SFX info please

[JuliGee]

Has anyone gotten an exchange in Cabo San Lucas with SFX?

We have exchanged to Cabo through SFX on numerous occasions, and have given our grown children several bonus weeks there over the years. Cabo is one of our favorite getaway destinations.

They have booked us into the Grand Mayan, Pueblo Bonito, Monte Cristo Estates, Villa Del Arco, and a couple of others I can't recall their names. (Must have had too much tequila!).

The first three months of the year is usually harder to get because its the most demanded time down there. The rest of the year is easier.

Juli

 

[heathpack]

Has anyone gotten an exchange in Cabo San Lucas with SFX?

I've gotten Grand Mayan Cabo through SFX.

 

[epcmart]

Thanksgiving in Cabo

I just booked Hacienda del Mar Cabo as a Getaway in 1BR for $298 for Thanksgivng wk. through SFX...yay..!!

 

[talkamotta]

If you want to go to Mexico, SFX has some very nice resorts. If you want a short notice exchange on thier specials....very good. If you can wait forever to see if you get an exchange....they generally will come through.

I have got exchanges into Wyndam Kona Hawaii 2x and another 2 other Hawaii exchanges over the years. I did have 3 weeks deposited with them...they were my Hawaii timeshares. I had to give 2 of them to family bcz husband wont go to Mexico. Very nice trades but not for me. For the
3rd week I was able to get New Orleans 2 bedroom, so that made me happy but I did wait for 2 years to get it.

It seems more people are bypassing SFX and depositing thier weeks into RCI or II. I have always been happy with thier customer service.

 

[LynnW]

We are at Club Intrawest in Palm Desert this week which was booked through SFX. it is a beautiful resort.

Lynn

 

[herillc]

SFX serves me well

SFX is good for san francisco, west coast and Mexico. Now they have regular inventory for NYC. I have used SFX for 3 years now and quite pleased for their service and exchanges. I exchanged to Cabo (3 bedroom penthouse) during spring break, NYC, Grand Luxxe in RM and NV, San Diego, San Luis Bay Inn and SF (4 weeks). All exchanges were from 3 deposits I made, plus 7 bonus weeks. When i deposit my Summer Hilton Head 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom unit, SFX always offers 2 bonus weeks and cash reward which i can use as exchange fee. I think SFX bonus week is more valuable than II's AC.

 

[Jason245]

SFX is good for san francisco, west coast and Mexico. Now they have regular inventory for NYC. I have used SFX for 3 years now and quite pleased for their service and exchanges. I exchanged to Cabo (3 bedroom penthouse) during spring break, NYC, Grand Luxxe in RM and NV, San Diego, San Luis Bay Inn and SF (4 weeks). All exchanges were from 3 deposits I made, plus 7 bonus weeks. When i deposit my Summer Hilton Head 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom unit, SFX always offers 2 bonus weeks and cash reward which i can use as exchange fee. I think SFX bonus week is more valuable than II's AC.

Where did they get regular NYC inventory from?

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[John Cummings]

Where did they get regular NYC inventory from?

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I have exchanged into NYC 3 times through SFX. We stayed a week at the Manhattan Club, 1 week at HGVC 57th Street, and Hilton Vacation Club Avenue of the Americas. The exchanges were all in the summer. Our favorite by far was the Hilton Vacation Club.

I don't know where they got the weeks from and I don't care. I have used SFX exclusively for many years. SFX is proactive and does not rely on deposits to satisfy their requests. They have various sources often trading weeks with RCI, etc.

One big advantage with SFX is there were no resort fees that RCI exchangers for Manhattan Club, etc. and we had daily housekeeping etc.

We have exchanged into several top resorts all over the US, Mexico, and Hawaii.

 

[TravelAmore]

SFX - Canada Exchanges

Reading through this thread, it appears many successful SFX users have been quite successful exchanging with SFX to locations in California and Mexico, in particular. Appears by this thread exchanges might be spotty for other areas. My question: anyone successfully exchange into Western Canada: British Columbia - Vancouver Island, in particular?? I am a HGVC owner, looking for Vancouver Island in August/early September. I'm thinking of joining SFX to try exchanging to a location on Vancouver Island. Any predictions on my chances? What happens if an exchange cannot be located by SFX, once I've deposited?

