We recently stayed at the The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun…

This resort is less than 2 years old and it seems to still be in a shakedown mode…

Here were some of the problems…

-There is a need for more huts on the beach so one can be out of the sun..

-Both wired and wireless Wi-Fi was spotty at times, and wireless was a big problem in villa.

-The pool temperature needs to be hotter (it was chilly with few guests in the pool). Before our arrival we called 2 times and were told the pool was heated ( reviews on tripadvisor.com and tugbbs.com have pointed out the water seems not to be heated much)

-The water leak on to bathroom floor from shower has not been corrected. it is a very dangerous situation.

-The hot water was a problem every day for the shower-/sometimes hot sometimes cold-called front desk they said to run sink hot water at same time-it only worked to make it hot 1/2 of the time

-A number of times the operator took 20-30 rings to answer phone.

-When we entered room dishwasher had dishes and silverware in it.

-The breakfast buffet is a bit overpriced at 280 pesos for the selection of food that is being offered.

-The first 2 days the elevator closest to our room was down- no sign on it to tell you that it’s not working.

We wrote to the hotel to complain and they didn’t please us with their reply which was next time you come -”let us know whenever you have you reservation made so that we can take special care of your room assignment, cleaning and welcome amenity at your arrival”

When you stay at a resort for  8 days/7 nights you expect a better answer than that. Perhaps a refund of monies spent at resort or a complementary stay.

The resort is beautiful but problems like the above take away from the enjoyment of a vacation.

This property is part of Starwood Vacation Ownership (timeshare)but can be booked by anyone thru Westin or if you have a timeshare with Interval International.

added-

comment on this post on timeshareforums.com by GrayFal

“These are the SAME complaints owners have been making since day ONE.

Starwood – put a pool heater in, will ya!

Someone is going to kill themselves falling in the bathroom on those wet floors (at least they will die in a beautful but wet bathroom)

POOL Heater…..it is a no brainer – and you might want to heat the jacuzzi/whirlpool tubs as well.”

from TUG (Timeshare Owners Group member George M.) tugbbs.com…

The way I see it, owners have three choices…

1. Sell your Starwood units and wipe your hands free of what I think is right now the worst timeshare developer in the country…

2. Do nothing as use the new system to their advantage as best they can. Owners could also use RCI and or rent the unit instead of using II…

3. Continue to fight,writing letters,sending emails, putting up websites and complaining every way possible…

Now – The details of my phone call with Starwood this past Friday…

Starwood is sticking to the belief that they have the right to control owner reservations that are given to II(Interval International)…

They refer to the Floating Use Plan Rules and Regulations as allowing them to do this. I have asked for a copy of this document and was told they will provide it.

Starwood refers to many owners making exchanges under the new system. Many owners may not be getting the same exchanges as in the past but are making exchanges…

There is supposed to be a 30 day preference period in Interval when trading back into your home resort or another SVO(Starwood Vacation Ownership) resort. Another words, for the first 30 days after a Starwood unit is deposited with II, it is only available to other Starwood owners. I explained that many owners are seeing different results and Starwood says they will look into it.

Starwood also thinks that the lack of a true request first really isnt an issue. A good way around this is to plan your requests a year in advance or more. For example, in January 2010, use your 2011 weeks to make a request for 2010.

Then if you dont get the exchange at the point in 2010 when you are one year from the most desirable weeks at your resort in 2011,you are free to cancel your exchange request and make a home resort reservation.

Currently Starwood is working on possibly splitting maintenance fees into more than one payment at some or all resorts to make it easier for owners to afford the fees.

They are also going to implement a rule in which exchange confirmations cannot be made until maintenance fees are paid. Owners will be able to make instant online exchanges and put in requests without advance payments but in order for an exchange to be confirmed, owners will need to pay the fees. For example, when you make an online exchange using II (Interval International), your exchange will be pending until your home resort usage is confirmed. If your fees arent paid your exchange will not be confirmed.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.

