Welk Resort Group Reviews

Access to properties is now restricted and requires additional fees through Interval International. Maintenance fees have increased substantially while benefits have decreased. Booking availability is limited, and customer service is poor. The sales process deliberately withholds crucial information, pushing for immediate decisions. Would not recommend - they prioritize profits over owner satisfaction and misrepresent their product's value and accessibility. Save yourself the frustration and money.

We were assured that using the timeshare would be a “seamless” and “hassle-free” experience. They made us feel that it would be a simple, enjoyable way to vacation each year with our family. They emphasized that the timeshare could be exchanged or traded with other properties in their network, presenting it as a highly flexible and convenient option. The salesperson was incredibly persistent and aggressive, refusing to accept any hesitation or an outright “no” from us.

My ex-wife and I have spent well over $20,000 total. We paid at least $15,000 on the loan plus an additional $5,000 for the biyearly maintenance fees. Despite this we have never once used the timeshare. This whole thing has been an absolute nightmare with lies upon lies. I discourage anyone from contemplating getting a timeshare from them. Take it from me, it is not worth the stress and definitely not worth paying on it for it for the rest of your life.

Once the agreement was finalized, they introduced us to another employee, who extended an invitation for us to return to San Diego for three days and two nights to enjoy free tickets to a wine and music festival happening there. This offer reinforced the appeal of the timeshare and the sense of adventure it promised. Eventually we succumbed to the high-pressure inflicted by the Welk salespeople. Fast forward, over the past year, we’ve paid at least $28,000 towards our loan, yet we’ve only been able to book one vacation. Rather than enjoying the benefits that were so frequently promised to us, we’ve encountered constant difficulties in finding availability for trips.

When we did manage to book something, we were shocked to learn we had to pay additional hefty fees on top of what we were already paying. Moreover, we were stunned to see that the VOA (the annual charge) was far higher than the already expensive amount outlined in the contract. Throughout the year, we were continually hit with unexpected fees related to the timeshare—fees that were never mentioned during the countless hours we spent talking with Welk employees. We are extremely distraught by the false promises and financial burden that Welk has caused us.

We have had financial burdens for years because of this timeshare. We have now been sent to collections for not paying our dues, and we did not know it was going to be this much trouble owning a timeshare. The disillusionment my family and I feel is profound, as we grapple with the consequences of being misled by a company, we thought was trustworthy. I urge you to consider the impact of Welks’ sales practices on individuals and families who, like us, are now facing undue financial strain and regret. Our experience has been vastly different from the dream vacation ownership promised us, leaving us with a sense of betrayal.

They always claimed I didn’t have enough points, even though during the initial sales meeting I was told that we were purchasing an adequate number of points to travel annually. We are paying higher rates than non-owners in addition to maintenance fees and usurious interest rates. From the very beginning these sales representatives lied to us, and we are tired with this scam contract. We demand to be released, they have not held up to the standards of the contract in our 3 years of ownership, in fact, we consider Welk Resorts has breached the contract by not rendering the promised services!

I had mentioned to the salesperson that we were in the process of buying a home and he said buying a timeshare will not affect us, he said we would actually benefit from it because it would look good on our credit report. I had mentioned to them that I needed to think about it but the salesmen were extremely pushy and wouldn't take no for an answer. After being there for 6 hours that's when we gave in, we just wanted to get out of there. Everything we were sold on was False! The timeshare affected our debt-to-income ratio and our buying power so then we were unable to buy a home due to the negative effect this timeshare created.

Additionally, we were given wrong information on how to book a room. We were told we could use our points OR pay a flat rate of $239 using RCI for any size villa, which that was incorrect as well. When we tried to book using RCI we were told we had to use our points and pay more than $239. At that time, we didn't have enough points, so we ended up not using it that year and lost our points. We have yet to use our timeshare. We've been paying for something we never used.

We tried contacting the cancelation department by email and phone to try to exit our contract because of the financial burden, but that was just a dead end. We were told that they did not have any buy-back programs. I've learned that in 2020 Welks got hit with a class action lawsuit and they had to pay 3.5 million dollars. Four years later they're still doing bad practice and continuing to do the same stuff they got sued for. I am currently working with a lawyer on this matter to help us get out of this nightmare of a timeshare.

My wife and I had two contracts eligible for a claim under the Judgement. The judgement required Welk Resorts to provide notice that contract owners could make a claim. We never received notice and they can’t prove they did. We know from the reminder letters and invoices that they know how to get a notice to us. In April 2021 Welk Resorts was acquired by Marriot Vacation Club. At this point we still did not know about the judgement and no one at the rebranded Hyatt Vacation Club mentioned filing a claim when we complained about our unresolved differences with Welk Resorts.

