Heres the discussion from the old BBS
Its not a new issue....but some info was good here:
eudell
TUG Member
Posts: 740
From: los angeles, CA USA own: SoCal Beach, Big Bear, Palm Springs
Registered: Jan 2003
posted 02-21-2005 20:29
I posted the question on Ask Madge, but just wanted to give people a head's up. There was discussion earlier about new Smuggler's Notch winter fees. Now it looks like they are adding summer fees. Their site shows pool use fees at $40 per adult per day, $30 per child per day. EEK!
The website doesn't specify the fees for RCI exchangers.
Edye
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charford
TUG Member
Posts: 134
From:
Registered: Dec 2001
posted 02-22-2005 06:57
Looking at your ask RCI posting, I see that you got this info from the regular (not RCI exchanger) Smuggs website. Smuggs has always charged people who are not staying at Smuggs for pool use.
Smuggs has quite a range of water activities and so they've always checked that people who use the main pool complex are actually staying at Smuggs (owners, renters, exchangers). There is currently no charge for summer RCI exchangers to use the pool complexes.
Cathy
edited to reflect where on Smuggs website OP got info
[This message has been edited by charford (edited 02-22-2005).]
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eudell
TUG Member
Posts: 740
From: los angeles, CA USA own: SoCal Beach, Big Bear, Palm Springs
Registered: Jan 2003
posted 02-22-2005 17:41
I hope this is the case. (No pool fee for RCI guests) When the posts appeared a few months ago about the new $150 fee to get certain "perks" during the winter season at Smuggs (that's posted on the smuggs website now) there was discussion that smuggs would start a summer fee and that they were currently determining what that would like look. It all sounded like hearsay, so when I noticed the pool fee I got concerned.
Edye
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usualsus
TUG Member
Posts: 5
From:
Registered: Mar 2004
posted 03-26-2005 08:57
I think there will likely be a $250 mandatory fee as outlined in the memo below:
Dear Club Owners,
I'm pleased to announce that we have developed the summer program for those owners who would like to rent out their Club homes to Non-Owners for summer of 2005. As most of you know, we have been discussing this issue with both summer and winter
Owners for over a year and gathered information from many of you. We appreciate the participation of so many interested Owners. The program outlined here is an introductory
program and may be changed for future seasons.
Background:
Smugglers' offers a wide array of family programs, amenities, organized activities, water slides, pools and other facilities. Many other timeshare resorts choose to charge their
owners, via the maintenance fees, for the costs of programming and facilities like pools and tennis courts. At Smugglers' these offerings are totally funded by the resort, with the
exception of the facilities owned by the Owners such as the West Hill Community Center or Mountain Laurels Pool. Owners pay no fees for the operation, staffing or maintenance of
any of these programs or facilities.
Summer 2005 Program:
This summer we will require Non-Owners to pay a Recreational Facilities Fee to use these extensive summer activities and facilities. Non-Owners renting from Club Owners and those using the RCI exchange program will pay this fee. Owners will continue to have complimentary access to all of these facilities and programs as you have in the past.
When discussing the rental of your Club home to Non-Owners, please make your renters aware that the following costs will apply to their stay:
A Recreational Facilities Fee of $250 per family per week. Payment of this fee entitles everyone in the party to a Recreation Pass that allows access to the following activities and facilities*:
Stretch & Go, Welcome Party, Teen Karaoke, Notch Ready for Prime Time Players, Sterling Pond Hike, Marko's Magic, Funtastic Family Challenge, Mini-Golf, Bird's and Bloomers
Walk, Rum Runners' Hideaway, Family Splashdown, Smuggs' All Star Band, Bootleggers' Basin Wike, Night Moves – Live Acoustic, Mountainside Water Playground, Bonfire Sing-Along, Adult Basketball, Creative Corner Puppets, Forest Heritage Wike, Giant Rapid River Ride, Brewster River Gorge Hike, Entertainment with Goodtime Charlie, Funmeister's Clubhouse Family Ties – I-Did-A-Cart, Notchville Park, Woodland Wildlife Wike,Bigger is Better, Discovery Walk, River Walk, Nature Center, Village Garden Tour, Outer Limits Liquid Courage Karaoke, Bingo Blast, Explore Morse Mountain, Teen Alley, Elephant Head Hike, Aqua Jump, Junk Yard Band, Mount Mansfield Hikes, Bears and Berries Wike, Little Smugglers' Lagoon, Twister Waterslide, Volleyball, Live Jam Band, Croquet, Sock Hop, Lily Pad walk, Nightspiker DJ Dance Party, Saturday Cinema, Golf Tips, No-Strings Marionettes, Omni Ball Challenge
Payment of the Recreational Facilities fee also entitles a non-owner to these
discounts:
? 10% off the daily childcare rate at Treasures
? 20% off the purchase of non-sale items at Three Mountain Outfitters.
