Timeshare Holidays and Club Mahindra

I have read a lot of reviews regarding timeshare and felt an urge to contribute to this timeshare debate. This is my post on www.mouthshut.com regarding timeshare.

I am a Club mahindra member since one year ( a satisfied one at that). I know when I say satisfied, many people will immediately come to conclusion that I am a Club mahindra employee but I am not. Also I have made one observation. Most of the people who have travelled to club mahindra properties, have rated it positively.

First of all, I would like to stay clear of all sales related bad experience. As I understand, there are good sales agents and bad sales agents. And many times, they overdo to sell since they have incentives to sell. And I was fortunate enough to meet one of the better sales person when I sent an enquiry after seeing an ad in newspaper. He expalined everything to me in detail. Yes, he told me the cost part only after he had explained the concept fully. If some people consider this as hiding, then I disagree . After the first presentation, I called him at least twice to clarify some details and he never pushed hard. In all, my first experience was great.

Also, I had attended one Country Vacations presentation recently. And I would say, Club mahindra is hundred times better than it. The country club representatives (there were many of them in that room with different couples) were shouting almost on top of his voice, just like people sell vegetables And insisting to buy 2 lacs membership on the spot!!, unlike the calm pitch made by club mahindra people.

Now the cost part. Some people have done quite a good job in explaining the real cost of membership. And if somebody had taken membership without knowing all those ’hidden costs’ then I feel sorry for him/her. However, almost all of them have compared it with non-comparables. When one is counting the cost of club mahindra membership, one should compare with prices in similar quality resorts. If somebody says that you can get accomodation in any of the holiday destinations in less than Rs 1000 or 2000, then I am sorry dear, but you are ’hiding’ the quality aspect. Last year, since I got married, I have travelled a lot and have enquired in a range of hotels at different times and I can safely say, even after considering the interest on membership fees and ASF, you are paying much less that what you would pay otherwise. The whole cost of the membership can be recovered even if you utilize your holidays for 5-6 years.

Sample this and you can also verify urself on internet. Coorg resort is the second best in that location(after orange county) and the room charges start from Rs5000 per day in white season and that room is not even a studio apartment what members get. Goa resort is usually 7-8k per night and goes even higher. Munnar is similar. Other locations are not so expensive but will be anytime more than Rs2k per day. How many people will be able to take that expensive vacations (30-40k per week) year after year? At least I could not. But with the membership, I can and have done thrice last year itself.

Also, timeshare is not for everyone. I will mention three conditions and one must see whether he/she is looking for that. First, this product is not for filthy rich but still people must be willing to pay a premium for quality. And it’s definitely not cheap so should be well off. Second, you must be looking for a lot of holidaying in next few years. And third, your idea of holidaying must match the timeshare theme.

I have gone to 4 resorts till now and had a very good service, food and activities. The resorts and the activities are such that one wants to return from sightseeing as soon as possible and spend as much time as possible in the resort.

Yes, there is issue with the booking. Though I didn’t face any problem till now because I have a habit of planning my holidays very early. But yes, you need to plan very early for a certain booking. And I can understand, many people may have got disappointed with that. But I have come to realize it’s how RCI and timeshare works. Imagine I got a mail from RCI in sep, 2006 to plan for a holiday in summer, 2007!!! also sometimes, as happens in every big organization, all the customers are never happy and some people may have bad experiences during their stay also for some reasons.