Coastal Vacations Coast Vacations magic act, All Smoke and Mirrors Ripoff Internet Nationwide

I am a member of Coastal Vacations (just over 1 year). This membership is very comprehensive and does take some time to learn how to best use the package.

The main benefit to the membership is in the accomodations, but there are plenty of discounts on ski, golf, theme park, recreation, camping, theme parks as well.

The author says that these are available to anyone, which is incorrect. There are some discounts that others could locate if they know where to look, so providing that information has some value. The goal is to get the best possible pricing on travel, right?

However, the 3 Day, 2-night vacation stays for taxes-only are not on a site for anyone. I used one of these last March in Orlando and paid the 6.95 to order the vacation from the shipping center, then $12.00 per night (room taxes only). Our cost would have been $65 PLUS the taxes. Some of these do also require an additional $20 processing fee, but it's still a bargain. These are for hotel stays in major mid-scale chains like Ramada, Choice, La Quinta, AmeriSuites, Howard Johnsons,etc. These are also pretty much available primarily in major vacation destinations.

These vacations ARE promotional, so are subject to availability, however, the Board of Directors contracts with many different vendors, so often if you cannot find availability with one, you can with another. It is more challenging to use some parts during peak season such as Christmas or Easter week, but I have heard from many people who have found availability during these times. One of our members got a condo in Maui last Christmas at about 1/3 the cost of the regular pricing.

It's important to understand that resorts, hotels, cruise ships would rather fill rooms and have people spending money in their restaurants, bars, gift shops, etc. than have empty rooms. This is where the membership stems from...filling rooms. Obviously if it is peak season and they can fill to capacity at their regular prices, they would not honor complimentary stays at that particular time.

I have given these mini trips as gifts. I donated 3 to a fundraiser in November and these trips brought $625 in the silent auction. This package is great for both fundraising groups and for small businesses to use as promotions.
The SIRewards must be used with a code to access the discounts.

The Access card must be used with a member code to access the members-only discounts. I have used this twice and received off my hotel room, once at a Wyndham and once at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa.

We were able to receive 50% off Toledo Symphony tickets last year because they participate in the Access program.

There are about 8 condo vendors who participate, giving us some excellent pricing on week-long condo stays in timeshare resorts with NO timeshare tours required. Again, this is a way for these resorts to fill vacant rooms. We can find deals as low as $300 for an entire week! Some will be last minute and others you can plan ahead.

The Quest Card is one of the memberships and not available to anyone without a member number.

Understand that Access and Quest are discount cards that are PART of the Coastal membership. We are not the sole group that uses these. This is why if you call a company that participates with Access, they'll need your Access number, not your Coastal number, etc. Same with SIRewards.

Many of the vendors are licensed, bonded travel agencies. The author seems to think that is a negative.

On the cruises...when you book directly with the cruise lines, you pay the port fees, taxes and gratuities, but they are quoted in the price, so for example, in the Level 1 package, there is one Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruise included. Our cost is about $200 per person for these fees. If you search online for the cheapest price on the same cruise, you'll generally find about $500-1000. Pretty good deal in my book. Also note that if you've ever won a cruise in a sweepstakes, you'll likely pay the port fees, taxes and gratuities plus some processing fee. The actual accomodations are complimentary.

Last, the Board of Directors looks for additional things that just add some additional value to the membership. The Gas card is one of them. You would not take advantage of an offer that didn't interest you to get the gas rebate, but if it's something you'd use, it may be worth doing.

The travel industry is very competitive. Things change rather quickly. Our board works to find the best values they can for our members and when a particular vendor doesn't live up to our standards, they will replace them. They have been looking to provide some type of air discounts for some time now. Unfortunately, they don't really exist in the marketplace due to the competitiveness of the airline industry since 9-11. I don't yet know what happened with MyFlightChecks.com.

Bottom line, if you learn how to use the membership, you'll find real value there. Mine paid for itself in my first year. If you're using them for incentives for your business, I recommdend you offer the 3 day, 2 night stays as your incentives, or if you got the Level 2, you can give cruises. Or hold a drawing for the cruise. There are lots of ideas.

The person you purchased your package from can direct you to some live product calls where you can learn more about the details. This may be helpful.

Michelle Porter
Coastal Synergy Group

I have tried to utilize the vacation package, selected my vacations, sent in my money, and have received nada, zip, zilch, back. The people have kept my money and will not respond to my e-mails and inquiries. There is no one in Coastal Vacations that I can contact that polices these companies.

Also, name one, just one, web site that provides unique benefits for Coastal members only. What does the $1295 for the Level One Package pay for?

Again, the Coastal membership is a comprehensive collection of discount travel benefits with real value. I have not yet found any organization that offers unlimited access to taxes-only vacation stays (without any timeshare tours required) plus the various discount cards. While not totally exclusive to Coastal members, Access is not available to the general public. In other words, you cannot simply go out an purchase an Access card. Certain large organizations participate. Access had a lot of great discounts, particularly condos.

