Checking in from Oak n Spruce

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

I was there in Oak N Spruce in week 26 this year. There are about 3 or 4 white buildings across the street behind the presentation centre. There are a big sign Presidential Unit on the building and a road sign pointing to these buildings. These units are very nice.

I was in a two bed room end unit on the top floor at the end of the building facing the tennis court - therefore no major complaint at all. Two things I don't like. The bed sheet was so thin which reminded me of the various hospitals I had worked for. Second, the fire alarm was really sensitive that every time I cooked, it "sang".

How is the pet policy? Should I book another week via RCI and ignore the new policy?

One more thing I am not sure. How much is the pet fee? $55 per pet or $55 per unit. I had two dogs with me last time but was charged $55 only. Now I have 3 dogs (all small poms). Do I have to pay $55 or $165?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I was there in Oak N Spruce in week 26 this year. There are about 3 or 4 white buildings across the street behind the presentation centre. There are a big sign Presidential Unit on the building and a road sign pointing to these buildings. These units are very nice.

I was in a two bed room end unit on the top floor at the end of the building facing the tennis court - therefore no major complaint at all. Two things I don't like. The bed sheet was so thin which reminded me of the various hospitals I had worked for. Second, the fire alarm was really sensitive that every time I cooked, it "sang".

How is the pet policy? Should I book another week via RCI and ignore the new policy?

One more thing I am not sure. How much is the pet fee? $55 per pet or $55 per unit. I had two dogs with me last time but was charged $55 only. Now I have 3 dogs (all small poms). Do I have to pay $55 or $165?

Pet fee is $55 per unit, but new RCI confirms say no pets after July 1st, and resort is saying they aren't enforcing it for confirmations made prior to 7/1, but they will for post-policy confirmations.... I would call the resort and ask for a supervisor before booking. If you get a thumbs up, get a name.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

There are units and there are units....

Here are my photos
GrayFal's Photos - Berkshires | Facebook

I am going to try and post the resort map

Pat, my "standard" two bedroom is not as "nice" as yours was. Still working on a change. I am heading home today overnight, hopefully they will move me before I get back up there but at this point I'm not holding out a great deal of hope.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Pat, my "standard" two bedroom is not as "nice" as yours was. Still working on a change. I am heading home today overnight, hopefully they will move me before I get back up there but at this point I'm not holding out a great deal of hope.

Besides the units, Is your vacation OK and the weather too? Interesting to read that accommodations differ so much between each other.
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[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Besides the units, Is your vacation OK and the weather too? Interesting to read that accommodations differ so much between each other.
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The weather has been beautiful. The boys were a little bored at O n S (they weren't even allowed in the pool without an adult - the minimum age is 18!!!), but are having a blast today at the ropes course at Catamount:

New Ropes Course at Catamount Adventure Park

I went to see Twelfth Night last night, it was great. Shakespeare & Co. really does a fabulous job.

I think RCI should do what it did with Shawnee here, make separate resort numbers for the different phases so the reviews/ratings can be specific to the type of unit.

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

I think RCI should do what it did with Shawnee here, make separate resort numbers for the different phases so the reviews/ratings can be specific to the type of unit.

That would be a great idea. There really is a huge difference between the units. As I told Pat, if all of them had been like the one she and Irene stayed in, they would have been fine. But to see the difference between those and the Presidentials.................

However, they all had cheap, crummy towels in the bathrooms.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

That would be a great idea. There really is a huge difference between the units. As I told Pat, if all of them had been like the one she and Irene stayed in, they would have been fine. But to see the difference between those and the Presidentials.................

However, they all had cheap, crummy towels in the bathrooms.

Right. And the last time i was here, I stayed in a much nicer unit, which I didn't realize was "Presidential" since the front desk said it was a Lodge unit. So I went and raved about O n S, booked a trip back, and got a nasty surprise.... Hopefully they will fix it before tomorrow.

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

Glitter, was your yucky unit a 2-BR privacy for 6? (I read your review, thanks for the write-up.) I see in RCI there are 2-BR/privacy-4's and 2-BR/privacy-6's. I gather there's no way at all to tell in advance by privacy number?

I'm looking for a resort convenient to a 1-day event in Great Barrington, which I thought would be this one, but don't think I want to take a chance with this... I see that Vacation Villages is a farther drive, has hard uncomfortable beds, and more isolated - none of which is appealing, but yucky is even less so.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Glitter, was your yucky unit a 2-BR privacy for 6? (I read your review, thanks for the write-up.) I see in RCI there are 2-BR/privacy-4's and 2-BR/privacy-6's. I gather there's no way at all to tell in advance by privacy number?

I'm looking for a resort convenient to a 1-day event in Great Barrington, which I thought would be this one, but don't think I want to take a chance with this... I see that Vacation Villages is a farther drive, has hard uncomfortable beds, and more isolated - none of which is appealing, but yucky is even less so.

Laurie,

You are correct, there is no way to tell from the occupancy #s. We used to think that a 6/6 was Presidential unit, but mine said 6/6, so that d/n work. Would you be renting one night with points, or through the resort/Silverleaf for $? I would think if for $, you might do better at being specific.

Vacation Village is considerably further from Great Barrington, the ride would be about an hour or a little more, I would think. There are some nice inns in the area, too - how much room do you need? There is one t/s in Great Barrington, Wind in the Pines - it is a converted motel and I haven't seen the units....

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

Glitter, I don't have points - I was/am considering a weeks trade, to build a vacation around this, since we'd probably fly up anyway and I haven't seen the Berkshires for about 40 years... Sometimes a whole week's trade can be almost as low-cost as a couple of nights inn or hotel. At this point, 2 people. I might rethink the plan, and go for a couple of nights inn accommodations instead. Still thinkin'. Thanks!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Glitter, I don't have points - I was/am considering a weeks trade, to build a vacation around this, since we'd probably fly up anyway and I haven't seen the Berkshires for about 40 years... Sometimes a whole week's trade can be almost as low-cost as a couple of nights inn or hotel. At this point, 2 people. I might rethink the plan, and go for a couple of nights inn accommodations instead. Still thinkin'. Thanks!

If you are coming off-season (not prime summer), the inns should have decent rates. Our next inn stay will be at the Federal House in Lee. Then again, if it is off-season, there will probably be more flexibility at O n S.

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

I do like the Inn idea. The weekend I'll probably need is right on the cusp of prime - I googled around a bit - some call it high season, others call it spring or early summer. I found Village Inn with some weekend specials which look pretty good, plus they have a tavern, and Cornell Inn which looked nice and reasonably-priced. I'll check Federal House too and keep some notes. (This is too early for Inns to book yet, except in timeshare world when some of us start filling in the calendar almost 2 years out.)

I'm glad you mentioned this, it will probably work out best in my case - especially since I'm kinda low on weeks to trade anyway.