Exchanging into Hawaii resorts with II

[exhaustedmomof3]

Hi there!

My brother is a Vistana owner and has some deposited weeks in II that he doesn't intend on using so he generously offered them to family members.

II is new to me, as I'm used to using RCI. I really want to exchange into a resort in Maui for next year. My oldest son will be in eleventh grade, so he can't miss any weeks of school.

Towards the end of last year (2019), I set up a search for every school holiday next year (spring, summer, and Christmas 2021). The deposited weeks expire Dec 31st, 2021.

I used the week that I thought would have the best chance, which is Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort (correct me if I'm wrong). His other weeks are at the Sheraton Vistana in Orlando.
I would love to exchange into the Westin on Maui, but I added a few other resorts like Marriott and other Hawaiian islands to increase chances for a match since we're looking for peak times.

My question is how far in advance do people typically start matching with their exchanges for Westin or Marriott? Do they do bulk deposits at certain times of the year?
Do you think there will be less chance of getting an exchange with so many owners unable to use their weeks for this year?

I'm hoping to make a match and not waste his week before it expires.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[DeniseM]

Vistana controls which weeks are deposited into Interval, and they pretty much only deposit fall weeks, and maybe a few in May. You will not find school holiday weeks - Vistana doesn't deposit them. I'm not sure about the demand for next year, because so much depends on what happens with the Coronavirus.

 

[mauitraveler]

Exhaustedmomof3, It certainly doesn't hurt to put your request in for the Maui Westins and Marriott. As rare as matches for summer requests and Easter break requests are, you still have the advantage of trading Vistana-to-Vistana (and Marriott). Also, you were wise to add other islands to your request, as there is probably more availability for the larger units on the other islands. We only needed a 1-BR unit last year, and were matched in Sept. of 2018 for a 1-BR at WKORV (Westin Kaanapali) for mid-July of 2019. We also put in a request for the summer of 2021 early in 2019, so we're hoping for another match for next summer. Good luck to you!

 

[DeniseM]

* If you are open to Kauai, the Westin Princeville is easier to get than the Maui resorts.

 

[davidvel]

To add what Denise said, I've never seen a bulk deposit of Marriott Hawaii weeks during school vacation periods.

 

[exhaustedmomof3]

Exhaustedmomof3, It certainly doesn't hurt to put your request in for the Maui Westins and Marriott. As rare as matches for summer requests and Easter break requests are, you still have the advantage of trading Vistana-to-Vistana (and Marriott). Also, you were wise to add other islands to your request, as there is probably more availability for the larger units on the other islands. We only needed a 1-BR unit last year, and were matched in Sept. of 2018 for a 1-BR at WKORV (Westin Kaanapali) for mid-July of 2019. We also put in a request for the summer of 2021 early in 2019, so we're hoping for another match for next summer. Good luck to you!

Thank you for the info! Fingers crossed and good luck to you too!

 

[exhaustedmomof3]

* If you are open to Kauai, the Westin Princeville is easier to get than the Maui resorts.

Thank you! I have put this on my list. I basically listed all Westin and Marriott resorts anywhere in Hawaii. I'm hoping something will come through!

 

[exhaustedmomof3]

To add what Denise said, I've never seen a bulk deposit of Marriott Hawaii weeks during school vacation periods.

If I change or add dates to the ongoing search, will this push me back in the queue, or will I retain my original place for the ongoing search?

 

[mauitraveler]

If I change or add dates to the ongoing search, will this push me back in the queue, or will I retain my original place for the ongoing search?

I have always found that making a change does not seem to push me back in the queue, but others may have had a different experience. However, I usually try to make my requests 18-24 months in advance of my desired check-in dates. CJ

 

[GTLINZ]

Although it is not the same level as the Westins and Marriotts, we have stayed at Kaanapali Beach Club before and really enjoyed it. It was originally an Embassy suites vacation club (hilton should not have let it go). I think most inventory is 1BR units but there are some 2br.

 

[exhaustedmomof3]

Although it is not the same level as the Westins and Marriotts, we have stayed at Kaanapali Beach Club before and really enjoyed it. It was originally an Embassy suites vacation club (hilton should not have let it go). I think most inventory is 1BR units but there are some 2br.

Thanks for the info! I'll add it to my search