World Vacations FAQ

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World Vacations FAQ

Q. Where and when did this concept start?

A. This Concept started way back in 1996 in Canada with a company that did discount travel for its Corporate Client base. This concept proved so popular with the corporate clients that they wanted to use this concept for their personal holidays as well. The company then decided to start offering it to non Corporate Clients on a Membership basis only. This concept than gained popularity and began spreading around the world. World Vacations adopted this programme for South Africa and opened its doors in early 2003. The company first traded as a Close Corporation (cc) but with the phenomenal growth it experienced it changed to Propriety Limited Company (Pty Ltd) in 2005.
Q. Is World Vacations linked to any Other Company?

A. World Vacations is a South African registered company. World Vacations has affiliations and close links with International Companies working closely together to offer South African members International Properties and Reservation Services. The affiliations and links make it possible for other companies and World Vacations to jointly form a very large and growing member base upon which higher discounts can be negotiated because of the masses of reservations created with this extensive joint member base.
Q. Where is the Company Head Office based?

A. The Head Office for Reservations and Client Services is situated in Somerset West.
Q. I know Timeshare and Holiday Points, what makes World Vacations different?

A. Firstly when you purchase timeshare or points, you buy the right to use certain properties featured with timeshare or points. You also buy a set amount of time and unit size. The initial outlay to purchase timeshare or points can be horrific and then you have a continual annual maintenance fee that can become very expensive. Time share and points can only be used in weekend, midweek or full week intervals, making it a very rigid system.

The other big issue is that you are restricted to only using the amount of time that you bought. With World Vacations, the upfront investment is very low compared to timeshare; also you have only an annual renewal fee that is guaranteed not to escalate more than 10% per annum. Once you paid your membership, you have unlimited use of all the properties, thousands and thousands locally and internationally that is featured on the World Vacations website. As a member, there is no restriction on the amount of times, the amount of people and you are not restricted to midweek's, weekends or full weeks. You decide how you want to use it. You can decide to use it for a day, or days, or weeks, or months.

Unlike timeshare you are not restricted to only resort accommodation, World Vacations offers, resorts, self catering, hotels, b&b's, lodges, National Parks, Game Reserves, cruises and much more. The choice is yours. Also World Vacations offers an array of travel service to make your holiday arrangements as smooth as possible.
Q. What is the World Vacations programme?

A. World Vacations is a multi-destination, all property accommodation programme that specialises in procuring accommodation at affordable prices. World Vacations is designed for use by discerning holidaymakers and their families. World Vacations intends to offer accommodation to its Members at tremendous discounts and to provide a full range of Travel facilities.
Q. How does World Vacations work?

A. The World Vacations programme offers a combination of interactive functionality and superior personal service. With access to 1000's of quality resorts and Hotels worldwide, World Vacations will make your holiday dreams a reality. When you become a World Vacations Member, full resort information is instantly available via your computer. Our in-house Reservations Services Department will then take care of all arrangements in respect of your travel and accommodation requirements. Personal itinerary holidays can be discussed and example travel portfolios prepared to suit your individual requirements. 0861 114597
Q. Who may become a Member of World Vacations?

A. Anyone who wishes to avail themselves of quality holidays may join, subject to status. You may take full advantage of your Membership, which becomes active as soon as you receive your unique Membership number and password.
Q. How do I get information about the available resorts?

A. The World Vacations web site is designed to make information available at the click of your mouse. We will provide you with a vast array of information about each resort in the World Vacations programme. In addition to this you can contact our Customer Services and Reservation Departments on the listed numbers. 0861 114597.
Q. How far in advance must I make my reservation?

A. Your own personal travel needs will dictate this. In some circumstances it is possible to make a reservation to arrive at your destination resort in less than 48 hours. The listings on the web site allow you to see which resorts and hotels are available for your use.
Q. What if I do not have a computer or do not have the use of one?

A. World Vacations is aware that not everyone owns or has full time access to a computer. For this we offer fax on demand or telephone information and booking services on lines that are active Monday - Friday between 9.00 am. To 5.00 pm. You may use these numbers to call our Client Liaison Department with any questions relating to your Membership, or the Reservations Service Department to request or book holiday accommodation or travel facilities. 0861 114597
Q. Can I be confident that all participating resorts are of the required high standard?

A. All participating resorts in the World Vacations accommodation portfolio vary in standard from 1* properties to 5* properties. We cannot guarantee the quality of resorts as they are all independently owned and managed. We would recommend if you are not sure about the standard of a property, that you asked a member of our reservations department for a recommendation.
Q. Is there any limit on the number of people that can use the accommodation booking?

