Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Meet Steve Burton, Our Guest Timeshare Blogger

At Timeshare Insights, we like to hear from owners and report on their timeshare experiences.  Today's guest blogger is Steve Burton, who has a wealth of experiences to share.


I have been asked by Lisa to be a guest blogger for Timeshare Insights due to my extensive experience of the timeshare industry. I have owned timeshare since 1980 at the Osborne Torquay which is the first timeshare development in England and during that time I have made over five hundred and fifty exchanges with RCI to around one hundred different resorts.

I would like to devote my first blog to a resort in Florida called Lehigh resort club (RCI resort ID 0101 ) I feel before I do that I should tell you what I prefer in terms of timeshare vacations because we all have different tastes. My preference is for quiet scenic locations preferably near the sea or a golf course. It is not my scene to stay at large impersonal resorts with hundreds of guests and numerous sales staff ringing you to arrange a sales presentation.

I would like to tell you what Lehigh Resort club is not which is firstly not timeshare accommodation that has the wow factor as some resorts I could mention. The units are comfortable but not top of the range in terms of luxury not least because this is a timeshare resort that dates back to the late 1970's. The resort is also not located in a up market area such as resorts located on Sanibel or Captiva Islands. It is also located thirty miles from the nearest beach which is a draw back to some people.

I have told you what Lehigh resort club is not so please let me tell you what it is which is a very special place for a vacation for those in the know!!!!!!! I first visited this resort back in March 1994 and since that time I have spent over one hundred weeks at the resort. I could have vacationed at any of the four thousand plus resorts in RCI but I choose to spend more time here than at any other resort and the reasons are as follows. The resort has a welcoming feel to it both in terms of the staff and other owners and guests. Everybody is friendly and says hello to each other even if they are new to the resort. The resort is located in a peaceful location with the majority of units located either on a golf course or by a small lake. There is never a shortage of things to do as there is a fantastic activities program both during the day and during the evening where new movies are shown several times a week. The swimming pool is large and the temperature of the water is just perfect. It is also one of these resorts where there is plenty of sun loungers to go around unlike some resorts I could mention where guests feel they have to be out at 8am to reserve their lounger. You never have to worry about noisy neighbours as the guests are courteous to each other and in any event there is good sound insulation in the buildings unlike a timeshare I could mention in Spain where I had to stay up until 2am each morning because of every sound being heard from other apartments. The timeshare has its own pleasant nine hole golf course with very reasonable rates which include the cart hire. Other golf courses are located within a five mile radius. We also have our own tennis courts and you don't have to book times to use them. I don't know about you but one of my biggest turn offs when staying at a timeshare is to receive regular phone calls from 'customer services' trying to sell you more timeshare. This will never happen at Lehigh resort club as at our sunday welcome meeting you will hear a two minute sales pitch from our relator and then you will be left alone to enjoy your vacation. You will need to make first contact with our on site realtor if you are interested in joining me and many others as owners here.

I should perhaps tell you a little about the apartments at the resort the majority are one bedroom sleeping up to four or five people. We also have a number of large and small studios the later should probably be avoided due to their small size. There is also a handful of two bedroom and lock out units.

Perhaps one of the best and surprising issues related to my favourite resort in the RCI system is that apart from the period between Christmas and Easter RCI nearly always has availability so why not read other reviews about this resort on the RCI website and book a week. I feel sure you wont be disappointed with your choice of vacation and just for the record I think the best time to visit the resort and area is between October and mid December when the weather is great and the resort and area is quieter than the peak months between Christmas and Easter. I hope to see you there one day in the future!!!!!!!!!!


P.S.  I have passed on my blog to a number of owners at Lehigh resort club and one of them Dr Terry Brown has written to me reminding me of nearby attractions which include the Edison Ford museum, the baseball spring training grounds for the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins, plus the Everglades and the Seminole casino

If you have a timeshare story you would like to share,e-mail me at lisa@timeshareinsights.com.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great article Steve :) Mr. Burton hehe

Julia from Gulf Tides :)

Anonymous said...

Splendid blog, Steve! Having been with the LRC in a different capacity, we must agree that the LRC is the friendliest, family-style, timeshare anywhere. Even though our presence at the LRC is very infrequent due to activity changes, we are still in touch with so many fine friends we have made there, including yourself. If any folks want to have a swell time at an intimate resort, definitely plan a visit at the LRC. Dee and Jim Marino of Lehigh Acres, FL

Pam Dunn said...

My family also has been going to this resort since the mid 90's, not for as many weeks as Steve does, we do 2 weeks after Thanksgiving and we use to go 2 weeks in the Spring. We agree with everything Steve has to say about our resost. My Father (who loved his time here) passed away in July 2007, my Mother said she could not go back there, I told her Dad would want her to go back, so as always we went on our 2 weeks after Thanksgiving, Everyone there was so caring for Mom, we have so many friends there. Lots of tears shared, I'm so glad I talked Mom in returning! This Resort is one of the best we have ever been to. I think it is a hidden treasure, maybe not for long after everyone reads Steves Blog. Enjoy

steve said...

Thank you Julia and the resort that you manage ie Gulf Tides of Longboat Key is very friendly as well.

steve said...

Thank you for your kind comments re my article both of you are valued friends to many at our special resort

steve said...

Pam your posting says it all as so many great friendships have been made at Lehigh resort club. We all have fond memories of your late father Dick and we were determined that your mother Joyce, your sister Janie and yourself would be made especially welcome when you returned to the resort. I look forward to seeing you all again at the resort just after Thanksgiving.

Anonymous said...

Great article Steve! Very well written. The guests and owners make this resort great. It has a sense of family. As I use to work at LRC I have to say nothing but great things. Neil

steve said...

Thank you Neil for your kind comments and I would add that it is not just the guests and owners who make this a great resort but also the members of staff who make new guests feel most welcome and greet returning owners and guests like old friends.