Complaint Review: Directbuy Travel

So I joined Directbuy Travel based on saving that were promissed and a free cruiose and free week in a resort. I was able to use the first free week in a resort in Orlando and stayed in a decent timeshare facility with limited to no taxes and fees. So I figured all was good. Before booking the intial free cruise I was offered an "upgrade" for my membership. I was relatively happy with the resort experience so I paid $1,699 for the upgrade because it inclusded an additional free resort stay in a Mayan resort and another free cruise. After purchasing the upgrade my first "free" cruise certificate was about to expire so I looked on their website and eventually found a cruise that was interesting. Tried to book it and discovered that that over half of the fare for a cruise consisted of taxes and port fees. I was told that taxes and fees were not included in the certificate but I was not told that the majotiy of the price of the cruise was taxes and fees. So when I add up the value of the certificate towards the resort stay and the small portion of the cruise fare covered by the it does not come anywhere near the price I paid for the membership.

Then we come to the upgrade. While the initial resort stay I was promissed in the original memebrship was worthwhile the upgrade included a week in a Mayan resort. The free week in the Mayan resort actually costs $325 or more. $250 is a depsoit towards items in the resort because, as one Directbuy agent told me, these Mayan resorts nickle and dime you for everything. Then there is a $75 reservation fee and only god knows how many additional fees and taxes will be added if I choose to use the certificate. Plus the $1,699 that I paid for the upgrade included another free cruise that will be far from free.

So I paid $1,699 which will cover maybe $400-500 of a crusie fare and a week in a resort that was was supposed to be free but is a minmum of $425. Not a good return on my investment.

I will say I have made reservation through them that have saved me varying amounts but the value I recevied for the initial membership fee, annual fees and the upgrade fee has not come near to equalling the amount paid.