Exchanging thru II

[itd1sah]

I own a couple of weeks at Costa Linda - Aruba. Thinking about adding these weeks to my II account. Anyone know how they would exchange.

Would I be able to get Harborside or a Marriott property?

 

[DeniseM]

Starwood and Marriott owners both have first priority for any deposit from their own system in II, so it may be difficult. Your best bet is to put in a very wide request.

The most successful strategy for a II exchange includes:

1) Put in an on-going request as early as possible (12 or more mos. out) so it's in place BEFORE the deposits are made, and ahead of other exchangers.

2) Request a wide-range of weeks.

3) Request as many resorts as possible

4) Even though the online inventory is the leftovers, sometimes gems pop up, so it's worthwhile to keep checking it, even when you have an on-going request in place. If you see something you want, you can still grab it online, which will automatically cancel your on-going request.

5) If you need a specific check-in day, you must call II after putting in your request online and specify the day of the week. Otherwise, your on-going request automatically defaults to Thursday, so your check-in day could be Thurs., Fri., Sat., or Sun.

Strategies that will decrease your chances of getting a trade:

1) Only requesting school holidays
2) Only requesting one specific week
3) Only requesting the very top resort in an area (which you may not have the trading power for)

 

[funtime]

I cannot tell you how many Marriott properties I have pulled with Non Marriott timeshares -most all using the online inventory. Over the course of seven years, probably over ten Marriott properties with non Marriott weeks. And mostly I have upgraded from a one bedroom to a two bedroom unit. I have also done a getaway to Westin Kierland Villas and traded a Vail property for Westin in Rancho La Mirage near Palm Springs for June twice. I have relied a lot on TUGGER sightings and scanning the II internet site. It works best if you can travel in off season months (eg May and early June or September and early October for summer type weeks or at the last minute . However, weather is still great for example on Hilton Head the second week of October - I know I was there last week. So, I would deposit and enjoy! Funtime

 

[jdunn1]

I'll just chime into to say that the Marriott preference has gotten very strong the past few months. Some great ski weeks and spring Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head weeks have been available for weeks to Marriott owners but not to anyone else. I have both Marriott and Worldmark and my Worldmark account is definately not seeing the best Marriott weeks available for trade right now, or for the past few months.

I'm still new to trading but from what I understand the Marriott preference was non enforced for some time, for exactly how long this went on, I do not know but I know there was very little if any Marriott preference in II up to about five months ago. Then, something happened and II started to enforce the Marriott preference more. If you can travel last minute, you will do okay without any kind of Marriott or Starwood prererence and get into those resorts. Shoulder season will also pull those resorts just fine. However, like I said, even shoulder season in Marriott got tougher the past few months. You will still find weeks but with only Marriott owners able to book whatever is deposited into II for about a month, there is a good posibility the best weeks will be gone before others can book them.

 

[LLW]

I own a couple of weeks at Costa Linda - Aruba. Thinking about adding these weeks to my II account. Anyone know how they would exchange.

Would I be able to get Harborside or a Marriott property?

Harborside is hard to get.

Marriott property - depends on the property, size, and the dates. Off season is easier. Smaller size is easier. Last minute is way easier. We need more info from you for better answers.

 

[Bucky]

I would think your Costa Linda units would be strong traders in II. Most that I have seen trade with RCI. Marriotts are fairly easy to get. Just depends where and what season you're looking for. Obviously you're going to have a hard time pulling beach properties in the summer! I own a Starwood property (resale) and I have a hard time getting into Harborside. Only been successful once so far. I would just add both units to my Interval account if I was you and do a request first with one of them. That way you'll get an idea of how they trade. Fairly inexpensive to add a unit to your account and with a request first, nothing lost.