Sundance Vacations

Called to say I won a free cruise.
There were fees, meaning not free at all. I think they said it could total up to $ 200 to $ 300.
Also, I didn’t have a good feeling about it, they called pretty late on a Sunday night.
They also mentioned it was required to have $ 50K yearly income. When I told them nope, that’s not what I have, they asked if I had anyone I was dating, a family member, or even someone I could find. Why? This is so they can sell their vacation packages if I had anyone to throw away money. Then they tried to tell me I could pass along the cruise that I supposedly won to someone who has a 50K income. LOL. What in the world is this?
I’d much rather pay an all-​inclusive cruise package for $ 400 than to go through this mess.
Avoid if you can.

Ended up not going because it seemed shady.
Bought a Groupon vacation instead and loved it

I’m writing based upon my interaction with a follow up call that I received after I didn’t attend my «appointment» to pick up my tickets. This man was totally creepy and would NOT let me opt out of any communication from them. He was rude and unprofessional and obviously is miserable at his job. Saying things like «oh ok, so you don’t like to go on vacation? I hung up on him and he called back! I have added my number to the Do Not Call list and blocked the number on my phone.
Scary!!!

I just got called by this company and was told that I was selected for a trip to either Puerto Rico, Cancun or Jamaica. Well the shady thing is that I never got any confirmation email after I talked to them. I remain skeptical and will update my review if something cool happens

This company is a SCAM!!! They want me to be on hold for 2 hours to cancel my account! Everyone is in a meeting!!! Really Do not sign any thing or go to any free vouchers they say you have won!!! Its BS

Sundance Vacation ran a sweepstakes at Lake Zurich Beer Fest in 2014. Here is the series of events that led to a horrible experience and for me to write a review.
I entered a sweepstakes to win either 50K or a 4 day trip. I get call two weeks ago saying I won the sweepstakes and only 5 of the entries won. The manager got on the phone explained the rules and that I had to pick up the tickets before a certain time and I had to meet with an agent for 15 – 20 mins to learn about their company. I asked numerous time about what I have to to do and he claimed this is quick introduction. This was 100% a lie and misleading advertising.
Excited that I was pick, I told the travel agent at Sundance on Friday at 5 PM I would be there to talk with an agent for a few mins and pick up my prize.
On, Friday I pick up my girlfriend and head to Downers Grove. I realize I was running 15 mins late. I call the location to inform them. First I get a female on the phone who was very unfriendly and did not greet me as a customer. I explain that I would be there 15 minutes late and she lashed out at me.
I then asked why is 15 minutes a big deal for collecting a winning prize. Her exact words «You did not win anything!» I told her the agency called me yesterday and told me I was a winner (So this is their first lie). She said that this is a gift for listening to an hour long presentation with a group of people (Second lie they told me). Remember I was told 15 – 20 mins with an agent not an hour long video presentation with 15 people. Then come to find out everyone who filled out a sweepstakes form is a winner (Third Lie)
I then told her exactly what I was told and she then got even more degrading to me on the phone. So then tried to reschedule this presentation with me after being insultant, lied to continuously and now I am half to Downers Grove from Wauconda. I was not allow to join their presentation late either. So I hung up the phone and turned around. I wasted my time, gas money and excitement that Friday from lies and deception from Sundance.
My girlfriend, my mother, my brother, my sister, my brother in-​law and my brother’s friend all apparently won that day and got a call from Sundance. Sundance now lost 7 people from the misleading sweepstakes and for mistreating me. They even call my girlfriend back the next saturday to ask why I do not show and try reschedule again. I find this insulting that there customer support did not have the courage to reach to me.
Long Story but I want to warn anybody who fills out a sweepstakes from Sundance, it is not a sweepstakes it is a lead generator with no prizes to the winners aka everyone who fills the form out.

Im going to have to agree to disagree with some of the comments left here, this company sells wholesale vacations, to where you buy a bulk and it brings down the average cost per vacation. They also accommodate condos villas suites townhomes and single-​family residences. There is absolutely no obligations to buy or any strings attached…“or high-​pressure sales”… if you like it you could use it and afforded a.k.a. if you see the value in staying in resorts for wholesale prices opposed to hotels and motels, assuming you’re going to take vacations, the amount of value is through the roof! (regardless for your time and your attention) you get a nice getaway) All the events that they have their corporate sponsorships at are legit and fun events! …at the end of the day it’s One of those things where «the beauty is in the eye of the beholder» …moreover, I believe they have over 80,000 clients traveling this way for over 23 years, that speaks volumes no matter which way you cut it right lol.

