what does Four Seasons have to offer

[alwysonvac]

I know this is an old thread, but as a longtime original purchase FS Aviara gold week owner (1998), I was thrilled to find this and wish I had found it -- and the whole TUG world!--years ago.

We were among the early buyers who were promised an abundance of flexible trading locations, easy ability to split units into two weeks, week long exchanges with hotels etc. etc. In fact, I talked my not-even-yet-husband into purchasing this based on the integrity of the Four Seasons. Many of the things we were promised were particularly important to us because, although we love the Four Seasons, we never intended to use our time at Aviara. We have family there and can easily and more conveniently stay with them. We are avid travelers and international travelers, and always intended to trade it.

This post has filled in answers to the questions we have asked Owners Servces over the years as we have been a bit incredulous about how this has played out. Overall we have not felt completely burned because we love their properties and have gotten some nice hotel exchanges by being careful. (We stayed for 5 nights at the George V in Paris the year after 9/11 for one year's MF.) But we are very disappointed in the Four Seasons for the "bait and switch" and are now trying to catch up by learning how to make the most effective use of our time there with trades or rentals (an option I did not know existed until I started reading this BBS yesterday!). I am sure there are some easy ways to do this, but I feel like I am going to need a half time secretary to manage the details of trading two weeks! Hopefully it ain't so

Sadly I too bought Four Seasons based on their high standard and commitment to customer service. I'm also shocked and greatly disappointed how this played out compared to the other hotel based timeshare systems.

Most Interval International exchanges will be a trade down. Most timeshares are not at the same quality, service and/or maintenance level of Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara.

You can rent on your own or use a broker. One of the Four Seasons Residence Club preferred broker’s TRIWEST does a lot of rentals. I suspect that they are renting more for Four Seasons than for owners. In most cases, I would be better off renting Gold weeks from TRIWEST than owning a Gold week at Four Seasons Aviara.
http://www.triwest-timeshare.com/resort/info/92009FO (currently has 112 rental listing their website). TRIWEST also has listings on myresortnetwork.com and redweek.com

In 2008, I asked Owner Services about the Four Seasons Residence Club (FSRC) exchanges that were made in 2007.
Here’s what I was told regarding the number of exchanges made in 2007.
8 for Mexico (FSRC)
95 for Great Exuma (FSRC)
22 for Jackson Hole (FSRC)
37 for New York (Phillips Club)
3 for Lake Tahoe (Storied Places)
4 for Whistler (Storied Places)
3 for Sandestin (Storied Places)

 

[zentraveler]

From what I understand, the lottery for this year for Punta Mita had about a 10% success rate. Something like 2000 owners put in for the lottery and 175 were granted.

Would be really interested in what others have thought of the non-FS direct exchanges, i.e. Storied Places, Phillips Club etc.

 

[GregGH]

From what I understand, the lottery for this year for Punta Mita had about a 10% success rate. Something like 2000 owners put in for the lottery and 175 were granted.

Would be really interested in what others have thought of the non-FS direct exchanges, i.e. Storied Places, Phillips Club etc.

Too bad there are NOT more members on TUG from Storied Places & Phillips Club --I think the lack of trades is based upon the EXACT MATCH issue ( where you GET a week and then see if someone wanted THAT SAME week ). The common sense way is to meet someone from SP or PC and agree the weeks each party wants ( like here at TUG) --then book and swap --the success ratio would go way up - it become a win-win instead of a poor ratio we have.

So --where are the members of Storied Places & Phillips Club -- have we missed a fractional message board somewhere like there is for Destination Clubs ??

Greg

 

[zentraveler]

Too bad there are NOT more members on TUG from Storied Places & Phillips Club --I think the lack of trades is based upon the EXACT MATCH issue ( where you GET a week and then see if someone wanted THAT SAME week ). The common sense way is to meet someone from SP or PC and agree the weeks each party wants ( like here at TUG) --then book and swap --the success ratio would go way up - it become a win-win instead of a poor ratio we have.

