A question about II and special situations

[Dean]

A vague title I know. I'm interested in other people's experiences in dealing with II by phone for special situations. Possible situations would include the following but others may have had unique experiences that are different.

Her is a list of possible situations feel free to add any that come to mind:

1. Anyone been confirmed automatically to a MVC week that started on Thursday or Monday? If so, did you call in and specify that was OK previous to the match?
2. Anyone tried to search for 2 weeks as a unit to get both or none? If so, was that successful?
3. How about specifying by phone to only be confirmed to certain check in dates or days of the week since this cannot be done online.
4. If anyone has been successful with #3, how about having different parameters for different weeks or resorts?
5. How about different unit size or check in day specification for 1 resort but not for others.
6. Anyone with experience with REQUEST first where the match did not occur by the cutoff date and what happened. Specifically was the unit deposited automatically and if so, was that requested up front?
7. Anyone searching for a 1 BR confirmed to a 2 BR outside the 60 day window and if so, did you pay for the 1 BR or 2 BR cost?
8. Anyone requested a 1 BR at resorts that only have 2 BR and if so, what was the unit upgrade cost?

Here's the reason I got to thinking about these type of issues but peaked a broader interest. I am retiring later in 2026 and planning an extended trip along with a couple of cruises thrown in (one Canaveral & one Port Everglades). I'm pretty open to a number of resorts, check in days, unit sizes and locations for some of the weeks but not so much for other weeks/resorts and less so after have have some weeks lined up. Plus I'd be willing to accept exchanges that lost a day for one resort but not as much for the others.

I do plan to contact II at some point but thought it might be a fun topic.

 

[jwalk03]

On #3- I have called and asked for only specific check-in days to be included in my OGS. Never had an issue- the reps always seem to know how to do this and make the requested updates. I have never tried different check in dates for different resorts or weeks in a request. I doubt this would be possible but I don't know for sure.

I never restrict my request to only a 1-bedroom. If I need at least a 1 bedroom I select all the options larger than a 1 bedroom. I figure its worth the extra upgrade fee. There have been times my wife and I have stayed in a 2-bedroom alone just because that is the match we got- but we usually try to find friends to tag along if we have the extra space instead of letting it go unused.

I would assume that if you limit your search to only 1-bedrooms at a resort that does not have 1-bedrooms it will simply never match. The system definitely isn't smart enough to tell you that ahead of time though.

 

[dioxide45]

For #6, did you mean Request First?

 

[rickandcindy23]

I was just told by Tiffany at II that I can get a match for anything over the weekend in my search. I thought II could put Sunday only. I have gotten the same exchange matches two days in a row. It's very discouraging to have to call.

I also don't think I put MMO in my search, just MM1, but my matches are always MMO, and the resort is undergoing a huge update. Our stay in February was a view of the dumpsters and pickle ball court.

 

[jwalk03]

I was just told by Tiffany at II that I can get a match for anything over the weekend in my search. I thought II could put Sunday only. I have gotten the same exchange matches two days in a row. It's very discouraging to have to call.

I also don't think I put MMO in my search, just MM1, but my matches are always MMO, and the resort is undergoing a huge update. Our stay in February was a view of the dumpsters and pickle ball court.

Unless something has changed recently- they can update your request to only allow certain check in days. I have done this several times by calling in the past (though not recently)

 

[Dean]

For #6, did you mean Request First?

Corrected OP to reflect this is related to any request first.

Unless something has changed recently- they can update your request to only allow certain check in days. I have done this several times by calling in the past (though not recently)

That was my understanding but it's been a while since I did so.

I was just told by Tiffany at II that I can get a match for anything over the weekend in my search. I thought II could put Sunday only. I have gotten the same exchange matches two days in a row. It's very discouraging to have to call.

I also don't think I put MMO in my search, just MM1, but my matches are always MMO, and the resort is undergoing a huge update. Our stay in February was a view of the dumpsters and pickle ball court.

Unless you specify specifically that is true, she may not know how to put this in unless something has changed. While it's not been a large issue, I have had them match a couple of times to something close but exactly what I was looking for and I had to call. But it's been a while. I've had a LOT of calls from them about alternatives that were close to what I was asking for. Usually they tell me the resort and I don't call, a few times they didn't and I may or may not call them. However, I have had two times where they were asking me about things that should have matched without calling. They were the exact dates and resort I was searching for and not a Thu or Monday check in. Some I'm a little reluctant not to take their calls now. You should be able to tell them not to match that but may have to call.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I keep getting offers from II that are ridiculous. "You are requesting Disney's Old Key West for January, we have a studio at Westgate Lakes, if you would like that." "Umm...no thanks!" I also got an offer for Vistana instead of Disney. Why would I take Vistana, when Marriott's Royal Palms is sitting online? I am using a Marriott to search.

