In response to jonotinx re: GVC/ Sunterra (The Grand Vacation Club (GVC))

Member Name: Teresa.Dragon

Product:	The Grand Vacation Club (GVC)
Date:	29/11/05 (1770 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great holidays in fabulous accomodation, ideal for families.

Disadvantages: Bad marketing and sales stragegies is the problem with GVC, producing angry customers.

This is a very interesting point of view which I have mixed feelings towards. I am a member of the GVC/sunterra holiday club for 3 years and I was lied to as well but it is up to the individuals to check it out first. Some of the things that the reps say to make people buy these points are quite rightly bull shit and wrong. However the reason that my family and I bought the points was due to the fact of a very poor quality, expensive holiday through Lunpoly - a reasonable good quality high street travel agent. You think you were dealt with badly with sunterra!!!! My point is that something made you buy these points, you don't buy timeshare holiday points to make money, you buy them for a descent holiday and that is exactly what you get with sunterra.

I am sorry if I do not sound sympathetic towards your comments but I love my holidays with sunterra the accommodation is 5* and that is what is important to my family and me. If we have had any problems, they have been dealt with immediately and to our satisfaction. Everywhere is clean, the accommodation spacious, life guarded pools, great locations of resorts but not everyone’s cup of tea!!! Some people just want a room with a bed in it!! With 2 young children I don't want to chance my accommodation, I want a home away from home.

The actual product is excellent and I think it is important to get things in perspective!! I believe it is the way in which the product is marketed that is the issue as the representatives need to be policed somehow with what they are allowed to tell perspective customers. The money that is spent on marketing must be substantial and I do believe could be utilised else where.

The bottom line is you buy points to holiday, you have to be quick or else the most popular destinations get booked up fast. There is a good side to this in that the resorts are not overpopulated and the accommodation is spacious, private and to a high standard. If you buy more points are prepared to pay more on your annual maintenance fee.
Benefits of this is exactly what it says, clean, safe and well maintained resorts and surroundings. This year we went to Hawaii - brilliant, best holiday ever. Next year we are already booked for Malta for which the flights are also booked - the product is a life time of good quality holiday accommodation, to the same standard where ever you go. Malta cost us 6000 points, taking into consideration the standard of the accommodation, booking well in advance air fare discount, your yearly maintenance fee and you have a fair price for a good holiday!!!
The bonus for us members is that because we have paid for the points in advance the longer we keep the points the cheaper our holidays become!!! I know why you are sore and that is because you saw the potential of making a quick $ and forgot all about the product. All you have to do is tell the reps to buggar off if you are not interested in any more points - they soon get the message!!!

Summary: GVC/Sunterra offer a varsatile holiday product, it's not for everyone - my family love it!!!