George

Pointswizard.com Spin: If you’d like to join the fight against Starwood email   Gcmarine@aol.com

update 1 Nov 4, 2009

original article  Sept. 21, 2009

Starwood has not had any movement off their position on the issues involved with Starwood Ownership Resorts(SVO)…

No email or letter to owners telling them what going on(what are they afraid of ?) even though it’s a few months now…

Below is a link to a post on TUG (Timeshare Users Group) about “Starwood Timeshare units now selling for nothing “…

We again have to ask why is Starwood’s great reputation as a hotel company is being soiled by another division and does Starwood Corporate have any knowledge of what’s going on?…

If you are interested in joining the protest group email    gcmarine@aol.com

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for “Starwood Timeshare units now selling for nothing”

Original post on Starwood Screws Timeshare owners from Sept. 21st.

Does Starwood Corporate in White Plains NY know what’s going on?…

A battle between their  Starwood Vacation Network (SVN)(Westin and Sheraton Timeshares) and owners is brewing…

I’m one of these owners and have tried to get a written statement from SVN Cusomer Service head but to no avail…

She only wants to talk on the phone – I wonder why? (no notice has gone out about the change either)…

It’s a shame that Starwood’s great reputation as a hotel company is being soiled by another division… (see details below)…

If your interested in joining the complaints please send an email  to   Gcmarine@aol.com
——
From my my email (still waiting for a answer) sent to Starwood Vacation Network’s Customer Service manager
Dear Ms. _ _ _ _ _ ,

Two times last week I wasted 45 minutes of my time talking to  ”Specialists” in customer service who went over the new rules and why its better.
I have no desire to do this again. The new rules are not better.

I had specific questions in my original email that I would like answers to- not a conversation about how wonderful these changes are. They are not.

Here are the questions that need answers by email-

1- Why are my ownership rights being superseded by new rules? Who gave Starwood the right to change things that are in a contract?

2-How is this better when under the new plan I can’t have my deeded week 20 get a platinum March week but will now get gold plus trade power?

3-Why don’t my future years deposits show so I can search with them?

4-How is this better with no request first?

5-How is it better - no holding a reservation to put in a search?

6-You are rewriting an existing contract aren’t you? making  owners choice floating weeks 1-52 into a joke.

7-Does Starwood Corporate in White Plains NY know what’s going on?

8-also what happened to the 3 day preference in Interval.?????
I follow SVN resorts 1-2 times a day and compare it to my non SVN and both see the same things with few exceptions. many others on TUG and TS4MS do the same and have come to the same conclusion-Starwood doesn’t seem to be using the 3 day preference in the last 3-4 weeks. (you may not see these sightings unless you qualify – they are not available to everyone)

I’ve already had 4 (now 11) emails from my readers of pointswizard.com asking if I knew about the problem.

Besides my interest in this as a publisher of a travel blog -I am an owner whose has been affected by these new policies which take away the rights of the 1-52 weeks owners.

It seems to me that the only answer is to put everything back to the way it was – the sooner the better
————–
The problems are spelled out in this post from Timeshare Users Group (TUGBBS.com) member GMarine,
“Join complaints against Starwood

I’ve gotten a ton of emails from people unhappy with the Starwood changes that have been made. For those who havent followed the threads, basically Starwood has decided that they have the right to tell non-SVN owners what week at their resort that they can deposit with Interval. Non-SVN owners have deeded property rights. Once we make a reservation, we are free to do as we wish with that week. Starwood doesnt get to control our deeded weeks.

I’ve spoken to Starwood multiple times by phone and it seems Starwood management believes they have the right to do this since it only affects deposits with II.

Imagine Starwood telling you that you cant rent week 52, but instead they will give you week 50. Its essentially the same thing. If you make a reservation and then deposit that week with II you are giving the usage of that week to II. Starwood has no right to interfere. Allow them to do this with no fight and who knows whar could be next.

That being said, I think its time to move on and up. Myself and some other Tuggers I have spoken with are going to start gathering Starwood owners for the purpose of fighting this.

Among the actions are going to be complaints to the Real Estate Commissions and Attorney General’s of any state where an affected resort is located. One TUG member is going to post on his travel blog. I’m also going to contact law firms that have previously handled timeshare cases to look into a lawsuit against Starwood.
Details of Starwood screwing owners will be put up on every and any timeshare/travel message board that we can find.
Complaints to Interval will be sent as well.

