SkyAuction and the Blowout sale.. beware.....

[spiceycat]

3 bedroom at Grand Palms in May 09.

that is GREAT!!!

looking for something in may myself - and so far nothing.

It looks like they haven't released the main stuff yet.

Jan looks pretty much out there. but who knows.

since they are also putting out Feb - or starting on feb.

 

[BonnieA]

that is GREAT!!!

looking for something in may myself - and so far nothing.

It looks like they haven't released the main stuff yet.

Jan looks pretty much out there. but who knows.

since they are also putting out Feb - or starting on feb.

I'm sorry Spicey, that should have read Grand Beach, not Grand Palms. With all the palms and beaches there, it is easy to get confused. Either way, it was only listed for a day or so.

 

[spiceycat]

I'm sorry Spicey, that should have read Grand Beach, not Grand Palms. With all the palms and beaches there, it is easy to get confused. Either way, it was only listed for a day or so.

hey that is even better.

Grand beach is much closer to WDW!!!

just want anything close to WDW and will take a studio.

 

[beachbum2008]

I've used skyauctions for a couple of years now and have loved their great deals, but have noticed that the deals have started to disappear from them raising prices to them switching to the rciredemption site which I believe is impossible to use. I was hoping skyauctions would get better, but it seems to keep getting worse.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I can't complain at all about Skyauction.

Over the past 4 years we have spent a week at the Fountains (2005), Summer Bay (2007) and Silver Lake (2008) for a total less than the cost of 1 week in a Disney Value room. We go in October, where our week currently has 6 pages of availability.

 

[madge]

I can't complain at all about Skyauction.

Over the past 4 years we have spent a week at the Fountains (2005), Summer Bay (2007) and Silver Lake (2008) for a total less than the cost of 1 week in a Disney Value room. We go in October, where our week currently has 6 pages of availability.

we're October travelers, too ... and of those 6 pages, I counted 16 resorts for our week. I don't know much about the resorts that are available. I haven't done much research.

Outside of Orlando, there's not much availability in areas that are of interest to us. (Gatlinburg, Hilton Head/coastal SC, Florida Panhandle)

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I have never complained about SkyAuction up until now. Between the rep on the other end of the phone telling me these are "free vacations" and they get last priority for booking.....and the email from SkyAuction with their Ad stating that you can book now for the summer.. sure I am upset.

I have not heard back from them. As far as booking, I haven't seen anything. Maybe they get snatched up early in the morning. I know as far as the rciredemption.com site, they just do not come up period. I have to check on getawayweeks to even see anything.

I am being fair to SkyAuction, it is them that have not be presenting these certificates as they are.. they should not be sending out emails to purchase more to use over the summer when they know that they really cannot since the inventory is few and far between.. and if one was to go strictly by the rciredemption site, there isn't anything since they place the certificates on a black out... as per rci...

 

[Andrea from PA]

I bought 3 certificates at the December sale. My 1st time purchasing a resort thru SkyAuction.

I see both sides.

The inventory I saw before purchasing was overwhelming for 2 & 3 bedroom units, but when it came time to actually book for non-peak travel, I couldn't find any.

Long & short -- I was told the site I looked at in Dec (rci site) does not have the same as getawayweeks.

So, we used 1 week in June at a place in the Poconos. Unimpressed with the resort & had some maintaince issues, but no complaints for the price.

Using #2 in Orlando in October at Florida Vacation Villas -- the only place I could find to fit our family of 5. A bit further from Universal than we wanted to be, but again at least we get a vacation.

My parents will use #3 -- I expect with only 2 traveling & the flexibility they have as retired they will have better choices.

 

[muffyn]

I have a 3 bedroom at Cypress Pointe Grande Villas in November, 3 bedroom at Grand Palms in May 09. .

did you use the http://www.redeemavacation.com. site they sent with the certificate?
when did they have openings for may 09? I havent seen anything for Jan-may in orlando for weeks.
there was a 3 bedroom at grand palms? I look at other months ( not going in) & never see that offered.

wondering WHEN they will finally get places for feb/09

hey anyone know if wyndham cypress palms OR Cypress point grand is better ( I see some 2 bedrooms in other months)

 

[disneysuncat]

I'm interested in the info on Cypress Pointe and Wyndham Cypress as well, since I have back to back weeks booked there this fall. I tell you, after everyone's comments, I am scared about my certificates. Silly, I know since I've already got them, booked them and stuff. I'm just scared I'll get to either (or both) of those resorts and they'll actually be a total dump. I have three nights in a WDW property prior to the condos. I guess I'm just nervous as I've never stayed off-site, and the certificate price seems "too good to be GOOD".

