Global Discovery Vacations
Reviews and Complaints

I purchased this 10 years ago it was great for years. Then I noticed the condominium availability had went to almost nonexistent. I would call and they would email me the same condos that were on the website, that was a joke. Then I get a phone call asking me to join a webinar scheduled to go over the upgrades and I agreed. She showed me the platform that I was using and the showed the upgrades and I was blown away. I got really excited and she told me they put millions into making this better. I was thinking to myself this is great, I paid them close to 5k ten years ago and they put that money to use along with all the other members. Then all of a sudden BAM... In order to use this we need you to pay more money. She put me on hold and my blood started to boil. When she came back I ask her, so what you're saying is global took my and all other members money and used it to make this better for the new customers and we have to pay more or suffer with the old platform. Is the cable company running this company? If I pay to improve my house the mortgage payment doesn't go up. I would guess that a lot of their members are on a fixed income and can't afford to pay more for something they already paid for. If there is a class action on these guys, please let me know. I am calling a class action lawyer to see what I can do. I'd like my money back. Why on earth wouldn't we be grandfathered in. My only choices for summer condos are Arizona or California in the summer for the most part so it's shake or bake are my only option. What a joke. They talked to me like I was a child setting up the appointment also. This dude was saying stuff like do you understand and you better be prepared for this call, don't waste our time. I am a 49 year old man that makes damn good money and I won't waste it on something that I have already paid for. She wanted 8k more from me. Hahaha I buy vacations on cheap Caribbean.com all the time cheaper than I can get it on here, so why would I pay 8k more? But we all know they scammed some of my fellow members and they didn't get me twice. Shame on you global discovery shame on you.

It first started with something in the mail for a free airline flight, which was impossible to use, but we didn't find that out till after they practically forced us to buy this vacation package that was then impossible to use, we purchased it back in March 5, 2013..it's been 5 years and never took 1 vacation due to black out dates which they said when we bought it that there was no black out dates, that's what was so good about it...they said. And everything was always booked all the time! except for when we couldn't go and they were the ones that weren't desirable anyway. It was horrible pressure & lies to buy. It's a SCAM!

My husband and I went to this presentation today, because they said they were giving free vacation. I personally was never going to buy anything. I just wanted the free vacation. My husband gave them expired credit cards, because they require you come with two forms of 🆔 . A major credit card and Identification. The reason we weren't going to buy, because we understood this was a means to sell us something . It's a to good to be true situation. Anyhow we sat with the gentamen who accompanied us, and he was giving us this whole spill, trying to get us to purchase a membership. My husband was falling victim a bit, but I wasn't buying! I mean the man was willing to take whatever money I had even if I couldn't pay the 400 down payment. He even said, I can take a picture of his drivers license if I don't get my money back, I can come to his house.. In my mind, I'm like "man this guy is really reaching".. I said, I don't desire to put down 400 on a company I never heard of before, as well haven't did my research. He said, with an irritated look "this is a one time deal, if you try to purchase the membership later, it will be more. Then he said, "if you give me a hundred dollars down I can make a few leap holes and save you a spot, until you can pay the rest". Then I said, " I only have 100, and I have to travel back home. "I don't feel comfortable deducting money from my account through this company, I only have a hundred cash on me". He said, "I can take 50"... Then I got nervous because it read "scam" so then I mentioned the free vacation. He was a bit upset and I said, I rather see how the free vacation goes to determine my membership. So he says fine I'll get my laptop and send you the link. Don't you know" I get home follow the instructions, just for it to say I have to pay! I said! Lol I knew it was a lie. Now I am a real person writting this. Not an employee that works for this company, going under comments claiming they have great exsperiance. In all honesty you aren't saving much. You pay up to 4000 for 1 star.. Plus the 200 and whatever to book your vacation. So if I go on one vacation with one star, I used the star to go wherever plus the 200 whatever. Where is the deal? I paid up to 5000 on a trip... To have to pay another 300 to get another star! You are in the same situation. You are spending the amount needed to go on such an elelabrit vacation. I don't see the difference, nor is anything free from this company.

