SFX exchanging

[jcraycraft]

Any Wyndham owners have success exchanging with SFX?

 

[richontug]

I exchange with SFX every year, normally to get into a Vidanta resort in Mexico.

 

[DeniseM]

SFX is a small company with limited inventory - their strength is Mexico and the West Coast. The 4 big timeshare companies are not affiliated with them (Vistana, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott) so they get very few deposits from the big 4. The big 4 have exclusive deposit agreements with RCI or II.

 

[schenriq]

@richontug, I'm interested on how it's done. My guess is that you reserve your week(*) and provide confirmation to SFX and agree to provide a guest certificate if/when the exact name of the exchanger is known in the future?

(*) week is denominated in Wyndham points. Actual points required for booking varies based on room size and season. May or may_not be your deeded week/UDI? <= I'm not sure about this last point so I phrased it as a question.

 

[richontug]

@richontug, I'm interested on how it's done. My guess is that you reserve your week(*) and provide confirmation to SFX and agree to provide a guest certificate if/when the exact name of the exchanger is known in the future?

(*) week is denominated in Wyndham points. Actual points required for booking varies based on room size and season. May or may_not be your deeded week/UDI? <= I'm not sure about this last point so I phrased it as a question.

You are correct in the process. SFX has some limitations as to what resorts they will accept. You need to check with them.

 

[Eric B]

I've deposited Wyndham to SFX as well. Great way to use up extra points at the end of a year, particularly when they have special deals going on. It doesn't really matter where you own, so long as you deserve a week at a resort they accept and commit to providing a guest certificate, so find a cheap point resort to deposit. I have also been able to swap out an earlier reservation for one rebooked at a discount for VIP status with Wyndham without any problem. When you initially deposit, forward the email reservation confirmation to them for confirmation you have the week reserved.

If you want to go to Vidanta or a few other spots, SFX is a good way to go due to a long term relationship between the two. They also have a better resort fee arrangement than RCI or II, though there is a quality upgrade fee if you go to Grand Luxxe. I've heard they work with other groups as well, but I'm not sure which ones.

Typically SFX will give you credit for a week deposit that is good for 2 or 3 years and have offers that allow extending the credits for another year with subsequent deposits. They also give bonus weeks for some deposits, allowing you to book a week without a corresponding credit for a higher price.

 

[jcraycraft]

Thanks for the info

 

[TravelTime]

SFX is a small company with limited inventory - their strength is Mexico and the West Coast. The 4 big timeshare companies are not affiliated with them (Vistana, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott) so they get very few deposits from the big 4. The big 4 have exclusive deposit agreements with RCI or II.

I see the big 4 advertised in SFX resort directory. I have bonus weeks with SFX and earlier this year they called me about availability at Hilton on the Big Island. I was not able to go by the time they contacted me. I have another request with a bonus week in now for a Marriott Marbella week but my travel dates are super specific so I think it is unlikely to come available.

 

[DeniseM]

This is the thing - the big 4 are not affiliated with SFX, so SFX does't get any bulk space banking from the resort management companies. The vast majority of Big 4 deposit go to RCI or II. You may find a stray owner deposit here and there, but nothing like what RCI and II get.

Hilton on the Big Island is an easy trade - lots of availability, because the Big Island has lots of Hiltons, and far less demand than Maui or Oahu.

 

[Eric B]

That matches my understanding; with Vidanta, they act as “gatekeeper” for a program that allows owners to book extra vacations (privilege weeks) back into the Vidanta resorts, including for holiday weeks. As a result, SFX has good access to Vidanta inventory.

 

[TravelTime]

This is the thing - the big 4 are not affiliated with SFX, so SFX does't get any bulk space banking from the resort management companies. The vast majority of Big 4 deposit go to RCI or II. You may find a stray owner deposit here and there, but nothing like what RCI and II get.

Hilton on the Big Island is an easy trade - lots of availability, because the Big Island has lots of Hiltons, and far less demand than Maui or Oahu.

Oh, okay, I understand what you mean now. No bulk deposits by the big 4 developers. It seems like Hilton would be slightly easier to get than the others since Hilton trades with RCI and there is not much of equivalent quality on RCI.

 

[Sandy VDH]

That matches my understanding; with Vidanta, they act as “gatekeeper” for a program that allows owners to book extra vacations (privilege weeks) back into the Vidanta resorts, including for holiday weeks. As a result, SFX has good access to Vidanta inventory.

This is one of my major uses of SFX. You also did not have extra fees charged when you stayed with SFX. I would need to verify if that is still the case.

 

[Eric B]

Last time there was a $75 fee with Grand Luxxe; just checked in for Xmas week and didn’t have to pay the fee in advance like we did then. Will know for sure when we check out, but $75 is cheap for a Vidanta resort fee now.