Interval international

[jp10558]

Okay, the II site is "nicer" but the functionality of RCI (which has room for improvement) makes II look like it was designed by high school kids who do not know how people use timeshares.

Wow, you think II looks nicer? I am so surprised TBH. As I said above, it looks very amateur even compared to RCI, and kinda ugly to me.

 

[hapstersmom]

I LOVE II. I get Hyatt, Four Seasons, Westin, and DVC and I do GET them, and often two-bedrooms for my bedroom deluxe. I just bought today on EBay, a 2bdrm. lockoff at Sheraton Broadway Plantation, and it trades with either. I will only use II for it.

II is getting better all the time over the past few years. We already have one unit that can trade with either RCI or II, but we only use II. I use RCI to trade OUT of Wyndham to get places like Solaz from my Wyndham Waikiki Beachwalk.

 

[pedro47]

We liked II, for the quality of their resorts and it is much more easier to navigate than some other websites. IMHO.

 

[rickandcindy23]

What is UI and UX? If that is computer language, I do not understand it.

 

[dioxide45]

Wow, you think II looks nicer? I am so surprised TBH. As I said above, it looks very amateur even compared to RCI, and kinda ugly to me.

I think much of it comes down to what someone used first and what they are most familiar with. I don't have any major issues using the RCI site, but it has its own quirks. I am very proficient with II and can search and find things much quicker there. There is a reason big banks target college kids trying to sign them up for bank accounts on college campuses. Studies and metrics show they are likely to stick with the same bank for a lifetime. Switching is hard and their website or app is already familiar.

 

[hurnik]

What is UI and UX? If that is computer language, I do not understand it.

I think:
UI = User Interface
UX = User eXperiance

My only main "beef" in regards to the website/UI/UX with Interval vs. RCI is the lack of an AI (All-inclusive) filter for resorts. RCI you can filter those out. Interval you cannot.

My really really big beef in general is the non-stop Interval calling to tell you:
1) We haven't found anything yet for your ongoing search (every 2-3 days)
2) We have a studio at a place you didn't request even though you specifically requested a 2-3 bedroom at a specific resort, we'll call repeatedly to tell you about something you don't want.

 

[jp10558]

I think much of it comes down to what someone used first and what they are most familiar with. I don't have any major issues using the RCI site, but it has its own quirks. I am very proficient with II and can search and find things much quicker there. There is a reason big banks target college kids trying to sign them up for bank accounts on college campuses. Studies and metrics show they are likely to stick with the same bank for a lifetime. Switching is hard and their website or app is already familiar.

Maybe, but I don't feel this strongly between RCI, HGVC or Wyndham UIs for finding stuff, though I did have to "learn" how to use the Wyndham search. I think I may have hit on a huge part of my issue - if you've watched the video or read my theory posts - it could be the way you are using the site for sure.

The absolute best experiences I've had with II is when I'm looking for a specific resort and I know their II code. That's least painful. And if you already know your deposit is gonna pull that, it isn't that hard to scan a single resorts list of units available.

The problem is - for non II veterans, we don't know what resort code to search by. We don't know if our deposit will pull anything specific, we don't know where we want to go necessarily. So you end up in that click forward, click back, click and wait 20 more times.

And if you're looking for getaways to see if there's anything vaguely interesting you might just want to go to - that's all those problems up to 11.

Another point, even if you know where you want to go, if you don't know the resort code ... ugg. RCI you start typing the resort name and it shows completions under the search box. Quick, intuitive and easy (similar to Google search suggestions). II you type something in, it doesn't know what you meant so on a new page (I think) it non-obviously shows a dropdown you have to click to look at to find the resort you want. It's actually easier for me to do a search with Kagi and find the II page with the resort code and then type the code into the search boxes.

Or just consider that if you do a search and you're looking at II results and RCI results. II shows you the first 3 dates in your range for each result. RCI doesn't show you specifics. If what you want is in those first 3 dates, II would win here, assuming you're not considering more than one resort location (again, CODE search is fine). However, if you are comparing resorts or want to see "more dates", in II that takes over the page, you can't open "more dates" with a middle click. In RCI each potential resort is a new tab with a quick middle click, and a quick click on "all units" will show you months of availability in one quickly scrollable list. Even better is because it's a new tab, you can instantly go back to the search tab, pull a few more potential possiblities, and click between them very easily and quickly. To go between two possibilities in II, it's click on back, wait. Click on "more dates" wait. and by now you've forgotten the initial tab you were comparing.

So yea, if you don't cross compare like I like to do, the limitations of II are probably less annoying.

 

[claraj]

@jp10558 Have you tried using II App? I almost exclusively use it except for maybe depositing my weeks. For Getaways I have 14 Getaway search alerts set up. These will only pull the specific resort codes you want to see or you can put in a general area and it will pull all the resorts in that area. The search is limited to a 3 month range. It makes it easy for me to go into the app a few times day and click through the results to see if there's anything I am looking for in particular. I can also manually search for an exchange pretty easily. My previous search history is stored up to the last 10 searches so I can easily manually search with a few clicks.

