It May Actually Be More Fun...UPDATE!

[FayeW]

to plan a vacation for a friend than for ourselves!

I'm helping a friend plan her family's first trip (it's okay, I told her she could tell me to buzz off and I wouldn't be offended!). I am excited for them and they are going at an excellent time (second week of Nov) so the weather should be good and the crowd's should be very manageable.

I did some research this morning and emailed it to her. I've offered to win an auction on skyauction for her if she wants to stay offsite. Of course, since I always stay offsite that is what I am recommending (and it doesn't hurt that it will save them $800 minimum vs staying onsite).

I guess the best part about planning for someone else is that I don't have to pay for it!

 

[spiceycat]

trying to put a skyauction win is some body elses name is very, very, very hard.

so I would suggest you show her how to do it for herself.

long ago won an auction on skyauction for my SIL - then you could actually pay some more and put it in their name. Well guess what it didn't work. the reservation confirmation came out in my name. had to email them - still didn't work. since they send me their phone with one of the email. Over the phone they did change it.

but guess what when they checked in - yea - still in my name.

so I would show her how to use skyauction.

 

[FayeW]

Uh-oh! I didn't see your post until this morning, and I won the auction last night!

Here is what happened...

On our first trip, we stayed at CPGV which we absolutely loved, but haven't been able to get on skyauction since. Yesterday, I saw it was available for their dates and I nearly had heart failure! I reserved it right away to take it out of inventory. Once I did that, I had to win the auction.

Once I won, I emailed them with the reservation ID # that I got when I reserved the unit, BUT in the email I said "4 guests: Mr X., Mrs X, ect" so I am hoping the reservation will NEVER be in my name.

 

[horseshowmom]

Uh-oh! I didn't see your post until this morning, and I won the auction last night!

Here is what happened...

On our first trip, we stayed at CPGV which we absolutely loved, but haven't been able to get on skyauction since. Yesterday, I saw it was available for their dates and I nearly had heart failure! I reserved it right away to take it out of inventory. Once I did that, I had to win the auction.

Once I won, I emailed them with the reservation ID # that I got when I reserved the unit, BUT in the email I said "4 guests: Mr X., Mrs X, ect" so I am hoping the reservation will NEVER be in my name.

Just in case, you might want to do this -

I won 3 of the 2BR units at Cypress Pointe Grande Villas last year on ebay (and loved our stay there! ). The seller put one of them in my name and two of them in the other family's name. They had a change of plans and wound up not going. I called and asked the desk manager what we needed to do to be able to use these rooms ourselves. He told me to bring a notarized letter from them authorizing Cypress Pointe to release the rooms to us. He also told me to bring a copy of their driver's license, but when I checked in they didn't ask for it, so I didn't give it to them.

If the reservation does turn out to be in your name, this will probably solve the problem.

Good luck!


ETA: Do you mind sharing the rate, dates, and size of unit that you got? Thanks!

 

[FayeW]

Thanks for the advice!

We got a 2bdrm Nov10-17th for $76. plus $295 admin and $20 processing fee. Total cost was $391.

www.holidaynetwork.com has the same dates available for $494.99 + $40 processing fee. $144 higher, but still a great rate for that resort.

 

[horseshowmom]

Thanks for the advice!

We got a 2bdrm Nov10-17th for $76. plus $295 admin and $20 processing fee. Total cost was $391.

www.holidaynetwork.com has the same dates available for $494.99 + $40 processing fee. $144 higher, but still a great rate for that resort.

GREAT PRICE! The ones I got last year were for Dec. 16th-23rd, and I got all three of them for $300 each, but she's gone up on her price now. I'm like you, I would have probably JUMPED on the one you found since it was for your dates. I hope your friends have a great time (be sure to tell them about all of the organized kids' activities ).

 

[FayeW]

I got a nice email from my skyauction rep saying that it is no problem to change the certificate to my friends' names, and to just let him know who is checking in.

I did give that info in my original email, but apparently it was overlooked but it was no big deal to send it again. Looks like it will all work out!

 

[spiceycat]

I got a nice email from my skyauction rep saying that it is no problem to change the certificate to my friends' names, and to just let him know who is checking in.

I did give that info in my original email, but apparently it was overlooked but it was no big deal to send it again. Looks like it will all work out!

I would also send a copy to your friends.

boy skyauction is getting much better!!!

 

[FayeW]

I would also send a copy to your friends.

boy skyauction is getting much better!!!

I received an email that it was changed, logged in, and sure enough, the certificate is now in friend's name.

I just gave her my log in handle, password, and instructions on how to get to the certificate to print it off. Very impressed with the service from Chris at skyauction!

I will follow up with Cypress Point myself a few days before their trip (I know CPGV doesn't get the info until then) to make sure that they are not expecting me to check in!