It’s a total SCAM… they called me telling me that I won a free Cruise and they kept trying to bring me to their office so I can attend a 1 hour presentation. I read a lot about them online and everyone say its a bad company and a total SCAM… I also read that they become so rude whenever you ignore them! and that exactly what happened… they called me three times and on the third time I told him I don’t want the trip just give it to anyone, I’m busy and don’t even have time for a free cruise and He was like «But you have a time for a wolf hocky game»…REALLY?!! I dunno whatever I want. and when I kept telling him that I don’t want the cruise he just hanged up on my face. If I have time I will go to the company not to watch a 1 hour presentation but to let them hear a 1 hour speach on how to have some manners and never call people and be rude again…

Update: I didn’t end up going on the cruise. I gave it to a friend going through some marriage trouble. I don’t think he ever used it. Everything seemed legitimate about it though, even after reading the fine print several times with several people.

Ok everyone, I went in and listened to their sale pitch. They are not selling vacations they are selling your rooms to stay in. They say vacation but all they have is rooms and you have to get to the location and pay for all your extras. If you want to go to Mexico they will provide the room for you but you have to get there and pay for airfare and everything. Again they are only selling you a room not a vacation. I sat their and they keep saying vacation but all they say is they have condos and suites for you to stay in. You have to get to your location if it’s Mexico or Wisconsin or Bahamas. They took my picture and and say they will put it on the wall with all the others but good luck trying to find it later. You will get the cruise but they will talk you into buying a vacation room not a vacation. If it was a vacation they will pay for everything but all they have is fancy room for you to stay at a discounted rate. It’s ok but just listen real carefully how they pitch it. They bought a lot of rooms at different locations and your just renting a room like you rent a car. You don’t own the car but you can have it for a week and then the next couple will have it. See what I’m saying?

received a call from this obviously fraudulent company saying I have won a free cruise to the Bahamas (I was at six flags and filled out some form) and since I was a Triple AAA member my air fare was included. They said it was completely free I just had to pay taxes and port fees or something like that anyway I had to be 21 fine I understand that but I also had to make a combined income of $ 35 (I just lost my job) anyway I got angry because then it wasn’t free you want to sell me something and you want to ensure I have the money to buy to buy whatever it is you’re selling… well I’m not buying and I told Nick the supervisor I spoke to just the same

This review has been a long time coming. My boyfriend and I «won» a flight to anywhere in the contiguous US, so long as we sat through a sales pitch. We knew that Sundance’s reps were going to do whatever they could to get us to buy a vacation package, so we made sure we had enough time to say «no» until we got our voucher (2 – 3 hours).
The slide show was laughable, but harmless. Sundance considers themselves to be the «Sam’s Club» of vacations, if you’re the type who likes to get locked into a travel company that refuses to show an accurate preview of their properties for $ 20,000. My boyfriend was quick to point out that their sample photo did not match up with the map layout that was shown next to it– the map showed the sample condo to be much, much smaller. 25 – 30 weeks of fun… except you have to spend every moment of your vacation on their property (which you would not see until you get there). Forget about traveling abroad or sightseeing.
After the presentation, we were split up into singles/​pairs and assigned to a salesperson, whose goal was to get us to sign. After I said that we weren’t interested, our salesperson immediately tried to create a rift between my boyfriend and I– «Do you let her make all the decisions?» I started to feel bad for her after a while, because we were a brick wall. «We like traveling in Europe.» «We have college debt and don’t see any value in purchasing this package.» «We try to stay with friends or family when we vacation in the U.S.» «We like the ability to shop around for hotels.» As the salesperson escorted us to the man who would give us our voucher, we discovered that she started working for Sundance after she bought a package from them. Poor woman.
As with many of the other reviewers, our voucher man gave us one last discount, then handed us our voucher after we refused to budge. The contingency of the flight voucher is that you have to fly out in the evening (as late as 10pm) and return on an early flight. In addition, you are confined to their property for the duration of your stay. Since we were thinking of using the flight to see my boyfriend’s family, the voucher was useless to us.

Everyone is 110% accurate with the reviews of the sales pitch. I am a new graduate with student loans. I make a decent salary, but I don’t see a vacation as a necessity like a paper towel roll or gallon of gas– in the sales pitch they like to say «Would you buy a single roll of toilet paper or a whole box? Which makes more sense» And then they apply that to the vacations. I went through all 3 sales reps, the first guy was very rude when I told him that I could not make a $ 20,000 decision in 45 minutes. The «supervisor» was nicer about it and the last guy who gave me my voucher offered me a $ 1600 deal. That’s nice and all, but any investment requires thinking about it and learning more about the locations, lodging arrangements, etc. So yes, I have my cruise and I am looking forward to paying a significantly less amount of money for it!

