I don't think I have ever done this before and I am not sure how to go about it. I want to trade my platinum MMC for Frenchman's Reef for a week in Jan-March 2010. Stongest trading weeks for MMC are the summer months so I would need to wait until June of 09 to book a strong trader and then request my trade. However that only puts my request in 7-8 months before the dates I want for Frenchman's Reef. I usually put my requests in a year in advance so I am concerned that my trade will not go through. Any suggestions?
Kathy, I had an early platinum week at Legend's Edge and placed a "request first" exchange. Later when a better trading week came along, I called my VOA and had her make a reservation change without disrupting my II search.
Book a platinum week as far out as posiible and place a "request first" exchange. Do this over the phone not online. Later if your request at Frenchman's Cove has not come through you can change your reservatiopn date.
Here's the catch. Your VOA can change the reservation date and, while you are on the phone, contact II and let them know of the date change. You MUST tell your VOA to insist that II NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES to your search and keep the same request number going.
IT CAN BE DONE! Your search will indicate in II's sytem that it has been ongoing since the date of your original week. The reservation date change will not show up on the II website for a couple of days. It will continue to show the old reservation date, but will eventually be correct.
Ultimately you will have the best of both worlds, the stronger trading week and a long time ongoing search.
Terry