Holiday Inn Reviews

They lured me with a show ticket, but the presentation lasted nearly five hours. The salesperson pushed a “flexible points system,” promised access to resorts, cruises, and travel perks, and claimed it was a valuable family investment. He skipped over fees and insisted points would grow in value and be easy to sell or transfer. Under intense pressure, I purchased the lowest package. The contract process was long, confusing, and felt deliberately overwhelming.

Once home, we tried to book a spring break trip and quickly realized the points barely covered a couple nights. Most options required more points and hefty extra fees. The promised “vacations” were misleading. We spent more money trying to make the points usable and discovered the cancellation window had essentially passed. We later attended another seminar in Tahoe after receiving a mail offer. When we shared our frustrations, they simply pushed us to upgrade. Desperate to use the program, we agreed—resulting only in higher costs. Booking remained difficult, especially without total flexibility, and partner options were poor. We couldn’t exit because we still owed money.

After years of payments, we finally used the points in February 2026 for a two-night Vegas stay. Even then, check-in included another aggressive sales pitch. A representative convinced us to “restructure” our contract, promising savings and rental income potential, but it only increased our payments with no clear details on fees. We later learned refinancing wasn’t even possible. Overall, this experience feels like a trap—high-pressure sales, hidden costs, limited usability, and mounting debt. It has been frustrating, expensive, and not at all the value that was promised.

We were also led to believe our membership would appreciate in value and could be passed to our heirs. No one disclosed that our children would inherit all the maintenance fees and dues along with it. Over 12 years, we have spent close to $20,000 and received very little benefit. Annual fees now exceed $500. We are both seniors and have used this membership very little. We have formally requested immediate cancellation with no additional fees. We urge anyone considering a timeshare or vacation club purchase to read the fine print carefully and get every promise in writing before signing anything.

During the visits we did manage to make, enjoyment of the resort was severely hampered because the property was routinely packed with prospective buyers on complimentary introductory stays. We found ourselves competing for amenities with people who hadn't purchased anything. To make matters worse, every visit included lengthy, aggressive upselling presentations that far exceeded what was described to us at the time of purchase — mirroring the same high-pressure approach used during the original sale.

The product we were sold bears little resemblance to what was represented to us. The misrepresentations were material and consistent throughout the entire experience. We would strongly caution anyone considering a purchase through Silver Leaf Resorts or Holiday Inn's timeshare program to thoroughly research their options and get every promise in writing before signing anything.

After being switched to a points-based system, we were assigned only a standard two-bedroom equivalent with no compensation for what we lost. Despite holding 302,000 points and paying $3,300 in annual maintenance fees, we cannot secure reservations for nine months out. Yet those same units are openly bookable on IHG.com by the general public. We were told IHG.com is a "third-party site." That is unacceptable.

Every upgrade was sold to us as the solution to our booking problems. The problems never went away. We financed these purchases through personal loans and credit cards based on promises that were never kept. We have also been subjected to special assessments, steep annual fee increases, and aggressive staff who pressure us into "owner update" sales meetings at every stay. We have formally requested full contract termination and relief from all financial obligations. After 25 years of loyalty, this is not the ownership we were promised.

It's all false. Renting points through Airbnb is apparently prohibited by their own policies. The blackout dates they promised didn't exist? Real. The year-in-advance booking window they never mentioned? Also real. The destinations they showed us in the presentation? Unavailable to us. The tax benefits? Nonexistent. They took our driver's licenses "for verification" — we now believe it was to run a credit check without our consent and keep us from leaving. A closing agent was there but we were told not to ask questions and to "follow up later." Nobody followed up. We've paid $2,000. We owe $14,000 more. We have never once used this membership. We are retirees. My husband served this country. And this company took advantage of us in the most deliberate, choreographed way imaginable. Do not walk into one of their presentations. Run.

What really pushed me over the edge are the maintenance fees. Not only are they a significant financial burden, but they increase every single year — something we were never told during the sales process. This feels like a deliberate omission. Had we known costs would keep climbing indefinitely, we never would have signed.

