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Original poster

I've won a stay at a holiday villa in Florida, now what...

24 replies

Galaxygirl93 · 15/07/2019 12:33

Recently with work I have won a two week stay in villa in Florida at the dates of my choosing. Flights/Living costs not included. So we've picked the date among my family to go September next year. Now, call me cynical but I've watched plenty of programmes where people are scammed, so am quite wary of getting all the way across to Florida, and something being wrong ie Villa does not exist!

Would it be normal to ask for a confirmation of the booking from the agency from the owner? Or is this totally over the top.

OP posts:

Merryme · 15/07/2019 12:35

That’s a timeshare sales pitch I would think. Do you have to go to a presentation?

Knittedfairies · 15/07/2019 12:35

I'd be wary too.

HairyFloppins · 15/07/2019 12:38

Yep time share.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays

RosaWaiting · 15/07/2019 12:39

wouldn't you always ask for confirmation for anything like this? Of course it's not over the top.

Icedlatte · 15/07/2019 12:39

I would be wary of a timeshare too.

However in answer to your question, no it's not OTT at all! You should be provided with all the confirmation details just as you would receive if you'd booked it yourself. (I work in marketing and run a lot of competitions)

NoSquirrels · 15/07/2019 12:42

Don’t book any flights or anything else until you have all the booking details in writing.

Oliversmumsarmy · 15/07/2019 12:42

Usually someone is wanting to sell something.

Friends won a dinner at a fancy restaurant

They knew people would be trying to sell them something they didn’t want but thought they would get a free dinner.

They said that they didn’t enjoy any of the dinner because the sales pitch was incessant. They would have paid the cost of the meal just to get 5 minutes peace

Aldo is the villa in a good location?

Merryme · 15/07/2019 12:42

It’s not CLC is it?

Sittinonthefloor · 15/07/2019 12:44

Do you actually want to go to Florida? Is the villa nice / in a good location/ is September good weather? Presumably you could book a villa in Italy or somewhere + flights and that would be cheaper than flights to Florida? Doesn’t seem like a great prize if you have to spend lots of money - how much does the villa rental actually cost?

Ambydex · 15/07/2019 12:46

No do check it out.

Check about hurricane season too, though I'm sure people go all year round.

The accommodation is by far the cheapest bit of a holiday in Florida... I think our flights were about 3x the cost of 2 weeks' villa near Disney.

Luaa · 15/07/2019 12:47

How did you win it?

TokyoSushi · 15/07/2019 12:47

What type of company do you work for? Where did they get the voucher/offer of the Villa from?

TheQueef · 15/07/2019 12:48

Sales presentation, plus you have to pay to travel.

Original poster

Galaxygirl93 · 15/07/2019 12:50

Hi all

The villa in Florida was offered as part of a charity auction, which is how I won it. Im hoping as it was a prize donated for charity, it isnt a scam!
I will definitely go back to the owner and ask for official confirmation...

OP posts:

Soola · 15/07/2019 12:55

So you were the highest bidder?

Original poster

Galaxygirl93 · 15/07/2019 12:57

Yes I was the highest bidder (with a small amount of money in comparison to the cost of the stay at the villa) also I work for a Law Firm so hope this would have some comfort in the prizes being donated

OP posts:

Merryme · 15/07/2019 12:59

Oh that sounds a lot less dodgy! So it’s a private owner?

pallisers · 15/07/2019 13:03

The villa in Florida was offered as part of a charity auction, which is how I won it. Im hoping as it was a prize donated for charity, it isnt a scam!

When we had school auctions people would often donate a week in a holiday home - that is probably what this is. You should have received some way to contact the owner/confirm what is included (linen and towels) and logistics etc.

TokyoSushi · 15/07/2019 13:09

Oh that sounds a lot better then OP, but yes, ask for confirmation!

yakari · 15/07/2019 13:11

I did this with a villa in Thailand, we live in Asia so not as OTT as it sounds. All above board, owner donated a week for the auction. About two weeks after auction I got an email with all the details, how to confirm week (there maybe conditions around this to be convenient for owner) and how to arrange linens/housekeeping etc. Check with the auction organiser for the details.

Original poster

Galaxygirl93 · 15/07/2019 13:11

Im sorry to have appeared to drip feed! I will definitely ask for confirmation of booking

OP posts:

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/07/2019 13:50

Im hoping as it was a prize donated for charity, it isnt a scam

Not necessarily; it could still be a case of someone who knew someone else who could "get good prizes", and the prize turns out to be next to worthless

I spend a lot of time in Florida and the fortnight's holiday in return for "just one presentation" is massive... and all too often involves having to buy dinner in very expensive restaurants, commit to extortionate car hire and more

Nothing wrong with this is theory providing you know exactly what you're getting into, so ask for everything in writing before you spend any money, and walk away instantly if it's not forthcoming

Luaa · 15/07/2019 22:06

I think in that situation I would trust it

sparkleandsleep · 15/07/2019 22:24

I have family who own a villa in Florida and regularly donate free weeks to raffles and auctions, winners just have to pay flights and everyday costs while there (although they have also donated a chunk of spending money for bigger prizes before). Definitely not a scam in this case- they just don't want the hassle of renting it out constantly and think it may as well be used.

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