"Resort Vacation Certificates"-Another Wyndham Lie/Rip Off

[carlbarry]

A couple of months ago I stayed at the Wyndham in the Poconos. I was offered, if I went to the owners' update, the ability to purchase for $75 a certificate "good at every Wyndham resort for a 2 bedroom for 1 week." Stupidly, I bought it.
I tried to use it today to book Bonnet Creek next December 4.
Well, they had a list of 40 resorts in the Orlando area (only 3 were Wyndham resorts). Bonnet Creek wasn't in the list.
And the big joke was, only four were actually free. The others cost from $500 to $1700 for an "upgrade." And perhaps the bigger was, booking was only for next week and into early February.
After 17 years dealing with Wyndham, I guess I've learned nothing.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Several years ago, we were offered that certificate as a gift for attending an update. When I asked which resorts it could be used for, the body snatcher waved her hand over the very thick Wyndham directory. I was still suspicious (I didn’t want to sign up for the update at all, but DH did ) so held out until she gave us that plus a gift card that was enough $$ to pay for dinner. When we got home and registered for the certificate, we found the same thing you did. I’m sorry they made you pay for it - it truly is worthless!

The good thing was that I think DH is finally convinced that updates are a waste of time. I hope he is, anyway.

 

[Family_travel]

At our first Wyndham stay, as a guest, we fell for the "free week" also.

 

[carlbarry]

Several years ago, we were offered that certificate as a gift for attending an update. When I asked which resorts it could be used for, the body snatcher waved her hand over the very thick Wyndham directory. I was still suspicious (I didn’t want to sign up for the update at all, but DH did ) so held out until she gave us that plus a gift card that was enough $$ to pay for dinner. When we got home and registered for the certificate, we found the same thing you did. I’m sorry they made you pay for it - it truly is worthless!

The good thing was that I think DH is finally convinced that updates are a waste of time. I hope he is, anyway.

A few years ago I got one that was free. There were so many hoops to jump through--as well as rules so complicated that I, an attorney of many decades, couldn't make sense of--that I never used it. Oddly, the saleweasels who told me about the $75 certificate at check in referenced that old certificate (even though I didn't mention it), and said this one was much better!

 

[AwayWeGo]

We got 2 of those from Wyndham -- 1 as sales presentation freebies in Orlando & the other with an apology letter when we complained in writing after we got home about the obnoxious & unrelenting phone calls to our unit trying to get us to sign up for a sales presentation in North Myrtle Beach.

Yes, there were hoops to jump through. But we made the jumps & eventually scored 2 nice Orlando-Kissimmee timeshare reservations. One was free -- a nice 1BR unit at Star Island (Kissimmee FL) unit that we gave to our niece & her husband. We were already at another Kissimmee timeshare on Star Island check-in day, so we checked in ourselves & handed the key cards to our niece when we picked her up at the airport.

The other resort certificate reservation cost an added fee -- $100 or so -- because we took an upgrade from 1BR to 2BR at Wyndham Cypress Palms. The week coincided with the annual convention in Orlando of the Association Of Concert Bands, so my son & I (both band members) stayed at Cypress Palms instead of at the convention hotel over on International Drive. That made for considerable commuting between Star Island & the convention, but it all worked out OK.

And even though the list of available resorts was very similar to what's on RCI's lists, there was 1 notable absence -- entirely missing from the resort certificate list was anything at Vacation Village At Parkway. Go figure.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[dioxide45]

We got one for a presentation we took when at Clearwater. Ours was through RCI. Initially the options for us were pretty good, but then covid revenge travel kicked in and the options dwindled pretty fast. As I understood, anything within the next 45 days was free, perhaps there was an added fee for anything larger than a studio. Anything further out than 45 days had an added cost and the larger the unit the higher the cost. It is free, but the number of free options is limited.

 

[carlbarry]

We got 2 of those from Wyndham -- 1 as sales presentation freebies in Orlando & the other with an apology letter when we complained in writing after we got home about the obnoxious & unrelenting phone calls to our unit trying to get us to sign up for a sales presentation in North Myrtle Beach.

