Myrtle Beach Vacation!
While we were in Chicago, Paul was offered a getaway to selected destinations in exchange for us going to a timeshare talk. When he signed up before I had a chance to pick up my phone I almost lost it – haha! I was not thrilled at the idea of trips with a hidden catch. Despite my protest, the deal had been done and we needed to find a time to sneak in a trip to Myrtle Beach. The only time that was available was a week before our European adventure – so it was a stretch.
We decided to drive the whole fam down there and stayed in the Embassy Suites. Our resort was right on the beach and had a one bedroom suite which is the best way to get the kids to go to sleep. The drive was 10 hours, but fairly scenic as we went through West Virginia and some elevations!
We started the mornings getting a run in on the beach in the Double Bob, walking the pier and flying kites in the ocean breeze. The temperatures were perfect. Two of the days we ventured off of the resort to two tourist shopping areas.
The rest of the time was spent using the pools and enjoying the weather. Paul and I even were able to get away for a date night.
Finally, the timeshare talk. It was long, but our sales agent was very friendly. You could tell that everyone there was trained professionals and good at sales. We were a hard “No” walking in to the presentation, and a softer “no” walking out. I can see how this set up of offering a free trip can be cost effective for them! We did a lot of reading after the talk and I don’t think I’ll ever really understand the whole timeshare industry. Apparently the timeshare that holds its value most reliably is the Disney Resort Vacation – talk about brand loyalty?! Yep.
Overall, we had a very nice vacation. The drive was long, but it was worth it. Ten hours both ways and the boys didn't flinch, just another day in our travel family. We had a nice time relaxing as a family. A good test drive for 3+ weeks of European travel!