HICV Orange Lake property - I survived without buying

[JMankow51]

First post for me, but after 4.5 hours of torture, I can say I survived a presentation without buying. The salesman was a nice guy, but when I mentioned resale market things took an ugly turn. He got very defensive and argumentative.. at that point he just started talking mainly to my wife, trying to get at her heartstrings and try to appeal to her womanly senses... I am glad I have a strong wife who knows how to play those games... It was so bad at the end, they were trying everything to get us to just buy something. Even down to just spending the $200 that they were suppose to give us back for attending... Well the Joke is on them, I walked out with my $200, we stayed on the property for free. And got a first hand view on how Lackluster the staff is at this property. Buildings and the areas are spotless, but don't ask any staff for any assistance. They act if it is a bother and most of the time point you to go talk to someone else.

After visiting, I will be looking to buy, but definitely resale from someone who doesn't want it anymore. Glad I had found this site and did my research before going... Saved me probably $44000 to buy into their points program.

 

[kukenan]

Good job surviving the pressure.

 

[Bigmac69]

@JMankow51 ... What resort were you staying at? Glad to hear that you were able to hold off the sales wolves!

 

[JMankow51]

@JMankow51 ... What resort were you staying at? Glad to hear that you were able to hold off the sales wolves!

We were at the Holiday Inn Orange Lake Resort off of US192..

 

[davidvel]

I know nothing about these timeshares, but seeing Holiday Inn and Resort together always makes me chuckle for some reason.

 

[Jimster]

The reason it is called Holiday Inn is because the resort was established by the founder of Holiday Inn. The name makes as much sense as others like Blue Green or WestGate. I guess it makes as much sense as naming a resort after 2 Mormon brothers- Marriott.

If you think Holiday Inn is just a low level hotel chain, then maybe you ought to go to Orange Lake and then make an assessment. What makes me chuckle about some of the resorts is the amount of money they get people to pay for them 80 or 90 thousand dollars or more for a WEEK-even if that week is annual for your lifetime. Just put that money in an investment and you can still stay anywhere in the world you want for one week a year.

As for avoiding the timeshare salesmen, I have found those at Orange Lake are probably the easiest to deal with and I’ve probably attended 10 different companies presentation. I mean its not like some of the Mexican TS who take you on a tour and if you don’t decide to purchase leave you out in the middle of no where. When i go to a TS presentation, I give them the time prescribed and then just say let’s go to gifting and leave. If you keep engaging the sales people, they will keep engaging you. One thing I will say about Orange Lake, they dress better than every other organization I have seen. This is not accidental-it is prescribed even in very hot weather. I can’t say the same about other TS companies.

I would not swear to this but I think Orange Lake has ROFR. So be careful if you think you will get the same benefits on resale.

 

[wrobinson]

First post for me, but after 4.5 hours of torture, I can say I survived a presentation without buying. The salesman was a nice guy, but when I mentioned resale market things took an ugly turn. He got very defensive and argumentative.. at that point he just started talking mainly to my wife, trying to get at her heartstrings and try to appeal to her womanly senses... I am glad I have a strong wife who knows how to play those games... It was so bad at the end, they were trying everything to get us to just buy something. Even down to just spending the $200 that they were suppose to give us back for attending... Well the Joke is on them, I walked out with my $200, we stayed on the property for free. And got a first hand view on how Lackluster the staff is at this property. Buildings and the areas are spotless, but don't ask any staff for any assistance. They act if it is a bother and most of the time point you to go talk to someone else.

After visiting, I will be looking to buy, but definitely resale from someone who doesn't want it anymore. Glad I had found this site and did my research before going... Saved me probably $44000 to buy into their points program.

 

[wrobinson]

REPLY FROM FORMER HOLIDAY INN CLUB VACATIONS SALES REP.

Good move.

As a 15 year veteran in timeshare sales and marketing, that is the easiest way out. NEVER buy on a presentation when you can goon the resale market.

Go to sell my timeshare now

I am writing a "tell all" book about the whole timeshare industry to educate current and future timeshare owners. I can show how most anyone can get rid of their timeshare by the end of the day. The book is not a revenge for what timeshare resorts have been doing to people, but rather to prepare potential buyers for a presentation,and how to save the most money.

Don't buy anything until you read this book. My email is wcrobinson1973@gmail.com

 

[Jimster]

I know nothing about these timeshares, but seeing Holiday Inn and Resort together always makes me chuckle for some reason.

Having been to Holiday Inn Orange Lake and many Marriott and HGVC, and finding it to be AT LEAST comparable to them, what makes me chuckle is why anyone would pay 100K for a Marriott or HGVC.

 

[davidvel]

Having been to Holiday Inn Orange Lake and many Marriott and HGVC, and finding it to be AT LEAST comparable to them, what makes me chuckle is why anyone would pay 100K for a Marriott or HGVC.

Sorry my comment sent you sideways. I admit I have no experience with Holiday Inn Club Vacations or Orange Lake. I only know of the motel chain, which was the point of my comment. I paid about $2,500 for my week, which is a lot more than you can get it for now.

 

[silentg]

We own a week at Orange Lake, we belong to Holiday Inn Club also.
We usually put our points in IHG to stay at hotels on the way to our timeshares.
In 2015 we stayed 6 nights at the Crowne Plaza in Rome Italy, then went to our timesharein Ireland.we went on a river cruise from Paris to Normandy in October and stayed before and after at Holiday Inn Express right at the CDG airport. Was so convenient and we took the train into Paris on our last day there.
We are also staying in Savanna, GA on our way to and from Myrtle Beach soon.
We live in central Florida so we use Orange Lake for day outings to play golf or go to
River Island.
We have stayed in OL and Cape Canaveral, Myrtle Beach and maybe will stay in Scottsdale, Arizona HIVC for a few days next year when we visit Sedona.
Holiday Inns are not just motels.
We find them superior to other hotel chains.
Silentg

 

[kirby3]

We own a week at Orange Lake, we belong to Holiday Inn Club also.
We usually put our points in IHG to stay at hotels on the way to our timeshares.
In 2015 we stayed 6 nights at the Crowne Plaza in Rome Italy, then went to our timesharein Ireland.we went on a river cruise from Paris to Normandy in October and stayed before and after at Holiday Inn Express right at the CDG airport. Was so convenient and we took the train into Paris on our last day there.
We are also staying in Savanna, GA on our way to and from Myrtle Beach soon.
We live in central Florida so we use Orange Lake for day outings to play golf or go to
River Island.
We have stayed in OL and Cape Canaveral, Myrtle Beach and maybe will stay in Scottsdale, Arizona HIVC for a few days next year when we visit Sedona.
Holiday Inns are not just motels.
We find them superior to other hotel chains.
Silentg

Sounds wonderful. So you own a fixed week at OL and Points?

 

[DrQ]

We just converted from Silverleaf fixed weeks to HICV Points. From the the description, it sound likes the points program.