What to make of the Interval International Timeshare Options for Virginia Beach

[MabelP]

Interesting…keep us informed.

 

[tschwa2]

We are staying at the Boardwalk Resorts and Villas 1 bedroom ocean front. Resort is nice. Curious what you all make of this? Interval listed a resort fee of $14.95/night on the exchange confirmation. We were charged $25/night as we were told that the rate had gone up even if it wasn't reflected on the confirmation at the time of exchange. I was a bit surprised by this, but we didn't really have a choice to pay it and I didn't think it was fair to get into an argument with the front desk person. The manager didn't come out and talk to us, just told the front desk agent that we had to pay the current rate. All the staff have been really nice. I'm wondering if this is coming from HGV and the staff don't really have any say in the matter. Thoughts?

Complain to Marc the TUG interval rep. email to tugmembers@intervalintl.com It probably won't get you any money back but it is more likely to get the important advisement pages updated for that resort than anything else you could do which would help out other members looking to exchange in.
I looked at all of the other former gold key resorts in Virginia beach and they all now list the $25 per day resort fee except Boardwalk Resort and Villas which still list the $14. The weird thing is that although they all have the same management (now Hilton) the info about resort fees list different dates when the fee was increased to $25 or doesn't mention a date at all.

 

[pedro47]

Where the former Gold Key Resorts ever updated by the original owner before Diamond International acquired these resorts in Virginia Beach, Virginia?

 

[CericRushmore]

Where the former Gold Key Resorts ever updated by the original owner before Diamond International acquired these resorts in Virginia Beach, Virginia?

No idea. However, HGV has bought Diamond International in 2021 and it appears that where we stayed, Boardwalk Resort and Villas, was updated at least partially. Some things were still old, but the unit was in overall good condition.

 

[CericRushmore]

I've emailed the GM at Boardwalk. Will update once I hear back.

 

[captrags]

We are originally Gold Key, Diamond owners and I guess now HGV. We own deeded weeks in VB and still trade through II into Virginia Beach and other locations. We have never paid for parking or resort fees when we go there. Usually put a charge on room in case you charge anything to the room etc but that comes off. Headed there next week and don't expect to pay then. Love it there at Ocean Beach Club and Oceanaire.

 

[CericRushmore]

I've emailed the GM at Boardwalk. Will update once I hear back.

GM emailed back today. Will be refunding the difference of $10/night. Will report back once I get the actual refund.

 

[captrags]

So a follow up to my earlier post. We stayed at Ocean Beach Club from June 17-24th. We did an exchange thru Interval International. As I stated before we never had to pay any resort fees when we booked thru II. Upon check in we were notified of a $25 Daily resort fee. I asked why because we never had a resort fee before. The front desk stated as of November 2022 the fee was implemented by Hilton Grand Vacations. Here's what the fee covers per the envelope our room keys came in. Internet, Xbox Games, Self parking, Fitness Classes, Resort activities, Adult and kids craft classes, and local Dinning discounts. So you have to agree to them upon checkin. upon check out they emailed us a receipt which also has a $3.75 Daily Tax on it. Anyone else have any info on this? We have been Owners for 19 Years in Virginia Beach. (Gold Key, Diamond and now HGV).

 

[tschwa2]

So a follow up to my earlier post. We stayed at Ocean Beach Club from June 17-24th. We did an exchange thru Interval International. As I stated before we never had to pay any resort fees when we booked thru II. Upon check in we were notified of a $25 Daily resort fee. I asked why because we never had a resort fee before. The front desk stated as of November 2022 the fee was implemented by Hilton Grand Vacations. Here's what the fee covers per the envelope our room keys came in. Internet, Xbox Games, Self parking, Fitness Classes, Resort activities, Adult and kids craft classes, and local Dinning discounts. So you have to agree to them upon checkin. upon check out they emailed us a receipt which also has a $3.75 Daily Tax on it. Anyone else have any info on this? We have been Owners for 19 Years in Virginia Beach. (Gold Key, Diamond and now HGV).

As an owner you can complain to owners services but it seems like they are enforcing the resort fee and the fee is listed in II when you exchange in so if the resort will not back down you have to figure the resort fee into your decision on whether to exchange in through II or not. They want to discourage you from using II and giving the exchange fee to II. They want to encourage owners to use xchange and I believe they do not charge when staying on those exchanges, but you would want to reconfirm about that. And yes the government taxes the resort fees. The other person posting on this topic was staying at a resort that still listed the fee at $14 and was reimbursed the difference between the current fee.

 

[CericRushmore]

As an owner you can complain to owners services but it seems like they are enforcing the resort fee and the fee is listed in II when you exchange in so if the resort will not back down you have to figure the resort fee into your decision on whether to exchange in through II or not. They want to discourage you from using II and giving the exchange fee to II. They want to encourage owners to use xchange and I believe they do not charge when staying on those exchanges, but you would want to reconfirm about that. And yes the government taxes the resort fees. The other person posting on this topic was staying at a resort that still listed the fee at $14 and was reimbursed the difference between the current fee.

I think this is a massive mistake by HGV to charge II trades or other timeshare trades a resort fee. Timeshares are built upon a certain level of trust, which the industry isn't really known for (personally, my parents have had private timeshares in FL since the 70s that have been great, but we know that the larger companies often try to sell too much to people that have no business buying timeshare). I can't get my head around how HGV would want to charge people trading in something that the other owners have already paid for. This seems like a huge miss by HGV and very much short sited.

Long term, I would like to see II require timeshares that want to participate with II to stop allowing resort fees to be charged unless it is also charged to the owners of the timeshare that did the deposit. This would be much more equitable.

 

[escanoe]

The horse has left the barn on this one. Small chance that government does something about it. Factoring it in as a cost of doing business is how the cookie crumbles for now.

I think this is a massive mistake by HGV to charge II trades or other timeshare trades a resort fee. Timeshares are built upon a certain level of trust, which the industry isn't really known for (personally, my parents have had private timeshares in FL since the 70s that have been great, but we know that the larger companies often try to sell too much to people that have no business buying timeshare). I can't get my head around how HGV would want to charge people trading in something that the other owners have already paid for. This seems like a huge miss by HGV and very much short sited.

Long term, I would like to see II require timeshares that want to participate with II to stop allowing resort fees to be charged unless it is also charged to the owners of the timeshare that did the deposit. This would be much more equitable.

 

[Dilarm]

We're staying at Four Sails in a couple of weeks, through an RCI exchange. We've never been to Virginia Beach, but we chose it based on pretty good reviews.

I loved all my stays at Four Sails. Great location

 

[CericRushmore]

GM emailed back today. Will be refunding the difference of $10/night. Will report back once I get the actual refund.

It took several more emails, but the refund did just arrive.