In 2023, we emailed Exit Services at Hyatt Vacation Club that we wanted to exit our contract because of the financial burden of a timeshare contract we could not use. Exit services emailed us back that there was no exit option available from Hyatt Vacation Club, and none was planned. When we tried to sell our timeshare, it still didn’t sell because people didn’t want to pay the rapidly increasing maintenance payments which are higher than the cost of reservations online.

The sales representative assured us that with 180,000 points, we could enjoy a 1-bedroom suite at any of their resorts in California, Colorado, or Mexico, with the option to bequeath the points to our beneficiaries. The enticing offer included a free trip to Hawaii, a $25 voucher, two 2-hour Bay Harbor Tours in San Diego, and a $1,000 Visa Gift Card – all contingent on signing up immediately. Despite the extended duration of the presentation, which lasted around 6 or 7 hours, we eventually succumbed to the pressure and signed a contract. The contract signing process was arduous, involving a prolonged wait to ensure a favorable credit score for financing. The rushed signing process, coupled with generic documents provided on a thumb drive instead of a personalized contract, raised concerns about transparency.

Upon reviewing a VOA statement, we discovered an "optional" Vacation Guard purchase, despite already paying for it. This double-charging for a supposedly optional service is both misleading and unacceptable. In addition to the pressure and deceptive sales tactics, we were never informed of our legal right to rescission, which we would have utilized immediately. To date, we have taken ONE trip with Welk Resorts, and it was to Cabo San Lucas where we STILL had to pay $1,057 out of pocket in addition to our increased monthly payments and maintenance fees. We have been swindled by their predatory sales staff and we can no longer in good conscience continue paying for what appears to be a worthless contract.

The closing process was rushed, and crucial information about rescission rights and important documents was withheld from me. Furthermore, the actual usage of the timeshare has been severely limited, with promised availability at resorts consistently unavailable. Overall, I feel manipulated and misled by Hyatt Vacation Club's deceptive practices, and I urge others to approach any dealings with this company with extreme caution. In conclusion, I feel deceived and manipulated by the tactics employed by Hyatt Vacation Club and I encourage others to approach any interactions with this company carefully. As for Hyatt, do better and make things right.

Units have consistently been unavailable, and our attempts to seek assistance from various departments, such as Customer Service, Vacation Assist, Interval, Owner Services, and the Hyatt Vacation Club timeshare office, have been met with unresponsiveness or inadequate help. We even paid $229 to be placed on a priority waitlist, but months went by without any success in finding a unit. However, instead of rectifying the situation, they attempted to upsell us and pressured us to purchase additional points for over $60,000, claiming that it would resolve our issues. This was unacceptable, as it only added insult to injury after the false promises we had already endured. The cumulative effect of these misrepresentations, false promises, and lack of service has left us feeling completely deceived and taken advantage of. We believe that Welk Resorts and its employees have acted unprofessionally, unethically, and in violation of acceptable business ethics.

We were subjected to deceptive sales tactics and were ultimately conned into signing up for a timeshare contract that was not even remotely explained to us. In total, we rejected four offers before finally relenting to the obscene pressure and agreeing to purchase. Each time we said no, a different salesman approached us with a slightly different offer. We emphasized that we did not have the funds to cover such an expense, but that did not deter the sales team.

The main reasons we chose to buy was the supposed ease of selling the timeshare back or to a different party for a profit and using the timeshare as a rental property as a side gig. We would not have made this purchase if we had been told that returning the timeshare was an extremely difficult–if not impossible–feat. The assurance that Welk had some sort of ‘buyback’ program gave us a false sense of security which led to us agreeing to buy. While this may not qualify as false advertising, it was certainly deceptive.

We were offered free tickets to go to the San Diego Zoo if we were to attend a short Welk Resorts Presentation. We headed to Escondido for the presentation and to pick up our free tickets to the Zoo. In short, we arrived at the resort, got through the presentation, and the sales rep begins her pitch that was so convincing, but looking back it is clear that she was just lying. She told us that our children could inherit the timeshare but didn’t mention they would also inherit the increasing Maintenance Fee’s. We never would have willingly signed our children up for a lifetime of potential debt, and we wouldn’t have agreed to purchase from her if she had been honest about this fact alone. Additionally, she claimed that the timeshare package being offered built up equity over the years and that it was like purchasing real estate.

The reality is this timeshare is worthless. We were manipulated and lied to by a salesperson who uses the deceptive sales tactics Welk employee’s practice. They would say anything to convince us to buy. Even guilting us by implying we would be bad parents if we didn’t. All their promises were nothing but lies and we strongly suggest you avoid Welk Resorts at all costs!