 

[jp10558]

@jp10558 Have you tried using II App? I almost exclusively use it except for maybe depositing my weeks. For Getaways I have 14 Getaway search alerts set up. These will only pull the specific resort codes you want to see or you can put in a general area and it will pull all the resorts in that area. The search is limited to a 3 month range. It makes it easy for me to go into the app a few times day and click through the results to see if there's anything I am looking for in particular. I can also manually search for an exchange pretty easily. My previous search history is stored up to the last 10 searches so I can easily manually search with a few clicks.

I almost always use the webpage - I'm generally far more comfortable with the website. I do intend to try the app, but TBH, I tend to prefer the computer for travel planning cause again I like swapping between different things easily like a calendar, flights, RCI, II, etc. I know, I may be too much of a "power user" from the 90s IDK.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We have RCI accounts for weeks, points, Shell and Club Wyndham.

Our weeks' account, we have had since 1982. Our points account since 2006 or so. Wyndham since 2008.

When I use our weeks account, the inventory for Orlando in August shows up with discounted stays, worthy of even paying Hilton the $25 fees. I have not taken advantage of those big discounts because we plan pretty much six months + in advance. Rick's not a big fan of last-minute anything. He used to be more flexible, but he's changed in that regard.

Club Wyndham, no discounts at all in the # of points required for an RCI confirmation. Always 105K for a 1 bed, 165K for a 2 bedroom. That makes those exchanges into Hilton SeaWorld too expensive with the $25 per day fees. Same with Shell, no discounted stays and expensive to book anything bigger than a 1 bedroom.

RCI Points, I see some big discounts for Hiltons in Orlando, 7,500 points for about any size I want through August. After that, the number of points required is 46,000-73,000. I would just wait for the date I wanted to be reduced to the 7,500 points because it's quite common, if I could travel last-minute.

 

[claraj]

I almost always use the webpage - I'm generally far more comfortable with the website. I do intend to try the app, but TBH, I tend to prefer the computer for travel planning cause again I like swapping between different things easily like a calendar, flights, RCI, II, etc. I know, I may be too much of a "power user" from the 90s IDK.

I hear you, it might be easier for me to swap between these apps because I usually have 2 phones with me and sometimes 3...

 

[pedro47]

I thought the following about UI and UX
UI = User Interface or unemployment insurance
UX = User experience

LOL

 

[hapstersmom]

@jp10558 Have you tried using II App? I almost exclusively use it except for maybe depositing my weeks. For Getaways I have 14 Getaway search alerts set up. These will only pull the specific resort codes you want to see or you can put in a general area and it will pull all the resorts in that area. The search is limited to a 3 month range. It makes it easy for me to go into the app a few times day and click through the results to see if there's anything I am looking for in particular. I can also manually search for an exchange pretty easily. My previous search history is stored up to the last 10 searches so I can easily manually search with a few clicks.

I m not crazy about the app because it will not show me wide open dates the way the website does. But you are right, it is easy to set up for specific resorts s fv searches.

 

[2rebecca]

The absolute best experiences I've had with II is when I'm looking for a specific resort and I know their II code. That's least painful. And if you already know your deposit is gonna pull that, it isn't that hard to scan a single resorts list of units available.

The problem is - for non II veterans, we don't know what resort code to search by. We don't know if our deposit will pull anything specific, we don't know where we want to go necessarily. So you end up in that click forward, click back, click and wait 20 more times.

Have you tried searching ALL DESTINATIONS? Unless I'm searching for a high inventory area, I've found searching All Destinations to be the least frustrating way to search. I do all destinations; then pick a state (or country); then a resort. I find that there is less "backing out and starting over" this way. The second way I search is to use a list of Codes that I have stored in a Word document that I can copy/paste into II. (Google eventually learns the codes and will autopopulate for me.) For example, I have all the Disney Codes in one list; Marriotts in another; etc. There is a sticky in the private forums that has a list of the popular codes...Marriotts, Disney, Hyatt, Sheraton, etc., that you can use as a starting point for creating your personalized list.

 

[Red elephant]

@jp10558 Have you tried using II App? I almost exclusively use it except for maybe depositing my weeks. For Getaways I have 14 Getaway search alerts set up. These will only pull the specific resort codes you want to see or you can put in a general area and it will pull all the resorts in that area. The search is limited to a 3 month range. It makes it easy for me to go into the app a few times day and click through the results to see if there's anything I am looking for in particular. I can also manually search for an exchange pretty easily. My previous search history is stored up to the last 10 searches so I can easily manually search with a few clicks.

I love the II app. I have my favorite resorts set up and that’s all I search for. My request are easy to view and can make an instant exchange easily. My trips are also easy to view and retrade. Since I don’t trade much that works for me.

 

[jp10558]

Have you tried searching ALL DESTINATIONS? Unless I'm searching for a high inventory area, I've found searching All Destinations to be the least frustrating way to search. I do all destinations; then pick a state (or country); then a resort. I find that there is less "backing out and starting over" this way. The second way I search is to use a list of Codes that I have stored in a Word document that I can copy/paste into II. (Google eventually learns the codes and will autopopulate for me.) For example, I have all the Disney Codes in one list; Marriotts in another; etc. There is a sticky in the private forums that has a list of the popular codes...Marriotts, Disney, Hyatt, Sheraton, etc., that you can use as a starting point for creating your personalized list.

