Sin City Saga continued.....

I should probably fill you in on a little "back history" as to how we got involved in this mess to begin with. We wanted to visit some relatives who live in Las Vegas and I thought it would be a good time to show my parents some of the sights and maybe take in a show. So, I sent my mother on the great quest for a good "middle of the week" deal at a hotel on the strip. I figured if we were going, we might as well be where the action is, or at least some of the coolest hotels. Well, my mother is not only a "savvy tourist", but also a "savvy shopper". She can spot a deal a mile away. I told her not to go cheap, since you do get what you pay for in Vegas, but stay within reason. She found a great deal on the Internet for a "vacation package" offered by Westgate Resorts. When she called the toll free number they were anxious to book this package for her. Listen to all you get.........2 nights at Planet Hollywood, 2 tickets for the buffet at the Sahara Hotel, 2 tickets for a comedy magic show, a free breakfast presentation and $100 worth of gambling chips. All this for $149. We thought Mom had found her usual great deal. Apparently these packages were of "limited availability" and they only had certain packages available for a certain demographic of people at these prices. I figured this was some sort of promotional thing that happens in Las Vegas so as to rip people off in every age group, race, religion and sexual preference category. So as luck would have it, they had a package available for a married couple, and one for a single female. So, my parents took the "married couple" package and I took the "single female" package. I informed them that I was "traveling as a single female" (knowing my husband would be out of the country for work). The customer service rep informed us that we had to make at least $60,000 per year and fit into the category (married, single) that we booked to qualify for all the special amenities that we were being given, including and most important, the 90 minute breakfast presentation. (This is where the first red flag went up.) 90 minute breakfast presentation? I heard breakfast but I had no idea it was going to take me 90 minutes. For what exactly I asked. Oh, it is just a little tour and presentation showing us the new Planet Hollywood Towers I was informed. Tour? Who said anything about a tour? Anyway, the rep explained a few things about how Planet Hollywood was building a new resort and it was being offered as a vacation opportunity. Oh, now I get it, it's a timeshare! She tried to say everything except "timeshare", since it carries the same stigma as "Amway". Believe it or not, I was actually kind of excited to see this new "vacation opportunity" since I write a travel blog and hope to be that "much feared" travel critic some day. I planned to bring home lots of great information for my readers. The next step was being transferred to the Confirmation Center and having us answer these questions we were prompted for on a recorded phone line.(second flag up the pole). So, yes I make at least $60,000 per year, and yes, I am traveling as a single female. The damage was done, the trip was booked and paid for and we would be on our way to Vegas in a week for a fun filled adventure. Or so we thought............

Comments

[Fred]

Now you've really got me roped in!... since I have personal experience with both timesharing and Amway! ;-) Can't wait to see where this is going. We're into our third night here at the Coral Sands in Hilton Head, SC, and so far it's been great! No horror stories here yet... I'll stay tuned!

[Annie]

Disney has a Vacation Club there that we like to visit on occasion. I love Hilton Head! Glad you are having fun! I am trying to part this story out so it doesn't look like a novel and bore everyone.

[Karen]

Oh my goodness! I have a feeling this was 90 minutes you would rather forget! Yikes!