Westgate Resorts Reviews 673

Misleading Sales Practices and Booking Nightmare with Westgate

We purchased a Westgate timeshare in Gatlinburg and immediately regretted it due to deceptive sales tactics and broken promises.

Sales Misrepresentations

During the presentation, we were told booking would be straightforward and affordable, with costs through Interval International never exceeding $599 per week. We were also told our supplemental week could be split into two vacations and pressured to sign
that day or lose the offer.

The most alarming issue: They requested our Social Security numbers claiming it was "only for identification," but later we discovered a loan was opened without our informed consent.

Booking Reality vs. Promises

When we attempted our first booking, the experience was a complete disaster spanning three days.

On Day 1, we called Gateway Reservations for an August two-bedroom unit. Initially quoted $349, we were then told it couldn't be booked until September. After being transferred multiple times, quotes escalated from $989 to $1,078 for a ONE-bedroom unit.
This took over 2 hours with no supervisor available.

On Day 2, we tried Interval International where we were promised sub-$599 rates. The lowest quote we received was $1,859—over three times what we were promised! A supervisor finally explained that the $599 rate only applies to "exchanges"—a critical detail
never disclosed during sales.

On Day 3, we contacted the Gatlinburg sales office and texted our rep Amber for three days with no response. We were transferred repeatedly and never connected to a supervisor.

Outcome

We formally requested contract termination, deed-back options, and investigation into these sales practices. We felt pressured, misled, and deceived from day one.

Potential buyers: demand everything in writing and verify all claims independently before signing anything with Westgate.

En diciembre de 2020, asistimos a lo que prometieron sería una presentación de 1 hora en Orlando. En cambio, el personal confiscó nuestras identificaciones y nos retuvo por más de 5 horas mientras 10 vendedores diferentes aplicaron tácticas de presión implacables.

Lo más atroz fue que nos hicieron firmar contratos completamente en inglés a pesar de que el español es nuestro idioma principal. El traductor proporcionado tergiversó deliberadamente términos críticos del contrato. Esto es FRAUDE.

Afirmaron que era una inversión de bienes raíces que se apreciaría, prometieron que los ingresos de alquiler cubrirían los costos del tiempo compartido, garantizaron que Westgate recompraría el contrato si queríamos vender, publicitaron acceso a resorts de Disney, cruceros y parques temáticos, y declararon falsamente que las cuotas de mantenimiento terminarían después de pagar la hipoteca (continúan para siempre y aumentan anualmente).

Hemos pagado $30,000 y solo hemos tomado dos vacaciones. Las reservaciones en otras propiedades de Westgate han fallado repetidamente (más de 10 intentos). Cuando preguntamos sobre los beneficios de Disney, el servicio al cliente actúa como si no existieran. Cuando intentamos vender como prometieron, nos dijeron que Westgate no está comprando contratos—contradiciendo su garantía explícita.

En 2022, cometimos el error de asistir a otra presentación donde 7 vendedores nos presionaron por más de 5 horas para "mejorar."

Westgate explota las barreras del idioma, usa tácticas de alta presión y hace promesas falsas para atrapar familias en contratos sin valor. Manténganse alejados.

I am writing to report serious concerns about the sales practices I experienced when purchasing a timeshare from Westgate. I was misled by sales representatives regarding several critical aspects of the agreement, which has caused significant financial hardship.
The interest rates for financing were not properly disclosed, and the information presented was misleading, directly affecting my ability to make an informed decision. More troubling, the yearly maintenance fees were never mentioned during the sales presentation. This omission of ongoing financial obligations has created unexpected and unmanageable expenses that I was completely unprepared for.
The sales process involved high-pressure tactics, including showcasing different properties while emphasizing urgent, limited time offers. I was not given adequate time to review the contract or understand the long-term implications of this purchase. Representatives falsely claimed the timeshare would be a valuable investment that could generate rental income—claims I have since learned were intentionally misleading.
My decision was based on misrepresentation and lack of transparency. I now face unforeseen financial hardship that prevents me from maintaining the obligations tied to this contract. I urge others to thoroughly research and carefully evaluate any timeshare offer before committing, and to be wary of high-pressure sales tactics that don't allow time for proper consideration.

