgate sales people/family/friends have been know to put up a fake room review.....

 

[MaMa3Princess]

Djm99,

Yes, we were scheduled for checkout however we went to breakfast at 8:00 and back by 9:30 we had. Before we left we saw the maid cart working their way down our floor but it just never occured to us that they would take ALL of our stuff. Our room keys still worked that is what we told the police. because the manager said we were checked out. He was caught in a lie because we had not signed or final bill.

We had to go to a presentation it was pretty harmless the Palace is a hard sell because their is nothing their to do and no ammenities you have to go to the Lakes to enjoy anything. THeir is one pool their. Like I said before the place is adequate very small. THeir is one love seat in the hotel and a bar with bar stools. IT was hard to feed my 2 yrold sitting up so high she did not like sitting on bar stools. THE worst part is that Management would not do ANYTHING!!! I mean he taunted us and dared us to call the police. And when we asked to speak to the housekeeper she was mysteriously "on break".

THe nicest thing is that we were to check into SilverLake for our REAL vacation but they allowed us to reschedule seeing that we had no clothes or belongings. SilverLake were more apologetic than Westgate.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

At what location? I'm looking at Skyauction and I can't find anything even comparable in price. I want Silver Lakes at $520 but the last day for booking at that price is July 14 or 15th (of course one week before our dates - can't change either). I'd love to have any other suggestions.

You would have to wait a bit for next July. It is early yet. Way early.

Right now, the Ready, Set, Go auctions go thru June 30 (but they don't even show much for that time yet, like I said, it is early). Probably in a month or two the RSG auctions will be for the rest of the year, 1/06 thru 12/06.

 

[MiaSRN62]

MaMa3Princess......
I am SO very sorry this happened to you. It really does sound like a shady place. I agree with Pat, to involve the BBB. I had a problem with Silver Lake resort many years ago (not nearly as bad as what you just experienced though) and the BBB and attorney general's office were very helpful in getting my situation resolved.
Best of luck to you and to djm99 in finding another place to stay.

 

[spiceycat]

mamaprincess - I though you might enjoy reading this website

http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Battlefield/8949/

I really hate Westgate and I try to warn people so they won't make the same one I did.

Westgate has yet to learn they are their own WORST enemy.

 

[Mickey527]

I just read the site that people submitted their complaints about Westgate timeshare and I had to put in my two cents.
I had agreed to look at a timeshare and got a 3 night stay at Embassy suites for $150. This was in 1988, quite a while ago. I liked what I saw, it wasn't Westgate, but really couldn't afford a timeshare at that time. I told the salespeople I was just looking because I had already looke at DVC and was seeing if there was something off property that was less money and comperable, then would compare all and make my decision when I could afford it.
I was at the presentation for 2 hours and kept telling them I was not interested and they wouldn't give me the 4 one day WDW tickets I was promised and told me I would have to pay more money to Embassy for my stay if I didn't hear the entire presentation. At 3 hours I gave in and signed the purchase because I wanted to get out. It was a good price, about $2,000 for a week, but I didn't want to be pressured into a purchase. It took about 1/2 hour to fill out the paperwork and get "announced" to all the other suckers in the room that I was a new owner.
The next day I heard on the radio that the company was about to declare bancruptcy. I called the company and asked what this would mean to me and they told me that I would still be an owner, but not in the new building I had purchased into, but in the old one. They said getting a room would be harder because of demand but I still own into the property.
If any of you are being harrassed during a time share presentation and just can't get out just sign on the dotted line and act like you are happy with what they are presenting you.
Then drive over to the library in town and use the computer to write a letter cancelling your purchase. You have 48 hours to cancel any timeshare presentation or any purchase for that matter so if you are getting pressure from any salesman in your home you can do the same. I learned this AFTER I paid $4000 for a rainbow vaccuum in 1972.
Write whatever you want in the letter, I put in that I only signed because the pressure was so bad and after 3 hours I wanted out of the salesroom, I never wanted to purchase a timeshare from that company. I also put in the letter that the sales people were rude and at times belittling and degrading to me. You can put in that you have no money for the sale, or that you just changed your mind.
Then take that letter (make sure you have a copy) over to the Post office and mail it certified. Make sure you get a note returned to you saying that the letter was received by the company and signed for.
This does cost a little for the printing of the letter at the library (usually $.25) and the certified letter (varies depending where you want the certification information sent, depending on if you live in the US or UK, etc..) but definastely worth it to get out of the contract.
Keep all papers you signed at the timeshare along with the letter you sent and the certified info in case they say they never received anything.
I had the company call me at home a few times making offers to decrease the sales price even more, and I was tempted because it was a good deal, but I stuck to my guns and didn't purchase.
In 1991 I purchased into Disney Vacation Villas. I bought into Wilderness lodge. Last year I bought more points at Saratoga Springs. I can't tell you how happy I have been with my DVC. I know that I paid more than I would have had I decided on an outside group, but I like to stay on property, and now I can. I still stay off property quite a bit because I go to WDW at least 4 times a year and I use up my points quickly since I take my family with me and rent 2-3 rooms at a time. I didn't get any "gifts" or "incentives" for buying into DVC. They don't give them because they don't have to, DVC speaks for itself. Peggie

 

[Badger Brent]

We stayed two years ago and still talk about our stay there. It wasn't good and we ended up getting one night of our stay back. I'm not going into full detail, but our room's main bathroom and jaccuzi area had major water leaking from the level above us. Long story short, my daughter fell on wet floor and hurt her hip. She was fine in the end, but the whole time we spent there was not a good experience at all. Avoid at all costs, it's just not worth it imho....

 

[MaMa3Princess]

I have just drafted up a very scathing letter to their corporate office and I have printed off the complaint form that you have sent me Spicey. Like I said before I never thought in my wildest dream that if someone accidentantly and or on purposely threw, stole or removed your stuff the Management would not do ANYTHING!! These people are just plain low class bottom feeders of the business. Like I said before their product is adequate but I would not want to stay anywhere that they treat the customer horrible. My hubby said we are through with doing these packages we are doing vacation homes or doing Skyauction No more sales pitches.

 

[spiceycat]

Marriott isn't like this. what they say you get - you get!

they also will let you at 90 min or sometimes early when they know you aren't buying.

avoid Fairfield - they are almost as bad as Westgate!!!