At the very least we are going to get it out there that Starwood isnt owner friendly.

If your interested in joining the complaints please send me an email ”   Gcmarine@aol.com

———

Poll from TUG(Timeshare OwnersGroup)

Poll Results: How would you rate Starwood’s timeshare management?
Starwood has the best management team in the business, & they have my complete confidence.     0%
Starwood is doing the best they can in a bad economy, & is committed to the best interest of owners.   6.58%
Starwood’s management team is average – no better or worse than anyone else.       30.26%
Starwood has not treated timeshare owners ethically, and they’ve lost my trust.       50.00%
I wish we could fire Starwood management TODAY!      13.16%

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for one of many posts about Starwood Screws Timeshare Owners!

BREAKING NEWS! Hyatt and Dolce Hotels are taking 7 night hotel inventory and putting them into RCI weeks and RCI Points (timeshare Exchange) rental and and exchange inventory.

This a new development in the current business climate. What this means for getting hotel rooms for pay or redeeming points time will tell.

These locations are not timeshares they are hotels.

Locstions and some examples follow below.
Grand Hyatt Atlanta (#R438)
Grand Hyatt New York (#R439)
Grand Hyatt San Antonio (#R468)
Grand Hyatt Washington (#R433)
Hyatt at Olive 8 (#R458)
Hyatt Place Birmingham Downtown (#R459)
Hyatt Place Charlotte City Park (#R440)
Hyatt Place Dallas Plano (#R470)
Hyatt Place Nashville Opryland (#R441)
Hyatt Place Perimeter (#R472)
Hyatt Place San Antonio Riverwalk (#R467)
Hyatt Place Tampa Busch Gardens (#R436)
Hyatt Regency Boston (#R444)
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza (#R445)
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort Spa & Marina (#R446)
Hyatt Regency Chicago (#R475)
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa (#R447)
Hyatt Regency Houston (#R442)
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort (#R471)
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa (#R457)
Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa (#R448)
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach (#R466)
Hyatt Regency San Francisco (#R443)
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa (#R449)
Hyatt Summerfield Suites Denver Tech Center (#R437)
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego (#R476)
———————
Dolce Aspen Meadows Resort (#C148)
Aspen,  CO
Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree (#C146)
Peachtree City,  GA
Dolce Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel (#C147)
Bedford,  MA
Dolce Hayes Mansion (#C150)
San José,  CA
Dolce Seaview Hotel (#C149)
Galloway,  NJ
===========
here are 2 examples of recent available inventory
Dolce Seaview Hotel (#C149)  (former Marriott Seaview Hotel / Marriott timeshare is not involved )
401 South New York Road / Galloway, NJ

(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 12-Sep-2009 19-Sep-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 19-Sep-2009 26-Sep-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 26-Sep-2009 03-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 03-Oct-2009 10-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 10-Oct-2009 17-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 17-Oct-2009 24-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 24-Oct-2009 31-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 31-Oct-2009 07-Nov-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 07-Nov-2009 14-Nov-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 14-Nov-2009 21-Nov-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 21-Nov-2009 28-Nov-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 28-Nov-2009 05-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 05-Dec-2009 12-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 12-Dec-2009 19-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 19-Dec-2009 26-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 26-Dec-2009 02-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 02-Jan-2010 09-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 09-Jan-2010 16-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 16-Jan-2010 23-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 23-Jan-2010 30-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 30-Jan-2010 06-Feb-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 06-Feb-2010 13-Feb-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 13-Feb-2010 20-Feb-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 20-Feb-2010 27-Feb-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 27-Feb-2010 06-Mar-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 06-Mar-2010 13-Mar-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 13-Mar-2010 20-Mar-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 20-Mar-2010 27-Mar-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 27-Mar-2010 03-Apr-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 03-Apr-2010 10-Apr-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 10-Apr-2010 17-Apr-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 17-Apr-2010 24-Apr-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 24-Apr-2010 01-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 01-May-2010 08-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 08-May-2010 15-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 15-May-2010 22-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 22-May-2010 29-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 29-May-2010 05-Jun-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 05-Jun-2010 12-Jun-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 12-Jun-2010 19-Jun-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 19-Jun-2010 26-Jun-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 26-Jun-2010 03-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 03-Jul-2010 10-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 10-Jul-2010 17-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 17-Jul-2010 24-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 24-Jul-2010 31-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 31-Jul-2010 07-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 07-Aug-2010 14-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 14-Aug-2010 21-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 21-Aug-2010 28-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 28-Aug-2010 04-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 04-Sep-2010 11-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 11-Sep-2010 18-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 18-Sep-2010 25-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 25-Sep-2010 02-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 02-Oct-2010 09-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 09-Oct-2010 16-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 16-Oct-2010 23-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 23-Oct-2010 30-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 30-Oct-2010 06-Nov-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 06-Nov-2010 13-Nov-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 13-Nov-2010 20-Nov-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 20-Nov-2010 27-Nov-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 27-Nov-2010 04-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 04-Dec-2010 11-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 11-Dec-2010 18-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 18-Dec-2010 25-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 2 (2) No Kitchen 25-Dec-2010 01-Jan-2011 Exchange Fee Only
———–
Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa (#R448)
1 Old Golf Course Rd / Monterey, CA