A. There is no upper limit to the size of your party. You simply select the appropriate size accommodation for the number of people in your party. A one-bedroom apartment sleeps up to 4 people; a two-bedroom apartment sleeps up to 6 people, etc. Obviously accommodation that is suitable for much larger numbers is more restricted in choice and availability...
Q. Are there any additional charges after I arrive at the resort?

A. Please bear in mind that not all resorts offer airport transfer facilities. You may be liable for the cost of local transport to and from the resort. Obviously, items of a personal nature such as phone calls, meals and key deposits are your responsibility whilst at your resort.
Q. Are there any extra maintenance costs, taxes or other fees payable after taking up Membership?

A. Other than your annual Membership renewal fee there are no other fees payable - this must be paid to continue your Membership entitlements and benefits. This fee will escalate annually at a fix 10% percent. Your annual Membership fee payments secure your continued entitlements over the entire duration of your Membership period. If the renewal fee is not paid, your membership will be suspended.
Q. Can my World Vacations reservation be transferred to a guest or family member?

A. World Vacations allows you to distribute 3 Guest Certificates per year to your family and friends - there is no charge for Guest Certificates.
Q. Can my World Vacations Membership be transferred to a friend or family member?

A. Yes it can. Your Membership can be transfer at any time for a single processing fee of R500 should you no longer be able to avail yourself of the benefits of Membership.
Q. How will I receive confirmation of my holiday booking?

A. Our procedure is to deal with our Members' requests immediately. We confirm bookings via e-mail or fax to avoid delay and follow up with hard copy via the postal service. You will be notified within 72 hours by e-mail regarding your request. Please keep in mind that we can only respond back on a request, when we receive the requested availability from your chosen resort or hotel.
Q. Do Resorts have specific check-in days?

A. Each resort sets its own check-in and check-out days. The most common change over day is Saturday with a morning check-out and an afternoon check-in. However, these days can vary from country to country to coincide with popular flight schedules. Hotels on the other hand, have no check in days.
Q. Can we change our check-in once confirmed?

A. Depending on your selection! Take Hot weeks as an example, Once your booking is confirmed, your arrival dates cannot be altered or cancelled. We are able to provide you with superb accommodation at considerably below market rates because we provide specific dates requested by our Members and our agreements with resorts preclude cancellation of confirmed bookings. When you use other resorts, b&b's, hotels and guest houses, depending on their cancellation policies, you can change your bookings. Please inquire about cancellations when you make your bookings as all properties differ.
Q. What if I want to request a destination that is not on the web site?

A. Simply enter the Information section on the web site or ring our Reservations Services Department and give our friendly and knowledgeable staff the details. Members should be aware that individual searches may take longer and prices may be higher, although we will always endeavor to obtain the very best value for our Members in fulfilling their requests. We also offer non discounted holidays, to help members fulfill their holiday needs, should we not have any discounted accommodation providers in that area.
Q. How long is my reservation period for?

A. Depending on the property selection. Hot weeks and Online Resorts are generally available for intervals of 7 nights (8 days). Selected accommodation is available for weekend or mid-week bookings .and these are indicated on the web site. Hotels and most self catering resorts can be booked on a normal daily basis.
Q. How many holidays can I take each year?

A. There is no limit to the number of holidays that you can take; you are only limited by your personal preferences and circumstances.
Q. What if I don't know how to use the Internet?

A. If you have Internet facilities and are not sure how to access and use the web site, simply telephone the Reservations Department and they will talk you through the process. Monday - Friday between 9.00 am. To 5.00 pm. any weekday and let us know your request on 0861 114597.
Q. How long will it be before I can use my Membership?

A. Your membership will be activated immediately on receipt of cleared funds. However there is a 14-day window period following from joining date when you will not be able to access our Reservations Department. This is to allow sufficient time for your membership application to be processed through our Accounts and Administration Department. Due to administration process it will take 4 weeks for your pin and password to be allocated to you, and only then will you be able to excess the website and do bookings. You will not be able to use your membership till you receive your login code and password.
Q. Do I have to take my holiday in intervals of one week?

A. That depends on the property selection that you are booking from. The hot week's selection on the World Vacations web site operates in weekly booking intervals only. You may reserve one week at a time or 2, 3, 4 or any multiple of weeks at a time to suite your requirements, subject to the weeks that you require being available on the web site listing. Some self catering resorts also only deal in weeks. On the World Vacations site, you will be notified which resorts can be booked weekly and daily. All other accommodation like B&B, Guest Houses, and Hotels is available on daily bookings. We have separate sections such as Hot weeks, Cruises and Free Hotels for Members requiring specialised holidays or short breaks. Alternatively, you can contact your Reservation Services Department with your requirements and they will make an availability search on your behalf and produce an itinerary when required.
Q. What is a Hot week and how does it work?