Do not purchase from global discovery vacations. We never received the free airline tickets and hotel we were promised. We paid our money and they keep asking for more IOT redeem our prize. In addition we are military and have access to armed forces vacation club. We paid $9000 for this because they promised us that some of their condos allow dogs, we just need to check the additional information under the listed condo on their website. The salesman even showed us on the website a condo that allowed dogs. But he failed to take us to the next page, which shows up after go forward and select reserve indicating that you want to book it. After selecting the option to reserve you are taken to another webpage where u must agree to terms and conditions. To my surprise, Global discovery had a policy that stated NO DOGS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Well this is the page the salesliarman failed to take us to. I called the corporate office to verify whether or not these terms and conditions were legit because we explicitly stated during our sales liars-entation that we take our two dogs everywhere with us and we wanted a vacation club that would allow us to do so. I am just so surprised at how the salesliarman said no problem some of our properties allow dogs. but, he failed to mention global's blanket policy NO Dogs. If anyone wants to go in and file a lawsuit, we can do it together. I am contacting multiple attorneys who have shown they are interested. I don't care if it costs me another 10, 000, I want the world to understand that this is a dishonest organization and leaving out information makes you dishonest. The corporate office had someone call me and say the manager would call me back in 24 hours but no one ever called. When I called the sales office in st augustine he told me that I could contact the hotel directly and try to work something out with them for an additional fee. I have nothing else to do. I will work this case to the bone. I want to ensure no other American is taken advantage of or through the ringer. The person from the sales office in st augustine also told me that I didn't understand what I was saying. He also kept interrupting me when i spoke. He wouldn't let me finish a sentence. He was not that nice guy he was the day he took our $9, 000. He continuously stated that the salesliarman did not have to tell me about the no dogs policy because I could contact the condos directly and work something out with them despite what global connections policy is for no dogs under any circumstances.

I want my money back and cancel my contract ASAP!

I "purchased" a membership to this organization, and because I was a goldstar family member of the military, they "gave" me what they call a better deal.. that was almost two years ago. I have moved to another state, and tried on numerous occasions to call, to cancel this contract, and receive no call back at all. Darn. Wasted $$$!

However every other month, I received an call with an invitation to come in because the company was "reorganizing"... I've call the [protected], ask to speak to Rubie, voicemail only--I left a message, and honestly, Not One Person return my call.

I will have to agree this is a scam and I wish to God I had never heard of them

This is nothing but a huge scam. Stay away.

I seriously believe the people complaining about Global do not understand how the club works. We have been members for 13 years and have probably taken 50 week long condo stays by utilizing our member weeks along with the getaway weeks. Yes, you may have to book well in advance (especially during peak season), but you also have the opportunity to book within 60 days for the off season. My husband and I went on a cross-county trip for 3 months and utilized Global weeks for much of our time. As we traveled, we would check each week to see what would hit the expressways and would book another week on our route. We had the most wonderful vacation! We have also used it at least 3 weeks each year and have had wonderful vacations with our family booking 3 bedroom units or mutiple two bedroom units so the whole family could join us and these vacations where oceanfront at Myrtle Beach, Panama City Beach (oceanfront) and the beautiful Island Links on Hilton Head Island. We have stayed in beautiful resorts (Westin, Sheraton, Star). Do your homework before accepting a reservation as you can place the week on hold as you check it out!

Love this club!

Should have been paid in full in 2014
Started 08/20/2011, never took any vacations, not even the free vacation, we were told fees start once you use the vacation, and only that year of the vacation used. We look at the vacation and they were not where we wanted to go the pricing is not consistent with other vacations that are offered for no fees. Called them to ask why this was not paid off by 2014 when doing the math that should have been the case, found out they were charging us the service fees, they took them off but did not take the interest cost off, because they would have owed us money.

This place is a total scam. They promise that you will be able to get your favorite vacation location without delays. That is a total lie, 1st of all when you sign onto their website, you are not given many options to vacation, then when you select an option from the limited selection, the website will not let you select a location. What is the sense of paying several thousand dollars for 1 week vacation of your choice plus an annual club fee of $389. 00 to take a vacation where THEY want you to go, not where you want to vacation.
In August 2016 signed up and paid over $3, 000. Global Disc Vac. informs the unsuspecting buyer that weekly vacations can be scheduled at least 6 months prior to your vacation date, that is another LIE. WHEN YOU RESEARCH VACATION LOCATIONS AT THE ALLOWABLE PERIOD 6 MONTHS PRIOR, THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE AT THE ENTIRE EASTERN COAST LOCATIONS, and do not bother calling the office for assistance because they will NOT help you.
The feeling I received from the staff in Myrtle Beach, SC was, "you fool, we have your money now, too bad, we can't help you.
I wish there was a way to get my money back from these Scammers.

when I plan to go somewhere not even if I plan ahead. Elite in mandeville la sold me this package for global discovery vacations. They offered a promotion of getting a 3 day 2 night getaway. So I bought into the non sense and I received the offer. They asked me to pay $167 because gulfport ms was at its peak in the summer. So I paid. We went had the "free" 3days 2 nights and the morning we were set to leave a bill was put under our door. The whole amount was $145.00. I went to the front desk and the gentleman said in these exact words " im so sorry you were not suppose to see that it should have never been put under your door" and the apologized. So this means I did not get a "free" getaway. I paid them $167.00 and I am upset! I feel I am out $312.00 dollars. $145 for the weekend they should have paid for and the $167 I paid them. I am going to be calling the bbb wednesday on elite, global discovery and igg promotions. If you need me in a class action lawsuit i'm all in! Thanks

Just left this exhausting, high pressured selling presentation at the gdv. When the salesman said it would cost$ 13, 900 to become a travel member then I almost fell out of my seat. This was ridiculous. Then you would have to keep up with peak and off peak time to travel. Since they did waste 2 hours of my time along with the hard driving sales pitch, I was able to escape out of there with a small tablet and $100 restaurant gift card. Bottom line this is extremely expensive and doesn't make sense for people who can't afford this unrealistic way to get deals for traveling. So so glad I didn't fall for this pressured selling game. Be Ware! You've been warned.

