VIP Northstar Travel Club
Review description of operation

Re:
VIP Northstar Discount Vacations
151 First St., Suite 1
Collingwood, ON, Canada
Bookings: 1-800-211-7592
Sales: 1-800-519-7601
July 2004

This is a review/explanation of the VIP Northstar vacation promotion, which offers discount vacations, not timeshares. The phrase Vacations in Paradise also appears in some of their paperwork. The company offers 2 nights in Collingwood, ON for $69 weekdays, plus a $30 meal coupon, if you agree to attend a 90 minute travel presentation. The reservation rep said the meal coupon could be used at a choice of 4 places, which turned out to be wrong. If you don't attend the presentation you will be billed $200 for the room. The rep tells you that you will either be at the Alpine Lodge (a small motel outside town on the highway) or at the Best Western motel in town on the main drag. When we booked we were told we'd be at the Alpine because it has a nice outside pool area in the summer, whereas the Best Western has an indoor pool, better for the cold weather.

When we (2 couples) arrived at Northstar's center we were told to register at the Best Western. When we got there the Best Western said they were placing us across the road at their annex, but we could come over to the main building to use the pool and get the free continental breakfasts. At first sight the annex is rather scary, an old 2 story building, holes in the broken marque sign, side access door propped open, ratty grounds. However the rooms were better than the outside would suggest, and generally adequate. Patio door latch was broken, and secured by a crossbar. Beds were ok, clean sheets, clean bathroom, no damage, mildew, or broken fixtures. No hair dryers as the main building has, we had to ask for them, and got one to share with the other couple. The regular price of the room was $89, and in the main building a room is $99.

The meal coupon handed out after the presentation is only good at one place, not 4, called Mary's Restaurant, located in the Alpine Lodge. Dinner entrees at this ordinary restaurant average $25, and tips and drinks cannot be applied to the coupon, so the coupon might cover half the dinner bill. You can eat anywhere on the main drag for less, and the $8.95 Chinese buffet near the Best Western was good value. You can also use the coupon for brunch, which the coupon says is 7am-2pm. This is wrong, and brunch closes at 1pm, with the average meal priced about $7, so to use it for brunch you have to move fast, and get out of the 10am presentation on time, or skip the condo tour if time is short. We made it by 30 minutes, and 2 brunches with 2 juices came to $25.

The travel presentation offers a free trip and discounts off future trips for a cash payment of $4000-6000 plus $99/yr, depending on the cost of the free trip you want. A Costa Rica condo was priced at $630/wk/2pp without air or meals. We figured air would be about $1600 for 2 and meals for the week about $700, totalling about $3000, and anyone can get a $2000 per couple all inclusive trip to this area or the southern Caribbean out of any newspaper or the Net, so Northstar actually costs more than doing it yourself. They offer flights at cost, meaning no $30 agent fee, but anyone can do better getting cheap flights on the Net. Cruise prices displayed were from internet sites we recognized, available to anyone.

We didn't join because it wouldn't save us any money, and because the plan hinges on Northstar staying in business, which we thought was unlikely after seeing their operation, and with such companies coming and going with the wind. On checkout the Best Western said no money was owing on the room, but would not give us a printout showing that it was paid up, saying the printout would be blank.

Bob
St. Thomas, Ontario
Canada

Company: VIP Northstar Travel Club
Country: Canada
Province: Ontario
City: Collingwood
Address: 151 First St., Suite 1
Phone: 8005197601

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