In February of 2025 I booked two individual week stays in St. Maarten through VRBO/KOALA for January 2026. The confirmations were received by me and a deposit was made. Today, November 25, 2025, 10 months later, and less than 2 months out, I received an email from KOALA stating that both reservations have been cancelled due to what they say is the timeshare owner pulling the rental. In response, KOALA has offered me a $150 credit to use on a future trip. You must be kidding right? Airline tickets have been purchased for me and my family, rental car secured, etc... Of course prices have now skyrocketed, rooms are next to impossible to find, the list of nightmares goes on. Essentially our family vacation has been cancelled because, from what they say, owners of timeshares can cancel their units at last minute but they are penalized. Big deal, they can pay a penalty and turn around and rent the room I reserved at a much higher rate being so close to scheduled visit. KOALA should have found another comparable room, at their additional expense, but of course will not honor that request. Meanwhile our family vacation has been pretty much cancelled because of them. All the fun of planning the past 10 months down the drain, let alone possible loss of fees for airline/rental car costs. They say they care but they don't. My only hope is that others see this review and don't fall victim to the same deceit I encountered by booking with this site.
