Forest Holidays Membership Club

FBF2007

My Wife and I have been called by an agent offering us membership to the Forest Holidays Membership club and on the face of it it looks really tempting.

We have a few holidays a year in parks like Centerparcs but now that our oldest has started school this is not going to be as affordable going forward. The offer available is that for a £4k investment we will receive points equivalent to £10k to use on holidays versus the 2009 price list (about £1k for a week at half term). The 2009 price list will be used for future holiday bookings.

We've been offered a 1 or 2 night stay at £50 a night to try a park out but before going ahead I wanted to see if anyone has any experience of Forest Holidays and/or the membership club and any pointers on whether we should be wary about before investing £4k?

Paulina_Fortune

I've stayed at Deerspark twice through Hoseasons and I believe that this is one of the locations. It's nice and reasonably quiet - it is not like CenterParcs.

I would suggest that you have a good look around first and try it.

I did read about these timeshare type arrangements when I was last there. I personally wouldn't do it myself but it may suit you.

sunshinetours

We are staying at Cropton next Christmas for under £150 for 4 nights which is also school holidays -plenty of offers around if you book early

What happens if the company goes bust?

Be wary

mm4143

We are also thinking of joining, as anyone joined it yet.

j_fysh

Hi there all - first post and all that....

I too am also thinking of joining the club following a couple of holidays at the Deerpark site. Whilst I don't have any worries about them folding any time soon (this is a joint venture between the Forestry Commission and the Camping and Caravanning Club - both solid institutions), I have a few questions before I get back in contact with them (once you make contact their agents will call on a fairly regular basis... a bit annoying but I suppose they are commissioned....I made a very tentative enquiry about a year ago and they called me 3 or 4 times after that. But don't let that comment put you off, the sites and cabins are really good!)

1, Can you 'gift' points / holidays to family members, i.e. We can't go this year, maybe I would like my Sister to use a cabin without me being there - is this allowed?

2, If I were to lose my job or similar, can I re-sell my points back to the club or indeed sell them on to anyone else?

3, Is there a maximum time in which your points / pounds can be used? i.e. maybe I have 500 points left after 10 years. Do I ever lose these points, or do they just sit dormant until used / topped-up?

If any current members read this thread your advice would be very much appreciated!

charomy_2

Hi,

I am an Independent membership agent and can easily deal with the questions raised, if you would like to call me on 01752 837171 and ask for Mr Myers I would be happy to answer all questions raised, I am not connected with the call centre mentioned in your message.

Kind Regards

Merv Myers
Independent Membership Agent
Keltecassociates.co.uk

mm4143

I've just joined if anyone has any questions. they answered all my questions and have never once pestered me to join after enquiring.

I think they are a great company and have booked for this year.

Regards

sunshinetours

mm4143 wrote: »

I've just joined if anyone has any questions. they answered all my questions and have never once pestered me to join after enquiring.

I think they are a great company and have booked for this year.

Regards

Maybe you could answer J_fysh points above for all?

I'm off to Cropton later this year for first time and looking forward to it

mm4143

Hi all

I'll try to answer

1. You can put named people on who can use when your not there, I think they have to be close family.
2.Not sure about that to be honest, but Forest would answer that.
3. They last 25 years.

If you ask they will send you a copy of the terms and conditions which does answer a lot of the questions.

We booked to go top Cropton and got it on a special half price deals using points.
We are going to book for Argyll and Strartyre for next year.

I think the benefits are great and the cabins are lovely.

I hope this helps

j_fysh

Thanks mm4143 - very much appreciated.

We are still giving serious consideration to joining, but have yet to put our hands in our pockets. Plus we have booked for Florida this year, so it will be 2011 at the earliest....

gshaw76

Hi

I know this is quite an old thread but did anybody join the Membership Club? I just joined a couple of months ago and I'm not happy about them changing the benefits so we can no longer make any top ups. I've been in touch with Consumer Direct and they have confirmed it's probably not legal under the "Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999". unfortunately Forest Holidays don't want to know and are sticking to the argument that they can change the benefits for any reason as they see fit!

If anybody else wants to get in touch with me or post their comments then please do so