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Booking a trip for relatives

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  • Booking a trip for relatives

    I was just curious how this has worked out for others.

    Like many other ts owners, my family thought I was nuts and paid a zillion dollars. Once they go on a trip, tho, they get it (but I've never told them what I paid - they probably still think it was zillions - perhaps one day they'll ask).

    Now I'm working on finding something for my stepdaughter. Unfortunately, they want to go over 4th of July because it's holiday pay, they don't have to 'spend vacation time.' As you might imagine, it's difficult this late in the year to accomodate. They had discussed Orlando in late July, which was going to be EASY. But, the new husband won't go there without staying at a Disney resort, so that's off the table.

    To futher complicate matters, they want a drive-to location from central Indiana (they blew a ton of money getting married in Jamaica so I understand dodging high airfare) and have specific cities they are interested in. There just aren't that many timeshares within an easy drive, that aren't already booked, and that are in a precise location they want. We're still working on it. I'm hoping that they'll either decide to go somewhere that's available, or, decide to go another time. Meanwhile, I'll do whatever searches they ask for.

    Getting my sister and her family accomodations for the week after the 4th wasn't too hard and they are happy and excited. It took her maybe 2 weeks after I told her of 'the gift' to make a decision, I booked it, they're set.

    Two years ago, trying to get my mother something was ... very difficult. I had told her over a year ahead of time to figure where she wanted to go. Again, we get to March and she wants June or July in some prime locations, wants to take her dogs. She ended up going to Hilton Head in November (her dogs spent the week with their previous master down in Savannah) and was plenty happy.

    My brother called me last summer and asked about Daytona for a specific October week for the birthday of a friend and that was easy to accomodate.

    Have any of you simply given up on finding family a week? I'm certainly not to that point and figure it's good to educate them as I'm quite likely to give them vacations in the future. But I wondered how many of you had run into enough unreasonable expectations or whatnot to quit doing it.

    With my mother, I think in the future what I'll do is say "This is available for these weeks - do you want to go?" and not offer any real choices. Here it is, take it or leave it. Once she sells her house and gets moved to Houston, as a treat I'll send her to Charleston - her most favorite city.

    What are your experiences?

  • #2
    My biggest problem is that friends and relatives use me as their gravy train for great, cheap vacations. I got myself into this situation, so I shouldn't complain. I just can't contain my enthusiasm for timesharing. So, it always comes up in conversations I have with friends and family and they inevitably think of me as their travel agent. And, they expect something that is near free.

    I am thinking of getting the domain name "Iamnotadamntravelagent.com" to document the etiquette of free or near free travel from a friend. My absolute pet peeve is when a friend or family member asks for a specific location, type of unit and set of dates and they pester me on a daily basis if it's not readily available.

    So, what I do now is when my friends or family wants to go somewhere, I look up extra vacations or getaways and quote only what is available. Therefore, I don't have to go through the issues of setting up an ongoing search and I can give them either instant gratification or an instant "not available." No lingering actions. Those obligations kill time.

    To supplement that, I often times invite friends and family to come with me on trips I already have booked. With WorldMark, for instance, I book 2 or 3 units for the same week for prime locations. I invite friends and family to come at my cost and if I have extra condos near the end, I cancel them. Same with Bluegreen and Fairfield. This summer, we have several weeks where friends will be joining us at various locations. Doing it this way, I am in control and poeple come to see me instead of me having to work around their schedules. It does absolutely leave them with the impression that booking great timesharing weeks is easy and readily available. If they only knew how much knowledge it takes.

    Just yesterday, several of my relatives from California have decided to come to see me in Hawaii. I happened to have 2 timeshares booked. They are coming along and in this case, I will provide the accomodations and they will provide the rental car. It works out well.

    So, my biggest advice is if you intend to be a timesharing philanthropist, make sure it's you who is decided in part when and where your friends and family goes or at least put a bound on where and when they can go. This will save you a ton of aggravation and will save some friendships.
    My Rental Site
    My Resale Site

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    • #3
      i get units for family and most of the time I give it away for free. The last time even on a freebie she canceled out on me. Lucky that it is a unit that I owned and that I was able to do a late bank with it. I did have to pay the cancellation fee to get my week back.
      Timeshareforums Shirts and Mugs on sale now! http://www.cafepress.com/ts4ms

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      • #4
        I have recently started doing this and it can be frustrating. I learned to lower expectations and tell them "at least a year in advance, or last minute, not in between," Orlando almost anytime with enough notice, etc... I also don't entertain requests for holidays.

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        • #5
          Oh, I have no luck with this, whatsoever. For whatever reason, there are always problems....... Non timeshare people just don't seem to understand the concept, or the time frame involved, etc. I have much better luck helping them decorate their homes.


          Of course, I don't mind booking my vacation, and then inviting people to join us. Even if I need to get another timeshare. This seems to work out OK.
          Angela

          If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

          BTW, I'm still keeping track of how many times you annoy me.

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          • #6
            Most of my relatives 'get it' now - since I started TSing, I have sucked in my relatives.

            My parents are pretty easy, doing 2 trips a year in the spring and fall.
            I have sent them to Aruba Marriotts & Playa Linda 3 times, St Martin Oyster Bay Beach Resort once (they like Aruba Better) Westin Mission Hills, San Francisco (thru SFX) , a 2BR so they brought my aunt and uncle in Las Vegas The Villas at Polo Towers.
            They have stayed with us at Marriott Custom House, Grande Vista and Cypress Harbor..this year they are going with us for 2 weeks in Ireland and will use part of my week at Gurney's - yup, they get it!