Yes, I have tried All Destinations. I demoed it in the video linked above - I find it very unusable compared to RCI where I say "all resorts", and it gives me a list of all resorts I can then filter by a bunch of criteria and using the live updating map.

 

[rickandcindy23]

II is superior for resorts that I enjoy the most: resort quality, lower exchange fees, and preference into Marriott and Westin resorts with my Marriott and Westins. AND no Hilton/ Diamond/ Bluegreen fees.

RCI doesn't hold a candle to II. $199 exchange fees Marriott-Westin and vice versa.

 

[JohnGMcD]

Make it make sense. New limitation in Interval International (see below).

So is Interval going to start limiting # of deposits from owners of BGV? Because if they can deposit but everyone else is limited to use, there could be a huge influx of unused inventory especially in the off seasons. This is over half of the better resorts in Breck. I am going to suggest to Marriott, in my next meeting, that we start charging resort fees to non Marriott owners that go up every year (might reduce our maintenance fees) AND limit # of exchanges into Marriott to once every 3 years too… reciprocal treatment. It's exactly what BGV is doing. I don't know if Disney has meetings (don't pay attention) but maybe we limit exchanges too, at least to owners of BGV.

MANDATORY BOOKING LIMITATION: Exchanges or Getaways into any of the Breckenridge Grand Vacations resorts (GTR, GP7, GP8 & IP8 ) are limited to ONLY ONE confirmation every 3 years per membership. Confirmations not adhering to this restriction are subject to cancellation.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Make it make sense. New limitation in Interval International (see below).

So is Interval going to start limiting # of deposits from owners of BGV? Because if they can deposit but everyone else is limited to use, there could be a huge influx of unused inventory especially in the off seasons. This is over half of the better resorts in Breck. I am going to suggest to Marriott, in my next meeting, that we start charging resort fees to non Marriott owners that go up every year (might reduce our maintenance fees) AND limit # of exchanges into Marriott to once every 3 years too… reciprocal treatment. It's exactly what BGV is doing. I don't know if Disney has meetings (don't pay attention) but maybe we limit exchanges too, at least to owners of BGV.

MANDATORY BOOKING LIMITATION: Exchanges or Getaways into any of the Breckenridge Grand Vacations resorts (GTR, GP7, GP8 & IP8 ) are limited to ONLY ONE confirmation every 3 years per membership. Confirmations not adhering to this restriction are subject to cancellation.

This is not a good idea. We do own Marriott and exchange into other Marriott resorts. I don't want to pay fees because we traded in using II.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations has resort fees that are a huge turnoff. I won't stay there because of the fees, and we live 90 minutes from Breck. I don't care that they charge fees or have an occupancy of once every three years. They can self destruct for all I care.

 

[JohnGMcD]

This is not a good idea. We do own Marriott and exchange into other Marriott resorts. I don't want to pay fees because we traded in using II.

Breckenridge Grand Vacations has resort fees that are a huge turnoff. I won't stay there because of the fees, and we live 90 minutes from Breck. I don't care that they charge fees or have an occupancy of once every three years. They can self destruct for all I care.

Well for those of who do not live 90 mins to Breck and want to trade-in, this a huge downside. And notice I said non-Marriott owners. If you are a Marriott owner who trades into another Marriott resort, you would not pay a resort fee. I personally don't like resort fees and think it should not be allowed. If a resort needs to generate more fees, they should burden the owners not the guests. But if this is becoming common place, then Marriott needs to follow suit.

 

[AgelessJen]

Wow, you think II looks nicer? I am so surprised TBH. As I said above, it looks very amateur even compared to RCI, and kinda ugly to me.

What’s DVC ?

 

[gravityrules]

Make it make sense. New limitation in Interval International (see below).

So is Interval going to start limiting # of deposits from owners of BGV? Because if they can deposit but everyone else is limited to use, there could be a huge influx of unused inventory especially in the off seasons. This is over half of the better resorts in Breck. I am going to suggest to Marriott, in my next meeting, that we start charging resort fees to non Marriott owners that go up every year (might reduce our maintenance fees) AND limit # of exchanges into Marriott to once every 3 years too… reciprocal treatment. It's exactly what BGV is doing. I don't know if Disney has meetings (don't pay attention) but maybe we limit exchanges too, at least to owners of BGV.

MANDATORY BOOKING LIMITATION: Exchanges or Getaways into any of the Breckenridge Grand Vacations resorts (GTR, GP7, GP8 & IP8 ) are limited to ONLY ONE confirmation every 3 years per membership. Confirmations not adhering to this restriction are subject to cancellation.

Does the '1 in 3' BGV limitation apply to their entire portfolio or does it apply to each property independently?

 

[hurnik]

What’s DVC ?

Disney Vacation Club