A. Hot weeks is one of the best ways to travel the world and stay in luxury self catering resorts at the cheapest prices available. Hot weeks are available at more than 4000 self catering resorts around the globe. Hot weeks are only available in weekly intervals and cannot be booked on a daily basis. Hot weeks are available in ownership resorts and offer some of the best facilities available. Hot weeks availability cannot be guaranteed as resorts will make weeks available when not fully booked and these weeks are extremely popular and are booked very quickly. We recommend that if you do not find the weeks you want, go back on the Hot week site on a regular basis as resorts add weeks on a daily basis and availability also changes on a daily basis. All Hot weeks available can be viewed on the site. If your holiday is not available via the Hot weeks, please contact our reservations department as we have thousand of luxury self catering resorts that we can make a booking in for you. 0861 114597 PLEASE REMEMBER HOT WEEKS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Q. What is Hotel Condo?

A. World Vacations have affiliated with one of the largest holiday accommodation providers on the Internet and can offer discounts worldwide on Hotel accommodation of up to 60% off rack rates. Bookings can be made directly from this site as availability is instant. We do recommend that you do contact travel services before making any reservations. Remember discounts are from Rack Rates and not Internet or any other specials that the resorts may be running from time to time.
Q. What is Hotel Card?

A. Hotel Card offers the holder a 50% guaranteed discount off the hotel rack rates. Bookings can be done for a day at a time or for any duration. The 50% discount is off the entire stay. Members will be provided with the Hotel Card and all participating hotels can be viewed on the website. Members make their own reservation with the hotels as World Vacations cannot offer the booking facility as hotels will only deal with the card holder directly. Please refer to the website to see participating hotels and countries. Hotel Card discounts are not available in South Africa.
Q. What is Free Hotel Breaks?

A. Hotel Breaks offer very good value for money in Europe. Stay for free and only pay for your meals. Free Hotel Accommodation is only available in Europe. Please consult the World Vacations web site for listings of these hotels. Accommodation is subject to the hotels terms and conditions and subject to availability. Free Hotel Breaks is not available in South Africa.
Q. Where can I holiday in South Africa?

A. All properties available for use are displayed on our website. These properties consist of Self Catering Resorts, Hotels, B&B's, Guest Houses, Game Lodges and many more. All properties are listed on the website under South Africa and then according to the province. World Vacations is adding more accommodation providers on a daily basis for members. Discounts vary from property to property. Reservations can be done via our reservations department as all resorts in SA do not offer an on line booking facility. Requests can also be made via our web site once you have received your login and pin number. Bookings can be done up to a year ahead and as short as a few hours before you want to travel. Please allow time for the resorts to respond with availability. SA Resort confirmations can take up to 72 hours.
Q. Can I make a booking whilst I'm already on the road?

A. Sure, just make sure that you phone reservations between 9 am and 5 pm. with your request. We will do the necessary bookings if the reservations department of the resort or hotel you want to visit is still open, and contact you on your cell with the conformation, subject to availability.0861 114597
Q. What if I don't want to use the Internet for Bookings?

A. No problem, we offer a Reservations Department for that reason. You can dial them at anytime between 9am and 5 pm for any reservation or query you might have. If you plan on a specialty holiday like a European Tour, Cruise or any other individual holiday, our reservations department can help you to put it together the way you would like it. Reservations are there for any travel arrangements you would like to make.
Q. What and how many resorts and hotels can you offer worldwide?

A. On our website you can find thousands of properties around the world. Depending on what you are looking for, you can search for Self Catering Resorts, Villas or Hotels. We offer thousands of properties for you to search and book. We can not list all the properties and companies that we have contracts with as some companies offer thousands of resorts of their own, it will make our web site to big and to slow for members. Please remember that we do not offer every resort or town in SA or World Wide.
Q. How many people can go with us?

A. There is no limit to the amount of people that you can take on holiday with you. Depending on availability in your chosen resorts we can reserve your accommodation to suit you.
Q. Why do have I have to wait for 4 to 6 weeks for my login details?

A. Your login and pin number will take an average of 4 - 6weeks to be mailed to you. Once we have received your cleared funds, we apply for your login and pin numbers, the administration process takes a few weeks. If you want to do any bookings before you receive your login and pin numbers, no problem, just phone our Reservations Department and quote your membership number that you will find on your copy of your signed contract.
Q. Do you guarantee availability at all resorts at all times of the year?

A. We cannot guarantee any availability, seasonal changes, special occasions can cause that properties on our website are fully booked. If properties on our website are fully booked, we will endeavor to help members find accommodation. It might not be in the property you wanted, but maybe in a property nearby. All accommodation on our site is subject to availability.
Q. What if we want to go to an area or resort that is not featured on your site?

