How does the SFX Exchange work?

[HGVC_Yogi]

I signed up for a Trial Platinum Membership which expires end of the year. I am wondering if any of the members here have experience with the exchanges, and how would this work. For example, I have a week at a 2BR Premier in the G-Waikikian, which I want to book for the week of Thanksgiving. How will this exchange for a week in Mexico in June? On paper this is not an even exchange, and I should get a lot more for the Waikiki week...right? Appreciate your help and suggestions. Thanks!!! and keep up the good work here.

 

[Mongoose]

I signed up for a Trial Platinum Membership which expires end of the year. I am wondering if any of the members here have experience with the exchanges, and how would this work. For example, I have a week at a 2BR Premier in the G-Waikikian, which I want to book for the week of Thanksgiving. How will this exchange for a week in Mexico in June? On paper this is not an even exchange, and I should get a lot more for the Waikiki week...right? Appreciate your help and suggestions. Thanks!!! and keep up the good work here.

Just my two cents, but I wouldn't waste the week for your Waikikian with a trip to Mexico. I'd save it on deposit for something of more value. You can get a cash deal for an all inclusive resort in Mexico via their "Travel Store" or "Escape". Lots of inexpensive MX options right now.

 

[hurnik]

I signed up for a Trial Platinum Membership which expires end of the year. I am wondering if any of the members here have experience with the exchanges, and how would this work. For example, I have a week at a 2BR Premier in the G-Waikikian, which I want to book for the week of Thanksgiving. How will this exchange for a week in Mexico in June? On paper this is not an even exchange, and I should get a lot more for the Waikiki week...right? Appreciate your help and suggestions. Thanks!!! and keep up the good work here.

With SFX you deposit a 1 week unit (or multiple) with them. It does NOT need to be your HGV home week. It can be a points week. However, if all you own with HGV is a FIXED week (that's not convertible into HGV points), then you obviously have no choice but to then deposit your 2 BR week. In which case you'll get a 2 BR deposit with SFX, typically some bonus weeks, and maybe some vacation "cash" to use with the Travel Store (affiliated with SFX, but not the Resort portion).

IF that's all you own is a fixed week that cannot be converted to HGV club points (to then book say, a 1 week 1 BR unit elsewhere), then yes, that would not work out well (same with RCI/Interval if you were to deposit that week). In that event you *might* be able to use ThirdHome for a more desirable deposit to possibly exchange into something very ooh-lala like a Grand Luxxe Spa tower or something like that.

However, if you CAN convert to club points and then book a 1 BR "gold" week somewhere (3400 points, or in the case of Vegas, there's 4 Flamingo weeks that are bookable at 2400 points each week) you can deposit THAT week (you'll have to pay for the guest certificate when SFX contacts you to put that into the guests name), THEN it can be quite a good deal.

I did that recently (deposited (2) 2400 point weeks) and used them for 2 BR units at Grand Bliss Riviera Maya

 

[GTLINZ]

There are multiple posts on SFX. They are a smaller company and MANY people complain they cannot get inventory they want. They do not have the deposit volume of an RCI or Interval.

I think i also remember that they do have good Mexico availability (one of their proposed few strenghts). So please search for SFX posts and do your research.

As an HGVC owner i did use SFX once. I deposited an Marbrisa 1br gold week in March (not what I owned , as already mentioned, but a week they wanted due to spring break) and was able to get a trade for Kaanapali Beach club. We had a great time in Maui. Back then I did not have access to Interval but now do.

 

[dayooper]

With SFX you deposit a 1 week unit (or multiple) with them. It does NOT need to be your HGV home week. It can be a points week. However, if all you own with HGV is a FIXED week (that's not convertible into HGV points), then you obviously have no choice but to then deposit your 2 BR week. In which case you'll get a 2 BR deposit with SFX, typically some bonus weeks, and maybe some vacation "cash" to use with the Travel Store (affiliated with SFX, but not the Resort portion).

IF that's all you own is a fixed week that cannot be converted to HGV club points (to then book say, a 1 week 1 BR unit elsewhere), then yes, that would not work out well (same with RCI/Interval if you were to deposit that week). In that event you *might* be able to use ThirdHome for a more desirable deposit to possibly exchange into something very ooh-lala like a Grand Luxxe Spa tower or something like that.

