II: Breckenridge Grand Vacations (GTR,GP7,GP8) resort fee and exchange restriction

[tomvc]

First time exchanging into a BGV resort. Is the resort fee and exchange limitation new?

Important Advisements
MANDATORY RESORT FEE: STUDIO/ ONE BEDROOM USD $20 PER UNIT, PER NIGHTS LISTED ON CONFIRMATION; OR USD $140 PER WEEK. TWO BEDROOM USD $40 PER UNIT, PER NIGHTS LISTED ON CONFIRMATION; OR USD $280. THREE BEDROOM USD $60 PER UNIT, PER NIGHTS LISTED ON CONFIRMATION; OR USD $420. FOUR BEDROOM USD $80 PER UNIT, PER NIGHTS LISTED ON CONFIRMATION; OR USD $560, PLUS APPLICABLE TAX. MANDATORY FEE WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY TO RESORT AT CHECKIN

MANDATORY BOOKING LIMITATION: Exchanges or Getaways into the the same destination of Breckenridge Grand Vacations resorts (GTR, GP7 & GP8) are limited to ONLY ONE confirmation every 3 years per membership. Confirmations not adhering to this restriction are subject to cancellation.

 

[bnoble]

I recall there being a resort fee here when I considered going on an AC last year. The 1-in-3 might be new, but I am not sure.

 

[sponger76]

The 1-in-3 might be new, but I am not sure.

I seem to recall some discussion about it either last year or very early this year. I don't mind TOO much when resorts have that kind o restriction. However, I do think resort or parking fees, whether for ownership stays or exchanges, are a crock. It should all be covered under the resort's MFs. I also feel that mandatory resort fees should be baked into the room rental rates at non-timeshare hotels/resorts, but that's not entirely germane to a timeshare discussion.

 

[Ski-Dad]

I was on a Getaway at Grand Peak 8 in December 2024. There was a resort fee, but it appears to have increased by 33.3%: Two Bedroom went from $210 to $280 per week. Here from my Oct 16, 2024 confirmation email:

MANDATORY RESORT FEE: STUDIO/ ONE BEDROOM USD $15 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; or USD $105 PER WEEK. TWO BEDROOM USD $30 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; OR USD $210. THREE BEDROOM USD $45 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; OR USD $315. FOUR BEDROOM USD $60 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; OR USD $420, PLUS APPLICABLE TAX. MANDATORY FEE WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY TO RESORT AT CHECKIN.​

 

[jp10558]

Wow, I thought the benefit of Getaways in II vs Last Call's or Extra Vacations in RCI was the lack of resort fees. I think if this is common now, it drops the value of Getaways even lower for me.

 

[WorldT]

All Last Calls and Extra Vacations will pass through the resort fees if the resort charges them.
Sometimes the resort runs a promotion where the fee is waived.

 

[gravityrules]

I was on a Getaway at Grand Peak 8 in December 2024. There was a resort fee, but it appears to have increased by 33.3%: Two Bedroom went from $210 to $280 per week. Here from my Oct 16, 2024 confirmation email:

MANDATORY RESORT FEE: STUDIO/ ONE BEDROOM USD $15 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; or USD $105 PER WEEK. TWO BEDROOM USD $30 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; OR USD $210. THREE BEDROOM USD $45 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; OR USD $315. FOUR BEDROOM USD $60 PER UNIT, PER NIGHT; OR USD $420, PLUS APPLICABLE TAX. MANDATORY FEE WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY TO RESORT AT CHECKIN.​

That's a sizable increase, there's also tax on top of that.

The 1 in 3 rule was previously discussed on another thread. Won't that change cut down II exchange/getaway activity? I know it knocks 2 of the 3 resorts out of consideration for me for this year.

 

[dioxide45]

Wow, I thought the benefit of Getaways in II vs Last Call's or Extra Vacations in RCI was the lack of resort fees. I think if this is common now, it drops the value of Getaways even lower for me.

I understand that resorts that have a resort fee for RCI exchangers charge those same resort fees on RCI Last Call and Extra Vacations. HGVC properties are known to have resort fees for any RCI inbound guest.

I know that Vacation Village resorts have a $50 resort fee when booking through RCI Last Call.

 

[tomvc]

it drops the value of Getaways even lower for me.

Me too. For last minute, drive to locations, it's no longer economical to book a full week to stay for a long weekend. I was charged a resort fee for 7 nights even though I checked out early at Worldmark.

 

[Ken555]

I stayed at one of these resorts several times long ago in 2 and 3-bed units. Depending on the number of people traveling, it may still be worth these fees, when compared to other options. But I agree with those who suggest that these resort fees at timeshares should be paid by MF.

 

[jp10558]

I understand that resorts that have a resort fee for RCI exchangers charge those same resort fees on RCI Last Call and Extra Vacations. HGVC properties are known to have resort fees for any RCI inbound guest.

I know that Vacation Village resorts have a $50 resort fee when booking through RCI Last Call.

I think everyone misunderstood me. I know RCI charges the fees, I was saying the reason I *had been* OK with II Getaways being ~$150ish higher to my mind than RCI for "similar" locations was II didn't charge resort fees. Once II is charging resort fees, it makes getaways near completely worthless to me.

 

[jp10558]

I stayed at one of these resorts several times long ago in 2 and 3-bed units. Depending on the number of people traveling, it may still be worth these fees, when compared to other options. But I agree with those who suggest that these resort fees at timeshares should be paid by MF.

