Is DRI Europe a good value? We would value your input.

[sheilaanthony Member Find all posts View Profile Close sheilaanthony]

We earned 2 RT tickets on American to anywhere in Europe they fly, and can also use them "Open Jaw" returning from a different destination to our home. We have about 16,000 DRI points for 2008, and wonder what your experience is with DRI Europe, and if you think we could wisely use our points there. Do you have any experience with less than 59 days (half-point) reservations there?

We are both in our 60's, don't play golf or tennis, and love museums and food and wine. We prefer not to climb too many stairs. DH has knee replacement. We're not opposed to driving and would like to go when the weather is warm and the days are long. We haven't been to Europe for 30years, so we're entirely open. We are not snobs, and speak a little Spanish and in an emergency a little French and Italian. I know there's a DRI Yahoo Group in Europe, but they are primarily chatting and don't specifically rate or critique the DRI resorts there. We have the Sunoptions directory and have some familiarity using DRI website for looking at pictures, etc. We don't find those terribly useful. We're going to San Luis Bay Resort in California next week and will poke around there for some info, but any suggestions you have would be taken seriously. Many thanks.

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

We earned 2 RT tickets on American to anywhere in Europe they fly, and can also use them "Open Jaw" returning from a different destination to our home. We have about 16,000 DRI points for 2008, and wonder what your experience is with DRI Europe, and if you think we could wisely use our points there. Do you have any experience with less than 59 days (half-point) reservations there?

We are both in our 60's, don't play golf or tennis, and love museums and food and wine. We prefer not to climb too many stairs. DH has knee replacement. We're not opposed to driving and would like to go when the weather is warm and the days are long. We haven't been to Europe for 30years, so we're entirely open. We are not snobs, and speak a little Spanish and in an emergency a little French and Italian. I know there's a DRI Yahoo Group in Europe, but they are primarily chatting and don't specifically rate or critique the DRI resorts there. We have the Sunoptions directory and have some familiarity using DRI website for looking at pictures, etc. We don't find those terribly useful. We're going to San Luis Bay Resort in California next week and will poke around there for some info, but any suggestions you have would be taken seriously. Many thanks.

• Do you have any experience with less than 59 days (half-point) reservations there?
• We're not opposed to driving and would like to go when the weather is warm and the days are long.

These two things are normally mutually exclusive.

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

It is not easy to reserve any DRI European destinations in the 59 day window, unless during the "dead" season.

16000 points will give you 2 to 3 weeks, depending on size of accommodation.

If you plan it now, you still have very good options:

1. Any resort in UK for a week and take advantage of the cheap Rayanair or alike to the mainland, e.g. Austria and Germany.

2. Paris is not easy to book. You can try. I have reservation for April. Nice is nice but not easy to book during the peak summer months. Train is readily available to go to all towns along the coast, though you must take a bus from the resort to the train station. Normande is where you enjoy the countryside of France. Le Manoir des Deux Amants is always available. You can make day trips to Paris and Normande area.

3. Costa de Sol is great and is warm or even hot from April to early October. Availability is good, if you book now. Besides the beach towns such as Marbella, there are lots of historical sites within a max of two hours drive. You can make a day trip or a coach trip for two days to Morocco.

4. Don't forget Tuscay, Italy - my favourite location. Almost impossible to book without luck, except from November to December. I was there in November. Lots of rain, but the most unforgetable trips I have made. My biased opinion is this location is the best in Europe. You have to drive though and driving to browse the hill towns is not easy.

One small tip: don't rely on the online booking. When the computer says no availability, call the operator, which was how I got Italy and Paris.

Try to go during warmer months with longer day, if you must drive. Driving for a max of like 2 hours is unavoidable, except Paris and Nice.

I bought Sunterra, now DRI, 10 years ago, because of their European resorts. Without them, Sunterra means nothing to me. Sorry, my biased opinion again.

Don't forget II. With a fee, you have more options, e.g. Hungary. Since you will pay less points, the fee is reasonable and a bargain.

Enjoy.

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

Forget Tuscany, if your husband has a knee problem. The resort is up on a small hill, so lots of walking up and town hill. You can't drive up the hill in the narrow alley, unless you are a local. I trashed my right mirrow driving up to the resort.