Worst form of marketing I’ve seen (I’m in the business).
I entered a contest at the United Center. A month later started getting calls from Sundance but they never said I actually won anything, only to call back for some «good news». I never called back. But one day they actually got me directly — told me I won a cruise including airfare but not including drinks and there would be a fee to actually book the cruise (I think she said $ 129, can’t remember). And to collect my voucher I needed to come into the office and sit in on a 1 hour sales presentation.
I informed her that I have over 10,000 followers on various social media sites. Wouldn’t a positive mention of «OMG I won a cruise from Sundance!» be far more valuable than me taking two hours away from my children to listen to a pitch and NOT buy anything? The woman on the phone said «well we are hoping that when you come in you will become a customer». I responded with «There’s no chance of me becoming a customer using that method. My time with my children is too important to me». I did say that if I can come in during school hours I’d consider it but was told that they only are available late afternoons/​evening but I could bring my kids with me. Um… no thanks. The free cruise would have ended up costing several hundred dollars after fees/​drinks plus with the other «strings» including blackout dates, no thanks.
The sleeze factor oozed during my phone calls (and there were several call-​backs plus facebook messaging since there’s no email address provided on their website). This companies business model is ancient. They need to learn to embrace social media and not use the old fashioned pressure method.
Lesson learned. Don’t fill out entry forms at a concert. Finding myself on an email list (that I can opt out of) is one thing. Phone calls and misleading contesting/​prizing is quite another. I fully blame myself for filling out that form.
Oh, by the way… in reading other reviewers who seem to think sitting in on a long sales pitch is perfectly okay for winning a prize, that’s an obvious scam alert according the government. Do you realize you have not «won» anything? That every single person who filled out the entry form got the same so-​called «prize»?

I wanted to write a review because I actually did go to the one hour long presentation because we like to vacation but I’m also a very skeptical person. This my first review. First we got a call after filling out an entry at the sox game. The girl was nice and she was doing her job. Whatever. So on the phone call they said we Won a free cruise. Ok I asked what it Includes and they were upfront about the 189 – 225 extra fees we would pay person. The presentation was to learn about their «Costco» «SAMs» type of package vacationing options. We would also get a chance to win $ 1,000 in the drawing they would hold that evening. It was not a drawing we were expecting. We would also get a pair of free sox tickets. They also said I could take my two toddlers and there would be help and things for them to do in the room with us.
At the presentation here is what they offer.
7 nights 8 day vacation stays at one of their properties in mexico, USA, or Caribbean. Key is that it is only for four people. (we have five in ours)
You get 30 weeks of vacation time for $ 15,000 (it started 25 weeks for $ 20,000)
You pay $ 99 every time you book
You pay $ 369 annual fee for maintenance and what ever else he told me
If you travel during holidays it is $ 50 extra per night
If it is more than 4 people you can pay 30 extra per night or use another week and invite more people
So I thought to myself for my family to take one week during the holidays as that’s when we all have off it would be $ 1,028 In fees (369+99+350(50×7 holiday) +210(extra kid)) I still need to pay down the 15 000 to belong to the club and buy airplane tickets. Pretty hefty.
One thing I thought was nice is that you get weekly emails on their extra inventory that week and if you pick one of those spots it’s 149 a week plus your 99 and it doesn’t count towards your 30 weeks available. Your friends and family can use it to. So I suggest find a friend that bought this sundance deal and avoid all those fees.
As for kidcare. There was non. They had two coloring books and ten broken crayons. My kids went crazy of course. Thank goodness for iPods. There was no help. At the end they come in and individual reps speak to you about financing. We of course said no since we get way better deals and perks as my hubbybtravels

Not sure why its rated so low, but maybe people didn’t know what they were getting themselves into. I got a call that I won a trip. I came in for their hour to explain their company and afterwards got broken out into smaller groups where they let you know about their offers they have going on. Are they trying to sell you them? Yes, of course. This is a business. We politely said this wasn’t for us and were on our way. It’s a shame that people are rude to these sales people because they are just trying to make a living. Everyone was realllly nice and very welcoming.

