Another common horror story could be about the difficulty in booking desired dates. Members might find that when they try to book during peak seasons, there are no available units despite being promised certain booking privileges. It seems that the system is overbooked or not well - managed in terms of inventory. Also, some have reported problems with the quality of the accommodations. They expected a certain standard based on the Marriott brand, but found that the rooms were not well - maintained, with things like broken furniture or malfunctioning appliances.
There have been stories of poor customer service as well. When members had complaints or issues, they were met with unhelpful staff who either didn't take their concerns seriously or took a very long time to resolve the problems. This made the whole vacation experience very frustrating for them. For instance, if there was a problem with the room upon check - in, the staff might not be prompt in finding a solution, leaving the guests in an uncomfortable situation.
Yes, some people have reported pushy sales tactics. Salespeople would be overly aggressive in trying to get them to sign up for the vacation club. They might not give enough time to think about the decision or fully explain all the terms and conditions.
Some people have horror stories like unexpected high maintenance fees. They sign up thinking it's a good deal, but then the fees keep increasing year after year, putting a strain on their budget.
One horror story could be about unexpected fees. People might book thinking they've paid for everything but then get hit with all sorts of extra charges like maintenance fees that are much higher than expected. Another could be issues with accommodation quality. For example, arriving at a Holiday Inn Vacation Club property only to find dirty rooms, broken appliances, or beds that are extremely uncomfortable. Some also complain about the sales tactics. They might be pressured into signing up for the club during their stay with false promises of great benefits and exclusive deals that never materialize.
Some people have horror stories about high - pressure sales tactics at Marriott timeshare presentations. They were lured in with promises of luxury vacations but then pressured into signing contracts they didn't fully understand. Another horror is the difficulty in getting out of the timeshare. Owners often find themselves trapped in contracts with hefty fees and no easy way to sell or transfer their shares.
Definitely. Some people have had experiences where the facilities at the Holiday Inn Vacation Club were not as advertised. For example, the pool was closed for maintenance during their entire stay when it was supposed to be a major selling point. Or the fitness center was in a really bad state with broken equipment and not clean at all. It's really disappointing when you expect certain amenities based on what they promoted and then you don't get them.
Well, there have been instances where members had problems with the points system. They thought they had enough points for a certain type of accommodation or length of stay, but then found out that due to some complex rules and changes in the system, they couldn't get what they wanted. It's like a bait - and - switch situation, which is really annoying.
One horror vacation story could be when a family went camping in the woods. At night, they heard strange growling noises around their tent. They peeked out and saw a pair of glowing eyes in the darkness. It turned out to be a wild boar that was attracted by their food. They were so scared that they didn't sleep the whole night and left early the next morning.
One success story could be that many military families have been able to take affordable vacations. The club offers great deals on accommodations which has allowed families on tight budgets to still have memorable getaways.
A family once planned a beach vacation. But when they arrived at the hotel, they found out it was overbooked. They had to scramble to find another place to stay at the last minute. And the new place was far from the beach and not very clean. There were bugs everywhere, which really spoiled their vacation mood. They ended up spending a lot more money than they had planned just to have a decent place to stay.
There was a celeb who booked a luxury villa for vacation. But when they arrived, the place was filthy and full of bugs. They had to spend hours finding another accommodation and dealing with the booking company's incompetence. It ruined the start of their supposed relaxing holiday.