Big Island from SFX

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Mark says this repeatedly - be flexible.

I put in a request for the Big Island. I was willing to take a week from March 2008 - Aug 2008. I didn't specify a resort, only an area.

I received a call today and I was offered a choice of two resorts, and 2 sets of dates at both. Eleana even asked if I needed more than 1 week. I don't have enough vacation for more than 1 week so I declined.

I decided to go with the Kona Hawaiian Village. I'm very happy with this exchange.

Sue

[samsarmy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close samsarmy]

Sue, my wife and I stayed there in 2005 for our anniversary. Great place, you'll love it.

Hope you're not afraid of cats. They're all over the place.

Mike

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Sue, my wife and I stayed there in 2005 for our anniversary. Great place, you'll love it.

Hope you're not afraid of cats. They're all over the place.

Mike

Mike,

There were a few cats last summer, but not many. The staff has been trying not to "encourage" them.

Sue,

Careful with those Kona Hawaiian SFX exchanges, ours prompted us to buy a unit there

[samsarmy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close samsarmy]

Ah, things can change in two years. Are the wild mongooses (mongeese?) still around the island too? One even tried to share a pint of Longboard Lager with me on the outside patio of the Kona Brewing Company downtown.

Mike

Mike, There were a few cats last summer, but not many. The staff has been trying not to "encourage" them.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Thanks for confirming my choice

The trip is 16 months away, but I'm very happy to hear that I made a good choice in the resort I accepted.

My husband will be happy to hear about the Kona Brewing Company. I've already bought Big Island Revealed since we found the Maui version to be so useful.

Sue

[whodat Member Find all posts View Profile Close whodat]

Mark says this repeatedly - be flexible.

I put in a request for the Big Island. I was willing to take a week from March 2008 - Aug 2008. I didn't specify a resort, only an area.

I received a call today and I was offered a choice of two resorts, and 2 sets of dates at both. Eleana even asked if I needed more than 1 week. I don't have enough vacation for more than 1 week so I declined.

I decided to go with the Kona Hawaiian Village. I'm very happy with this exchange.

Sue

Amazing. I put in a request for Hawaii (summer 07) over a year ago and haven't heard a peep. But you get a week for 08?!?!?! I guess you're a lucky one.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

Amazing. I put in a request for Hawaii (summer 07) over a year ago and haven't heard a peep. But you get a week for 08?!?!?! I guess you're a lucky one.

Whodat - not quite accurate about the "peep". Months ago you were offered a premium one bedroom sleep four unit. Unfortunately you declined stating you want a two bedroom unit.

One of the issues with Hawaii, most of the inventory is made up of one-bedroom and studio units... making two bedrooms that much more difficult to obtain in prime time, no matter which exchange company you use.

[I-DE-HO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close I-DE-HO]

Whodat - not quite accurate about the "peep". Months ago you were offered a premium one bedroom sleep four unit. Unfortunately you declined stating you want a two bedroom unit.

One of the issues with Hawaii, most of the inventory is made up of one-bedroom and studio units... making two bedrooms that much more difficult to obtain in prime time, no matter which exchange company you use.

That's been my experience too for HI. I wouldn't turn down a 1BR unless I had more than 4 people in my party. Be ready to rent in that case.

[whodat Member Find all posts View Profile Close whodat]

Whodat - not quite accurate about the "peep". Months ago you were offered a premium one bedroom sleep four unit. Unfortunately you declined stating you want a two bedroom unit.

One of the issues with Hawaii, most of the inventory is made up of one-bedroom and studio units... making two bedrooms that much more difficult to obtain in prime time, no matter which exchange company you use.

OK. I'm starting to see the difficulty of 2BRs in Hawaii! I guess seeing 4 weeks of 2BRs on the sell-off list freaked me out! But truthfully, they're not in my time frame. In hindsight, maybe I should have taken that 1 BR week. I thought that SFX might obtain large inventory of weeks for Hawaii being in SF but I must have been mistaken.

Again, I turned in a 2BR so I want a 2BR in return. Maybe I require an expectation adjustment!

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

OK. I'm starting to see the difficulty of 2BRs in Hawaii! I guess seeing 4 weeks of 2BRs on the sell-off list freaked me out! But truthfully, they're not in my time frame. In hindsight, maybe I should have taken that 1 BR week. I thought that SFX might obtain large inventory of weeks for Hawaii being in SF but I must have been mistaken.

Again, I turned in a 2BR so I want a 2BR in return. Maybe I require an expectation adjustment!

Whodat - you are not mistaken, we do obtain a very large inventory in the Hawaiian Islands, but most of the inventory in the Hawaiian Islands are one-bedroom units. Two bedroom units are in much less supply because much less were built. I will communicate with you tomorrow to discuss some positive options.

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

I guess I have been lucky - I have been to Hawaii twice and got 2 bedroom units for all my exchanges:

Pahio Shearwater - both trips
Pahio Ka Eo kai - for family
Hilton Hawaiian Village
The Bay CLub

All but the HHV were through RCI and all were 2 bedroom units. I don't think it is a case of them not being available, SFX just must not get many.

I was not offered anything for a request for Sept on Kauai from SFX but had multiple choices from RCI.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

I guess I have been lucky - I have been to Hawaii twice and got 2 bedroom units for all my exchanges:

Pahio Shearwater - both trips
Pahio Ka Eo kai - for family
Hilton Hawaiian Village
The Bay CLub

All but the HHV were through RCI and all were 2 bedroom units. I don't think it is a case of them not being available, SFX just must not get many.

I was not offered anything for a request for Sept on Kauai from SFX but had multiple choices from RCI.

Chellej - please allow me to clarify your assumptions. We do get "many" deposits that are two bedrooms, the point I was trying to make was, there are far more one-bedroom timeshare units in "State of Hawaii" than two-bedroom units.

Industrywide, the demand for 2 bedroom units in "Prime-time" in Crown and 5 Star rated resorts, is far greater than the supply ... with "all exchange companies". FYI there are more 2 bedroom units available in the Big Island of Hawaii than all the other islands, as the land is much cheaper and the economics allow for it,

Hope this helps...

[whodat Member Find all posts View Profile Close whodat]

Whodat - you are not mistaken, we do obtain a very large inventory in the Hawaiian Islands, but most of the inventory in the Hawaiian Islands are one-bedroom units. Two bedroom units are in much less supply because much less were built. I will communicate with you tomorrow to discuss some positive options.

Mark, I have decided to cancel the Hawaii request. Don't worry about it. I appreciate all your help. I'm going to change it to the Caribbean, open up the time frame and possibly donate the week to somebody.
I've done a lot of traveling in the last year and I think I'll save up some leave for a big 08 travel year! Next time, I'll ask for a 1 BR in Hawaii. Again, thanks for your help.