Exploria Resorts review: Deception regarding timeshare benefits

It is with great regret that I must express my dissatisfaction with the way that Exploria runs its business. My wife and I fell prey to their high-pressure sales tactics in 2006 when we purchased a Summer Isles Condominium Unit for $17,361. At the time of purchase, we were promised a range of benefits that were simply too good to be true. We were told that we could choose any week to stay at the home resort, at any time of year. We were also promised that we would never lose our weeks, as RCI would bank all points for us, and that if we bought points instead of weeks, we could increase availability and flexibility, reduce exchange fees and costs of travel, and even use exchange points for airfare, car rental, entertainment, golf, and more.

Unfortunately, our experience with Exploria has been far from what was promised. We have been subjected to numerous high-pressure timeshare presentations over the years, which have been at best stressful and at worst harassing. Despite owning two units we have been unable to book them when we wish or rent them out, making the investment a huge waste of money. In addition, when we have visited the resort, we have never been treated as guests at our own property, but rather as targets for sales. This has left us feeling disappointed and undervalued as investors.

Furthermore, the annual maintenance fees we are charged are rapidly increasing and have ballooned out of control. This is just adding to the good money that was already sunk into this disastrous investment. We are now just a few years from retiring and do not wish to incur such a wasteful expense.

Despite being promised special marketplace weeks, personal concierge services, the ability to rent out our timeshare, reward credits, all-inclusive packages through the new Summer Bay Resorts Crown Club, we have been unable to capitalize on these supposed benefits. Instead, we have suffered tremendous financial and emotional losses.

In light of our personal experiences with Exploria, We cannot recommend them to anyone who may be considering investing in timeshares. Their high-pressure sales tactics, false promises, and lack of follow-through on commitments have left me and my family feeling deceived and mistreated. It is my hope that others will be spared similar experiences by avoiding this company altogether.

Mike Plonka