Refundable II Getaway weeks now available

[Daytripz]

Looks a lot like a hotel room model. Nice to have the option.

 

[claraj]

It only looks like the option is available for some properties. For instance, I see it available for Marriott but not for the Renaissance property in Aruba.

 

[dioxide45]

There is also a checkbox so you can filter only for refundable rates.

I notice, for the few resorts I checked, the refundable surcharge is about 10%-11%.

Looks to also require cancellation prior to 15 days before checkin. So last day to cancel is 16 days prior. A question remains, can you cancel them online or do you have to call?

 

[pedro47]

There is also a checkbox so you can filter only for refundable rates.

I notice, for the few resorts I checked, the refundable surcharge is about 10%-11%.

Looks to also require cancellation prior to 15 days before checkin. So last day to cancel is 16 days prior. A question remains, can you cancel them online or do you have to call?

Thanks dioxide45, for your reply. I wonder why are II charging a refundable surcharge?

 

[sponger76]

Thanks dioxide45, for your reply. I wonder why are II charging a refundable surcharge?

It's like with airline tickets - you pay more for the flexibility of being able to cancel for a refund. The difference is with refundable airline tickets you can cancel for a refund up until the time of the flight, not just a couple of weeks prior.

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks dioxide45, for your reply. I wonder why are II charging a refundable surcharge?

More money. Very few people will actually cancel.

 

[iftravel]

It’s pretty useful. There are getaways far in advance and now I should be able to book them as a “placeholder” vacation until something better comes up. Vidanta as an example is so much more expensive now and only as getaways, but their Christmas week costs about the same, which feels reasonable for Christmas/NY. I would feel better to book it at the refundable rate.

 

[dioxide45]

It’s pretty useful. There are getaways far in advance and now I should be able to book them as a “placeholder” vacation until something better comes up. Vidanta as an example is so much more expensive now and only as getaways, but their Christmas week costs about the same, which feels reasonable for Christmas/NY. I would feel better to book it at the refundable rate.

The problem is that you are adding 10% to the cost for a placeholder week. I guess they are okay to purchase as a possible fallback if other plans don't come through, but there is an added cost for it.

 

[iftravel]

The problem is that you are adding 10% to the cost for a placeholder week. I guess they are okay to purchase as a possible fallback if other plans don't come through, but there is an added cost for it.

Hard to say that 10% is exactly your cost cause you can always cancel. I guess it makes better sense for something far in advance, or something rare and valuable to you like a Chrismas / New Year eve. If you think there is 10% chance you will change your plan or find something cheaper or better, this is a valueble option (and you end up paying nothing for this flexibility). Only if you are >90% sure you will go, then no.

I just wish it's more flexible than <15 days, or is it case by case?

 

[wmgjr]

More units will hit the rental markets. Not good IMO

 

[dioxide45]

More units will hit the rental markets. Not good IMO

Not sure what you mean. Can you explain why?

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Not sure what you mean. Can you explain why?

I assume he means people will purchase refundable getaways and then attempt to re-rent them in contravention of II’s rules since an unrented unit can now be cancelled? I think that’s probably a bit of a stretch.

 

[Big Matt]

I just looked at one that appeared to show that the refundable cost exactly one night's amount, so 14%. This is a great deal to me. It was a Marriott resort also, FYI.

 

[dioxide45]

I just looked at one that appeared to show that the refundable cost exactly one night's amount, so 14%. This is a great deal to me. It was a Marriott resort also, FYI.

What resort was it. I just checked a few refundable getaways and didn't see where the amount was equal to one night. What II membership level are you? Perhaps the one night surcharge is based on the "Member" price and not what I am seeing as II Platinum? I can't see what the refundable price is for "Member" and "Gold" levels.

 

[Big Matt]

What resort was it. I just checked a few refundable getaways and didn't see where the amount was equal to one night. What II membership level are you? Perhaps the one night surcharge is based on the "Member" price and not what I am seeing as II Platinum? I can't see what the refundable price is for "Member" and "Gold" levels.

It was Manor Club, and I wasn't correct about the math I did in my head. It was $837 and $926 so $89 for the refundable premium, and I'm Platinum. So it would have been $887 without platinum and that makes your math right on the money.

 

[jp10558]

Personally, I think "refundable" is basically travel insurance, and if I was going to purchase that, I'd purchase it for the entire trip. IDK, I've yet to find it worth it, though I also haven't ever cancelled a trip. I lost one pre bought "on the way home hotel night" in my life so far, and that was ~$100. The savings from non-refundable Hilton Honors member savings, and the savings I'd see here in II getaways will make up for that easily in a short time, basically a week as shown.

I guess I tend to not book anything I'm not 98% sure I'll be able to go on. I did take a risk on my current trip as a Last Call but I ended up going so it turned out great again!

I'm sure I'll eat one week somewhere eventually (I did end up eating 2 nights in Weston last December by leaving early, but again that was ~$150 worth or so), but so far I think I'm way ahead "self insuring" here. Especially with a 15 day out policy - I would expect to be "surprised" quite a bit more than 15 days notice for me to drop a trip...

