Pondering II - free offer from Vistana

[bankr63]

I have traded our SVR in RCI for many years now, and am quite happy with what we have been able to do. Our other resort (Silver Lake) only trades RCI, and we always trade it, so it seems sensible to be there.
However, Vistana has offered us a free 2 year membership in II plus 1 free bonus vacation week. Seems like I should give II a whirl (will be maintaining our RCI as well).
Question for those who play both sides: any gotcha's I should be looking for with II? Any clear advantages on either side?
Note that our ownership is a deeded week 10 in Courts (March break), so I always get good TPU in RCI. I am a bit worried about all the rules in II, and that I may not get full value for our week as I think that you get some kind of blended value on deposit?

 

[lorenmd]

well i am not the expert but i do know you get preference for other Vistana properties in II if you are a Vistana owner which you are. so if something like Westin Kaanapali became available in II you would see it and be able to grab it before the general population of non Vistana owners. you don't have to deposit your Vistana week first either so you can use it in II if you want to do an instant trade or you can use it for high TPU in RCI if you found something there you wanted. please members correct me if i am wrong. i am just starting to get it.

 

[DeniseM]

You could use your SVR week to do ongoing searches for the Hawaii resorts. I got a 2 bdm. at Westin Princeville with my SVR 2 bdm.

 

[bankr63]

Some good strategy for Hawaii, but until DW retires from teaching, I'm keeping that on my bucket list - considering the cost and time for Hawaii from Eastern Canada, I'm only going when I have a minimum 2 weeks to spend. School term vacations are too short, and summer vacations we spend in our Canadian great outdoors. I will certainly keep this in mind for the future though, Thanks!