Key West exchange using HGVC

[jlhorne Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlhorne]

I have been looking into Hyatt HVC ownership basically to get access to Key West, and possibly some western HVC or II locations. I am now trying to determine if SFX can help me accomplish some of the same goals - if so, I would consider boosting HGVC points instead.

Our preferred time to travel to the Keys is the first half of Nov or Dec (not Thanksgiving or too close to Christmas). We exchanged into the Galleon last year at week 49 thru RCI and loved it. The Hyatt (Sunset Harbor) next door appeared to be not very busy and would be a location we would like access to. HVC lists Nov/Dec as offpeak within their club. Other travel west would likely be Sept or Oct - but the Keys is most important.

What HGVC reservations would I basically need to exchange to get into the Keys during this time? Please list some possible trades by location, size and season (ie would have to be 2 BR PLATINUM season anywhere, 1 BR Hawaii GOLD SEASON may work but would have to upgrade, etc...).

I am not completely sure of the exhange rules, but I do understand that I would have to join and that there are different fees. An outline of the fee to join would also be helpfull. If the exchange is too expensive in terms of HGVC points, I would tend to not pursue this route.

TIA !

[catahoula Member Find all posts View Profile Close catahoula]

Hgvc

HGVC trades with RCI only. You will not be able to trade your HGVC points to get into HYATT. HYATT is II. If you want to get into Key West I beleive the Galleon is the only resort that will trade with Hilton.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

HGVC trades with RCI only. You will not be able to trade your HGVC points to get into HYATT. HYATT is II. If you want to get into Key West I beleive the Galleon is the only resort that will trade with Hilton.

You can use one of the independant companies to make trades outside of either I.I. or RCI. SFX is one such company. Owners are not limited to exchanging only through the two major exchange companies that most resorts affiliate with. By using the independant exchange companies, you can cross the boundries set up by RCI and I.I.

To make an exchange using a HGVC week, you must first reserve a week. Once your week is reserved you contact the independant exchange company or your choice and make your deposit and exchange reqeusts. Thus, a HGVC owner could make an exchange into a Hyatt resort.

[jlhorne Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlhorne]

Actually, that is why I am posting on the Ask SFX board. I am hoping one of the counselers can give me a better idea what I would have to deposit to get a 2 BR Key West unit in offseason (Nov - early Dec).

What I failed to mention is that I do want a 2 BR unit. Since with HGVC I have a LOT of options as to what size and season and location I would reserve and deposit, it helps to go ahead and ask. I am hoping a GOLD 1BR Hawaiian village would do the trick (basically May or Sept) since I am requesting what I believe is OFFSEASON in the Keys.

Also - the only Hyatt Keys location I saw listed on the SFX site was Sunset Harbor. I wonder if the other Hyatt Keys locations (Beach House and Windward Point) are also available thru SFX (I prefer SH but options are good).

[catahoula Member Find all posts View Profile Close catahoula]

I learned something

[QUOTE=dougp26364;239127]You can use one of the independant companies to make trades outside of either I.I. or RCI. SFX is one such company. Owners are not limited to exchanging only through the two major exchange companies that most resorts affiliate with. By using the independant exchange companies, you can cross the boundries set up by RCI and I.I.

This site is terrific. Thank you Doug. I'm learning something new everyday.

[jlhorne Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlhorne]

If you want to get into Key West I beleive the Galleon is the only resort that will trade with Hilton.

You are correct, in that the Galleon is the only gold crown resort in Key West I have access to thru RCI. I went in 2007 and it is a 1-4 property, meaning that I cannot make another reservation until 2011. Hence, I am looking for access to other Key West properties ...

[jlhorne Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlhorne]

Is SFX an option for me? If so, am I posting to the right thread?

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

I have been looking into Hyatt HVC ownership basically to get access to Key West, and possibly some western HVC or II locations. I am now trying to determine if SFX can help me accomplish some of the same goals - if so, I would consider boosting HGVC points instead.

Our preferred time to travel to the Keys is the first half of Nov or Dec (not Thanksgiving or too close to Christmas). We exchanged into the Galleon last year at week 49 thru RCI and loved it. The Hyatt (Sunset Harbor) next door appeared to be not very busy and would be a location we would like access to. HVC lists Nov/Dec as offpeak within their club. Other travel west would likely be Sept or Oct - but the Keys is most important.

