I have beeen a member of Global Discovery Vacations for over one year. The sales presentation sounded very good so I purchased 2 stars, which amounts to 2 weeks vacation. I was offered a free cruise as an incentive. The company who provides the cruise never produced the cruise, even though I live within 50 miles of 3 of the busiest cruise ports in Florida. This made me pretty upset and I felt like they ripped me off, which they did, as I had to pay a fee to register to get the free cruise.
Next I tried to set up my first week vacation. It is time consuming trying to figure out how to actually procure the vacation you want. I have spent many hours on the membership website looking for a vacation. The availability is limited. The first week I vacationed at Daytona Beach Resort in December. The resort hotel was on the beach and was nearly empty, as it was just before Christmas and very cold. It was only one hour drive from home so that made it easy as a first try getting a vacation. The resort was very nice. My wife and I had the heated indoor pool and spa all to ourselves. Our daughter and her husband spent a couple nights with us and we visited other nearby friends. Overall we had a great time. I was happy that the reservation process and the end results turned out as promised.
I reserved this and the next week on line through the membership web site. It takes a bit to figure out how to best use the web site, and there is work involved in looking for the perfect vacation. So, next I booked a week in Tenneesee at White Oak Lodge and Resort. This was also booked in the off season of March of this year. When we got to the cabin, my wife was thrilled, as was I, at how beautiful it was. The thoughts of being ripped off had now disappeared into the past. We got a fantastic 2 bedroom log cabin, but was only charged 1 star, as a favor. We had a wonderful time in Gatlinburg area and when we got home, I immediatley went on line and started looking to book the same vacation for next year. My wife liked it so much she wanted to go back for 2 weeks. It is hard to get 2 weeks at the same cabin, as these vacations go quickly. I found one week in the off season in March, but again in a two bedroom cabin. This time I had to pay for the second bedroom. I was not able to get the second week as all the cabins were reserved (and this is a year in advance). I was able to get a condo at the same resort for my second week.
To get the best choice requires booking far in advance, sometimes a year in advance. I have requested several other vacations but Global Discovery Vacations was not able to procure them.
I just yesterday reserved two weeks in Kauai for next September. I wanted two weeks at the same resort, The Point at Poipu. The first week was not available on the member website, as the first week of Sept. Is Labor Day weekend which is peak season. For that week I had to submit an on-line request. Reservation Agent Robin called me to discuss my options. I once again ended up having to pay extra for a two bedroom condo, as that is all the resort has. Robin gave me the option of a one bedroom unit, but it was a another resort on Kauai. I specifically wanted this resort as it is within one mile of the Kauai Marathon that I will be running on Sept. 2. Robin did get me Labor Day week which also cost extra, but she reserved exactly what I requested. With all the extas it cost me about $1400. For this resort, counting my yearly membership activity fee. Sounds like it is not as cheap as I believed it would be went it all began. But... Then again I would not be going to Kauai to run the most beautiful marathon in the world if I had to pay the regular resort rate. The normal price for a two week stay at this resort is over $6000.!! All in all, after I take these next two reserved vacations, I believe I may be happy enough with Global Discovery Vacations to reserve other vacations.
Not as good as it sounded... But maybe better!
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