Key West - RCI & Galleon

[dallastxcpa]

I did a search but the last thread I found was back in 2010.

Has anyone recently traded into The Galleon at Key West? What was your experience with waitlisting for the resort and how did you like the resort?

I suppose worse case scenario is that at the 7 month mark if we still haven't received a confirmation for our selected weeks we will pull our points and do something different.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by dallastxcpa

I did a search but the last thread I found was back in 2010.

Has anyone recently traded into The Galleon at Key West? What was your experience with waitlisting for the resort and how did you like the resort?

I suppose worse case scenario is that at the 7 month mark if we still haven't received a confirmation for our selected weeks we will pull our points and do something different.

I haven't stayed there but I've seen it. I would be happy staying there but it is below DVC's standards. Depending on when you want to go, there really aren't many weeks available. I would not hold your breath but I would not give up at 7 months, that's too early if you are serious about the exchange. I'd try to find a Hyatt owner and do a direct exchange. The Hammocks in Marathon is also a consideration, I think it's about an hour away (check though to be sure it's not further). It's Bluegreen so a BG owner direct exchange might be a good option as well and likely less points than an RCI exchange.

[Sheribo]

We were also looking at the Galleon for next November but hadn't made any calls yet. Interested to see if you're successful. Good Luck.

[Melynny]

I was lucky enough to do a last minute trade into the Galleon in Key West 2 years ago thru RCI. We had a 2 bedroom, that looked directly across the pool, top floor, for Christmas week! The unit was very good. Not as nice and new as DVC BUT you can't beat the location for Key West. It's very close to both areas the DH and I like to go. It's very close the Old harbor, and within walking distance to Mallory Square, Sloppy Joes, and all of the other things to do that are in that area. Parking is a premium at the resort so we did not use our car much at all. We purchased our groceries on check in day and I don't think we moved it all week. Parking is under the resort. Our unit had 2 twins in one bedroom and a king in the master. The pool is small, the bar near the pool was adequate, they had a Christmas day pot luck for the employees there and shared it with the guests.. it was fun! We had everything in the unit that we needed. The master bathroom had a couple of maintenance issues due to wear. The carpet was worn, Tile was in the main rooms, and kitchen, but the furniture had been recently reupholstered. Everything in the unit was in good repair, the kitchen was clean and had all items we needed. There is a very neat observation deck on the roof that is very very nice, we went there one morning, very early and the nearby naval base started playing "The Star Spangled Banner"- I think that was what it was, or it was some other patriotic song, while the sun was coming up.. it was neat. Oh not sure when you are thinking of going, but it was chilly, I wore shorts and a sweatshirt every day and only swam and pooled' it one day. I did not participate in any of the activities,but I think there were some. Staff was friendly, but not that "welcoming". their service was adequate, but they were busy as the resort was full and it was the holidays. We spend time at another timeshare in the middle keys, " The Hammocks at Marathon" Its a bluegreen resort, and we actually like that one more, -but not a studio there. It's central location, the near beaches and restaurants there make that resort a better fit for our needs. Hope that helps! Have fun planning, either way you will have a blast.. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! for the keys and my real

[Dean]

There are currently no availability for any week for KW at any time in RCI either in weeks or in points. There's one week for Marathon and a couple of dozen for Key Largo at a single resort.

[JimMIA]

Originally Posted by Dean

The Hammocks in Marathon is also a consideration, I think it's about an hour away (check though to be sure it's not further).

Marathon is roughly 60 miles from Key West. Good, but two-lane highway the whole way, so probably a little more than an hour drive time (1:15-1:20) -- except on Friday/Saturday going to KW and Sunday coming back. The drive back to the mainland on Sunday can be very slow.

