Complaint Review: Travel Smart Vacation Club Inc

During a recent vacation to Jamaica, my wife and I were invited to a VIP breakfast at the hotel where we were staying (Royalton White Sands, Montego Bay). This breakfast was to introduce us to a new style fo vacationing, and eventually sell us a plan. Just for attending such event we were guranteed a 5 night vacation and (in our case we chose) a U$S 100.00 certificate towards a SPA session at the hotel.

The breakast was uneventful as this was the first "line" of contact... just barely touching over some of the ammenities.. lots of questions about our lifestyle, etc... After the breakfats we were then taken to the sales area were "everything" was going to take place....

This was well organized, in one of the buildings at the resort (so the resort knows about this obviously). Plenty of display boards describing all the wonderful things we were about to be able to have access to, the company's "partners" or associates (one of themat least - Vacation Express- doesn't even know who this company is and moreover they indicated "they don't partner with anybody" (they are currently investigating why Travel Smart VIP makes false statements).

Then the sales pitch commenced... to the best of my recollection, his name was Gregory but, there are plenty of people above him who are completely aware of all this. It is also important to note that 3 other couples who we are friends with also attended the sales pitch (and are subsequently going through this same process of cancelling and complaint). We were all separated in different tables.. no one couple with another couple... just individual pitch sales.

In addition to the Travel Smart VIP "smart points" (at great savings ...according to the speech but none in reality)  we would also have access to RCI Vacation Time share group so we could use our purchased points anywhere in the world !!!. When I felt unsuare about the savings, the slaes person asked me (since I have traveled all around the world)  if I wanted an example...to which I replied "sure".. he asked me How much a 15 day stay in a 5 star hotel in Paris would cost.. I guessed about U$S 7500.... he then, said... "well now... through RCI..." (and some rapid obscure moves on his calculator) this are your savings !! U$S 6,580.. I just saved you that amount and you can go to Paris and that;s what you will pay...."

WoW !! it sounded great !!! Then it was time to negotiate the cost of the plan (NOTE: all couples were offered different deals even for the same plans !!)' we ended up selecting a 20,000 points / 15 year plan at a cost of over U$S 14000. All the couples wlaked away without commiting so we talked about it and later on we wlaked back to sign on provided we all got the same deals . we did, we signed .. We got back home and noticed I could not access RCI website and was told the memebrship takes between 45 to 60 days to become active which I considered a Breach of the contract I had signed.

I have a 25' recorded conversation with one of their Travel Specialist were he admits that promises made were unrealistic. Now, Travel Smart VIP has acceopted the cancellation of my contract but retained over U$S 1700 for cancelling (as stipulate din the contract that THEY BREACHED). This is under dispute with my Credi Card, I told Travel Smart they cannot choose which part of the contract to honor and which one to not honor.

Also, be aware that their plan provides NO savings when compared with the ones offered byother companies (even one of their associates !!!(Vacation Express)

Actually, Travel Smart VIP is more expensive !!! (even when compared with offers readily available on the internet which include TRAVEL !!!)

If you are anywhere and you are approached by these people RUN AWAY !!!!!!! 

You can get vacations a lot cheaper and without the draconian rules they impossed on you (and which they are not disclosed until the very end....while serving you plenty of alcoholic drinks).

DON'T DO TI !!!!