First Exchange thru II - strategy?

[macko420]

Hi,
I deposited our Tahiti Village week with a max trade value of 4 bedroom and I am trying to get at least a 1 bedroom/full kitchen unit at Oyster Bay in St. Maarten for our son for his honeymoon next July. For that past week all that is available is an efficiency with a limited kitchen. What advice does anyone have...........do I just keep checking to see if I can catch or.........do I make a request thru II? I haven't had a chance to call them to discuss it. Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

Have you placed an on-going request with II? Do you know for sure that Oyster Bay exchanges through II?

 

[gmarine]

Putting in an ongoing request is your best chance but II requires a minimum of three resorts and/or three dates for an ongoing request. I have heard of II making exceptions and entering it with one date so it may be possible.

Also keep in mind that all requests have a default checkin day of the previous Thursday of the day of your request. You can request an exact check in day but this can only be done over the phone and this will also limit your chances of a confirmation. Good luck.

 

[macko420]

Putting in an ongoing request is your best chance but II requires a minimum of three resorts and/or three dates for an ongoing request. I have heard of II making exceptions and entering it with one date so it may be possible.

Also keep in mind that all requests have a default checkin day of the previous Thursday of the day of your request. You can request an exact check in day but this can only be done over the phone and this will also limit your chances of a confirmation. Good luck.

Thanks, yes, I knew about the 3 resorts or 3 dates thing........
Are you saying that even if the checkin day is a Friday at the resort, if you exchange thru a request, your checkin day is Thursday? I haven't heard this part before and boy, that would make a difference in plans!!

Also, I guess, if you can't come up with 3 dates or don't want another resort, you are simply limiting your chances of getting what you want. I guess the other option would be to simply accept the smaller unit in that case.

In a post on another thread (can't remember which one), I thought someone had said that you might make out better by watching II's site yourself rather than making a request. Any thoughts on that?

Hmmm.....this is for the honeymooners and they have their 'limits' on availability, etc. I'll have to work on it! thanks!

 

[tashamen]

I am trying to get at least a 1 bedroom/full kitchen unit at Oyster Bay in St. Maarten for our son for his honeymoon next July.

This shouldn't be too hard a trade since they bulk bank lots of units. However, if you don't want to wait, and are willing to pay for a Getaway, there are currently units available every week next July in II as Getaways, in every size from studio to 2BR.

 

[djs]

Do people ever use a strategy of requesting a resort that they are 99.99% sure they'd never pull for their other two resorts, thus being able to request a specific date? If so, perhaps the OP could try that too.

I know on II's site they even tell you you could get anywhere from Thursday - Sunday, and imagine RCI and other exchange companies do the same thing.

FWIW, Oyster Bay doesn't offer Thursday check-in (through II), just Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

[gmarine]

Thanks, yes, I knew about the 3 resorts or 3 dates thing........
Are you saying that even if the checkin day is a Friday at the resort, if you exchange thru a request, your checkin day is Thursday? I haven't heard this part before and boy, that would make a difference in plans!!

Also, I guess, if you can't come up with 3 dates or don't want another resort, you are simply limiting your chances of getting what you want. I guess the other option would be to simply accept the smaller unit in that case.

In a post on another thread (can't remember which one), I thought someone had said that you might make out better by watching II's site yourself rather than making a request. Any thoughts on that?

Hmmm.....this is for the honeymooners and they have their 'limits' on availability, etc. I'll have to work on it! thanks!

What the default Thursday check in means is that if a resort has check in days of Thurs-Sun you can be confirmed into a unit that begins on any of those days unless you specify you only want a certain check in day.

What the above poster asked is one way around the three resorts/dates etc. For the second and third choices put resorts/dates that are impossible to get. An example would be something like the Westin St John during Christmas week.
You are always better off placing a request. You can still search the website if you choose while you have a request in place.

 

[DeniseM]

In a post on another thread (can't remember which one), I thought someone had said that you might make out better by watching II's site yourself rather than making a request. Any thoughts on that?

That's not correct - ongoing requests are filled FIRST - you definitely need to place an on-going request and watch II online.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

This shouldn't be too hard a trade since they bulk bank lots of units. However, if you don't want to wait, and are willing to pay for a Getaway, there are currently units available every week next July in II as Getaways, in every size from studio to 2BR.

Obviously showing my lack of knowledge and experience, but if those weeks are available in July as getaways -- why don't they show up as available for exchange. It seems that the deposit is be good enough, right?. What am I missing here .... Thx, in advance.

 

[gmarine]

Getaways are usually different inventory than exchanges. The Getaways could be developer deposits or units purchased by II.

 

[macko420]

That's not correct - ongoing requests are filled FIRST - you definitely need to place an on-going request and watch II online.

Thanks, there is alot to learn in this business! I guess I either need to come up with alternate weeks or figure out what requests would definitely not stand a chance of being obtained. Although that seems more risky to me.........
They have their hearts set on Oyster Bay so I don't want to risk getting something else even if it would be a fantastic exchange!

Also, can someone please explain what bulk banking is exactly? I see the term but don't understand how resorts can do that.

 

[DeniseM]

Bulk banking is when a resort directly deposits a large number of weeks that they don't expect to have demand for, usually off-season. (As opposed to an owner depositing their owned week.)

I understand that your young couple has their hearts set on a particular resort, but do they understand that you may not be able to get it? There are so many nice resorts - give them a II Book and ask them to choose some backups, so you have the chance to at least get something nice for them, in case you can't get their first choice.

 

[macko420]

Thanks for the explanation of bulk banking and the good advice on why you should pick more than one resort. I'll have to talk to them again!

 

[anne1125]

My daughter did a recent last minute exchange to Oyster Bay (they loved it) into a studio. The unit was too small so they were able to upgrade to a 1 bedroom for $100 for the week.

Anne

 

[macko420]

My daughter did a recent last minute exchange to Oyster Bay (they loved it) into a studio. The unit was too small so they were able to upgrade to a 1 bedroom for $100 for the week.

Anne

So they upgraded after they arrived? that's interesting and also good to know that it's as I thought, the studio seems too small. Thanks!

 

[rsnash]

Fist off, I'm wondering if your 4 bedroom is lockoffable into 2 2BR units. If it is, keep in mind that the 2 BR half would be plenty tradeable for Oyster Bay. I've stayed there and it is very nice, but there are many resorts on St. Martin, Divi is away from the crowded areas too.

 

[macko420]

Fist off, I'm wondering if your 4 bedroom is lockoffable into 2 2BR units. If it is, keep in mind that the 2 BR half would be plenty tradeable for Oyster Bay. I've stayed there and it is very nice, but there are many resorts on St. Martin, Divi is away from the crowded areas too.

Well, I'm going on what it says in the II site. It has our unit with a minimum
trade of 1 bedroom and a maximum of 4 bedroom. The unit we are trading is supposed to trade as a 2 bedroom even though it is the Bora Bora 1 bedroom unit at TV. At least that is what we were told.........
We have already used the lockoff side for a trip earlier this year.
But bottom line, what is showing up every time on the II site is 0 bedrooms with a limited kitchen. I assumed it was just what has been deposited so far and have just been checking as often as I can.

My son and future DIL will be here for the holiday so I will discuss either adding a choice of a 3rd week or picking another choice or 2 of resorts.