[2009] The Dawn Beach Resort and Spa [moved]

[DeniseM]

But what do you think he meant by this?

One can switch within the the Westin network see their website for time share Westin owners.

Someone had to have told him that...

 

[DavidnRobin]

But what do you think he meant by this?



Someone had to have told him that...

TS sales lips moving = lies, lies, lies

I think he is now in the denial phase - soon to enter the acceptance phase.

notice how quiet it has become on this topic
notice MFs mentioned, but zero talk about how much spent to acquire this fantastic TS?

 

[DeniseM]

I think that first, he frantically searched through his purchase papers for evidence to prove that he is a member of the SVN, and when he couldn't find it, he called his sales person, who is now telling him how he can trade through II, and what a great trader it will be, and how he can just trade for anything and everything....

My second prediction is that with a 3 bdm., Ocean Front, and a MF of $1,050 - he bought every-other-year, so it's $2,100 per use year.

 

[DavidnRobin]

How does that work that there are Westin TS that are not part of SVN. What is the back story there? If you know!

It is not a Westin TS...
it is most likely www.dawnbeachclub.com

 

[DeniseM]

Starwood is a Mgmt. company - they manage other resorts that aren't in the SVN as well.

 

[DavidnRobin]

My second prediction is that with a 3 bdm., Ocean Front, and a MF of $1,050 - he bought every-other-year, so it's $2,100 per use year.

I agree - given that there are two rentals on eBay (Buy it now) for $2500, but no resales - and the description of the VOIs on the web site.

I have a feeling we will not hear back from jft...

 

[gravitar]

The Dawn Beach Club is the timeshare that is on the same grounds as The Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa

You check in for both resorts at the front desk of the Westin Hotel.

In 2011 I traded into The Dawn Beach Club using a studio lock off from one of my Starwood Vacation Network weeks. I traded via II

I was chased (literally) around the resort for 6 days by the sales staff. They would not take no for an answer. They told outright lies as they followed me around trying to get me into the sales office.

Just because you check in at the Westin front desk does not make it a Westin timeshare, let alone a part of SVO. The timeshare website does not even mention Westin. The PDF brochure that you can download from their site does not mention Westin.

The moving lips do though

I hope you do enjoy the resort and the trades via II. SXM is a great place to vacation! I do think it is a really nice property.

TW

 

[DavidnRobin]

from TripAdvisor for the Westin Dawn Beach (next to Dawn Beach Club Timeshare)

“Scam”
Reviewed October 10, 2012
Beware of time share scams at this hotel. We didn't stay here but were flagged down as we drove by. They gave us a lottery style ticket to scratch off and then told us we had won the grand prize and got very excited for us. We just needed to go inside the office to claim it. They gave us a few drinks, walked us around and gave us a time share hard sell that was a huge waste of our day - all of course before they'd give us our grand prize worth at least "$1,000". Surprise! We won 3 nights at some piece of crap hotel in Cancun not even a Westin or Starwood resort. We were so angry that we had actually fallen for this. Shame on you Westin. If this is how you try to win customers, it definately does not work! As far as what I could tell from our forced tour of the hotel, it was not worth the exhorbitant costs. Our privately owned and rented condo on the other side of the bay was 1/4 the price of a room at the Westin and just as nice. Oh, also the Westin built on and thus destroyed what used to be one of the best beaches on St. Martin - now a lot of the corral that used to attract snorkelers is damaged and you are forced to listen to club beats next to the resort bar all day if you want to visit their beach (all beaches on St. Martin / St. Maartan are public, even this one). So, basically if you feel like selling your soul to the devil - go ahead and stay there and support hell on earth.

then...

