if it sounds too good to be true

Why should the rich and famous be the only ones traveling and staying in 4 and 5 star resorts? Don't they already have it all? Not anymore...

That was the gist of a blog I came across today. The article was promoting Global Resorts Network, a Lifetime Travel and Resort Membership.

This is yet another variation of ubiquitous time-share vacation schemes. "For less than the cost of your vacation," we are told, "purchase your very own Platinum lifetime membership." A lifetime membership costs $2,995. (Payment, by the way, can be made only by check or wire transfer, not by credit card, making it much more difficult for dissatisfied customers to get their money back.) And what does three grand buy you? The opportunity to spend 7 nights in your choice of "over 5000 high-end rated resorts." And with your very own Platinum lifetime membership in hand, the cost of your seven night holiday stay ranges from $298 to a maximum of $699.

Never being one just to accept claims at face value, I decided to investigate this opportunity. I checked out the properties in Paris offered by the Global Resorts Network. Out of 25 properties in France, GRN lists exactly one hotel in Paris, the Hotel Opera Lebron. Located in the 9th arrondissement, this property is "in the heart of Paris ... ideally located," according to GRN. Is staying a mile and one-half north of the Seine "ideally located?" I'll let my readers be the judge of that.

Granted you can't tell a book by its cover, but I'll also let you be the judge of the impressive facade of the Opera Lebron pictured above. However, I have hard evidence that this is no four or five star hotel. Check out this booking page at tobook.com. The hotel is clearly labeled a one-star hotel, and online vendors are not exactly known to underrate their properties. At a price of 99 EUR a night, what would you expect? (Or maybe they charge so little because this seven story building has no elevator).

A week in Paris for a maximum of $699? At a four or five star hotel? Where the rich and famous stay? If anyone sees Jennifer Aniston there, let me know!


If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Global+Resorts+Network time-share membership high-end Paris France Opera+Lebron Seine one-star four-star five-star Jennifer+Aniston Virtuoso travel agent consultant Sterling Brownell