GVC/Sunterra - good and bad (The Grand Vacation Club (GVC))

Member Name: Honest Sunterra Member

Product:	The Grand Vacation Club (GVC)
Date:	29/11/06 (1999 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Accomodation

Disadvantages: Cost/ high pressure reps

"I have no experience of poor salesmanship of any kind, or even anything which could be remotely defined as high pressure." Is complete rubbish, every time we have been on holiday using our Sunterra/GVC points we have been hounded by sales people. The reps lie continually, even now as Sunterra Europe is up for sale, they tell us members Marriotts are buying, how can they say this when no one knows. Yes the standard of accomodation is at least 3* but never 5* as they tell you. I do not regret buying into Sunterra, we are a family of 4 but insist on 2 bed appartments, so it does work out slightly cheaper than package holidays, when you take into account the "under occupancy". But if you are the sort of family that holidays in Europe (and a budget of £1250), then you can find a holiday for 4 to Teneriffe that is cheaper than the cost of 4 flights alone. Availability is another concern, you have to book 12 months in advance for European resorts for school holidays. If you can afford the flights to America other than Orlando, then it works out real cheap (£1000) for a family of 4 and the standard of accomodation is great (but not 5* by American standard). If you want Orlando, then Virgin works out cheaper and better as availaibility for timeshare resorts in Orlando is poor. There has been another 6% hike in management fees this year. Average costs is £1.50 per point (£150 per old point) and management fee for 100(00) points is approx £600 per year and rising, so it is not a cheap option. Second hand points the resale value is minimal, (only available to members to purchase from other members) these points are going as low as 10p (£1 per old point) and some are even giving them away. European resorts are expensive, England for example for 2 bed 1 week summer hols will cost 85(00) points, so when you consider the initial outlay to purchase the points and then add the maintenance fees, it is expensive, you can rent it far cheaper if you go on a timeshare rentals site. Yes the pointsavers are good value but you have to flexible, get them when you can, and if you are working or have children of school age it is almost impossible to take advantage of these. So far we have paid over £12K for our membership (inc management fees) and do love our holidays and have gone places we would never have dreamt of going (las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Los Angeles) and we have worked out that we need one more "big holiday" to get our monies worth and then it will be holidays for the cost of the managment fees, but with these rising every year, who knows. If you go on a free holiday, with a presentation do not buy, look at timeshare talk (uk site) and members will help you decide if you have a good deal or not. ps (I paid £1 per point, £100 per old point so barttering is worthwhile)

Summary: Be careful