We had a pick of dates/times, they do them 11am and 3pm all days but
Monday/Tuesday, so we picked Sunday, 3pm. That being a time we could
actually make.We went to Bristol last weekend.
After filling out a "Do you like holidays?" survey from a guy standing around outside B&Q in Swindon a week or two ago, we received a phone call telling us we'd won a holiday. To also get some vouchers to spend (M&S, Debenhams or similar), we should call another number in the next 20mins (before 7:45pm, this was about 7:20). So, nothing ventured, nothing gained, I did. I quoted the code I'd been given, verified (again) our approximate age and total income (over £25k) and was told the holiday was completely free, we only had to go to a presentation lasting up to 2 hours, in Bristol.
We had a pick of dates/times, they do them 11am and 3pm all days but
Monday/Tuesday, so we picked Sunday, 3pm. That being a time we could
actually make.
The venue was the Club La Costa offices, in Queens Square. The documentation we were sent contained a nice map, with good directions and mention of a local NCP car park which we used.
We arrived an hour early, intending to shop/look around. Didn't
actually find any shops, but the floating harbour area, (near the
Watershed media centre) has a fair number of eating places and some
street vendors, where James bought a hat.
On to Club La Costa. Entered the building and were escorted upstairs by a lady waiting for victims/entrants. We filled out yet another form confirming ages, income, lack of membership in any existing holiday companies, etc.
Then we talked to a nice guy named Julian. For the next 3.5 hours (or so). There were breaks for watching introductory videos, and chats to managers (who seem to be needed to confirm/explain anything involving actual money).
This is their deal: Holiday accommodation, when booked individually year by year, is expensive. The most expensive part of any holiday (they claim). Members of the club (75,000 people can't be wrong), pay a lump sum over N years, for the privilege of a weeks free accommodation anywhere that Club La Costa own resorts. In our case this would be just under £10k over 10 years. Or, in the trial they were actually offering, just under £4k over 3 years, or £110.97/month. (Or £1331.66/year, for those without calculators handy).
Let me repeat that. One week, accommodation only. In what admittedly looks like very nicely kept ("we upgrade them every three years"), apartments. Fully fitted. In this day and age its even any week you like (1-52), and any location. Location that CLC owns, that is. Which is currently 36 in 11 countries (or some similar number).
So what's the catch?
First, there's a maintenance fee. £495/year (£41.25/month), to pay for all those upgrades. This amount is revised every three years.
Second, it's limited to those 36 locations, unless you want to exchange your week for one at RCI. RCI are not a club, they don't own anything, they just swap weeks between various holiday clubs. Not a bad idea, they can offer thousands of locations across many countries. This exchange costs a fee. UK/Europe is currently £128, and Worldwide £169 (? not certain of this number any more).
Third, extra weeks. You can have them, the cost depends on the location you are booking. Ranging from £99 (UK/Europe) to £450 (Worldwide).
Fourth, lack of escape. You've signed a contract to pay the lump sum over N years. To the question of "what happens if we can't pay, lose job etc" the answer is "well you could sell it back at a loss I suppose".
We said, for the purposes of discussion, we said could probably spare around £150/month from our usual budget, to pay for holidays. Holidays, not just accommodation. After spending 110 of that on one single weeks accommodation, oops, 150 since there's also the maintenance fee.. We'd be left with, 0 to spend on flights/travel, food, the inevitable gifts and keepsakes.
So we walked away, with a £25 M&S voucher and a voucher for a free holiday. "Free" holiday, that is £29.50 each (up to 4 people), booking fee, plus airport taxes+fees should we choose the European choices instead of the UK ones. To achieve this holiday we have 14 days (7 now) to return it listing choices of UK or Spain/Portual/Tenerife and a selection of 4 dates in the next 18months (and at least 3 months from now).
Oh, and a hat, and £9 in parking fees.
@public,timeshares
Last modified: 2012-02-02T03:18:53