After thoroughly reviewing all the terms and conditions, it's clear that this timeshare is far less beneficial than advertised. The product was misrepresented during the sales presentation, and we were not provided with full disclosure of the financial obligations we were agreeing to. They add it in their contract that everything was disclosed.

I have formally submitted a cancellation request and am seeking a full refund of all payments made. I strongly urge anyone considering a timeshare with Orange Lake Country Club to read every line of the contract carefully and think twice before signing anything. Do not let the sales pressure cloud your judgment — I wish someone had warned me.

Based on my personal experience, I have concluded that I would have entirely avoided the timeshare membership. Planning my own vacations is far more cost-effective, offers greater flexibility, and frees me from the long-term financial obligations of this membership. I urgently request that Consumer Affairs investigate the deceptive sales practices of Holiday Inn Club Vacations and take immediate, proactive steps to safeguard consumers from these substantial financial challenges.

In 2017, we were pressured into upgrading to a points-based system under false pretenses. We were told our existing ownership would become nearly worthless if we didn't upgrade, and that the new system would be easier to resell and could generate additional income. Neither claim was true. Resale opportunities have been virtually nonexistent. We were also subjected to artificial urgency tactics — told that pricing was only available that day — which prevented us from reviewing the contract or consulting outside counsel before signing.

Over the course of our ownership, we have paid approximately $100,000 in combined mortgage payments, membership fees, and maintenance fees — money that could have funded 20 luxury vacations with far greater flexibility and value. Maintenance fees continue to increase annually with no improvement in usability. We were never informed that this financial obligation could be passed on to our heirs. What was sold as an investment has functioned only as a continuous, escalating financial drain.

This final demand for a substantial, arbitrary fee is the ultimate insult. They have already profited substantially from our initial purchase and subsequent annual fees, yet their primary objective appears to be to extract maximum financial gain. They seem intent on draining us for every last possible penny, even at the expense of our peace of mind and financial security. This cements our belief that their business model prioritizes profit over fair customer treatment.

What we purchased were points through a promissory note, not the real estate ownership we were led to believe. Within three months, access to the resorts highlighted during the presentation had vanished due to a "relationship change" we were never warned about. We couldn't even book a stay for our daughter's graduation. Our one and only trip came in 2023 where we were pressured into yet another four-hour "owner update" and pushed into buying additional points. We were told accounts would consolidate. Instead, we have got two separate accounts and double the fees. We have paid $8,600 for a single six-night stay, which is over $1,400 per night. We are requesting full contract termination based on gross misrepresentation.

HICV's refusal to honor the representation regarding the ease of exit, coupled with the initial deceptive sales claims, constitutes a pattern of unfair and deceptive practices that warrants investigation. We respectfully request that Consumer Affairs investigate these predatory sales and retention tactics and compel Holiday Inn Club Vacations to immediately terminate our timeshare membership contract, as promised during the sales presentation and now that the financial obligation has been satisfied.

At each presentation, we were told something different. In Gatlinburg, TN, we were assured that upgrading to 205,000 Signature points would lower our maintenance fees and improve flexibility. At a later presentation in Orlando, FL, we were told those same Signature points should be converted to 500,000 regular points, directly contradicting what we had just been told. Then, at yet another presentation in June 2025, again demanded we sign up before we got our keys after a 10-hour drive.

We were pressured to convert back to Signature points and told we were among the last who were still qualified. Each session introduced new promises, IHG point transfers, Disney benefits, and access to Interval and Registry Collection. We have paid approximately $60,00. Maintenance fees have skyrocketed from $300/year to nearly $8,000/year. This company exploits trusting retirees through deception and exhaustion. Beware of everything that they state that they can offer.

When we tried to rescind within the legal window, we were directed exclusively to one representative who never answered, and every other rep refused to help — until we were outside the rescission period. At a follow-up presentation in May 2025 in Myrtle Beach, agents promised the original contract would be cancelled if we upgraded. We later rescinded that upgrade — yet Holiday Inn Club reinstated the original contract we were explicitly told was closed. We have requested full cancellation of Contract #** and a refund of all payments, fees, and maintenance charges. We have received no resolution. This company engages in deliberate deception and targets vulnerable consumers. Do not trust their sales process.

