Exchanging out of Vidanta

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Not really a big deal with Vidanta. You only pay when you use it.

For me, as long as it doesn't cost much to add the name, I would prefer to go that route.

Cost is $ 0 for children & grandchildren to be added - need to do it with VMS [ Vidanta Member Services ]
Their contracts have always been “ renewable for
100 years & none of us will last that long
[ age at purchase + 100]

 

[BostonEd]

Just found out that for our level of membership, the exchange company is SFX. Looks like they have a lot (all?) of the Wyndham and Marriotts in there. In the US, at any rate.

 

[hurnik]

Just found out that for our level of membership, the exchange company is SFX. Looks like they have a lot (all?) of the Wyndham and Marriotts in there. In the US, at any rate.

I wouldn't say quite that. SFX *may* have the ability to get into some Wyndham and Marriott, but it's not the same level of availability as RCI (Wyndham) or Marriott (Interval or MVC). In other words, individuals typically have to deposit their week into SFX before you'll be able to get it. I don't know, however, if SFX gets any developer deposits from Wyndham or Marriott. They DO get Hilton and Vidanta, Buganvilias Vacation Club, Cabo Azul, Vista Encantada, Hacienda del Mar developer weeks. Possibly others.

but I'd say an educated guess is that the inventory (availability, etc.) is significantly less for Wyndham and Marriott vs. RCI/Interval.

You MAY be able to join Interval and pay the separate membership fee and deposit your Vidanta week, but IMO, you probably won't get your money's worth in the sense that say, a 2 BR Grand Luxxe unit runs what, $2,300 in MF and is a VERY VERY nice unit. You'd definitely have your pick with Interval, but you'll probably be getting a $1,500 or lower unit, unless it's a rare exchange like a 2 BR Galleon Resort in Key West or something.

 

[BostonEd]

So SFX can list Marriott for example, because of a technicality? That an individual could theoretically deposit their week there? But the likelihood of actually booking a Marriot is close to zero because Marriott itself does not deposit any weeks into SFX?

I could maybe find a Hilton that would be acceptable.

Again, I understand that simply booking Vidanta would probably be both easiest and would get me the best quality (although the Mayan Palace is in desperate for an update, which I'm skeptical will ever happen, and that's our level). But we have like 6 weeks left to use, maybe 7, and there is no way we're going to use them there before the 10 years is up, and I'm hoping to at least use 1 or 2 elsewhere.

 

[hurnik]

So SFX can list Marriott for example, because of a technicality? That an individual could theoretically deposit their week there? But the likelihood of actually booking a Marriot is close to zero because Marriott itself does not deposit any weeks into SFX?

I could maybe find a Hilton that would be acceptable.

Again, I understand that simply booking Vidanta would probably be both easiest and would get me the best quality (although the Mayan Palace is in desperate for an update, which I'm skeptical will ever happen, and that's our level). But we have like 6 weeks left to use, maybe 7, and there is no way we're going to use them there before the 10 years is up, and I'm hoping to at least use 1 or 2 elsewhere.

Again, I don't know for a fact that SFX does NOT get developer deposits from Marriott. Even if they do, it's not guaranteed that EVERY MVC property will deposit. Same with Interval or RCI. They can list a resort and never get a deposit (I can't remember which one, II or RCI, but they list a resort in Key West and haven't had a deposit in like 5 years). So the resort listing is just a list of *potential* resorts (again, even Interval and RCI).

You could also look at renting your unit out directly via RedWeek if you don't mind their new processes which are (IMO) laborious and slow. Take the proceeds and then rent something you really want from an owner (via TUG, Facebook, or Redweek, etc.)

I'm not sure what the TDI (Interval term) is for Vidanta Mayan Palace (I'm guessing that's what you own?) But even then the membership and increasing exchange fee ($249 I believe next year) for Interval can add to the costs, etc.

Sometimes it's a numbers game and sometimes it's just what you want.
ie: Total "cost" for exchanging ANY week with ANYONE is your MF (plus other booking fees), plus the exchange company membership fee/exchange fee, booking fees = some number. Then you have to decide, was it worth $X to get $Y timeshare that you want?