However, if you CAN convert to club points and then book a 1 BR "gold" week somewhere (3400 points, or in the case of Vegas, there's 4 Flamingo weeks that are bookable at 2400 points each week) you can deposit THAT week (you'll have to pay for the guest certificate when SFX contacts you to put that into the guests name), THEN it can be quite a good deal.

I did that recently (deposited (2) 2400 point weeks) and used them for 2 BR units at Grand Bliss Riviera Maya

Awesome post! I learn something new all the time on Tug! Are there nice resorts to exchange to on SFX? Is there a way you can look at the resorts without a membership?

 

[PigsDad]

With SFX you deposit a 1 week unit (or multiple) with them. It does NOT need to be your HGV home week. It can be a points week.

I'm not so sure this is still true. I thought there was a thread here within the last year that said SFX has changed their policy, and no longer allowed points weeks (which require a Guest Certificate) to be deposited with them anymore; only Home Week could be deposited.

I haven't used them for a while, so I can't confirm if others have run into this new restriction lately. Hopefully there is a workaround, because I really liked depositing a 1BR to SFX, but we only own 2BR and 3BR deeds. If anyone with recent experience could comment, that would be great!

Kurt

 

[easyrider]

I think that SFX is very good with Vidanta Mexican inventory through something they have going on with the developer. We joined the Diamond last year and what I like is the upgrades for doing so.

I have always had to call to find out what inventory they have with the exception of resort escapes.

Bill

 

[Eric B]

Awesome post! I learn something new all the time on Tug! Are there nice resorts to exchange to on SFX? Is there a way you can look at the resorts without a membership?

They do have some nice resorts to exchange to, but there isn't a good way to see what they have in inventory even with a membership. You can see what they have in short-term/last call availability looking at their "Resort Escapes" page. They have a fairly close relationship with Vidanta and therefore get access to bulk inventory in the Grand Luxxe resorts at the suite level, but typically not in the higher tiers. They also have an arrangement that results in lower resort fees there ($75/week rather than $950 for a 2 BR Grand Luxxe in Nuevo Vallarta). Other resorts in Mexico you can get through them are Sheraton Buganvilias, the Pueblo Bonito resorts, and some others.

IMHO, using a high cost TS to trade in SFX is probably not the best use of your ownership. Using the Diamond level membership with SFX, you get a one room size upgrade and some other benefits, so it's generally not worth depositing a 2 BR week with them. While it would be great if more people deposited good weeks like OP's ownership, the vast majority of the inventory SFX has available is bulk deposits from the Mexican resorts and you can trade just about anything to get them. I, and many others, use less expensive stays to trade with in SFX. Typically I use a studio or 1 BR from Wyndham when I have excess points there and sometimes get those upgraded and get credit for the larger room size with SFX as well.

I signed up for a Trial Platinum Membership which expires end of the year. I am wondering if any of the members here have experience with the exchanges, and how would this work. For example, I have a week at a 2BR Premier in the G-Waikikian, which I want to book for the week of Thanksgiving. How will this exchange for a week in Mexico in June? On paper this is not an even exchange, and I should get a lot more for the Waikiki week...right? Appreciate your help and suggestions. Thanks!!! and keep up the good work here.

If you're looking for a more even exchange, you might consider looking into ThirdHome. They have more high-end timeshares as well as a number of vacation homes. There's one person that has established an account with them for Grand Waikikian and it looks like it gets fairly decent trading value with them. PM me if you're interested in further details on them and I will share my POC's contact information.

 

[easyrider]

I'm not so sure this is still true. I thought there was a thread here within the last year that said SFX has changed their policy, and no longer allowed points weeks (which require a Guest Certificate) to be deposited with them anymore; only Home Week could be deposited.

I haven't used them for a while, so I can't confirm if others have run into this new restriction lately. Hopefully there is a workaround, because I really liked depositing a 1BR to SFX, but we only own 2BR and 3BR deeds. If anyone with recent experience could comment, that would be great!

Kurt

I'm not sure if this is what you mean but I deposit Vacation Internationale and Worldmark into SFX but I was required to make a reservation. RCI will accept the Worldmark Points and I think II accepts the VI points.

Bill

 

[Eric B]

I'm not sure if this is what you mean but I deposit Vacation Internationale and Worldmark into SFX but I was required to make a reservation. RCI will accept the Worldmark Points and I think II accepts the VI points.

