Is DRI enhancing your holiday experience ?

[hercules24 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hercules24]

Hi as you know I am new to this forum but I am pleased to see the participation on threads; here is another hot potatoe to debate.

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In your opinion do you feel that Diamond are enhancing your holiday/vacation experience ?

If you feel they have enhanced the quality of your vacations then please explain what enhancements over the last couple of years they have delivered that has given you the member the greatest satisfaction?

If you feel that the club has not increased the level of satisfaction or has indeed dropped its level of performance, what are the areas of your concerns and /or what suggestions would you put to Diamond to improve the quality of your valuable vacations.

Finally overall do you feel that they live up to their mantra "Relaxation simplified" if not why not ?

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

I think things have gotten much better over the past year. A year ago, the online reservations system was often not working at all and it was very difficult to book anything - even 13 months out. Now, you can see what's available and, at least for the few resorts I have checked for consideration for next summer, there seems to be quite alot available. IMO, the biggest gripe with DRI is the same for all TS right now - the excessively high MFs. I don't think we'll see any end to those any time soon. I'm just glad my TS is paid for. If I had to pay a loan on top of the MFs, I don't think we could afford it. I had been considering purchasing another TS on the resale market. But even with those low prices, the extra MFs may one day be too much.

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

After giving the topic a little thought, I think there is one area in which DRI can greatly improve its service. Whenever we check into a DRI resort, we are treated just the same as anyone else. I don't expect the red carpet treatment, but as an owner, I think we should be treated a little better than those who are simply renting or paying for nightly stays. It would be nice to have an open breakfast or cocktail hour once a week for owners only. Each TS could use that time to tout their activities, local interests and off-site tours they may have available. There are often little "gems" at each resort that you don't find out about unless you go digging. Other perks that would be really nice: earlier check in time/check out time (an hour earlier/later than standard) and express check-in (so there's no long wait in line - I've waited an hour at some places!).

[sheilaanthony Member Find all posts View Profile Close sheilaanthony]

With any club you buy into, it is wise to do as much investigation prior to, rather than after purchase. We did a great deal of investigation into DRI, which was formerly Sunterra, prior to buying. We were enchanted with one particular location which we planned to spend a lot of time at, as our children grew up. Now that they're grown, we studied joining The Club for over a year before shifting over, and it worked for us to have more options, being able to have 1/2 price points at the last minute, and having free or inexpensive upgrades, depending upon status. We have two very nice resorts within 3-1/2 hours of home, and we've enjoyed short getaways to those, one in the desert and one on the Central Coast. With a fair sized family it is nice to offer TS for reunions or getaways for the "kids".

We're more flexible now in retirement, and the club works well in our case. We have not had the chance to trade outside of DRI yet, but are looking forward to more vacations abroad using II. We have travelled to DRI in St. Martin, and will have our first trip to Palazzo Catalani (Italy) in November, so in those cases it's been Club all the way.

The drawbacks: It's expensive to buy from the sales centers; the more than 50% increases in dues/maintenance fees/other fees in a short period of time. (That has been difficult to budget); and current inability to access the DRI European site which was very useful in finding our week in Italy. (We can no longer access it, and of course, European owners have priority there 13 months out, and US members only 10 months out. It works both ways, so I think that's fair, but finding the European inventory has been made it more difficult).

There are other drawbacks which others will chime in on. I prefer to be more positive and tell you what has worked best for us. I believe it's very important to know as much as you can prior to making the plunge, and you're very smart to start here...there are many nuances of the club to be discovered, and that's why I come here often.

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

Hi as you know I am new to this forum but I am pleased to see the participation on threads; here is another hot potatoe to debate.

------------------------------------------------------------------

In your opinion do you feel that Diamond are enhancing your holiday/vacation experience ?

If you feel they have enhanced the quality of your vacations then please explain what enhancements over the last couple of years they have delivered that has given you the member the greatest satisfaction?

If you feel that the club has not increased the level of satisfaction or has indeed dropped its level of performance, what are the areas of your concerns and /or what suggestions would you put to Diamond to improve the quality of your valuable vacations.

Finally overall do you feel that they live up to their mantra "Relaxation simplified" if not why not ?

For US resorts the online experience has improved.

DRI is slowly putting websites up for individual resorts that includes much of the information about each resort, including the minutes, meeting times et....for their owners to view. This is an improvement in communications.

DRI made improvements to facilities as some of the Sunterra resorts (pool repairs come to mind) that Sunterra had allowed to languish.

DRI upgraded the beds in all the US resorts (don't know about Europe) and upgraded some of the soft goods at the resors. Sunterra was, IMHO, famous for cheap soft goods and cheap window blinds. DRI has improved those goods and begun placing decent curtains in units, including blackout curtains in bedrooms for those that want to sleep in.

DRI stopped outsourcing their call centers and brought them back to the US. I'm not sure about the European call centers.

DRI is trying to put the breaks on (or has) those that have bought points to rent as a cottage industry. This should open up availability to members who own with THE Club to use their units. They have not stopped owners from renting their units to cover MF's as far as I can tell.

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

DRI stopped outsourcing their call centers and brought them back to the US. I'm not sure about the European call centers.

DRI is trying to put the breaks on (or has) those that have bought points to rent as a cottage industry. This should open up availability to members who own with THE Club to use their units. They have not stopped owners from renting their units to cover MF's as far as I can tell.