(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 19-Sep-2009 26-Sep-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 26-Sep-2009 03-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 10-Oct-2009 17-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 17-Oct-2009 24-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 24-Oct-2009 31-Oct-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 07-Nov-2009 14-Nov-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 14-Nov-2009 21-Nov-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 28-Nov-2009 05-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 05-Dec-2009 12-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 12-Dec-2009 19-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 19-Dec-2009 26-Dec-2009 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 26-Dec-2009 02-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 02-Jan-2010 09-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 09-Jan-2010 16-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 16-Jan-2010 23-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 23-Jan-2010 30-Jan-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 30-Jan-2010 06-Feb-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 13-Feb-2010 20-Feb-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 20-Feb-2010 27-Feb-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 27-Feb-2010 06-Mar-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 03-Apr-2010 10-Apr-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 24-Apr-2010 01-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 08-May-2010 15-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 15-May-2010 22-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 22-May-2010 29-May-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 29-May-2010 05-Jun-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 05-Jun-2010 12-Jun-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 19-Jun-2010 26-Jun-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 26-Jun-2010 03-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 03-Jul-2010 10-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 10-Jul-2010 17-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 17-Jul-2010 24-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 24-Jul-2010 31-Jul-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 31-Jul-2010 07-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 07-Aug-2010 14-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 14-Aug-2010 21-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 21-Aug-2010 28-Aug-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 28-Aug-2010 04-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 04-Sep-2010 11-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 18-Sep-2010 25-Sep-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 25-Sep-2010 02-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 02-Oct-2010 09-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 09-Oct-2010 16-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 16-Oct-2010 23-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 23-Oct-2010 30-Oct-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 06-Nov-2010 13-Nov-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 13-Nov-2010 20-Nov-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 20-Nov-2010 27-Nov-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 27-Nov-2010 04-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 04-Dec-2010 11-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 11-Dec-2010 18-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only
Hotel 4 (2) No Kitchen 18-Dec-2010 25-Dec-2010 Exchange Fee Only

Pointswizard.com Spin: The only way to get access to this inventory is to own a timeshare and belong to rci.com

A few weeks ago they revamped their computer system.

A glitch sent the trading power on a downward spiral. It has never been fixed correctly.
Our experience was seeing Disney Vacation Clubs, winter Florida weeks and various Hilton Timeshares at 6 PM and POOF at 7 PM they were not available. The availability of units in the weeks system  went from 116,000 at 6PM to 92,000 to 76,000 at 7PM and  to 72,000 the next morning.

Someone we know had deposits that could pull a lot of resorts  in Hawaii – not anymore.

On www.timeshareforums,com
a member wrote
“after a relatively decent operating session yesterday our dear friends at RCI had yet another weekly scheduled maintenance window.
We all feel that something is not right with trade power and “missing” weeks that we know were there and are not. I guess they tried to fix things and we are back to watching the grass grow and timing out.

