Sunswop | South Africa’s Premier Holiday Exchange Service

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South Africa’s Premier Holiday Exchange Club

Sunswop is a premier holiday-exchange service exclusively for Southern Sun Resorts members. It’s private, it’s independent, and if you own a week at one of Southern Sun Resorts properties, it’s just for you. Timeshare owners at Southern Sun Resorts gain automatic membership to Sunswop, making it your one-stop port of call for depositing timeshare weeks and requesting exchanges into other resorts.

With Sunswop, you can exchange back into the award-winning Southern Sun Resorts properties easier than ever before. Sunswop assures you of quality exchanges, both in South Africa and throughout the world! Our affiliation agreement with RCI, opens the door to more than 4,300 resorts across the globe.

All You Need to Know

Contact Sunswop

South African and International Residents:

+27 11 258 1400 (local rates will be charged)

Office Hours:

Monday – Friday: 08h00 - 17h00
Saturday – 08h00 - 12h00

Sunswop Call Centre:

sunswop@memberservices.co.za

Sunswop Head Office:

Sunswop.Info@southernsun.com

Member Services Manager:

Marley Eliziah

General Manager:

Peter Pienaar

Sunswop Resorts

Sunswop Frequently Asked Questions

How do I deposit my week with Sunswop?

Simply contact the Sunswop call centre and ask them to deposit your week. Remember that your levy will become payable when you deposit the week if its commencement date is more than 90 days away.

Am I able to deposit only a portion of my week at my home resort?

Am I able to deposit only a portion of my week at my home resort (e.g. a weekend or midweek) with Sunswop if I wish to occupy the other portion?

Yes, you can deposit a portion of the week that you will not be occupying. For example, if you wish to occupy the weekend portion of your week at, say, Drakensberg Sun, you would be able to deposit the remaining midweek portion with Sunswop and receive the relevant trading points for this midweek.

This needs to be deposited in advance to receive applicable points according to the Sunswop Trading Points table in this directory. Note that weeks are split into weekends and midweeks according to what resorts allow. Thus, Fri check-in resorts have a three-night weekend (Fri, Sat and Sun) and a four-night midweek (Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs). Sat check-in resorts have a two-night weekend (Sat and Sun) and a five-night midweek (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Fri). Peak weeks cannot be split and need to be deposited in their entirety.

What is the lifespan of my deposited weeks?

Your deposited weeks are valid for the year of occupation and two additional calendar years. For example, a deposited week with 2021 occupation would be valid for exchange redemption until the end of 2023 (the accommodation being exchanged into needs to fall within this period).

Due to Covid-19 and the resultant national lockdown which necessitated the closure of all resorts, points which would have expired at the end of 2020 and 2021, have been extended by an additional 2 years. Sunswop Choices members receive an additional year on the lifespan of deposited weeks.

Can I cancel the deposit of my week?

No, you can’t. By depositing your week with Sunswop you have relinquished the right to occupy it, and that week may be assigned to another member prior to the submission or fulfilment of an exchange request made by you.

How long before the check-in day can I deposit my week?

You can deposit your week with Sunswop up to two months (60 days) prior to occupation without incurring any penalty. Should you deposit your week within 60 days of occupancy, you will lose a percentage of your Sunswop trading points.

Will I receive extra points for banking my week early?

Yes. All weeks deposited up to 120 days prior to the start date of that week will receive 10% extra trading points against that deposited week.

Points percentages received for depositing are as follows:

Up to 120 days prior to occupation: 110%
119 – 60 days prior to occupation: 100%
59 – 40 days prior to occupation: 80%
39 – 20 days prior to occupation: 60%
19 days or less: 0%

What are SunSwop Trading Points?

Sunswop Trading Points are the currency you receive when depositing your week with Sunswop. The number of points you receive is based on various factors – for example, the resort at which you own, the size of your unit, the unit’s amenities, the season in which you own, the facilities offered at your home resort, and so on.

How do I go about requesting a domestic exchange?

