Just got a great promo in mail Sheraton Vistana Resorts

[Davefrompgh]

..and we have never been there. Can anyone give us some information. It looks very nice and the rate we got was wonderful. I asked about going to a timeshare meeting and they said we did not have to attend any meetings but they would "ask" us to tour the grounds (only if we wanted). We got a really great deal but we want to go in Aug 07 and they said those dates are not yet opened. Has anyone else had this experience and were you eventually able to get your dates? It is for a 1 bedroom. Does anyone know about the rooms, pools and whether or not we may get our dates? Thanks

 

[MiaSRN62]

I asked about going to a timeshare meeting and they said we did not have to attend any meetings but they would "ask" us to tour the grounds (only if we wanted). We got a really great deal but we want to go in Aug 07 and they said those dates are not yet opened. Has anyone else had this experience and were you eventually able to get your dates? It is for a 1 bedroom. Does anyone know about the rooms, pools and whether or not we may get our dates? Thanks

Well, the timeshare "meeting" is sort of the tour. You do tour the grounds, but there is also a "sit down" with a sales person who will try and convince you what a wonderful place Vistana is to buy into. Some of these "sit downs" are more high pressure than others. Depends on your salesman. Vistana has some very creative ways of getting one to a timeshare spiel. (aka : "owners breakfast", "owners meeting", "welcome center to new arriving guests" ...offering discounts and gifts....etc).
I'm sure something for August will open up. If it is for a 1 bedroom, you'll be in either the Lakes or Cascades which are the two newest sections. There are 7 pools on the property. The Lakes and Cascades pools are the only 2 zero entry pools. The Lakes pool is smaller and it's more quiet over there (I actually prefer it to the newer Cascades area). There is much more foot/vehicle traffic in the Cascades section.
May I ask what the promo stated ?

 

[Davefrompgh]

The promo was for a 1 bedroom villa for 2 adults and 2 children (which we have 2 - 1DS 13 and 1 DD12). It is for 5 days and 4 nights for $169 that is for ALL NIGHTS. At first my DH thought it was for each night. We have booked it and will also receive a $100 "gift". I have no problem touring the facility BUT have ZERO tolerance for pushy salespeople and pressure sales. The fact that we will be going to parks and different places all the days, there really does not give much open time for such "meeings" and "tours". the place looks absolutely beautiful and we are hoping the sales pitch does not distract us from our vacation. Do you know if there are any pool bars or restaurants on site?

 

[tortoni]

We got a promo like this in the Spring. We upgraded to a 2 bedroom and wound up paying about $50 after they gave us $100 back when we got there. No tour--we just said thanks, but no thanks. I think we were in Fountains-nice accommodations, but an older unit. We like the pool in that section.

 

[VinnyNYC]

I got the same promo last week. VV is a great resort, a lot newer than VR, but not as much activities. But they have blackouts dates...I'm trying for next summer...Has anyone actually went there with this offer.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Do you know if there are any pool bars or restaurants on site?

Yes, there are two sit down restaurants (Zimmies and Flamingo Cafe) as well as a Pizza Hut on property. There are a couple bars near the pools as well (one near the Fountains pool and one near the Cascades pool come to mind----I think one near the Super pool too). Not the kind you can just swim up to, but definitely poolside.
All the restaurants on property do provide room service for a $3 delivery fee and tip if desired.

Here you can view the menus :
http://www.starwoodvo.com/resorts/dining.jsp?resortID=5

 

[keishashadow]

Our promo (which we gladly accepted & hope to receive again!!!!) was $149 for 4 nights in 1 BR, no presentation required & $100 cash back.

We were charged additional room tax around $30(?).

Absolutely WONDERFUL resort!

They place you in the newest Cascade bldgs. (only reason I know this is the clerk told me when I was checking in & wanted a non-ground floor room).

I'm in real estate & the "head" TS agent is named Alex...the best I've encountered...smooth & persistent, with continental, disarming charm.

In order to receive your $100, he will insist that you stop back & talk to him in lobby, where after he tries to persuasively overcome your objections to purchasing; will try & talk you into attraction tix in lieu of the $100, be firm!

Mia is a wealth of info/resident expert, hope you get to stay in this fine resort (don't forget to unplug your phone once you check in

).

 

[HappyLawyer]

well if you can refer, send one my way, i am looking for a good deal, also looking to buy another week at a different resort.

