I used to run group travel programs and have extensive experience with All-Inclusives. My take is that trading your week into an AI while enjoyable is wasting the week. You can get pretty much the same deal through a travel agent purchasing a charter vacation package like Apple or Go Go tours.
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I do find that there are always lots of AI options to trade into. I think that is because the prices are usually pretty high and compare to charter deals without having to exchange your week.
Good luck.
BigTom
Very helpful, Tom, thanks, and yes, you have addressed one of my main Q's on this issue.
One reason I got into TS'g a couple of years ago was b/c my wife and our 7 ear old son spent ~$8K Canadian to go to an admittedly nice, 5 star resort in the Mayan Riviera.
A few months later that winter, we went to Orlando, and by pure koinkadink, stayed at Marriott's Cypress Harbour, through the tour operator.
Of course, the phone started ringing the next day w invitations to go across the street to Horizons for a TS presentation.
Even the developer prices looked good compared to the $8K I spent for one week in the Mayan Riviera, for which I had nothing to show but the memories...
[Fortunately I didn't sign w the developer until the last day of our week down there, so it gave me time to fly home, do my research, rescind the contract, and buy the exact same 2 weeks resale for over $20K USD less...]
We have very much enjoyed our TS vacations in Orlando, but as our son gets older, I'm starting to look at xchg'g more, and while the $$ I spent on that 1 week was significant, we did have a great time, hence my wondering aloud about the logistics of going back to a resort like that, but via an xchg.
Your insights have helped me to realize that there may not be much value in approaching it this way, and I suppose what I can try to do is determine whether we could xchg into any of these AI resorts w/o buying into the AI package, and then, as you say, wandering over to e.g. Playa Del Carmen for dinner, and use our kitchenette during the day.
Anyway, thanks again, and it looks like I have some more research to do...