Oh well. I can’t say that I’m surprised.
So folks any bets on WHEN they’ll get this thing working this week?”

and
“keep being told that these RCI weeks are not available and that if anyone sees these weeks in “exchange only”, it is an error and the transaction system will not allow the unit to be booked. When I pressed the issue, I was hung up on”

and another
“Down again, as far as I can tell (4:45 eastern). Earlier today, I could login to weeks, but as soon as I did it put up an error message and kicked me out. Points login worked, but any searches returned immediately with no results. Now, I can’t login to either.

This is one of the more grandiose self-inflicted wounds I’ve seen on the web. One wonders what testing they did before release.”

RCI members are upset and for good reason. We’ve been told that trading power has seen set been at deposit but now based on info below that changed.

I’ve spoken on the phone to 4 vacation counselors and 3 tech people no one can explain. And by the way many owners following this have seen the missing weeks show up on RCI’s rental web site.

To be fair to owners if there is a lowering or raising of trading power it should only lower  or raise future deposits not current deposits.

I now have doubts about depositing my timeshares weeks in RCI. All of them have dual affiliation in Interval International and I can also use independents like TPI, DAE and SFI.

—————

A few days ago we asked RCI for a comment-  see below -It’s their standard script that I’ve heard before.

RCI comment

“We appreciate your comments regarding the recent changes to RCI.com, including your concerns about the number of available units displayed
for each deposited week. The amount of trading power required to confirm an available unit is constantly evaluated to reflect the most up-to-date
supply and demand of each area and resort. The number of available unit  types showing is indicative of the trading power of your deposit.
RCI determines the number of units available for any one deposit based
on the following criteria:
The length of time between the date your vacation week is deposited and the start date of that week.
The supply, demand and utilization of your week at your resort.
The supply of and demand for all weeks in your resort’s geographic region.
The season, or time division, of the week you deposit.
The occupancy and type of your unit.
The comment cards completed by RCI members.

During the most recent upgrade of our website, a number of deposits had Trading Power adjusted inappropriately. These deposits have since been
set at their correct Trading Power, to ensure value for value exchanges for all members.

BREAKING NEWS!

A hot discussion has started tonight (Mon.) on both Internet Bulletin Boards that cover Timeshares.

If you trade your timeshare this may very well impact you.

Currently Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owners exchange thru Interval International (which includes Marriott, Four Seasons, Westin and Hyatt)

As of Jan 1, 2009 there will be a transition to RCI ( which includes Hilton, Grand Mayan, and Morritt’s Grand)

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for the thread on TUG (Timeshare Users Group)

or

Click here for the thread on Timeshare Forums(TS4MS)

Keep going back to these links often-posts will be added as more DVC members react in the next days and weeks. As of Tues. AM they both have multiple pages of posts.

Breaking News

“InterContinental Hotels’ Holiday Inn brand is stepping into the timeshare market with the launch of a new venture with The Family of Orange Lake Resorts.

The new venture, a licensing and marketing arrangement called Holiday Inn Club Vacations, comes at a difficult point.

IHG rivals Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Wyndham Worldwide Corp. both reported declining second-quarter timeshare sales in some markets, particularly Hawaii. Wyndham has also seen higher level of defaults by buyers.

“It is indeed a challenging time, given the economy,” said Christian Hempell, who will direct the new Holiday Inn timeshare brand as vice president of Holiday Inn Club Vacations.

He said the market for timeshares “seems to be very, very resilient,” however.

IHG stressed that its deal with Orange Lake requires no capital investment. Orange Lake will continue to own, operate and develop its four timeshare resorts, all of which are included in the deal.

Orange Lake, which has more than 120,000 owners, has seen 20 percent sales growth this year without a jump in default rates, he said.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations will launch in December 2008 with Orange Lake’s 2,412 villa property in Orlando, Fla. The 1,400-acre resort is next to Walt Disney World Resort.