Yes, there were hoops to jump through. But we made the jumps & eventually scored 2 nice Orlando-Kissimmee timeshare reservations. One was free -- a nice 1BR unit at Star Island (Kissimmee FL) unit that we gave to our niece & her husband. We were already at another Kissimmee timeshare on Star Island check-in day, so we checked in ourselves & handed the key cards to our niece when we picked her up at the airport.

The other resort certificate reservation cost an added fee -- $100 or so -- because we took an upgrade from 1BR to 2BR at Wyndham Cypress Palms. The week coincided with the annual convention in Orlando of the Association Of Concert Bands, so my son & I (both band members) stayed at Cypress Palms instead of at the convention hotel over on International Drive. That made for considerable commuting between Star Island & the convention, but it all worked out OK.

And even though the list of available resorts was very similar to what's on RCI's lists, there was 1 notable absence -- entirely missing from the resort certificate list was anything at Vacation Village At Parkway. Go figure.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Star Island is my home resort. The one and only time I stayed there since purchasing in 2007 was in 2006 via a Wyndham program of the time called "Get Up and Go." The problem with the 1 BRs at Atar Island is that there are 2 types: one has a balcony, full kitchen, etc. The other is nowhere near as nice. They stuck me in the crummy type.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Star Island is my home resort. The one and only time I stayed there since purchasing in 2007 was in 2006 via a Wyndham program of the time called "Get Up and Go." The problem with the 1 BRs at Atar Island is that there are 2 types: one has a balcony, full kitchen, etc. The other is nowhere near as nice. They stuck me in the crummy type.

Fortunately, the 1 we reserved via resort certificate for our niece was the super-nice 1BR.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Sandi Bo]

Star Island is my home resort. The one and only time I stayed there since purchasing in 2007 was in 2006 via a Wyndham program of the time called "Get Up and Go." The problem with the 1 BRs at Atar Island is that there are 2 types: one has a balcony, full kitchen, etc. The other is nowhere near as nice. They stuck me in the crummy type.

I think the crummy ones are the non-Wyndham units. If you have any control in the matter, you want to insist on a Wyndham room. A lot easier to do if you booked with Wyndham points, I think.

I don't consider any of the certificates worth beans, that's my take on the certificates.

 

[tschwa2]

Those certificates give you about a $300 discount off extra vacation prices and last calls BUT are only a small subset of the rci rentals that have the lowest trading power. My guess is that it isn't impossible to get a unit at Bonnet Creek but not in Feb-April or June-early August even last minute. Non holiday last minute September -December might become available using the cert at no extra fee.

Those certs are just another way for RCI to make a few dollars and get rid of inventory they think are likely to go unused even through last calls.

 

[abelcermak]

I’ve had similar experiences with deals that seemed too good to be true. I remember booking a stay at a hotel Sydney Central a while back, and the process felt pretty straightforward—no hidden fees or weird conditions. It was a relief after a few bad experiences with travel packages. Honestly, I think I’ve learned to be extra cautious when it comes to those “too good to miss” offers. It's such a bummer when they don’t live up to expectations.

 

[gravityrules]

Anyone been offered and accepted a 'free cruise' certificate? If so, how did that work out?

 

[tschwa2]

Anyone been offered and accepted a 'free cruise' certificate? If so, how did that work out?

My understanding is they are also junk products offered by a 3rd party with a lot of restrictions. If you are flexible and want to do a short cruise in an interior cabin, they might save you $200-$300. By the time you pay for upgrades or alternatives, you will be lucky to save $50 off what you could have booked it for without the cert.

These types of products are ones that Wyndham probably paid less than $50 for the cert and only 1/3-1/4 ever get redeemed.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

These types of products are ones that Wyndham probably paid less than $50 for the cert and only 1/3-1/4 ever get redeemed.

I’d be surprised if Wyndham paid anything for them. They’re a marketing gimmick for the cruise lines as well, it gets people on the ships, and most people who use them end up paying some sort of upgrade fees.