Update!! Terrible Intervals Int. Trade

[MLafont]

Update! MS called yesterday to say Intervals will provide a voucher for one free week in a 1BR anywhere. I was pleased at this reponse with the help of MS.

We just got back from Hanalei Bay Resort on Kauai. I could not wait to get back and complete the survey MS requested. The unit was infested with roaches and ants. We complained, and of course, "nothing else available."

We sat in on the sales presentation, for purely monetary reasons. We were promptly told that the units we were placed in were specifically kept for "exchangers" and owners are treated differently.

When MS got the survey, they called and said they were going to request a week refund from II, of course I've heard nothing since and when I called to inquire, they said "no information." Go figure, I want my points back!!!

PS: The island was awesome, but would have been nice to come home to insect free unit.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm not surprised about the ants, it's a fact of life in the islands, but ROACHES????!!! That would be totally unacceptable, and I would have DEMANDED different accommodations or a refund on the spot. Either clean it up, or put me up somewhere else!

BTW, did you LOVE Hanalei (the town)? We thougth it was beautiful!

 

[kathleena]

Sorry for your experience!

This is not the first post in recent weeks that said an II exchange resort gives the less than stellar rooms to exchangers. I have been with RCI since 93 with my other timeshare and have never had this kind of experience. HOpe I never do!

 

[goofy4dvc]

Thanks for the report. I've made myself a note that whenever we trade through II, we will ask if we will be in a similar unit as members or a "lesser" unit for exchange purposes.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Thanks for the report. I've made myself a note that whenever we trade through II, we will ask if we will be in a similar unit as members or a "lesser" unit for exchange purposes.

Mona,

You can ask, but I would be surprised if you can get a reliable answer. Also, it is hard to really know if the OP really had a unit reserved for trades... or if the salesman was just lying to make it seem more attractive to buy at this particular resort.

/Jim

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the report. I've made myself a note that whenever we trade through II, we will ask if we will be in a similar unit as members or a "lesser" unit for exchange purposes.

Neither II nor DVC has any control over this issue. This is up to the resort and calling the reservations or room controller at the resort may give you the most info. I have done this prior to even listing resorts on previous occassions. Once you arrive and things are not OK, all you can do is complain to the resort, DVC and II; which you should do day one when you're there. There is another review on TUG by a DVC member which also was not a positive review. There are a number of resorts I'm aware of that give exchangers the worst units and I'm sure there are others I don't know of. At least at many of the resorts the units are OK and it's simply the view or location that's the issue.

I have visited and toured the resort and it is lovely in many ways. And while I would not hesitate staying there. But I wouldn't trade 270 DVC points. And while it may be more worthwhile for the 160 for a 1 BR, the 1 BR units there are not as good as the 2 BR in terms of view as I believe only 25% of the 1 BR have a good view while most of the 2 BR units do.

This is ONE of the many reasons one should check out the resort prior to accepting or even listing a resort as an exchange option. And looking on the net at places like apple vacations and trip advisors is simply not enough. TUG and timesharing Today are the best options but there are some email lists and the like where other info can be found as well. And while it is likely not reasonable for everyone here to join TUG, it is for some. And I'm happy to check the reviews and ratings of both sites as I have for many people. I can't copy all the reviews and the like though as it's copyrighted material but can pass through a rating and basic impression. TUG also tends to list emails of people who have stayed there so you can ask specific questions, frequently the best option for information anyway.

 

[pumpkinboy]

I'd like to see DVC take some sort of action in this regard, to protect the membership. Perhaps when a member comes back after an experience like the OP's, DVC could take it up with the resort and either get a satisfactory recompense for the member or the resort in question gets blacklisted by DVC: ie unable to trade into DVC properties. Plus a specific complaint to II, which I am sure is anxious to keep DVC management happy, as IMO our properties are among the major reasons to use II over other timesharing exchanges.

Having specific sub-par units set aside for folks who swap in would be totally unacceptable, in my book, and such resorts should be disciplined accordingly.

 

[Dean]

I'd like to see DVC take some sort of action in this regard, to protect the membership. Perhaps when a member comes back after an experience like the OP's, DVC could take it up with the resort and either get a satisfactory recompense for the member or the resort in question gets blacklisted by DVC: ie unable to trade into DVC properties. Plus a specific complaint to II, which I am sure is anxious to keep DVC management happy, as IMO our properties are among the major reasons to use II over other timesharing exchanges.

Having specific sub-par units set aside for folks who swap in would be totally unacceptable, in my book, and such resorts should be disciplined accordingly.

DVC already has chosen the top II resorts outside Orlando. The best option available to them would be to do away with II and just do their own exchanges through BVTC. Part of the problem is the expectations of the DVC members. Lets face it, there are not many places that compare to the DVC resorts.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Bad exchanges are a possibility. I would not want DVC to waste my dues chasing after resorts that put exchangers in the worst units. Personally I think that's poor marketing practice anyway. You have a person who has already purchased somewhere and you make sure they have a bad impression to start off with.

