Is it typical to receive high pressure, derision, and hostility from DRI

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Well, we have decided to see for ourselves.....probably the stupidest thing to do, but we booked a week at the Scottsdale Villa Mirage next month, and are hoping that we don't get assaulted like our friends did.

We have no intention of taking any TS tour, and will make it perfectly clear upfront......if they don't leave us alone, I will be back here to report the behavior.

If you want to do something that is even more effective, before you leave make sure that you have the name of the resort manager and the contact info for the DRI client satisfaction person - I disremember his name at the moment - it's been mentioned several times.

If you have problems at the resort, I suggest you immediately leave a voice mail message for the resort manager and send an e-mail to the person. You should also cc Stephen Cloobeck on it as well. Be sure to say that you are at the resort right then and you want to report it immediately. Add something to the effect that you are sure that is not the impression that DRI management wants to create, and so you felt they would want to know right away if such situations are occurring.

If you do that I expect that you will get a very fast response.

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

Thanks T.R. that is great advice...I will definitely push the up button if the front person is "obtuse."

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

If you want to do something that is even more effective ....

If you have problems at the resort, . ... Be sure to say ...Add something to the effect that you are sure that is not the impression that DRI management wants to create, and so you felt they would want to know right away if such situations are occurring.....

Hi TR. I just want to chime in here.

I can attest that DRI top management indeed does want honest, constructive feedback from its owners/guests and I have seen them take action to correct issues owners have pointed out.

This maybe lacking in the other "big name" vacation ownership companies, at least I do NOT see the responsiveness I have seen with DRI.

This is a compliment to the DRI management.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Hi TR. I just want to chime in here.

I can attest that DRI top management indeed does want honest, constructive feedback from its owners/guests and I have seen them take action to correct issues owners have pointed out.

This maybe lacking in the other "big name" vacation ownership companies, at least I do NOT see the responsiveness I have seen with DRI.

This is a compliment to the DRI management.

I concur that this is an area in which DRI is really trying. For a brief while after DRI acquired Sunterra, Stephen Cloobeck himself registered here and made some posts.

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

Hi TR. I just want to chime in here.

I can attest that DRI top management indeed does want honest, constructive feedback from its owners/guests and I have seen them take action to correct issues owners have pointed out.

This maybe lacking in the other "big name" vacation ownership companies, at least I do NOT see the responsiveness I have seen with DRI.

This is a compliment to the DRI management.

This is an area in which DRI is the top dog in the indurstry as far as I'm concerned. Constructive critisism is usually met with some form of action when warranted. It is a large ship and it turns slowly but, DRI is getting this ship turned around.

[EyeTravelWell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EyeTravelWell]

OK we are new owners and need to learn how to make the most of our new purchase

[MARQUEE][MARQUEE-RIGHT][MARQUEE-RIGHT][MARQUEE-RIGHT][MARQUEE][MARQUEE][MARQUEE][/MARQUEE][/MARQUEE][/MARQUEE][/MARQUEE-RIGHT][/MARQUEE-RIGHT][/MARQUEE-RIGHT][/MARQUEE][QUOTE=longtimer;398061]I
The one thing that DRI (and probably most TS) is lacking is owner education. It's a shame that there's no one who can help new owners learn how to make the most of their purchase.

My wife and I just purchased Silver Club at Lake Tahoe after wondering what everyone was talking about. WE are excited to start this adventure but after reading some excellent posts I see that this is not as turnkey as I thought

We borrowed points against 2011 to spend the week between Christmas and New Years at Sedona Ridge
It will be the two of us and we took a Mesa Suite

We want to travel both US Hawaii and Europe as well as use the other options
It is all quite intimidating, but I promised my wife that I would figure it out with the help of my new friends

So what do we need to do to maximize our pleasure with DRI
What should we keep track of ?
What should we avoid ?
How do we handle the sales staff ?

All thoughts welcome

Shachar and Debbie

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

General Info to Start Out

[QUOTE=EyeTravelWell;403265][MARQUEE][MARQUEE-RIGHT][MARQUEE-RIGHT][MARQUEE-RIGHT][MARQUEE][MARQUEE][MARQUEE][/MARQUEE][/MARQUEE][/MARQUEE][/MARQUEE-RIGHT][/MARQUEE-RIGHT][/MARQUEE-RIGHT][/MARQUEE]

I
The one thing that DRI (and probably most TS) is lacking is owner education. It's a shame that there's no one who can help new owners learn how to make the most of their purchase.

My wife and I just purchased Silver Club at Lake Tahoe after wondering what everyone was talking about. WE are excited to start this adventure but after reading some excellent posts I see that this is not as turnkey as I thought

We borrowed points against 2011 to spend the week between Christmas and New Years at Sedona Ridge
It will be the two of us and we took a Mesa Suite

We want to travel both US Hawaii and Europe as well as use the other options
It is all quite intimidating, but I promised my wife that I would figure it out with the help of my new friends

So what do we need to do to maximize our pleasure with DRI
What should we keep track of ?
What should we avoid ?
How do we handle the sales staff ?

All thoughts welcome

Shachar and Debbie

Hell Shachar and Debbie,

I must share with you that it is really not that complicated. You just have to know what is offered and available and have enough points to do what you want to do.

