Anyone trade to Key West?

[dougmatt]

We are looking to trade for anytime during the summer '06, and have an open search. Our first preference is the Hyatt Beach club, but plan to add other resorts (Galleon) soon.

My question though has anyone made a successful trade? MS didn't sound overly promissing with their comments.

Also if you have traded what were your impressions of the resorts for quality v. DVC.

TIA
D

 

[pirateparrot]

Sorry I can not offer any information about trade possibilities but I can tell you about the Hyatt Beach House because I own there in addition to DVC. I would put the units on par with DVC. Two years ago my Aunt and Uncle took me there to celebrate graduating from college and I decided I needed to buy there.

The resort is very nice and pretty laid back. It is not the young crazy party crowd but more middle aged folks and families. I am 35 and was one of the youngest people there in November (I Own week 46).
The only drawback to this Hyatt property is that is is fairly far from Old Town Key West so you either need to take a cab, the local bus or drive into Old Town and pay to park. You could also rent a scooter or ride a bike into town.

If you are interested in staying more downtown, the Hyatt Sunset Harbor also looks like it is nice and they Have built another Hyatt on the Atlantic side that might be easier to get into because it is new and I don't think it is sold out yet.

 

[GGOOFY1]

I have recently traded for Ft. Myers Beach. When I called in March for a trade in July of '05, there was nothing available. So I left an open search for Key West and Ft. Myers area. I felt the more resorts I searched the better chances of getting something to come through. In mid May I received a call that they had a room in Ft. Myers Beach. Since we love Ft. Myers Beach and was planning on staying there for 5 nights before going to Key West, I jumped at the opportunity.
So, I think you will have a better chance of the getting the resort you want by searching so far in advance. I think you might even better chance if your dates are flexable. Ours were not, we are going to OKW for the first week for a baseball tourney for our DS(15).
Good luck, I heard that the Hyatt Beach club resort if great. When I put in my requests it was recommended by MS.

 

[JerJan]

The Galleon is very nice too.....I have stayed there but I don't own there. Keep in mind that Key West IMHO isn't very family friendly unless you are planning on alot of fishing and resort directed activities.

 

[dougmatt]

Thanks for the replies! Actually I mis-typed our first choice is the Sunset! We do want the Old Town location. Hopefully the trade will come through. I will post status if and when it does. I think it would be nice to have an area where we tracked succesfull trades, how far out they were made, how long were they waitlisted etc... If someone has a link to those kind of stat's please post it.

D

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the replies! Actually I mis-typed our first choice is the Sunset! We do want the Old Town location. Hopefully the trade will come through. I will post status if and when it does. I think it would be nice to have an area where we tracked succesfull trades, how far out they were made, how long were they waitlisted etc... If someone has a link to those kind of stat's please post it.

D

I was going to ask about that since Sunset Harbor is in a much better location than the Beach House or Windward pointe. I would not trade for the Banyan, at least not the number of points it'd cost using DVC through II. Frankly, Summer should be easy using DVC, of questionable value, but easy.

What I don't know is how early to expect Hyatt weeks to start showing up. I know Galleon can be up to 2 years out with RCI but think it's 12 months with II.

 

[downontheBW]

I had a request in for Key West for almost a year that never came through. It was another timeshare through another exchange company but one that deals with high-demand weeks (and found us other matches quickly for Southern CA beach and Hawaii). We already had flights booked on FF miles so had no flexibility on dates and finally gave up 2 weeks before our trip and booked a B&B. It was for the end of April which is at the end of high season. Summer may be easier but I don't know.

Go to Key West for the local flavor and atmosphere; there are beaches but you can find better beaches elsewhere. There is a small beach at the Hyatt Beach House and Hyatt Windward Point is across a main street from a beach but I wouldn't stay at either one because I want to be near Old Town and walk to Mallory Square and Duval. They are good if you want to be more secluded in a small resort.

The best location is Hyatt Sunset Harbor right at Mallory Square; the Galleon is good also overlooking the marina not too far away. The Banyan is in a great spot tucked away near the majority of restaurants; I can't comment on the quality as we didn't see the accommodations but we walked through the grounds and they were very nice.

Key West was great! Good luck!

 

[Dean]

I had a request in for Key West for almost a year that never came through. It was another timeshare through another exchange company but one that deals with high-demand weeks (and found us other matches quickly for Southern CA beach and Hawaii). We already had flights booked on FF miles so had no flexibility on dates and finally gave up 2 weeks before our trip and booked a B&B. It was for the end of April which is at the end of high season. Summer may be easier but I don't know.

