Canyon Villa Lock Off

[ACP]

I own 2 weeks Gold at CV, both lock off, we have only stayed there once as we live in the UK. I hope you can help as we have never used the Lock Off, we either trade for MRP or DP. I seem to recall that the 2 bedroom is a 1 bed with full facilities and a studio with limited usage. In your experience are you able to lock off and give the 2 units to II and then in return you ask for 2 x 1 bedroom resorts. As we own 2 weeks at CV that would mean we could get 4 x 1 bedroom weeks at another resort - assuming where we want to go just has 1 bedroom units.
Also is is best to Deposit the weeks with II or request first?
My concern is if I only get a 1 bedroom unit for a 1 bedroom unit and are left with the studio, it is too far for me to travel just to spend time in a lock off, so do I have any other options? Can I deposit it with II?
I know CV is not the most desirable location so assume that trade is a little difficult.
Also is there also anywhere where I can get a list of resorts that have a 1 Bedroom option. Living in the UK, I know the resorts in Europe, but not sure or anywhere else
Hope you can help.
Many Thanks

 

[bazzap]

I own 2 weeks Gold at CV, both lock off, we have only stayed there once as we live in the UK. I hope you can help as we have never used the Lock Off, we either trade for MRP or DP. I seem to recall that the 2 bedroom is a 1 bed with full facilities and a studio with limited usage. In your experience are you able to lock off and give the 2 units to II and then in return you ask for 2 x 1 bedroom resorts. As we own 2 weeks at CV that would mean we could get 4 x 1 bedroom weeks at another resort - assuming where we want to go just has 1 bedroom units.
Also is is best to Deposit the weeks with II or request first?
My concern is if I only get a 1 bedroom unit for a 1 bedroom unit and are left with the studio, it is too far for me to travel just to spend time in a lock off, so do I have any other options? Can I deposit it with II?
I know CV is not the most desirable location so assume that trade is a little difficult.
Also is there also anywhere where I can get a list of resorts that have a 1 Bedroom option. Living in the UK, I know the resorts in Europe, but not sure or anywhere else
Hope you can help.
Many Thanks

Hi, me again.
We have a Grand Chateau Platinum 2 bed lock off, so I don't know quite how closely that compares with your Canyon Villa lock off?
However, we have still to stay at the resort, so always lock off and exchange
(we may also elect for points in future, as it gives a good return on points)
The Guest Suites tend to be larger than the European ones and we have not yet had a problem exchanging both Master and Guest suites into resorts with only 2 bed or more units, which has been great.
We always use Marriott Special Request First. I know others favour Deposit First, but until such time as we don't get what we want we will probably stick with this approach.
Good luck.

 

[dmharris]

We also own a two bedroom lockoff but at Orlando's Grande Vista; we've stayed there once in 10 years. We lock off and deposit into II. IF you can travel in the off season, as we can, you can get even a two bedroom for your lock off. E.g. We've done this and gotten in the 59 day window by watching II like a hawk, Hilton Head's Grande Ocean, Newport Coast, North Myrtle Beach Ocean Watch, St. Thomas USVI Frenchman's Cove, and with our one bedroom we've gotten Kauai's Waiohai, West Palm Beach's Oceana Palms and Ocean Pointe, more Grande Oceans, Grande Vista (a two bedroom), Hyatt Carmel Highlands, more Newport Coast, and the only time we were downsized was from a 1 bedroom trade got us a lock off in Aruba Surfside (but this was in the summer). We typically travel in the fall and January/February. Hope this is helpful.

The key is to trade into the two bedroom only resorts. Some are requests after we've deposited. I've never tried request first, that makes me nervous for some reason. Many are in the 59 day window. Living in the UK, you probably want to plan ahead for airfares, so you'll probably need to deposit first and then request. If you're interested in California, you could probably do 4 weeks in the fall through the week before Christmas, all in one resort, if that's what you want. I watch that particular resort a lot since I love that area. Weather is great all year round. I ditto Hilton Head for the fall availability as well and it's great in the fall, some of the best beaches in the world for walking, biking, sunning.

You might be able to do two and two in those two areas in the fall, seeing the east and west coast. Hilton Head is close enough to do day trips to Savannah and Charleston. Newport Coast has much to do in that area.

 

[dmharris]

Here's a thread you might find helpful listing the two bedroom only Marriott resorts.

http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1527381#post1527381

 

[mjbaran]

Similar to you, I also own 2 weeks at Canyon Villas (1 gold, 1 platinum). Often I will will split the units, make a date reservation for each unit, then deposit all four units into Interval International (deposit first technique)

Most of the time, I have been successful in trading each unit for a 2 bedroom unit. As noted by an earlier poster, trading for an off-season week and/or resorts that only have 2 bedroom units (no lockoff) increases your chances of the uptrade.

