Holiday Inn Reviews

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 We later rescinded that upgrade — yet Holiday Inn Club reinstated the original contract we were explicitly told was closed.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.

The problems started immediately. That "free" four-night vacation required another $250 payment and attending yet another sales presentation, details conveniently omitted during our meeting. The three free days have major restrictions and can only be booked within 60 days of travel and there's a $75 reservation fee every time we book, which was also never mentioned.

When we tried booking Gatlinburg for December 2025, nothing was available through our timeshare, yet the same resort showed availability on IHG's website. We booked Clarkesville, GA instead for December 17-25, 2025, using our bonus points and upgrade. Three and a half months before our trip, they canceled our reservation due to renovations after we'd already bought event tickets. Staff refused to extend our expiring bonus points without additional fees and transferring points to IHG costs money, despite our salesman saying it was free. The ease of booking and abundant availability they promised was also complete fiction. We feel misled at every turn. Do not even speak to them, as they will lie to get you to sign bogus contracts that are full of deceit.

Misrepresentation: We were assured all resorts maintained the same high standards as the Las Vegas location. This was completely false. Both the Myrtle Beach South Beach Resort and Sheridan Illinois Resort were significantly subpar. The only comparable property was the new Ocean Front Resort in Myrtle Beach, but booking requires a 10-month advance reservation, completely impractical for anyone who can't predict their schedule nearly a year ahead.

Impossible Exit Process: When we needed to terminate due to my wife's serious health issues (heart attack, severe mobility limitations), Holiday Inn's response was appalling. They demand a $1,200 upfront fee, a 12-16 week waiting period, AND continued payment of all maintenance fees during that time—even though we cannot use any facilities. This feels like a predatory money grab targeting members in difficult situations.

Total Cost: We've already paid $42,900 in purchase price, closing costs, and fees for a product that was misrepresented and is now unusable for us.

Bottom Line: Holiday Inn's sales tactics are misleading, their properties are inconsistent, and their exit process is designed to trap you financially. The company shows zero compassion for customers facing legitimate hardships. Save yourself the money and heartache—avoid this timeshare company. There are far better vacation options that won't lock you into a predatory contract you can't escape.