What would be a realistic SFX exchange request for a studio Hyatt Colorado ski week?

[heathpack]

Hi everybody,

We haved owned our Hyatt for about a year now and have traded through II but only as instant exchanges, so we are trading newbs.

Currently we are holding a reservation for a studio Hyatt Main Street Station in Breckenridge week 7 for next year that we'd like to exchange.

Contacted SFX and they said that although they normally do not accept studios they would accept this week because it is a ski week. Regular SFX membership did not really appeal to us because we would have to deposit the week without knowing what we might be able to get in exchange, so we ponied up for the 3-year platinum membership.

We are going to France Aug 2011 and are flying through London, so requested a London studio week any week of Aug 2011. SFX has since us feedback that they think this request is unrealistic.

So if a summer London studio is unrealistic, maybe you good TUGGers can give us some advice as to what is realistic.

Our parameters are:
Any size unit is fine (its just 2 of us), but we like a fridge and coffeemaker.
We like warm more than cold.
Peace and quiet preferred over party atmosphere.
We most enjoy beaches and cities.
Can travel any time of year, but have travel scheduled through Aug 2011, so we'd probably be looking for winter/spring of 2012 (Jan-April).
Live in Southern California, so Hawaii and Western US/Canada more convienent for a 1 week trip.
We would consider a longer trip so that we could head further afield.
Have stayed in Hyatt, Disney, and Marriott timeshares and enjoyed them all. Would be looking for something similar.

Our thoughts were maybe trying for Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, New York City, or maybe something like Four Seasons Aviara. Where else should we be considering? Other than Marriott, Starwood and Hyatt, are there other Hawaii properties we should consider? Maybe even Thailand?

Thanks in advance,
H

 

[camachinist]

Given the rent-swap (cash) value of that studio week, which is considerable, a 1BR in most locations if not prime time would be a reasonable 'like' exchange.

I could easily see a 1BR at Kona II, or even a 2BR, based on rent-swap values. SFX has decent availability in Hawaii, Mexico and certain parts of California.

I think I'll pose your question on another forum and see what kind of input there is....I'm not familiar enough with Hyatt to really comment with authority. I can tell you I had to push to get a comparable exchange for my Marriott Las Vegas 2BR.

I think, since you're requesting first, go for a 1BR on any of the Hawaiian islands which interest you. Your selected season is somewhat shoulder, so an uptrade from your very prime ski week should be reasonable.

I only see two Hyatt weeks listed for rent on Redweek, and they're a ton of money (2BR and 3BR):

01/01/11 - 01/08/11 7 $7,500 ($1,071/nt) Pool 3/ 3 8 View
03/19/11 - 03/26/11 7 $4,950 ($707/nt) Mountain 2/2.5 8 View

I'd list your studio for 400/nt and see what happens. Hyatt wants over 500/nt for that studio in December non-holiday. No availability for your dates. 2800.00 could take you to a lot of travel locations with $$ left over. Good luck

 

[Pit]

Currently we are holding a reservation for a studio Hyatt Mountain Lodge in Breckenridge week 7 for next year that we'd like to exchange.

Hyatt Mountain Lodge is in Avon (Beaver Creek). Hyatt Main Street Station is in Breck. You may want to double-check which one you have.

 

[camachinist]

Good point. Main Street is a little less expensive. 419.00 per night for their dates. OP, it would be good to clarify this as trading and rent-swap value do differ. Mountain Lodge appears to command more money and is in higher demand. Good luck

 

[heathpack]

Hyatt Mountain Lodge is in Avon (Beaver Creek). Hyatt Main Street Station is in Breck. You may want to double-check which one you have.

Sorry that was a typo. It is Hyatt Main Street Station in Breckenridge. It will change original post to reflect.

H

 

[heathpack]

Good point. Main Street is a little less expensive. 419.00 per night for their dates. OP, it would be good to clarify this as trading and rent-swap value do differ. Mountain Lodge appears to command more money and is in higher demand. Good luck

I am getting on Hyatt.com a 2BR avail week 7 at Main Street Station for $4400 for the week. I do not see any studios avail week 7 (Feb 12-19, 2011). I was figuring Hyatt would charge about 1/3 that for a studio, which is only $1400 or $210/night.

H

 

[heathpack]

Oh wait, I see week 6 is avail through Hyatt.com for $2300/week for a studio, or $329/night.