A. It is impossible for us as a company to feature every resort and every town in the world on our website. Properties that are featured is the main areas where people want to holiday. If you request a region, town or resort that is not featured on our site, we will not turn you away. Part of our service to you is to endeavor to find the area or property that you are looking for. These bookings will not have the same discounts that we offer on our contracted resorts, but any discount we receive as a travel company from the property will be passes on to you 100%.
Q. Are all the properties listed on your site under World Vacations's management?

A. In order for World Vacations to offer the ultimate array of properties and discounts world wide, we have affiliated with some of the largest discounted holiday providers in the world, and have also bought the rights to use some of these reservation systems to be linked or displayed on our own website The accommodation properties referred to in this website include a variety of holiday accommodation ranging from local to international and from two to five star properties, over which the World Vacations have no control. Information regarding all accommodations has been supplied by the accommodation providers themselves or their managing agents, therefore World Vacations does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy of any information supplied and featured on this web site.
Q. Are linked websites under the control of World Vacations?

A. The World Vacations website is a work in progress and will always be developing and improving; other websites are currently linked and may become linked to this World Vacations website. Current linked websites and future websites may not be under the management and control of World Vacations, and World Vacations does not give any warrants or guarantees to the accuracy of the information and materials contained therein or the efficiency of linked websites and does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any losses associated by any use thereof or reliance thereon by the member.
Q. Do you guarantee a fixed percentage discount on properties featured or linked to World Vacations?

A. There is no guaranteed minimum or maximum discount on all properties linked or featured on our site. Discounts vary from property to property and area to area. In some cases discounts may go as high as up to 70% off the Rack Rates of Resorts. Discounts are always off the resorts Rack Rate and not from specials or internet specials that resorts may be running periodically to attract more visitors. Rack Rate is the normal rate that a resort would charge on a daily basis.
Q. How does World Vacations make their money?

A. World Vacations does not operate like a normal travel company would by receiving a commission when booking a holiday for their members. World Vacations is a database of pre negotiated resort and hotels offering a discount to the members. All these properties are then featured on the database for the members to use as many times as they like. World Vacations charges a joining fee for the privilege to be able to use this database.
Q. Why do we have to pay an Annual Renewal Fee?

A. If you read the previous question and answer to that, you will understand that we do not make money out of your holiday bookings. The Annual Renewal Fee that you have to pay in order for your continual use of the site is used to pay the running costs of your reservations department. The Renewal fee monies cover necessities like reservation office rentals, reservation telephone accounts and salaries for the people serving you the member in the reservations department. You can make as many bookings a year as you wish at no extra costs, all costs associated with doing your reservations is covered in this renewal fee. Unfortunately, if you do not pay this fee yearly, your membership will be suspended.
Q. Can we sell our World Vacations membership?

A. The answer to this question is yes, you can sell your membership at any time if you can no longer make use of it. World Vacations does not offer a resale service at this moment in time.
Q. Can we leave our membership to our children?

A. Depending on the duration of the membership that you have purchased, you can leave it to your children to use for the remainder of your membership term.
Q. How can make use of our membership?

A. Membership benefits are available for you and your immediate family to use. Immediate family is classed as your children. If you want friends and other family members to use the system, you will have to make a reservation under the Guest Certificate scheme, we offer you three Guest Certificates a year.
Q. How do I use the World Vacations website?

Firstly you got to connect to the Internet. Then in your Internet Address bar, you type in www.worldvacations.co.za, and then the World Vacations homepage will appear. You will see a section at the top of the website that has two empty boxes that says Member Login and Password. Type in your Login and Password details. The page that appears is the welcome page, and it would welcome you in your personal name on My Dashboard. When you see your name appear you know that your login was successful. If you look at the website you will see that the menu structure on the left will become longer and more comprehensive, displaying the complete functionality of the website. If you move your cursor over these bars, you will see your cursor changes to a hand. This is the menu bar for all your searches. If you want to see South African resorts as an example, let your cursor go over the description OUR ACCOMMODATION, then all the different areas where we have discounted accommodation will appear to the immediate right. Press on Africa and a map of Africa will appear, on the African map, press any country, press on the province you would like to visit and all the towns per that area will appear. Press on the closet town you want to visit then the listings of resorts in and around that town will appear. At the bottom of the short description of the resort you will see a button that says more information, press on that or on the resort/establishment name and you will see complete descriptions, photos, the different price structure for the resort and where in is situated. If you would like to make an inquiry for that specific resort, fill in the enquiry form below the map and press on the SUBMIT button on the bottom of the page. Make sure you enter the security code that is displayed on the right. Your enquiry will be sent to the reservations department, or phone the travel reservations department who will make the booking for you. To see all the other facilities offered on the site, simply click on the various bars on the menu at the left of the website and you will see all the different products available. If you still have problems with getting around the site, please feel free to phone our reservations department who will gladly be of assistance. Enjoy your holidays!