Ugh, after years of let downs, I'm out. We bought with Westgate in 2018, an every other year package. Where do I start? Our home resort was at Orlando Palace. One year, our refrigerator went out right at the start of our stay, ruining a weeks worth of food. We were told we would be reimbursed, and provided receipts. Yeah, not so much. Fast forward to our next stay. This time around, the locks to all the rooms entry doors malfunctioned. Meaning, every time a guest returned to their room, someone from security would have to let them in. This was not an easy task, because security was running throughout the two buildings, so one would have to wait sometimes twenty minutes to be let into their rooms. This went on for days. Oh, I forgot our first year stay, we were brand new owners, and the first day of our stay, we were informed we needed to attend a mandatory owners meeting. The greedy bastards tried upselling us a new package, A DAY INTO OUR FIRST STAY!! Omg the audacity, and we let them have it for bothering us on our first stay, so immediately we had a bad taste in our mouths about Westgate. Now to our last stay in 2025. We paid the extra 100 bucks to use our week at another resort. We chose Painted mountain resort in Phoenix. Upon check in, promptly at 4:00 PM, we were informed our room, which had been reserved for months wasn't ready due to not being cleaned. we finally got in at 8:00 PM. Way to treat an owner, Westgate. Then the second day we had no fry pan to cook with. After two calls, no fry pan. Third day, after 3 calls throughout the day, finally a fry pan. This last stay sent me over the edge, and made my mind up to sell. The ONLY two times we had a good stay, was our initial stay in Vegas when we bought, and another stay where we went to get free tickets to an attraction in Gattlinburg Tn., and listened to their presentation for about a half hour before we revealed we were already owners. Funny how everything is perfect when they are setting you up to buy, right? Anyway, do yourself a favor and dont even bother with these people. You can get a whole house on Vrbo, with a pool, and no other guests to deal with, for the same amount your week maintenance/condo fees will cost you every year. This place sucks, and we dont even mind if we take a loss, just to get out of this.

Westgate Resorts – Deceptive, Predatory, and Financially Harmful

My experience with Westgate Resorts has been one of the most deceptive and stressful consumer experiences of my life. I was pressured into signing a timeshare contract after hours of manipulation and false promises. The sales representatives claimed the timeshare would increase in value, could be easily rented or sold, and would save money on future vacations. None of that was true.

After purchasing, I discovered hidden fees, inflated maintenance costs, and near-impossible booking restrictions that make using the timeshare extremely difficult. Attempts to resolve the issues through Westgate’s customer service went nowhere — their agents were dismissive and unhelpful.

I now realize Westgate’s system is designed to trap people in high-cost, long-term obligations that provide little to no actual benefit. Their tactics are predatory, relying on emotional pressure and misinformation to close sales.

I strongly urge anyone considering a Westgate purchase to research thoroughly before signing anything. In my opinion, these practices are unethical and exploit consumers who simply want affordable family vacations.

— Samantha V.

I'm writing to warn others about Westgate Resorts' predatory timeshare sales tactics. What was promised as a "brief 90-minute presentation" turned into a 3+ hour high-pressure ordeal that has caused ongoing financial and emotional distress.

The Deception Started Early: We were approached at a restaurant with a cash incentive for what was promised to be a "90-minute" presentation. The session actually lasted over 3 hours despite our time constraints. We were told no credit checks would be made
and income requirements would be waived, while the down payment was repeatedly lowered to pressure us into signing.

High-Pressure Sales Environment: Despite clearly stating we couldn't afford it and didn't want to proceed, staff ignored our concerns. When I explicitly said I didn't want to sign and asked about cancellation policies, they refused to provide information.
Instead, they rushed me through signing documents without proper explanation, claiming "others were waiting."

Zero Post-Sale Support: After returning to Pennsylvania, attempts to get help during financial hardship were met with hostility. Representatives yelled at me, dismissed concerns, and refused to provide account balance breakdowns. Despite making mortgage
payments, we were told the balance "would not go down."

Emotional Impact: This experience has been devastating. The manipulation, lack of transparency, and cruel treatment during our most vulnerable moments is unacceptable. What should have been a vacation opportunity became a nightmare of financial stress and
emotional trauma.

Warning to Others: Avoid Westgate's sales presentations entirely. Their tactics are designed to trap you in contracts you can't afford or understand. The promises of help and support disappear the moment you sign.

My husband and I had an extremely disappointing experience with Westgate Resorts that we feel other consumers should know about. During our timeshare sales presentation, we were subjected to high-pressure tactics for over six hours with three different agents who continuously dropped prices, claiming offers were only good that day. This created an artificial sense of urgency that prevented us from making an informed decision.

We were told the properties were exclusive to contract holders only, which turned out to be false. Most concerning, the sales team failed to disclose critical information including that we were purchasing "points" through a promissory note that would impact our credit, that maintenance fees would increase 6% annually forever, and that these fees would transfer to our heirs permanently.