[dallastxcpa]

Originally Posted by Melynny

I was lucky enough to do a last minute trade into the Galleon in Key West 2 years ago thru RCI. We had a 2 bedroom, that looked directly across the pool, top floor, for Christmas week! The unit was very good. Not as nice and new as DVC BUT you can't beat the location for Key West. It's very close to both areas the DH and I like to go. It's very close the Old harbor, and within walking distance to Mallory Square, Sloppy Joes, and all of the other things to do that are in that area. Parking is a premium at the resort so we did not use our car much at all. We purchased our groceries on check in day and I don't think we moved it all week. Parking is under the resort. Our unit had 2 twins in one bedroom and a king in the master. The pool is small, the bar near the pool was adequate, they had a Christmas day pot luck for the employees there and shared it with the guests.. it was fun! We had everything in the unit that we needed. The master bathroom had a couple of maintenance issues due to wear. The carpet was worn, Tile was in the main rooms, and kitchen, but the furniture had been recently reupholstered. Everything in the unit was in good repair, the kitchen was clean and had all items we needed. There is a very neat observation deck on the roof that is very very nice, we went there one morning, very early and the nearby naval base started playing "The Star Spangled Banner"- I think that was what it was, or it was some other patriotic song, while the sun was coming up.. it was neat. Oh not sure when you are thinking of going, but it was chilly, I wore shorts and a sweatshirt every day and only swam and pooled' it one day. I did not participate in any of the activities,but I think there were some. Staff was friendly, but not that "welcoming". their service was adequate, but they were busy as the resort was full and it was the holidays. We spend time at another timeshare in the middle keys, " The Hammocks at Marathon" Its a bluegreen resort, and we actually like that one more, -but not a studio there. It's central location, the near beaches and restaurants there make that resort a better fit for our needs. Hope that helps! Have fun planning, either way you will have a blast.. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! for the keys and my real

Great information. Thanks so much. On the note of the resort not being as nice as DVC we have kind of set that as our expectation. We traded into New Orleans last January and while the resort there was very historical, I would describe it more as cozy, intimate, and eclectic as opposed to luxury. We had a one bedroom there and it had no washer and dryer, but I can understand we were in a very old building just a couple of blocks from Bourbon street.

The last time we were in Key West was 2 years ago in January and for a Texan it was beautiful. In fact it was quite funny because we were walking around in shorts and Dallas was getting hammered with a snow storm.

Thank you for the information on Marathon, but this time we want to be in the midst of Key West because there are a ton of things we want to do. Hemingway House, Butterfly museum, I want to take a trip out to the island that is about 60 miles out. Etc. Plus I might get stinkin drunk and I don't want to have to worry about getting back to my room. Just joking, I am way to old for that.

I think if it hasn't come through by 3 or 4 months out we will just switch our plans to somewhere else depending on what flights are reasonable. (if thats even possible)

[dallastxcpa]

Originally Posted by Dean

There are currently no availability for any week for KW at any time in RCI either in weeks or in points. There's one week for Marathon and a couple of dozen for Key Largo at a single resort.

Thanks for looking at that, I appreciate it. Last year when we put a request in for New Orleans we had to wait list and then it came through about a month before. I am just going to be patient and go with the flow.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by dallastxcpa

Thanks for looking at that, I appreciate it. Last year when we put a request in for New Orleans we had to wait list and then it came through about a month before. I am just going to be patient and go with the flow.

Getting KW is a whole different world than NO. I would make alternate plans that assume you will not get it and know your chances are very low even for easier seasons.

[Sheribo]

How far ahead can we book RCI??

[Dean]

Originally Posted by Sheribo

How far ahead can we book RCI??

Up to 2 years for RCI weeks resorts and up to 10 months for RCI points resorts. You can put a request in up to 2 years out. Ultimately you're limited by how many others might be ahead of you and when a given resort ends up depositing.

[dvc_john]

If either of the posters inquiring about KW are interested in pursuing Deans' suggestion of trying to do a direct exchange with a Hyatt owner (assuming you can find one willing to exchange), I just checked, and there is a lot availability, mostly for Hyatt Windward Pointe and Hyatt Beach House, with a very limited amount of availability for Sunset Harbor.

Since someone mentioned November, currently all 4 November weeks are avail at Windward Pointe, and 3 of the 4 November weeks are avail at Beach House. (None currently at Sunset Harbor). (But with Hyatt, some availability generally opens up at 6 months out.)