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Looking at Resort Reviews

D

Dancingfish

TUG Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Messages
31
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Resorts Owned
Parkway
Hey guys- I am newish to the site and have been looking at the resort reviews. Is noone traveling? So many reviews are really old. Maybe everyone should go review their last timeshare visit?
I have used the RCI site for reviews but I swear no one enjoys their vacations there!
 
A lot of resorts have reviews. perhaps you're just seeing the ones that haven't been recently updated? Usually, if a resort hasn't had a review in awhile, there is an invitation to submit a review for a bonus. If you aren't seeing those, the Tug Admins probably think the reviews in place are good enough. Also, some people don't have anything new to say about a timeshare that hasn't already been said, so they think a review won't add anything beyond "Ditto the previous reviewer's comments."

Another thing is that experienced Tuggers aren't like the reviewers on places like Trip Advisor. We don't tend to get excited over the little things TA people do. There is a running joke here about "Lumpy Pillow Syndrome," where a resort gets a lower overall review score because the person felt the pillow was not up to par. It might be a luxurious five-star beachfront place with amazing amenities and such, but the TA reviewer gives it one star because the pillow was not good enough.

Which resorts do you feel need reviewing?

Dave
 
Thanks - but 5-8 years could really make a difference in what is offered.
i honestly feel some people on Travel sites feel it’s not a review if they don’t complain. Lol… we are easy going and any day on vacay is a good day!
I was looking for reviews of Raintree Club Regina vs club GR Solaris.
 
any resorts without a review in 5 years or more have a 1 year membership extension bonus available....

however in many cases, if there is nothing new to update vs what was put in a previous review even years ago, many wont bother just submitting another review that repeats the same thing!
 
I will not bother submitting another review.

I submitted a review for Living Water Resort which qualified for a review award.

I keep checking my expiry date of my current membership and it has not changed.

When inquiring on here, got a response from Brian who said I should mention it on my renewal email I get.

If you offer something you should come thru automatically not have to take extra steps.

I have been a member for years, this has made me reconsider my renewal!
 
BM243923 said:
I will not bother submitting another review.

I submitted a review for Living Water Resort which qualified for a review award.

I keep checking my expiry date of my current membership and it has not changed.

When inquiring on here, got a response from Brian who said I should mention it on my renewal email I get.

If you offer something you should come thru automatically not have to take extra steps.

I have been a member for years, this has made me reconsider my renewal!
Click to expand...

Your expiration date does not change automatically when you submit a review. When you get the renewal email all you have to do is reply and ask to have review credits applied instead- then your date will be extended. (Not really that cumbersome to hit reply and type one sentence.) I bought my first year of TUG for $15 in 2016 and have never paid again. Every single year has been free due to resort reviews. So trust me it works.
 
BM243923 said:
I will not bother submitting another review.

I submitted a review for Living Water Resort which qualified for a review award.

I keep checking my expiry date of my current membership and it has not changed.

When inquiring on here, got a response from Brian who said I should mention it on my renewal email I get.

If you offer something you should come thru automatically not have to take extra steps.

I have been a member for years, this has made me reconsider my renewal!
Click to expand...
Yeah, the extension process isn't automatic. I always reply to every renewal email asking to use any review or referral credits that I might have.
 
dioxide45 said:
Yeah, the extension process isn't automatic. I always reply to every renewal email asking to use any review or referral credits that I might have.
Click to expand...
Where would I see I have an extension credit?
 
BM243923 said:
Where would I see I have an extension credit?
Click to expand...
You don't. I just ask that every time. If I am eligible, I get a reply that it was extended and I can see the new expiration date online.
 
I just keep writing reviews if there is a review reward. If there is a current review I pass.

If you look at some of the reviews I have provided 50 % or more of the reviews over the years. I constantly revisit those resorts and I might be one of the few tuggers that routinely do, so I update the review if needed.

When I get a renewal notice I just email back telling Brian to use a credit. It does not happen automatically as you can ALSO use credits to place ads. Not that difficult to send a email once a year to remind TUG to use your credit.

You can now see your ad credits on your Membership Dashboard page. I think that ad credits are the same as review credits. Are they @TUGBrian ?

You can also see how many reviews you have submitted from that page.

