If anyone is interested, these were their lies and tactics on me, knowing that my interest was in exchanging...I was told that I was purchasing the right-to-use of a one-bedroom suite at any Mayan Palace or sister resort for 2 weeks per year for a lifetime. I was told that if I agreed during the sale to not use the 2 weeks for my first 2 years, I would get an additional 1 week per year for 10 years. Upon reviewing my copy of all the paperwork, I only see that I have rights of use for 2 weeks per year for 10 years, with the option to renew for a fee at the end of 10 years. While I was signing the contracts the sales person asked me to sign and initial one group of papers, telling me that they were for the "lifetime weeks" and another group of papers, saying they were for the "bonus week." I suspect that's how he prevented me from realizing this was just a 10 year term. Regardless of whether I get a lifetime or 10 years, I am dissatisfied with this purchase due to my options for exchanging.
I was told that I would be able to exchange 1 week at Mayan Palace for 2 weeks at many more locations than what was already available to me with the timeshare I already had, and I was told that I would be able to do this online on one website that included 52 exchange companies. The sales person showed me
www.thevidalifestyle.com site, telling me that was the site where I would book my exchanges and showed me the hotels and resorts included on that site to say that those locations would be available to me for exchange. When I called Vida Lifestyle, I was told that I would not do exchanges on that site. When I called ownership services to see what locations are available, I was told that I would have to look at exchange sites such as RCI and SFX, which I had already been able to do with what I had.
I was told that I would get Vida Dollars equal to my usage fee, and that I could use those to book additional vacations or shop. He repeatedly said I could vacation and get things without spending "out-of-pocket." He specifically mentioned airfare, which a different sales person corrected much later (I should have known he was a liar after that!). After I activated my account and looked on
www.thevidalifestyle.com, I saw that Vida Dollars only cover a small portion of prices, and I would have to spend mostly out-of-pocket to use the Vida Dollars. I was told that I would have free lifetime access to the site. As I was signing the Vida Lifestyle enrollment form, I saw mention of subscription fees. The sales person told me that I would not have to pay those because I would be a member in the Vida Group. He said that only members of other resorts had to pay the annual fee. When I called Vida Lifestyle, I was told that I would have to pay the annual fee if I wanted to use the site after my current 2 year subscription.