Beach Club

[caribbeanprlgrl]

Thanks for the info Yvonne. We also stay anywhere from 4-8 weeks at a time. We travel for 30+ hours to get there as well as tickets costing us from $2000-$2200, so we must make the trip worthwhile. You made the comment that conditions depend on unit & many other factors. I am wondering what you meant as we all signed contracts for our units that were to be kept up to standards according to the NIOC rule book. We have every piece of paper given to us and we are very aware what is to be in our unit and working if that applies...ie:AC, toaster, fridge, etc. McNeil had obligations as well. We know, as well as other owners that have made the comment to us, that our maintenance we all paid from the time we bought the timeshares has never been totally put towards what it should have been put into. And with Ofer it just got worse. I don't know if you are aware of this, but in December Ofer gave the "command" to send everyone off the property and shut the place down. I received an email concerning this from a very, very reliable source. It was only when the timeshare owners got wind of this that they contacted Mcneil and told her that if she did not do anything about it they were going to take it to the newspapers, TV, radio and any other public media. They also said they would sue HER because she was the one that sold us the timeshares and she sold them without our permission as owners. It is a very unpleasant situation with no real cure at present time. I only hope that owners units haven't deteriorated too much over the past year. Also, security really is not present on the property now. Anyone can come and go as they please. We know owners that have simply walked away from their remaining weeks they own. As one owner put it, "it is as close to living in the projects as he cares to be". Sad, but true. I know alot of us love that property as you have said, but when proper maintenance is not done on a regular basis, the Beach Club is what you get.....if it wasn't for Jean putting such an effort into her units, that hotel would be a -10 star place.

[rooster]

It's painfull to keep hearing these bad stories.....but those of you who still want to put up with NBCC & Time Scare's....careful what you wish for. I have this awful feeling that I'm going to read a post about someone getting hurt on this property in one way or another.

[Lovechild]

My girlfriend had the most beautiful unit I've seen there....she was there over New Year’s....very modern unit w/ stainless steel appliances....One of the bedrooms had a California King size bed. The Verandah had the most beautiful/comfortable furniture. Whoever owns it has done a lot of work in it.
In August we had a renovated unit that was nice and comfortable...for the most part my experience with NBCC has been without incident.

[s2do1]

i also bought a timeshare back in the 80's and stayed there for many years.. every year i paid those maintenance fees even though they kept increasing every year, but the place was not getting any nicer, nothing was going back into the place.. about 10 years ago i started staying at a property on the cliffs, we would travel with a group of 4 to 6 people, so some would stay at my timeshare but i always kept staying cliffside except maybe to swim on beach in the day...my friends using the TS were always complaining about, water pressure, a/c not working, no kitchen utensils etc...so i went down and complained about something one time,,it was taken care of asap.. i am very heavily tattooed so i kind of stand out on the beach... i was back in negril about 2 months later, staying on the cliffs, so 1 day i went down to the beach club to use their beach, i guess someone recognized me,, after about an hour i was told to leave the property because i was not a guest, a big argument ensued, i told them who i was, what unit i owned, how many thousands of us$$$ i put into that place,,, to no avail.. i was escorted from the property by security.... i never paid them another cent, never went back never will...i tell people to stay away.. i don't post much on this forum but have been on here almost daily for many years and i read all the praises and laugh.....i would rather sleep in a tent on the beach again like we did in the 70's.....that place is crap.. there are so many wonderful places to stay now,, places that actually take care of their properties and their guests....the negril beach club is not one of them

[Jamerican71]

oh my goodness.....this really just sucks. Like the timeshares, conditions in each condo can be very different. Each condo owner is responsible for the furnishings and upkeep of their units. I know that Jean has encouraged the owners to update their units and some have been updated and others are in desperate repair. Jean and staff do a good job of making sure the unit is cleaned and the comforts of home are available. There are some condo units that are really nice and it's because the owner of that unit has put the money into it. For the timeshare units, unless the person staying in the unit says something then it doesn't get repaired or replaced so it differs from unit to unit.

I heard about that directive and actually lots of staff were sent home including staff that has been there for close to 20 years. The staff that remained are working without wages with no promise of when they will get paid. For those that have gotten paid, it is not their full paycheck. Staff are scared that one day, they will come and the place will be locked up.....this is also one of my fears as a condo guest. There is still security on property but it is only from 3pm to 7am. The other staff have stepped up and I still felt very safe on my last visit in November despite the change.

I just can't understand what Ofer is trying to do with the property. When I met him, he said he was trying to turn the place into Nikki Beach (in Miami). If this is the case then why is he not paying his Strata fees?

[Jamerican71]

My girlfriend had the most beautiful unit I've seen there....she was there over New Year’s....very modern unit w/ stainless steel appliances....One of the bedrooms had a California King size bed. The Verandah had the most beautiful/comfortable furniture. Whoever owns it has done a lot of work in it.
In August we had a renovated unit that was nice and comfortable...for the most part my experience with NBCC has been without incident.