For an issue with a particular vendor, write to the shipping center, NB Management. (Same address as on the vacation order forms.) Be sure to include your Coastal ID number. Attn: Al Romine.

Al is one of the BOD. Your director should have been able to provide you this information. He or she can also provide you with the phone # for the BOD calls. Thursday eve at 9pm EST is the product call. Board member Stephanie conducts this call. I recommend you join this. If your director (the person you purchased from)is part of theCoastal Synergy Group, they can also direct you to our product webcast on Saturdays.

I have had good experiences with my membership so far, along with a one glitch with a vendor that they have discontinued a relationship with. Coastal has also provided me with good income working it as a business.

I did some further checking on the MyFlightChecks.com. Go to the website and enter the registration number from your coupon booklet. This gives you access to the site. I found that you can get pricing on hotels, condos, cruises, etc as well as flights. There is a valid phone number there as well where you can call to make your arrangements. Hope it helps.

Coastal Vacations is comprised of several web sites that are operated by individuals. They are not accountable to Coastal Vacations, because Coastal Vacations is not a company. It is not owned by anyone. It does not have a customer service department. It relys on someone like Michelle who apparantly has had success doing this and has to defend Coastal to protect her integrity.

It is an MLM scheme promoted by Directors who sell an idea, rather than a product. The idea is to sell others that they can make $3000 or more per week convincing people to do the same thing they are doing. Unfortunately, I bought the product for the product and not for the scheme. So far, the product that I purchased does not exist, because I have not been successful getting any of my transactions completed.

Wow, gotta say Michelle's responses do not sound like a customer at all. They definitely sound like a totally packaged advertising program.

If things work like she says, that's one thing, but her responses, from the very first one, just do not sound credible to me, and I have zero interest in vacation programs. I mention my lack of interest in this because I feel like I'm totally unbiased, as I have no interest in this.

Michelle sounds completely like a packaged ad.

To Gene, I'm sure sorry you're having so much trouble, I hope you can get it worked out satisfactorily, at some point.

I just started with Coastal a month and a half ago and was brought to this web site by someone looking for information. When she sent me the start of this post my first thought was why is someone going to complain about a free trip?

I got my cards no problem and I even went online and checked them out and still no problem. Coastal has not lied about anything in the package, everything they told me including the fees and taxes were clearly explained to me. Nothing in life is free and they never said it was but if you would rather pay full price for a cruise than just the port taxes you have issue's that I don't understand.

So far all I've seen is people who thought that someone else was going to make them rich and not one of them has bothered to read what is put in front of them. This is not a MLM if I'm not making money off every sale you make. What do people really want, something for nothing. It is way too easy to sit and complain because you are not getting the results you want but ask your self how hard are you working it.

It is an unfortunate part of life that people rip others off and scam them even through a good legitimate company. Was everyone at Enron a criminal just because they worked there in the mail room? No the ones responsible are the ones that should be held accountable.

I feel very fortunate that I have a Director with experience behind him and a great positive attitude and his up line director has been with Coastal fro 4 years. So if it is such a scam why are some making six figures in 6 months and others are blaming someone else because they can't. Get off your butt and work your business because no one else but you should be doing it. I can't wait to take my first Mini Vacation with my friends just so I can talk from experience.

In the mean time I have been very honest with every person I've spoken to and told them that I just started and that there is good people to work with and he/she can speak to the people making the big bucks and have much more experience than me and that is part of what makes this system so great.

I looked at it this way money wise: I pay for a travel membership once and can renew it for life for under $100 and if I would like to make money by selling the memberships now I can and I didn't have to invest anymore money and there were no extra hidden cost. Your business will only be as successful as you make it and I know with a product like this membership behind me nothing is going to stop me from reaching financial freedom.

Lastly with all the laws we have protecting us then how could a company stay in business for 11 years if all they do is scam people and rip them off, they wouldn't. Don't let on bad apple or even 10 out of a million and growing spoil the great opportunity you're looking for to make your life better. I'm in Canada and we don't get many opportunities up here where we can make this kind of money and not worry about shipping and duty taxes on products, this is the best thing that I have seen in the 2 years I've been looking for a home based business and am I ever glad I didn't delete that email on January 1,2007. It was the start of a great new year for me when I started to read about the Coastal Vacation opportunity.

Tracey, being with a company for a month and a half does not lend you much credibility, believe me.

More than once, I have seen a rebuttal posted regarding a business by a person whose been in that business "six months!", and heaping praises to the skies.

Then - amazingly, some HAVE come back, after a bit more seasoning, and put the truth to the original post. I really admire anyone who can do such a thing, come back and publicly acknowledge they were a little starry-eyed, and now wish to say they were a bit "misled". It takes a real concern for others to be able to do such a thing, I do admire that.