What HGVC reservations would I basically need to exchange to get into the Keys during this time? Please list some possible trades by location, size and season (ie would have to be 2 BR PLATINUM season anywhere, 1 BR Hawaii GOLD SEASON may work but would have to upgrade, etc...).

I am not completely sure of the exhange rules, but I do understand that I would have to join and that there are different fees. An outline of the fee to join would also be helpfull. If the exchange is too expensive in terms of HGVC points, I would tend to not pursue this route.

TIA !

jlhorne - thank you kindly for your post. A deposit from any HGVC resort in Oahu or Hawaii would qualify.

If you are an SFX Gold Member and deposit a one bedroom unit, there are no membership fees. You would pay $159 exchange fee upon booking. There would be an additional upgrade fee from a one to a two bedroom unit of $149.

As a Gold Member depositing a two bedroom unit, requesting a two bedroom unit, you would just pay the $159 exchange fee.

If you are a Platinum Member and deposit a one bedroom unit, the exchange fee is only $129 and there is no upgrade fee.

If you are only planning on taking a one week vacation per year, then a Gold Membership may be best for you. If you plan on taking more than one week per year, (Exchange/s, bonus weeks, and sell off list weeks) then you save a lot more money than the membership costs you, and pay far less than Gold Members with all the savings.

Hope this helps...

[jlhorne Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlhorne]

jlhorne - thank you kindly for your post. A deposit from any HGVC resort in Oahu or Hawaii would qualify.

If you are an SFX Gold Member and deposit a one bedroom unit, there are no membership fees. You would pay $159 exchange fee upon booking. There would be an additional upgrade fee from a one to a two bedroom unit of $149.

As a Gold Member depositing a two bedroom unit, requesting a two bedroom unit, you would just pay the $159 exchange fee.

If you are a Platinum Member and deposit a one bedroom unit, the exchange fee is only $129 and there is no upgrade fee.

If you are only planning on taking a one week vacation per year, then a Gold Membership may be best for you. If you plan on taking more than one week per year, (Exchange/s, bonus weeks, and sell off list weeks) then you save a lot more money than the membership costs you, and pay far less than Gold Members with all the savings.

Hope this helps...

Thanks Mark. Sounds like I just need to figure out whether I want to reserve a 1 or 2 br unit for exchange.

Your comment about Gold vs platinum is very helpfull. I do not care much about bonus weeks/sell of at this time - I would likely only request one trade every 1-2 years. SFX sounds like a nice way to give me access to II inventory from time to time.

1) What properties in Key West would be eligible for SFX to trade me into? I saw the Galleon but the only Hyatt property I saw was Sunset Harbor and they have more...
2) How much inventory does SFX see around the Nov - Dec timeframe in Key West? (what are my chances of you finding this offseason inventory in SFX inventory and it being available)?

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

Thanks Mark. Sounds like I just need to figure out whether I want to reserve a 1 or 2 br unit for exchange.

Your comment about Gold vs platinum is very helpfull. I do not care much about bonus weeks/sell of at this time - I would likely only request one trade every 1-2 years. SFX sounds like a nice way to give me access to II inventory from time to time.

1) What properties in Key West would be eligible for SFX to trade me into? I saw the Galleon but the only Hyatt property I saw was Sunset Harbor and they have more...
2) How much inventory does SFX see around the Nov - Dec timeframe in Key West? (what are my chances of you finding this offseason inventory in SFX inventory and it being available)?

Jlhorne - thank you for your post. If you only travel about one week a year, then Gold is the best way to go. Platinum is better for those who need 2 weeks or more per year.

1. Galleon, Banyan and Hyatt. Hyatt has more units, but that doesn't mean there is more availability for possible inbound exchange. Reason being, they service their internal trades for their owners who own in their family of multiple resorts. They get first access to the property before others.

2. It varies every year. Exchange companies do not know if or when timeshare owners are going to use their units or deposit them. It would be inappropriate for an exchange company to quote odds or chances for space to become available. If we imply the odds are good, and then it doesn't become available, then the exchange company looks like.... you know what.

We would rather under-promise and over-deliver. On the other hand, if we thought it was close to impossible, we would advise accordingly.

Hope this helps...