Interval bonus weeks

[Swice]

I'm "somewhat" intelligent but I just don't understand the business plan of Interval.

Yesterday, I got a card in the mail ("Second Notice" it said) asking me to deposit a week into Interval for a Bonus Week.

I currently have THREE Bonus Weeks in my account that have zero value to me. I don't understand why Interval thinks a bonus week is enticing to "most" people.

We suddenly found ourselves with five days in May when all of our schedules jive. High School exams finish and my college-age son has a few days before his internship begins. Our days available are a Wednesday thru Sunday. We figured we'd zoom down to Orlando and use a Bonus Week, but all three Bonus Week certificates give us a grand total of four poor choices (We would do a Sunday thru Sunday but actually arrive on Wednesday). There are actually plenty of units available for getaways and for exchange (Marriotts and Sheratons). The one place I would expect Bonus Week availability would be Orlando before summer tourist season begins!!!

On one hand, you could argue Marriott was trying to move us away from Interval... but now that Marriott now OWNS Interval, Marriott would want Marriott inventory deposited to some extent.

I just don't understand why Interval thinks a Bonus Week is an attractive incentive???? I can't figure out what Marriott really wants with Interval (other than management control/ownership of the Starwood properties).

I have an Ocean Watch week in early August that I have not deposited. Still not sure if we will be able to use, but I see no reason to be in a rush to deposit now. I've elected points more often in the past few years, but always would keep "one" week in Interval. Considering my last few trades and how long it took for them to come through (in down seasons!), I'm temped to skip Interval totally by electing points or renting.

 

[NboroGirl]

I totally agree. I also got one of those cards, and I also have 3 bonus weeks in my Interval account which are of no use to me. (And I rarely deposit any weeks in Interval, so I'm not even sure why I get them.) I never even get notified that they've given me one of these weeks - I find them by accident when I log into my Interval account for something else, so I have no idea how much it costs to exercise one of them. I've tried to give them away, but since I don't know how much it costs to use one, I never get any takers. I've searched the different locations and resorts but nothing appeals to me so I just let them expire.

 

[tschwa2]

Bonus weeks for deposits are sometimes better than the freebie ones. They can often be used with an ongoing search and don't have as many restrictions.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I use at least 3 per year. So, I guess I would be one of those. Not everyone is tied to specific narrow windows of travel, for us, the weeks can be quite cheap and useful. But I do see how if you are, it can make them far less attractive.

 

[bazzap]

It seems that the less you use these certificates the more they send you!
I almost alway have multiple ones and never use them.
Perhaps living in the UK makes the options much less appealing?

 

[Swice]

Perhaps living in the UK makes the options much less appealing?

That's amusing.

 

[NiteMaire]

It seems that the less you use these certificates the more they send you!
I almost alway have multiple ones and never use them.
Perhaps living in the UK makes the options much less appealing?

Well, I have 7 of them sitting in my account (some freebies from II, some because of the TS I own).

I use at least 3 per year.

I use them once in a blue moon. My main issue is that I have 4 TS weeks and get 4 weeks off per year. Even when I had 2-3 TS weeks/yr, I rarely used the ACs; however, I agree you can get a good deal, especially at resorts in "overbuilt" areas or non-peak seasons.

 

[mas]

I have had several almost every year that I rarely use. In fact, come to think of it, I've only use one bonus week in all the time we've been with Interval (since '92). Most of the bonus weeks have very little inventory, if any, that I am interested in so I understand your questioning of their worth.

 

[mdurette]

To each his/her own. I value the ACs and make the most of them. But, my use typically isn't for 7 night vacations - I use them for long weekends - 3 maybe 4 nights. My recent history with them is awesome, if I do say myself! These are all gold or higher rated and in high demand time periods.

AC for deposit: 2BR Harbor Ridge Maine - Aug 2018
Freebie: 2BR InnSeason Pollard Brook New Hampshire - Aug 2018
Freebie: 1BR Marriott Custom House - July 2018
Freebie: 2BR InnSeason Pollard Brook New Hampshire - Feb 2018
Freebie: 1BR Marriott Custom House - Aug 2017

So yeah II....keep dropping them in my account!

 

[klpca]

I offer these to my kids. They are thrilled to get a week somewhere for $300ish. Last year they spent a week in Vail during the Mountain Games. We also offer these to some retired friends who have more time than we do. They are equally thrilled. We have a platinum membership so guest certificates are free.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Well, I have 7 of them sitting in my account (some freebies from II, some because of the TS I own).

I use them once in a blue moon. My main issue is that I have 4 TS weeks and get 4 weeks off per year. Even when I had 2-3 TS weeks/yr, I rarely used the ACs; however, I agree you can get a good deal, especially at resorts in "overbuilt" areas or non-peak seasons.