We have been members of II for 42 or 43 years. Our kids were little when we joined after buying our first timeshare in Colorado. You would call to enter a request, and you'd wait months to get a call back with a match, and you had to take it because they gave you the, "This is probably the only thing you will get," reasoning. 20+ years ago, when I could get online myself and check inventory, I was amazed that I didn't have to accept whatever garbage they offered for exchange. I won't settle.

We have friends who entered a request for August for anything in Hawaii for their 50th anniversary. They own Marriott. Months go by, they get no matches. They called to enter the search. He said, "I didn't know I had to pay $229 for an exchange." I told him he should be paying $164 for Marriott-Marriott/ Westin. He said he was charged $229. I asked what other resorts the woman put into the search. She'd added any resort on the Big Island (no Marriott resorts there that would show up on II). I told him to call back and cancel the search and get his money back. I have a week for them at Westin North, if they don't get their match. He didn't even know about request first. He should have known about it, but how would he, if he doesn't access II himself?

 

[Pamplemousse]

I keep getting offers from II that are ridiculous. "You are requesting Disney's Old Key West for January, we have a studio at Westgate Lakes, if you would like that." "Umm...no thanks!" I also got an offer for Vistana instead of Disney. Why would I take Vistana, when Marriott's Royal Palms is sitting online? I am using a Marriott to search.

We have been members of II for 42 or 43 years. Our kids were little when we joined after buying our first timeshare in Colorado. You would call to enter a request, and you'd wait months to get a call back with a match, and you had to take it because they gave you the, "This is probably the only thing you will get," reasoning. 20+ years ago, when I could get online myself and check inventory, I was amazed that I didn't have to accept whatever garbage they offered for exchange. I won't settle.

We have friends who entered a request for August for anything in Hawaii for their 50th anniversary. They own Marriott. Months go by, they get no matches. They called to enter the search. He said, "I didn't know I had to pay $229 for an exchange." I told him he should be paying $164 for Marriott-Marriott/ Westin. He said he was charged $229. I asked what other resorts the woman put into the search. She'd added any resort on the Big Island (no Marriott resorts there that would show up on II). I told him to call back and cancel the search and get his money back. I have a week for them at Westin North, if they don't get their match. He didn't even know about request first. He should have known about it, but how would he, if he doesn't access II

If you request anything non Marriott they charge the $229.

Also, you can take your phone number off the site if you don’t want them to offer you other things and are set with your request.

Not sure what resort/TDI/ unit size or how far in advance your friends requested but Ko Olina and Kauai Beach club show up pretty frequently. Good luck to them and congrats on 50th!

 

[Dean]

If you request anything non Marriott they charge the $229.

Also, you can take your phone number off the site if you don’t want them to offer you other things and are set with your request.

Not sure what resort/TDI/ unit size or how far in advance your friends requested but Ko Olina and Kauai Beach club show up pretty frequently. Good luck to them and congrats on 50th!

Agreed even if one matches to Marriott. But if you cancel the search and restart it, you get the full refund and can then revert to the lower charge if only MVC resorts are listed.

We keep getting offers for lower Marriott's and non Marriot's for our search pending for this summer. I'd rather not go than stay at HP.

 

[dioxide45]

I'd rather not go than stay at HP.

Or KBC?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Joe was pretty shocked he was being charged $229. I don't understand not knowing how II works. Y'all know me well.

But they really enjoy their summer week at Marriott's Streamside at Vail and rarely exchange. I told them to buy more weeks and play the game, but they are content with one week of vacation a year. They are retired like us. He is retired Denver cop, went to school with Rick since kindergarten and married his high school sweetheart, whom I have known since 4th grade. Interesting to know people that long. We are almost 70. Some of us are already 70, some are still hitting that age this year.

I did give them a week at Westin North for their anniversary, a one bedroom via exchange. We are going as well to celebrate with them. I think I am going to take a studio, if it shows up, and that way we can ask Westin to combine into one unit to make a 2 bed lockoff. Then no one will feel like we have no real kitchen.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Or KBC?

I like KBC; Rick does not. Why do people not like that one? I think the Marriott code is MKW, isn't it?

 

[Dean]

Or KBC?

