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Re: REDWEEKS NEW TIMESHARE EXHANGE PROGRAM (by Marie M.):

jayjay wrote:

Also, there have been many complaints by Tug members that their reviews had never been posted.

Tug is severely antiquated as they are still using nonpaid volunteers to post member reviews and ads by email instead of implementing an automated system that doesn't require a volunteer to post reviews or ads that may have been lost in emails or perhaps erroneously deleted by the volunteer.

I, for one, can't understand why Tug has not brought that site up to date with a fully automated format with all the money they take in. Member dues/fees payments are definitely automated, but nothing else.

I fully agree with you that much could be done to improve the TUG web site. Recently they began offering a free lifetime membership for people who post current reviews of specific resorts that are lacking recent reviews. This is a step in the right direction.

One problem I encounter when reading the TripAdvisor reviews is that many of the people who post glowing reviews of a very mediocre timeshare property are not timeshare owners. This may be the first time they have vacationed in a timeshare vs. a hotel room. (Most of us were very impressed when we first experienced the difference, hence we purchased timeshares). Many first-timers who post on TripAdvisor do not have enough experience to post a meaningful review. What they think is wonderful, we might consider to be old, out-dated, too small, and lacking many of the amenities we are accustomed to e.g. beautiful pools, spectacular grounds, on-site restaurants, large modern kitchens, etc...

I remember reading a few negative reviews on TripAdvisor of a spectacular timeshare in Key West. Well, the person who posted had apparently rented through an aggregator such as Expedia or Hotels.com and had been placed in one of the few tiny studios that the developer owns and uses as part of the "free 2 night package" offered to lure prospective buyers. Their experience, which they went on and on complaining about, was so totally different from the experience my husband and I had when we exchanged into a penthouse unit at the same resort. We also went at the best time of the year (February) while the TripAdvisor reviewer had gone in the summer and complained about the terrible heat and humidity. TUG members generally comment in their reviews about the best and worst times to go to a location, noting the rainy season, hurricane threat months (if any), etc...

The timeshare owners who post reviews on TUG are more knowledgeable about the differences at resorts. Some resorts have several buildings, some of which are much more desirable than others. When hubby and I exchanged into Hawaii, we knew from info in TUG reviews that the resort where we would be staying does the unit assignments two weeks before the check-in date. We also learned that Building X was the newest and "best." And that Building Z was the oldest and least desirable, being the only building not facing the ocean, and the only building where the units had no air conditioning. This is the building where most exchange guests and renters are placed. So two weeks before our arrival date, I called the resort and learned that we had been assigned to a unit in Building Z. I politely requested that we be placed in Building X and it was cheerfully done. I didn't even have to give a reason for the request. This type of invaluable information is not likely to appear in the TripAdvisor reviews.

It is possible that a TUG member might try to post a glowing review of a mediocre (or worse) resort that he owns. But the poster is required to state whether or not he is an owner at the resort. If a poster tries to falsely claim that he/she is not an owner, the very experienced and astute Moderators will generally catch it and challenge the reviewer. And if a non-credible review slips in, other TUG members will undoubtedly refute it. I have rarely seen reviews on TUG that contain widely diverse opinions of a resort. The great resorts have numerous favorable reviews; the awful ones have very negative reviews.

I check TUG first, Redweek second, and TripAdvisor third. I own 15 timeshares and have completed over 60 exchanges. Having used TUG long before Redweek or Tripadvisor were "born," and all three since, I must say that there have been no unpleasant surprises at any of the resorts we stayed at. The Internet is such a great resource when planning vacations, especially when people take time to post reviews to help others.