Hi, guys! Chris & Ann here. We are brand new here and would be to Temptaion as well. We are looking to book in April, but have just a few questions before we pull the trigger. There are a couple things I keep seeing repeated in most of the negative reviews (which there aren't many of!) and those are the "timeshare" sales pitch at check in and not being a tower guest or "premier member" really negatively impacts the quality of the stay. People have said there are food and drink selections you can't get as a regular guest, seating by the pool and that you tend to be treated differently than a VIP. I did look at the site and see the additional things you get or have access to as a tower guest (breakfast at sea flirt, VIP check in/out, pool deck access, etc.), but am curious if booking just a trendy garden view room will really negatively impact our stay. We want to make sure we do this the right way the first time around, but the upgrade to a tower room is quite the addition investment. I will continue to search here for additional info, but really appreciate any insight from veterans. Thanks, guys!
Having read the reviews on travel sites both before and after going for the first time (we are now booked for number 6) it is my opinion that most of those people would find something wrong anywhere. Again, just my opinion. We have actually never been pressured for the “sales pitch”. Went once more to detox and on our terms but said no and it was done. A large number of negative reviews also seem to come from people that did not expect the level or style of fun and partying at the TTR. They should have done a simple search and that could have been avoided. We are not members but have always stayed in Bash tower so we get a number of free perks from that. If you are in a Garden room you can always pay a day rate to go to Skybar if you want. Or you can ask how much per night to upgrade to Bash (usually the best deal, be prepared to negotiate). The other benefits that Premiere members have (which they have because the spent $ for them) are OK but definitely do not take away from your ability to have a blast if you don’t have them! You can get some additional benefits booking a Master or Penthouse but that also come with more spend. Go with a a non judgemental mind, push your limits (nobody Knows you and nobody gives a shit!) and have more fun than you can almost anywhere else.
Thanks for the reply! I have definitely noticed a lot of the negative reviews are people that didn't do their research or seem like the type to nitpick. Thanks again for the quick reply!
Mike pretty well summed it up. It’s amazing when people will try and spend the bare minimum and expect to get the same benefits as those that paid additional money to have them. If that was the case then why would they do that? It’s not a negative thing unless you make it. It seems pretty clear, at least on the Temptation website about what additional benefits come with the class of room. Not surprising though that some people would still find reason to complain. Members should be treated better, they spent a lot of money to have that. It’s good that @Chris&Ann seem to be skeptical of those reviews and asked the question.
I am definitely skeptical of any negative review and try to educate myself before making a decision or judgement. I think I'm mostly curious if any veterans could weigh in on whether it's detrimental to the stay to not upgrade and why. Thanks for the reply Matt and Lisa.
Agreed. You'll have a blast if not a member or not in the tower. If you want to experience the tower roof top for a day you can pay$20 per person (its less than the tower upgrade). If you love the tower then book the tower for your next stay. We are not members and have always had a blast. Only thing real extrsa you would get from the tower then is free rooms service and expanded porn channels. Room service for nontower is $5. Expanded porn is $10 for the entire stay. I don't think the VIP check in actually exists. We've never been up for breakfast so can't comment on Sea Flirt. The tower sundeck is no big deal. Time share presentation...never felt any pressure. A firm "no, not interested" at check in is all that is needed. They haven't even asked if we were interested last couple trips. Only caution,...Some "trendy garden views" are on the street side of the resort, overlooking a parking lot. Wouldn't take that chance so maybe thinking about upgrading to a trendy ocean view.
Sam here. If you can't have a blast at TTR, regardless of what room you stay in, there's something wrong! Yes, the tower is nicer and there are a few perks, but the garden view rooms are very nice also. As for the sales pitch, first of all, don't assume you don't want it. We're not members and have been 21 times, but we did the pitch because of curosity. Turns out, it wasn't for us. If you don't want to do it, just say "no thank you" and keep walking. We've actually experienced more pressure at a Hilton as they tried to get us in the Hilton Vacation Club sales pitch. Pay no attention to complaints about insignificant matters and enjoy the unmatched friendliness of the guests and the employees.
Thanks so much for the insight, Mexico24! There was one review that said something like "members get MUCH better selection of food and top shelf drinks" and other than breakfast at Sea Flirt for members only I can't find anything to verify that statement as true. Any idea what that's all about?
Timeshare sales pitch. In five trips it never took more than one stern no, to get them to not ask again. Actually in five trips, I think we have only been asked twice about it. Guess looking poor has some advantages. Quality of stay. We aren't members, so we don't receive the extra perks. Depending on what you are looking for, they may or may not make a difference on your trip. We are not foodies at all, and our fine with our food and drink selections. Seating by the pool isn't going to impact your trip, but I will say by staying in the Tower, you are pretty much guaranteed a place to put your stuff on the Tower only deck, because there is usually very few there. There are large pool loungers that people rent, that do take up a lot of deck space around the pool, and I don't really like them, but the people in them are always very nice, and you won't be treated any different from them. Our first three trips we got a plush jacuzzi room. It's just a small upgrade from garden rooms, and the nice thing about them, is you know exactly what part of the resort your room will be in, and it will be first floor. We've never stayed in a garden room, but walking around the resort I can pick out a few locations, that I would rather not stay, and with garden it's a roll of the dice. VIP check in, means nothing really. It's the same process for everyone. So, my thought is nothing about being a member will make your trip any better, to me it's just a few small things that, if you have the money, then you might enjoy the perks. I would consider a jacuzzi room upgrade however over a garden room. We have switched to Tower room for the last three trips, and will likely not get anything different after experiencing those rooms.
Awesome, Sam! Thanks for the reply! We're super open minded people that are pretty darn easy to please so we should be able to have a blast no matter what!