I responded to a news paper advertisement in 2012. Promising me a free cruise if I attended a brief seminar informing, and educating me on how to benefit from traveling all over the world at the fraction of the cost.
At the seminar, Although, I told the representative several times that I can not afford this he would not let up until he found the cheapest monthly fee for me to buy into this false company.
I am a single parent of two, and struggled from 2012 until my payments was completed in 2015.
I have paid into this company over 3000.00 USD and yet to receive anything in return. I needed to travel for two family members deaths in 2013, I contacted the company and they were unable to accommodate me with flight or hotel arrangement.
This was strictly False, fake, advertisement, and I was coerced to sign agreement by representatives. During the years, I called several times stating that I wanted out and could not afford this: I was then threatened that my credit would be ruined and that I would be taken to court.

In 2007 My husband and I purchased the Global Discovery Vacation 5 star package. It was a high pressure presentation and "if you don't buy tonight the price will definite go up. This is a great deal." At the time, I had the feeling the salesmen were at best "questionable." The tactics were extremely high pressure. We took one vacation some time later to Myrtle Beach, SC. When we arrived, I could have cried. We had taken 2 other couples with us and I have never been so embarrassed in all my life. We had two bedrooms and a closet -- actually it was supposed to be a bedroom, but it was a room with 2 wooden frames holding thin mattresses, on two adjoining walls which would put the individuals with their heads at a 90 degree angle to each other. You could not go in the room and close the door. I really complained about the situation but they didn't have any other places available. I think I did get some free tickets to a show, which did nothing to correct the bad situation. And now 8 years later I get a phone call wanting to schedule a telephone conference to talk about them selling more upgrades to the program. I just want to sell what I have and wash my hands of the situation. Does anyone know how you can sell this membership? Global advised today they will not buy it back. I'm in for a class action suit if anyone else is. Jill

We were not told that we could not cancel our membership - this was in the fine print. The day we went to the demonstration we felt pushed into a membership right away - we could not take it home and think about it or read all of the paperwork. One of the promotions to get us to go to the meeting was a free two night three day stay at specific resorts. When I chose one they came back that I would owe $211.00 - supposedly this did not include weekend nights and one of our nights was a Friday so then we had to pay "extra". We were not told about this rule but made to believe this was just what it said-free two nights and three day vacation.
I have stopped payment and now they tell me that we will be sent to collections.

In January 2014 we joined GDV with the promise of 3 FREE incentives for joining. We waited several months before we received the correct paper work after numerous contacts with Tiffany Greene and Martin Parkinson. It still took several more months to receive the promised paperwork to apply for the FREE incentives. 1. Free air fare for 2. 2. Three day two night stay. 3. $100 food gift card (never did receive). We filled out paperwork for free air fare and 3 day 2 night stay. Found out it was going to cost us an additional $150.00 to use the FREE INCENTIVES. Recently we were approved for 3 day two night stay in Miami, Florida (our choice) but was informed it would cost us another $222.00 to use this incentive. Why should we pay $222 to stay 3 days and 2 nights when we can pay GDV $179 to stay in Miami for 7 days. This is a rip-off. I feel we were lied to and Global Vacations is misrepresenting what they are telling everyone who sits through their 2 hour spiel. At this time we would like to receive the $50 we sent for the vacation. Account #814390 Paperwork for incentives was mailed & processed through IIG Promotions.