? $45 per day per child for participation in our Discovery, Adventure, Notch Squad and Explorer camp programs. This rate represents 30% discount off our 2005 regular rate of
$65 per day per child. (Includes lunch)
Alternative offer for Non-owner Renters:
If you have potential renters who have not visited Smugglers' before and who would like to stay in your home for your week, we can make a special offer available. Your friends may
reserve your home and week through our reservations department on our discounted promotional package. We will then collect the rental from your guests and compensate you with a check for 2 maintenance fees. The rate your renters would pay is 40% off
our regular Club Smugglers' rate for a 7 night stay and includes camp for the kids as well as recreation passes for the family. Your renters are required to attend a Vacation Ownership
Tour in order to take advantage of this package. For more information on how to book this for your guests, please call our Owner Services Department.
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TMTIP
TUG Member
Posts: 145
From: Yorktown, VA
Registered: Mar 2001
posted 03-30-2005 14:13
Looks like we will be cancelling our RCI exchange.
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markel
TUG Member
Posts: 84
From: USA
Registered: Aug 2003
posted 03-30-2005 14:27
Are you serious??? In addition to the exchange fee, an additional $250 per unit, I assume. I've never been to Smuggs, but were planning to exchange into there next year. Not sure now. By the way, what about the units on bonus vacations or last call. Will the same fee (or more) apply??
Mark
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pjjs
TUG Member
Posts: 57
From: Berwyn,IL,USA Umhlanga Sands, SA
Registered: Sep 2002
posted 06-01-2005 20:34
I got suckered. I leave in one week with an RCI exchange. Can I swing a deal to get the $250 and back and free camps for my kids if I go to their sales presentation?
$250 + $90*5 days for 2 kid camps = $700!!! We could have gone to Disney for that price.
Any ideas on alternatives? Can I get out of this exchange?
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Looking to buy low MF resorts.
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KenK
Moderator
TUG Volunteer
Posts: 4814
From: Nep.City, NJ/Hlwd,Fl
Registered: Dec 2000
posted 06-01-2005 21:04
Do the owners get to pay less maintance fees if they rent and the resort charges the renter?
Do the owners already pay this fee with their maintance? And then they fee is paid again with the renter/exchanger???
How could the resort operate the extras if none of the owners pay the fees to operate these extras? What I mean is, if no one ever rents a unit, and only owners stay for their time....how are the activities the renters & exchangers would have paid for be continued? Is the manager (ment) double dipping?
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Ken K
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timeos2
Moderator
TUG Volunteer
Posts: 2032
From: Rochester, NY : Cypress Pointe & Westgate VV, Orlando Fl;FF Kingsgate Williamsburg, VA(FF Pts);Cove @ Yarmouth, Cape Cod MA;Rayburn CC, TX-RCI Pts
Registered: Dec 2000
posted 06-02-2005 05:07
Any type of additional fee helps ruin trade value. In this case it appears they will effectively kill any trade value whatsoever and owners had better plan on using or renting their weeks. Word is already getting out as you can see here on TUG.
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John Chase
Use Email Icon above for contact address
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Patri
TUG Member
Posts: 1206
From: PA
Registered: Feb 2003
posted 06-02-2005 05:27
Does an exchanger even have access to any pool without paying a fee? Incredible!
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Patri
Mother of the groom on June 11
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KenK
Moderator
TUG Volunteer
Posts: 4814
From: Nep.City, NJ/Hlwd,Fl
Registered: Dec 2000
posted 06-02-2005 06:35
Says here pool yes (or at least some pool. You need to check out the website. This is a section for RCI exchange. Not sure if it includes rentals to Smuggs from other RCI outlets like
www.afvclub.com or the public rental sites:
http://www.smuggs.com/pages/summer/rci/summerBenefits.php
"...2005 RCI SUMMER BENEFITS:
We look forward to hosting you this summer for an exciting week of fun for the whole family! SmugglersÕ offers a wide array of family programs, amenities, organized activities, water slides, pools and other facilities. Your luxurious resort accommodations and the use of our Courtside Pool and Waterslide are included with your RCI exchange. Please click on Summer to view our summer program offerings.
In order to fully enjoy your vacation week we recommend that you consider purchasing our optional Recreational Facilities Pass. The cost of the pass is $250 (plus tax) per RCI unit per week. The Recreation Facilities Pass entitles everyone in your party access to the following activities and facilities*:..." Con't on website...
Not sure if anything under the $250 can be bought alacart
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Ken K
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