FAQs

This page discusses the most frequently asked questions about The San Francisco Exchange Company (SFX).

Please note: When participating with other companies services associated with your SFX Membership, you are also bound by their policies and terms of participation.

If you have questions not answered on this page, please send your questions via email to vacations@sfx-resorts.com, and we will gladly answer them for you.


Q: Can we be a member of more than one exchange company?
A: Yes. Regardless of any affiliation your resort has with an exchange company, as an Owner of your time, you have the right to request the service of any exchange company you want. An exchange service is a separate and distinct optional component to your timeshare purchase.

Q: As a Gold Member, prior to making a Request, what is the procedure?
A: You are required to Deposit your week first with SFX. To do this, please contact your resort and ask them to assign you a week. You then must complete an SFX Deposit Form and bank the week. Then you can request your vacation exchange.

Q: What weeks in the year will SFX accept as deposits?
A: Click Here To View Qualified Season Grid

Q: How does SFX access space?
A: SFX only invites those who own in the best located and preferred quality resorts to participate, unlike other systems with various levels of quality. This is called "Market Matching". If everyone has something that everybody wants, then you have a system of equitable supply and demand, and SFX only accepts the high end range of resorts. In addition to Member deposits, from time to time, SFX obtains special inventory directly from quality resorts in larger quantities of available space than SFX may have immediate requests for, and this enables us to frequently confirm requests expeditiously.

Q: What are the primary differences between SFX and other exchange companies?
A: SFX vacation exchanges have a higher consistency of quality, greater flexibility and less cost.

Also, instead of only having access to the inventory of one exchange company, via SFX you can access resorts that are in multiple exchange companies.

Q: If we choose not to use our week this year, can we accrue our week for a future exchange?
A: Yes. As with most exchange companies, SFX gives you up to 2 years past your deposited week in which to use your week for an exchange.

Q: How far in advance should we request an exchange?
A: For prime time and high demand locations, it is suggested to make your request at least 8-12 months ahead. Most resorts do not allow space reservations more than 12 months in advance. For non-prime time and high demand locations, it is suggested to make your request at least 3-6 months ahead. For non-prime time and low demand locations, try to make your request at least 2 months ahead. There are no absolute rules or guarantees for this process, as it is driven primarily by external market factors, seasonality, and ongoing changes in availability of new and existing inventory due to new developments and occasional renovations of existing properties.

Probably the most important rule is, be as flexible as you can with dates and/or locations and Deposit your week Early.

Q: Can we deposit the same week with more than one exchange company in the same year ?
A: No… This will create a double booking of your unit. Should this occur, you are liable for any expenses incurred by the other guest, exchange company and the resort, including but not limited to alternative accommodations. No one wants this to happen, so please be careful to only bank a week with not more than one exchange company in any given use year.

Q: Can we take our week back after we have deposited it with SFX?
A: As with other exchange companies, once your week is deposited, it is relinquished to SFX to be booked by other members, and cannot be taken back. A week is redeemed only by an exchange to either your home resort or another property.

Q: When will an agent contact us with a confirmed exchange?
A: We will contact you immediately upon achieving a match of your request. Sometimes this is immediately when you contact us, because of available inventory we have placed in our system, and other times we have to initiate a search for you. We do not disturb you each day or week to tell you that we are still searching, as we know that you really want to hear from us only when we have obtained what you want. It also helps us to efficiently work for you by not having you feel that you need to call us each day/week to check on how we are doing. We are working hard for you each day, and will call you ASAP, when we have the match for you.

Q: What are the SFX Gold and Platinum cancellation policies?
A: All fees (membership and transaction fees) are non-refundable. Cancellation of an Exchange or Bonus Week: If more than 30 days prior to arrival, you will receive a credit for another week. If less than 30 days prior to arrival, you will only get a credit for a replacement week if your unit is booked by another Member.

Q: We may be checking in a day or two late. What is the procedure?
A: In the event you will be a checking in past the official check-in day, it is your responsibility to contact the resort directly and advise them accordingly. Failure to do so, may result in your unit be assigned to another guest.