YMMV of course.

 

[Big Matt]

jp10558, I hear what you are saying. They way I look at the refundable option is simply that, an option. I can have an ongoing search in II at the same time hoping to hit a match and if it hits, I just cancel within the timeline, and if not, I'll go on the trip.

 

[dioxide45]

Personally, I think "refundable" is basically travel insurance, and if I was going to purchase that, I'd purchase it for the entire trip. IDK, I've yet to find it worth it, though I also haven't ever cancelled a trip. I lost one pre bought "on the way home hotel night" in my life so far, and that was ~$100. The savings from non-refundable Hilton Honors member savings, and the savings I'd see here in II getaways will make up for that easily in a short time, basically a week as shown.

I guess I tend to not book anything I'm not 98% sure I'll be able to go on. I did take a risk on my current trip as a Last Call but I ended up going so it turned out great again!

I'm sure I'll eat one week somewhere eventually (I did end up eating 2 nights in Weston last December by leaving early, but again that was ~$150 worth or so), but so far I think I'm way ahead "self insuring" here. Especially with a 15 day out policy - I would expect to be "surprised" quite a bit more than 15 days notice for me to drop a trip...

YMMV of course.

But refundable isn't necessarily the same as travel insurance. Travel insurance only covers very specific situations. Some people want flexibility in their travel bookings and it seems that refundable getaways provide that. I know many people are hesitant to book getaways because it was a 100% loss if they cancelled. I doubt we will ever book refundable getaways. Like travel insurance, the extra cost over time is probably more than the odd trip every 10 years or so that had to be cancelled.

 

[pedro47]

In thirty years of traveling using our various timeshare time…We have never cancel a week timeshare.

Now, we have shortened some of our timeshare traveling by one or two nights,
because of emergencies back home.

 

[Panina]

I think it has it's place for good use, especially for expensive weeks.

 

[gjhardt]

thanks for info didn't even notice that option before

 

[dioxide45]

thanks for info didn't even notice that option before

That makes sense it’s new as of yesterday

 

[alwysonvac]

Keep in mind, all Getaway sales are final and non-refundable even if there are updates or notifications sent to members after the confirmation is completed.

Years ago, when getaway prices were much cheaper, non-refundable was ok however with the higher prices currently offered, non-refundable doesn't make sense to me especially if the resort can make changes leaving you no options.

For example:
Last year, I purchased two getaways (back to back stays) at two different resorts a full year in advance.
As we got closer to the date, I received the following II notifications which wasn't disclosed when I originally booked my getaway.
(1) Four months before check-in Interval International sent alerts about daily resort fees at both resorts.
(2) Less than two weeks before check-in, Interval International informs me of ongoing construction at one of the resort and that guests may experience noise. Around the same time, I also learned from a TUG post that this same resort with ongoing construction was scheduled for tenting and fumigation two weeks before after my stay. Since I had a horrible termite infestation issue years ago at a different timeshare system, I decided not to risk it and made other arrangements.

If this was an exchange, I could have requested a retrade for something else. With a cash getaway, I was simply stuck with no options.

 

[dioxide45]

Keep in mind, all Getaway sales are final and non-refundable even if there are updates or notifications sent to members after the confirmation is completed.

Years ago, when getaway prices were much cheaper, non-refundable was ok however with the higher prices currently offered, non-refundable doesn't make sense to me especially if the resort can make changes leaving you no options.

For example:
Last year, I purchased two getaways (back to back stays) at two different resorts a full year in advance.
As we got closer to the date, I received the following II notifications which wasn't disclosed when I originally booked my getaway.
(1) Four months before check-in Interval International sent alerts about daily resort fees at both resorts.
(2) Less than two weeks before check-in, Interval International informs me of ongoing construction at one of the resort and that guests may experience noise. Around the same time, I also learned from a TUG post that this same resort with ongoing construction was scheduled for tenting and fumigation two weeks before my stay. Since I had a horrible termite infestation issue years ago at a different timeshare system, I decided not to risk it and made other arrangements.

If this was an exchange, I could have requested a retrade for something else. With a cash getaway, I was simply stuck with no options.

It's a good thing they now offer refundable getaways so all getaways are no longer non-refundable. Though something like this is hard to predict. We had a situation several years ago where we booked two getaways at SVR. SVR went through their non functioning WiFi fiasco. I was able to rebook at a different property. They actually refunded and I repurchased new getaways. So there always seems to be exceptions to the rule.

 

[pedro47]

It's a good thing they now offer refundable getaways so all getaways are no longer non-refundable. Though something like this is hard to predict. We had a situation several years ago where we booked two getaways at SVR. SVR went through their non functioning WiFi fiasco. I was able to rebook at a different property. They actually refunded and I repurchased new getaways. So there always seems to be exceptions to the rule.

I feel SVR, made an exception because you are an owner and because of your many YouTube videos on Timeshare Resorts.

One bad YouTube video kills one hundred good reviews and good YouTube Videos.
Dioxide45, you now have power and knowledge on timeshare resorts. IMO.