Vidanta resort fees hike 2br via SFX

[pharmacistking]

Hello

Booked a week in may 2021 at Grand Bliss RM for this month via SFX resort fee was 75$
Booked a week in dec 21 for feb 2023 at GB NV vis SFX resort fee was 150$
Was quoted a 900 resort fee for an additional week in 2023 at NV!

Wow what a quick price hike. Seems little advantage to book via SFX now...

Anybody else noticed this?

 

[Eric B]

Destination Xchange

Does anyone know if using Diamond's Destination Xchange for Vidanta requires the usage fees like there are for RCI and II exchanges into Vidanta resorts?

tugbbs.com

 

[hurnik]

I'll have to re-run the numbers to see if it works out any better than just renting directly from an owner. ESPECIALLY if:
1) Vidanta RM keeps restricting access to amenities for exchangers
and
2) If they don't offer the 50% resort fee as F&B credit for SFX like they do with Interval (not sure about RCI).

As an aside note, this is Vidanta forcing this, not SFX. Unfortunately it also means the resort fees are inline with RCI/Interval now.

I don't know about Third Home. But since it's Vidanta, it wouldn't surprise me if eventually they do the same there as well.

 

[Eric B]

Still listed in ThirdHome as:

$42 USD RESORT FEE PER UNIT, PER DAY INCLUDES:
• Refreshing custom welcome cocktail
• Access to exclusive world-class entertainment experiences
• Access to state-of-the-art elite fitness facility
• Transportation from airport to the resort.
• Daily housekeeping and nightly turndown service
• Convenient and environmentally-friendly on-resort transportation
• Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet
• Daily newspaper delivery
• Unlimited free local calls
• Personal safe for secure storage

ADDITIONAL FEES
• Valet parking: Weekly $100 MXN per night (approximately $5 US)
• A government-imposed lodging tax (3%). ($1-4 on average per night)
• A government-imposed environmental/infrastructure impact fee: Maximum $26.89MXN per unit, per night ( Approximately $1.35 per night US)

This is from the listing for a week in the 4 BR GL NV Residence.

 

[hurnik]

So, I can't really compare apples to apples with RCI and Interval. My RCI account is via my HGV membership, so I don't have Platinum benefits or whatever. My Interval account is using a (now very high) Bluegreen 2 BR as an exchange, so YMWV (will vary, LOL).

I'm searching for Nuevo Vallarta, as it looks like RM no longer has anything other than The Bliss and Lower via RCI (No Grand Bliss, and No Grand Luxxe).

RCI - Things to remember:
1) NO GUEST CERTS
2) 1-4 rule

2 BR Grand Luxxe @ Vidanta NV = 4,800 HGV points, plus $249 Exchange fee. My MF are about $0.18/point, so that would have me at:
$1,113 plus the Vidanta imposed resort fees of: $950
Total: $2,063

Interval: No restriction on Guest certs, AFAIK. No 1-whatever rule (as of yet)
My Exchange (2 BR) costs me now $1,200 in MF plus the $219 Exchange fee = $1,439
Plus the Vidanta-imposed resort fee of: $950
Total: $2,389

SFX:
I'm Diamond, so I get "free upgrade" to next larger unit. I deposit a 1 BR week from HGV, so my MF and HGV fees are:
$562
Plus the SFX $149 Exchange fee, plus the $299 GL Upgrade fee = $1,010
Plus the now Vidanta imposed $900 resort fee = $1,910


Now, I don't know about RCI, but with Interval, you'll get an email from Vidanta (looks like it comes from Interval, but it doesn't) about 30 days prior to check-in telling you that your stay will be cancelled if you don't pre-pay the resort fee in 2 weeks. When you call the phone # to pre-pay, you get Vidanta (not Interval) and they typically offer you a 50% credit towards F&B. So $950 = $475 in F&B credit (ie, you eat/drink $500 worth of stuff, and it gets offset by $425 since you paid $950 in Resort Fees).