 

[Sandy VDH]

Reading through this thread, it appears many successful SFX users have been quite successful exchanging with SFX to locations in California and Mexico, in particular. Appears by this thread exchanges might be spotty for other areas. My question: anyone successfully exchange into Western Canada: British Columbia - Vancouver Island, in particular?? I am a HGVC owner, looking for Vancouver Island in August/early September. I'm thinking of joining SFX to try exchanging to a location on Vancouver Island. Any predictions on my chances? What happens if an exchange cannot be located by SFX, once I've deposited?

I think you will be disappointed if you are that specific. I don't know how many VI deposits are going to end up in SFX. There are not many resorts on VI and you have a specific timeframe. It may be better to see if there is an owner at the resort you want and try for an direct exchange or rental from them to get exactly what you want. Canada in Summer and Fall is prime time, and there is never much available.

It would be hard to get that exchange from most exchange companies.

 

[Tahiya]

Vancouver Island & SFX experience

You could possibly get Vancouver Island. I've deposited three resorts with SFX over time and two were Worldmark. In each case, I asked the rep if there were specific resorts and times they prefer. They said they like Vancouver (city), so that's what I gave them. If they had said Vancouver Island, I would have given them Victoria. So--there is some chance. That said, I haven't gotten anything I requested for my WM deposits and one has already been extended once. I keep changing my requests as they are filled first by II or RCI. I've been requesting specific Oregon, AZ, and California resorts over fairly narrow timeframes and now fear losing the one deposit.

On the plus side, SFX seems fairly flexible about their rules if you talk with a rep; they clearly want to help.

 

[Jason245]

You could possibly get Vancouver Island. I've deposited three resorts with SFX over time and two were Worldmark. In each case, I asked the rep if there were specific resorts and times they prefer. They said they like Vancouver (city), so that's what I gave them. If they had said Vancouver Island, I would have given them Victoria. So--there is some chance. That said, I haven't gotten anything I requested for my WM deposits and one has already been extended once. I keep changing my requests as they are filled first by II or RCI. I've been requesting specific Oregon, AZ, and California resorts over fairly narrow timeframes and now fear losing the one deposit.

On the plus side, SFX seems fairly flexible about their rules if you talk with a rep; they clearly want to help.

So out of 3 deposits. ..one exchange matched. . Doesn't sound good. You might have been better off trying a direct exchange on tug marketplace. .

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[JuliGee]

Reading through this thread, it appears many successful SFX users have been quite successful exchanging with SFX to locations in California and Mexico, in particular. Appears by this thread exchanges might be spotty for other areas. My question: anyone successfully exchange into Western Canada: British Columbia - Vancouver Island, in particular?? I am a HGVC owner, looking for Vancouver Island in August/early September. I'm thinking of joining SFX to try exchanging to a location on Vancouver Island. Any predictions on my chances? What happens if an exchange cannot be located by SFX, once I've deposited?

Quite honestly, in my opinion there is a lot of misinformation and nonsense about sfx with regards to their locations. Some posters suggest they mostly have California and Mexico which may have been true about 20 years ago. We and many other owners we talk with at our HOA meetings at Club Donatello, and the Marriott Newport Coast have had exchanges to different countries in Europe, Asia, Caribbean in addition to Mexico, Canada and around the US with sfx. Management at our properties are frequently recommending owners try sfx.

With regards to Canada, a few years ago we were lucky to get an exchange to Vancouver Island at an Avia West property, but we had to wait over a year to get confirmation for mid October, and that's because I think there are only two or three properties on the island, and therefore tough to get in. In my opinion, I think getting an exchange in the summer for Vancouver Island is probably an unrealistic expectation with any exchange company, especially Vancouver Island being in very high demand.

My son and daughter in-law were booked into Vancouver by sfx about a year ago at Club Intrawest. My husband and I on two occasions have been booked into Whistler at Club Intrawest by sfx. Like any other exchange company, there is no guarantee of any exchange. If they cannot get your first choice, you should have alternative locations as a back up. Our family has been using sfx for a number of years with mostly good success.