I thought that DRI had outsourced their call centers to Interval International in Miami and in London?

How is availability opened up? Points are points and whoever owns them can book whenever their own window opens at 13 months, 12 months, 10 months, and two months. I don't understand.

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

I thought that DRI had outsourced their call centers to Interval International in Miami and in London?

How is availability opened up? Points are points and whoever owns them can book whenever their own window opens at 13 months, 12 months, 10 months, and two months. I don't understand.

Maybe they have but, it's no longe India. I can understand (most of the time) the person I'm talking to now and they know what I'm talking about.

Availability opens up when units are available to members to reserve for exchange. There were a few that owned hundreds of thousands of points, used those points to book prime locations during high demand seasons and had no intention of using them for personal use. They were booking them with the express purpose of renting. DRI has, or is trying, to put the breaks on that sort of activity and keep units available for members to book for personal use rather than using them to turn a profit.

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

Maybe they have but, it's no longe India. I can understand (most of the time) the person I'm talking to now and they know what I'm talking about.

Availability opens up when units are available to members to reserve for exchange. There were a few that owned hundreds of thousands of points, used those points to book prime locations during high demand seasons and had no intention of using them for personal use. They were booking them with the express purpose of renting. DRI has, or is trying, to put the breaks on that sort of activity and keep units available for members to book for personal use rather than using them to turn a profit.

Maybe? They have, there's no maybe.

Every owner has the same rights to reserve within there specific Resort or Trust. Every owner has the same chance to book. You sound very much like those two from England.

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

Maybe? They have, there's no maybe.

Every owner has the same rights to reserve within there specific Resort or Trust. Every owner has the same chance to book. You sound very much like those two from England.

So if someone jumped in seconds before you and booked the very resort and time that you had been planning for months to book and it turned out they were holders of large amounts of time/points and were just renting them out at a profit with no intention of using them for themselves, you would not feel just a tiny little bit annoyed about it?
Anyway what's wrong with "those two from England"?

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

So if someone jumped in seconds before you and booked the very resort and time that you had been planning for months to book and it turned out they were holders of large amounts of time/points and were just renting them out at a profit with no intention of using them for themselves, you would not feel just a tiny little bit annoyed about it?
Anyway what's wrong with "those two from England"?

If I knew those facts, which you can't know, of course I might be a tiny little bit annoyed. Is it unfair? No. Ask the salesman who said you could do it. Annoyed is a much better term than what you guys from England were saying previously. Remember the Alamo, oops, wrong silly war.

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

If I knew those facts, which you can't know, of course I might be a tiny little bit annoyed. Is it unfair? No. Ask the salesman who said you could do it. Annoyed is a much better term than what you guys from England were saying previously. Remember the Alamo, oops, wrong silly war.

I visited the Alamo once, didn't see any sign of John Wayne, though!

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

Maybe? They have, there's no maybe.

Every owner has the same rights to reserve within there specific Resort or Trust. Every owner has the same chance to book. You sound very much like those two from England.

Every owner also has the expectation of being able to reserve a vacation without competing for space with those using DRI as a rental business. DRI is a vacation club. It's not a cottage industry like Avon for people to supliment their income. If you read the club rules and read your literature, it's sold as a vacation club. It's not sold as a way to make money off of vacation rentals.

Granted there have been salesmen who try to sell it as a rental income generating machine but, THE Club has rules against that. Sunterra never seemed interested in enforcing those rules. I've seen a couple of people post that DRI seems to be taking an active interest in those who rent for profit. Not those that rent to cover MF's but, those that rent strictly to make money.

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

Every owner also has the expectation of being able to reserve a vacation without competing for space with those using DRI as a rental business. DRI is a vacation club. It's not a cottage industry like Avon for people to supliment their income. If you read the club rules and read your literature, it's sold as a vacation club. It's not sold as a way to make money off of vacation rentals.

Granted there have been salesmen who try to sell it as a rental income generating machine but, THE Club has rules against that. Sunterra never seemed interested in enforcing those rules. I've seen a couple of people post that DRI seems to be taking an active interest in those who rent for profit. Not those that rent to cover MF's but, those that rent strictly to make money.

Saleswomen rock!

I visited the Alamo once, didn't see any sign of John Wayne, though!

He's dead, didn't you see The Shootist?

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

Every owner also has the expectation of being able to reserve a vacation without competing for space with those using DRI as a rental business. DRI is a vacation club. It's not a cottage industry like Avon for people to supliment their income. If you read the club rules and read your literature, it's sold as a vacation club. It's not sold as a way to make money off of vacation rentals.

Granted there have been salesmen who try to sell it as a rental income generating machine but, THE Club has rules against that. Sunterra never seemed interested in enforcing those rules. I've seen a couple of people post that DRI seems to be taking an active interest in those who rent for profit. Not those that rent to cover MF's but, those that rent strictly to make money.

I was getting worried that I was the only one seeing it from that perspective, thanks for your reply. Just where we differentiate between renting for profit and renting to cover your MFs is a fine line though.

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

Saleswomen rock!



He's dead, didn't you see The Shootist?

Isn't he out in Iraq and Aghanistan winning that war as well, I bet he would be if hollywood could resurrect him.....perhaps they can digitally revive him??