H

 

[John Cummings]

We have used SFX exclusively for the past 13 years. Can't answer for Thailand nor ski weeks but the others would be reasonable exchanges. We have exchanged into the Manhattan Club in New York City in July 2008 and we have a confirmed exchange for the HGVC West 57th Street in New York City for this August. We have done many exchanges to the Grand Mayans and Royal Mayans in Mexico. These are luxury top tier resorts. We did an exchange to Hawaii in April. We have also done many other exchanges. All the exchanges were into 1 and 2 BR units except for New York City which were studio.

 

[Carmel85]

HeathPack,

I have heard one of you board members at Hyatt Tahoe is talking with SFX to do a presentation at the meeting coming up in July or September.

I would strongly suggest writting a letter to the Hyatt Tahoe Board and ask them to let SFX discuss all options with Hyatt Tahoe owners.

Steve Dallas who is a board member in Tahoe got to meet when of the big wigs at SFX and Steve likes their approach and would like to have the whole board hear what SFX has to offer to us owners instead of just II.

Write a letter and fax it up to the Hyatt Office in Incline 775-832-1012 fax...If you ask I know the board listens to the owners.

Do it quickly since they would have to get it on the agenda very soon.

 

[Judy]

Does SFX accept studios?

 

[PigsDad]

Does SFX accept studios?

In general, no. However, they do accept them in very high-demand areas / seasons. You need to call and ask them directly.

Kurt

 

[RedDogSD]

Right, if you have a Studio in New York, or a Ski Season Studio, or Marriott Maui Ocean Club Studio....they make exceptions.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Upgrade fees are something annoying about the alternate exchange companies. I wouldn't give the week to SFX, simply because II can do better.

A studio to a 2 bedroom is quite a fee through SFX.

 

[John Cummings]

Upgrade fees are something annoying about the alternate exchange companies. I wouldn't give the week to SFX, simply because II can do better.

A studio to a 2 bedroom is quite a fee through SFX.

Not with a Platinum membership. I have gotten 2 BR units several times with no fees in exchange for my Gaslamp Plaza Suites mini-suite.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Not with a Platinum membership. I have gotten 2 BR units several times with no fees in exchange for my Gaslamp Plaza Suites mini-suite.

I got a one bedroom exchange for my two-bedroom Hawaii deposit. I cannot recommend SFX to anyone, since my luck has been rather lackluster compared to yours. I am not a preferred member, just a platinum member. Five years of membership, one successful exchange, and no free upgrade. Nothing forthcoming for my current request, nor for my last request. SFX is not to be counted upon, in my opinion.

Five year membership and doubtful that I will ever get anything I really want. I will just have to settle for something I don't want. I am so unimpressed, I cannot even tell you. I loved the one exchange I got, don't get me wrong, but that's one exchange in 3 years. My current request for Kauai in January, not a peep from them. Glad not to be posting this on Timeshare Forums, so Mark doesn't have the chance to lambaste me the way he did a person over there. Of course, there is an SFX shill who posts here occasionally. Maybe we will hear from her.

 

[PigsDad]

Sorry to hear that SFX did not work out for you, Cindy. My limited experience with them has been a good one.

I deposited a 1BR Hiltion Hawaiin Village summer 4th of July week with them, which cost me about $550 in maintenance fees (4800 HGVC points). In exchange, we received two weeks:

1) A 2BR Mayan Palace RM Thanksgiving week (bonus week, total fees ~$370). We requested this specific week at several Mexico locations.

2) A 2BR January ski week in Steamboat ($129 exchange, free 2BR upgrade). We requested any Jan-Mar ski week in Colorado. At one point, we were offered week 52 in Steamboat, but unfortunately that would not have worked with our plans that year.

I was a bit dissapointed w/ the condition of the Steamboat property, but it served its purpose. The Mayan Palace was a fantastic property.

Overall, not a bad deal. We were fairly flexible in our requests, and I think that was key.

Kurt

 

[BocaBum99]

Hi everybody,

We haved owned our Hyatt for about a year now and have traded through II but only as instant exchanges, so we are trading newbs.

Currently we are holding a reservation for a studio Hyatt Main Street Station in Breckenridge week 7 for next year that we'd like to exchange.

Contacted SFX and they said that although they normally do not accept studios they would accept this week because it is a ski week. Regular SFX membership did not really appeal to us because we would have to deposit the week without knowing what we might be able to get in exchange, so we ponied up for the 3-year platinum membership.

We are going to France Aug 2011 and are flying through London, so requested a London studio week any week of Aug 2011. SFX has since us feedback that they think this request is unrealistic.