This split and trade method increases my usage from 2 weeks to 4 weeks. I've been doing this for about 8 years. Sometimes I will stay at the one bedroom at MCV during the popular "spring training" season in March. If not, even a 1 bedroom MCV March week is a great trader.

For the gold week, I will split and try to reserve week 18 or week 40. These are the weeks either just after or just before the platinum season. These would be stronger trading weeks than a mid-season gold week like week 30, for example.

 

[DB-Wis]

I own 2 weeks Gold at CV, both lock off, we have only stayed there once as we live in the UK. I hope you can help as we have never used the Lock Off, we either trade for MRP or DP. I seem to recall that the 2 bedroom is a 1 bed with full facilities and a studio with limited usage. In your experience are you able to lock off and give the 2 units to II and then in return you ask for 2 x 1 bedroom resorts. As we own 2 weeks at CV that would mean we could get 4 x 1 bedroom weeks at another resort - assuming where we want to go just has 1 bedroom units.
Also is is best to Deposit the weeks with II or request first?
My concern is if I only get a 1 bedroom unit for a 1 bedroom unit and are left with the studio, it is too far for me to travel just to spend time in a lock off, so do I have any other options? Can I deposit it with II?
I know CV is not the most desirable location so assume that trade is a little difficult.
Also is there also anywhere where I can get a list of resorts that have a 1 Bedroom option. Living in the UK, I know the resorts in Europe, but not sure or anywhere else
Hope you can help.
Many Thanks

If by "2 x 1 bedrooms" you mean exchanging your full 2-bedroom lock-off unit (with the studio and one-bedroom units separately deposited) for two one-week stays in a one-bedroom villa at another resort, I think that would work only for very low demand weeks (i.e., off season) at the second resort. A gold season studio at Canyon villas has little trading value -- you can buy a gold-season studio get-away week through Interval for a pittance.

I have had some success for trading my two-bedroom gold week at Canyon Villas for one-bedroom units during prime weeks at other resorts, but trying to trade a gold CV studio unit for a one-bedroom unit will be difficult. To maximize your chances, I would try to reserve a week either at the very beginning or the very end of the gold season. I think these weeks have a bit more trading value.

 

[dmharris]

If by "2 x 1 bedrooms" you mean exchanging your full 2-bedroom lock-off unit (with the studio and one-bedroom units separately deposited) for two one-week stays in a one-bedroom villa at another resort, I think that would work only for very low demand weeks (i.e., off season) at the second resort. A gold season studio at Canyon villas has little trading value -- you can buy a gold-season studio get-away week through Interval for a pittance.

I have had some success for trading my two-bedroom gold week at Canyon Villas for one-bedroom units during prime weeks at other resorts, but trying to trade a gold CV studio unit for a one-bedroom unit will be difficult. To maximize your chances, I would try to reserve a week either at the very beginning or the very end of the gold season. I think these weeks have a bit more trading value.

I think there is great opportunity with the 59 day window, but we have to do the hunting and not rely on II, and living in the UK, you get a five hour jump on us on the east coast as you're up earlier! I find 5 to 6 a.m. eastern time is a good time to find good trades within the 59 day window. Friday mornings are the best day to find trades in my experience.

 

[ACP]

I think there is great opportunity with the 59 day window, but we have to do the hunting and not rely on II, and living in the UK, you get a five hour jump on us on the east coast as you're up earlier! I find 5 to 6 a.m. eastern time is a good time to find good trades within the 59 day window. Friday mornings are the best day to find trades in my experience.

Could you please explain a little more about the 59 day window please. I know that if I do not get the trade I want then as long as I give it to II 60 days before my selected dates, I don't need to occupy my home resort. Not sure about the 59 days though. Hopefully you can get me up to speed

 

[dmharris]

So Marriott releases inventory into II at the 59 day mark prior to check in. It's much easier to nab a 'sighting' within that window then prior to it. So, you have deposited a e.g. 1 bedroom CV into II. Hoping for a trade to happen that you've requested, or even you are looking for last minute great finds. Every morning, log onto II, and use your 1 BR or Lock off and look for a vacation exchange. Have you ever done this, i.e. go into II to explore the inventory available? The first time I did it I was afraid I'd mess things up and end up with a week I didn't want, but it's actually very safe as you have 18 minutes to complete a reservation, so you can check flights, talk to spouse in that time. Hope this gets you started, but please post more questions if you get confused.

 

[Safti]

Similar to you, I also own 2 weeks at Canyon Villas (1 gold, 1 platinum). Often I will will split the units, make a date reservation for each unit, then deposit all four units into Interval International (deposit first technique)

Most of the time, I have been successful in trading each unit for a 2 bedroom unit. As noted by an earlier poster, trading for an off-season week and/or resorts that only have 2 bedroom units (no lockoff) increases your chances of the uptrade.

