I just exchanged for Four Seasons Scottsdale.....questions

[CalGalTraveler]

@#1 Cowboys Fan please enjoy and update us. I am sure you will enjoy it.

I am a WKV owner who has stayed there twice. WKV is a beautiful resort but have decided that next time it will be in the large 1 bdrm and not the small 1 bdrm which does not have a window in the main living area. (too dark and depressing).

I am now curious about the Four Seasons and want to hear if the resort fee is worth it.

 

[PamMo]

@#1 Cowboys Fan (Pat), you’ll have a great time. The fees are a pain, but all in, you’ll enjoy a luxury vacation for a BARGAIN!

We don’t own at Kierland (we have other Vistana and Marriott timeshares), but have stayed there a few times as well as SDO, Canyon Villas, and the Four Seasons. If all were available, my first choice would be the Four Seasons again. The 2BR’s have great living spaces. The kitchens are a bit small, but are well-equipped with everything you’ll need. If not, just ask and they’ll bend over backwards to get it for you.

Our 2BR was on the first floor, below grade, but not dungeon dark. The two patios were private, and we loved having coffee in the morning, or a glass of wine by the outdoor fireplace in the evenings.

The service was outstanding throughout the resort (timeshare and hotel sides). Pool attendants come by with complimentary frozen treats (our favorite was the fresh fruit popsicles), sunscreen, cool towels, a refreshing spritz, magazines, and they even clean your sunglasses! They really want you to relax and enjoy your vacation.

You can use the hotel amenities, too. We liked walking over to the hotel side in the evening to have a drink, and watched the night hawks swoop and dive above the pool area. If you like a challenging hike, they offer a free guided hike up the mountain trail above the resort. We did it on our own, because we didn’t know about the group activity.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[Ken555]

So, you OWN at the Westin Kierland (where I wanted).

BUT, you are giving a HIGH accolade for where I now will be.

Have you been to Four Seasons Scottsdale....please DO TELL....haha

Thanks in advance,
Pat

Best. Timeshares. Anywhere.

Do I need to include details?

Four Seasons is significantly nicer than Westin. I would gladly pay the daily fee to stay there.

 

[PamMo]

I liked Troon better than Aviara!

 

[VacationForever]

I liked Troon better than Aviara!

We love Westin Kierland, mainly due to the proximity to Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter. The question is that if you don't spend alot of time at the resort, is Four Seasons Scottsdale better than Westin Kierland? We golf and eat when we travel, and we love a large and comfortable room.

 

[iftravel]

I liked Troon better than Aviara!

I've stayed at Aviara and it's not significantly better than a Marriott. I will definitely try Troon. Anyone ever got the jackpot for spring break or Christmas? I guess summer is easy but I don't want to get toasted.

 

[Ken555]

I've stayed at Aviara and it's not significantly better than a Marriott. I will definitely try Troon. Anyone ever got the jackpot for spring break or Christmas? I guess summer is easy but I don't want to get toasted.

I am forced to wonder if your definition of significant is the same as mine.

 

[PamMo]

We love Westin Kierland, mainly due to the proximity to Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter. The question is that if you don't spend alot of time at the resort, is Four Seasons Scottsdale better than Westin Kierland? We golf and eat when we travel, and we love a large and comfortable room.

Lol. I’m definitely NOT the arbiter on what is the “best” resort! Everyone has their own expectations and desires when they travel. DH and I have stayed in a wide variety of accommodations and have appreciated them all for what they are.

Westin Kierland is great. I love the location and the rooms are modern and spacious. The resort complex has a lot to offer. We enjoy their wine tastings and have spent a fortune in their Scotch Library! You can go out to a different restaurant every night in Kierland. I will definitely stay there again.

The Four Seasons Troon is a more intimate resort. It feels more like a private club. (In a good way - there was no snootiness at all.) We usually spend our time out exploring, but it is nice to feel welcomed back “home” at the end of the day. The suites and service are a notch above the Westin.

