I recently came back from DRI Scottsdale Mirage. While many posts deal with DRI shortcomings and complaints, let me point out some things this particular DRI resort was doing well.
Having owned at Powhatan for something like 25 years, I have been to many resorts, including my own a number of times. My recollection of timesharing is something less than a nice resort or hotel. The desk aims you toward your unit and you're on your own. Kitchens are often, even at the best resorts, supplied with cheap junk small appliances and cooking utensils. There's a coffeemaker with two or three filters and you have to go out and buy enough for the rest of the week, which is why I started traveling with a supply of both kinds of filters so I would not have that issue. We were also greeted by a sheet of paper listing every knife, fork, appliance, towel, etc. in the unit and were expected to take inventory so we wouldn't be accused of stealing something after we left. There was always a procedure for check out which included, in some cases, stripping the beds and piling linens and towels in a certain area to save housekeeping some time. We also, of course, had to haul out the garbage. We also got used to being charged for internet in the unit and, sometimes, in the lobby (Thanks, Marriott).
When checking in this time, there was no inventory to take. There were toiletries in both bathrooms, not the tiny hotel sizes, but larger tubes and bottles including such things as body lotion and bath salts. And they came in a nice travel case (which we left behind). The kitchen had plenty of supplies including coffee filters and disposable dispensers with salt and pepper. As with our home resort, the small appliances in the kitchen where very good Cuisinart, not the cheapest Walmart junk we have found in some of the best timeshares. The pots and pans were also Cuisinart. There's just something about cooking with the good quality stuff like you have at home to make the place feel a little more luxurious. The three TV sets, in the living room and both bedrooms, were all good sized flat screens with HD and HBO.
We were offered mid-week housekeeping service. She came a bit early so we declined a room makeover. However she did hand me a big armload of fresh towels. There was free, reasonably fast internet in the room and two desktops, with a very handy printer, in the lobby, which had people gathering in it constantly There was a coffee bar with a fancy coffee machine going 24/7.
The staff were very friendly. When we were ready to check out I asked if we had to do any of the usual things such as stripping the bed or taking out garbage. The young lady looked shocked and said, "No. We have people for that! Just walk out and close the door." She also asked if we needed help with luggage. I said no but might have accepted if we had a flight or two of stairs to contend with.
The bottom line is this was more like a stay in a better hotel or resort and less like the timeshare experience I have become used to over the years. I don't know if this is DRI procedure or the way that particular management is running their resort. But it sure beats the stripping the beds and taking out the trash I have become used to as an end to my vacation.
Having owned at Powhatan for something like 25 years, I have been to many resorts, including my own a number of times. My recollection of timesharing is something less than a nice resort or hotel. The desk aims you toward your unit and you're on your own. Kitchens are often, even at the best resorts, supplied with cheap junk small appliances and cooking utensils. There's a coffeemaker with two or three filters and you have to go out and buy enough for the rest of the week, which is why I started traveling with a supply of both kinds of filters so I would not have that issue. We were also greeted by a sheet of paper listing every knife, fork, appliance, towel, etc. in the unit and were expected to take inventory so we wouldn't be accused of stealing something after we left. There was always a procedure for check out which included, in some cases, stripping the beds and piling linens and towels in a certain area to save housekeeping some time. We also, of course, had to haul out the garbage. We also got used to being charged for internet in the unit and, sometimes, in the lobby (Thanks, Marriott).
When checking in this time, there was no inventory to take. There were toiletries in both bathrooms, not the tiny hotel sizes, but larger tubes and bottles including such things as body lotion and bath salts. And they came in a nice travel case (which we left behind). The kitchen had plenty of supplies including coffee filters and disposable dispensers with salt and pepper. As with our home resort, the small appliances in the kitchen where very good Cuisinart, not the cheapest Walmart junk we have found in some of the best timeshares. The pots and pans were also Cuisinart. There's just something about cooking with the good quality stuff like you have at home to make the place feel a little more luxurious. The three TV sets, in the living room and both bedrooms, were all good sized flat screens with HD and HBO.
We were offered mid-week housekeeping service. She came a bit early so we declined a room makeover. However she did hand me a big armload of fresh towels. There was free, reasonably fast internet in the room and two desktops, with a very handy printer, in the lobby, which had people gathering in it constantly There was a coffee bar with a fancy coffee machine going 24/7.
The staff were very friendly. When we were ready to check out I asked if we had to do any of the usual things such as stripping the bed or taking out garbage. The young lady looked shocked and said, "No. We have people for that! Just walk out and close the door." She also asked if we needed help with luggage. I said no but might have accepted if we had a flight or two of stairs to contend with.
The bottom line is this was more like a stay in a better hotel or resort and less like the timeshare experience I have become used to over the years. I don't know if this is DRI procedure or the way that particular management is running their resort. But it sure beats the stripping the beds and taking out the trash I have become used to as an end to my vacation.
What DRI is Doing Right
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