Time-Share Tales

I just returned from one of Vacation Break’s trips and Christopher Reynolds’ piece about the company is dead on--what begins as a cheap getaway becomes a damn costly endeavor (“Your Trip’s in the Mail,” April 21). The only good thing about the trip: If my fiancee hadn’t bought the certificate a year and a half ago, we probably wouldn’t have taken a vacation at all--we only went because we didn’t want to waste the money she’d already spent.

I was skeptical from the beginning. I kept joking that we were going to get to Florida and find that the hotel had never heard of us or Vacation Break. Well, that prophesy didn’t come true but here’s what did happen: When we checked in, the hotel informed us that the Vacation Break bus would pick us up at 4:15 in the morning to take us to our “luxury” cruise. Some vacation break--that sounds like work to me.

GREGG STEBBEN

Pacific Grove

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I have just returned from the same trip, and appreciate The Times’ endeavor to educate its readers on these so-called “dream trips.” Although our trip was acceptable (I took my teenage daughter and her friend on spring break), I would urge potential travelers to research their own trips. They might find it to be less costly and would save themselves the hard sell of the vacation property tour, which took me a long lunch on the beach to get over!

DALE NOBLE

Los Angeles

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Thanks a million for “Your Trip’s in the Mail.” I have received a number of similar mailings, and, while common sense always dictates that I throw them away, I was curious about what would happen if one followed up. Now I know! That these companies can get people to pay for their own air fare and vacation, and turn up for a sales pitch is amazing. To be totally fair, I have friends who have a time share, love it and use it every year. So, I have nothing against time shares, only against any sales pitch that is less than direct.

NANCY D. HAWES

Pasadena

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My son, who was a junior at Northern Arizona University, received a Vacation Break certificate when Christopher Reynolds’ wife did. He thought it would make a great 25th anniversary gift for my husband and me, but called to check first. I said it would end up costing a lot more. He didn’t accept, but has always thought I was wrong. The article is in the mail to him; you did a great service for thousands of readers.

CHARLOTTE CRAVEN

Camarillo

* LETTERS ANNEX: More letters about Vacation Break appear today on L25.