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How hard is it to exchange into Estes Park?

TheHolleys87

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DH and I are interested in exchanging into Estes Park next summer (2020) - potential check in dates roughly mid-June (so that Trail Ridge Road will probably be open) through mid to late September. We want to visit RMNP but enter from the east (we've stayed in Granby before). We started to put in an OGS this morning, but DH balked at paying the transaction fee just yet so I'm to check periodically to see if anything comes up.

So my question is, how hard might it be to get an exchange there without an OGS? It would be just the two of us, so a 1-bedroom or larger will be fine (not a studio). Any of the three RCI properties would work. We have 49 TPUs available, if that's a consideration.

Thanks!
 

klpca

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We were there in May of 2015 (so things could have changed). We spoke with the original developer at Rams Horn Village who was also the manager, and he told me that he never puts any summer weeks into RCI - they have a robust rental program and summer weeks are easily rented. The latest that I have seen is late May.

There are other resorts in Estes Park, WorldMark, Crags Lodge, but I am not sure about their availability. I suspect that it is a tough trade in the summer. But you never know - put an OGS in now. The Vail area would be easier to get in the summer.
 

Snazzylass

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I suspect that AirBnB has been a big game changer for me at my home resort. As an owner, I have the option to rent individual nights, last minute, at a decent price. In the last few years, I see my resort advertised on AirBnB and when I call, there's no availability. *sigh*
 

bnoble

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DH balked at paying the transaction fee just yet so I'm to check periodically to see if anything comes up.
Just as a reminder: if the exchange doesn't come through, you get the transaction fee back. So, you only lose whatever interest that would have made sitting in a bank account somewhere.
 

TheHolleys87

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We were there in May of 2015 (so things could have changed). We spoke with the original developer at Rams Horn Village who was also the manager, and he told me that he never puts any summer weeks into RCI - they have a robust rental program and summer weeks are easily rented. The latest that I have seen is late May.

There are other resorts in Estes Park, WorldMark, Crags Lodge, but I am not sure about their availability. I suspect that it is a tough trade in the summer. But you never know - put an OGS in now. The Vail area would be easier to get in the summer.

I suspect that AirBnB has been a big game changer for me at my home resort. As an owner, I have the option to rent individual nights, last minute, at a decent price. In the last few years, I see my resort advertised on AirBnB and when I call, there's no availability. *sigh*

Just as a reminder: if the exchange doesn't come through, you get the transaction fee back. So, you only lose whatever interest that would have made sitting in a bank account somewhere.

Thank you, all! I’ll put in an OGS this morning.
 

WinniWoman

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We went June, 2017 and we decided to just rent directly from Rams Horn. They had a spring special- but was still expensive. Was worth every penny.
 

rickandcindy23

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This is where a WorldMark membership comes in handy. WorldMark has a very nice resort in Estes Park and it's not hard to get this early.

It's over two hours just to get to the entrance from Vail. That makes for a long day of travel, so maybe a hotel coming back for one night.

I never stay in the mountains anymore. Rick and I were burned out during our many stays in our owned timeshares in Frisco and Fraser. We have no desire to stay there for a long week. We stay one night for HOA meetings and that is it.
 

OldGuy

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Trading in has not changed since we did it almost every year, first week in June.

Summer is tough to get.

Looking through RCI, I see something on May 2 next year, and then nothing more until October 17.

Even that diamond in the rough over near the Western Entrance to RMNP is scarce in the Summer.
 

Ann-Marie

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We are heading there August 23, 2019. Took me 2 years to get a week between June and August. I guess this may not be considered a summer week. Can't wait!
 

PigsDad

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We are heading there August 23, 2019. Took me 2 years to get a week between June and August. I guess this may not be considered a summer week. Can't wait!
Local schools are back in session by then, but it should still be plenty busy in Estes that week. You should have nice, warm weather as well, but expect afternoon thundershowers. Enjoy!