 

[Eric B]

In ThirdHome it would be the cost of the underlying 3 or 6 keys + either $695 or $995 exchange fee depending on the season + $294. Assuming you deposit your HGV one and get 6 keys for it (super peak 2 BR week), that would be either $562 + $695 + $294 = $1,581 or $1,113 + $995 + 294 = $2,402 depending on the season (shoulder is 6 keys, low is 3 keys). It can be a good deal for the larger units, which have the same resort fee, particularly when they have a keyless exchange special going - for those it would be $989 or $1,289.

 

[hurnik]

In ThirdHome it would be the cost of the underlying 3 or 6 keys + either $695 or $995 exchange fee depending on the season + $294. Assuming you deposit your HGV one and get 6 keys for it (super peak 2 BR week), that would be either $562 + $695 + $294 = $1,581 or $1,113 + $995 + 294 = $2,402 depending on the season (shoulder is 6 keys, low is 3 keys). It can be a good deal for the larger units, which have the same resort fee, particularly when they have a keyless exchange special going - for those it would be $989 or $1,289.

Sorta.

The $562 is my MF for a 2400 point 1 BR unit (club week, not Home Week) deposited into SFX.
Assuming Third Home let's me deposit club weeks, and not home weeks, the "cheapest" 2 BR unit I believe is 4,800 points @ $0.18/point = $864 plus the $130 in booking fees and Guest Certificate of $130 = $994.

Then add the $695+$294 = $1,983 for the 6-key week?

Not sure if I should factor in the buy-in for Third Home of $2,500 (my buy-in for SFX was $699 for Diamond Lifetime WAY back when).

 

[Eric B]

Not sure if I should factor in the buy-in for Third Home of $2,500 (my buy-in for SFX was $699 for Diamond Lifetime WAY back when).

While they list that as the buy-in, they usually waive it when you deposit a week to establish an account. The current way they're running the program, they require a week deposit every year along with an annual fee of $295, which you'd probably need to factor in. (The annual fee and deposit are waived for Vidanta owners although we are prevented from exchanging back in there now.)

 

[pharmacistking]

I'll have to re-run the numbers to see if it works out any better than just renting directly from an owner. ESPECIALLY if:
1) Vidanta RM keeps restricting access to amenities for exchangers
and
2) If they don't offer the 50% resort fee as F&B credit for SFX like they do with Interval (not sure about RCI).

As an aside note, this is Vidanta forcing this, not SFX. Unfortunately it also means the resort fees are inline with RCI/Interval now.

I don't know about Third Home. But since it's Vidanta, it wouldn't surprise me if eventually they do the same there as well.

they offered me a 125$ air credit. dont know how that would work. Also I know they will reimburse part of itif you do the tour... but I really don't want to

 

[djyamyam]

Hello

Booked a week in may 2021 at Grand Bliss RM for this month via SFX resort fee was 75$
Booked a week in dec 21 for feb 2023 at GB NV vis SFX resort fee was 150$
Was quoted a 900 resort fee for an additional week in 2023 at NV!

Wow what a quick price hike. Seems little advantage to book via SFX now...

Anybody else noticed this?

I called SFX today on this since we have a previously booked reservation for later this year.

The resort price hike came into effect on Feb 7 for new bookings! The new Vidanta resort fees through SFX are:

Nuevo Vallarta
$250 studio
$600 1BR
$950 2BR

Riviera Maya
$450 1BR
$700 2BR

For reservations made prior to Feb 7, then the resort fee remains the $150

I don't know what Vidanta mgmt is smoking but who's going to pay a $950 resort fee???!!!

 

[holdaer]

Have you looked at booking GL in Riviera Maya or NV via VRBO? You’ll pay a lot more.

I’m looking to book a 2BR GL @ RM for a family friend on VRBO. It costs a lot more than trading in using one of the timeshare platforms.

 

[tschwa2]

Have you looked at booking GL in Riviera Maya or NV via VRBO? You’ll pay a lot more.

I’m looking to book a 2BR GL @ RM for a family friend on VRBO. It costs a lot more than trading in using one of the timeshare platforms.

But Vidanata doesn't distinguish between the sections through the exchange company so a Mayan Palace has the same $950 resort fee.

 

[holdaer]

But Vidanata doesn't distinguish between the sections through the exchange company so a Mayan Palace has the same $950 resort fee.

