Have the 1 in 4 rule changed at the Mayan Palace?

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I read here that Mayan Palace exchange rules have changed. Is this fact or fiction? I am afraid that it is true because it is quoted black and white in an email to this person.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthr...692#post148692

Have you heard this too and do you care?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

They are trying to get the most value by making it harder to trade back into the resort. They want new blood.
One way to get around this is book through SFX.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I don't really care, but those who want to go more than once every five years might. What I see is a reduction in demand for exchanges as a result, which will probably lower the trade power. I think the whole idea is to get more fresh meat and convince the visiting that they just about have to buy to go there.

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

I checked on the RCI site by trying to use one of my Sheraton Buganvillas weeks for a MP exchange. Sure enough, it has the 1-in-5 statement and that owners of MP units cannot exchange into it. We have done this on numerous occasions over the past few years when we owned only 1 MP week and several other timeshare weeks to use for exchanges.

Now that we have 6 MP weeks, we will just use our MP weeks for internal MP exchanges and only deposit weeks that we do not plan to use at the MP. I also plan to start using SFX a lot. That way I may even be able to snag a Grand occasionally. Since our family likes staying at the MP, I am glad that I sold my non-GC weeks and bought MP weeks on ebay.

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

We just did 2 contiguous weeks at the Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta on an exchange through SFX. One of the major reasons why I like SFX is their lack of restrictions. They also are the best when it comes to the Grand Mayan resorts as well as many others. We exchanged into the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya last fall. We have used SFX exclusively for the past 9+ years. We did the same thing at the HGVC/Flamingo Las Vegas which strictly enforces the 1 in 4 rule through RCI. We exchanged into HGVC/Flamingo many times including 4 times in one year.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

[S][/S]SFX must have a darn good contract with the MP for now because [S]they[/S] RCI seems to enforce the one-in-five rule even for Extra Vacations, bonus weeks, etc., according to Madge.

These resorts (including the Buganvilias) in Mexico want "fresh blood" that they can sell their timeshares to. We (old customers) are nothing but a nuisance to them. JMHO.

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

SFX must have a darn good contract with the MP for now because they seem to enforce the one-in-five rule even for Extra Vacations, bonus weeks, etc., according to Madge.

These resorts (including the Buganvilias) in Mexico want "fresh blood" that they can sell their timeshares to. We (old customers) are nothing but a nuisance to them. JMHO.

It is not a matter of SFX having a contract with MP. It is simply that here is no restriction with SFX regardless of the resort. The HGVC has the the same 1 in 4 rule with RCI. However with SFX, I have exchanged into the HGVC/Flamingo Las Vegas several times including 4 times in one year.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Why is it then? They must strike a deal with them somehow.

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

Why is it then? They must strike a deal with them somehow.

SFX is not the only exchange company that does not have the 1 in 4 or 5 restrictions. I don't believe that II has those restrictions. The restriction is an agreement between RCI and the resorts. SFX will not accept restrictions like that. As far as any deals go, I have no idea nor do I care. I have no interest in the how or the why of the situation. I just accept it as being the way it is. It is not SFX's fault that RCI exchangers have restrictions. If it works for me, then I am happy. Life is too short to worry about why one exchange company has restrictions and another does not.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

John, it does worry me why there are so many restrictions and limitations in timesharing today and not only with exchanging but with everyone trying to compete for the best weeks and units too. All these problems never existed before when there were no floating timeshare weeks and units and RCI was a different company too from what it is today. If problems existed, we were not aware of it.

I don't know either if II has the 1 in 4 or 5 restriction rules too. We haven't used the exchange companies for several years. If I needed an exchange, I would try SFX too.

We bought timeshares in the early eighties for use and not for exchanging and still prefer the fixed units and fixed weeks we have today because you know what to expect.

An example for instance is here what I read today about the pecking order of the floating timeshare condos at the WKORV in Maui. It looks to me like most big resort developers have some pecking order in place as the best units may go to the renters or to people who are taking a tour so the developer can sell more units. This to me is very unfair to the owners who bought at this resort and paid a very high price to own here unless they bought it re-sale.

The same for the Marriott too where it is even difficult to reserve a week for staying at your home resort for the season you are entitled to. Just read the complaints as there are many. The Marriott will have to change their reservation system if they want to keep happy and loyal customers in the future.

So far, none of the systems are perfect yet because it doesn't exist but what I don't understand is how the timeshare developers and exchange companies can get away with having everything in their favor today and not in the best interest of the timeshare owner or the exchange member.

Renting sounds almost a better solution because if you pay for a view room or suite at a certain date, you are guaranteed to get it.