Juli

 

[presley]

My question: anyone successfully exchange into Western Canada: British Columbia - Vancouver Island, in particular?? I am a HGVC owner, looking for Vancouver Island in August/early September. I'm thinking of joining SFX to try exchanging to a location on Vancouver Island. Any predictions on my chances? What happens if an exchange cannot be located by SFX, once I've deposited?

Once you deposit, you can't get your week back. It will be a difficult trade with all the exchange companies at this date.

I think you'll have better luck posting a want ad on wmowners and here in the marketplace. You can pay for the week or offer to do an owner to owner exchange. There are a lot of Worldmark mega owners who book locations like that 13 months in advance and rent them out later.

 

[TravelAmore]

Many thanks to all Responders....

I very much appreciate the information you've shared. Sounds like trying to identify an owner at WorldMark or Club Intrawest to initiate a trade or rental will be my best option, given my specific need for location (few resorts available) and dates. Thank you, Tuggers!

 

[falmouth3]

SFX has an Australia week and two weeks in Sint Maarten on their sell-off list right now.

 

[korndoc]

another SFX vs II question

I am at Grand Mayan in Nuevo Vallarta now and went to a presentation
I currently own at Marriott Palm Desert and use II for exchanges. Not at all dissatisfied as I accept their limitations
Grand Mayan sales folk are offering to purchase my Marriott for their system and switching me to SFX They will pay for membership in SFX and claim to have a Vidanta Desk with SFX. She also said SFX will find TS exchanges with RCI and II, thus it could be easier for me to trade with them rather than now with my Marriott and II (yes, Marriott has a desk with II)

I am going to post elsewhere regarding whether I should trade my Marriott for the Grand Mayan. This post is about SFX
Thanks,
Jeff

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

SFX - Vida weeks & more

I would make a list of your vacations goals and TS usage goals.

Vidanta has strong relationship with SFX . but do you need to buy to gain access (No )

Other than the " trade in " discount you are being offered for the Marriott- is getting rid of it really your goal . You can probably get the same net net$ price or close without a trade in .

If you wish to rid yourself of Marriott - advertise it on TUG etc - it might be less complicated in the end than the "trade in " model .
.
Grand Mayan is a part of a great resort system ( I own MP ) .If your goal is to there in Jan / Feb ( because you live in a cold climate like I do ) then buy and make sure your booking window is 6 months minimum for your primary week .Then make sure that it says ( in a contract addendum ) that when renewal comes one of your weeks continues to have that same booking window and takes on all the rights and benefits of the original week .
Then make sure the contract says that if you don't go than you pay no MF( this may be pay mandatory MF for 5 yrs then " no go- no pay"
This is your exit strategy if life changes . ( job change /health / age / etc)

Buying resale Grand Mayan for $1 - will still cost you (or the seller) approx $ 5000 since the transfer fee is almost always 5x MF .

If your primary vacation travels will be mid March (exclude 2 Easter weeks) until December ( exclude Christmas & New Years weeks ) then you can probably exchange / rent from owner etc into these resorts without buying.

*****
I believe -that Vidanta is promoting "bonus weeks " that only deposit into SFX ( Vida Weeks) This is a benefit if you purchase as you get a " free week"
that allows you to do exchanges AND still visit Grand Mayan resorts with your "primary " purchased week .

I think their goal is to move away from the mass of " developer weeks" that THEY deposit into RCI . By including them in TS sales - there is bonus for the buyer and they still get a flow of sales prospects from exchanges coming from SFX ( since this second week is for SFX / Vida exchange only) .

As a business and sales model it makes sense as a win win . You win by getting a bonus week , they win when they sell the next prospect sent from SFX

******
Review your goals
All these layers of the presentation may not be core to your vacation goals

 

[korndoc]

Thank you for your advice. I am going to send you a private message regarding Vida vacations since I did not want to go off topic in this thread but continue to seek advice regarding SFX.

The particular deal does not have me exchanging my weeks of ownership with SFX for a different T/S elsewhere. I simply get two 2 BR weeks with SFX in addition to the 2 weeks at Vidanta resort. This is the bonus you mention. I wonder if I get any priority at all with SFX in I am not giving them anything to give to someone else. They claim to have a Vida desk at SFX

Jeff