What different free gifts are given at different resorts?

[Quilter]

When we stayed at Canyon Villas we received a free pool bag which has come in handy. We're using it here at SurfWatch to carry things in the bike basket. At Ocean Pointe we got the lotion.

Nothing offered at SurfWatch.

How about freebies from other resorts?

 

[dioxide45]

At Ocean Pionte we have received MVCI t-shirts and bottles of lotion. Think we got a t-shirt at Grande Vista once also. Thus we have two meduim t-shirts that don't fit.

 

[Ann in CA]

At Grand Chateau we got a bag, maybe a computer bag, (it is still in the plastic bag) with their logo. We had forgotten they had said we'd get a free gift in addition to the points, so it was a surprise when they handed it over at the end of the presentation.

 

[SueDonJ]

Way back when we bought at SurfWatch we got 4 beach towels, 4 refillable mugs and a big canvas bag. The towels are beautiful, more like beach blankets they're so oversized and heavy, with the SW logo embroidered on one end. They're so big the four of them make up one large load in my washing machine, and they're still in great shape all these years later. (Sheesh, didn't expect to ever gush about them here!)

We've only done a couple other formal presentations and didn't get any gifts for those.

 

[dioxide45]

We don't generally get the gift for a presentation, the gifts are now to lure you to talk to someone so they can talk you in to signing up for a presentation. They call this a welcome gift, but it is really just a trap.

 

[Quilter]

We don't generally get the gift for a presentation, the gifts are now to lure you to talk to someone so they can talk you in to signing up for a presentation. They call this a welcome gift, but it is really just a trap.

"Gimmicks get gimmick results". That's a quote I heard way back in the '70's. It's not a trap if you're not trapped.

Yes, these are the freebies I was asking about. The "welcome" gifts. Not the gifts they give when purchasing.

 

[SueDonJ]

"Gimmicks get gimmick results". That's a quote I heard way back in the '70's. It's not a trap if you're not trapped.

Yes, these are the freebies I was asking about. The "welcome" gifts. Not the gifts they give when purchasing.

They used to give out "welcome" gifts? Like, when you checked in you got a goodie bag?! I remember our first few years, when we'd first get into the units there would be a little pile of stuff on the kitchen counters with single-serving cookies and snacks like that, but don't remember anything at check-in except the leis at Waiohai.

 

[NWL]

We don't generally get the gift for a presentation, the gifts are now to lure you to talk to someone so they can talk you in to signing up for a presentation. They call this a welcome gift, but it is really just a trap.

Yep. When we checked in at Grande Vista, we were told to go to the concierge for our "free gift". I knew it was a "come on", but my sister, who was new to the timeshare business, thought it would be something worthwhile and encouraged me to go. I went a couple of days later when we had our "rainy day; do whatever you want" day. Sure enough I got a sales pitch to go to a presentation, but I did walk away with a bright blue MVC tote bag.

My sister will never encourage me to go again.

 

[dioxide45]

They used to give out "welcome" gifts? Like, when you checked in you got a goodie bag?! I remember our first few years, when we'd first get into the units there would be a little pile of stuff on the kitchen counters with single-serving cookies and snacks like that, but don't remember anything at check-in except the leis at Waiohai.

At Ocean Pointe when you checkin they give you a little card to take to the concierge for your "welcome gift". You then proceed to do a 180 degree turn and walk 15 feet and hand the card to the concierge for your "welcome gift" and welcome attend presentation solicitation. I think our last two visits have been a bottle of lotion.

Grande Vista was the same deal, a little card to go over across the lobby to claim your free gift and solicitation.

Those other welcome packs of mostly product samples were actually kind of nice. Not sure why they got rid of those. They should be able to get most of those free product samples for free from the companies that make them.

 

[tiel]

Over the years we have gotten tote bags, decks of cards, hats/visors, lotions, small soft-sided coolers, and I think a t-shirt or two. The "value" of these gifts has definitely declined. They do try to get you to do a presentation when you go to pick the gift up, but we have no problem saying no, so we usually take what they offer. Most of the time we get some use out of the items.

 

[Ann in CA]

As far as gifts when we arrived, the leis they used to have at Waiohai (and still do at Maui Ocean Club) and a bottle of Spanish wine at Playa Andaluza and Marbella are the only things I remember. Oh, and a great Mojito at Phuket while we relaxed in that gorgeous open air lobby filling out the info they needed to check us in. Other places, we have received a bottle of water, but I think Phuket has the right idea!

 

[IslandTime]

We were handed one of those cards to see the concierge for a welcome gift when we checked in here at BeachPlace on Sunday. I dropped it in my bag and forgot about it. Judging from a number of blue MVCI tote bags (reusable grocery bags) I saw at the pool Monday, I'm guessing that's what they're giving out here.

The message light has been blinking on our phone since we arrived, but I haven't listened to the message. I'm guessing they called to invite us to a presentation? We're not Marriott owners so I am curious to find out what incentive they'd offer us for attending a presentation. Just not sure I want to waste the time going.

 

[normab]

It doesn't seem like all the resorts give them anymore. We liked the blue tote bag from BPT--it went into our pile for our next trip to Hawaii.

For the Hawaii "uninitiated", many stores in Hawaii are very "green" and do not give you bags, paper or plastic. If you buy items you take them in the cart to your car! So we collect any freebie bags we get and take them with us to HI, leaving them to someone else when we depart.

 

[Pens_Fan]

I got a small soft sided cooler at OceanWatch this past February.