Later, Orange Lake’s three smaller resorts in Vermont, Wisconsin and Panama City, Fla., will convert to the Holiday Inn brand. ” (via finance.yahoo.com) by Kristen A. Lee

Pointswizard.com Spin: Read more about Holiday Inn brand enters the timeshare business

The Timeshare User’s Group started in 1993 is a self-help organization composed of timeshare owners and other interested parties. TUG provides timeshare owners with an unbiased source of consumer oriented information regarding timeshare resorts and the timeshare concept.

TUG collects reviews and ratings on more than 2000+ timeshare resorts from TUG Members who have been there and provides this data along with area activities, sites to see and places to eat for member use. It’s free to look and ask questions at in the forums section. To get access to reviews a small yearly membership fee is charged. Well worth it + unlimited free timeshare ads to sell or rent your villa.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here and then scroll down the page to explore this site. Also explore all the links on top. Over 27,000 members can help you sort out the facts

(This is from a a thread on TUG*) 

“Email I Received from a Marriott Sales Agent Listing all the Faults of Buying Resale

Good Morning xxxx,

I just wanted to say thanks for the call yesterday. I noticed in your owner profile that the last few weeks you purchased have been through the external market. You had asked me questions about point values and I wanted to ensure that it was clear that the ability to exchange for points is available only to purchases through the Marriott Vacation Club.

Other considerations when purchasing externally:

* No access to the Vacation Ownership Advisory desk. (Department created in the past couple years to service new owners-“Your personal travel agent”) Would you pay a little more for service?

* No priority for protected inventory with Interval International.

* No priority in room requests at Marriott resorts.

* No ability to utilize the Marriott Resale department in the future.

* No purchase incentive.

* Significantly higher closing costs and a longer closing process.

If you don’t mind missing out on the above mentioned items and are going to save a huge amount of money, then a resale may not be a bad option. However, keep in mind that Marriott does hold the first right of refusal on any resale so if it is a popular piece of inventory, “great bargains” don’t usually make it through the closing process.

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another poster writes-

I can’t believe he put all that in writing. If Marriott has any ethics, they would fire that guy. I know Hilton would, they do not stand for salesman’s blatant lies.

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from another poster

Now this Marriott salesrep, Scott, needs to be fired.

There are flat out lies:

* No access to the Vacation Ownership Advisory desk. (Department created in the past couple years to service new owners-“Your personal travel agent”) Would you pay a little more for service?

* No priority for protected inventory with Interval International.

* No priority in room requests at Marriott resorts.

* However, keep in mind that Marriott does hold the first right of refusal on any resale so if it is a popular piece of inventory, “great bargains” don’t usually make it through the closing process.

And questionable ones:

* Significantly higher closing costs and a longer closing process.

* No ability to utilize the Marriott Resale department in the future.

And a true one:

* No purchase incentive. (This is Marriott incentives, that 40% resale savings is more than enough to make up for the MRPs. So this could be viewed as a lie too, but I’m a nice guy)

If it were me, I’d send the letter to the CEO of Marriott timeshares and ask for a clarification of each and every point. I’d ask what Marriott’s reaction to flat out lies from the sales department.

Scott needs to be fired and hung up as an example – don’t put it in writing guys. What was he thinking? Exposing Marriott deceptiveness to newspaper articles, and TUG for what? Once an owner tastes the fruit from the resale tree there is no going back.” (via tugbbs.com)

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to see all the posts on this topic

* Timeshare Users Group(21,000 members) www.tugbbs.com another web site with a bulletin board devoted to timeshares can be found at Click here http://www.timeshareforums.com/

“Google Voice Local Search is Google’s experimental service to make local-business search accessible over the phone.

To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone.

Using this service, you can:

* search for a local business by name or category.
You can say “Giovanni’s Pizzeria” or just “pizza”.

* get connected to the business, free of charge.

* get the details by SMS if you’re using a mobile phone.
Just say “text message”.

And it’s free. Google doesn’t charge you a thing for the call or for connecting you to the business. Regular phone charges may apply, based on your telephone service provider.

Note: Google Voice Local Search is still in its experimental stage. It may not be available at all times and may not work for all users. We’re fine-tuning the service to get better at recognizing your requests. It’s currently only available in English, in the US, for US business listings.”
via [http://www.timeshareforums.com]

The Pointswizard.com Spin: And don’t forget 1 800 free 411