It isn't one bad apple, Tracey, it's a lot of people, over a number of years, complaining.

Been in business 11 years so can't be bad?? Hmmm, how long has the mob been in business lololol.

Everyone is always looking to get something for nothing. Sorry I've had my eyes open from the start, when I joined Coastal a year ago,for the savings on travel, I knew I was getting something but it WASN'T free. I still haven't become a director with Coastal but I will because of what it offers. I have been scammed,lied too by companies that took my money and I got nothing. I have attended seminars for other companies and Coastal and I got nothing from the others, but when I walk out on the last day of Coastal seminars I take something, however little or big with me when I go Home. I have tried timeshares and got taken for thousands,with Coastals network of discounted vacations I have saved thousands already, and will continue to forever. I am sorry that you and some others seem to have problems, name one thing you do in life that's problem free!! I have not had any major problems, waiting too long to make a reservation, MY FAULT so I didn't get what I really wanted, and didn't get the 2 tickets from the processing center for Disney, I am sending a letter to Al to let them know at the shipping center.Like most people I have talked to, I feel I have got more than enough for my money and if I make money helping others invest in the same thing, well it is a plus, the AMERICAN DREAM, but if I only save on vacations that's great. I also think that the mafia would try Coastal because they would see the value and the income potential, oh they were a group of business men that gave others a chance to succeed in some way. Good and bad in everything is what we need to remember. This is what Coastal is a group giving others a chance to succeed and enjoy life vacationing,at a discount others want. So look at what you are doing with your package, are you sending it to the right place, and if you repeatedly sent money and got nothing,stop and think why,because you thought it was a good deal right? If you don't ask for help you can't get it write to the shipping center: N.B. Management 7862 W. Irlo Bronson,suite 236, Kissimmee,FL 34747 Good Luck

I made a mistake when I wrote the original Rip Off Report. I was upset because I was not using the vacation program properly and blamed Coastal Vacations when it was the vendors fault. (Those vendors have been dropped and replaced.)

I've found that Coastal Vacations will work with you when you need them. What they say is true, but you have to work within the system.

I saved money and have saved my friends money once I became familar with the program.

Coastal is everything it says it is, but is not necessarily everything you want it to be. It saves you hundreds of dollars, but it is not free. It offers thousands of locations, but they are not always available when you want them to be. However, compared with a time share, Coastal Vacations is a steal.

Gene,
I would like to respond to your response and add a brief comment if I may. I am glad that you got your situation resolved and did the honorable thing in coming back to your rip-off report and amending it, stating that Coastal Vacations was not at fault but the Vendor was the responsible party in the situation. It shows your true character by doing so. Thank You.

My name is Crystal and I am one of 17 people out of 300,000+ people world wide in the leadership council with coastal vacations. I am also a recipient of the Gold Seal Award which highlights people in Coastal who are doing their business with the utmost ethics and integrity.

Yes, there are sometimes people out there who "say they are directors in coastal", who lie, who scam people for their money and are not ethical or legitimate and don't know the first thing about working coastal and in their business dealings.

Unfortunately, with Coastal's high profits on every package we market and new member who gets started it also brings out the sharks in the water as well who take advantage of this. I can assure you the Board of Directors hear about these individuals and do what is appropriate regarding those individuals when it is brought to their attention.

I searched for over 10 years, was in 16 other business opportunities, was a leader in another business growing a team in Dallas, TX to over 468 people, spent over $40,000 to find a business that was not a MLM program and that was actually legitimate, providing me with the type of lifestyle and income I deserved.

Well, my search was over when I found coastal. Coastal is in over 100 countries world wide, has been in business for over 25 years and 12 years as a home based business.

The Better Business Bureau has had NO complaints issued against Coastal Vacations as well for I checked into this before joining. I had been burnt too many times before to do it again!

Since joining coastal my first month I profited $8,000 working this business and was able to quit my job as the Branch Administrator at a reputable Insurance Company that is nationwide in Orange County California. I was able to bring my fiancee Shawn home from that same office where he was a health and life insurance agent and we work this business as our sole source of income.

We use our package consistently. We were home only 5 days the month of March, traveling and doing our business while enjoying freedom to live our life without restraints of a 9-5 job and setting our own hours for time freedom. We just got home from a cruise from Mexico and you can view those photos on my website as well for they are posted there.

I was interviewed as a successful director by the Coastal Board of Directors in November of 2006 and you can listen to that interview on my website. Shawn and I have also been on the radio in Arizona and also on a Christian Station in Dallas, TX as special guests "highlighting our coastal vacations package" and what fantastic trips we have in our packages giving highlights on those that we just returned from. There is also a Press Release listed on Yahoo's Ask.com regarding us under Crystal Williams.