The booking process for our stays has been problematic. We have repeatedly encountered difficulties in securing reservations through Welks Resorts/Hyatt Vacation Club, forcing us to pay out of pocket for alternative accommodations. This has not only caused significant inconvenience but has also resulted in substantial financial burdens for our family.

In August 2019 we encountered our first major issue with booking a stay and we faced numerous challenges in securing our accommodations. In an attempt to address these concerns, we were invited to Palm Springs for a meeting. During this meeting, we were sold a new contract that was supposedly tailored to accommodate our family of five. We left Palm Springs with the understanding that our future bookings would no longer be marred by such problems, yet here we are, much deeper in debt and no improvement with booking a stay.

Throughout our interactions with Welks Resorts, we have been repeatedly assured that our concerns would be addressed, and our experiences would improve. However, that has yet to be seen. It is evident that Welk Resorts has engaged in deceptive sales practices, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and a failure to provide the promised services.

After almost 4 hours of high-pressure presentation, we caved in and bought the timeshare. We were told the timeshare would increase in value and be easy to sell. If we did decide to sell, Welk had the right of first return. We were told that we could use the timeshare whenever we wanted; yet we have NEVER been able to book a time we wanted. Every time we attempt to book there is never an availability. The booking process is frustrating and not all representative of what we were promised.

In 2024 alone our maintenance fees have skyrocketed to a whopping 18% to $3,872. This is not sustainable for us, and we would not have agreed to get involved with Welk if we knew that our annual maintenance fees would go up for apparently no reason. To date we have spent $84,936.30 for vacations that do not fit within our busy schedules. We cannot under any circumstances continue to pay the overpriced, arbitrary maintenance fees as we are living on a fixed income and have been plagued with series of medical issues. This situation would never have occurred if Welk representatives had been honest with us about the benefits listed above. Meanwhile, they will not answer our calls and the bills keep coming.

As a result, we have suffered significant financial harm and emotional distress. We have attempted to extricate ourselves from this burdensome obligation by contacting their Owner Services and Exit Services but have been met with indifference and unhelpfulness. We have demanded that Welk Resorts take immediate action to rectify this situation. We trust that Welk Resorts will take this matter seriously and promptly address our concerns. If they fail to provide a satisfactory resolution within a reasonable period, we are prepared with no choice but to pursue legal remedies to protect our rights and seek appropriate compensation.

Then, when we went on vacation to San Diego in June 2021, we had to go to an owner update meeting. The salesman there made fun of our plan and said we needed to upgrade, so we ended up buying more points. We had no idea about the maintenance fees and loan payments that would come with it. Honestly, we haven't had any good experiences with Welk, and we just want to end our association. It's not fair to expect us to pay so much for terrible service. We tried writing and asking to get out of our contract but were ignored. Maybe this 1-star review will get someone’s attention.

There are a lot more reasonably priced and nicer trips that I can go on or I could put that money toward my newborn daughter's future instead of spending it on a timeshare that I won't utilize. Their customer service is poor and you can never get ahold of anyone on the phone that can actually help you or at least guide you on how to surrender your ownership. You are basically trapped in an agreement until someone with authority at Welk decides to let you out. Unfortunately, I haven't come across that individual yet.

I was shown a diagram of how the value of my timeshare would increase over the years (there is no monetary value). I could use this timeshare anytime, anywhere (in order to actually use this the way I want, I would have to spend THOUSANDS more on additional points). I was never told about important information like the financial terms or cancellation period. This whole experience has been an absolute nightmare. Welk’s sales division should be investigated and punished for what they do to consumers!

Tired of those four walls, we ended up giving in when they said they would take our Vegas timeshare off our hands if we bought into Welk as a trade in. They threw in a free travel vacation certificate and mentioned all these luxurious spots we could stay if we signed. So, regrettably, we signed and said ‘bye-bye’ to Vegas. Turns out, their promises were not worth a thing—we never were able to book a time for the certificate and all of the luxurious spots required us to buy even more points just to cover our stay.

This happened to us twice again over the next couple of years as we tried our hardest to decline but fell weak to their expert pitches. All this time, we were unable to book!! They did not disclose details about the availability, how we could use it as an “investment”, and flat out LIED about the amount of time we had to cancel. They make everything feel so nice and special like you are their favorite clients ever, and then turn around to ignore you once you hand over the money and sign their contract. Whatever you do, DO NOT trust these people.

Here is the bottom line, we were trapped for just under 8 hours and fed lie after lie. This is not real estate, this cannot be “left to your children” without them being burdened to with continuously rising maintenance fee year after year. LIES AND MANIPULATION PURE AND SIMPLE! 4 employees brow beat us for hours, saying this was a one-time deal; if we didn’t purchase it today, it would never be available to us again.