Correct

 

[bazzap]

When we use Interval exchanges, it is almost always to extend MVC home resort bookings.
So I have phoned Interval to specifically ask for the one resort with the one day of check in to link in with our weeks.
This doubtless means that it takes longer for the exchanges to be confirmed, but they always have been although taking quite a lot longer in recent years.
We do still occasionally get calls from Interval, on pending requests, offering different resorts / check in dates, but I politely decline and they just say OK fine.

 

[Dean]

When we use Interval exchanges, it is almost always to extend MVC home resort bookings.
So I have phoned Interval to specifically ask for the one resort with the one day of check in to link in with our weeks.
This doubtless means that it takes longer for the exchanges to be confirmed, but they always have been although taking quite a lot longer in recent years.
We do still occasionally get calls from Interval, on pending requests, offering different resorts / check in dates, but I politely decline and they just say OK fine.

Thanks Barry, some of these will be questions I'm going to ask II, others just seemed interesting. I'll probably call 2 or 3 times as we all know that the answer from one rep may not be the absolute correct one. I appreciate all the responses, it's going to be interesting to see how this fits together as there will be a mix of easy and more difficult resorts to get with each exchange affecting the other. The longest timeshare trip I've ever put together is 3 weeks to HI (twice) and I used weeks and points to reserve then replaced most of the reservations with exchanges. This trip will be around 7-8 weeks with the two fixed 8 nights carved out for the 2 cruises with the rest in timeshares unless I end up in a hotel for an orphaned night or 2.

Fortunately the only difficult option on my list will be Crystal Shores and I will likely have some direct reservations as well with access to Bluegreen and DVC plus possibly Wyndham. We plan to blanket the lower half of FL for this trip. But at some point I'll have to start planning some addition trips while we are in the go go years of retirement, maybe up the East Coast or work our way out to Branson. Lots of great places to explore, hopefully I don't drive everyone crazy with planning questions.

 

[Hindsite]

Lots of great places to explore, hopefully I don't drive everyone crazy with planning questions.

Please don't stop, you're enabling the passing on of a lot of learning, keep pushing the boundaries for us all.

 

[jmhpsu93]

RE: #3....I put in a Friday-only request (deposited already) then two days later it matched to a Sunday (that was already available on an instant search). A couple of day later I found the Friday one on my own so didn't call in, but it definitely didn't work as it should.

 

[heckp]

#3 - We have a a current request first and restricted to Saturday check in only. We were matched a couple of times to Friday check in but we called to let them know to restrict it to Saturday check in only.

 

[Red elephant]

Please don't stop, you're enabling the passing on of a lot of learning, keep pushing the boundaries for us all.

100%

 

[echino]

I also don't think I put MMO in my search, just MM1, but my matches are always MMO, and the resort is undergoing a huge update. Our stay in February was a view of the dumpsters and pickle ball court.

This happened to me multiple times, super frustrating. The reason is they process matches manually when there is a close match, but not exact. Most of the times they call, but when they see MMO matched when MM1 requested, they just manually match without calling.

 

[Dean]

I like KBC; Rick does not. Why do people not like that one? I think the Marriott code is MKW, isn't it?

For us it was a mixture of things. As I said recently, I was surprised we hated it so much since there was a bit of nastalgia given we had stayed there (the Kauai Surf) when we lived in HI many years ago. I think it was a mixture of location, poor unit design, poor elevators, a horrible kitchen (even worse than anticipated} and that there are FAR better options available on the island. We both felt that way at the time and still do. I might stay there a night or 2 as a place to sleep but not for vacation.

 

[Dean]

To circle back through. I was finally able to call II and ask about many of these questions. We all realize that one rep's information is not necessarily the final word but I'll pass along what I was told. Most of the answers were what I expected.

• They are confirming automatically to Thursday/Monday start weeks without calling in many cases even though the buyers guide says otherwise.
• They have a comment field for "special requests" like a specific start day only or 2 weeks at one time. She basically said it was hit or miss for anything there. Sometimes they'd miss it and sometimes they'd call you for alternative options.
• It's not possible to have different parameters for different resorts or weeks within a single request, I had assumed this was the case but it doesn't hurt to ask.
• Regarding Request First she said it was not possible for them to put in such a request without specifying deposit or return at 75 days. She actually said THEY CAN'T PROCEED WITHOUT ASKING. I did push back a little and say they might click the box without asking and she said not/never. But I do know of at least one example where it was not asked.
• They would not match to a larger unit than one had in their request but they might put it on hold and call to check then one could decide if they wanted to pay the unit upgrade fee.

The one that was a little disturbing and I had the least confidence in the answer was confirming Thursday/Monday matches without calling. I'd be very nervous about a request first running to the full 75 days where I wanted the unit back.