For clarification, I’m referring to the initial discussion/cost analysis about GL units. I wouldn’t consider a Mayan Palace unit after staying in a GL unit. Apples to apples is to compare like kind units. For me, that would be GL units.

 

[tschwa2]

For clarification, I’m referring to the initial discussion/cost analysis about GL units. I wouldn’t consider a Mayan Palace unit after staying in a GL unit. Apples to apples is to compare like kind units. For me, that would be GL units.

For me the bananas part of the pricing is that it isn't tiered. So as long as you can get GL, it can still make sense. Vidanta would probably have to see that, so they will either start offering tiered or stop depositing GL.

 

[hurnik]

I called SFX today on this since we have a previously booked reservation for later this year.

The resort price hike came into effect on Feb 7 for new bookings! The new Vidanta resort fees through SFX are:

Nuevo Vallarta
$250 studio
$600 1BR
$950 2BR

Riviera Maya
$450 1BR
$700 2BR

For reservations made prior to Feb 7, then the resort fee remains the $150

I don't know what Vidanta mgmt is smoking but who's going to pay a $950 resort fee???!!!

Probably the folks who use RCI and Interval to get into Vidanta. 2 BR is $950 I believe as well for Nuevo and Riviera Maya.

 

[bizaro86]

For me the bananas part of the pricing is that it isn't tiered. So as long as you can get GL, it can still make sense. Vidanta would probably have to see that, so they will either start offering tiered or stop depositing GL.

SFX already charges an upcharge for Grand Luxxe.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

So, I can't really compare apples to apples with RCI and Interval. My RCI account is via my HGV membership, so I don't have Platinum benefits or whatever. My Interval account is using a (now very high) Bluegreen 2 BR as an exchange, so YMWV (will vary, LOL).

I'm searching for Nuevo Vallarta, as it looks like RM no longer has anything other than The Bliss and Lower via RCI (No Grand Bliss, and No Grand Luxxe).

RCI - Things to remember:
1) NO GUEST CERTS
2) 1-4 rule

2 BR Grand Luxxe @ Vidanta NV = 4,800 HGV points, plus $249 Exchange fee. My MF are about $0.18/point, so that would have me at:
$1,113 plus the Vidanta imposed resort fees of: $950
Total: $2,063

Interval: No restriction on Guest certs, AFAIK. No 1-whatever rule (as of yet)
My Exchange (2 BR) costs me now $1,200 in MF plus the $219 Exchange fee = $1,439
Plus the Vidanta-imposed resort fee of: $950
Total: $2,389

I believe your total is in line with Vidanta owners MF / Usage Fee for a GL-rwo bedroom.

Since these are all developer owned weeks - Vidanta's income for these weeks is primarily the resort fee. IMO - the resort fee goes to the "hotel" operations side, as does any $ you spend on resort.

If you choose to buy from Vida Sales - those $$$ go towards construction.

 

[dmurray007]

So, I can't really compare apples to apples with RCI and Interval. My RCI account is via my HGV membership, so I don't have Platinum benefits or whatever. My Interval account is using a (now very high) Bluegreen 2 BR as an exchange, so YMWV (will vary, LOL).

I'm searching for Nuevo Vallarta, as it looks like RM no longer has anything other than The Bliss and Lower via RCI (No Grand Bliss, and No Grand Luxxe).

RCI - Things to remember:
1) NO GUEST CERTS
2) 1-4 rule

2 BR Grand Luxxe @ Vidanta NV = 4,800 HGV points, plus $249 Exchange fee. My MF are about $0.18/point, so that would have me at:
$1,113 plus the Vidanta imposed resort fees of: $950
Total: $2,063

Interval: No restriction on Guest certs, AFAIK. No 1-whatever rule (as of yet)
My Exchange (2 BR) costs me now $1,200 in MF plus the $219 Exchange fee = $1,439
Plus the Vidanta-imposed resort fee of: $950
Total: $2,389

