Am I Covering All My Options?

[Cindala]

We have a confirmed 2 bedroom exchange into Marriott's Grand Chateau for the last week of June. We exchanged into the Grand Chateau last summer as well although it was a 3 bedroom villa.

I am trying to get another 1 bedroom villa so that we will have as much room as we had last year on our vacation. I figure that my options are:

1. Call to see if I can get an upgrade to a 3 bedroom if available
2. See if I can get an XYZ exchange for another unit there
3. Purchase a getaway
4. Book a unit through Marriott for what I want (using MOD code for owners)
5. Check Redweek for rentals
6. Check TUG for exchanges/rentals

Am I leaving anything out?

So far, I have been calling Interval several times a week for options 1,2 & 3, and the story is always the same; absolutely no inventory for the last week in June. (Is there a convention?) Also the XYZ exchange is only good through May at this point, although it could be extended yet again.
We thought about moving the trip to the first week in July where they have a little more inventory, but it conflicts with some work schedules.

I chose option 4 for now and booked a 1 bedroom villa with the MOD code just to have something. The price is better than what I have seen on Redweek and I have until 1 week before to cancel without penalty. Plus it includes housekeeping (worth about $100 if paid for daily service)

II tells me that getaways won't show up until 2 or 3 months out. They also said to keep calling as maintenance fees are due this month, and there should be more deposits.

So, I have I covered all my bases??? Any help appreciated.

 

[dioxide45]

I think you have all your options covered. However, are you looking to be able to combine what you get with the 2BR you have to make a 3BR? If so, you will need to be sure that the unit you have is the 2BR side of a 3BR lock off. If it isn't, you are limited to option 1, as they likely won't be able to combine your separate units in to a single 3BR.

 

[kjd]

I tried to combine the two bedroom side with a studio two years ago and dioxide's right about that. They wouldn't do it because the one bedroom side has a kitchen. I don't know if they would put a three bedroom back together even if you had both parts reserved. If they had a three bedroom vacancy I don't see why then wouldn't do it but they have their own rules.

What they did do was to put the studio on the same floor as the two bedroom master suite which worked out fine. The three bedrooms are all corner units so the studio could be anywhere on the floor. Most of the owners lockoff at MGC so there are always a lot of studios to trade for.

 

[Cindala]

I think you have all your options covered. However, are you looking to be able to combine what you get with the 2BR you have to make a 3BR? If so, you will need to be sure that the unit you have is the 2BR side of a 3BR lock off. If it isn't, you are limited to option 1, as they likely won't be able to combine your separate units in to a single 3BR.

Last year we had a 3 bedroom corner unit and it was a 2 bedroom with a 1 bedroom attached. It was a very nice setup.

I know it's unlikely to get that setup again with the 2 bdrm I have and the 1 bdrm I just booked. However, is there something on my exchange confirmation that would indicate what type of 2 bdrm I traded into?
If both units wind could be on the same floor, that would be okay.

 

[Cindala]

I tried to combine the two bedroom side with a studio two years ago and dioxide's right about that. They wouldn't do it because the one bedroom side has a kitchen. I don't know if they would put a three bedroom back together even if you had both parts reserved. If they had a three bedroom vacancy I don't see why then wouldn't do it but they have their own rules.

What they did do was to put the studio on the same floor as the two bedroom master suite which worked out fine. The three bedrooms are all corner units so the studio could be anywhere on the floor. Most of the owners lockoff at MGC so there are always a lot of studios to trade for.

I have a 2 bdrm we exchanged into and a 1 bdrm I just booked. I would be happy if they were on the same floor.

 

[dioxide45]

Last year we had a 3 bedroom corner unit and it was a 2 bedroom with a 1 bedroom attached. It was a very nice setup.

I know it's unlikely to get that setup again with the 2 bdrm I have and the 1 bdrm I just booked. However, is there something on my exchange confirmation that would indicate what type of 2 bdrm I traded into?
If both units wind could be on the same floor, that would be okay.

In your My History page on the II website it should provide a unit code. Usually a four (sometimes 5) character alpha code. Post that here and someone may be able to tell you what type of unit it is.

 

[Cindala]

The unit says ZZAA for my 2 bedroom.

 

[dioxide45]

The unit says ZZAA for my 2 bedroom.

I think that is a 2BR lock off unit. So it wouldn't be able to be matched up with another to make a full 3BR.