Go to Key West for the local flavor and atmosphere; there are beaches but you can find better beaches elsewhere. There is a small beach at the Hyatt Beach House and Hyatt Windward Point is across a main street from a beach but I wouldn't stay at either one because I want to be near Old Town and walk to Mallory Square and Duval. They are good if you want to be more secluded in a small resort.

The best location is Hyatt Sunset Harbor right at Mallory Square; the Galleon is good also overlooking the marina not too far away. The Banyan is in a great spot tucked away near the majority of restaurants; I can't comment on the quality as we didn't see the accommodations but we walked through the grounds and they were very nice.

Key West was great! Good luck!

SFX doesn't get much East Coast or Caribbean deposits so it may be a matter of volume and the other independents likely get even less. Plus there's a big difference in the demand of a late April week and a summer week. Summer is much like it is in the Caribbean, very easy to trade for most of the time. Much of fall will be ever easier since school is in session. Still, Sunset Harbor is a great resort and fairly small.

 

[dougmatt]

Thanks for replies! I will probably add Galleon soon. There is no avail at either now though. There is availability right now for Sept - Dec in the Hyatt Beach House, and spurious weeks at the Galleon... Nothing for summer next year though. The info about the II trade window is good. Someone at MS actually said that the Hyatt resort is limited on when THEY can deposit their weeks? Is that a Hyatt limitation on top of the II??? Dunno.. Can't find any info on it.

D

 

[dvc_john]

I have stayed at both Hyatt Sunset Harbor and Hyatt Windward Pointe.
The location of Sunset Harbor is perfect, and if location is your top priority, stay there. However, overall Windward Pointe is a much nicer resort. I think you'd be a little disappointed with the rooms at Sunset Harbor. While nice, not up to DVC IMHO. Also: pay parking (I believe about $20 for length of stay), and no washer/dryer in room (pay washer/dryer room at resort though).
Windward Pointe is equal to, or even superior to DVC. Has free parking, washer/drier, infinity pool, view of ocean. Major drawback is that it is not walking distance to Duval St, Mallory Sq, etc.
A note on Hyatt exchanges: Owners there own a specific unit/week, and have up until 6 months before their week to confirm they will use it or exchange it. Many exchanges won't open up until 6 months out. Even then, if they do a Hyatt internal exchange, it won't become available to II.

 

[Dean]

I have stayed at both Hyatt Sunset Harbor and Hyatt Windward Pointe.
The location of Sunset Harbor is perfect, and if location is your top priority, stay there. However, overall Windward Pointe is a much nicer resort. I think you'd be a little disappointed with the rooms at Sunset Harbor. While nice, not up to DVC IMHO. Also: pay parking (I believe about $20 for length of stay), and no washer/dryer in room (pay washer/dryer room at resort though).
Windward Pointe is equal to, or even superior to DVC. Has free parking, washer/drier, infinity pool, view of ocean. Major drawback is that it is not walking distance to Duval St, Mallory Sq, etc.
A note on Hyatt exchanges: Owners there own a specific unit/week, and have up until 6 months before their week to confirm they will use it or exchange it. Many exchanges won't open up until 6 months out. Even then, if they do a Hyatt internal exchange, it won't become available to II.

Windward pointe is not on the DVC list as of yet but the other 2 Hyatt's are. And looking at the advice section on TUG, it looks like most deposits would likely be around 6 months prior to the week.

 

[JimMIA]

I haven't stayed at the resorts others are talking about, but we go to Key West pretty often and are familiar with the Conch Republic. The Hyatt Beach Club is on the opposite side of the island from the hub of the action in Key West.

On the positive side, the Hyatt Beach Club is on the opposite side of the island from the hub of the action in Key West. It's on the quiet side of the island. Unless you plan to run nekid in the streets, I'm not sure what the attraction would be to stay on Duval Street. Oh, I forgot...the tourist teeshirt shops! Personally, I'd rather stay at the Beach Club and get a shirt from the Hogs Breath Saloon (logo: "Hog's Breath Is Better Than No Breath At All...which is both true, and very Key West)

Another positive about the Beach Club is that it is within walkiing distance of the best restaurant (and must do) in Key West -- Louie's Back Yard.