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Has anyone stayed at Vidanta since massive resort fee increase?

hurnik said:
That's why
Vidanta didn't pull the inventory and change the rules until June.
Click to expand...
But we don't even know if they changed the rules for DEX, do we? Given that no one is really saying one way or the other leads me to think those that know what to keep it on the down low.
 
From what I can see on DEX today, the $150 still applies to trades to NV Grand Luxxe. I don't know what the resort fee was before then (June) because I didn't try to make a trade into GL since I made trades a few years ago with II (before there were any resort fees) to NV and RM. Back then, it was a straight trade, my deposit on II for GL.
 
I don't know what you mean by this? As for me, I'm keeping nothing on the down low. I'm openly sharing what I know and have done for trades.
 
rpennisi said:
I don't know what you mean by this? As for me, I'm keeping nothing on the down low. I'm openly sharing what I know and have done for trades.
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Thanks for confirming. I just know there are a number of DEX members and usually when something seems too good it doesn't get talked about too much. Finding those great traders isn't always that easy and having an option like DEX where the resort fee may only be $150, vs. $1000+, some people may not want to talk it up too much. I wasn't necessarily referring to you specifically, but more in a broader context.
 
dioxide45 said:
Thanks for confirming. I just know there are a number of DEX members and usually when something seems too good it doesn't get talked about too much. Finding those great traders isn't always that easy and having an option like DEX where the resort fee may only be $150, vs. $1000+, some people may not want to talk it up too much. I wasn't necessarily referring to you specifically, but more in a broader context.
Click to expand...
New Vidanta Resort fees - June 15, 2024
This thread from last June has my posts (#10 and others) telling all about the $150 resort fee with DEX. And, their exchange fee is $159 online/169 by telephone. That's why I let my II membership lapse.
 
rpennisi said:
New Vidanta Resort fees - June 15, 2024
This thread from last June has my posts (#10 and others) telling all about the $150 resort fee with DEX. And, their exchange fee is $159 online/169 by telephone. That's why I let my II membership lapse.
Click to expand...
It seems they haven't updated the DEX PDF guide to be inline with what you see when confirming the DEX exchange online. The PDF still indicates $75 but online it indicates $150?
 
Interesting about DEX. Are there any other exchange companies that can book into Vidanta other than:
RCI, Interval, SFX, ThirdHome?

Of the 4 above, I believe the first 3 have the hideous resort fees imposed by Vidanta,
ThirdHome no longer has access

DEX seems to be a strange outlier for some reason. Not that I'm complaining, it just seems... odd. I would've thought SFX/Interval would've been the "big" ones (RCI never seemed to have as much Grand Luxxe access comparatively), and then Vidanta pulled most, if not all, of the 3 BR and Spa Tower units from SFX and Interval (RCI I don't think ever had access to those) into ThirdHome. And now that's gone.

But at least now there's one place it's accessible from that's an easier pill to swallow.

But since I don't think I saw anyone respond affirmatively post-fee increase from RCI, SFX, Interval, it looks like nobody's biting. Not surprising.
What is surprising is that it's going on 9 months and Vidanta hasn't relented. Typically in the past, I think it's been maybe 6 months or so they'll make a change again (although perhaps my memory is bad and it's been 9-12 months between changes). I mean, where else are they getting "new fodder" from if nobody is exchanging in?

Are there that many DEX exchanges that can equate for the loss from RCI, Interval, SFX, and ThirdHome?

Just idle speculation on my part, not that I can do anything about what's going on.
 
I think they like switching "primary" exchange companies to try and always have "fresh meat" for the sales people.

When I exchanged in via Third Home they questioned me extensively if I had been there before and whether I traded a timeshare or a whole ownership property.
 
bnoble said:
Nobody on TUG is biting is not the same as nobody is biting.
Click to expand...

This is true. Although on the HGV FB groups I'm not seeing anyone bite either via RCI. Don't know about other groups using Interval. My contact at SFX says they've only had a handful of reservations since last June (like less than 5). Although apparently Vidanta pulled inventory for Grand Bliss from them as well. :(
 
I would be astonished if many were biting - it's like the opposite of the usual "give an amazing deal to do a presentation" method to get potential buyers. Though I suppose if you actually exchanged and paid those fees, you pass the "easy to scam" test? So more like SPAM email that doesn't try and be non-obvious but instead wants to filter out people who are at all likely to cotton on to the scam before "wasting" any of the actual scammers time?
 
VanX said:
We just stayed at Mayan Palace in a 1 bedroom in Feb but booked a last minute week through a TUG member for $800 USD and there was no resort fee. There was a $1K refundable deposit.
Click to expand...
How was your room? Ours was quite annoyingly far away (building 12) and was somewhat musty. Also, I doubt they will ever renovate the Mayan Palace rooms, which they desperately need. I will never go back to Vidanta RM unless I can get into the Grand Mayan, at the least.
 
BostonEd said:
How was your room? Ours was quite annoyingly far away (building 12) and was somewhat musty. Also, I doubt they will ever renovate the Mayan Palace rooms, which they desperately need. I will never go back to Vidanta RM unless I can get into the Grand Mayan, at the least.
Click to expand...
We got lucky and were in building 6 so fairly central. For sure building 12 is much more remote from the beach & pool etc.

It was very sparse with kitchen ammenities ( hot plate & mini fridge) and was a big step down from Lagunamar which we stayed in the week prior that had in-suite laundry, full kitchen including dishwasher, full stove and full size fridge.

Lagunamar was oceanfront 5th floor & felt like having the comforts of a family cabin/condo while Mayan Palace felt like camping in an oversized box and forgetting all the kitchen stuff at home.

Both were the same cost to book $800USD so we’ll go back to Lagunamar

Yes kinda musty at Mayan Palace. I don’t see us going there again whichever resort at Vidanta is available or whatever the price might be.
 
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