The ownership was misrepresented as a real estate investment that would appreciate in value, but the opposite occurred. When we calculated the actual cost per night for our $9,497.36 contract, it amounts to over $1,500 per night for a basic 7-day vacation.

We were never directed to check Westgate's BBB rating before signing, which would have revealed their problematic track record. The entire sales process felt manipulative and designed to prevent customers from understanding what they were truly committing to.

Potential customers should thoroughly research any timeshare purchase and be extremely wary of high-pressure sales environments.

The westgate resort in Gatlinburg let our room flood, didn't help us, asked them to cancel our spa appointment due to hours of cleaning up by ourselves after midnight with no assistance and then had the audacity to charge us over 200 dollar for missing our spa appointment after we canceled it hours before the cancelation policy. I have never been so dissappointed with management, being a prior customer service manager myself. I have never felt so belittled as a veteran or service member or even a tenant at a resort. The staff completely got away with not doing their job and makimg notations in the computer after showing them my call logs and them having recorded conversations on the room phone and no reprimand and we had to pay hundreds and lose hours of our vacation. Not to mention it ruined our 8 year anniversary. Future owners beware!!! Not worth it. They don't care.

I am very disappointed with Westgate Resorts. During the sales presentation, I was promised benefits and conditions that were never fulfilled.

I was told this was an “investment” I could easily resell or cancel, which turned out to be completely false. That was the biggest lie. I have been unemployed since July, and when I called months ago to ask for help because I can no longer afford the payments, no one offered a solution. They only told me to find a buyer, even though during the sales pitch they assured me that Westgate would always be the first option to purchase my property. Another lie.

Now I am stuck with a mortgage that I have no choice but to pay, even though I can’t even afford my rent. The real cost is also much higher than what was initially presented, due to hidden fees and maintenance charges.

I have sent countless emails and messages, even to my assigned notary, and no one responds, except with letters saying that I must pay the monthly fee.

Customer service has been unhelpful, giving evasive answers without any real solutions. I feel completely misled from the very beginning. I would strongly advise anyone against investing their money with Westgate.

What was supposed to be a fun Vegas vacation in February 2022 turned into a financial nightmare thanks to Westgate's predatory sales practices. My husband and I were lured in with the classic "free attraction tickets for a 90-minute presentation" pitch.
Despite our initial refusal, their representative was relentless.

That "brief" 90-minute commitment? Try over THREE HOURS of high-pressure torture. We were paraded through a model unit at Westgate Flamingo while I repeatedly explained that as a travel agent, I had zero interest in being locked into one property. Did they
listen? Absolutely not.

Instead, we faced a tag-team of sales reps throwing everything at us – reduced pricing, promises of resale units, "easy" financing. The pressure was suffocating. In a moment of weakness, believing my husband's stable job could handle the payments, we caved.

That decision has haunted us ever since. My husband lost his job, making any travel completely unaffordable. We've NEVER used this timeshare – not once. Meanwhile, those "manageable" maintenance fees keep climbing, bleeding us dry every year.

Westgate preys on people in vacation mode, using exhaustion and high-pressure tactics to force decisions we'd never make at home. They sold us a dream and delivered a financial burden we can't escape. Save yourself the heartache – run the other way when
they approach you with their "free" offers. Nothing about Westgate is free except the regret

We brought Westgate in Orlando Fl years ago when our kids were in early grammar school years. The resort where we purchased was relatively new at the time. Each year it grew larger & larger, but the cost of the annual maintenance fees grew exponentially with that growth but, also the initial free amenities shrank to almost nothing of worth while value. As the kids grew older & our annual vacation plans changed, we finally decided to try and sell our deeded week (we had paid off the contract in full at this point) only to find it had ZERO resell value. To keep it would actually cost us more money in taxes & maintenance fees than it would to take a vacation using the internet to find similar amenities. Our week was deeded but, in order to get rid of it, we sold it back to Westgate for over $700 in closing cost , which I'm sure they then resold for literally 1000's of dollars more, especially since it was a spring break & holiday week that we owned. Long story short , over the years Westgate's service & value deteriorated exponentially and, I could not recommend anybody buy a timeshare "especially" from them in good conscious, or even buy timeshares at all. We travel frequently & have little problem getting even better service and value for far far less money and , most of all WITH NO FUTURE COMMITMENTS OR CONTINUOUS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. IMHO timeshares are dinosaurs living well past their time and usefulness. I'd stay far far far away, we were lucky. They knew they'd make 10's of 1000's reselling our week, so although it sucked we'd made nothing on the sell back, what it cost us to get out from under it compared to others, we're grateful it wasn't worst. They are not a good company IMHO & Timeshare ownership in the 21st Century, is not even close to a good deal. STAY AWAY or...YOU'LL PROBABLY REGRET IT !