We did our tour at the beginning of our stay so we kindly asked to read the contract and circle back at the end of the trip after we got to try out the resort. We were told we couldn’t read the contract before signing and if we came back tomorrow in love with the resort and wanted to sign it would now cost $159,000! NOT SUSPICIOUS AT ALL! Nothing to see here folks! So I recommend to everyone sign up for as many timeshare presentations as possible. Get the goodies. And then ask to read the contract and sample the wares! Free vacations for life. With a price tag of free, we got our money's worth! Highly recommended!

On the paper he said by buying this timeshare, I can get 40-70% off all airlines, rental cars, and cruises. If I lend out this discount to share with my friends, I would get points that can help pay off the yearly maintenance fees. There is no such thing as 40-70% off! He even went as far to say if I change my mind about the family member or friend that gets the said discount, if they are not using it as much, and I get to elect 5 of them, I can change the name. Each of the 5 people I elect would get their own login and password. What a load of detailed crap.

The whole place doesn’t have internet so I wasn’t able to access these reviews until I stepped outside on the balcony. The whole place is booby trapped. From the get-go it’s been designed to keep you there. You park your car at a faraway place and they drive you down in the golf cart. You leave your kids at the Babyroom so you can’t say your kids want to go home. There are no clocks in there, and no evidence of their lies. So pretty much if you sign it you’re a goner, an indentured servant if you will, to pay maintenance fees for the rest of your life. Check on eBay there are plenty of people selling their already paid off timeshare for only $1 just to try to get out of it.

Every time I tried to read the terms and conditions, sales rep number 2 kept talking and showing me on his phone of how easy it is to get the rooms, not even of the website itself off his phone’s browser, but a video he took of his laptop of said website. (Why didn’t he just bring his laptop instead of taking a cellphone video of it? Bad reception in here he said, which is why a renowned company should have at least some wifi in their lounge). Don’t let the “Hyatt” Vacation Club name fool you, they will literally say anything to get you to sign, and they will disappear. Usually sales reps of cars or homes introduce themselves, but our sales rep(s) did not. I had to ask him, and even then he only said his first name, if that is even his first name at all.

In the terms and conditions, there was no mention of the generous 40-70% off all airlines, rental cars, and cruises. There was however, mention that these points cannot guarantee any availability of the timeshare and that there were blackout dates after all. When we asked them about those lines, they said said they have to put something like that there so people can’t just live in them all year round. Their final trick when we said no is that they asked us to sign an acknowledgement that if we refuse this offer this time, if we were to come back the price would be quadrupled to $160,000, according to them the price was going back up due to the pandemic being over.

So I call again, the lady informs me I need to pay with the front desk of the hotel..I call the hotel and that lady tells me that’s incorrect. They can’t take payments, that I need to call BACK to Vacation Club Rentals..The rude guy (Andrew) at Vacation Club Rentals told me I can’t give them an updated card, wouldn’t let me speak with a manager or anyone else. Denied they sent an email stating to call them to update the payment which I’ve uploaded in this review to prove it was from them. He was so rude and argumentative and condescending.

I can’t believe this is coming from a "hospitality" company. So I call BACK. To the Welk hotel front desk and get another guy named Andrew who says he’s the front desk manager. He says he can help me..What a relief I felt..BUT needed to call me back ..Well he didn’t. And today is 48 hrs now and I’m expecting my reservation to be cancelled. This has been extremely frustrating and I have no clue what to do now. I have 7 people coming to this resort for a family vacation and no one will help resolve this. Plus they’re showing booked now. I’ve traveled all over and NEVER had this type of horrible customer service. Even lower end hotels have been more accommodating than this place.

The annual fees keep increasing, the interest rate is through the roof, and I cannot even use the timeshare! I have paid over $6,000 to them so far with NOTHING to show for it! Where is my money going? My maintenance fees have also increased from $1105 to $1300. Why am I paying so much money when I am not even able to use it? They have made it extremely difficult for me to use my timeshare and now my financial security is at risk. I am concerned about my future. Please learn from my mistake!

They’re constantly trying to get you to upgrade and convince you that you haven’t experienced the best of Welk due to not upgrading. It’s all just a huge letdown and a scam. Don’t waste your money with Welk. They tell you their timeshare is a “tax write off” ...FALSE!!! What’s most vile about Welk is that during one of their garbage meetings their employees kept referring to wife as my husband despite having corrected them multiple times! Our experience with Welk has left us feeling discriminated against and constantly harassed. Not to mentioned scammed and left with tons of debt! Shame on Welk!