Timeshares Versus Loyalty Programs at Adults-Only Resorts

I bought a timeshare during one of my first trips to Mexico. It was one of those “Just come sit through a 45-minute presentation, and we will give you free shit” deals. Well, that 45 minutes turned into 2 hours and one of the most high-pressure sales pitches I have ever sat through.

I never used my timeshare. Never.

I was fascinated by Mexico. I definitely wanted to come back, and it seemed like a good deal at the time. But then I found out about the small print, that the sales guy said stuff that just wasn’t true and that it wasn’t the great deal I thought it was.

I got out of it during the following two weeks because there was an out clause, but most are not that lucky.

To be fair, I do know people who have successfully used timeshares to their benefit, and they have been happy with their experience, and they got the most out of their contract. Unfortunately, that is the minority when talking to friends and clients.

The maintenance fees, taxes, and other charges that are barely mentioned in these high-pressure sales add up and in the end, can cost pretty much the same as if you just booked online. It also limits where you might want to go as new resorts open and new destinations come onto your radar. Instead of being open to a world of possibilities, you get tied into one brand, and you are stuck with them.

In most cases, if you cannot afford to pay cash for the timeshare, you'll have to get a mortgage. But read the fine print of the timeshare contract: You'll be responsible for other costs in addition to the mortgage. In most timeshare contracts, you will be liable for special assessments, property taxes, maintenance fees, and utilities. If you don't pay these, the timeshare developer can foreclose on your timeshare.

Often, the financing is expensive, and it’s hard to sell your weeks to other people because they could get the same deal elsewhere without dealing with someone they probably don’t know well.

Caliente

The first timeshare program I saw for an adults-only, clothing-optional resort was at Caliente Resorts in Florida. They had opened up a second resort in the Dominican Republic and sold points that could be redeemed at either resort. Typically, timeshares are sold for large brands (like RCI) that have literally thousands of options, so to sell a timeshare for just two resorts seemed very limiting to me.

I really liked both resorts, especially the one in the Dominican Republic, so I considered buying into the program. Eventually, the resort in the DR went away, and I was very glad I didn’t buy into that program.

I knew someone, actually a good friend, who sold timeshares for an adults-only, clothing-optional resort, and one day, I asked him outright - Do you really think this is a good deal? I mean, really.

His reply was more honest than I expected. He said straight out no. He said that most people who bought couldn’t afford what they committed to paying, and many struggled to make the payments. Many didn’t return as often as they thought, so their “points” just sat there. In the end, he stopped selling timeshares because he felt “dirty” for doing what he was told in order to close the deal.

He was once a used car salesman and told me the ethics in selling used cars was much higher than timeshares.

Original Group’s Premier Membership

The purpose of this article is not to call out Original Group and their Premier Membership, but this is my opinion on timeshares in general, which includes their Premier membership, and I would not be honest if I didn’t address the largest timeshare when it comes to adults-only timeshares.

Original Group started selling timeshares, cleverly named a “Premier Membership,” years ago, and we have seen it go through many different stages. At first, it was a way to convince repeat customers to pre-pay for stays and get a discount. Eventually, they developed a program that elevated their members to a higher status, with better liquor, exclusive areas, better chairs poolside, and better towels, which made regular customers feel like they were getting less for their money if they were not a Premier member.

To me, this is where the resort created a two-tier experience for paying customers, and it left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths who felt like they were getting less for the same (or even more) money.

I actually considered buying a membership myself because I love Desire, and I go every year, but I also like diversity in my travel. I like other resorts (like Hedonism, Secrets, and other adults-only resorts), and I love cruises (note: Desire and Temptation Cruises are not part of the Premier Membership). I have been to 53 countries (and counting), and I want to experience more than just Desire and Temptation Resorts.

I have spoken to many people who are Premier Members, and it’s almost split down the middle, 50/50, when I ask if they still think they got a great deal. Many like the extra “privileges” that they get with the memberships. They don’t want to go anywhere else, and they use their points, going two to three times a year. They are perfectly happy with their membership.

The other half wish they had not bought into the membership. They complain about broken promises, loopholes, and fine print and are online trying to sell their points to others because they cannot go as often as they had wished and are trying to pass the cost on to someone else.

Luckily for me, we have always found decent deals with Desire, and we take advantage of promos and specials, so we pay about what we would have through a membership without any commitment. But we do feel like second-class citizens at times when at the resort when we can’t get a chair by the pool, and we want better liquor.

Luckily, with time, we have gotten to know the staff, which helps us get chairs, and we are not that picky when it comes to drinks, so the issues are minor and do not interfere with the great time we always have at Desire Resorts (and now the Temptation Resorts in the Dominican Republic).

New Stay & Play Program

We were very happy to learn about Original Group’s new Stay & Play Program, which is not a timeshare program but a loyalty program for people who visit Desire & Temptation Resorts but are not interested in the “Premier” membership.

It works like any other loyalty program and rewards frequent customers who visit their resorts. It resets every two years, so you won’t gain much if you go every couple of years, but if you go once a year (or more), you can now get some of the same perks as Premier members without any long-term commitment.

When you apply for the program, you start with your first booking, and depending on how much you pay for your stays (cumulative), you can move up levels. The higher your status, the more you save on free room nights and discounts at the resort. You qualify for early check-in and late check-out, with a cash-back option.

I am glad to see that they are giving loyal customers some of the same perks as their timeshare customers, and you can go to https://www.temptation-experience.com/stay-play-loyalty-program/ to sign up.

This is the best new program that has come along in our industry for a while. We will be at the Naughty level with our next booking. I mean, we wouldn’t be who we are if we weren’t Naughty…