Westgate Resorts - 17 Years of Broken Promises and Financial Burden

We purchased our Westgate timeshare in 2007 after being pressured by three aggressive sales agents (Jude V. Lamb #18680, Mariana Colon #13525, and Mark Laurent). What started as a "family investment" has become our biggest financial regret.

They never explained that our children would be stuck with this burden forever, or that maintenance fees would climb endlessly. When we upgraded in 2012 from even-year to annual usage, thinking it would improve our experience, nothing got better.

The accommodations are consistently disappointing - outdated units, terrible odors, poor conditions that make you want to leave immediately. We've banked weeks we couldn't use because reservations are nearly impossible to secure. It's like paying for something that doesn't exist.

Now approaching retirement, these escalating fees are crushing our fixed income. When we begged Westgate to buy back or release us from this contract, they offered nothing but resistance and empty responses.

The worst part? They hid the perpetual nature of this financial trap. Our children will inherit this nightmare unless we find a way out. 17 years of paying for substandard vacations and broken promises.

Westgate preys on families with high-press

BUYER BEWARE - Classic Timeshare Deception

What started as a simple 90-minute presentation on the Vegas Strip turned into a 4-hour nightmare that consumed half our vacation. The high-pressure tactics and outright lies from Westgate's sales team are exactly why timeshares have such a terrible reputation.

The Lies vs. Reality:

PROMISED: $600 biannual maintenance fees → REALITY: $907 (over $300 more!)

PROMISED: Income-generating rental opportunities → REALITY: Impossible booking system

PROMISED: No interest if paid in 7 years → REALITY: Hidden fees everywhere

PROMISED: 3-day cancellation period → REALITY: Contract said 5 days (deliberately misled)

The worst part? When my elderly mother tried to gift me this "investment" for my birthday, they rushed the signing process like they couldn't get us out fast enough. Red flags everywhere!

Customer service told us they only help people behind on payments - so basically, you have to be in financial distress to get help escaping their predatory contracts despite being lied to.

The salesperson later admitted we'd need to "switch properties" to get the promised $600 fee - information conveniently omitted during the high-pressure sales pitch.

This company preys on people's vacation excitement and family relationships. My mother and I trusted them, and we've been dealing with stress and financial confusion ever since.

Westgate embodies everything wrong with the timeshare industry. Save your money and your sanity - stay far away.

As a retired educator who spent decades teaching students about honesty and integrity, I feel compelled to share my disappointing experience with Westgate Resort in Las Vegas. I purchased a timeshare upgrade in March 2016, and it has been nothing but regret
ever since.

What was promised as a brief ninety-minute presentation turned into hours of high-pressure sales meeting. The sales representatives held on to our driver's licenses, making us feel trapped until we agreed to their terms. This felt more like being held captive
than conducting legitimate business.

The most egregious issue was the outright lie told by the sales agent. He explicitly promised to personally help us rent our unit, assuring us the rental income would cover maintenance fees and generate additional income. When I later called to arrange rentals,
Westgate informed me they don't provide this service at all. This was the primary reason we agreed to the upgrade, making it a clear case of fraudulent misrepresentation.

We were never properly informed about the annual five percent increase in maintenance fees, which has cost us nearly $9,000 in assessments since 2016. The Interval Travel program enrollment and associated costs were hidden, and we were misled about point
accumulation and value appreciation.

Most telling of all, we haven't used this timeshare once in over seven years. As retirees on fixed income, we're paying thousands annually for something we cannot use while Westgate refuses to honor their rental assistance promise.

In my teaching career, I emphasized keeping one's word. Westgate has failed this fundamental test of character. I cannot recommend this company to anyone seeking honest business dealings.

I had initially agreed to attend a” brief” seminar at Westgate Resorts, believing I would simply learn about potential vacation options for my family. However, the event quickly turned into an aggressive sales pitch. I was repeatedly urged to decide on the spot, despite my clear and repeated requests for more time to think and review the information. At the time of signing, I was not fully aware of my consumer rights, nor did I understand the complex and often misleading language presented in the contract. I was led to believe this was an unbelievable opportunity for my family, only to later realize that critical details were misrepresented or completely omitted. These omissions significantly impacted on the validity of my consent and my ability to make an informed decision. With the deceptive nature of the sales tactics, the lack of transparency, and the undue financial hardship caused by this contract, I am formally demanding the immediate and complete cancellation of my timeshare agreement.

