Last August I received a call from Holiday Inn Vacation Club. I received that call because I’m a member of their IHG Rewards Program. I don’t know why I listened. We did this once in New Hampshire and were there for hours! Anyway I listened and the deal was:
I could have a 4 day 3 night vacation in any of 12 locations, good for a year, for $199. I would have to listen to a sales pitch, but was guaranteed that it was only 2 hours. Upon listening to the sales pitch I would get my $199 back and also get 20,000 points. I later received an email that said if I book by April 30 I would get an extra $50 and if we traveled before June 30, same year, we would get another $50. I was told we only had to pay taxes. I thought no brainer. Well, surprise, it didn’t work out that way.
I made the arrangements for Myrtle Beach, Thursday, 6/22 thru Sunday, 6/25. sales pitch Friday morning at 9. We were put up in a partner hotel Double Tree Resort by Hilton, oceanfront. Standard view/non-ocean view. We arrived late because we wanted to stop in Wilmington to see how our house was coming along, (another story, another time) Upon arrival I asked if we could get a room with a shower, no bathtub, and they did. Every room at this hotel had a partial ocean view, which was nice. The room itself, not so much. The shower had mold and handprint stains on the wall. This was all they had.
The following day we went to the sales talk. The salesman we got was extremely nice and knowledgeable. He was also very fast, which we appreciated. We liked everything he said and were truly interested. I was sold, not so much P. Anyway the bottom line was that the timing was bad for us, (we were paying 2 mortgages and 2 HOA fees). There was no way they could hold any offers for a year or more, act now or lose out, cause the prices will go up. He called in his boss to sweeten the deal, which he did but P said a final no. As promised it lasted 2 hours.
Now we were led to a trailer and another salesman. He stated that if we bought an 8 day 7 night vacation to any of their resorts, not hotels, (big difference) we would get a 2 bedroom villa for $1149 AND they would hold all of the previous offers for the next 2 years! Yup. We took the deal, so much for not keeping the offers, On our way out we went into another man’s office to receive our $199. He paid us in cash and when I stated that I was told I would get 20,000 points, he was rude and brusque and said, no it was never part of the deal. Then I mentioned the email about booking before April 30 and traveling by June 30, and he said he was unaware of that offer and not willing to do anything about it and basically dismissed us.
The end of this experience is that our total hotel bill, including taxes, a shitload of fees, and parking for 3 days came to $258. I did get my original $199. back, so that is what the whole vacation ended up costing, which really wasn’t bad.