Expensive to Start Exchanging!

[JeffW]

...You can get a refund if you don't get the exchange.

With II, I believe they always refunded your fee. With RCI, it used to be if you cancelled a search, they'd leave the funds as a credit in your account. If you did a future exchange, it would use the credit first (I believe). If you wanted a complete refund, you'd need to make a separate request for that.

 

[Bourne]

Yes, with both RCI and II, you have to pay the exchange fee upfront, to put in an on-going request - but not to search for an instant online exchange.

There is a difference and its what OP is highlighting.

With II, if you set up five searches, you pay 5X the fees.
With RCI, you only pay the first. Rest ride on the first $189.

Promotions come and go so I am not accounting for the fact that you can set up gazzilion searches in RCI right now for free.

 

[Carolinian]

Nowadays it's more the other way around. Not all timeshare developers show all their property to the non-American market. Like Hilton who rather prefers American buyers and is not very keen on giving too much inventory to Europeans. The European market is much harder to get into when it comes to timeshare. Eurpean customers are reluctant to buy timeshare and are hard bargain hunters.

I was referring more to exchange inventory than developer inventory.

With RCI, it would be interesting to compare between US accounts and European accounts as to the total number of weeks availible. I first picked up on the difference when a European Tugger was frequently posting of all the stuff she could see online with her account, and American Tuggers, even with tiger traders, often could not see much of it.

 

[Carolinian]

I didn't realize you had to pay up front for an exchange request. I won't be doing it much because I am more interested in trying to up the size of my room rather than trying to book a prime week. What happens if you do not end up exchanging? Do you get a refund or credit?

One of the advantages of most of the independent exchange companies is that you do NOT have to pre-pay an exchange fee with them to search. The fee is only charged when they can confirm an exchange for you.

 

[Margariet]

I was referring more to exchange inventory than developer inventory.

With RCI, it would be interesting to compare between US accounts and European accounts as to the total number of weeks availible. I first picked up on the difference when a European Tugger was frequently posting of all the stuff she could see online with her account, and American Tuggers, even with tiger traders, often could not see much of it.

Last year we did a few comparisons. Sometimes there is difference, sometimes not. I have noticed that I often don't see the sightings members post for the USA or only see them later. So in return I asked if American Tuggers would tell the RCI availability for the USA but nobody responded. So I guess there is not much enthousiasm for it or interest in it. However I am always willing to perform a search for Europe if someone is interested.

You can find a few postings about the subject:

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154497
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1172628#post1172628
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1172703#post1172703

 

[JudyS]

...Buying where you want to go works in many cases, but for some destinations like Disney, and the prime Hotel-system resorts, it is far more cost effective to trade in. If you know what you are doing, you can trade in for a tiny fraction of the cost of owning at the high dollar resorts.

I definitely agree with this! I have done a pile of off-season trades to Orlando, almost all into DVCs, Marriotts, or Sheratons. My cost (MF, exchange fee, pro-rated cost of RCI/II membership fee) generally is less than half of the MF for a Marriott or Sheraton unit. For DVC, my cost is a bit more than half the MFs, but with DVC, you also have high buy-in costs.

 

[JudyS]

... I am not accounting for the fact that you can set up gazzilion searches in RCI right now for free.

I hadn't heard about RCI allowing searches to be set-up for free. Is there a thread about this?

 

[MichaelColey]

There is a difference and its what OP is highlighting.

With II, if you set up five searches, you pay 5X the fees.
With RCI, you only pay the first. Rest ride on the first $189.

Promotions come and go so I am not accounting for the fact that you can set up gazzilion searches in RCI right now for free.

It's actually even more flexibile than that. The $189 covers all of those ongoing searches, but then if you get a match they use that $189 balance so the others you have out there are "free" (until you confirm a match).

As many exchanges as I do, my $189 never sits there for long.

And periodically (like now), they let you set up searches for free.

I hadn't heard about RCI allowing searches to be set-up for free. Is there a thread about this?

There is, but I don't think it got much response.

 

[SOS8260456]

Never knew about the additional RCI searches being free. When the search comes through I guess they are pretty quick letting you know when they hit?