So if a summer London studio is unrealistic, maybe you good TUGGers can give us some advice as to what is realistic.

Our parameters are:
Any size unit is fine (its just 2 of us), but we like a fridge and coffeemaker.
We like warm more than cold.
Peace and quiet preferred over party atmosphere.
We most enjoy beaches and cities.
Can travel any time of year, but have travel scheduled through Aug 2011, so we'd probably be looking for winter/spring of 2012 (Jan-April).
Live in Southern California, so Hawaii and Western US/Canada more convienent for a 1 week trip.
We would consider a longer trip so that we could head further afield.
Have stayed in Hyatt, Disney, and Marriott timeshares and enjoyed them all. Would be looking for something similar.

Our thoughts were maybe trying for Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, New York City, or maybe something like Four Seasons Aviara. Where else should we be considering? Other than Marriott, Starwood and Hyatt, are there other Hawaii properties we should consider? Maybe even Thailand?

Thanks in advance,
H

Don't exchange it. Rent it and rent whatever you want with cash. That's your best move.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I love hearing all of the good about SFX, so thanks for that, Kurt. I really hope your luck continues.

But if you enter an ongoing request for a particular date and area, prepare to get zero communication. The entire exchange thing is just a gamble, anyway, and with SFX, your odds go down--way down.

The increase in exchange fee, even for platinum members, left a new bitter taste in my mouth.

I will enter a new exchange request as soon as RCI or II fulfills the one I have [with all of the possible companies out there]. I know it will be either RCI Points or II with something wonderful. SFX will once again disappoint.

I guess I can try for Mexico, but that is an easy exchange with II or RCI, too.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Don't exchange it. Rent it and rent whatever you want with cash. That's your best move.

Hyatt owners on TUG are really against the renting of the Hyatt properties. I don't know if there is a rule against it or what? You seem to know a lot about the different companies, BB, so maybe you know?

I know PA- bought quite a few Hyatt points, so maybe renting Hyatt is pretty profitable and allowed.

 

[heathpack]

Thanks everybody for the various perspectives.

H

 

[funtime]

SFX did not work out for me either. You have a gem of a trader - at least 9 out of 10 with size being the only issue. I would strongly advise renting it on Redweek and you can use that money to purchase another place on Redweek anywhere you want to go. And, you may still have some money left over to pay for your maintenance fees. Renting on Redweek is really easy. Funtime

 

[rickandcindy23]

I knew I would get my exchange request from SFX, once I wrote about my experiences with them here. It's been months since I made this request, and today I got exactly what I wanted, on the date I needed. This happened for me before, ironically, the same week I advised people here not to use SFX. Coincidence? I think not.

 

[falmouth3]

I knew I would get my exchange request from SFX, once I wrote about my experiences with them here. It's been months since I made this request, and today I got exactly what I wanted, on the date I needed. This happened for me before, ironically, the same week I advised people here not to use SFX. Coincidence? I think not.

Well, I do think it is a coincidence. You've been complaining about them for months already. They are growing and have a great opportunity with Marriott owners showing a willingness to consider options outside II. I don't think they are that concerned with what Cindy has to say. Every company has detractors and supporters.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Well, I do think it is a coincidence. You've been complaining about them for months already. They are growing and have a great opportunity with Marriott owners showing a willingness to consider options outside II. I don't think they are that concerned with what Cindy has to say. Every company has detractors and supporters.

Wow!

I haven't been complaining about them for "months already." I have hardly complained about them at all. I shared an experience that others have also shared, and then twice I was contacted by someone at SFX with an exchange opportunity within 24 hours of posting, one which I couldn't take.

I have a Platinum account for five years and can now say they found me two weeks. It adds to the cost of each week, if you only get a couple of exchanges in that time.

I had a great exchange we enjoyed in March from SFX, at Powell Place, which I acknowledged, and I would have no hope of getting the same from any other company. I doubt there is a resort in SF that I would enjoy more than I did that one.

Every person who considers SFX should know all sides, and I share my opinions. And they do watch here, I am sure of it. They are in the timeshare industry.

My email address and TUG name are very much the same.

 

[John Cummings]

I knew I would get my exchange request from SFX, once I wrote about my experiences with them here. It's been months since I made this request, and today I got exactly what I wanted, on the date I needed. This happened for me before, ironically, the same week I advised people here not to use SFX. Coincidence? I think not.

I agree with the previous poster that it is just a coincidence. You have been complaining about them for a long time.