I know some of you don't believe that Westgate can't be as bad as I have say. someone on tug pointed to this site http://www.westgatesucks.com/ I haven't posted on it yet. I am hoping my next trip will be better. Hoping!!! Not many timeshares have a site set up by people who have been cheated.
Oh, Pat that is too funny! Well, in a horrible way, if you know what I mean. It must be pretty bad if people spend money to set up a website about it. And what happened to that military family on there is ridiculous! That family should have had the nicest place possible considering the fact that he had just spent 6 months in the war. Whatever! I know that some have not been burned by WEstgate (and I certainly hope you have a great vacation, Pat, especially since you are an owner) but this is the thing........you (or me, I'm speaking in general terms here) spend months and months, if not years, planning our WDW vacation. And to risk a nightmare about the place you are staying is not worth it. That's half your vacation! Every once in a while I hear a good experience from Westgate, but I don't think I would have the guts to try it. Maybe if I won it at Skyauction and didn't have to do the presentation. I don't know. Thanks for sharing the site........very interesting.
OMG!!! I just about screamed when I saw your post Spiceycat!!! Everyone at work asked what I was doing!! I have got to go check it out. We have a week down there reserved for the fall. We haven't had any big problems when we've stayed before, but we've had lots of other problems w/ taxes and other things. Thanks for posting about it!
This isn't specific to Westgate, but my family took advantage of one of those 'deals' to stay in a place a while back. We got a beautiful welcome basket, a lovely tour, and free tickets to Busch Gardens. 90 minutes of our time on a rainy morning (nothing to do anyway) for all those goodies. Used the easiest line to get out of the meeting quick: "These are lovely, but before anything can be signed or agreed to our attorney at home must review all pertinent papers. May we please have a copy of your full offering statement and financial data on the management company presently managing the resort?" They couldn't escort us out fast enough.
oh that is a good suggestion. won't work with DVC or marriott - they want you to have that stuff. So you know what you are buying. not sure about Hilton or Hyatt? if you get a good guide with DVC or Marriott they will encourage you to think it over giving your their toll free phone number and all the documents that you want. of course DVC or Marriott also don't try to force you to intend their sale pitch.
I could only find the one experience but it was enough. I have learned enough from these boards to never do two things ;ONe,try to get a 3 year old in as a 2 year old at WDW and two, NEVER stay at Westgate. Often people will as the question on the boards and even though I have not stayed there I feel compelled to hold up a cross as one would with a vampire and say, "stay away".
I've stayed at Westgates, and loved them, but I wouldn't sit through a time share sales meeting with any company, unless I'd already decided to buy.
From what I have heard Hilton and Hyatt are run very much like Marriott. They would probably be OK. Fairfield would probably put on a show of being insulted LOL!
For what it's worth, we spent a week at Westgate a few years ago, and had a great time. We rented from an owner, so we simply told them we were owners, and they didn't see us as 'red meat'. We liked it so well we bought a timeshare when we got home, but not at Westgate. The constant tours and sales pitches going on were just too annoying. even as owners they don't leave you alone! The resort is nice though.
We bought HGVC this year (the Tuscany on International Drive). We sat in the lobby laughing that *we* were not going to buy a timeshare, and trying to predict which clientele in the lobby would. We brought NO money, credit cards, or checks with us. We were also fairly certain that since our credit is not sterling we would not be able to be financed either (I don't want to go into specifics of our finances, but leave it at the fact that our income has increased dramatically in the last year). Well, we were very impressed and since we were planning on spending $15000 on lodging in Hawaii next year for a big family vacation, it actually made sense for us. Hilton (and I am sure Marriott is the same) is very flexible about where and how you can use your points- you don't have to go through the RCI trade if there are Hilton properties that you are interested in staying at. Well, we gave the sales guy quite a hard time, because we questioned every angle of the deal and read every document- we were there 3 hours! If we would have wanted to leave after our presentation, I don't think he would have gave us any grief. We ended up paying our deposit and signing our contract a month after the presentation. He contacted me twice via email. Definitely not pushy at all. We are looking forward to many adventures!