So --where are the members of Storied Places & Phillips Club -- have we missed a fractional message board somewhere like there is for Destination Clubs ??

Greg

Great idea. I found a post with a recent reply about one of the Storied Places on FlyerTalk and posted a reply here. Someone with more familiarity with the DC boards might do one there.

 

[ral]

What lottery?

From what I understand, the lottery for this year for Punta Mita had about a 10% success rate. Something like 2000 owners put in for the lottery and 175 were granted.

Would be really interested in what others have thought of the non-FS direct exchanges, i.e. Storied Places, Phillips Club etc.

To what lottery are you referring? I am an owner at Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara and do not recall receiving any information regarding a lottery for Punta Mita.

 

[zentraveler]

To what lottery are you referring? I am an owner at Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara and do not recall receiving any information regarding a lottery for Punta Mita.

They held a lottery this year --the first -- for exchanging into the long awaited Punta Mita units. I was a little surprised that my husband seemed to know about this when I did not (it usually the other way around in this household ) and I am still not sure whether the notice came by USPS or email. I think we got notice in October and there was not a long window for putting in requests. Results came out a couple of weeks later in early November.

You should call Owner's Services and see what happened because I suspect, given the demand, that they may do it this way in the future.

 

[alwysonvac]

They held a lottery this year --the first -- for exchanging into the long awaited Punta Mita units. I was a little surprised that my husband seemed to know about this when I did not (it usually the other way around in this household ) and I am still not sure whether the notice came by USPS or email. I think we got notice in October and there was not a long window for putting in requests. Results came out a couple of weeks later in early November.

You should call Owner's Services and see what happened because I suspect, given the demand, that they may do it this way in the future.

I don't recall getting a notification. Did you request an exchange into Punta Mita before receiving the email or mailing? I wonder if they only notified those who expressed an interest in exchanging to Punta Mita.

 

[zentraveler]

I don't recall getting a notification. Did you request an exchange into Punta Mita before receiving the email or mailing? I wonder if they only notified those who expressed an interest in exchanging to Punta Mita.

No, we had not requested Punta Mita (I think we had given up hope it would ever actually be available ). My husband cannot remember whether it came in the mail or by email, but he just got the notice of the lottery and signed up. (I was a bit miffed, because I usually handle all of this for us and I did not get any notice, though it is possible that if it came in the US mail I could have missed it. I definitely did not get an email.)

Pretty strange...definitely worth a call so they know something is wrong!

 

[tbone586]

Hello. Sounds like some of you are looking for Philips Club owners to exchange time with. We are new PC owners and may be interested in a swap. Not sure how this would work, so please post general info here, or feel free to PM me with specifics. Thank you.

 

[alwysonvac]

Exchange Lottery for 2010 email received today

Just want to make sure no one misses it this year

The purpose of the Four Seasons Residence Club 2009 Exchange Drawing is to allow owners of Residence Club Intervals (“Interval” or “Intervals”) at Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara (“Aviara”) and Four Seasons Residence Club Scottsdale at Troon North (“Scottsdale”), who are also Club Members, to indicate their desire to submit priority exchange requests for stays during the 2010 Use Year at the following projects:
• Four Seasons Residence Club Costa Rica (“Costa Rica”)
• Four Seasons Residence Club Punta Mita (“Punta Mita”)

NOTE:
(1) Only Intervals associated with Club Membership are eligible for the 2009 Exchange Drawing.
(2) A nightly rate will be charged for each night confirmed at Costa Rica or Punta Mita depending on season and unit type reserved as indicated on the 2010 Exchange Fee Schedule (see email for more information).

 

[ral]

Thanks, alwysonvac. I did miss the lottery last year. I did not receive an email or snail mail last year.

I have received this year's lottery email. It was very thoughtful of you to present this information on TUG, just in case.

Hope we both win!!