 

[VacationForever]

Lol. I’m definitely NOT the arbiter on what is the “best” resort! Everyone has their own expectations and desires when they travel. DH and I have stayed in a wide variety of accommodations and have appreciated them all for what they are.

Westin Kierland is great. I love the location and the rooms are modern and spacious. The resort complex has a lot to offer. We enjoy their wine tastings and have spent a fortune in their Scotch Library! You can go out to a different restaurant every night in Kierland. I will definitely stay there again.

The Four Seasons Troon is a more intimate resort. It feels more like a private club. (In a good way - there was no snootiness at all.) We usually spend our time out exploring, but it is nice to feel welcomed back “home” at the end of the day. The suites and service are a notch above the Westin.

I got a feeling that in our situation, Westin Kierland is still better simply because of its location.

 

[rwolf319]

When I put in an exchange request a few months ago, I used the tactic of adding Four Seasons 2BR........supposedly "Knowing" that I wouldn't be able to 'pull' that resort.

Well, it pulled it....we are going in late November (wife and myself.....we got a 2BR!!!).

My nephew lives less than a mile away from the Westin........ that's the one I was hoping for.

So, now we'd be about 12 miles away from him, and in what looks like the more remote part of Scottsdale.

I have some hours to cancel.... but I'm mixed about it. The prices for Golf and Restaurants at FS will prohibit us from utilizing those.
It's really "TOO NICE" a place for us.

So, please advise..... keep it, or give it back, and list only weeks at the Westin (that may never come in)

Where did you put an exchange request in? Interval International?

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

Where did you put an exchange request in? Interval International?

Yes, with a Harbor Ridge (Maine) June week....... quite an exchange!!!!

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

I got a feeling that in our situation, Westin Kierland is still better simply because of its location.

We hope to go to visit my nephew every so many years.....maybe the Westin next time.

But, am I wrong in thinking that the Four Seasons is close to a VERY unlikely, GREAT (surprising) exchange ??

 

[VacationForever]

We hope to go to visit my nephew every so many years.....maybe the Westin next time.

But, am I wrong in thinking that the Four Seasons is close to a VERY unlikely, GREAT (surprising) exchange ??

Four Season's Troon/Scottsdale a great exchange and difficult to get a 2BR unless it is in July and August. With Kierland, you can quite easily get a 1BR in October-January. You won't find a 2BR Kierland unless it is in the summer. So, I would keep it.

 

[vacation911]

This sounds like a great exchange. Congrats

 

[hapstersmom]

We have traded for Troon twice via II. The first time we were in a 2 bedroom lockout in a Bldg near the reception are. It was an amazingly beautiful and large suite. Yes, as someone else said the kitchen was small but adequate. We were there during a cold snap in Jan. 2023. The heated pools and jacuzzi were fabulous to use at night (with the rooms bathrooms and an extra towel to keep us warm on the way back. We made great use of the fireplaces then as well.

The second time was a one bedroom lockout in the same bldg. The unit was configured slightly differently, the LR was more square and less large than the first one had. This was late Sept. 2024 and it was HOT. A friend lives in Scottsdale and she and I had lunch at the pool cafe one day, the next she brought her daughters and the 4 of us used the pool together (I had them as part of our reservation each stay.) The cafe was good, reasonable, and the drinks strong. The pool service was fantastic and the "snacks" they came around with were good, too—smoothies, fruits, and ice cream bars.

Both times, the staff was amazing. They even bring the BBQ tools and heat the grills for you. Two of the staff were the same as our first trip and remembered us. The housekeeping was fab. The use of the resort spa and gym facility is fantastic. The jaccuzzi, steam, sauna were fantastic. You can sip tea in a lounger as if you were a guest waiting on a massage, and the toiletries and extensive and excellent qualities. This is my favorite trade place. I look for it all the time when I check the e-plus on my reservations.

We never ate at the resort hotel, we tend to do a late lunch/early dinner happy hour, or a nice restaurant we haven't been to off property, or grill.

Consider there is also a daily resort fee for Four Seasons when you exchange in.

I traded Vistana SDO and neither time have we been charged any resort fees.


In my opinion, this is worth the extra drive.