I agree with you as well, the difference is I am retired so can travel every day. It's a large part of why I have 79 days booked this year thus far. I don't own enough weeks and points to do that.

 

[JohnB3]

I agree with you as well, the difference is I am retired so can travel every day. It's a large part of why I have 79 days booked this year thus far. I don't own enough weeks and points to do that.

Steve, I hope to be like you when I grow up 79 days and counting and it's only March. What does a normal year worth of travel look like for you?

 

[Swice]

Steve, I hope to be like you when I grow up 79 days and counting and it's only March.

One day!

 

[Steve Fatula]

Hey, you all will, surprised that older is now a positive! I did not explain though, 79 days arranged for this year, not travelled already this year.

 

[bazzap]

Hey, you all will, surprised that older is now a positive! I did not explain though, 79 days arranged for this year, not travelled already this year.

I can offer up 33 days travelled already (year to date) of 142 booked so far.

 

[JohnB3]

Hey, you all will, surprised that older is now a positive! I did not explain though, 79 days arranged for this year, not travelled already this year.

Hey Steve, you and I are likely contemporaries, I'm a retired IT guy too so I agree older is a positive or least a relative comment, the big difference between us is my younger wife who is a Java Developer won't stop working (I likely should not really complain about being a kept man) I have about 5 years until she retires and I can start to follow your plan so I read your postings to learn all I can now. I figured you had not taken all the trips that those 79 days represent but figured you might be able to fit a few more trips into the balance of the year. .

 

[Steve Fatula]

I can offer up 33 days travelled already (year to date) of 142 booked so far.

Excellent! Congrats. Pretty much it would be hard for us to travel more than we are, but would be great. Just too many other things going on for us. But wish we could.

 

[JohnB3]

I can offer up 33 days travelled already (year to date) of 142 booked so far.

That's impressive and I'm jealous

 

[Steve Fatula]

Hey Steve, you and I are likely contemporaries, I'm a retired IT guy too so I agree older is a positive or least a relative comment, the big difference between us is my younger wife who is a Java Developer won't stop working (I likely should not really complain about being a kept man) I have about 5 years until she retires and I can start to follow your plan so I read your postings to learn all I can now. I figured you had not taken all the trips that those 79 days represent but figured you might be able to fit a few more trips into the balance of the year. .

Yep, retired IT is good. To stop working was never an issue for me! In a New York minute. It was more a matter of how early could I retire and do well. I guess your DW will stop eventually. My DW never did work outside the home, so, it was just I.

With recent health issues, not feeling like older is a positive.

 

[JohnB3]

Yep, retired IT is good. To stop working was never an issue for me! In a New York minute. It was more a matter of how early could I retire and do well. I guess your DW will stop eventually. My DW never did work outside the home, so, it was just I.

With recent health issues, not feeling like older is a positive.

Sorry to hear about the health issues and wishing you good luck in addressing them. That is the downside to becoming more experienced

 

[Steve Fatula]

Sorry to hear about the health issues and wishing you good luck in addressing them. That is the downside to becoming more experienced

Thank you, nothing too terrible at this point, just a lot of time spent on visits, etc. Clearing up soon.

 

[pchung6]

These free ACs are very useful to me. Just in last ~6 months, I've used/booked the following weeks, which are the expensive trips i wouldn't normally taken. Nowadays, I enjoy life much better with these ACs because of affordability. So please keep dropping ACs to my account.

Deposit AC: 1BR Las Vegas Berkeley - Oct 2018
Free AC: 1BR Las Vegas Tahiti Village - Dec 2018 (1)
Free AC: 1BR Las Vegas Tahiti Village - Dec 2018 (2) X'mas week
Free AC: 1BR Mountain Villas at Welk Resorts in San Diego - Mar 2019
Deposit AC: 1BR Westin Deserts Willow in Palm Springs - May 2019

 

[Bernie8245]

I can offer up 33 days travelled already (year to date) of 142 booked so far.

We have traveled 61 days so far this year and have another 28 more booked before the end of the year. I still check Interval daily for more opportunities.

 

[Sookidog]

I'm "somewhat" intelligent but I just don't understand the business plan of Interval.

I've been wondering about the same question as Swice. Why did Marriott acquire Interval? Does anyone have any insights? Seems to me with Marriott in control, there is less competition and less opportunities for good exchanges.

 

[BigMac]

I'm "somewhat" intelligent but I just don't understand the business plan of Interval.

I've been wondering about the same question as Swice. Why did Marriott acquire Interval? Does anyone have any insights? Seems to me with Marriott in control, there is less competition and less opportunities for good exchanges.

In the recent MVC financial results conference call, they said that Welk Resorts and Wyndham Shell had exited II.