 

[MichaelColey]

One of my searches has two resorts in it, so I'm actually searching for four. My current II searches are for:

Marriott's Grand Chateau in Vegas (specific date)
Marriott's Village d'Ile de France (fairly wide open, during off season)
Marriott's Newport Coast Villas (specific date)
Harborside at Atlantis (specific date, plus a wide range of off season dates)

If you do not have a name brand resort in Interval, I just do not see how you can get Marriott and Starwood and Hyatt weeks via an ongoing search unless you are looking for Orlando or Vegas or the desert or way off season weeks at some the of the beach resorts.

I meant to add that if you can take a studio or even two studios, you can get those more frequently in II, even for prime Marriott weeks. Most Marriott owners want one bedrooms or larger so if you find a resort that offers lock offs, the studios can usually be had outside of the preference period. Larger units are really tough for many locations, but not studios. I also think you should land your Marriott Vegas week. That resort has lots of availability in II outside of holidy weeks, and even then holiday weeks do happen.

I never stay in a studio, unless it's somewhere (like NYC) where that's the only option. 2BR or larger for us.

I think the Vegas Marriott will be the easiest for me to get, but I think NCV and MVF (off season) are both pretty good odds as well. Harborside at Atlantis is the only longshot.

I got my first match on II. My worst trader (a 2BR "pink" CMV week deposited barely 60 days in advance) was able to pick up a 2BR Newport Coast Villas for a specific date early next year.

I should have known it was coming. I got two calls from II last week offering me some other Southern California resort. They specifically told me that NCV was hard to get into.

I kind of figured the Vegas exchange would come first.

Now for the other two ongoing searches...

 

[rickandcindy23]

Newport Coast is great and very close to Disneyland. It's less than 45 minutes each way, and you can use the carpool lane.

Congratulations on a great trade. I saw a bunch of early January weeks at Marriott's Newport Coast this morning with my Foxrun, but our vacations are getting too close to one another. Rick is stopping me from booking more for early 2013, and he is iffy about anything in Orlando for late April-May.

We are done with the Disney resorts from this point on. Rick is tired of staying on site. We are going back to the Marriott and Hiltons instead.

We are really booked a lot for the next six-nine months:

It's Kauai for two weeks starting 8/3

We have Orlando for two weeks early October

Disneyland late October-early November for four nights

Orlando 12/10

Orlando 1/14-1/28

Maui 2/23-3/16

 

[MichaelColey]

I got my first match on II. My worst trader (a 2BR "pink" CMV week deposited barely 60 days in advance) was able to pick up a 2BR Newport Coast Villas for a specific date early next year.

I should have known it was coming. I got two calls from II last week offering me some other Southern California resort. They specifically told me that NCV was hard to get into.

I kind of figured the Vegas exchange would come first.

Now for the other two ongoing searches...

What a difference four days makes!

I got my Vegas exchange, also.

Now my only ongoing search left is my longshot for Harborside.

Time to deposit some more weeks and set up some more searches!

 

[MichaelColey]

Okay, I just can't stop. I made my third II exchange, all within 24 hours.

Nope, not the Harborside longshot. I still have that ongoing search running. I noticed that there were still a BUNCH more NCV deposits, including one that was checking in the day we were checking out. So I used another deposit to grab that. Now, we'll be able to enjoy the Newport Coast Villas for two weeks instead of one.

So now I've investing $1050 into II (plus the MF value of the four deposits). My membership runs for 6 years. I've had three exchanges (two for Newport Coast Villas, one for Grand Chateau in Vegas) and I have an ongoing search for Harborside at Atlantis. I'm feeling much better about things.

I definitely need to deposits some more weeks...

 

[Bourne]

Good for you

June and under/Sept+ Four Seasons Aviara are possible too at the last minute.

For me, the best success I have had with II is 60 and under... My tiger traders are only for rental... .. And you will be amazed what those puny switch blade July 4 1br can pull. Better usage in II if you do not need to PFD them..

 

[jdunn1]

Off season Marriott weeks (just like any other resort brand) are very easy to trade into. You are traveling in way off season to boot, so you should be able to get just about any resort you want. There are some exceptions, like Crystal Shores, and Frenchman Cove, and some others, but if you continue to travel in off season, II will be very good to you. Between Marriott, Hyatt and Starwood, Marriott is by far the easiest to get into in off season.

