Trading Power of Hurricane Weeks

[borntotravel]

If the trading power of a five star/gold crown resort in the Caribbean during hurricane season is supposedly so bad, why is it that there never seem to be any exchanges available into a two bedroom five star/gold crown during that time in Barbados, St. John, Antigua, Aruba (except maybe LaCabana), Harborside Resort at Atlantis? Getaways and extra vacations are even hard to come buy during that time. It seems to me that owners are either using them or they are given immediately to people with ongoing searches. Whenever I've been to the caribbean (not in timeshares), it's been in August and there were tons of tourists there.

Fort Lauderdale coast, Miami beach and the Florida Keys are in just as much danger of a hurricane and it doesn't seem to affect their trading power.

I'm just trying to understand. It would be nice to hear from someone who owns such a week. Thanks.

 

[Transit]

Hurricane season in those areas are at the same time most children have summer vacation (although it extends to Nov) families simply need to travel at this time.

 

[gmarine]

Why do you believe that hurricane season weeks trade poorly?

High quality resorts in the caribbean will generally trade well regardless of the season. There is always demand for them.

 

[borntotravel]

Why do you believe that hurricane season weeks trade poorly?

High quality resorts in the caribbean will generally trade well regardless of the season. There is always demand for them.

That is what I thought, but it seems to be that everytime someone mentions a caribbean week during hurricane season everyone who answers says it's a poor trade because it's "low season".

I had previously asked if the last week of October in a studio unit at Bougainvillea in Barbados would be a good trader, possible for a two bedroom somewhere else and posters pretty much told me

(1) hurricane season is low season - poor trader
(2) a studio will never trade for a two bedroom (although I know this is not true, because studios in summertime in Myrtle Beach do trade for larger units.

I found a studio here (RTU until 2039), very inexpensive resale, with what seems to be low maintenance fees under $400 (although I didn't verify them yet, I'm guessing they are probably higher. I was thinking of purchasing this to use as a trader, if I could get a two bedroom somewhere else in exchange.

Thank you for your help.

 

[borntotravel]

Hurricane season in those areas are at the same time most children have summer vacation (although it extends to Nov) families simply need to travel at this time.

School starts either in the middle of August or beginning of September. Hurricane season runs from August until November, so that's not why.

 

[zoobiedo]

I can't tell you trading power. I own a gold crown week 45 in the Caribbean but I plan to use it and not trade. So, that might be why you don't see too many. Week 45 is a great time to go there - fabulous weather, end of Hurricane season -- in fact very little chance at that point -- and not too many people which I prefer. I've been going to the Caribbean in November/December for the past 25 years so the weather can't be all bad if I continue to go there on a regular basis.

 

[Transit]

Hurricain season more so affects the hotels not timeshares.Timeshares are specificly geared towards family travel. Most TS will not even let you do a preveiw without a spouse present. Example: Harborside in August is jammed nearly impossible to book yet Atlantis has plenty of availibility

 

[Transit]

School starts either in the middle of August or beginning of September. Hurricane season runs from August until November, so that's not why.

June 1 to November 30th

 

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Transit,

There are TWO hurricane seasons...

In the western caribbean including Mexico and Florida, the season is indeed June through November.

However in the Eastern Caribbean, the season is Sept through Early november. This is because prevailing trade winds only allow fro storms that are originated in the Sahara and build up in the then heated Atlantic. Islands such as St. John, Antiqua, et al are subject to that reality.

Aruba is a unique story, being at 12 degrees latitude, it is largely below the traditional hurricane belt and hasn't had a direct hit in over 50 years for example.

Take a good look at the strom history, for as long as 150 years back,which is found at stormcarib.com.

Of course, there are exceptions, but I am talking about the 90% norm here.

 

[JoeMid]

Aruba is a unique story, being at 12 degrees latitude, it is largely below the traditional hurricane belt and hasn't had a direct hit in over 50 years for example.

I bet some of the hotels paid off on their 'hurricane insurance' with Felix!

 

[JoeMid]

That is what I thought, but it seems to be that everytime someone mentions a caribbean week during hurricane season everyone who answers says it's a poor trade because it's "low season".

I had previously asked if the last week of October in a studio unit at Bougainvillea in Barbados would be a good trader, possible for a two bedroom somewhere else and posters pretty much told me

(1) hurricane season is low season - poor trader
(2) a studio will never trade for a two bedroom (although I know this is not true, because studios in summertime in Myrtle Beach do trade for larger units.

I found a studio here (RTU until 2039), very inexpensive resale, with what seems to be low maintenance fees under $400 (although I didn't verify them yet, I'm guessing they are probably higher. I was thinking of purchasing this to use as a trader, if I could get a two bedroom somewhere else in exchange.

Thank you for your help.

Buy it then, you'll be kicking yourself.

 

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Joe,

Felix was not a direct hit on Aruba and did little damage to the leeward side of the island where the hotels reside.