Kurt
 

OldGuy

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Estes Park is one of our favorite special places. I feel lucky that we were always able to trade into there. But, then, that was back in the day . . .
 

Ann-Marie

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Local schools are back in session by then, but it should still be plenty busy in Estes that week. You should have nice, warm weather as well, but expect afternoon thundershowers. Enjoy!

Kurt
I hope we have nice warm weather. It is 90-100 degrees at home right now and we are thrilled! I have been watching the temperatures in Estes Park and jokingly I said to my husband, I hope we do not need winter coats!!
 

PigsDad

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I hope we have nice warm weather. It is 90-100 degrees at home right now and we are thrilled! I have been watching the temperatures in Estes Park and jokingly I said to my husband, I hope we do not need winter coats!!
We have been having a very cool June (there is snow falling in the high country today!), but August is usually much warmer.

Kurt
 

Laurie

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Some years ago, maybe 8, we did get an RCI exchange into a 2-BR at Ram's Horn during high summer. My memory is that I had put in an OGS for that exact resort and timeframe, and it didn't match! but it was briefly sitting online and I snagged it. Things were easier with RCI back then, this was before TPU's and before they rented as much of their inventory, but still, don't rule out the possibility and you have nothing more than a couple of dollars to lose.
 

OldGuy

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Some years ago, maybe 8, we did get an RCI exchange into a 2-BR at Ram's Horn during high summer. My memory is that I had put in an OGS for that exact resort and timeframe, and it didn't match! but it was briefly sitting online and I snagged it. Things were easier with RCI back then, this was before TPU's and before they rented as much of their inventory, but still, don't rule out the possibility and you have nothing more than a couple of dollars to lose.

That's worthy of more than a Like, so here it is.

:D
 

TheHolleys87

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Thanks everyone, I appreciate learning what your experience has been, and I hope others will comment too. I currently have an OGS set for any of the three RCI resorts in Estes Park with check in dates from mid-June to mid- or late September 2020, so we'll see what happens. We'll think about extending the end into October - really want to be able to travel over Trail Ridge Road so concerned about onset of snow closure there.
 

OldGuy

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People rave about Rams Horn, but it was just getting started when we were regularly staying at The Golden Eagle, which somehow has been rebranded as the Historic Crags Lodge. It is, in fact, an early 1900s place that's on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is what it is, and I always called it Summer Camp for Grownups. When you look out the window wall of the dining room, past the hummingbird feeders, you see downtown Estes Park, and The Old Stanley shining ;) on the other side of town.

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/08/8f/80/d7/view-restaurant.jpg

Trail Ridge always opened when we were there, the first week in June, and there would normally still be 10-15 foot drifts on the sides.
 

TheHolleys87

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Y’all are all making me hope desperately that we get an exchange there!

(Please continue!)
 

Laurie

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People rave about Rams Horn, but it was just getting started when we were regularly staying at The Golden Eagle, which somehow has been rebranded as the Historic Crags Lodge. It is, in fact, an early 1900s place that's on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is what it is, and I always called it Summer Camp for Grownups. When you look out the window wall of the dining room, past the hummingbird feeders, you see downtown Estes Park, and The Old Stanley shining ;) on the other side of town.
I would have accepted an exchange there because I do appreciate historic properties, and we enjoyed having dinner there in front of that picture window, but I have to say Ram's Horn was one of the nicest resorts we've stayed at, ever, even tho it didn't have the spectacular view.
 

OldGuy

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Endovalley

great name, nice place

Bald Pate Inn

another great name
 

rickandcindy23

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Ongoing searches can be pretty amazing sometimes. I have a good time setting some and seeing if it comes through, sometimes just for the fun of seeing what I can get. I have gotten some great stuff.

Rick wants me to try again for Outer Banks for next May. But I already have Florida Panhandle for next May, so maybe September 2020 for Outer Banks.
 

OldGuy

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What's really fun is starting an OGS, and then getting what you want online.

:banana:
 
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