...and the Marriott is Vegas is nice, but the Planet Hollywood and HGVC Famingo are much better, in my oppinion. Also, the Polo Towers looks to have a much nicer pool complex and is in a slightly better location than the Marriott. Although they only have one bedrooms, the Jockey Club is in a fantastic location and you have access to some of the pools at the Cosmo.

Okay, I just can't stop. I made my third II exchange, all within 24 hours.

Nope, not the Harborside longshot. I still have that ongoing search running. I noticed that there were still a BUNCH more NCV deposits, including one that was checking in the day we were checking out. So I used another deposit to grab that. Now, we'll be able to enjoy the Newport Coast Villas for two weeks instead of one.

So now I've investing $1050 into II (plus the MF value of the four deposits). My membership runs for 6 years. I've had three exchanges (two for Newport Coast Villas, one for Grand Chateau in Vegas) and I have an ongoing search for Harborside at Atlantis. I'm feeling much better about things.

I definitely need to deposits some more weeks...

 

[MichaelColey]

...and the Marriott is Vegas is nice, but the Planet Hollywood and HGVC Famingo are much better, in my oppinion. Also, the Polo Towers looks to have a much nicer pool complex and is in a slightly better location than the Marriott.

Where does Planet Hollywood trade? I haven't seen that one yet.

I actually got HGVC Flamingo for my other Vegas trip, which works out great because the convention I'm going to is just across the street at Caesar's Palace. HGVC Las Vegas Strip was another choice I could have made, but the Marriott looked better for families.

I stayed at Dessert Club last time I was there, and I LOVED it. But I think that was primarily just because of the kitchen. I'm a foodie, and it was awesome to have a gas stove and a large pantry.

 

[chriskre]

Okay, I just can't stop. I made my third II exchange, all within 24 hours.

I'm feeling much better about things.

I definitely need to deposits some more weeks...

I knew you'd get the hang of it quickly.
II has some great gems once you learn to work it.
Took me years to finally get the hang of it but thanks to my TUG and TS4M buddies I'm almost a pro now. At least for the stuff that I want.

Where does Planet Hollywood trade? I haven't seen that one yet.

I actually got HGVC Flamingo for my other Vegas trip, which works out great because the convention I'm going to is just across the street at Caesar's Palace. HGVC Las Vegas Strip was another choice I could have made, but the Marriott looked better for families.

Planet Hollywood had weeks in II. It's not in RCI just yet although ya never know what an ongoing search will pull. It's Elara with HGVC and Planet Hollywood with Westgate. Same resort but different units being deposited depending on the exchange company. Elara is not yet available for us HGVC owners yet but I'm sure it will be an easy exchange once the rooms open up.

I saw Planet Hollywood in II earlier this year but for 2013 weeks. Maybe they are all gone by now. I just checked and there are only studios and 1 bedrooms and now they are calling it Elara in II too. Only one unit left for this year in Nov. and the rest is for 2013. If the studios and 1 bedroom could work for you, you could do a 1 bedroom and a studio with an XYZ and have them combine the units to a 2 bedroom lock off before check in. Hilton is very good about doing this, especially if you speak to a manager beforehand.

 

[jdunn1]

Planet Hollywood in II has done some HUGE bulk deposits in the past. I got a May 2011 week in Oct of 2010 for my parents. Got a massive 2 bedroom for them, and all it took was the studio portion of my Willowridge week. When Planet Hollywood does a bulk deposit, they deposit hundreds of units.

The Flamingo is widely thought of as the best timeshare in Vegas. Too bad there is the 1 in 4 rule. I think any of the Hiltons would be better than the Marriott, actually. Only problem with the Hiltons (Flamingo not included) is that they are way down the strip, not by the newer casinos.

If I had to bring my kids to Vegas (and it would take a lot for me to subject them to the strip), the Marriott is probably not a bad choice. The Marriott is off the strip, so you don't have to see the bad parts of the strip and it is a lot more quiet where the Marriott is. The Planet Hollywood gets loud and busy with newly 20 year olds and all that behavior that goes along with that age group.

The Hiltons are in a pretty dead portion of the strip so that might actually shelter your kids from the more vulger aspects of Vegas that are just in your face at the Planet Hollywood and on the strip near the Marriott.

