Flamingo/OBBR Exchange

We are thinking about using Interval Exchange trade a week in July at the Flamingo for a week in July at OBBR just to try something new. Would anyone know how we can ensure that we get an ocean view or ocean front unit at OBBR? We are looking into studios and 1 bedroom suites. Thanks.

I have been an owner at OBBR for almost 20 years and from my experience, unless you own one of their 'fixed' weeks, they will not guarantee anything. You will have an opportunity to express your desires when you return your arrival information to them.

It is possible that there are different rules for exchanges than for owners but I have never heard of any. The biggest thing in your favor is the timing of your trip, low season vs. high season.

Either way, I believe you will enjoy your stay there.

I have been an owner at OBBR for over 18 years, and agree with Mikel 100%. The only thing I would add, is when you do return your arrival information (a form OBBR will send you) make a note that you are curently an owner at Flamingo and "are looking for something new.. excited about staying at and touring OBBR". Then request an ocean front room. They are still in full sales mode, I think they might give you a better room IF they think you might be in the market for a timeshare. I would also suggest that you take the tour, it is very low pressure and you can learn a lot about OBBR.

Thank you both very much! Do either of you have an opinion one way or the other on studios vs 1 bedroom suites relative to location? Also, can you tell me where the 'tropical gardens' are on the map they have on their website.

The studios are the lock-out portion of the one bedroom units. They are very small, have a kitchen which is equipped with the bare minimum of appliances and utensils, and a patio that seats two barely. Also the resort charges a daily electricity fee that varies with unit size. I will be somewhere around $50 on top of the timeshare fee.

OBBR also has an A/C surcharge based on the unit size along with the normal $50 per week timeshare tax for the Dutch side. As a owner since '98 I used to have a flex week and never could get a room that I had asked for, again with the time frame you are going you may be able to ask for ocean front and get it. We are staying at Flamingo next month and would like to get ocean front there, any idea how I do that?

Unless you can get a studio in the Mainsail building, I would strongly recommend that you get a 1-BR unit. As stated previously, each studio is adjacent to a 1-BR so there is no difference in the view. I could not find any reference on their website to the 'tropical gardens' you mentioned.

Again, agree with Mikel, go for the 1 bedroom if possible. Full kitchen, nicer bathroom plus the additional living space.
Also, instead of tropical gardens, you might mean "marina gardens" these are the inner buildings colored in yellow. The only building that has no direct water view is the 3300-3500 building. All others have Ocean or Oyster Pond views, over 60% of the rooms have Ocean view.

Thank you all so much. Very helpful information. In response to Butch-N-Kelley, I don't know how you can get an ocean view room. Since we 'own' there, we have the option of the type of room we want when we make the reservation based on our points. To mdldgl, when you go onto their description of the suite views, they list ocean front, marina and lush toprical garden.