            I took my sister and her family to Marriott Williamsburg Manor Club - my B-I-L the sceptic, said 'you got here how and it cost what!' and before we had left the property he and my sister had purchased a resale week at Foxrun - they now own 2 weeks.

            My brother with those 4 kids who could REALLY benefit from the whole TS thing is just not organized enough to do it - and besides they only want to stay on property at Disney ...duh!

            Most if not all of my friends now own TSs and we travel together which is FUN!!!
            Pat
            *** My Website ***

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            • #7
              Outside of immediate family (i.e., our kids) I don't do it for free. They reimburse me my annual fee upfront, and if they cancel they lose.

              If they can't accept those terms or understand that, then they shouldn't be timesharing. If they continue to be envious of our travels, but are unwilling to take advantage of offers that will let them do it themselves (without even needing to make the upfront purchase), I'm certainly not going to lose sleep.

              ****

              Sometimes they get it. My brother and SIL joined us for a week in Hawai'i last summer. They spent a three days in Wa'ikiki before we arrived.

              After we checked out and divvied the costs for the unit and for food, my brother looked at the reckoning for about 20 seconds without saying a word. Then he said they spent more per day staying in Wa'ikiki than they spent for a week with us, while staying in a nicer unit with more room and having better food.
              “Maybe you shouldn't dress like that.”

              “This is a blouse and skirt. I don't know what you're talking about.”

              “You shouldn't wear that body.”

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              • #8
                Pat

                Most if not all of my friends now own TSs and we travel together which is FUN!!!
                That's an ideal situation, you're very lucky. Good for you!!
                Angela

                If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

                BTW, I'm still keeping track of how many times you annoy me.

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                • #9
                  A lot of people just don't understand the need to plan so far in advance. I have booked extra vacations for people, and then they would like to do it again, but during summer or holiday weeks. They are disappointed when I tell them they just aren't available at those times. I was able to get my cousin 3 units beginning this March 29th (Easter break for us) in the Poconos this year, but I don't know how happy she will be with the units (Villas at Treetops). Last year my brother gave DS his old car. To thank him, I booked 3 units at Greensprings Williamsburg for this July. I booked one for him and his family, one for my kids and their significant others, and one for DH and me. I called him before I confirmed and asked him and they said it sounded wonderful. Now he tells me he thinks his kids have football camp that week, that they cannot miss. DD started a new job, and doesn't know if she will be able to get a week off. Future DIL just began nursing school and doesn't know if she will have school that week. So it may just be DH and I with the #3 son, and I'll be scrambling to find people for the other 2 units. I understand the problems of planning in advance. While some people don't get it, others may not be able to do the planning it takes for successful timesharing.
                  Jacki

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                  • #10
                    I do this fairly regularly...in fact I booked a timeshare in Sedona for my daughter and husband yesterday. I used to worry about meeting everyone's needs, but no more. Now I tell them what they can expect, and will do my best to get them a really nice vacation...but if they are unrealistic, I tell them so and move on. Also, at this point, except for my immediate family, I ask that my fees be covered. So far everyone has been satisfied, phew!
                    Connie

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                    • #11
                      I think what people don't get is that these arrangements are final - VERY much unlike a hotel reservation that can be canceled many right up until check-in.

                      I think asking people for the money to cover your fees makes it more REAL for them.

                      JMHO
                      Pat
                      *** My Website ***

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by GrayFal View Post
                        I think what people don't get is that these arrangements are final - VERY much unlike a hotel reservation that can be canceled many right up until check-in.

                        I think asking people for the money to cover your fees makes it more REAL for them.

                        JMHO
                        I think you're right, though my aunt wanted vacation insurance for a $300 week
                        in Florida

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by GrayFal View Post
                          I think what people don't get is that these arrangements are final - VERY much unlike a hotel reservation that can be canceled many right up until check-in.

                          I think asking people for the money to cover your fees makes it more REAL for them.

                          JMHO
                          Yep - that's the key. Make them understand that it's like Priceline or Hotwire - no money back, and that the tradeoff made for flexibility.

                          If they want flexibility, they have to pay for it.

                          And while I enjoy researching travel, I'm not a travel agent. I'll tell them what's possible, but after I give them my advice, they're on their own.
                          “Maybe you shouldn't dress like that.”

                          “This is a blouse and skirt. I don't know what you're talking about.”

                          “You shouldn't wear that body.”

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by GrayFal View Post
                            I think what people don't get is that these arrangements are final - VERY much unlike a hotel reservation that can be canceled many right up until check-in.

                            I think asking people for the money to cover your fees makes it more REAL for them.

                            JMHO
                            otoh, the ones I've given as gifts have been so much appreciated that the recipients dare not bother me with changes in plans I'm sure that'll change once I start giving them to my kids, spoiled t/s boys that they are

                            Frank's post tonight about his cousin releasing a studio at Morritt's for President's week and needing a larger unit cracked me up.

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                            • #15
                              I have had the same problem that many of you have had. I have requested several weeks for my daughter only to have her cancel out on most of them Fortunately, I was able to cancel the exchanges with no penalty. Now if she asks me about a T/S week, I warn her that she has to be absolutely certain about her plans or she will pay the penalties if any. Our son is so busy that timesharing it is out of the question for him and his family.
                              John

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