This split and trade method increases my usage from 2 weeks to 4 weeks. I've been doing this for about 8 years. Sometimes I will stay at the one bedroom at MCV during the popular "spring training" season in March. If not, even a 1 bedroom MCV March week is a great trader.

For the gold week, I will split and try to reserve week 18 or week 40. These are the weeks either just after or just before the platinum season. These would be stronger trading weeks than a mid-season gold week like week 30, for example.

Ditto to this.

 

[dmharris]

Good news! I just got confirmation from II that my lock off was accepted for a trade into Newport Coast (a two bedroom) for the week of Feb 6, 2016. We put in our request June 29, 2015 and we deposited first. Hope that's helpful info ACP.

 

[klpca]

I own 2 weeks Gold at CV, both lock off, we have only stayed there once as we live in the UK. I hope you can help as we have never used the Lock Off, we either trade for MRP or DP. I seem to recall that the 2 bedroom is a 1 bed with full facilities and a studio with limited usage. In your experience are you able to lock off and give the 2 units to II and then in return you ask for 2 x 1 bedroom resorts. As we own 2 weeks at CV that would mean we could get 4 x 1 bedroom weeks at another resort - assuming where we want to go just has 1 bedroom units.
Also is is best to Deposit the weeks with II or request first?
My concern is if I only get a 1 bedroom unit for a 1 bedroom unit and are left with the studio, it is too far for me to travel just to spend time in a lock off, so do I have any other options? Can I deposit it with II?
I know CV is not the most desirable location so assume that trade is a little difficult.
Also is there also anywhere where I can get a list of resorts that have a 1 Bedroom option. Living in the UK, I know the resorts in Europe, but not sure or anywhere else
Hope you can help.
Many Thanks

Good news! I just got confirmation from II that my lock off was accepted for a trade into Newport Coast (a two bedroom) for the week of Feb 6, 2016. We put in our request June 29, 2015 and we deposited first. Hope that's helpful info ACP.

To piggy-back on Diane's post, if you are interested in Newport Coast (2 bedroom units only), today would be a good day to check the sightings board.

 

[dmharris]

To piggy-back on Diane's post, if you are interested in Newport Coast (2 bedroom units only), today would be a good day to check the sightings board.

BUT, I couldn't see these with my lock-off, only my 1 bedroom. AND my trade request came in with my lock-off. Interesting.

 

[klpca]

BUT, I couldn't see these with my lock-off, only my 1 bedroom. AND my trade request came in with my lock-off. Interesting.

So odd! I saw these with a one bedroom (didn't try my lockoff) but I received a pm last night and the sender had booked one of the May weeks with their lockoff. And last week, I was able to book a mid-Sept week at NCV with my lockoff.

I run searches every day and I was surprised to see my lockoff pulling NCV. It usually takes the 1 bedroom side to pull it.

 

[dmharris]

Is your lock off gold or platinum? I'm gold.

 

[dmharris]

So odd! I saw these with a one bedroom (didn't try my lockoff) but I received a pm last night and the sender had booked one of the May weeks with their lockoff. And last week, I was able to book a mid-Sept week at NCV with my lockoff.

I run searches every day and I was surprised to see my lockoff pulling NCV. It usually takes the 1 bedroom side to pull it.

You were able to book the Sept week because it was in the 59 day window. I can do that as well, just not Feb right now. Or May. The PMer might have a platinum l/o

 

[klpca]

You were able to book the Sept week because it was in the 59 day window. I can do that as well, just not Feb right now. Or May. The PMer might have a platinum l/o

My exchange is for Sept 2016. I was pretty surprised to see it sitting there in the instant exchange inventory. II is weird sometimes. Btw, I am using a DSVII white week (which is comparable to gold).

I appreciate your data point on getting the exchange with an OGS using a lockoff. Interesting stuff, as GregT would say.

 

[dmharris]

My exchange is for Sept 2016. I was pretty surprised to see it sitting there in the instant exchange inventory. II is weird sometimes. Btw, I am using a DSVII white week (which is comparable to gold).

I appreciate your data point on getting the exchange with an OGS using a lockoff. Interesting stuff, as GregT would say.

That Sept 2016 is unusual.

 

[klpca]

That Sept 2016 is unusual.

I almost fell over when I saw it. I watch NCV because it's a drive-to location for us and it usually takes a Marriott 1 bedroom to pull all but the winter months. I can still see everything available (NCV) with another lockoff, so something has changed.

 

[dmharris]

I almost fell over when I saw it. I watch NCV because it's a drive-to location for us and it usually takes a Marriott 1 bedroom to pull all but the winter months. I can still see everything available (NCV) with another lockoff, so something has changed.

Maybe we should delete our posts to keep this gem secret?? ;-)

 

[ACP]

Maybe we should delete our posts to keep this gem secret?? ;-)

Thanks so much for the info, very helpful