60 Day reservations not being reduced in points

[lewmel Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lewmel]

Hi everyone,
I am searching for a week vacation in Mexico, and the online is system is not reducing the points if I book within 60 days. The points are staying the same all the way from feb to oct. Could someone else check this for me, before I call in.
Thanks

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

Hi everyone,
I am searching for a week vacation in Mexico, and the online is system is not reducing the points if I book within 60 days. The points are staying the same all the way from feb to oct. Could someone else check this for me, before I call in.
Thanks

Go ahead and call in, they're going to quote you the same number of points.... you're going to say, but my salesman told me that it's 50% off under 60 days.... they're going to say, not necessarily - read the Club rules!

[fnewman Member Find all posts View Profile Close fnewman]

Hmmm - interesting. I've done that at resorts in the past. What's the scoop?

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Go ahead and call in, they're going to quote you the same number of points.... you're going to say, but my salesman told me that it's 50% off under 60 days.... they're going to say, not necessarily - read the Club rules!

THE Club rules clearly state a 50% reduction in reservations less than 59 days. DRI has had glitches with the online system from time to time. While I haven't always been a DRI cheerleader, DRI has made significant efforts to improve THE Club and the resorts it manages. Off hand comments without experience or first hand knowledge really don't assist the OP.

I'd call DRI reservations to make the reservation and mention that the online system isn't reflecting the reduction in points for short notice reservations. The online reservations system also offers three ways to view requests. Try one of the other search methods. I've grown to like the calender search, which shows all bedroom types available and the points required for an entire month.

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

Go ahead and call in, they're going to quote you the same number of points.... you're going to say, but my salesman told me that it's 50% off under 60 days.... they're going to say, not necessarily - read the Club rules!

THE Club rules clearly state a 50% reduction in reservations less than 59 days. DRI has had glitches with the online system from time to time. While I haven't always been a DRI cheerleader, DRI has made significant efforts to improve THE Club and the resorts it manages. Off hand comments without experience or first hand knowledge really don't assist the OP.

I'd call DRI reservations to make the reservation and mention that the online system isn't reflecting the reduction in points for short notice reservations. The online reservations system also offers three ways to view requests. Try one of the other search methods. I've grown to like the calender search, which shows all bedroom types available and the points required for an entire month.

Douglas,
Show me the money.
The 2009 version of Governing Documents Rules and Regulations Article 2.2.16 says:
To effectively manage the inventory in the Exchange Pool, THE Club Operating Company shall be entitled, but not obligated, to:
(a) Discount the Points normally required for some or all resort offerings for late availability space ...

just as interesting is item (b) that says that THE Club may take and use any/all availability at the 45 day mark for whatever purposes they desire with no cost for the occupancy!

Doug, read the Rules and Regulations in their entirety and it is obvious to anyone who knows the English language that THE Club can do just about anything they want in any case.

As to the 50% discount at 59 days or less, I read the above as saying that if THE Club thinks that it will be taken at full price, they will not be discounting it, then at the 45 day mark they get it for FREE for inspections, promotional use, rental, or any other purpose.

I wish you could show me where I am wrong and you are right.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

THE Club rules clearly state a 50% reduction in reservations less than 59 days. DRI has had glitches with the online system from time to time. While I haven't always been a DRI cheerleader, DRI has made significant efforts to improve THE Club and the resorts it manages. Off hand comments without experience or first hand knowledge really don't assist the OP.

I'd call DRI reservations to make the reservation and mention that the online system isn't reflecting the reduction in points for short notice reservations. The online reservations system also offers three ways to view requests. Try one of the other search methods. I've grown to like the calender search, which shows all bedroom types available and the points required for an entire month.

I would be interested in any more information that Doug or drivadiva have on this as i am seeing several cases where points have not been reduced at 59days out.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

I would be interested in any more information that Doug or drivadiva have on this as i am seeing several cases where points have not been reduced at 59days out.

As recent as two weeks ago, a rep on the phone clarified for me that stays at less than 59 days out can be booked for 50% off. I am sure I read this somewhere in an older DRI resort book but cannot seem to find this year's book.

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

As recent as two weeks ago, a rep on the phone clarified for me that stays at less than 59 days out can be booked for 50% off. I am sure I read this somewhere in an older DRI resort book but cannot seem to find this year's book.

Winger, just like a salesman, the rep on the phone is not knowledgeable, they follow a script, they tell lies, possibly because they don't know any better and this 'new' concept is not apparent to them. Look at any old Sunterra or DRI Resort Directory where you read some version of

Quick Getaways
If you can be flexible in your vacation planning, THE Club
offers two ways to save on reservations at participating
resorts in THE Club.
For a weekly stay, if you book your reservation 59 to 31
days prior to check-out, we'll take 50% off the standard
points value.
For stays that are two to six nights-book your stay 30
days to 48 hours prior to check-out and save 50% off the
standard points value. Many resorts throughout the U.S.
and Caribbean offer a two-night minimum stay.

now go online to your account and read the current Annual Global Reservations Directory, it does not have this information and neither does the 2010 Annual Member Benefits Directory. Now go to the Legal Document/Governing Documents which contain the Amended and Restated Rules and Regulations May2009 and read article 2.2.16.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Having done a few searches including reviewing DRIDiva's information, the only wording that I can locate this year is what has been said above. DRI is not obligated to discount the rates. Last year there was a link to a publication called the Navigator that distinctly stated that reservations made less than 60 days would be discounted 50%. The link to what DRI called The Navigator has been replaced by a rather generic guide that explains all the other things one can spend points on, but does not list the rules of THE Club.