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We send in TUG timeshare reviews after every timeshare vacation we take.

Trouble is, for the past several years we've mostly been going to the same resorts in the same places -- Orlando-Kissimmee FL -- meaning that our reviews don't do anything to expand the review coverage of timeshares with stale reviews based on visits that happened 5+ years ago.

So it goes.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
In addition to receiving membership extensions for writing reviews, if you refer someone to Tug who names you as the one who sent them, you'll get a six-month extension on your membership for the referral. That can go a long way toward making it worth the trouble.

I got one just yesterday I wasn't even expecting, as the kind new member said they joined Tug because of me. Very kind of them to do that. If you refer (I think) ten people who join Tug, you become a Lifetime Member, and you'll never have to pay that outrageous ( :rolleyes: ) $15 again.:thumbup:

Dave
 
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BM243923 said:
I will not bother submitting another review.

I submitted a review for Living Water Resort which qualified for a review award.

I keep checking my expiry date of my current membership and it has not changed.

When inquiring on here, got a response from Brian who said I should mention it on my renewal email I get.

If you offer something you should come thru automatically not have to take extra steps.

I have been a member for years, this has made me reconsider my renewal!
Click to expand...

im sorry you feel that way.

some reviews simply dont qualify for an extension (not that im saying this applies to you, but instead making a point).

we have offered folks extensions for years, sometimes even specifically for resorts that have not been reviewed in ages. In many cases we get a "nice resort, we own here and like it" or something along those lines and while we appreciate any and all reviews, something of that nature certainly does not warrant a free membership extension.

other folks cash in their review credits instead for free ad credits as they post many ads! we try to make it as simple and as easy as possible to give back to the community, and there are hundreds of members who never pay renewal fees because they just keep submitting reviews. We certainly do not consider responding to a renewal email as a difficult or cumbersome option to extend your membership for free. Its certainly quicker and easier than submitting a renewal payment =)

Other folks submit reviews every year and simply continue to pay to support the site as they still find value in it, and we havent raised our rates in 30 years!
 
ad credits are not the same as review credits no. every year of paid membership will earn a member 25 free ad credits.
 
Honestly I think that as a member you would want up to date reviews just to make the site you belong to better. (not for credits)

You could add new attractions you visited, new restaurants, new upgrades in decor, furniture, landscaping, entertainment. Did the kitchen have what you needed or could you recommend something be brought from home? How was traffic in the area.
 
Dancingfish said:
Honestly I think that as a member you would want up to date reviews just to make the site you belong to better. (not for credits)

You could add new attractions you visited, new restaurants, new upgrades in decor, furniture, landscaping, entertainment. Did the kitchen have what you needed or could you recommend something be brought from home? How was traffic in the area.
Click to expand...
Perhaps, but it doesn't seem to always work that way. Reviews can be labor intensive, taking about an hour or more to construct a thorough review. Many people visit a resort and don't submit a review. Extended membership is a carrot, but many probably find it easier to just pay the $15 a year. There is also the fact that even past (expired) members show the "TUG Member" banner under their forum username even though they are no longer paid active members. IMO a way to entice reviews is to have that banner go away when one is no longer a member. Doing that would probably bring in a lot of reviews, but it isn't my sandbox...
 
dioxide45 said:
Perhaps, but it doesn't seem to always work that way. Reviews can be labor intensive, taking about an hour or more to construct a thorough review. Many people visit a resort and don't submit a review. Extended membership is a carrot, but many probably find it easier to just pay the $15 a year. There is also the fact that even past (expired) members show the "TUG Member" banner under their forum username even though they are no longer paid active members. IMO a way to entice reviews is to have that banner go away when one is no longer a member. Doing that would probably bring in a lot of reviews, but it isn't my sandbox...
Click to expand...

I love writing reviews and since I'm dyslexic, it takes me about 2 hours to write a review from all of the notes I put on my phone while I'm visiting so I dont miss to tell folks about something... The reviews help me select where I want to exchange to and really give me a feel for the place prior to visiting there....I'm thankful that @TUGBrian offers this incentive to us...
 
I personally just type an email to myself while im staying at a resort for my review, its always saved and i can continue to add/edit it thru my entire stay.

once im done, i just copy/paste the email text into the review box!
 
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