When we bought in a few years ago we should have given them a limit on how much they can raise the rates per year but we didn't think they would raise them 20% or more in 1 year. We were not happy when we started looking at May dates and got our prices and didn't like it that they got rid of one of the best people in the office. Now a days people do there shopping for vacations and wait for sale prices to book - I do the same thing with our flights so it means people will do the research to get the best deal.
When we signed up--it was Blue Bay Getaway, and it was GREAT when we were getting $49 round-trip air per person--nonstop to top it off. Thank god we bartered with them for 5 hours and got the best deal possible, as the airfare deal only lasted 3 years or so. We recovered a lot of our initial investment out of those years. With all figured in--it took us a little over 7years to save what we had spent to buy in. Many arguments, nasty emails, terrible phone calls, and threats later--we re-negotiated a "new" deal, at no extra charge, and got rid of any yearly fees whatsoever. It's been good for about 4 years now, and honestly, this year our rate is GREAT--very little increase from the last two years, and with the credits we have we are going for under $300 (other than air). It's not for the impatient--I'll give you that. But if you work their system, talk to the right people, and take advantage of all you can--it can work in your favor!! Is it easy--NO--is it worth it--MAYBE SOMETIMES--do I get frustrated--HELL YEAH, but if it saves me $1500/trip--can I argue??
We joined when it was bluebay too, a spent a ton of money, have about 5 mil points, spent more money last yr to keep those points and would recouple the cost in 5 trips, assured when we did this, that the cost wouldnt go up much, they lied yet again!
We got our membership in April of 2012, have been back 5 times since then already, and I can tell you that our service expectation has gone WAY up as compared to before. Let me put it this way, I can't remember a single time since Stacia & I got our membership that I had to go to, or ask Stacia to go, or someone else for that matter, to the bar to get me/her/them a drink. Far from it, we have to watch it how fast we get served when we go empty. The above is just the drinking at the Sexy Pool. Next, member's privileges also include a WAY easier way to get reserved for the reservation-only (mostly) restaurants, spa increased priviliges, and the member's only areas, which really aren't membewrs only but you have to be brought in/up by a member. Not tried out the new members sun deck, but look forward to bodyshotting Stacia up there. Just sayin'! But, the above wouldn't have been worth the membership upgrade, since the member rate we got pre-pays for the stay, but not the AI, which is $50-$61 per night. It works out to around $100/nuight-ish, which is a good rate vs the standard full price, like 33% cheaper (with the benefits above), but I've noted great specials talked about on here at CCC that are much better than $100/day. The thing is, I've figured out HOW to use RCI and the new group Original Resorts has partnered with, San Francisco Exchange. Just this last time we went, we took advantage of a minor upgrade charge on our membership at TTR, which has literally already paid for itself in the following manner. 2 Trips booked since this past August, when we got the SFX thingee. First, a trip this January to St. Martin, land of the nude Orient Beach, great restaurants, good nightlife, etc. Cancun on an island with a French accent, mostly. Staying at the Grand Case Beach Club, have a 1 bedroom apartment, non-AI, but have full kitchen, and for the week we paid $1,200 where the going regular rate was $4,000. (St. Martin and all the rest of the Dutch Antilles are quite expensive, but way cool). So, that's already saved, in one trip, $2,800 to go there and do that. Next, we booked a 2-bedroom apartment on Maui using a trade week (like RCI but MUCH easier to actually use going with SFX), and the 2 bedroom apartment on Maui only cost me $449! Non-AI again, but do you guys know how expensive it is to stay on Maui? I took my girl and our kiddo and her BF last June and the room rate PER room was $435/nnight for your average Sheraton room. That's non-AI too, and the week-rate cost was ~$6,090! Ack! Compare THAT! 6 grand vs. five hundred? No way to compare that. Now, I grant you, if you never go anywhere BUT TTR, then the membership options need to be way tweaked in order to maximize your enjoymne tof your money there, or else it might not be worth it. But, just look at the above, and tell me ... Worth it or not? If we keep travelling like this, which is "what we do," I'll have the whole membership paid off in savings in about 3 years, going to some absofuckinglutely fandedamntastic resort destinations!
fees We havent joined and dont plan on it!! we usually pay 300.00 a night air fare incl. for the jacuzzi room. If I invest money it will surely be on canadian soil!!:headbanger:
I have never waited for a drink from the waitress at the Sexy pool ( 5 or 10$ tip in the morning , my drink never goes empty), don't use the spa (joke) , the segregated sitting area is a total failure , I get huge discounts buy booking Airfare and room together, that works out to about $200 @ night for the last few visits for a Jacuzzi room( plus airfare), which is not available for the standard Premier members ( Stand by if available ),,, and did not have to pay 12,000 to get discounts. membership is not usable at the GOV ( a lot of interest from TTR regulars). Quoted (recent) AI fees are 135 to 165 @ night plus initial investment membership, ''Worth it or not ?'' Not with the contracts there offering now, maybe after the renovation . My info is from some one who signed a contract last trip,
People put 6 to 25 000 in a foreign country , then find out the hard way how they have no power, ie recent 20% increase in AI fees.
