» The San Juan Mountain and Golf Resort

My Timeshare Exchange To Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Jeff Pierce — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:30:53 +0000

I’ve been confirmed for my timeshare exchange through Interval International to The San Juan Mountain and Golf Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and I’ve decided to drive there. It’s about an 8 hour drive and I’ve been looking forward to it.

As I drive out of the Phoenix metropolitan area on Highway 17 towards Flagstaff, I’m surprised at how green the desert is. That is, green to us locals. I’ve forgotten how pretty and unique the Sonoran desert is here. There are some really exotic looking Saguaro cactus on this stretch.

North of Flagstaff I stopped at the Cameron Trading Post for gas and had a look inside. I’m now getting into Navajo Nation territory. There is some interesting stuff in the trading post but mostly tourist nick nacks. The original hand woven rugs were the best things there but $4900-$7900 for a small rug is ridiculous.

Authentic Navajo Rug

The landscape north of the trading post is really beautiful. I can easily visualize the Native American Indians riding across the desert and imagine their teepees poking up in the distance.

At about 200 miles from home it occurs to me that a person on horseback, making good time, would have taken about 5 days to get to where I’m at in 3 hours; and probably at least 2 weeks in a wagon train.

I’m in awe of the early pioneers like the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1700′s and the Americans that crossed such a huge expanse of unpopulated territory in the 1800′s and what they endured to reach their destinations. What temerity, focus and bravery it must have taken.
I also think it would have been incredible to camp in the virgin desert beneath a sky with no light pollution or people and only mother nature at her rawest.

The desert north of the trading post is really beautiful. It’s exotic and epitomizes the colors and land features of Arizona. There are buttes, mesas and mounds everywhere that are the muted pastel colors of pink, ocher, blue, purple, green and charcoal, back dropped against a blue sky filled with cumulus clouds. Many of the mesas are horizontally striated with these pastel colors. It’s breathtaking, and I imagine Indians everywhere.

On the radio they’re talking about 9/11 and I’m suddenly filled with mixed emotions. Without getting too patriotic on you, I’m reminded what a truly great nation we are and how anyone could think otherwise, regardless of our bumps and warts, is beyond me.

But as I drive across the Navajo Nation I’m reminded of how badly we treated the Native American Indians; how we broke our promises and stole their lands. It’s one of a few, or possibly many, sad chapters in our history. But are there any other countries in the world that haven’t done things they now regret and are ashamed of? I doubt it. It certainly doesn’t make what we did right, but to those with anti-American sentiments, I suggest you take a little closer look at home.

And to any Americans currently whining about how they want their old USA back during these turbulent times, I suggest you remember that the old USA belonged to the Indians, not us.

As I continue east on 160 past the little outpost of Tsegi, AZ, I see some fantastically shaped buttes jutting out of the desert. Trying to describe it in my mind I finally think of Monument Valley and when I get a chance to look at my map, lo and behold, I find I’m skirting the eastern edge of it. I’ll take the 23 mile detour on my way back to go through it since I’ll be gaining an hour.

Hwy 160 now jogs north to head to Pagosa Springs. As I turn north, I leave Arizona. Within 60 seconds I pass a sign that says “Welcome to New Mexico” and then “Welcome to Colorado”. I’ve just traversed 3 states in one minute and I am, of course, at Four Corners. I resist the impulse to stand in line at the marker to be able to say that I’ve straddled 4 states because I straddled 2 hemispheres in Quito, Ecuador in 1977.

Anatomy of a Timeshare Vacation: Part 3

Jeff Pierce — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:29:33 +0000

I decided to exchange my timeshare to the San Juan Mountain and Golf Resort for several reasons; I’ve been wanting to explore that area for some time now, I could drive there, there is a Balloon AND Wine and Food festival that weekend and the golf rates at the 3 courses drop from $89 to $35 that week.

As I mentioned earlier, I like to drive so I’m looking forward to the 8 1/2 hour trip through Tuba City, the Navajo Nation and the Four Corners region from my home in Scottsdale, AZ. If time permits I may take a day on my return to stop at Canyon de Chelly.

Canyon de Chelly

The San Juan Mountain and Golf Resort is new having just opened in June of 2009. Interval International has rated it as a Premier resort, its highest category. There are 20 units open now with room for 200 total at build out. The timeshare consists of 2 properties; The Timbers, stand alone 2 and 3 bedroom homes and The Links consisting of 1,2 and 3 bedroom condos.

The Links at San Juan Mountain Golf Resort

According to the website,

“The Links is a beautiful vacation ownership community located on the Pagosa Springs 27-hole Championship Golf Course. Guests and owners are within walking distance to shopping and dining. In the winter, the Links provides cross country ski-in/ski-out services on the groomed golf course track as well as downhill sledding in front of the building. Some of the extras include:”

Panoramic Views of the San Juan Mountains
Gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, granite countertops, garbage disposal, and tile floors
Cable TV and High Speed Internet Access
Double insulated, sound proof common walls
Luxurious bathrooms with granite counter tops, walk-in shower, and garden tub

Living Room

Even though I exchanged my timeshare at the last minute, I received a welcome letter from Peggy Davenport the resort’s Director of Guest Services in just a few days. I called her to get some information on the resort and recommendations for activities and restaurants, and it was evident that she was not only enamored with Pagosa Springs but also with the resort itself.

I’ve done more than 50 timeshare exchanges and I’ve learned that an enthusiastic staff usually translates into much better vacation experience; not only because of a warm and friendly staff but also the quality and care of the resort. Happy employees do their jobs better.

I decided to talk with the resort manager since attitudes, good or bad, usually filter down from the top. I left a message for Lonnie Lowe and when he called back my conclusions were confirmed. Lonnie is one of the developers of The San Juan Mountain and Golf Resort as well as the resort manager so his enthusiasm would be expected, but it went beyond that.

I could tell from our brief conversation that he wanted to create an overall customer/owner experience beyond that of normal timeshare resorts and more on par with the big boys like Marriott Vacation Club, Westin and Disney Vacation Club. I’ll see when I get there. Although the resort just opened in June and I expect the units and public areas to be pristine, I developed a critical eye about judging resorts from working at the Four Seasons. So far so good.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

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