Every visit came with relentless pressure to attend "update" meetings that were nothing more than high-pressure sales presentations lasting up to six hours. Our worst experience occurred in Gatlinburg, where a sales representative retained our driver's license for the duration of a six-hour meeting and threatened to charge our credit card if we declined a follow-up session the next day. We were told there was no exit program — contradicting our own disclosure documents. We were misled about inheritance liability for our children. We were told we had to buy more points just to keep the ones we had already paid for. The same salesman claimed to be a minister after we mentioned our faith, and we overheard another rep making the identical claim to a nearby couple.

Exhausted and misled, we signed a contract that night and rescinded it the next morning. We invested in good faith over many years in what we believed was a sound and honest company. What we received instead were broken promises, the elimination of amenities, and manipulative, high-pressure tactics targeting a retired couple. We do not recommend this company to anyone.

The sales presentation lasted over three hours despite being told it would be 90 minutes. We were pressured into upgrading with promises of better availability and priority booking — none of which were honored. Critical information was withheld; we were never told that points expire annually, that there are additional out-of-pocket fees every trip, or that maintenance fees increase every year forever — even after the timeshare is paid off. We were never informed of a rescission period.

When we needed handicapped-accessible accommodations due to my wife's serious mobility issues, which were consistently unavailable. My wife has since passed away, and I am still trapped in this program with no path to exit. This has been a financial and emotional nightmare for over two decades. Do not let a "short presentation" turn into a lifetime obligation you cannot escape. This company does not honor its promises and makes cancellation deliberately impossible.

Our attempts to address the discrepancies and issues arising from the sale have been met with utterly unacceptable customer service. HICV's representatives have demonstrated a pattern of incompetence, indifference, and a dismissive attitude toward resolving customer concerns. The consistent unprofessionalism and failure to provide meaningful assistance confirm a blatant post-sale disregard for the consumer. We request that Consumer Affairs investigate Holiday Inn Club Vacations for these unfair and deceptive business practices. We look forward to your assistance in resolving this matter.

We were eventually upsold to Signature Level, promised concierge services, refrigerator stocking, and discounted park tickets. After six trips over three years, not one of those promises was honored. When Signature rooms were unavailable, we lost access to all Signature amenities entirely. We were also never clearly told that our daughter, who was added to our documents under pressure, would inherit the mortgage and maintenance fees. She does not want this burden. We were repeatedly told we could exit the contract by simply calling a number, and the company would take it back for free. When we finally called, we were told we must first pay off the mortgage, then pay $1,200 per membership.

When we attempted to contact the company’s Customer Service to address these serious financial concerns and requested a reasonable path to resolution or cancellation of our agreement, we were met with an absolute and unyielding refusal to provide any assistance. We believe that Holiday Inn Club Vacations is engaging in deceptive sales practices, failing to disclose the true escalating cost of the ownership, and utilizing unconscionable contract terms that effectively trap consumers in financially crippling agreements without any reasonable means of exit. We urge the Consumer Affairs Division to investigate these predatory business practices to protect consumers from similar financial harm and to help us achieve a fair resolution, specifically the cancellation of this financially devastating contract.

What troubles me most is that at no point did anyone disclose the $600–$700 annual maintenance fee — which increases every year — or the $169 annual membership fee. These are not minor details. Had I been told the true total cost upfront, I would have said no without hesitation. I have since written to the CEO requesting contract cancellation. I believe this sale was made through deliberate omission of critical financial information and high-pressure tactics designed to wear down consumers. This is not how honest business is conducted. I am seeking a full contract release and would caution anyone approached by this company to ask for all fees in writing before attending any presentation.

We were told this was a real estate investment that could be rented or sold profitably. Salespeople overstated cost savings, availability, and resort access. Key disclosures were never made, which was used against us to sign up. Facts such as total interest paid over the loan's life, hidden booking and membership fees, perpetual maintenance fees, heir liability, and our legal right of rescission under Arizona law were not disclosed. We have paid $25,000–$30,000, carry a remaining balance of ~$28,840, and have only successfully booked locally 3–4 times in ten-plus attempts. Promised western U.S. availability is essentially nonexistent, and supposedly "exclusive" properties are bookable by the general public. We were misled, rushed through paperwork, and never given a fair opportunity to make an informed decision.