Bill

They also accept Wyndham deposits. You have to make a reservation then provide a guest certificate when someone takes it, though.

My understanding from reading other threads in the HGVC forum is that HGVC used to allow deposits from resorts you don't own at into SFX, but no longer does so. I believe someone had indicated that they were able to make arrangements similar to how deposits with Wyndham are handled (i.e., host member gets a guest certificate), but can't verify that as I haven't tried it. That's more of a workaround then it had been before.

 

[presley]

I signed up for a Trial Platinum Membership which expires end of the year. I am wondering if any of the members here have experience with the exchanges, and how would this work. For example, I have a week at a 2BR Premier in the G-Waikikian, which I want to book for the week of Thanksgiving. How will this exchange for a week in Mexico in June? On paper this is not an even exchange, and I should get a lot more for the Waikiki week...right? Appreciate your help and suggestions. Thanks!!! and keep up the good work here.

You will get a 2 bedroom in exchange for your 2 bedroom. If there is a larger room, you will need to pay an upgrade fee unless you have a membership that includes a free upgrade. It doesn't matter that your deposit is worth a lot more than what you are exchanging it for.

After you look into that and price everything out, you may want to price out renting your 2 bedroom Grand Waikikian and using cash for a resort stay in Mexico.

 

[hurnik]

I'm not so sure this is still true. I thought there was a thread here within the last year that said SFX has changed their policy, and no longer allowed points weeks (which require a Guest Certificate) to be deposited with them anymore; only Home Week could be deposited.

I haven't used them for a while, so I can't confirm if others have run into this new restriction lately. Hopefully there is a workaround, because I really liked depositing a 1BR to SFX, but we only own 2BR and 3BR deeds. If anyone with recent experience could comment, that would be great!

Kurt

Actually what was posted was that it was Hilton (not SFX) that wouldn't allow the deposit. However, I just deposited like 2 months (May 17th) ago with them and all went well. Deposited (2) 1 BR Flamingo weeks at 2400 points each. Used them to book the 2 BR Vidanta units.

 

[hurnik]

They do have some nice resorts to exchange to, but there isn't a good way to see what they have in inventory even with a membership. You can see what they have in short-term/last call availability looking at their "Resort Escapes" page. They have a fairly close relationship with Vidanta and therefore get access to bulk inventory in the Grand Luxxe resorts at the suite level, but typically not in the higher tiers. They also have an arrangement that results in lower resort fees there ($75/week rather than $950 for a 2 BR Grand Luxxe in Nuevo Vallarta). Other resorts in Mexico you can get through them are Sheraton Buganvilias, the Pueblo Bonito resorts, and some others.

IMHO, using a high cost TS to trade in SFX is probably not the best use of your ownership. Using the Diamond level membership with SFX, you get a one room size upgrade and some other benefits, so it's generally not worth depositing a 2 BR week with them. While it would be great if more people deposited good weeks like OP's ownership, the vast majority of the inventory SFX has available is bulk deposits from the Mexican resorts and you can trade just about anything to get them. I, and many others, use less expensive stays to trade with in SFX. Typically I use a studio or 1 BR from Wyndham when I have excess points there and sometimes get those upgraded and get credit for the larger room size with SFX as well.



If you're looking for a more even exchange, you might consider looking into ThirdHome. They have more high-end timeshares as well as a number of vacation homes. There's one person that has established an account with them for Grand Waikikian and it looks like it gets fairly decent trading value with them. PM me if you're interested in further details on them and I will share my POC's contact information.

Everything Eric says holds true. For example, let's say I *owned* a 2 BR Grand Luxxe with Vidanta. I would not exchange it with any company (SFX, Interval or RCI), as I don't think they have anything really comparable (ok, MAYBE the now-closed Solaz). ThirdHome might be an option. Especially since I think you could easily rent out a 2 BR Grand Luxxe for $2400+ (check redweek for comparable pricing). Certain dates/times are worth more. Although I think the MF for a 2 BR GL are probably close to $2400 anyway, LOL.

We like vacationing in Mexico, especially non-AI resorts, so we use SFX frequently. They also have some good availabilty to HGV in Hawaii (even times where I cant' get in at the 9-month window), and for less points than what Hilton wants.

Otherwise, I like Intervals "quality" of resorts better than RCI, but I find RCI's website easier to navigate/use than Interval, but that's just me.