I agree with both points. I actually think the resort fees if charged to everyone is a scam and should be in MF. For the on site amenities (which sometimes includes parking) I'm always cognizant of two questions -
1. What's the plan if 95% of people don't bring a car? Is the resort actually still subsidizing the parking lot or valet company or whatever? If so, MFs are also getting charged, so some owners are still paying for something "they don't use" while others are getting double charged.
2. What's the extra cost of charging per user, accounting allocation, extra CC processing fees, chargebacks, cash handling, etc? Can you realistically charge enough on a per vehicle basis to cover the whole of the operation or do you start to price people out and get into a vicious spiral? When is it costing everyone more money than managing it once per year as part of MFs?

I think Ownership ought to cover most everything TBH - if someone comes to my house for a week where I also own the surrounding land - I don't pay anything extra for them to park in my driveway. The cost of the driveway is fixed and I pay it (though I "pay it" in terms of wear and tear, not some yearly fee to someone else) if I park 0 cars or 5 cars in it. Same with internet. Not that I'd give them any ideas, but hilariously, the part I *do* pay more for is electricity and propane - that's straight usage. So it'd make more sense to me in a logical way if they charged utilities rather than parking or internet or pool or something.

But of course, the scam on many "resort fees" is that you can't say "well, I won't use the pool or sauna" or whatever and not pay the fees. It'd be one thing if they charged for enabling access like part of Smuggs does for their extra "amenities building" but most won't let you pay per person who might or does use the thing... So it's just something that should be in MF if everyone has to pay it.

 

[dioxide45]

I think everyone misunderstood me. I know RCI charges the fees, I was saying the reason I *had been* OK with II Getaways being ~$150ish higher to my mind than RCI for "similar" locations was II didn't charge resort fees. Once II is charging resort fees, it makes getaways near completely worthless to me.

In general, resort fees in II are limited to very few resorts. Same with RCI. It isn't an across the board thing.

 

[sponger76]

I think everyone misunderstood me. I know RCI charges the fees, I was saying the reason I *had been* OK with II Getaways being ~$150ish higher to my mind than RCI for "similar" locations was II didn't charge resort fees. Once II is charging resort fees, it makes getaways near completely worthless to me.

It's not II charging the resort fee. You pay it directly to the resort.

 

[jp10558]

It's not II charging the resort fee. You pay it directly to the resort.

Yes, I meant that I thought II precluded resorts from charging resort fees as a part of the agreement to list the getaway, making the higher Getaway costs reasonable. Clearly I was wrong about this, and I guess RCI too, though almost every cash trip I've taken with RCI included a resort fee at the other end (unless they decided to let me off because I was an owner in the system randomly - as a mistake at checkin I would guess).

 

[Jazdddy]

It’s not that much different fee structure than Hilton grand resort fees .. both BGV and Hilton if ur owner directly then no fees

 

[rickandcindy23]

The resorts will be ghost towns during mud season. I can go to any number of resorts in the mountains without these fees.

Hilton and Diamond started this, now Four Seasons Aviara charges, and now Grand Breck Vacations is charging even more than before?

 

[exyeh]

MANDATORY BOOKING LIMITATION: Exchanges or Getaways into the the same destination of Breckenridge Grand Vacations resorts (GTR, GP7 & GP8) are limited to ONLY ONE confirmation every 3 years per membership. Confirmations not adhering to this restriction are subject to cancellation.

Does anyone know that the breck grand vacation resorts will enforce this strictly? Only 1 in every 3 years? that's a big thing for us.

can I do 1 at GTR and 1 in GP7 in the same year?

 

[sponger76]

MANDATORY BOOKING LIMITATION: Exchanges or Getaways into the the same destination of Breckenridge Grand Vacations resorts (GTR, GP7 & GP8) are limited to ONLY ONE confirmation every 3 years per membership. Confirmations not adhering to this restriction are subject to cancellation.

Does anyone know that the breck grand vacation resorts will enforce this strictly? Only 1 in every 3 years? that's a big thing for us.

can I do 1 at GTR and 1 in GP7 in the same year?

Typically when the resorts implement these rules (it's not II's idea) they do enforce them. The Vidanta properties in Mexico are a prime example.

The way the rule reads, it doesn't seem to prohibit staying in different resorts in the same year.

 

[rickandcindy23]

It's the start of a trend, I am afraid. It's going to be normal to pay resort fees, and I am not okay with it. Marriott/ Sheraton/ Westin/ Hyatt will be next, and then II will have to step up and make a stand. But then II is owned by Marriott. Marriott is well aware of the trend toward resort fees.

Buy where you want to stay is going to be very important in a decade, or suffer the consequences of extraneous fees.

Now I will never go to any of the Breck Grands again. Thanks to you II allowing these fees, which have recently increased.

 

[dougp26364]

The resort fees started with pandemic and some of the fancy equipment they bought to disinfect the units. I wasn’t aware of the 1 in 3 rule. I find the 1 in 3 rule somewhat interesting since the all their managed resorts are nearly sold out with no immediate intentions of building anything new. At least nothing new for timeshare sales that they’ve announced.

I’ve never been a fan of resort fees, but when so many other resorts charge me a resort fee when I exchange into their resorts, I don’t argue with a resort I own charging a similar fee on exchange guests. That said I think they’re getting a little out of hand. For the past several years I’ve tried to stick within the resort groups I own to avoid paying the resort or usage fees charge to exchangers.

I really think the difference has become the lack of development and new sales made to people outside of particular management groups. Marriott now tends to concentrate on increasing current owners ownership levels rather than seek new owners from outside their system. Most groups have nothing new in construction. Sales floors no longer rely on new blood coming in on exchanges to drive sales. Rising MF’s have long been a complaint of owners and this is a way to keep those fees artificially lower by charging resort fees on the back end to non-owners exchanging in. It’s just a sign of the times and it won’t go away. Much like Hawaii charges an “occupancy tax” to people who don’t reside or vote in Hawaii.