Was this E building, 3rd Floor? I'm asking because I met a lady from Chicago who owns a unit on the 3rd floor and I was told she has done an amazing job of updating her unit? Also, I heard J23 was updated. For my last few trips, I stayed in the 2 BR unit in H Building and it needs some major updating BUT I still like it.

[Jamerican71]

Yvonne - You are always so diplomatic!

[ClaudiaInIowa]

Was this E building, 3rd Floor? I'm asking because I met a lady from Chicago who owns a unit on the 3rd floor and I was told she has done an amazing job of updating her unit? Also, I heard J23 was updated. For my last few trips, I stayed in the 2 BR unit in H Building and it needs some major updating BUT I still like it.

I believe J23 is Mrs. McNeill's unit. Probably why it is updated.

[Jamerican71]

I believe J23 is Mrs. McNeill's unit. Probably why it is updated.

That would explain why it's updated.....I stayed in it November 2011 and another friend stayed August 2012....He said the unit was really nice and had been upgraded. I like the location of that unit and would request it again on future trips if I didn't travel with large groups since it's a studio.

[Yvonne]

You made the comment that conditions depend on unit & many other factors. I am wondering what you meant as we all signed contracts for our units that were to be kept up to standards according to the NIOC rule book. We have every piece of paper given to us and we are very aware what is to be in our unit and working if that applies...ie:AC, toaster, fridge, etc. McNeil had obligations as well. We know, as well as other owners that have made the comment to us, that our maintenance we all paid from the time we bought the timeshares has never been totally put towards what it should have been put into. And with Ofer it just got worse. I don't know if you are aware of this, but in December Ofer gave the "command" to send everyone off the property and shut the place down. I received an email concerning this from a very, very reliable source. It was only when the timeshare owners got wind of this that they contacted Mcneil and told her that if she did not do anything about it they were going to take it to the newspapers, TV, radio and any other public media. They also said they would sue HER because she was the one that sold us the timeshares and she sold them without our permission as owners. It is a very unpleasant situation with no real cure at present time. I only hope that owners units haven't deteriorated too much over the past year. Also, security really is not present on the property now. Anyone can come and go as they please. We know owners that have simply walked away from their remaining weeks they own. As one owner put it, "it is as close to living in the projects as he cares to be". Sad, but true. I know alot of us love that property as you have said, but when proper maintenance is not done on a regular basis, the Beach Club is what you get.....if it wasn't for Jean putting such an effort into her units, that hotel would be a -10 star place.

As far as the condition of the TS units varying, that is what I tried to explain in my post about the previous tenants making sure all is in order. If people only stay for a week & eat out every day, they won't be paying much attention to what kitchen items are or aren't there. If a dripping sink or running toilet doesn't bother someone, it won't be reported & repaired; ditto the burned out light bulb. So, if you came into my unit after me, all would be in great shape. No new furniture or new coat of paint but everything you need would be there. Maybe not the toaster, blender, or coffee maker since I don't use those :-)

I've wondered what gets done during the "maintenance week" because I never notice a difference. I knew when the mattresses were replaced. That's the last improvement to my room as far as I can recall. Funds did go into reserves at one time but the Wallaces used that up on projects when they came on, mainly into updating the kitchen which used up a LOT of $$$. Being treasurer of my condo association, even if I wanted to, I could never pull that nonsense here. Operating budget gets funded properly & reserves get used only for their designated purpose.

I heard what happened last month but the version was slightly different as far as the order in which things happened. Mrs. McNeil came in due to the lack of current for days & then Ofer told the employees the place was being shut down. Hotel employees were sent home but TS employees were called back in. Regardless, you're so correct. $$$ has not been used for the intended purpose... like paying the electric bill, having working TS staff, etc. It'd help if the restaurant/bar actually paid their rent & if Ofer's hotel manager didn't make more than I ever made teaching (masters+ 32 years experience). At least w/ the Wallaces bills were paid & staff was working. All Ofer cares about is putting $$$ in his pocket. As long as he's involved, I don't see things getting better.

As for security, that began to be cut when the Wallaces were managing the hotel. If I'd given up on the place due to security issues, I'd have never gone back after 1987 when a cat burgler was entering rooms via the balconies in E block. I just never leave my sliding glass doors unlocked. Most of the thefts are from people who bring the thief back to their rooms w/ them or from leaving rooms unlocked. Still... w/ security, THAT should not happen. That was when there was good coverage.

I'm not going to walk away because I want to use my time. If things get worse, I could always change my mind. If that does happen, I'll walk. Sadly, I think that is what Ofer wants... for everyone to walk away & let him have the whole place since he mistakenly thought that was the deal he was getting in the first place. Too many individual condo owners though for that to happen. Just my opinion.