An example was when Hilton USED to let us deposit our weeks with SFX. I would deposit a 2,400 point Vegas 1 BR week (cost me like $475 all in). I could then book (or exchange) via SFX for a 2 BR Grand Luxxe and it would cost me an extra $500. So "all in" for $1,000 I'd get a 2 BR Grand Luxxe, which was a steal, IMO. But then Hilton said we can only deposit with RCI and Vidanta jacked up their resort fees to almost $4,500 for a 2 BR Grand Luxxe.

I ended up depositing my 2 BR Seawatch on the Beach (hilton affiliate, so hilton can't tell me what I can and can't do and I did verify they allow exchanges into SFX/Interval for that property). However, my MF are like $1,300. So I exchanged into a 3 BR Vista Encantada with Interval so it was an additional $350 or so (yearly membership plus exchange fee), which I feel was still "ok" of a deal.

 

[rpennisi]

So SFX can list Marriott for example, because of a technicality? That an individual could theoretically deposit their week there? But the likelihood of actually booking a Marriot is close to zero because Marriott itself does not deposit any weeks into SFX?

I could maybe find a Hilton that would be acceptable.

Again, I understand that simply booking Vidanta would probably be both easiest and would get me the best quality (although the Mayan Palace is in desperate for an update, which I'm skeptical will ever happen, and that's our level). But we have like 6 weeks left to use, maybe 7, and there is no way we're going to use them there before the 10 years is up, and I'm hoping to at least use 1 or 2 elsewhere.

Wait a minute...So you have found out that your parents Vidanta contract is Mayan Palace and not the other higher levels of Vidanta that were mentioned earlier in this thread?
That makes "your exchange value" a lot less than the Grand Luxxe etc that were earlier talked about in trading.

You could deposit you Mayan Palace into RCI and with membership and exchange fees get good trades to Hiltons in Southern California or Palm Springs if those are places you would be interested in. Or other Mexico resorts as T-Dot mentioned if planning around a year ahead of time.

When your parents current contract runs out in a few years, the renewal for another block of time will be costly ($5-6000+ at least).

 

[BostonEd]

But even then the membership and increasing exchange fee ($249 I believe next year) for Interval can add to the costs, etc.

Sometimes it's a numbers game and sometimes it's just what you want.

Another option I don't think I mentioned yet: we may just let the weeks expire if we can't get any more value out of this. None of my siblings were happy about this "great deal" my parents got, and strongly advised against it. So if the 10 years pass and we only use 5 weeks, well that's that.

Wait a minute...So you have found out that your parents Vidanta contract is Mayan Palace and not the other higher levels of Vidanta that were mentioned earlier in this thread?

I'm the OP and I believe I only mentioned Imperial Garden level, which is what Vidanta told me we were over the phone. And I believe that allows us to book only Mayan Palace, unless we want to pay regular rates for other levels. Someone else may have mentioned booking other levels.

 

[rpennisi]

Those regular rates at other (higher) levels will be very high (expensive). If using a deposited Mayan Palace week into RCI, getting a higher level Vidanta unit with that deposit in trade, will also come with a large resort fee (probably more than the Mayan Place maintenance fee already paid and the RCI trading fee combined).

My (unsolicited) advice would be to try (if you haven't already) Mayan Palace for the maintenance fee only cost and see if you like it.

You and your siblings were right, your folks did not get a "great deal", but you might as well use what they got.

 

[Ecaldon]

I’m a Marriott owner and trying to figure out how to stay at Grande Luxe, we stayed there before when it was still available on Interval and were able to still use the member pool. Does anyone know a way that exists to exchange now?

 

[WorldT]

I’m a Marriott owner and trying to figure out how to stay at Grande Luxe, we stayed there before when it was still available on Interval and were able to still use the member pool. Does anyone know a way that exists to exchange now?

You can rent it on cash basis on interval or redweek. No exchange in interval available until further notice.
In addition, I would advice that since this thread is about exchanging out of Vidanta and not into Vidanta, it would be preferred if you were to ask your question in the numerous other threads about exchanging in. Alternatively , you could start a new thread. That way, this thread will remain to discuss what the OP wanted. Thanks