Furthermore, the company's response to this matter has been deliberately poor. Attempts to communicate via email have been met with extremely slow or nonexistent replies. This lack of responsiveness appears to be a tactic specifically designed to delay or outright prevent the resolution of our account closure request. We demand that Consumer Affairs assist us in the immediate closure of our Holiday Inn Club Vacations membership/account and the cessation of all further billing for a service we were misled into purchasing and cannot utilize. We urge your office to investigate these predatory sales and retention practices employed by Holiday Inn Club Vacations to protect other consumers.

Original Review: I have been a loyal customer of the Treetop venue inside the Holiday Inn for more than seven years, attending almost every Saturday. Unfortunately, over the past year my experience has significantly deteriorated due to repeated issues with reservations not being honored and unprofessional behavior from some members of the staff. On several occasions I made advance table reservations that were later given to other guests when I arrived. I also experienced a serious billing issue where four transactions of $107 were processed to my credit card in error. Although two charges were refunded and one was issued as a credit, the situation was handled in an unprofessional manner and I was confronted loudly in front of other customers instead of the matter being addressed privately.

What was most disappointing was that once the billing error was confirmed, no apology was offered. When I attempted to discuss the situation with the manager, I was told that I should simply stop coming to the venue and that security could be instructed not to allow me back. After supporting this venue for more than seven years, this experience has been very disappointing. I hope hotel management reviews this situation and ensures that long-standing customers are treated with professionalism and respect.

Lazaro C

At no point was it clearly explained that we were purchasing a timeshare with mortgage payments and lifetime maintenance fees that increased annually. We were led to believe we were getting discounted hotel stays. We were told our children could inherit the membership but were never informed they would inherit the ongoing financial obligations as well. The free hotel stay that brought us to the presentation was never delivered.

After making payments since 2019, I recently discovered I still owe approximately half the total balance, which does not align with my payment records. We also remain unclear whether our contract is with Holiday Inn Club Desert Resort in Las Vegas or Orange Lake Resorts in Florida, or both. We have never used the timeshare out of fear it would further bind us to this agreement. What was presented as an opportunity was, in our experience, a deliberately confusing and deceptive sales process. We strongly caution others before attending any Holiday Inn Club Vacations presentation.

Here's what bothers me most: I clearly stated MULTIPLE TIMES that I was experiencing financial hardships and could not afford a mortgage. Instead of respecting that, Mr. ** brought in his boss who kept changing the deal - first 30 years, then 20, then 10, then 3 years. Every time I said no, they came back with different numbers and more pressure tactics.

By this point, I had a severe migraine, was dizzy, nauseous. I told them I wasn't in the right state of mind to make this decision. They assured me I could change my mind later and still get my $250 back, which was NOT true. I signed the papers in a fog of pain and exhaustion. The next day, I saw the money withdrawn and immediately called to cancel. They refused. I've since learned I'm locked into a 10-year contract (not the 3 years they told me) with annual maintenance fees nobody mentioned. This is predatory, and I believe other consumers deserve to know how this company operates.>

Every single promise they made was a lie. "Flexible, affordable vacations" – false. "Easy booking at sought-after resorts" – false. "An investment that holds value and can be resold" – laughably false. The reality? Rising maintenance fees, impossible availability, and a product with zero resale value. In May 2023, thinking things couldn't get worse, we fell for it again. Sales staff promised that upgrading would fix everything – more points, better access, lower costs. Instead, we just got higher payments with the exact same problems.

We've paid over $25,000 on our loan plus ever-increasing maintenance fees and special assessments. What was sold as an "affordable vacation solution" has become a financial anchor drowning our family. This wasn't just aggressive sales – this was fraud. Holiday Inn Club Vacations systematically misrepresented their product, withheld critical information, and exploited our trust. Save yourself the heartache and money. Stay far away from Holiday Inn timeshares.

• Access to amazing vacation deals.

• After months of "ownership," I haven't booked a single vacation that makes financial sense.