MODSXM, Manager at The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, St. Maarten, responded to this review
October 18, 2012
Dear JanvierPapillon,

I sincerely hope that you enjoyed your visit to St. Maarten and the Oyster Bay area. I am sorry that you did not enjoy your tour of the Dawn Beach Club. While the Dawn Beach Club is separate from the Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa one of the best perks of ownership is that you are able to enjoy all of the amenities that the Westin has to offer. This includes, the pool and beach facilities, the Westin Workout room, restaurants, the Hibiscus Spa, casino and even in-room dining. Besides the use of the Westin facilities Dawn Beach Club is not affiliated with Westin Hotels or Starwood.

While we appreciate that our resort might be the right feel for everyone. We are proud that we have many guests that return year after year because they love the ambiance at the Westin, Dawn Beach and the Oyster Bay area of St. Maarten. Many of whom enjoy snorkeling right off shore.

I hope that you continue to enjoy all that beautiful St. Maarten/St. Martin has to offer in your upcoming visits.

Sincerely,
Daniel Beddor
Director of Rooms
Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa

 

[Ken555]

I only buy deals.

I am truly sympathetic to anyone who thinks this can even be a possibility when buying retail.

 

[Pedro]

I have owned time shares since 82. Know the system well. Yes the Westin has 65 Westin's with time shares now. If you have not checked recently then how would you know???? I bought use for 99 years at this resort.One can switch within the the Westin network see their website for time share Westin owners.
I am not familiar with what you own.
Bought my Mayan Palace Puerta Vallarta for $7,000 for a two bedroom on the beach from them in 93 . Two weeks use for that price. I only buy deals.

Since you know so much, maybe you can enlighten us. What exactly is "the Westin network"? Also, please share the link to the website you referred to.

 

[jft310]

Westin Dawn Beach

This is website for Westin Dawn Beach. One has to ask why others are bashing on this site. Why??
Who do you work for???Why are you here???What motivates you??
In the IL system a 3 bedroom Penthouse Beachfront adjacent to the Westin with 1850 square feet is off the wall in swapping power in the IL system. This property was not mentioned as SVO. The salesman may have taken some liberties but they all do. I was told I could swap into other Westin timeshares and I can I just must use IL.
I prefer to not be limited with where there is a Westin but to thousands of additional swaps.To those that are love in SVO well have at it. If want to travel to a destinations other than where there is a Westin and affiliate what do you do??
I use RCI with the Mayan Palace swap and plan on using The Dawn Beach St Martin ownership to swap within IL. That gives me 5,000 places to stay in total. Between the two swaps I can go where I want when I want And I didn't pay a large fee to buy into either.
Please reframe from bashing something you don't know the details about!Thanks in Advance.

 

[gravitar]

In the IL system a 3 bedroom Penthouse Beachfront adjacent to the Westin with 1850 square feet is off the wall in swapping power in the IL system. ... plan on using The Dawn Beach St Martin ownership to swap within IL. Please reframe from bashing something you don't know the details about!Thanks in Advance.

Would love to know what the IL system is. Can you provide a link please?

Oh, and if it actually is the II...... :ignore:

 

[jft310]

Westin Dawn Beach

Lots of Westin Dawn Beach bashers. Again I ask why??
What do you have to gain from these bashes.?
Facts its a beautiful property, Part of Interval International as everyone knows is a 3 bedroom Penthouse Beachfront. Fixed week.
All the 3 bedroom units face the Beach some closer than others.Hard to argue with those facts. 1850 sqaure feet with granite and stainless appliances, etc.
Island of St Martin.
Really mean persons here who have an axe to grind. One has to ask why?
Please reframe from posting about a place you have never been and don't understand.
Who pays you to post on these pages bashing this resort.??
I wasn't chased by anyone ever.

 

[DeniseM]

jft310 - No one has said one negative word about the property - it is your understanding of what you bought that is the issue here.

Starwood owners can trade in II AND trade in the SVN. In fact, we have first priority in II for all Starwood exchanges.

You came here posting about how you can trade it in the "Westin Network", and you were wrong. We explained the facts to you - but you don't like the facts. So be it.