I've had three exchanges (not using DVC) I was unhappy with...but not so unhappy I requested moving. One was into my other resort but via II. Apparently the room controller was unaware that I was an owner or maybe my exchange was too uneven for company rules (a one bedroom for a two bedroom). In any case I didn't get the usual end unit but an old two bedroom that slept 6 not 8. The next exchange was my recent trade into DVC-HHI. The unit wasn't in as good a condition as my other resort...DVC did not get a good review from me to II...and the last was a beat up handicapped studio in AC. Again, apparently the philosophy of putting exchangers into the unrenovated rooms held true. I can only figure exchangers don't purchase and that's why they do it (of course this is a chicken and egg situation).

 

[JudyS]

Lets face it, there are not many places that compare to the DVC resorts.

I agree with Dean on this!

I think if you are doing even one trade via II, it's worth it to join TUG. $15 gets you access to a very extensive review database.

I also feel that the DVC is such an expensive resort that trading through II is rarely (if ever) worth it. Instead of trading my BWV unit via II, I bought another resort just to use for II trading.

 

[spiceycat]

Dean, I don't think DVC has picked the best of II.

Myrtle Beach still doesn't have the new Marriott listed.

Instead most of the places were hotels that converted.

I think the quality control that DVC is known for is very lacking when it comes to their selection in II. (my opinion)

 

[Dean]

Dean, I don't think DVC has picked the best of II.

Myrtle Beach still doesn't have the new Marriott listed.

Instead most of the places were hotels that converted.

I think the quality control that DVC is known for is very lacking when it comes to their selection in II. (my opinion)

DVC tends not to add resorts until they are mostly complete, have reviews in II and have at least some availability. It typically takes 1-2 years for a new Marriott to show up. It took well over a year for Maui and Aruba to show up and what 5 years for Ocean Pointe to be included. Name me a top quality resort that has availability within II, isn't in Orlando, isn't less than a couple of years old and is not on the DVC list. Other than Atlantis, I can't think of one and it was on and taken off due to lack of availability. Remember that DVC has no real control over this process except on the front end. And don't forget that DVC members tend to be more demanding and less well informed about these issues than TUG members, simply the nature of the beast.

 

[DavidRoss]

I have to agree with those that have said the trades are placed in the less desireable rooms.

When we went through the presentation at the Wesgate Smokey Mountain Resort, we were told by the rep assigned to us that "for some reason, they seem to put all the exchanges in the buildings where you are located." And, get this, the rep didn't even know what our accomodations were really like, He didn't have a floor plan of them either. To me that says they obviously don't even want to try to sell someone by showing them that type of accomodations.

Still, I have to say, our resort was very nice. It wasn't quite up to DVC standards but it was still very nice. And the balcony space for a one bedroom unit was equivilant to about 2.5 to space at OKW.

The part about not adding exchange options until a resort is almost complete- that isn't true for this particular resort. The future plans for the resort will include stand alone 3 bedroom cabins, an indoor water park with a wave pool, two restaurants, horseback riding and 13 pools (right now they have one pool and one hot tub). This resort is no where even close to completion.

We did have the option to look at some of the other layouts and they were amazing - but again, not for exchangers.

Oh well.

 

[Dean]

The part about not adding exchange options until a resort is almost complete- that isn't true for this particular resort. The future plans for the resort will include stand alone 3 bedroom cabins, an indoor water park with a wave pool, two restaurants, horseback riding and 13 pools (right now they have one pool and one hot tub). This resort is no where even close to completion.

David, I guess I didn't word that very well. Some resorts are not very functional when they are being built. By the time they are functional, inventory should be showing up with II and enough ratings should be available for DVC to make a decision. It's not really the completeness that's the issue.

 

[David in Manassas]

I've been waiting for the Marriott in Myrtle Beach to come into the collection. We'd really like to try out the place as it has been years since we have been to Myrtle Beach

 

[Dean]

I've been waiting for the Marriott in Myrtle Beach to come into the collection. We'd really like to try out the place as it has been years since we have been to Myrtle Beach

It's actually located in North MB, in a residential area from what I understand. The info looks beautiful. I think all the buildings there are going to be 12 stories or so.

 

[poohj80]

I have been with RCI since 93 with my other timeshare and have never had this kind of experience.

I wonder if it has to do with time of year and/or what is being exchanged as we traded through RCI to stay at the Sheraton Vistana outside WDW last Christmas (before we could use our SSR points) and we were put in the back older section. We drove by the beautiful newer buildings each time we came and went from the resort, each time feeling more and more disappointed in our accommodations but no amount of complaining, even though our unit had maintenance issues, changed anything.

 

[spiceycat]

just avoid anything called Westgate - they give II better rooms than RCI - but even their members don't get good rooms - believe me!!!

 

[spiceycat]

we stayed in the Springs section of Sheraton Vistana this last Thanksgiving week an were very happy with the room. Mother can't walk very far and is too proud (except when in the parks) to get a wheelchair.

So I really appreciate the 6 feet (yes I mean 6 feet) from the door to the room.

the newer ones were much, much further in....

So although I can see why some people would not like this section. WE LOVED IT!!!!