caribbeansun

In reviewing the agreements for a couple of clubs I've seen a couple of limitations on usage that just seem down right bizarre to me:

1) Even though you are purchasing 35 days usage you are limited to having 28 days on the reservation system - what the heck is that about?

Seems rather arbitrary and contrary to the fact you are buying 35 days not 28.

2) Holiday usage - you cannot book the same holiday reservation for the same holiday more often than every third year. I get the argument for equal access to holidays but geez...


Do memberships at lower levels have the same restrictions on them? ie. for a 28 day membership you only get 21 days on the reservation system? Do they have more onerous restrictions on holiday usage?

Thanks

LTTravel

I have no problems with those restrictions. Some members may be able to schedule all their vacations in advance while others may be restricted by various obligations. If you were able to book all your days in advance, availability will be limited to those who can't plan that much in advance.
As for the holiday limitations, there are three options for DC's. Either limit the same holiday for once every three years, have a lottery system for holidays, or pay a premium for holidays and a higher premium for the premium holidays. When you join a DC, there must be limitations otherwise it does not work.

Jack

Those restrictions seem fine to me as well. Every third year seems a good turn around for the same holiday. (if thats true?) because it seems like if your club has a 5 mems to 1 home ratio shouldn't it be every 4 years?

pwrshift

Broken record here again - sorry - but TS's have an advantage over DC's for those who want the same holiday and/or same place. Every year, with a floating booking system, I can book my 4 Ft. Laud weeks in a row from Pres Week right into March Break (holiday weeks in the DC system) and do it year after year after year 13 months ahead. I would doubt that any DC club would allow that, even the unlimited ones. Next year will be more interesting than previous years as the TS resort will have been completely redecorated.

Steamboat Bill

The reservation ability you describe was not an ORIGINAL feature of timeshares when the industry first started. It was only possible with scale of growth, tons of potential availability, trading, and a floating reservation period. Because Marriott has 250 or so rooms, then one guest (like you) that always grabs a hot holiday week does not have a huge impact on the thousands of other members.

However, all DCs are small in comparison to timeshares and only ER has the scale that could "possibly" accommodate a member usage pattern like yours. Unfortunately, clubs like HCC and most others have only one or two properties at each location and if one member was able to consistently reserve a particular week or weeks at one property every year, then it would be very UNFAIR to all the other members.

What you are describing is perfect for YOU, but in a DC world, it would be quite upsetting to anyone that they are being blocked from a hot reservation by one member.

There are some DC properties like ER where they buy 20-30 properties at one location and you may be able to get away with a yearly pattern you desire. However, it will be a $3m home with 4-5 bedrooms and that may not suit your needs.

If (and when) the DC industry get scale (such as one club with tens of thousands of members) then they will probably morph their reservation system to allow usage like timeshares, but for now, the system is set up so that EVERYONE gets an equal and fair opportunity to book all the properties at any time of the year.

LTTravel

I and many members do not want to spend four weeks at the same location. We have been to Cabo twice, Grand Cayman twice and several other destinations once. My families next choice is a destination we have not been to. Each destination offers a new experience and another wonderful home. We look forward to trips to Costa Rica, Little Dix Bay, Anguilla, Vail and other destinations. At a different point in my life, with no kids, no job obligations I may think differently, but now, I like it just the way it is and would not want to spend four weeks in the same place. In fact we spent a few days at the St. Regis in Ft Lauderdale and it was fine. But we would have run out of things to do if we stayed there a week. Though it is easy for you to get four weeks in the same place, it may be more difficult for you to book one week in Ft. Lauderdale at the St. Regis, one week in Abaco at the Abaco Club, one week in the Ritz at Grand Cayman and one week at beautiful home overlooking the Rosewood resort at Little Dix Bay in a row.

NeilGoBlue

If this is how you like to travel, then a timeshare makes more sense for you.

Kagehitokiri

updated this thread with info on lusso and ciel from TUG >

Creating the perfect Destination Club reservation process

Steamboat Bill

Now that sounds like a great itinerary.

TarheelTraveler

My thoughts exactly. Although like LTTravel mentioned, I don't know that I'd spend a week in Lauderdale. Usually after staying a few days, I'm ready to get the heck out of there.

Quintess Michael

Bizarre, perhaps...but usually not arbitrary.
Each club has it's own parameters, but there are a few factors to consider.

1) The club wants you to travel. If you don't use all your days, you aren't going to be as happy as if you do. Travelling members are happy members.

2)Availability for other members- If all the "bigger plan" members hold all the future reservations, it isn't fair for the members who have fewer nights. Especially in the highest demand destinations.

__________________
Michael Aumock
Director, Membership Development
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World

TarheelTraveler

Good point, Michael. I'm sure all of the major clubs spend significant time and resources analyzing and modeling the rules in an attempt to come up with a fair system. Based on the sky high satisfaction rates, clearly DCs have done a better job at this then the fractional interest providers.

caribbeansun

Hmmm - my impression is the opposite.

There seem to be any number of limitations imposed to restrict access and yes, usually the justification is fairness to the "lesser" members.

How is it fair to ensure availability for those that subscribe for fewer nights at the expense of those that have subscribed at a higher level? Does my last week have less utility than the first week of a 2 week membership? To me it doesn't.

I personally think the logic is flawed.

Kagehitokiri

caribbeansun, that is why some clubs have fewer (or only 1) plan(s).

Quintess Michael

Ensuring a certain amount of availability is part of the program.
This is the hardest part of the whole process, in my opinion.
There are no "lesser" members in some clubs, only members who choose to join with fewer days.
The members who choose more days in the club, typically get more advanced reservations.
The key is to make sure that the home/member ratio allows availability in both long-term and short-term windows. That solves most problems before they happen.


To address your original question, if everyone could hold all of their days in advanced reservation, it would destroy the short term availability in prime destinations.

If being in the same property or location every year for Christmas is a primary concern for you, maybe a DC isn't the best plan for you.
On the other hand, you could get a Non-holiday membership and travel on your own for Christmas. Some companies even provide onsite travel associates to plan ALL your travel, not just within the club.

__________________
Michael Aumock
Director, Membership Development
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World

caribbeansun

I would agree completely.

That's why I put the word lesser in quotes.

Yes, I suppose it could but then I'm not a short-term traveler so I have a bias in this regard. I'm also not somebody that would travel for less than a full week and in most cases more than a week is the minimum.
That's precisely what I'm trying to determine although it really has much less to do with holiday travel specifically. I mentioned the holiday travel as it seemed an odd addition to the terms and conditions - it's not a deal breaker by any stretch but I still found it unusual given the objective of "travel when I want where I want" as it made that impossible.


In actual fact I'm trying to determine the best manner inwhich to integrate a DC (or more than one DC) into a travel portfolio that includes multiple owned vacation properties. I think there's a way to make it work but I readily admit I'm struggling with certain aspects of it.