 

[spiceycat]

Cypress Pointe is a smaller resort - but you can actually walk to stuff - restuarants, drug store, grocery store (winnie dixie)

haven't stayed at Wynham Cypress - yet. but have only heard good things.

I think Lisa owns there?

 

[bearzabout]

Disneysuncat:

I love Cypress Pointe. I have stayed 3 times in a 3 bedroom unit using the certificates. Ironically, I always was assigned the same unit!!

I was there shortly after the remodeling and loved it. I'd stay again in a heartbeat, but rarely see availability during the weeks that I travel.

I stayed in Cypress Palms last February. I loved our spacious 2 bedroom unit. We were fortunate to get a newly redecorated unit. Only about 1/3 of the resort has been redone. Ask when you check in if your unit is the redecorated buildings. If not, ask to move. I would avoid the one bedroom units. The deluxe units are great, but the standard one bedroom units (the one you would most likely get) are too small.

I've used over 20 certificates and have always enjoyed each stay. Most of the time, I have ended up in one of the newly remodeled units. Other times, through research, I know which buildings to ask for and which to avoid. I have always been able to move when assigned an unfavorable building.

If not happy with the room after checking in, I have always been successful in asking to be moved (this has only happened once - at Westgate Vacation Village).

The key to improving your chances of a happy stay: CHECK IN EARLY - before all the good rooms are gone. The next tip is to be very polite and patient with the front desk staff. It can take a while to find a better unit. The room will not be clean at the time if you check in early, but I will gladly leave and come back later knowing I will be in a nicer room for the week.


These timeshares aren't perfect, but for less than $30/night it is hard to complain. Read tripadvisor reviews so you know what to expect so there are fewer surprises. I find more faults with places when I pay much more since I expect them to be so much better than my $30/night condos, and they rarely are.

 

[Andrea from PA]

What sites are you all using?!

I bought thru SkyAuction. The info I received said I could only book thru getawayweeks.com.

In 6 months of looking I have NEVER seen 3 bedroom.

I also cannot get any results for 2009 dates.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Update.. I spoke SkyAuction today (actually yesterday since it is after midnight now) & they were very nice. It was explained to me, yes, I do have the older certificate and mine are can be booked for getawayweeks. I cannot book online which in one way is one of the reasons I am having a harder time booking. When you can book online, you can book at any hour of the day. I can only book during the hours that rci booking is open. Many of the units become open at night and then are gone by the time I can get them. I was also explained that NO.. I am not on a black out as the rep said, he was mis-informed. SkyAuction has offered to either refund me my money on the one cert that is not activated or... they will switch it to a newer cert if I want. I just have to let them know. I am going to wait and see if I can use the one that I activated already for this summer (which I don't have much time left, we go back to school Aug 18). If not, I will use it in the fall. If I use it in the fall and cannot get a unit over winter break for my 3rd cert, I will request my refund. I will not activate it so I am not stuck with it. Again.. SkyAuction was very nice... the rep at the 800 # for rci was mis-informed about the cert's being free.. not every one gets them free and they do not have black out dates as he said.. I gues the one I got was having a bad day The SkyAuction rep today was super! and as I have said all along.. I have never had a problem up until now..and I have used them several times... I have never had a problem with any of the units I have had thru them either.. always had very good stays.. I did just want to give an update on my email ..which turned into a phone call...
I still have not found anything.. so I guess I have to get up real eary and keep calling....

 

[Andrea from PA]

OP -- HELP

I have 1 more cert to activate -- Please explain what the "new" type of Cert is...Sounds like I need to call SkyAuction & see if I can get changed to the new cert type because I'm in the same situation & only have the old cert.

Where are the new certs booking from?

 

[lawgs]

Update.. I spoke SkyAuction today (actually yesterday since it is after midnight now) & they were very nice. It was explained to me, yes, I do have the older certificate and mine are can be booked for getawayweeks. I cannot book online which in one way is one of the reasons I am having a harder time booking. When you can book online, you can book at any hour of the day. I can only book during the hours that rci booking is open. Many of the units become open at night and then are gone by the time I can get them. I was also explained that NO.. I am not on a black out as the rep said, he was mis-informed. SkyAuction has offered to either refund me my money on the one cert that is not activated or... they will switch it to a newer cert if I want. I just have to let them know. I am going to wait and see if I can use the one that I activated already for this summer (which I don't have much time left, we go back to school Aug 18). If not, I will use it in the fall. If I use it in the fall and cannot get a unit over winter break for my 3rd cert, I will request my refund. I will not activate it so I am not stuck with it. Again.. SkyAuction was very nice... the rep at the 800 # for rci was mis-informed about the cert's being free.. not every one gets them free and they do not have black out dates as he said.. I gues the one I got was having a bad day The SkyAuction rep today was super! and as I have said all along.. I have never had a problem up until now..and I have used them several times... I have never had a problem with any of the units I have had thru them either.. always had very good stays.. I did just want to give an update on my email ..which turned into a phone call...
I still have not found anything.. so I guess I have to get up real eary and keep calling....

