Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego (it is worth it)

[shoeslover05]

Hello all,
Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego


I just want some feedback… Is the four seasons residence worth it.? Start up $2500 gold season with club privileges (trade for diff seasons, and Scottsdale loc) or $500 “naked deed” no club privileges… maintenance fee is high $28xx with 2B/LO. Potentially give me another week or combo of short stays 3nights or 4 nights.

I currently have a week at a beach side in Oxnard that I use every year so far. Looking for some San Diego options. Anyone have been to the four seasons in Carlsbad, pls give me some insight. Perhaps pros/cons. Thank you in advance.

 

[echino]

For use every year at your home resort in your home season - maybe worth it.

For rentals, exchange, club privileges, etc - not worth it.

 

[Bill4728]

For many years, the two Four Season resorts ( in Carlsbad and Scottsdale) were the highest rated TS resorts in the TUG resort ratings. So they are very nice.

 

[grgs]

Looking for some San Diego options. Anyone have been to the four seasons in Carlsbad, pls give me some insight. Perhaps pros/cons. Thank you in advance.

What do you want from this week? High end accommodations in a very nice suburban part of SD County? Not close to the beach, though. Would you prefer to be closer to beach in less fancy accommodations? Need to know what you're looking for.

 

[zentraveler]

What do you want from this week? High end accommodations in a very nice suburban part of SD County? Not close to the beach, though. Would you prefer to be closer to beach in less fancy accommodations? Need to know what you're looking for.

We have owned there for years and have gotten many good trades through II and the more I read about other MF's the more I think ours are reasonable. The resort is very top rated, lovely, well cared for, with good amenities.

But as @grgs says, it is not near the beach and you would want to make sure it has access to what you want. Trades easily with the sister property in Scottsdale. The lock off configuration is useful for use and for trading. Have never rented it.

 

[vail]

Aviara is not on the beach, but define near?
It is less than two miles and that involves some north south driving.
As the crow flies, it is probably one mile or maybe even less.

 

[davidvel]

Aviara is not on the beach, but define near?
It is less than two miles and that involves some north south driving.
As the crow flies, it is probably one mile or maybe even less.

Correct, it is typically a 10-15 minute drive, about 4 miles, or 2 miles by bird.

 

[shoeslover05]

For many years, the two Four Season resorts ( in Carlsbad and Scottsdale) were the highest rated TS resorts in the TUG resort ratings. So they are very nice.

Hello! Thank you for your respond. Are they not rated high anymore? Curious to know why it was down graded. ;-)

 

[shoeslover05]

Correct, it is typically a 10-15 minute drive, about 4 miles, or 2 miles by bird.
View attachment 78476

Nice!!! Thanks for the map visual. wow, it is not bad at all. We can bike to the beach. ;-) It is pretty close to La Costa Resort too ( love that place)

 

[shoeslover05]

What do you want from this week? High end accommodations in a very nice suburban part of SD County? Not close to the beach, though. Would you prefer to be closer to beach in less fancy accommodations? Need to know what you're looking for.

The goal is to have something relatively local where we can have a short getaways/or stay a week in a nice accommodation. I don't mean to sound like a snob but I work hard and went I go on vacation I like to stay at a place that is nicer than my own home heheh LOL. We do have a week up in Oxnard at channel island shore (Maintenance fee is $950) It is decent accommodation and we are happy with it. Further, I like the LO/short stay that way we can break up more vacation if kids decide not to come with us as they are getting into their high school years. Trading power is a big plus as well since my husband will be having more time to travel in the near future. My concern is do we want to buy into the “club privileges“ that is almost triple the start up costs + the high maintenance yearly fee. That only give us the privilege to trade into the Scottsdale and an opportunity (by annual lottery to trade into their other sister properties).

 

[shoeslover05]

Thank you for everyone that responded. I appreciate your time. ;-)

 

[davidvel]

Nice!!! Thanks for the map visual. wow, it is not bad at all. We can bike to the beach. ;-) It is pretty close to La Costa Resort too ( love that place)

Better have an e-bike! A few 50-75' climbs on the way DOWN to the beach. 300' elevation gain on the way back from the water.

 

[pacman777]

Hello! Thank you for your respond. Are they not rated high anymore? Curious to know why it was down graded. ;-)

It was a lot better before the Four Seasons Resort changed to Park Hyatt when you could use the Hotel Resort pool and amenities. Not anymore and now your confined to just the timeshare location.

 

[alwysonvac]

The goal is to have something relatively local where we can have a short getaways/or stay a week in a nice accommodation. I don't mean to sound like a snob but I work hard and went I go on vacation I like to stay at a place that is nicer than my own home heheh LOL. We do have a week up in Oxnard at channel island shore (Maintenance fee is $950) It is decent accommodation and we are happy with it. Further, I like the LO/short stay that way we can break up more vacation if kids decide not to come with us as they are getting into their high school years. Trading power is a big plus as well since my husband will be having more time to travel in the near future. My concern is do we want to buy into the “club privileges“ that is almost triple the start up costs + the high maintenance yearly fee. That only give us the privilege to trade into the Scottsdale and an opportunity (by annual lottery to trade into their other sister properties).

Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara has very little flexibility.