 

[OHIOVACATIONER]

Where do you find these deals. Looking for a 1 BR suite for 4 night close or in Disney-just 2 adults

 

[keishashadow]

they come in the mail

can't find the number but, if you register on the sheraton site I'm sure you'll get an offer.

 

[erinch]

Unless the food has gotten better, I can't really recommend any of the onsite restaurants, except for ordering from Pizza Hut. They're expensive and the food is mediocre. There are a number of restaurants close by, including Bahama Breeze, and a Bennigans almost right across the street, which has some very nice 2-for-1 Happy Hour drink deals.

We've been to Vistana a number of times, and really enjoy it. The "older" units (we always intentionally request the Springs, actually) have the advantage of more mature vegetation.

 

[keishashadow]

Unless the food has gotten better, I can't really recommend any of the onsite restaurants, except for ordering from Pizza Hut. They're expensive and the food is mediocre. There are a number of restaurants close by, including Bahama Breeze, and a Bennigans almost right across the street, which has some very nice 2-for-1 Happy Hour drink deals.

We've been to Vistana a number of times, and really enjoy it. The "older" units (we always intentionally request the Springs, actually) have the advantage of more mature vegetation.

pizza hut on-site was surprisingly good in June, we walked over...it took a very long time (think they fill the delivery orders 1st).

dh had somesort of sandwich/hoagie @ the bar near the casacade pool...mediocre,at best.

as for crossing the street...easier said than done

 

[MiaSRN62]

I agree the food is just "ok" at Vistana, but it's not bad. Typical resort prices. And for the convenience of getting it delivered right to your villa & not having to go off property, it can't be beat.

The General Store is higher priced as well, but would expect that for the convenience of being right on property.

 

[Davefrompgh]

Wow...thanks for all the great information. We did book this deal and I was assured that the beginning of August should not be a problem. I really hope not. The place looks lovely and would love to sit around poolside at a nice bar (kids are in the pool) resting after a long day at the parks. Are you getting a visual...wish I was there RIGHT NOW !!!

 

[erinch]

There is a very nice bar by the Cascades pool. they do a decent, expensive job of standard frozen drinks, beers, etc. In fact, drafts sometimes go on sale, and there's a stab at a happy hour, I believe.

I think you can only get pizza hut delivered to your room, not other "room service" but I could be wrong.

What always happens for us is we drive (not walk) to Bahama Breeze, Macaronis and a few other favorites, and by that time thefrig is filled with leftovers which we use for resort meals along with bagged salads and order in pizza for the kids.

 

[MiaSRN62]

erinch says : I think you can only get pizza hut delivered to your room, not other "room service" but I could be wrong.

You can definitely get Flamingo Cafe and Zimmies to deliver to your room with all those other food choices. You are not stuck with just pizza. I sent the links for the menus, but you will have menus sitting in your room as well. They will be in a folder on the living room table. We order room service several times during our weeks' stay.

 

[momto4obkids]

They just called me last week and offered a 2bdrm at Vistana Villages, 4 nights,for $249 with $100 back after the tour so i booked it.

Definitely sign up on www.starwood.com ,because that's why i got called.



Amanda

 

[Cushes]

We were offered 1 br for 3 nights at $149 with $100 cash back...
We will be going Oct 10-13th.

 

[HappyLawyer]

where do you sign up on the site, i looked and saw no where to sign up at

 

[vhoffman]

If you get such an offer, grab it! We got an offer for Vistana Villages last May, was supposed to be one bedroom/one bath, but for an extra $50 they upgraded to 2 bdr/2 bath. Total was something like $200 for 4 nights, then we got $100 cash back for attending the sales pitch, which wasn't bad at all. So total we paid about $100 for 4 nights, $25 per night! We got a beautiful, almost brand-new unit. They had a great pool with waterfall, etc.

How do you get such offers? Well, they come looking for you. I signed up for starwood preferred guests, then signed up for all their emails. However, I think I really got their interest when I actually made reservations at one of their properties (a condo), then cancelled it. Well, that put me on their list. Actually, it wasn't a ploy, we really did have to cancel. But we started getting all sorts of offers after that. So you might make a reservation at a pricey, condo-type property, then cancel (make sure of their cancellation policy and follow it!), then see what happens!

The vistana village is a great place to stay!