How easy to get ressies at non-Fairfield built resorts?

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

I'm exploring various points programs, looking for the "best" one to give me good exchanges to Mexico's Pacific coast resorts. Fairfield seems to have El Cid resorts affiliated, even though not built or managed by Fairfield. How does this actually work? Does it cost the same number of points or is there a different cost to get into non-Fairfields that are affiliated to FSP? Would one make a ressie via Fairfield or via the El Cid chain, for example? Does it work pretty smoothly?

Thanks in advance for any illumination you can provide me!

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

The El Cid in Cozumel has hotel, studio and 1BR. Points needed for prime weeks (1-14, 51, 52) are 70,000, 90,000, 126,000, respectivly.

The FF directory shows that there are "very limited" number of accomodations at this resort each week. This is defined as 10 units or less per week are available to FSP owners.

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In Mazatlan:

The El Cid El Moro Tower has hotel, studio, hotel suite, 1BR, 2BR. Points needed for prime weeks are 70,000, 90,000, 77,000, 154,000, and 231,000, respectively. A hotel suite and 1BR make a 2BR LO.

The El Cid Marina Beach Hotel has studio, 1BR and 3BR (2BR LO is a studio & 1BR). Points needed for prime weeks are 90,000, 154,000, and 400,000 respectively.

The El Cid Hotel Granada has hotel studio, 1BR point saver, 1BR Suite. Points needed for prime weeks are 56,000, 77,000, and 90,000 respectively. No 2BR LO.

The FF directory shows that for these 3 resorts there are "limited" number of accomodations at these resorts each week. This is defined as 50 units or less per week to FSP owners.

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For all of the El Cid resorts, the points required for non-prime weeks are less than are shown above.

For fun, I searched for availability for July 4, 2007 week at El Cid Moro Tower and there were about 50 different types of units available. Most were 1BR.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

Mike, wow this is a huge help, since I can't log into Fairfield's site for points values and such.

One thing I wonder, seeing you posted this in relation to El Cid Granada:

"1BR point saver" ...

I've stayed at the Granada, and while most TUGgers wouldn't like it (across street from beach for one thing), I did like the one br unit I had. So...

What is the point saver exactly? Is it with far in advance bookings or last min bookings within a certain window before check-in?

Thanks again Mike!

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

What is the point saver exactly? Is it with far in advance bookings or last min bookings within a certain window before check-in?

Thanks again Mike!

Point saver means no view.

Jya-Ning

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

El Cid at one time package its units with FF's points. Don't know what they give to FF. But those ae the inventories you can find in FF's system. Last year they create they own club El Cid Vacation Club, and has their own point system which may cope few items from FF. I believe I read that they have a deal with RCI that if they trade through RCI, they will enjoy the same home priority as FF owner. But it could be a sale's talk. Don't know if FF get same deal in return.

Existing contract still honored. So FF get to access their inventories that way. If a lot of existing FF-EL Cid owners convert to their new club, don't know if they still willing to give FF inventories. If not, you may have to exchange through RCI.

Jya-Ning

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

Thank you so much! Nice to get such quick replies from Fairfield experts such as yourselves. I know I'm getting the real skinny with you...thanks again.