60 Day reservations not being reduced in points

[lewmel]

Hi everyone,
I am searching for a week vacation in Mexico, and the online is system is not reducing the points if I book within 60 days. The points are staying the same all the way from feb to oct. Could someone else check this for me, before I call in.
Thanks

[DRIvaDiva]

Originally Posted by lewmel

Hi everyone,
I am searching for a week vacation in Mexico, and the online is system is not reducing the points if I book within 60 days. The points are staying the same all the way from feb to oct. Could someone else check this for me, before I call in.
Thanks

Go ahead and call in, they're going to quote you the same number of points.... you're going to say, but my salesman told me that it's 50% off under 60 days.... they're going to say, not necessarily - read the Club rules!

[fnewman]

Hmmm - interesting. I've done that at resorts in the past. What's the scoop?

[dougp26364]

Originally Posted by DRIvaDiva

Go ahead and call in, they're going to quote you the same number of points.... you're going to say, but my salesman told me that it's 50% off under 60 days.... they're going to say, not necessarily - read the Club rules!

THE Club rules clearly state a 50% reduction in reservations less than 59 days. DRI has had glitches with the online system from time to time. While I haven't always been a DRI cheerleader, DRI has made significant efforts to improve THE Club and the resorts it manages. Off hand comments without experience or first hand knowledge really don't assist the OP.

I'd call DRI reservations to make the reservation and mention that the online system isn't reflecting the reduction in points for short notice reservations. The online reservations system also offers three ways to view requests. Try one of the other search methods. I've grown to like the calender search, which shows all bedroom types available and the points required for an entire month.

[DRIvaDiva]

Originally Posted by DRIvaDiva

Go ahead and call in, they're going to quote you the same number of points.... you're going to say, but my salesman told me that it's 50% off under 60 days.... they're going to say, not necessarily - read the Club rules!

Originally Posted by dougp26364

THE Club rules clearly state a 50% reduction in reservations less than 59 days. DRI has had glitches with the online system from time to time. While I haven't always been a DRI cheerleader, DRI has made significant efforts to improve THE Club and the resorts it manages. Off hand comments without experience or first hand knowledge really don't assist the OP.

I'd call DRI reservations to make the reservation and mention that the online system isn't reflecting the reduction in points for short notice reservations. The online reservations system also offers three ways to view requests. Try one of the other search methods. I've grown to like the calender search, which shows all bedroom types available and the points required for an entire month.

Douglas,
Show me the money.
The 2009 version of Governing Documents Rules and Regulations Article 2.2.16 says:
To effectively manage the inventory in the Exchange Pool, THE Club Operating Company shall be entitled, but not obligated, to:
(a) Discount the Points normally required for some or all resort offerings for late availability space ...

just as interesting is item (b) that says that THE Club may take and use any/all availability at the 45 day mark for whatever purposes they desire with no cost for the occupancy!

Doug, read the Rules and Regulations in their entirety and it is obvious to anyone who knows the English language that THE Club can do just about anything they want in any case.

As to the 50% discount at 59 days or less, I read the above as saying that if THE Club thinks that it will be taken at full price, they will not be discounting it, then at the 45 day mark they get it for FREE for inspections, promotional use, rental, or any other purpose.

I wish you could show me where I am wrong and you are right.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by dougp26364

THE Club rules clearly state a 50% reduction in reservations less than 59 days. DRI has had glitches with the online system from time to time. While I haven't always been a DRI cheerleader, DRI has made significant efforts to improve THE Club and the resorts it manages. Off hand comments without experience or first hand knowledge really don't assist the OP.

I'd call DRI reservations to make the reservation and mention that the online system isn't reflecting the reduction in points for short notice reservations. The online reservations system also offers three ways to view requests. Try one of the other search methods. I've grown to like the calender search, which shows all bedroom types available and the points required for an entire month.

I would be interested in any more information that Doug or drivadiva have on this as i am seeing several cases where points have not been reduced at 59days out.

[winger]

Originally Posted by Spence

I would be interested in any more information that Doug or drivadiva have on this as i am seeing several cases where points have not been reduced at 59days out.

As recent as two weeks ago, a rep on the phone clarified for me that stays at less than 59 days out can be booked for 50% off. I am sure I read this somewhere in an older DRI resort book but cannot seem to find this year's book.

[DRIvaDiva]

Originally Posted by winger

As recent as two weeks ago, a rep on the phone clarified for me that stays at less than 59 days out can be booked for 50% off. I am sure I read this somewhere in an older DRI resort book but cannot seem to find this year's book.

Winger, just like a salesman, the rep on the phone is not knowledgeable, they follow a script, they tell lies, possibly because they don't know any better and this 'new' concept is not apparent to them. Look at any old Sunterra or DRI Resort Directory where you read some version of

Quick Getaways
If you can be flexible in your vacation planning, THE Club
offers two ways to save on reservations at participating
resorts in THE Club.
For a weekly stay, if you book your reservation 59 to 31
days prior to check-out, we'll take 50% off the standard
points value.
For stays that are two to six nights-book your stay 30
days to 48 hours prior to check-out and save 50% off the
standard points value. Many resorts throughout the U.S.
and Caribbean offer a two-night minimum stay.

now go online to your account and read the current Annual Global Reservations Directory, it does not have this information and neither does the 2010 Annual Member Benefits Directory. Now go to the Legal Document/Governing Documents which contain the Amended and Restated Rules and Regulations May2009 and read article 2.2.16.

[dougp26364]

Having done a few searches including reviewing DRIDiva's information, the only wording that I can locate this year is what has been said above. DRI is not obligated to discount the rates. Last year there was a link to a publication called the Navigator that distinctly stated that reservations made less than 60 days would be discounted 50%. The link to what DRI called The Navigator has been replaced by a rather generic guide that explains all the other things one can spend points on, but does not list the rules of THE Club.

Now, whether this is a disctinct departure or modification of the rules or if DRI is only now enforcing little known rules as laid out by Sunterra I can't say. I can say I've seen several discounted rates online but, I've seen rates that are not discounted. Some of the discounted rates I've seen have been for dates further out than 60 days. Glitch or the new way of the world for DRI? I really can't say for certain. The one thing I can say is that it's always been a risk to wait to book at less than 59 days. Perhaps it's even more of a risk now than what it was before.

Part of 2.2.16 states that, at 45 days DRI can do whatever they want with unreserved inventory. I'm assuming that would include promotional as well as rental opportunities for DRI. As with all other timeshare systems it appears that if there is a vacation that you really want, booking early is the way to go. The days of waiting and snagging weeks at the last minute may very well be over.

[winger]

Originally Posted by dougp26364

....

Personally, I believe it's just a glitch in the online system. If you can't get the discounted rate online then it seems to me the simple thing to do is call DRI reservations and ask for the specific resort and week you want. If it's not discounted ask the rep why it's not discounted. If the rep answers that not all resort weeks receive the less than 59 day reservation window discount, then you have your answer. If he says there must be a glitch in the system and gives you the discounted rate, then we'll have the doubters finding another theory.

Doug, this said, in recent <59days DRI bookings, two as recent as last month (January), when I first called to ask about availability, the rep quoted the full price. Upon questioning this, rep re-look at "another system" (whatever that means) and quoted the 50% reduction.