Thankfully Grand Cayman was also largely spared. due to the 120 mile southward the last day.

 

[gmarine]

That is what I thought, but it seems to be that everytime someone mentions a caribbean week during hurricane season everyone who answers says it's a poor trade because it's "low season".

I had previously asked if the last week of October in a studio unit at Bougainvillea in Barbados would be a good trader, possible for a two bedroom somewhere else and posters pretty much told me

(1) hurricane season is low season - poor trader
(2) a studio will never trade for a two bedroom (although I know this is not true, because studios in summertime in Myrtle Beach do trade for larger units.

I found a studio here (RTU until 2039), very inexpensive resale, with what seems to be low maintenance fees under $400 (although I didn't verify them yet, I'm guessing they are probably higher. I was thinking of purchasing this to use as a trader, if I could get a two bedroom somewhere else in exchange.

Thank you for your help.

Just because it is hurricane season doesnt mean it will be a poor trader. However, put that together with it being a studio unit and you will probably not have a very good trading week.

You shouldnt buy a studio unit with the expectations of trading into a larger unit. It is possible, but not something you should count on. You cant put in an ongoing search for a unit larger than what you deposit so a studio will leave you to only choose from instant confirmations which will generally be leftovers after ongoing requests are confirmed.

 

[Floridaski]

There can be reduced trading power

We own at Morritt's in Grand Cayman and there is a significant difference it trading power between a winter deposit and a Hurricane (June-Nov) deposit. I had a Feb and a August week deposited into RCI back in 2006, which I deposited in 2005. I got an exchange for Ironwood in Whistler for our 2008 ski trip using the Feb week. The Whiski Jack Ironwood is a great trade and does not pop up often in RCI. So we did very well with the Feb deposit. But the summer deposit is another story. I did searches using both deposits when they were both active and it was very obvious that the winter deposit pulled twice as many resorts and a much better group of resorts.

The summer deposit would not pull anything that we wanted for the summer of 2008 - Florida beach. I finally changed the search to include Colorado for summer 2008. The deposit was going to expire and we were basically going to get zero for our MF and exchange fees. I finally found an acceptable exchange in Breck, but I had to threaten RCI to get the exchange. RCI claimed my deposit did not have enough trading power to pull a unit that they were renting for $700 dollars. I called the resort to verify that it was a indeed a regular deposit and RCI was renting out a deposit. I finally got someone in RCI to let me have the deposit - but it was very clear that the summer Grand Cayman deposit had VERY LOW trading power. A lesson learned for me.....we should have rented the unit and used the cash to rent what we wanted. It would have been much less hassle and trouble.

 

[borntotravel]

gmarine and Floridaski,

Thank you for your insight and sharing your personal experiences regarding this subject. I was hoping to hear from tuggers who actually owned in the caribbean during this time, and had experience trading those weeks. It is the only true way to get an accurate response.

Since I'm looking to use it mostly as a trade, I think I'll pass on that one, although I definately think I'm going to try an onngoing search to get into that resort. I've never bothered to do an ongoing search, didn't really think it made that much of a difference, but after reading the tug posts for months now I see that's what you have to do to get what you want it it's a popular destination.

Thanks again, I appreciate the feedback.

 

[talkamotta]

The Hurricane season could have an affect on trading power but there are other reasons alos.

I love Florida in October, always try to go the last week. Even though I have 3 grandchildren with birthdays, baptisms, etc in September. You arent going to see me in Florida in August and September, I cant take the humidity. June and July are also in that group because of the crowds and humidity. Just my preference and Im at that time of my life when I have a choice.

 

[caribbean]

In the Caribbean the highest trading strength would be from February 1 through mid-April whne the snow birds want to escape the cold. Second best trading would be mid-June through mid-August when kids are out of school and families travel. Throw in XMAS and New Years week and maybe Thanksgiving and you have the best traders. Sept 1 through mid-December, with the exception of Thanksgiving week, are the worst trading times. This is what most are referring to when they say hurricane season is a bad trader. This is really a dual effect of lowest travel season combined with the strongest possibility of a hurricane. In actuality, full hurricane season, as defined by NOAA, is June through November as others have stated.

So an October week would be in the lowest trading period. And the smaller the unit, the worst the trader. Most people going to the Caribbean are looking for at least a 1BR or more often a 2BR. So a suite in October would be the worst possible combination.

Having said all of this, my personal preferred travel times to the Caribbean are May 1 - mid June and Oct 1-Dec 1. I just keep a close eye on the storm tracker online and get out quick if something is bearing down on my location. Low season = few people & no kids on the beach and in the pool. Caribbean travel is my specialty ( hence my nomiker ) and I once made the mistake of being stuck on ST Thomas during Hurricane Hugo. Never again, learned that lesson and have studied up on hurricane activity such that sometimes I think I know too much for my own good.

Hope this helps.