Exchanging

[toddvb20]

Is there a "basics" thread about how the exchange process works? If you want to do an exchange, does someone have to take your week at your home resort before you can exchange to the resort that you want to stay at?

 

[DeniseM]

Hi - every resort system is different and every exchange company is different, but for basic info. see the stickies at the top of the Exchanging forum and the articles on the TUG advice page - http://tug2.net/timeshare_advice/tug_timeshare_advice.shtml

No - someone doesn't have to take your week, before you can make an exchange. As soon as the exchange company accepts your deposit - you can make an exchange. Even if no one ever takes the week you deposited - you can still make an exchange.

*Let me know if this is a Starwood question and I will move your questions to that forum. Stawood has unique trading rules.

 

[Karen G]

If you do an exchange through one of the exchange companies such as RCI or II, it works sort of like a bank. You deposit your week into their bank and then you are able to draw out someone else's week. You don't have to wait until your week is taken. You can search online to see what's available.

You can also put in an ongoing request for a particular area, resort, or time period and the computer does the search for you. If what you want turns up, you'll be notified. It usually works to your advantage to do an ongoing search because some of the more popular exchanges never make it to the online search because they are snatched up by previously submitted ongoing searches.

If you own a points resort or system, it works like a bank, too. You have X number of points and you can use them to exchange for weeks or days in other points resorts based on the value that has been assigned for each resort. More desirable resorts/seasons/locations require more points. Last minute exchanges usually require fewer points.

 

[toddvb20]

Is there a way to see how much "value" is assigned to the resorts or what a particular resort "trades at".

 

[chalee94]

Is there a way to see how much "value" is assigned to the resorts or what a particular resort "trades at".

in RCI points, you know how many points you have to trade.

in RCI weeks, they have begun giving you TPUs ("trade power units" - RCI weeks is also called "points lite") that similarly tell you how much your trade is worth. you would need to be an RCI member to find out how many TPUs a week is worth (or ask a friend or friendly poster who is an RCI member to check it out for you).

interval international is still more of a mystery. you tend to learn by trying and finding out what others have reported being able to trade for.

for the most part, if you have a reasonable expectation of "like for like," you'll probably be fine.

also, paying members of TUG can see the "sightings board." on that board, members will post what they see with their deposits...so if their marriott can see an available week that your resort's week cannot see...that would help you figure out your relative trade power...