II 2025 update - all bad news

[Shiba]

I want to make sure I understand this correctly, as I'm new to Interval international. Before the policy change flex exchange started 59 days before arrival and now it's 30 days. I'm interpreting it is if I need to make a change to my II reservation I won't be in flex exchange until the 30 day mark. Is that correct? The last time I traded I used EPlus would this benefit me as a Marriott to Marriott trade and trading power? Does this affect retrades?

 

[iftravel]

That seems to have changed since the most recent random one was released, Grand Vista and Harbour lake have been available with the random one and also the MVC in France at short notice this month.

And DVC shows up on AC not just last minute. Hope they improve AC inventory now that Flexechange is half flex.

 

[mountainboy]

It's a good reminder to us all that Marriott is a for-profit business with shareholders that expect revenue to grow significantly every quarter. When they don't reach their sales profitability goals like in the current environment, they need to find other sources to drive growth. They likely looked at RCI and said hey, all of our fees are lower than theirs so we can squeeze more out of our II members and still be a better value.

The one area that RCI has II beat is with its Extra Vacations (equivalent to Getaways). You can put them on hold until the end of the next business day, cancel for a full refund within 24 hours of booking and get a partial refund based upon a tiered schedule that gets lower as the check-in date of the reservation draws closer. All of it is so much better than II's method of book it and it's final, period. II is likely coming up with these refundable Getaways to try and compete in that area a bit more, again to drive revenue.

+ WM bonus time, allows cancel upto 48h before, even for a reservation made 1 week out, which is nice (as many others don't allow refunds on 'open season' or other '$ getaways')...

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am not really comprehending all of the changes, especially to Flexchange.

 

[Kapolei]

I want to make sure I understand this correctly, as I'm new to Interval international. Before the policy change flex exchange started 59 days before arrival and now it's 30 days. I'm interpreting it is if I need to make a change to my II reservation I won't be in flex exchange until the 30 day mark. Is that correct? The last time I traded I used EPlus would this benefit me as a Marriott to Marriott trade and trading power? Does this affect retrades?

Part of the II business model is lack of transparency. It’s a knife that cuts both ways. If you figure out the mystery before others understand the mystery, then you might avoid the misery.

 

[jp10558]

Part of the II business model is lack of transparency. It’s a knife that cuts both ways. If you figure out the mystery before others understand the mystery, then you might avoid the misery.

Yea, I guess if you get the right trader or whatever, II can be great - also if a getaway works for you or whatever. But II is a lot more limited IME than RCI for finding "something". I regularly get 0 results in a search from II both with ACs, with exchanges, for getaways. Even more often there will be 2 options. With RCI, to get only 2 options I have to be extremely limited in area or picking a very specific resort to get that. If I search "All Maine" or whatever, something's going to turn up. II not so much. Not saying they'll be great, but I do see how RCI stays relevant - if you can't pull Marriott in II, there's a very small number of resorts / locations - at least where I'm looking / going. Or a small number that fit my needs (2BR or multiple 1BR concurrently).

What I do think is true is the opaqueness of II means that I can't really compare between different people easily. Whereas with RCI I can be pretty sure that if I get X points - you'd see the same things with X points.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Yea, I guess if you get the right trader or whatever, II can be great - also if a getaway works for you or whatever. But II is a lot more limited IME than RCI for finding "something". I regularly get 0 results in a search from II both with ACs, with exchanges, for getaways. Even more often there will be 2 options. With RCI, to get only 2 options I have to be extremely limited in area or picking a very specific resort to get that. If I search "All Maine" or whatever, something's going to turn up. II not so much. Not saying they'll be great, but I do see how RCI stays relevant - if you can't pull Marriott in II, there's a very small number of resorts / locations - at least where I'm looking / going. Or a small number that fit my needs (2BR or multiple 1BR concurrently).

What I do think is true is the opaqueness of II means that I can't really compare between different people easily. Whereas with RCI I can be pretty sure that if I get X points - you'd see the same things with X points.

Get a Marriott or Sheraton as a trader and see different results.

I cannot find anything I want in RCI lately. I like top resorts but don't want Hilton/ Diamond because of the fees they charge to exchangers. Add the $299 fee RCI charges, and the insurance not covering the fee, and RCI is far worse than II.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I cannot see my "history" of exchanges to do a retrade today. I have tried dozens of times to get there and get this message:

 

[iftravel]

Get a Marriott or Sheraton as a trader and see different results.

I cannot find anything I want in RCI lately. I like top resorts but don't want Hilton/ Diamond because of the fees they charge to exchangers. Add the $299 fee RCI charges, and the insurance not covering the fee, and RCI is far worse than II.

If and when DVC moves back to RCI, you will say differently. Lol

 

[djyamyam]

I cannot see my "history" of exchanges to do a retrade today. I have tried dozens of times to get there and get this message:

View attachment 111549

Yup. I've had this issue for a couple years. It's because your exchange history is too long and it overloads the system. I've spoken to the IT area many times and with many tickets but to no avail. The only work around is through the app, which allows you to see your history but not on the computer

 

[Kapolei]

Exchange #: Exchange Transaction Date: Thu, November 05, 2020

Ocean Landings Resort & Racquet Club OLR Unit: xxx (Studio) Week: xxx Xxxx Xxxx

Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club MKO Unit: ZZAO (3 Bedrooms) Week: 46 Fri, November 13, 2020 Fri, November 20, 2020

Confirmed​

Evaluation Completed

There it is.

 

[dioxide45]

Exchange #: Exchange Transaction Date: Thu, November 05, 2020

Ocean Landings Resort & Racquet Club OLR Unit: xxx (Studio) Week: xxx Xxxx Xxxx

Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club MKO Unit: ZZAO (3 Bedrooms) Week: 46 Fri, November 13, 2020 Fri, November 20, 2020

Confirmed​

Evaluation Completed

There it is.