• You either book a full week or split stay (Mon-Thurs / Fri-Sat)
• If you're unable to use your week you lose it (unless you deposit your week with an exchange company). There's no option to bank or borrow within Four Seasons Residence Club
• Like most timeshares, peak weeks will be booked a year or more in advance. There really isn't the flexibility for spontaneous getaway.
• Multiweek owners are allowed to book 100% of the inventory at 13 months. (FSRC didn’t place a cap on the % that can be booked at the 13-month mark).

For every week you purchase, you can:

• Use the entire villa for one week OR
• Use the entire villa for a 3-night weekend stay on one visit and a 4-night weekday stay on another using the Split Week Privilege

With the Double Usage Privilege, a two bedroom can become a two week vacation every year (one bedroom side one week and the studio side the other week).

• Use each side for two separate or consecutive stays
• Use one side and rent out the other side
• Use one side and exchange one side through Interval International
• Exchange both sides through Interval International

You might find this older thread helpful.

Four Seasons Aviara owner reservations

After having owned a gold week at Aviara for several years, I purchased a platinum week a while back. This morning, I called to reserve the July 4th week for 2013. Not only is that week not available, but I was told that it will be very difficult for me to reserve ANY July or August weeks for...

tugbbs.com

I would only suggest buying for stays at Aviara otherwise skip it. No other FSRC features are worth it.
Honestly, you're better off renting whenever you want to stay. Tri-West seems to have the most availability - http://www.triwest-timeshare.com/

 

[b2bailey]

For me, no.
Definitely recommend visiting there before considering purchase.

 

[grgs]

Aviara is not on the beach, but define near?
It is less than two miles and that involves some north south driving.
As the crow flies, it is probably one mile or maybe even less.

Yes, Aviara is near the beach. But often people who are looking at timeshares in So Cal want to be very close which is why I asked. There are quite a few SD County timeshares that are much closer, but not as high end. The OP seemed fine with the location and is interested in having a nice place, so Aviara might work for them. I agree with alwysonvac that Aviara should be bought to use and for other purposes.

 

[vail]

My wife and I are staying at Aviara now.
The units certainly can use an upgrade, which is supposed to start in the fall.
Maintenance fees run around 3k per week, and probably will increase after the refurbishment.

 

[shoeslover05]

My wife and I are staying at Aviara now.
The units certainly can use an upgrade, which is supposed to start in the fall.
Maintenance fees run around 3k per week, and probably will increase after the refurbishment.

WOW…. Over 3k!! That is a lot. I looked at their website and their kitchen doesnt seem out dated. Maybe it is only selective unit.

Hope you are having a wonderful stay. Enjoy! ;-)

 

[Bill4728]

Hello! Thank you for your respond. Are they not rated high anymore? Curious to know why it was down graded. ;-)

They still are highly rated. The one in Scottsdale is the highest rated TS on TUG. Aviara is in the top 7

 

[vail]

WOW…. Over 3k!! That is a lot. I looked at their website and their kitchen doesnt seem out dated. Maybe it is only selective unit.

Hope you are having a wonderful stay. Enjoy! ;-)

Thanks---only 6 units to a building--3 floors with 2 units per floor.
Master is on the outside walls, so very private with views.
The units are high end and so even when they are at the end of the lifecycle, they are still nice.
They will be fabulous after completion.

 

[shoeslover05]

Thanks---only 6 units to a building--3 floors with 2 units per floor.
Master is on the outside walls, so very private with views.
The units are high end and so even when they are at the end of the lifecycle, they are still nice.
They will be fabulous after completion.

ok thanks for the information. I think I will have to marinate on this a bit longer as the maintenance may be pushing $3k.

 

[Bao Nguyen]

ok thanks for the information. I think I will have to marinate on this a bit longer as the maintenance may be pushing $3k.

MF was increased $200 last year. $3k per week. I own two weeks EYO. I love FS timeshare, but it’s less flexible. You you to book 12 to 13 months . Very hard to book.

 

[montygz]

For fun, I looked at the Four Seasons website to see what they were offering for reservations at the Aviara

The "all-in" price for a week in a 1BR in August was $11,990. For the 2BR you have to call, they won't tell you online.

If you like staying there, getting the same room for $3K seems like a bargain. I do see available rentals on Redweek for $3K-$4K, however.

 

[davidvel]

For fun, I looked at the Four Seasons website to see what they were offering for reservations at the Aviara

The "all-in" price for a week in a 1BR in August was $11,990. For the 2BR you have to call, they won't tell you online.

If you like staying there, getting the same room for $3K seems like a bargain. I do see available rentals on Redweek for $3K-$4K, however.

Are those the same rooms/service/amenities as the timeshare? They are separate operations.

 

[TravelTime]

I own 2 EOY gold weeks at FSA. I won the lottery in my first year of ownership and we exchanged into Four Seasons Costa Rica. That was one of the nicest resorts I have ever been to. We have only visited FSA once. I am not sure we will ever go again but I can get decent exchanges through Third Home and Elite Alliance since they value FSA pretty highly. It is hard to get good exchanges for places we want to go so I need to check a lot. I am not sure I will be keeping my weeks longer term. They are hard to sell because there seems to be a glut of gold weeks. One good thing with owning 1 EOY weeks is I can book at 13 months and I can get some good holiday weeks which give me more trading power in the exchange companies.