Since you didn't buy a Starwood property, there is no reason for you to post in this forum an more. I suggest that you try the Caribbean forum, and I suggest that you learn some manners.

 

[SMHarman]

Lots of Westin Dawn Beach bashers. Again I ask why??
What do you have to gain from these bashes.?
Facts its a beautiful property, Part of Interval International as everyone knows is a 3 bedroom Penthouse Beachfront. Fixed week.
All the 3 bedroom units face the Beach some closer than others.Hard to argue with those facts. 1850 sqaure feet with granite and stainless appliances, etc.
Island of St Martin.
Really mean persons here who have an axe to grind. One has to ask why?
Please reframe from posting about a place you have never been and don't understand.
Who pays you to post on these pages bashing this resort.??
I wasn't chased by anyone ever.

Not much bashing of the Westin Dawn Beach here, merely pointing out that the timeshare next door that uses the Westin Dawn Beach facilities is not affiliated with Westin, just has a use agreement with the nearby hotel.
Then everyone has asked you to show us this website detailing 65 different Westin exchange opportunities. As far as this group of Westin bashers knows we only have about 20 resorts in the Starwood / Westin Vacation Network and the Dawn Beach is not one of them.
You then talk about exchanging with II or RCI. Well you can do that with any Timeshare, like the Dawn Beach Club, not just a Westin one.
With the Dawn Beach Club you will not have the Westin / Starwood > Starwood advantage of trading in II but yes you can trade.
Enjoy your deal, you are getting told here that your salesperson lied to you about the Westin affiliation, benefits, exchange process, nothing more.
While you say it is a great property, remember 50% of what you paid for it is to cover the marketing expenses and commission of that sales person.

 

[LisaRex]

Some comments:

1) Coincidentally, we just rented a house on St. Maarten (http://www.vrbo.com/214580) for Jan '14 that overlooks Westin Dawn Beach resort! (Doesn't it look awesome?) I'll be a Tugger on a mission and check out the Westin Dawn Beach as thoroughly as I can while being staving off TS salesman! (Seriously, Westin Dawn Beach. That's tacky and sooo 1980s!)

2) Jarta, it's Procter, not Proctor. Thanks for the info on this Yung fellow. Never heard of him, which means that he truly must be private. I'll check him out.

3) There is current a bill being introduced in St. Maarten to protect TS owners. From what, I'm unsure of. There was a recent kerfuffle with Pelican Bay owners that involved shutting out owners for a few weeks. http://www.todaysxm.com/2013/02/25/...-36000-timeshare-owners-have-left-the-island/

4) Westin Dawn Beach Resort is definitely not be a part of SVO, which is Starwood's official timeshare branch. However, if it's comparable to other official Westin timeshare resorts (quality wise), enjoys great II trading power, and bears the Westin brand...then the only thing truly distinguishing it from any Starwood resort deposited into II, is the Starwood priority in II, no? (And wouldn't it be interesting it if DID have a Starwood priority? Maybe jft10 could use his new purchase as a test...?)

So I think we should all relax a little. It's probably true that it will trade for other Westins, just via II. Or, if it's as nice as it appears, he should be able to negotiate direct exchanges, especially since it's a 3 bdrm. Plus, if they get rid of the obnoxious TS salesmen, it may be an awesome place for SVO owners to exchange to via II!

5) Good information, mindy35. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully I can pick your brain for things to do on St. Maarten, since this will be a new place for me.

6) Welcome to Tug, jft10! Dawn Beach sounds incredibly nice. Hope you enjoy lots of great vacations in years to come. That's why we're all here, even if we're a bit cantankerous at times.

 

[DeniseM]

However, if it's comparable to other official Westin timeshare resorts (quality wise), enjoys great II trading power, bears the Westin brand..

Lisa - look at the link to the website - it doesn't have the Westin brand, and it's not in the SVN, so it will not have the II preference.