The Marriott in Vegas (and anything in II) is a much cheaper exchange for me than the Hiltons in Vegas or anything in RCI.

Where does Planet Hollywood trade? I haven't seen that one yet.

I actually got HGVC Flamingo for my other Vegas trip, which works out great because the convention I'm going to is just across the street at Caesar's Palace. HGVC Las Vegas Strip was another choice I could have made, but the Marriott looked better for families.

I stayed at Dessert Club last time I was there, and I LOVED it. But I think that was primarily just because of the kitchen. I'm a foodie, and it was awesome to have a gas stove and a large pantry.

 

[littlestar]

I love my II platinum membership. I just booked a Getaway at Club Intrawest SanDestin for my daughter for fall break in a 2 bedroom for a total cost of $529. The same thing in RCI was around $1,500. I could have traded into Club Intrawest (it was available for exchange too) but I'm saving my deposit for something else.

With my platinum II membership I get free guest certificates and a free companion airline certificate once a year.

I'm waiting for II to release another "Platinum member special" for the fall - I was able to book my best friend a one bedroom at Sheraton Vistana for around $71 for the week for an early May vacation on a platinum special.

I have an RCI membership included with our Wyndham points - I like both exchange companies for the variety but I get more value out of my II membership. If I had to choose based on value, it would be my Interval platinum membership and my resale Wyndham points.

 

[jdunn1]

Club Intrawest Sandestin is not in II. I know Club Intrawest just switched from RCI to II, but I just checked and still no Sandestin.

I love my II platinum membership. I just booked a Getaway at Club Intrawest SanDestin for my daughter for fall break in a 2 bedroom for a total cost of $529. The same thing in RCI was around $1,500. I could have traded into Club Intrawest (it was available for exchange too) but I'm saving my deposit for something else.

With my platinum II membership I get free guest certificates and a free companion airline certificate once a year.

I'm waiting for II to release another "Platinum member special" for the fall - I was able to book my best friend a one bedroom at Sheraton Vistana for around $71 for the week for an early May vacation on a platinum special.

I have an RCI membership included with our Wyndham points - I like both exchange companies for the variety but I get more value out of my II membership. If I had to choose based on value, it would be my Interval platinum membership and my resale Wyndham points.

 

[jdunn1]

Nevermind, I just found it.

Club Intrawest Sandestin is not in II. I know Club Intrawest just switched from RCI to II, but I just checked and still no Sandestin.

 

[littlestar]

Nevermind, I just found it.

Yeah, it surprised me - I couldn't believe it when I saw they had inventory in II! It's been going fast, though. I had never seen Cub Intrawest inventory in II before so I hope it's not just a temporary thing.

 

[unomos]

The fees are too high for me, I like using my home resort. I am just looking into trying out TimeshareJuice.com, has anyone heard of or used that yet? Seems like a good exchange alternative to me.

 

[icowboy]

Expensive and unavailability

That's odd. It wouldn't let me search beyond my membership expiration date for my first deposit. When I tried to enter the search, it tried to add a membership extension in. I aborted out and bought the 5 year package (after trying all the 2 for 1 and 3 for $99 offers, none of which worked) for the savings.

The details are a bit fuzzy (it was four months ago), but I'm confident it wouldn't let me do it.

I wonder what the difference is. Maybe your account is from one of the systems?

I'm probably through with II when my membership runs out - have banked Christmas weeks in ski country Colorado trying for Branson MO in August - nothing available????? - THERE ARE LOTS OF ROOMS IN BRANSON and it should be the business of II to find some! Probably cheaper and easier to just rent a room from a tugger!

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I'm probably through with II when my membership runs out - have banked Christmas weeks in ski country Colorado trying for Branson MO in August - nothing available????? - THERE ARE LOTS OF ROOMS IN BRANSON and it should be the business of II to find some! Probably cheaper and easier to just rent a room from a tugger!

That's actually not their business at all. The exchange fee is for exchanging for what is available. It is not for them to procure an unavailable week although sometimes they do try to do just that. That said your trade should be a cinch so maybe you are doing somthIng wrong. Did you put in a request? Also you are after something with very little advance which is hit and miss.