To get the maximum out of DRI make sure you use your points for accommodations. There are other options, but that is truly where you get the most bang for your buck. If you are traveling during high demand seasons like summer in Hawaii or Europe, then book as early as possible to increase the chance of you getting what you want. If you can travel at the last minute, DRI offers resorts for 50% less points than usual. DRI also has specials that you can take advantage of. The cruises, air miles and safaris and such can usually be bought more cheaply than your price per point.

I am writing these things with the assumption of you being in the Club. Is that true?

The only thing I can tell you to look out for are the rising maintenance fees. They increase every year and have taken a big jump over the last three to four years.

Avoid sales presentations if you don't desire to see one or if you can't afford more points.

The sales staff is fine. I have learned how to say no consistently and it is not a problem.

Do you know about Club Select? That is a nice feature.

Do you have any specific questions?

[EyeTravelWell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EyeTravelWell]

New TO DRI

Thakns for the great response

We are Silver level in the Club Select

It gave us some good options such as the two upgrades for $99

MF seem to be the issue

If you were to pick to the best ( most luxurious ) DRI resorts which would they be?

Which resorts are tired and needed to be avoided at this time?

WE have limited time and the idea of less than 7 days per stay is attractive for us at this time?

We have found that getting someone live is a challenge but have been happy with how easy it is to navigate the online selections.

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

ETW - welcome to TS4Ms

ETW - welcome to TS4Ms

first, you need to know what you have
there is no such thing as Silver Elite Club Select
I assume you are a member of THE Club and 15000 pts or more but less than 30,000.
Club Select is a program where you can 'deposit' other timeshares for a credit of points -or- use points or cash to use those non-DRI weeks that have been deposited by other members.
by Ridge Sedona, I assume you mean The Ridge on Sedona (Golf) Resort but it has no MESA Suites, they are at Sedona Summit.

You need to study the materials that you have
know the terminology in the materials
read all the posts in this forum
then ask educated questions to get the best answers

I travel by picking destinations I want to enjoy, not by asking which resort is run down or most luxurious....

[EyeTravelWell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EyeTravelWell]

good points

Spence
Good points
We have a silver membership which is 15k points
We do not have any other Time Shares to deposit

I misspoke and you are correct we are at the Sedona Summit in a Mesa Suite this December, not the Ridge location

I will however disagree with you regarding location

A poor resort in a prize location does not warrant me staying there with DRI (I will spend my cash if I want to stay at that location and chose the right resort)
On the other hand most of the DRI locations are quite choice spots.

If the DRI beach resort in California is more luxurious than the one in Florida then I would prefer to go there.

I will read as much as I can and look at the posts
IT is obvious from my reading of the posts tonight that there is indeed a great deal of confusion. In fact the original post which I quoted actually spoke to that particular issue. It was a great invitation to ask


Your help as well as the others is always welcome

Not to worry even more educated questions will be forthcoming
Best
Shachar

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

You can always have a poor experience for one reason or another but DRI does not really have a poor resort.

Spence
Good points
We have a silver membership which is 15k points
We do not have any other Time Shares to deposit

I misspoke and you are correct we are at the Sedona Summit in a Mesa Suite this December, not the Ridge location

I will however disagree with you regarding location

A poor resort in a prize location does not warrant me staying there with DRI (I will spend my cash if I want to stay at that location and chose the right resort)
On the other hand most of the DRI locations are quite choice spots.

If the DRI beach resort in California is more luxurious than the one in Florida then I would prefer to go there.

I will read as much as I can and look at the posts
IT is obvious from my reading of the posts tonight that there is indeed a great deal of confusion. In fact the original post which I quoted actually spoke to that particular issue. It was a great invitation to ask


Your help as well as the others is always welcome

Not to worry even more educated questions will be forthcoming
Best
Shachar

[EyeTravelWell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EyeTravelWell]

Fair enough

You can always have a poor experience for one reason or another but DRI does not really have a poor resort.

Spence
I am glad to hear that!

Now which of the DRI properties are your top 5 favorites and why?

Best
Shachar

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

Don't we already know that I'm for destinations.....

Spence
I am glad to hear that!
Now which of the DRI properties are your top 5 favorites and why?
Best
Shachar

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Spence
I am glad to hear that!

Now which of the DRI properties are your top 5 favorites and why?

Best
Shachar

I'll chime in here.

We like the Point at Poipu because it's at Poipu.

We like the Ka'anapali Beach Club because it's on Ka'anapali Beach.

we enjoyed Flamingo and Royal Palm because they're in Sint Maarten.

I've stayed at the Clock Tower in Whistler, which I enjoyed because it's in Whistler.

Hope this helps!!!

[EyeTravelWell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close EyeTravelWell]

Now we are talking!

Good thoughts I will check those out
Have stayed at wonderful places in Whistler, Maui, and the Caribbean but not at those listed. Good to know that you think they are great resorts worthy of your time effort and money

TR Ogoldyte I am grateful for your thoughts and impressions although I am not sure Mr Mead is correct about good Americans hating the Yankees. Got some great folks up in the Bronx that would like to say different!

Thanks for educating a newbie who is not afraid to ask