Won timeshare week at charity event- need help

[tcdamsel]

I bid on and won what I thought was a week at El. Dorado Royal in Mexico in a all-inclusive suite for a week valued at $3500. This was a charity event to raise money for my son's private school.

When it came time to book it I received a letter from Exotic Travelers/Friends in Paradise saying in very confusing language that I had to pay 1200 for the room and agree to attend the presentation and if I didn't I would be charged the full rate whatever that is.

The woman who donated the week says she is the owner, but has not gotten back to me about what I actually owe, what I'm signing and what I'm getting. This all sound so suspicious. What are all inclusive fees? I thought all inclusive meant just that - the price includes everything (within reason).

Can anyone tell me what is going on?
Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

This is no "prize" - basically you got a timeshare preview pkg.

Was it fully disclosed to you upfront that you would have to pay $1,200?

If it were me, I'd contact the auction organizer and let them know that this is NOT what you bid on.

Mexican timeshare are cheap and easy rentals - you can get one with no all inclusive fees for far less then $1,200 a week.

I definitely would NOT go through with this!

 

[Passepartout]

It may be that the owner just didn't (or didn't know to) get a guest cert so the 'winner' will get the owner's price for AI. Still, it doesn't seem like much of a prize if it really IS just a sales come-on.

Friends in Paradise seems to be the sales arm. Here's a link: http://www.exotictravelers.com/fip_how.aspx

Be cautious with this. It smells like a scam.

Jim Ricks

P.S. Glad you found TUG before just blindly taking this 'vacation.' Welcome!

 

[Cheryl20772]

This might be a sneaky way to try to get referral points. Underhanded if you ask me. I hope you didn't pay much for it.

 

[Rascalsmom]

AI fees are per day, per-person fees to cover your food and drinks while at the resort. With lots of the AI resorts you exchange to cover your room, but then have to pay extra to cover everything else. In my opinion, it's a rip-off.

My first TS purchase was at a Mexican time share. I can claim my week for "only" $200, but then additionally have to pay $100 per person/per day to actually stay there and enjoy their mediocre food and drinks.

Miraculously, I have no annual MF with this contract, so I am only out the purchase price. Which still hurts, by the way, since I could have bought a nice Marriott or Hyatt for the same amount.

Then I found TUG....