TradeToTravel

Hi, All, I'd like to share a story about a last-minute request...

Over a decade ago, the owners of the property in Barbados which is now T261 (recognized by the London Times as one of the most gracious getaways for the well-heeled including British Royalty), called us to say they were considering membership in TTT and were currently at JFK leaving for London. They said they'd been caught in NYC traffic, got disgusted with it, and decided to head for the airport and fly to the first destination which their young son could read on the departures board (I've forgotten how old he was, but he was already reading at a level surprising for his age). He went into the airport, read Lon-don, and his parents said that if we could arrange accommodations for them by the time they landed at Heathrow, they'd become members of TTT. We rose to the challenge and they've been extremely active and supportive members/friends ever since.

TradeToTravel

Hi, Ted, regarding your comment, "if I was interested in one of the properties in your database I'd simple research to find another venue to actually rent it directly from the owner saving the cost and hassle of a middle person."

If you'd like to pay full price to rent the property, feel free. When a "middle man" actually SAVES you 80%, maybe a "middle man" isn't such a bad idea?

DC4MS

This is an awesome quote....bravo.

TradeToTravel

And the same quote applies to membership in TTT :0)



(for those who may not have noticed, DC4MS was referring to Michael's quote rather than the Schweickart quote...most of you I'm sure realized that, but people like my mother who read this thread and don't know too much about computers or forums might have missed it and gotten confused, so I thought I'd point it out)

Kagehitokiri

Leah,

in the london story, they bought points (worth up to 3X their property's points) to book the london stay?

TradeToTravel

Hi, Kage, it was so long ago (before the internet and therefore before the creation of our current database) that I can't say for sure whether or not they bought points. Back then, we may have simply agreed with them that we could deduct the points for their London accommodations from their TTT account the first time they hosted a TTT member.

If the same scenario happened today, yes, the person would simply purchase points (up to 3x the value of their property, allowing them to "trade up" for a property more valuable than their own if they so desire) according to our "New Member Option" which allows new members to purchase up to 3 weeks of points @ $100 per point (which is a GREAT deal since each TTT point = $400 of rental/charter value).

TradeToTravel

Thanks, Tarheel Traveler.

TradeToTravel

Neil, do you mind if I ask what your thoughts are at this point?

NeilGoBlue

TTT,

I don't think TTT and DC clubs mix well for all the reasons that people have said earlier.

I would be very interested in your program if I owned a property.

I like the idea of creating experiences (being on a presidential yacht, etc)

But, not enough to purchase a property for just that reason...

TradeToTravel

"...for all of the reasons that people have said earlier."

Since I'm not sure which "reasons" haven't yet been addressed to everyone's satisfaction, can everyone whose questions/issues haven't been answered/addressed to their complete satisfaction please re-post the questions/issues?

caribbeansun

Still waiting for a reply to something I thought would be a fundamental issue with your program. While it's nice to read about the wonderful experiences people have it would be nice if you'd reply to a more difficult question.

You do have timeshares on your site - several of them in fact which is why I'm questioning your quality control. Saying that they are there from a long time ago tells me that your management team doesn't consider quality to be a primary concern for them or keeping your listings current.

So you base the points you attach to a property based entirely on the rental rates? How much effort do you do to actually verify the rates?

It would seem to me that the biggest issue you'd have is variances in the quality of the product or getting into debates of my place is worth 20 points and I've traded into another place worth 20 points but my place is wonderful and this is a dump.

Variance in quality is one of the biggest issues within the TS industry but seeing as how you are dealing with private residences in many cases the variances would be even that much more prone to problems. I also note that you have some TS properties on your site.

What protections do you provide to somebody that participates in the program - meaning what guarantees do I have that if I use part of my hard earned vacation time to travel to a TTT property that I will actually stay in a quality property every time?

NeilGoBlue

Originally Posted by 3DH
I have no problem with the post here, and the subsequent questions/suggestions, however, as a LUSSO member who often travels on what some would call a "last minute" booking (for me that is within a month or so), I would be terribly mad if I found that the club had "partnered" or "shared" a week that I or my fellow members could have booked at one of the exclusive club homes regardless of whether or not I could "share" in another property for that week, instead. I have grown fond of the residences, the local concierges for each property, and know that the location of all is second to none -- the probability of finding that combination in a home that was shared with TTT is slim... and something I am simply not interested in doing.

While I do like the concept of your company -- were I to own a vacation residence, myself, I would definitely see it as a viable solution to the monotony of returning many times a year to the same destination -- I don't feel that a reciprocal arrangement with a DC is a good option for members of such.

TradeToTravel

Hi, Caribbean Sun, what timeshares do we have on our site?

3DH

Just checking Aspen, I came up with Shadow Mountain Lodge... while they are sold in "3 week fractions", they are also affiliated with RCI, which makes it a justifiable timeshare.

__________________
"Boutique" is better! Another extremely satisfied LUSSO member!

TradeToTravel

Thanks, 3DH, could you please let me know which property # it is so I can check it out?

TradeToTravel

Caribbean Sun, when you say that our management team doesn't consider quality and keeping our listings current to be a primary concern, that's simply not true. As a matter of fact, someone who's reading this thread who owns a timeshare tried to apply for membership yesterday (to try to "trick" my staff?) and Ken (our senior trades analyst) sent me the following email...




-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth Sandy <Ken@TradeToTravel.com>
To: Leah Powell <tradetotravel@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 3:43 pm
Subject: RE:


Drake said that The Manhattan Club has the worst reviews and a lot like a hotel...he said that their website clearly states that if you want a free stay you can listen to a timeshare spill.


Trip Advisor is where he got it from and I did the same research and he is telling the absolute truth....Mark has a timeshare there and not personally owned....


Ken Sandy
Trade To Travel, LLC
Senior Trades Analyst
800-922-6001(United States)
#1-804-379-8557(International)
#1-804-379-8571(Fax)
Give us a week, we'll give you the world!

TradeToTravel

While we do have one member who owns multiple weeks in penthouse units in the Manhattan Club (which I have personally enjoyed and they are very nice), we do NOT accept "timeshares."