Now, whether this is a disctinct departure or modification of the rules or if DRI is only now enforcing little known rules as laid out by Sunterra I can't say. I can say I've seen several discounted rates online but, I've seen rates that are not discounted. Some of the discounted rates I've seen have been for dates further out than 60 days. Glitch or the new way of the world for DRI? I really can't say for certain. The one thing I can say is that it's always been a risk to wait to book at less than 59 days. Perhaps it's even more of a risk now than what it was before.

Part of 2.2.16 states that, at 45 days DRI can do whatever they want with unreserved inventory. I'm assuming that would include promotional as well as rental opportunities for DRI. As with all other timeshare systems it appears that if there is a vacation that you really want, booking early is the way to go. The days of waiting and snagging weeks at the last minute may very well be over.

[winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close winger]

....

Personally, I believe it's just a glitch in the online system. If you can't get the discounted rate online then it seems to me the simple thing to do is call DRI reservations and ask for the specific resort and week you want. If it's not discounted ask the rep why it's not discounted. If the rep answers that not all resort weeks receive the less than 59 day reservation window discount, then you have your answer. If he says there must be a glitch in the system and gives you the discounted rate, then we'll have the doubters finding another theory.

Doug, this said, in recent <59days DRI bookings, two as recent as last month (January), when I first called to ask about availability, the rep quoted the full price. Upon questioning this, rep re-look at "another system" (whatever that means) and quoted the 50% reduction.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Doug, this said, in recent <59days DRI bookings, two as recent as last month (January), when I first called to ask about availability, the rep quoted the full price. Upon questioning this, rep re-look at "another system" (whatever that means) and quoted the 50% reduction.

What I'm seeing online.......and I haven't searched every resort as of yet......is that the DRI managed resorts show the reduction while some of the affiliated resorts, especially the newest affiliates, do not show the discount.

The simple thing to do is call and ask for the discounted rate. Since I'm not interested in making the reservation I'm not willing to waste a representitives time. At this point no one seems to be able to locate any definitive wording other than DRI is not obligated to reduce the points required for a reservation. Until there is definitive wording in writing, we can only assume that reservations don't have to be discounted.

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

What I'm seeing online.......and I haven't searched every resort as of yet......is that the DRI managed resorts show the reduction while some of the affiliated resorts, especially the newest affiliates, do not show the discount.

The simple thing to do is call and ask for the discounted rate. Since I'm not interested in making the reservation I'm not willing to waste a representitives time. At this point no one seems to be able to locate any definitive wording other than DRI is not obligated to reduce the points required for a reservation. Until there is definitive wording in writing, we can only assume that reservations don't have to be discounted.

what's not DEFINITIVE about the Articles and Rules and Regulations of THE Club SM and the absence of previous statements in member guides and directories?

From: doug <dougp26364>
To: DiamondResorts-owners@yahoogroups.com


On another discussion forum [TS4Ms] it's been mentioned that the 2010 members guide doesn't have anything about reservations being half the cost of points if the reservation is less than 60 days. What has been pointed out is that in THE Club rules section 2.2.16 it states that DRI is not obligated to offer accomadations for reduced points. In doing an online search I have noted at least one affiliated resort that does not show the 50% off rate even though it's within the 60 day window. Otherwise every other resort I could find that had availability was showing reservations for 50% of the regular point value.

So has the rule changed or, has it always been the rule but it's just being enforced now that DRI is adding several more affiliated resorts?

not the Member Guide but what DRI calls the Legal Document

"This document is the new legal disclosure document that all new members will receive and defines the amended Articles and Rules and Regulations of THE Club SM"

to answer your question, all you need do is refer to previous copies of the Articles and Rules and Regulations of THE Club SM.

Any annual publication such as the aforementioned directories and member guides are non applicable to 2010.

Remember that DRI can change the Articles and Rules and Regulations of THE Club SM at will.

So your off hand comment

"THE Club rules clearly state a 50% reduction in reservations less than 59 days. DRI has had glitches with the online system from time to time. While I haven't always been a DRI cheerleader, DRI has made significant efforts to improve THE Club and the resorts it manages. Off hand comments without experience or first hand knowledge really don't assist the OP."

is false and really doesn't assist the OP.

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

and, of course, the easily changeable statement on the Point Saver search feature which says

THE Club membership gives you many opportunities to enjoy extra vacations by offering discounted rates using your points and this search tool will only identify those opportunities being offered at a discount. THE Club offers 50% off points for week long reservations at many resorts within 59 days, and within 30 days offers 50% off points for nightly reservations for a two night minimum stay. In addition THE Club&reg; each month through email announces additionally discounted points opportunities, so for notification subscribe within the Preferences - Mailings - Member News and Offers. This search feature will solely return discounted opportunities, so if you wish to see all availability (including point discounts) please use the Quick Search feature.

[hercules24 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hercules24]

I had reason to question why I was not being offered a 50% discount on a departure within 59 days, the explanation I was given was that now that DRI offered more flexible holidays part weeks and various departure dates that differ from resort standard check in days that these holidays would only be discounted (if available) by 50% 30 days prior to departure. However, if a holiday was booked for 7 days within 59 days of arrival commencing on the resorts standard check in day then this holiday would be discounted by 50%, hope this helps.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

This sound like a good question to ask directly to DRI for a written clarification?.