Amsterdam and/or Tuscany timeshares

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

Thinking about next year's trip... either London/Amsterdam or maybe Tuscany. Are there any timeshares other than Il Poggio in Tuscany? Would you recommend it? And can someone remind me of the Amsterdam t/s in RCI that was well located?

Any ideas appreciated.

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

Many years ago I exchanged with RCI to a timeshare near Amsterdam. It was in Zandvoort on the coast. It is very close (less than 20 miles) to Amsterdam but not as convenient as staying in the city. I know you like the beach so the location may be nice for you anyway.

I can't make the RCI link work but it is RCI #2411. It changed name since I was there. It is now the NH Zandvoort Hotel.

We just got back from Europe and stayed two nights in Amsterdam. We traveled on MRPs so stayed at several Marriott Hotels in Europe. I liked the Renaissance very much near the train station. You could walk to the center but you can take a day pass too for the streetcars or even for multiple days as a car is nothing but a hindrance in Amsterdam. Multiple day passes can not be bought on the street cars but at the main train station. We found that out too late so had to buy several passes which still was a good deal. Are you planning to drive?

I can highly recommend the EuroRail for traveling in Europe. You see so much more than flying from one city to another, if driving is not possible. There are passes for one or multiple countries anywhere from 5 days to three months. I would book first class as it doesn't cost much more but it makes the trip so much more comfortable.

PS. This doesn't look like the same timeshare I stayed at many years ago. RCI must have changed hotels but it is the same beach.

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

That sounds familiar, I will have to check the old ex-ops. I was hoping for something more central, though the beach does look lovely...

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

The HOA at the timeshare at NH Zandvoort Hotel is winding up. I think they close at the end of this year.

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

You might be able to get London from SFX.

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

BTW, II has a number of timeshares in Venice, and the coast, as well. Also, one in Prague.

Keep getaways in mind, too. There have been an increase in getaways available throughout Europe in II. Many at very good prices.

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

You might be able to get London from SFX.

I have been considering that as a starting off point, for sure.

BTW, II has a number of timeshares in Venice, and the coast, as well. Also, one in Prague.

Keep getaways in mind, too. There have been an increase in getaways available throughout Europe in II. Many at very good prices.

I will check the Getaways, that's a good idea, thanks! It's a bit early as we would be going next fall at the earliest, possibly the spring of 2011.

[chs225 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chs225]

This past April we stayed at La Casella, it is @ 17 miles north of Orvieto technically in Umbria not Tuscany. I thought the reviews were pretty accurate and I would recommend it with a proviso. Access is on a dirt road, highly potholed for around 4 miles. It took about 20 minutes to navigate, especially in the dark. When you come home tired, it plays on you.
The rooms were similar to Il Poggio.
The major difference between the two seems to be La Casella is occasionally available with RCI while Il Poggio is one of those TS that dropped off the face of the map.
By the way there are some gorgeous looking TS in Tuscany on RCI for rental only. What a surprise!!

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

This past April we stayed at La Casella, it is @ 17 miles north of Orvieto technically in Umbria not Tuscany. I thought the reviews were pretty accurate and I would recommend it with a proviso. Access is on a dirt road, highly potholed for around 4 miles. It took about 20 minutes to navigate, especially in the dark. When you come home tired, it plays on you.
The rooms were similar to Il Poggio.
The major difference between the two seems to be La Casella is occasionally available with RCI while Il Poggio is one of those TS that dropped off the face of the map.
By the way there are some gorgeous looking TS in Tuscany on RCI for rental only. What a surprise!!

I saw La Casella in the directory and thought it looked like a good possibility. I appreciate the 20 minute dirt proviso, though, that is a serious consideration! I am going to check the RCI rentals just to make myself crazy...

[chs225 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chs225]

Within driving distance of Montalcino, shipped home 2 dozen 2004s.

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

Within driving distance of Montalcino, shipped home 2 dozen 2004s.

Now you're speaking my language

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

We've exchanged into La Ferriera RCI #5333 - really excellent Tuscany location.

Lately more half-board exchanges are avail than plain-ol exchanges like ours, which offered the option but not requirement of half-board on arrival.

If you're a TUG member you can read my long review there, see what I thought was perfect about it and what wasn't. (What was, in a nutshell: location and stunning setting. What wasn't: we were cold at night, and our visit was in June.)

And there's an RCI TS in Florence, which I'd accept in a heartbeat if offered.

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

We've exchanged into La Ferriera RCI #5333 - really excellent Tuscany location.

Lately more half-board exchanges are avail than plain-ol exchanges like ours, which offered the option but not requirement of half-board on arrival.

If you're a TUG member you can read my long review there, see what I thought was perfect about it and what wasn't. (What was, in a nutshell: location and stunning setting. What wasn't: we were cold at night, and our visit was in June.)

And there's an RCI TS in Florence, which I'd accept in a heartbeat if offered.

Cold in June, yikes! I will check September/October weather, which is a possibility for us. But there isn't a snowballs chance that I'll take a half-board in Europe, unless it's still (a lot) cheaper than staying somewhere non-t/s. Florence could work...

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

Cold in June, yikes! I will check September/October weather, which is a possibility for us. But there isn't a snowballs chance that I'll take a half-board in Europe, unless it's still (a lot) cheaper than staying somewhere non-t/s. Florence could work...

I don't mean Tuscany is too cold in June, it was just the accommodations... daytimes were warm/hot and we shouldn't have had to be cold at night - the problem was damp ground-floor unit w/inadequate heating. I'd exchange in again if I could get a higher-up-than-groundfloor unit, and no half-board.

They may use different RCI numbers for half-board or not, and I'm sure you could limit a search to regular exchange, or toss back half-board-only. You also get a specific unit # so you can determine what floor it would be on. (The restaurant looked good by the way, but we were on the go most of the time, as you would probably be too.)

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

Il Poggio has different RCI #s for regular v half-board - I'm guessing most do. But I'm also guessing that regular deposits for exchange are going to be few and far between now that the "resorts" want half-board exchangers.