 

[LisaRex]

Lisa - look at the link to the website - it doesn't have the Westin brand, and it's not in the SVN, so it will not have the II preference.

I'm looking at the II resort directory and there is, indeed, a Westin Dawn Beach Resort listed. It definitely has the Westin Brand, but you're right that it probably doesn't enjoy Starwood priority in II.

Whatever it is, is looks very nice and I WISH it was in SVN.

http://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=DB2&parentResortCode=DB2

http://timeshareadvisor.com/resort/...sort-and-Spa_4803_Netherlands-Antilles_photos

 

[jft310]

Westin Dawn Beach

Lets see some DD from the nonowners, non visitors who have opinions without facts.
How hard would it be to go to the Interval International website and see the Westin Dawn Beach and the other Westin timeshares.. Geez that would take some DD huh.Are they there well of course they are!!
Before you respond go to the website!!
Actually we bought two weeks for the price of one. We have 99 years to use. And the maintenance fee is $1050 per weeks use each year. But why deal in facts.
Why read your contract we have persons posting here who have never visited never seen a contract with opinions.WHY????
If you have not visited why do you share you opinion here!!
Please explain who you are helping with your distortions!
Just curious!
Whats your motivation to fly by the seat of your pants!

 

[SMHarman]

I'm looking at the II resort directory and there is, indeed, a Westin Dawn Beach Resort listed. It definitely has the Westin Brand, but you're right that it probably doesn't enjoy Starwood priority in II.

Whatever it is, is looks very nice and I WISH it was in SVN.

http://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=DB2&parentResortCode=DB2

http://timeshareadvisor.com/resort/...sort-and-Spa_4803_Netherlands-Antilles_photos

But I think jft310 is talking about
http://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=DBS&parentResortCode=DBS the unit capacity is more aligned with his purchase.

Here is the website http://www.dawnbeachclub.com/resort_overview.php

The DB2 is I think hotel rooms that Westin Dawn Beach are putting into II to help capacity utilization on a new hotel in a down economy.
See the comment at the bottom of that II property
NOTE: The accommodations listed under this resort code are available for purchase through the Getaway program and generally will not be available for exchange.

jft310, this was under consideration as a destination for our winter break this year. Ultimately rejected as access from the West Coast for the friends joining us was a PITA but FYI I have done research on the destination and am not hating, just highlighting that your TS ajoins a Westin and is not a Westin.

 

[jft310]

Westin Dawn Beach

My purchase does not show at Interval yet. Glad to be a test.
Any 3 bedroom Beachfront Penthouse in Saint Marten will have some type priority over other swaps. It is not a lockout.Is it in the Starwood priority at II I can't say.
Who started this string under Starwood for the Dawn Beach . Ah not me.
Glad to share the results when my unit shows up at II.
The salesman did state 65 Westin timeshares I thought I heard but I just didn't care about that and had no bearing on my buy.
Two weeks for the price of one Penthouse Beachfront 3 bedroom 1850 sq ft fixed week member of II Gold got me.The place is drop dead gorgeous and compares to my Westin suite stay at Kanapoli in 2000.
I traded in an Hilton Vacation Club at Seawatch on the Beach at Ft Myers for an extravagant trade in value . How much I paid is hard to figure cause what they said they gave me as trade in value had no relation to what the wholesale price was direct from the Seawatch.Or the games they play.

 

[LisaRex]

Lets see some DD from the nonowners, non visitors who have opinions without facts.
How hard would it be to go to the Interval International website and see the Westin Dawn Beach and the other Westin timeshares.. Geez that would take some DD huh.Are they there well of course they are!!
Before you respond go to the website!!
Actually we bought two weeks for the price of one. We have 99 years to use. And the maintenance fee is $1050 per weeks use each year. But why deal in facts.
Why read your contract we have persons posting here who have never visited never seen a contract with opinions.WHY????
If you have not visited why do you share you opinion here!!
Please explain who you are helping with your distortions!
Just curious!
Whats your motivation to fly by the seat of your pants!

jft310, I get that you felt a bit attacked when you arrived, but it would be nice if you wouldn't respond so beligerently. Civil discourse is a two-sided street.