That was during covid. Hawaii resorts were even showing up on ACs. It also seems to indicate that it was a last minute exchange. Confirmed only eight days prior to travel.

 

[Kapolei]

That was during covid. Hawaii resorts were even showing up on ACs. It also seems to indicate that it was a last minute exchange. Confirmed only eight days prior to travel.

Make whatever excuses you want about when it was. You have a better trade, post it. Until I see a better one, this is the GOAT.

 

[Hindsite]

Make whatever excuses you want about when it was. You have a better trade, post it. Until I see a better one, this is the GOAT.

Yep that's good, but not reproducible, and any resort could have got that. There were some great trades around then for everyone.

 

[pedro47]

Yep that's good, but not reproducible, and any resort could have got that. There were some great trades around then for everyone.

I must agree with your statement.

 

[dioxide45]

Make whatever excuses you want about when it was. You have a better trade, post it. Until I see a better one, this is the GOAT.

I wouldn't say it is an excuse, but rather a fact. I didn't realize that the great trades of OL were only because of Covid . The years of Covid are not a valid indicator of how great a trader something is. I don't doubt OL punched above its weight in terms of trading. That however is true of many deposits. Trading up in both unit size and resort quality is quite common when trading with II in general.

Your trade is more about timing and luck than it is about the unit used for exchange. My statements don't mean that OL isn't a cheap way to travel last minute by leveraging II.

 

[Kapolei]

2 Bedroom Villa, Bedroom 1: 1 King, Bedroom 2: 2 Twin, Sofa bed, Ocean view, Balcony​

Room Details
Member Rate
Rate Details
1,841
USD / NIGHT
Select
Flexible Rate
Rate Details
1,879
USD / NIGHT
Select

 

[wmgjr]

Do all these changes make anyone say SFX isn't so bad or any other exchange companies out there?

 

[rickandcindy23]

SFX is terrible.

Do all these changes make anyone say SFX isn't so bad or any other exchange companies out there?

 

[rickandcindy23]

So frustrating. So incredibly maddening. I really dislike the app for II. I can see my upcoming exchanges there, but when I try to do a retrade, I get to a page and get stuck there. No way to move forward. IF I go backward, choose one of our names again for the confirmation, the thing charges me an additional $199 fee, Sheraton-Westin exchange. I am doing a retrade. I am sick of trying. It's a terrible app. Anyone have any tips?

Yup. I've had this issue for a couple years. It's because your exchange history is too long and it overloads the system. I've spoken to the IT area many times and with many tickets but to no avail. The only work around is through the app, which allows you to see your history but not on the computer

 

[Kapolei]

So frustrating. So incredibly maddening. I really dislike the app for II. I can see my upcoming exchanges there, but when I try to do a retrade, I get to a page and get stuck there. No way to move forward. IF I go backward, choose one of our names again for the confirmation, the thing charges me an additional $199 fee, Sheraton-Westin exchange. I am doing a retrade. I am sick of trying. It's a terrible app. Anyone have any tips?

Best to just use a browser. Might be hard on a phone, but definitely easy to use with an IPad.

 

[Mreareus1]

Interval Guest Certificate — As of July 1, 2025, the number of complimentary Guest Certificates included with an Interval Platinum® membership will change to three per membership year. Please note that if you have more than three complimentary Guest Certificates remaining in your Interval Platinum membership, the total will be adjusted to three as of July 1, 2025. In addition, the cost of Guest Certificates will increase to $89

Last-Minute Travel With Flexchange — Interval offers Flexchange® to help you plan last-minute vacations. Members with last-minute travel plans who want to take advantage of Flexchange will need to book their travel within 30 days of the desired check-in date in order to utilize this benefit. This is anticipated to commence in late summer.

I have a late deposit, have to book within 59 days. Will late deposit be treated same as Flexchange?

 

[jim4529]

Interval Guest Certificate — As of July 1, 2025, the number of complimentary Guest Certificates included with an Interval Platinum® membership will change to three per membership year. Please note that if you have more than three complimentary Guest Certificates remaining in your Interval Platinum membership, the total will be adjusted to three as of July 1, 2025. In addition, the cost of Guest Certificates will increase to $89

Last-Minute Travel With Flexchange — Interval offers Flexchange® to help you plan last-minute vacations. Members with last-minute travel plans who want to take advantage of Flexchange will need to book their travel within 30 days of the desired check-in date in order to utilize this benefit. This is anticipated to commence in late summer.

They, as well as RCI, just keep giving us reasons not to work with them. Thank goodness for TUG!

 

[Larry M]

It's not just Interval. It seems that every business I deal with wants to dig deeper into my pocket.

I'm off topic, but I'm very frustrated with my Chase checking account. I only write a few checks per month, but after many years, I'm running out of checks and need to reorder. Checks were always free in the past. No more. Now it's $30 to order a pack, and if I understood, that's only 80 checks. Chase pays me about a nickel or dime a month in interest. In the words of Joe Biden, "C'mon, man!"

As a customer I'm a piñata. The businesses want to keep wacking me until all the money has fallen out of my pockets.

Buy your checks from VistaPrint instead. Chase will honor them.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Best to just use a browser. Might be hard on a phone, but definitely easy to use with an IPad.

I tried to use my ipad with Google Chrome going to the website, still my history will not load and I get the same message. We have been members of II since 1982. Funny how long it's been since we were suckered into buying Twin Rivers in Fraser, CO, summer week, in the fall of 1981.

We just moved rooms at Ocean Pointe. From the Dolphin Building, I can load my history again on my laptop.