Once you have deposited your week with Sunswop, we recommend that you select a minimum of three resort destinations, as well as three different dates, to increase the likelihood of securing your accommodation request. We also recommend that you request your exchange holiday as far in advance as possible to ensure that we are able to secure the accommodation you want.

Can I request multiple exchanges in the same year?

Yes. As long as you have enough Sunswop Trading Points deposited on your membership file, you can request multiple exchanges in the same year.

Can I request multiple units in the same resort?

Yes. If you have enough Sunswop Trading Points deposited on your membership file, you can request multiple units in the same resort.

Can I reserve consecutive weeks at the same resort?

Yes. As long as you have enough Sunswop Trading Points deposited on your membership file, you can request consecutive weeks in the same resort.

Can I do Midweek and Weekend Exchanges?

Yes. If the resort into which you wish to exchange allows split week exchanges, you will be able to request either midweek or weekend accommodation. The Sunswop Trading Value Guide in this directory will highlight whether or not resorts allow split week exchanges.

Can I give my confirmed reservation to a friend or family member?

Yes, you can. Simply request a Guest Certificate from Sunswop (R62 per Guest Certificate) in the name of the relevant person. It is important that the arriving guest matches the name on the resort’s reservation system. The resort reserves the right to turn guests away if the name on the confirmation letter or guest certificate does not match the name on the reservation system.

When do I pay the exchange fee for my domestic exchange?

You pay the relevant fee for domestic exchanges upon confirmation of your reservation.

Can I exchange into peak time if I do not own a peak week?

Yes, you can. As long as you have the required number of points for the desired exchange, you can exchange into a peak week.

Can I do a split week exchange in peak times?

No. Exchanges into peak times can only be done in seven-day intervals.

Can I rent out my confirmed exchange or Bonus Week?

No. You may not rent out confirmed exchanges or Bonus Weeks for financial gain. Failing to adhere to this rule could result in the termination of your Sunswop membership.

What exchange fees will I pay when I use Sunswop?

Exchange fees for 2022 are as follows:

Southern Sun - Resorts timeshare owners exchanging into another Southern Sun Resorts property: R530
Southern Sun Resorts timeshare owners exchanging into other resorts in South Africa: R805
La Lucia Sands timeshare owners exchanging into all resorts within South Africa: R805
Exchanging into an International Resort: R2,171

Can I buy extra points if I don’t have enough points to complete an exchange?

No. You would need to deposit an additional week to ensure that you have sufficient points to complete the exchange.

What happens if I have to cancel my confirmed exchange?

If you need to cancel your confirmed exchange, you will unfortunately forfeit the exchange fee paid, and will be required to pay another exchange fee when you next do an exchange. However, depending on when you cancel the confirmed exchange, you will be entitled to a refund of the Sunswop trading points that were used for the exchange.

The number of points refunded would be determined as follows:

Exchanges cancelled up to 60 days prior to check-in date: 100%
59 – 40 days prior to check-in date: 80%
39 – 20 days prior to check-in date: 60%
19 – 0 days before check-in date: 0%

How will I know which international resorts I can exchange into?

Refer to your international Resort Directory from RCI®; alternatively, visit the website at www.rci.co.za for a full list of resorts.

Do I have to deposit my week before requesting my international exchange?

Yes, you must have points on your file to place a request.

When do I pay the exchange fee for my international exchange?

You pay the relevant fee for international exchanges upon confirmation of your reservation.

What telephone number do I call to deposit my week and request exchanges with SunSwop?

SA Residents: 011 258 1400
International Residents: +27 11 258 1400

Office Hours

Mon-Fri (08h00 – 17h00)
Sat (08h00 – 12h00)

Can I transact online?

Yes, you can now deposit your weeks and do your exchanges online. Visit the following website (www.southernsun.com) click on the Sunswop tab, and then press “Sunwop Online.” If you require any assistance when registering on the site, simply call one of our agents on 011 258 1400 (for SA residents). They will gladly guide you through the process.

Don’t forget, if you deposit your week 120 days prior to the start date of that week you’ll receive an extra 10% trading points.

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