Global Discovery Vacations (GDV) is a travel company, or club, that offers a variety of services. To join, you have to attend a 90-minute presentation (and rceive a number of incentives) and pay a fee. I believe their starting price was $10K or more, but by the time we negotiated on a lesser package, it was $3, 500.
For this you can book a week-long vacation in a timeshare at many locations around the country. There's an annual fee of $389, and then you pay $149 for the week. They also have heavily discounted weeks available in off-season for a lot less, like $69 a week.
We have attended timeshare presentations that were hi-pressure, and this one was not bad. What sold us on it was the fact that they showed tons of condo complexes where you could stay for not much money. In truth, when it came time to book, there were very few, if any, units available anywhere near where we wanted to stay (East Coast Florida) any time in the months we were willing to travel. When trying to book a December trip, they told us that we had to book a year in advance. I'm just not sure how many people can afford to do that.
Just to see if I had misjudged them, I went to their site to see what was available in a sample week in August on the East Coast of Florida -- hurricane and humidity season. The answer? Only two condos on all of the East Coast. We checked other areas and found that in many cases, the same result applied. Not always: If you often go to Orlando, say, I'll bet you can book there almost any time.
The fatal flaw in this, from the consumer point of view, is that you cannot know where they will have openings until you know you want to travel. They absolutely tell you that everything is subject to availability, butyou look at their map of places in Florida and think, "There's always be somewhere that I can stay." But that is often not true.
We've decided not to pay the $389 this year(all that means is we cannot use their services for 12 months.) Here's why. We're thinking about a week in Florida. If we use them we pay $389 plus $149 to maybe get a place that is 100-200 miles away from where we really want to be. For that we have the use of a small condo in which we will not eat more than a couple of meals. And don't forget, we paid $3, 500 for the ability to do this, so we have to add in a prorated $350 or so a year to cover the entrance fee."
Instead, we can book a motel room where we want to be when we want to be there at a discounted $70 a night, or $490. They provide a breakfast and the same amenities, except no full kitchen. This seems like a better deal for us.
For the record, you also can book vacations of all kinds, and cruises as well, both at what GDV claims is a discount. They tell you outright that you can book flights through them, but you won't get any discount.
As for the incentives -- the free air fare to anywhere and the free week vacation -- FORGET IT. They are difficult if not impossible to qualify for. You will only give yourself heartburn trying.
So, to sum up: No reason to attend the presentation because the incentives are worthless. After 90+ minutes you can buy a membership that may or may not get you discounted lodging where or when you want to go, If you have a family of four, can plan one or more years ahead, or don't care where you stay, this might make sense. But for the two of us. it was a waste.

If you are considering enrolling into Global Discovery Vacations, please reconsider. My ex-fiance enrolled and then filed bankruptcy and now somehow I am stuck with almost 3, 000 to pay. Of my monthly payment of $50.00, only $22.00 goes towards the principle balance. There is a new "finance charge" of $28.41 added each month on top of my monthly balance. The interest rate is outlandish and they will not allow me to cancel, even though I have never once used this product. I've been paying for almost three years and I cannot stand to see $50.00 go nowhere each month. It is not even paying a balance.

If anyone is interested is organizing a class action lawsuit, please email me at [protected]@yahoo.com.

Too soon to tell if the Global Discoveries Vacations is a scam but the incentive program to get you in the door definitely is. We were told we would get 2 free airline tickets. The word "free" is relative - by the time you jump through all the hoops and correspondence necessary for limited destination and travel times it will cost you $134 dollars per ticket! We've given up on the process and have contained our loss to the first $50 hoop. I'm still hopeful that the vacation club itself is not a similar scam - time will tell. Global Discoveries should know that this gives consumers a bad first impression - I could not in good faith, ever recommend this program to family and friends bases on this bad initial experience.

My husband and I went to there office to see what they had to offer and everything seemed fine at first. We are working on buying a house so we didn't want anything on our credit and they said they had a deal that would work for that. So we signed up for a 1 year trial membership and did not give our SS# because nothing would be put on our credit. The membership is $698 with monthly payments of $53. We had planned to sign for a full membership after the year was up but then I checked my husbands credit. On his credit is a personal loan from them. I called them to find out what was going on because this was not suppose to be there from what we were told. A women said she would look at everything and call me back. Today I got a call back and was told that the only way to get off his credit is to pay it off. Thats when we knew this place is nothing but scammers. They were able to put stuff on my husbands credit without a SS# and were no help with fixing the problem. I will be reporting them to the BBB and the Attorney Generals Office once I pay this crap off. Take my word on this and DONT SIGN WITH THEM. I read some bad stuff on them but did not listen to what I read and now we are paying for it.

i have been a member since 2003, and have been a concienge member for quite a few years, which allowes me to book a vacation 13 months ahead, and I still cannot book the place and date i want. giving them 6 weeks leaway. It is like a fight to the death. it was ok for a while and then it started to get really bad. I sent in a request in june of 2011 for july of 2012, and then they call you with a totaly different property, so i called my agent and told her no, i did not want the property, had to leave a message, of course, so it is now october 2011 and i had not heard from her so i e-mailed her, and she just said that she never got a call so she put me somewhere in space, and silly me, i thought she knew what i wanted and she would call me and book my vacation, well after i e-mailed her she is telling me that she has nothing in either hotel for a span of availability of 6 weeks. I then try to get on the internet and i am looking for myrtle beach, and it like a maze. the information does not tell you who many bedrooms which is the most imortant. the other thing is that the property she just offered me is a MESS.going to M.B. every year we started checking out the properties so we knw. All i ever hear is that it is a popular place, well then they need to have more properties.
well i could go on forever but there is no sence.