essentially an RCI problem ( skyauction is just the middle man ) but we have all had a good run with skyauction, it is just the RCI landscape has changed ( fewer better timeshares being found, perhaps the timeshare resorts got tired of people not buying into their "vacation opportunity"...ie ..why should i buy your time share and pay $xxxxx.xx and then $xxx.xx each year in mtn/taxes when i can get the same thing on skyauction for 199$,.... you can be sure the resorts heard that from many who "attended" the presentations while using weeks they booked via skyauction, which would then change the way they suppled inventory to RCI.....Vistana and Orange Lake come to mind here )

but, heck when this was all new to skyauction they even had Bonnet Creek available on their ready set go auctions

so once again it is the RCI landsape that has changed....big time

 

[LuvSW]

For any doubters of availability, I popped onto www.RedeemaVacation.com this morning at 7:45 am to see what was open for July 2008 in Orlando/SW Florida and I got 50 hits for the rest of July into August.

This included a 3BR for Cypress Pointe Grande Villas for Aug 1, several 2BR at the Wyndham Cypress Palms for July 27, Aug 1, Aug 2 and even an early August week on Sanibel. I'm sure they are gone by now, but they did exist. I saved the whole list if anyone is interested in it.

So it really is HIT or MISS and from what I've been watching all summer, July is the busiest season and there was DEFINITELY less availability. Maybe August opens up a bit.

Hope everyone is able to find what they need.

 

[LuvSW]

SkyAuction has offered to either refund me my money on the one cert that is not activated or... they will switch it to a newer cert if I want. I just have to let them know. I am going to wait and see if I can use the one that I activated already for this summer (which I don't have much time left, we go back to school Aug 18). If not, I will use it in the fall. If I use it in the fall and cannot get a unit over winter break for my 3rd cert, I will request my refund. I will not activate it so I am not stuck with it.

ACTIVATION question:

Did they explain to you what "activation" means?

When you log into the www.redeemavacation.com site, you must enter 2 codes in order to search. I wonder if this means "activate" OR if "activate" happens once you officially click -RESERVE- from the search page??

That is definitely a big difference, because you CANNOT search from the RedeemaVacation.com site without entering in the 2 codes...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

For any doubters of availability, I popped onto www.RedeemaVacation.com this morning at 7:45 am to see what was open for July 2008 in Orlando/SW Florida and I got 50 hits for the rest of July into August.

This included a 3BR for Cypress Pointe Grande Villas for Aug 1, several 2BR at the Wyndham Cypress Palms for July 27, Aug 1, Aug 2 and even an early August week on Sanibel. I'm sure they are gone by now, but they did exist. I saved the whole list if anyone is interested in it.

So it really is HIT or MISS and from what I've been watching all summer, July is the busiest season and there was DEFINITELY less availability. Maybe August opens up a bit.

Hope everyone is able to find what they need.

the getawayweeks & weeksworld are not working this morning. I called to see what they had. I was told for 8/8 check in they had Celebration World (sleeps 4 partial kitchen) & Club Sevilla. At this point I might have taken SW even though it is 15 miles to Universal but with partial kitchen and only sleeping 4, add that to the 15 miles & it isn't worth it for me. I know my 2 DD's will be with me, my husband may & my one DD's BF is suppose to come for a few days, not sure about my DS. That right there takes the sleeps 4 away. I have a sinking feeling I am going to be doing Hotwire for 2 rooms & using my cert for a fall trip & refunding my 3 cert.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

ACTIVATION question:

Did they explain to you what "activation" means?

When you log into the www.redeemavacation.com site, you must enter 2 codes in order to search. I wonder if this means "activate" OR if "activate" happens once you officially click -RESERVE- from the search page??

That is definitely a big difference, because you CANNOT search from the RedeemaVacation.com site without entering in the 2 codes...

Activate means once you have given them a number to look for something. Even if you are using the website, you are giving them your number to do so. With Getawayweeks, you do not have to give a number to look. That may be one reason why they are getting rid of it, who knows...
If you have given your numbers to "look", you have activated your certificate....