The price manipulation was absurd - starting at $40,000, dropped to $10,000 only after multiple refusals. They created a "now or never" panic. English isn't my first language, and they spoke extremely fast without checking if I understood. After signing, someone called asking for $700 upfront to "rent out" my weeks - an obvious scam. This entire experience was fraudulent from start to finish. Save yourself the financial burden and emotional stress. STAY AWAY.

Despite numerous attempts, customer service offered only inadequate options: selling or giving it away. The membership is effectively worthless due to the excessive financial obligations. The initial sales pitch was deceptive, misrepresenting the long-term financial reality and obscuring the unsustainable fee structure. I was high-pressure deceived into signing. I am now trapped in a financial drain with no exit strategy offered. Holiday Inn's fee structure and refusal to release me are proving financially unsustainable. I urge the Consumer Affairs office to investigate these predatory practices and assist me in obtaining a release from this obligation.

David

The presentation turned into over three hours of aggressive sales representatives and at 73 years of age, I found the entire four-plus hour ordeal exhausting. They made their resort program sound incredible, promising luxury vacations domestically and internationally through their partnership with RCI. They pushed credit cards for earning points and assured us that unused points could be sold back at year's end to cover maintenance fees or rolled over to RCI for a small cost where they would never expire.

When I was contacted about selling points in December 2024, Holiday Inn informed me I actually cannot sell them. Rolling points to RCI is very expensive, contrary to what was promised. The system is confusing and difficult to navigate. Nobody mentioned that maintenance fees increase annually or that there are additional resort fees, cleaning fees, and booking fees on top of regular payments.

Most concerning was the close. When I asked for a week to consider the purchase, I was told that day was the only opportunity and I had to decide immediately. Four to five months after purchasing, I was diagnosed with cancer and contacted Holiday hoping to opt out. I was flatly told opting out was not an option, with no alternatives offered despite my medical situation. This company uses deceptive sales tactics and misrepresents their product. I strongly advise avoiding these people.

There is a period where you can cancel the contract. I suggest that you contact an attorney right away to have the contract reviewed. Keep in mind that this is not a normal contract negotiation and it will always be in the Holiday Inn's favor. Also note that there is the monthly maintenance fee. I have stayed at the resorts where the rooms were not clean. Remember document, document, document! Get an attorney review before the date of not being able to cancel the contract. Remember any money you put down, they want your money immediately, it will take some time to get a refund.

Each presentation assured me accumulated points meant easy booking. This was completely false. In 2021, at age 76, salespeople used urgency tactics showing outdated 2018 pricing, insisting prices would skyrocket if I didn't purchase immediately. I surrendered one property for $8,758 credit toward a trust, reaching 513,000 points.

Now I cannot afford escalating maintenance fees. When I requested to exit in June, Holiday Inn refused and directed me to "TimeShare Only," which I paid $1,465 for zero results. Four months later, Holiday Inn suddenly offered to take back my timeshares for $4,800—contradicting their initial refusal and suggesting a fraudulent relationship with TimeShare Only.

As a single elderly woman, I was systematically exploited through misrepresentation and predatory tactics targeting my vulnerability. Holiday Inn Club Vacations should be ashamed of preying on seniors and widows. After investing over $100,000, I deserve a complete cancellation without penalty, not more financial manipulation. Stay away from this company. They target vulnerable seniors with false promises and predatory contracts.

Fast forward to 2014. We attended an "owners update" at Desert Club Resort where Jose ** promised rental income opportunities and gave us the hard sell on upgrading. We paid $14,374 down, believing we'd get VIP status, better exchanges, and more flexibility. ** never provided the rental company contact he promised, and the upgrade was worthless. We never stayed at Desert Club again after 2014. The "better exchanges" never happened. We've spent a fortune on maintenance fees for maybe 14 nights total over the years.

Now we're on a fixed retirement income and can barely afford the constantly increasing fees. This company has used classic bait-and-switch tactics, forced us into unwanted purchases, made false rental income promises repeatedly, and locked us into increasingly expensive arrangements. We're elderly people on fixed incomes who've been systematically exploited for decades. Buyers beware. Don't fall for their promises like we did.