Oh, alarm bells are ringing in my head but then again I am a suspicious person by nature Maybe I'm wrong but I wouldn't think a tour and lunch would be free. Could it be a kind of time-share trick. Get you all off on a bus, pass a few villa's of the stars, and then onto a hotel for your lunch, where you get stuck watching a 2 hour presentation on a development ect?? (having a flash back to a holiday in Benalmadena 14 yrs ago, with my parents )

Sorry, as I said, I have developed into a suspicious person. Maybe she is genuine, and is just a nice person who wants to do something nice for you? Maybe someone else on this site might have more info.

Hope you don't think I've been too harsh

Have to agree. Remember the old adage that there is no such thing as a free lunch and you won't go far wrong.

Can't imagine why anyone would want to waste time on their holiday sitting on a bus looking at peope's houses, most likely from outside the main gates! Better things to do in the Algarve.

As for free lunch, you can pick up a lunch in some places for next to nothing so no big deal there either.

I would say also that it will be some type of sales pitch and would steer clear.

Lummie

Oh, I do hope that I never get that cynical !!!

Nah, never cynical, just a realist from the University of Life

Either that or you end up sheriff of Mug City!

Lummie

Wouldn't necessarily agree there, Lummie! We've already had a week at a 5* Radisson in Malta this year and are going to a 5* complex in Cyprus for a week in October - all for the price of the air fares and spending money. But then we enjoy anything to do with property, and sitting through presentations is no hardship for us - particularly if there are drinks and food involved!

Roseweb, not sure what it is you don't agree with exactly?

You're missing my point and that of the first post. Mari said the woman asked if they wanted to tour around celebs houses and then go for something to eat, no mention of free hols or timeshare etc. That's a ruse then? I have no doubt there are "free" jaunts to be had if you want to sit through presentations etc but this was not what was mentioned in the original posting.

My point is why did she say it was something other than what it actually was? If it was something else that is!

I get calls every other week from companies offering these types of deals and they are fine if thats what you are looking for. Mari's question was do you think it was a con or not, thats all.

Lummie

Lummie

hi Lummie, we also get phone calls every week or so regarding same thing. When my hubby answers phone and they tell us congratulations we have won a free holiday his reply is " well you can have it with pleasure on me thankyou" and then he puts the phone down. Everyone to their own but we dont want to spend hours going round some hard sell thing, sooner sit round our pool with a nice glass of vinho, but some folks just like the experience of seeing sommat different being wined and dine and at end of day being strong willed & saying no.Trouble is this is the way that many people get conned into signing their money away for a dream that may never happen. Cheers Jayjan

The tour of celebrities' houses was probably a timeshare "carrot" and wouldn't be of any interest to me, but my point was that provided you play the system and remain strong willed in saying no, there are goodies to be had for free. We once had a great day out in Tenerife, saw lots of different places in the rep's car, had coffee and lunch (lots of wine), no hard sell at all - it was interesting and we learnt a lot about the area. So it isn't always a mugs game!

Have to agree with Lummie, timeshare have bad reputation still,and will try many different ways to get your attention, best way just be polite and firm and try not to look like you just got off the plane.
a.p.c.

Lummie is spot on

A suggestion to prevent them pestering you in the street - buy a Portuguese newspaper and carry that around, a few cents to save a whole load of hassle!

If you say you are a travel agent, they wont bother you.

We just say we already have an apartment they don't want to know then.
Always worked for us