The location with mostly free trolleys everywhere was great. The 2 bedroom was like 2 apt. Great beds and pillows. Pools were nice. Had a real bear visit. Not an owner had a cheap preview from 2017 that was super nice. If I wanted another timeshare I might do it.

I tried to own a time share for my kids to take them every year for vacation, when I get there, they're talked to me really nice and offered me food and they take me for a ride all around the westgate and we came back and talked about the price and maintenance fees and all that and we agree to sign the contract,, the thru, nothing is real on the contract, we signed the papers in august at the end of December they want to charge me the double of the maintenance fees, and I tried to call them and they told me I have to pay,, and I not even use the timeshare , not even one time,, they stolen me like $25k,, I didn't used the timeshare, not even one time...I'm out now, I canceled the timeshare, they don't gave me back nothing, not even a penny.. I hope a lot of people read this and never buy a timeshare from WESTGATE ORLANDO

Our Westgate Towne Center timeshare experience has been nothing but disappointment since 2021. Despite upgrading to a 5-bedroom unit, we've NEVER been able to book it - it's always "unavailable" yet mysteriously appears on Expedia. Instead, we're stuck with poorly maintained units requiring extra cleaning due to debris under furniture.
The sales process was pure deception. Salesperson George Caraballo promised maintenance fees wouldn't increase significantly (they have), guaranteed access to Interval Timeshare Exchange benefits (never materialized), and assured us the timeshare wouldn't auto-transfer to our children (it will). When we tried contacting him later, he'd conveniently left the company.
Every stay involves relentless harassment from staff pushing "owner satisfaction" meetings that are actually aggressive sales pitches. They call our room and show up at our villa uninvited - completely ruining any relaxation.
Management's response? "The salesperson had no authority to make those promises" and dismissive references to contract fine print. Zero accountability for their deceptive practices.
This "affordable vacation plan" has been an expensive nightmare of broken promises, substandard accommodations, and constant harassment. Save your money and book directly with hotels instead. Westgate preys on families seeking quality vacation experiences and delivers the opposite.
Avoid at all costs!

What started as a "90-minute" Las Vegas tour turned into a 4-hour high-pressure nightmare that has cost my family over $13,000 for absolutely nothing in return. Westgate's sales team made outrageous promises they had zero intention of keeping.
They promised we could use ANY Westgate resort UNLIMITED times based on availability - LIE. We can only book once per year. They promised a $1,500 cruise credit - LIE. Only $400 was actually available. They said we could rent our unit on Airbnb to pay off the loan faster - IMPOSSIBLE due to booking restrictions they conveniently forgot to mention.
The worst part? They promised a "buyback program" after two years of payments. When we called recently, we were told "Westgate doesn't buy back timeshares." Two years and $13,000 later, we've had ONE vacation and endless frustration.
Their sales tactics are predatory - bringing in managers to pressure you, claiming "limited time offers," and literally telling us not to tell anyone about their Airbnb suggestion because they KNEW it was misleading.
This wasn't minor miscommunication - this was systematic fraud. Every single major selling point was a deliberate lie. We're done paying for something sold through deception.
Save your money and your sanity. Westgate Resorts preys on families who love to travel by selling dreams they'll never deliver.

Salesmen Greg and Damian made outrageous promises they never intended to keep. They promised 2-bedroom Oahu condos for $299/week when WESTGATE DOESN'T EVEN OWN CONDOS ON OAHU! They guaranteed "excellent cruise pricing" that turned out to be $8,000 MORE than
advertised and promised $1,500 and $500 travel credits that never materialized. Greg sent countless texts promising cruise information "this afternoon" or "by Monday" but NOTHING ever came. Four months of lies and delays while they kept our money. Initially
they quoted us $100,000, then dropped to $24,000 when we tried to leave using classic tactics targeting seniors. When we discovered the cruise "discounts" were actually MORE expensive than booking direct, their customer service told us we "couldn't check pricing
for 6 weeks" which was clearly designed to trap customers past cancellation periods. Customer service is completely worthless and unhelpful. We're seniors who trusted their promises and got completely scammed. The employees at this company are trained to lie
and deceive customers. Save your money and book travel elsewhere. Westgate should be shut down for these fraudulent practices!