DAE exchanges

[bmilne]

Hi,
I was wondering if TUG members who belong to DAE could share their experiences in getting exchanges they desire with DAE. I am presently banked with RCI, but have read some interesting and promising things about DAE.

However, when I look at their online availability, the choices seem extremely limited. For example, although they list many timeshares in Myrtle Beach in their resort directory, their online "availability" directory only shows one or two available for all of 2009. Am I missing something here? I realize their inventory won't compare with RCI, but I guess I expected more than I've seen so far.

Thanks for any anticipated responses.

Regards...Bruce

 

[Miniwheat]

No Luck Here

I haven't had any luck exchanging with DAE. For the last 3 winters I've tried to get an exchange to the Carribbean and some Mexico destinations (Cozumel, Ixtapa, Isla Mujeres) for any week January to March with no luck. The only island I excluded was Dominican. I had an ongoing request in during this time and received one call for a resort that received bad reviews and was inland. Not my idea of a tropical vacation. I've watched their availability through the summer hoping to pick up a nice resort out west or in Canada, but never saw anything.

 

[DeniseM]

I don't have any experience with DAE, but you can also click on the Search this Forum button on the Exchanging board and search for DAE or Dial An Exchange to find the info. that's already been posted. You should also check out the DAE Forum here on TUG.

 

[Carolinian]

Like any exchange company, the best deposits get snagged by ongoing searches.

I just got a summer beach week on the Polish coast through DAE and this past summer got a summer beach week in Croatia. They have also gotten me summer beach weeks on the French Riviera, So Cal, Myrtle Beach, and the NC Outer Banks, as well as summer Smugglers Notch, summer UK canalboat, Thanksgiving in Puerto Rico, and early spring in the Caymans. I have seen summer beach weeks in Cyprus and Corfu online, but have already been there and it is too soon to go back.

One trick in using DAE is to understand who their trading partners are. There are certain resorts in the Caribbean where they have trading partner relationships where they can get inventory ''on request'' and the same is true in Europe. My trades to the French Riviera, UK canalboat, and Caymans involved my putting in specific requests for them to seek those trades through trading partners I knew they had. The others I found online.

 

[catsmeow]

DAE

I just snagged two bonus weeks in Kauai through DAE. They were $399 each, one over Christmas, and the other over New Year's weeks. They actually gave me the option of exchanging my week or just paying the bonus amount. At that price, I just paid for it and will save my week for another trip! I wonder if they're a little better at last minute trades?? This will be my first vacation with them.

 

[mayson12]

I haven't had much luck exchanging to Hawaii in the past, (though with the high airfares that may be changing) but I'm going to Sheraton Desert Oasis in Scottsdale this Thanksgiving week, and have gotten a 3BR at Rancho Banderas north of Puerto Vallarta. I have also used their bonus weeks for family members, getting Lagonita Lodge during the winter for $199/week, New Mexico for my parents, $199/week. I think ongoing searches are the way to go, but I do check their inventory online also.

 

[ronandjoan]

DAE is great especially in certain places. But Isla Mujeres is a very hard trade from anyone! If you watch their listings and get an idea of where they have a lot of units, that wil help you decide where to use them for - we really have liked the places in Mexico we have gotten from them, and also in Florida. And, of course, Australia! I like their personal touch!