I think there's confusion here, in part because when we're all Starwood timeshare owners and what you bought is apparently a Westin-branded timeshare that isn't a part of the "official" Starwood timeshare network, SVN. It's also odd that when I search "Westin Dawn Beach timeshare" I don't get a sales site. That is odd for a timeshare. They're usually all over the place trying to get new owners!

The salesmen mentioning 65 other resorts is also a bit odd because by my count, there are only 19 other Starwood (Sheraton and Westin) resorts in the official network. So you either misheard or the salesman misled you. The former is forgivable, the latter rankles us because we pride ourselves here on speaking the truth. Sadly, timeshare salesman often deliberately mislead people in order to close a deal.

http://www.starwoodvacationnetwork.com/?IM=SVOREDIRECT_201302_SVN

So, first of all congratulations on a purchase that you seem very excited about. Secondly, thank you for offering to be a guinea pig in II to see if your new purchase has Starwood priority in it. Finally, dare I ask what you paid for your purchase? I'm traveling to St. Maarten in January and hope that I don't fall in love with it. But if I do...?

 

[DavidnRobin]

I think there's confusion here, in part because when we're all Starwood timeshare owners and what you bought is apparently a Westin-branded timeshare that isn't a part of the "official" Starwood timeshare network, SVN.

LisaR - per multiple responses (and one copied directly from Westin Dawn Beach representative in the TripAdvisor response) - Dawn Beach Club is not a Westin-branded timeshare, and not (even unofficially) part of SVN. This was my/our point, that jft refuses to hear, and it seems is more willing to believe a TS salesperson.

It is part of II (no one stated otherwise), but unlikely to have Starwood priority as it is not part of SVO, or SPG (Westin Dawn Beach is in SPG, but not DBC).

We/I were merely trying to help out, and inform them that they were misinformed by the TS sales at DBC, but didn't accept our 'uninformed' position as we know nothing about it...

added - your response to jarta was a post made in 2010.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I'm looking at the II resort directory and there is, indeed, a Westin Dawn Beach Resort listed. It definitely has the Westin Brand, but you're right that it probably doesn't enjoy Starwood priority in II.

Whatever it is, is looks very nice and I WISH it was in SVN.

http://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=DB2&parentResortCode=DB2

http://timeshareadvisor.com/resort/...sort-and-Spa_4803_Netherlands-Antilles_photos

Westin Dawn Beach (WDB) and DBC are two separate entities. DBC is in II. WDB is part of SPG. DBC is not part of SPG, SVO, or SVN. DBC is not Westin branded - WDB is a Westin brand.

The OP calls it WDB, but it is DBC - these two are not the same and calling one by the other is only leading to confusion - of which it seems the TS salesperson is using this tactic to sell DBC.

WDB = SPG Hotel
DBC = TS (not Westin, not SVO/SVN)

This is clear - and all I was trying to tell the OP. Whether they want to accept or not - is on them. Nobody was saying they didn't get a 'deal' or DBC wasn't a great TS.

 

[DeniseM]

jft310 - I will be moving all your future posts to the Caribbean forum, because you don't own a Starwood timeshare and your posts don't belong on the Starwood forum.

As to who I am, I am the moderator of this forum. The people you are arguing with are trying to help you, and have years of experience with Starwood. Your arguments are nonsensical, because you don't have the facts to back them up. You are simply responding emotionally, because you have been sold a bill of goods.

[I also suspect that you financed and are paying interest on your purchase. The 2nd issue is that the timeshare that you "traded in" may never be taken out of your name - this is a common scam in the retail industry - especially outside the country.)


Lisa - I know you are trying to be nice, but you are just enabling the OP - this is not a Starwood resort.