Its not a «scam», you seriously don’t have to buy anything, but its not free.
You put your name into a drawing for something, and next thing you know you are getting a trip to somewhere in the 48 states.
You do have to: listen to their speel and try to be sold on something. I actually liked what they offered in terms of bulk vacation packages, but its a lot to pay up front for it. They were super nice, but creepy. Our sales guy knew everything about my home state, and where my boyfriend was from and everything.
But I wasn’t too put off. I sat through it, had a good time, declined, and got my voucher for my trip. Tips for your trip: DON’T DO THE CRUISE. Seriously, your going to pay out for your butt for fees. I mean, you are going to pay out the butt for fees on anyone of them but dang, that cruise is the worst.
For the airfare and hotel for two, you will have to pay $ 99 a person, and be refunded whatever the leftover was for tax for the plane. You will have to fly Spirit air which charges $ 35 to $ 100 for a CARRY ON.
This package is great if you don’t mind having the clothes on your back, going some place new, and just buying what you need when you need it. Also, if your flight get canceled any time during the trip (lay overs, before you leave, flight home) you’re done for. You’ll have to pay for anything after the initial: THIS IS YOUR TRIP. GOOD DAY.
If you are up for adventure, go for it. If you don’t like the possibility of being super screwed at a moments notice, don’t go for their voucher.

Okay so I went on my «free» cruise in March of this year. I had to sit through the sales pitch like everyone else and just kept saying no. They were mad but hey, I couldn’t afford it and I had no intentions to buy anything.
It was a hassle getting dates. You have to follow the directions exactly and you actually will go on a decent cruise. You pick three dates and they have you call and see which dates are available. I called and they picked a date that was close to the day that I chose and I had to say yes right then and there even though its the first time hearing the dates.
So fast forward, I went on the cruise. First and biggest problem, There was a severe thunderstorm and our flights were canceled. :_(They would not transfer or give us any options. They immediately canceled our flights. I had to buy tickets out of my own pocket which was 800.00. So that ruined the discount I would have received but it would have been much better if I didn’t have to pay that but to their merit it was not their fault that the light was canceled. They did refund me the flight tax afterwards at home.
The cruise itself was a blast. Norwegian Sky. My cabin was really nice and spacious, I was on deck 9, one of the nicer ones. great entertainment, food etc. it was my first and now I’m hooked. They nickel and dime you for everything. if didn’t have to pay for extra flights this is how it would pan out
Port and tax fees for 2=$ 525
Baggage on flights=160
Pictures on cruise=$ 60
Drinks=$ 100
Excursions=$ 160
SOuveniers$ 100
Hotel night before=$ 125
Day hotel waiting for flight=$ 75
Transportation to boat=$ 70
Gas/​Transportation to airport=$ 100

People who rated this place less than 2 stars didn’t even make it to the information session so please ignore those reviews and stick to the ones where people gave this place a chance and didn’t whine like babies.
So just like everyone else here, my husband and I filled out some sheet at a Blackhawks game and got a call we were eligible for a 2 round trip tickets and 2 nights stay anywhere in the 48 contiguous states. Pretty cool, right? We would just have to go to Downers Grove and listen to a presentation and in no way were we obligated to purchase anything. Okay, not bad. We got there and everyone we met was incredibly nice! It’s not a timeshare thing. It’s basically you pay for stays in their condos/​resorts in bulk (about $ 20k-​$ 15k up front… yikes)…a vacation whole seller. After the presentation you’ sit down with a sales person and they go over everything with you a few times. We politely declined and the sales person (we had Johnny who was really pleasant to talk to!) grabs their supervisor and of course they try to «see what they can do» for us maybe to make things more affordable. Again, we politely declined. And again, they tried to bring the price down for us, give us a different package, etc. Honestly, it was like they were trying to help us than just sell us something. The value and the deal you get is okay, but I hate not being able to choose exactly where I stay on vacation. You’re basically stuck in wherever they put you at the location you want to be at. Orlando? Nope, you’re stuck in Kissimmie. Just seems more for retirees than a young person like myself where I can get a fab deal on Groupon or something.
After declining about 3 or 4 times we were handed our free trip and went on our way. That’s it. We weren’t conned into anything, we weren’t hassled or belittled. Everyone we spoke to was very nice and professional. My only biggest gripe is that we were also offered a free cruise as well… without airfare. Seems super bogus that other were given the cruise with airfare and we don’t have that option. Definitely seem jipped in that regard. But all in all, I say just go and see if the opportunity they are offering is right for you. If not, just keep saying no and you’ll be okay.

I don’t know why there is so many 1 star reviews. It’s not really a timeshare, but similar where they are actually selling a vacation package in different ways.
I think the value was decent, but I just am not a fan of travelling domestically so Sundance was not for me. The presentation is correct as is breaking off to different sales people. If you don’t want the package just say you don’t want it. It’s just like buying a car and the salespeople are trying to make a living.
I saw some merit in the deal, but it was not for me. Got my cruise tickets and am quite pleased when comparing to higher pressure timeshare presentations. Compared to other places these guys are sweethearts.