So does coastal work? Yes it does! I want everyone out there who is reading these reports to know..YES IT DOES AND IT IS A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS. I have shared this business with everyone I have come into contact with. What type of person would I be if I didn't? We are blessing people worldwide. I know how it can change people's lives for it has changed ours!

My second month was over $16,000, $33,000 the third month, $48,000 the 4th month and so on, growing my team just by plugging into the one and only "Official Coastal System". As the months proceeded my income kept growing and now what I was making monthly I am sometimes making weekly or daily.

The bottom line is, anyone wanting to get involved with coastal vacations I would suggest you do your homework, read the 17 page profile, go to conference calls and ask for several references of the director who contacted you.

Also, I have read some comments regarding Gene Ellison from Colorado that were "False" in other reports listed on this rip-off report site. Gene is actually a very legitimate director with coastal who is actually the Director of one of our individuals who is on the Coastal Board of Directors. I can assure you he has been in Coastal for years, has made a small fortune and runs his business with ethics as well.

I can only speak for myself, but I am almost positive that the Coastal Board of Directors and Leadership Council members (who by the way do not get paid for any of the work they do freely for everyone in Coastal) want you to do what is best for you and your family.

They want you to investigate it thoroughly for we have "nothing to hide". We want to make sure that a year from now when somebody comes up to you and asks you about Coastal Vacations, that you will KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, that it is real and that you made a decision you felt really good about.

I wish everyone to have as much success in Coastal as we have had, thanks for letting me share and God Bless!

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

I heard the pitch and it sounded too good to be true, so I declined. So far I don't know anyone who has made the BIG money in my area.

Since then I have been using other travel discount programs like AAA and Entertainment Guide. As far as the FREE travel vouchers. If you're paying $1295 to get the package the vouchers are not free. Free means "NO COST". If there is a cost, it is not free. So anytime a company says something is free and then tries to charge me over $1000 to get, I run like heck.

You can buy travel vouchers on Ebay for a lot less. As far as the discount golf, amusement parks etc... there are other less expensive methods of doing so. When a company charges a premium of over $1000 for discount travel when you can get it for under $50 elsewhere, I consider a rip-off.

Think of it like this you want a Lexus and company A charges $60,000 while company B charges $1,200,000 for the same Lexus. Which company will you go with? Well not Company B and it sounds like Coastal Vacations is doing just that; charging more than 20 times what the item is actually worth.

I turned the opportunity because I already knew where to get the things they were charging a premium for. All you have to do is google it and you'll find.

Don't go with these guys. I did not and I'm glad I did. As for the few that are making money, they are making it off those who don't realize there's a better deal around.

First off Ive been with Coastal for a while now and was brought in by a friend who couldn't make ends meet and did make it. I do have the project and have worked with the Board of Directors personally.

Your response was that you were not able to get in touch with anybody, when you were explained how to do that you then complained about the general public being able to access the same information you purchased. Nobody said they couldn't access it (they can't access all of it but some they can) but so can people access ebay and learn it but they spend 1000 of dollars a month for some body to show them how who has spent the time to learn it.

Bottom line coastal is not an information package because i have looked at numurious other vacations things and coastal is the only one i've found to offer the unlimited lifetime vacations at taxes only and that in it self is worth the money. You act like you not going to pay taxes any way, if you win a car from a dealership YOU PAY TAXES, if you win a price from monolopy with Mc Donald's, YOU PAY TAXES, or if you win the lottery, YOU PAY TAXES, so bottom line is your getting it a lot cheaper.

Your problem sounds like you had a bad director and now that other directors are sitting here trying to help you you come up with other so called problems. So in my opinion your entire argument is bogus at this point.

Tommy -- Atlanta, GA

In response to David in Anaheim, I have not yet joined Coastal. Still on the fence so to speak. However, one very important thing has caught my attention. I cannot find anywhere near as many complaints regarding Coastal as I can with absolutley every other home based business I have researched so far.

Can I find Coastal complaints? The answer is yes. BUT, I have to hunt for those "true" complaints, whereas all I have to do is a google search of everybody else, and get more ripoff reports than I can read in a lifetime. I am going to continue to watch and research Coastal. I am a very cautious person with my money, and don't jump into a get rich quick scheme. So far, what I have seen with Coastal, is they are NOT offering a get rich quick scheme, but a business opportunity that requires actual work.

Anything worth having is going to require effort. So what can someone from Coastal tell me that I can't find on the web that will pull me off this fence?

I am really considering joing Coastal. I am very nervous about spending the money to do so. I am concerened about not earning my money back. I have alot of good ideas on how to market my business but i am so scared because my husband already says no. So i kind of can relate with Steve to say i am on the fence about joing. If you have any websights or info that will help please let me know also i have not been able to find customers not business oweners who have taken vacations to see how they liked there trip. Any information will help.