SFX:
I'm Diamond, so I get "free upgrade" to next larger unit. I deposit a 1 BR week from HGV, so my MF and HGV fees are:
$562
Plus the SFX $149 Exchange fee, plus the $299 GL Upgrade fee = $1,010
Plus the now Vidanta imposed $900 resort fee = $1,910


Now, I don't know about RCI, but with Interval, you'll get an email from Vidanta (looks like it comes from Interval, but it doesn't) about 30 days prior to check-in telling you that your stay will be cancelled if you don't pre-pay the resort fee in 2 weeks. When you call the phone # to pre-pay, you get Vidanta (not Interval) and they typically offer you a 50% credit towards F&B. So $950 = $475 in F&B credit (ie, you eat/drink $500 worth of stuff, and it gets offset by $425 since you paid $950 in Resort Fees).

Any of your costs are lower than my MF for the same unit. ($2540) Oh and I just got a posting from Vidanta with a $400 resort credit,. so your deal from Interval beats what I as Vidanta owner am being offered.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Any of your costs are lower than my MF for the same unit. ($2540) Oh and I just got a posting from Vidanta with a $400 resort credit,. so your deal from Interval beats what I as Vidanta owner am being offered.

RE; Vidanta owner resort credit- $ 400 for May to Nov. 2022 booked usage.( MF $2540 )
Interesting
My Vidanta owner resort credit email offer was for $ 200 / my MF is about $1050 net [when I include the every 5 year reno / extra MF]

 

[dmurray007]

RE; Vidanta owner resort credit- $ 400 for May to Nov. 2022 booked usage.( MF $2540 )
Interesting
My Vidanta owner resort credit email offer was for $ 200 / my MF is about $1050 net [when I include the every 5 year reno / extra MF]

Reply to OP as I have a 2BR GL. I feel as an owner we are getting the short end of the stick.

 

[Larry]

I was charged $600 resort fee for 1br so did what I never do, agreed to timeshare presentation for a $300 credit towards fee. Not going into entire horrible experience with lieing salesperson but after 3 hours and telling her I bought all weeks resale she tried to end presentation without approving credit of $300 and tried escorting us out. I asked to speak to supervisor and he assured us we would get everything we were promised including cab fare back to airport. We did have to listen to her pricing and when we said no had to go through exit interviews with two other pricing packages. Said no to both and did get everything we were promised.

we stayed at grand Luxxe Neuva Vallarta and had a wonderful stay at a fabulous resort but will never stay at any vindanta resort again.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Exchanges into Vidanta now have these high fees?

Does anyone have a good contact at SFX that I can email. I would rather not call. Liza is not answering emails, so she may be on vacation or no longer works at SFX.

Our son-in-law's folks want to go to Mexico and loved the Vidanta locations.

What other Mexico resorts in Neuvo or Puerto Vallarta area are great and have no fees and no mandatory all-inclusive.

Mexico is doing its best to keep us out of there. I won't pay those fees for us.

 

[pharmacistking]

Exchanges into Vidanta now have these high fees?

Does anyone have a good contact at SFX that I can email. I would rather not call. Liza is not answering emails, so she may be on vacation or no longer works at SFX.

Our son-in-law's folks want to go to Mexico and loved the Vidanta locations.

What other Mexico resorts in Neuvo or Puerto Vallarta area are great and have no fees and no mandatory all-inclusive.

Mexico is doing its best to keep us out of there. I won't pay those fees for us.

michelle.dalmeida@sfxresorts.com

Michelle is great. Hope she can help

 

[rickandcindy23]

I emailed her. I am hopeful.

 

[hurnik]

Exchanges into Vidanta now have these high fees?

Does anyone have a good contact at SFX that I can email. I would rather not call. Liza is not answering emails, so she may be on vacation or no longer works at SFX.

Our son-in-law's folks want to go to Mexico and loved the Vidanta locations.

What other Mexico resorts in Neuvo or Puerto Vallarta area are great and have no fees and no mandatory all-inclusive.

Mexico is doing its best to keep us out of there. I won't pay those fees for us.

Yes, there's a thread in this forum about the increased Vidanta fees for SFX exchanges. Vidanta now basically has the same exorbitant (IMO) fees for RCI, II, and SFX now. So far, Third Home remains unaffected.