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II Free Unit Size Upgrade Offer

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
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Messages
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Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
We've used this in the past to do an upgrade and then retrade later and then not have to pay any upgrade fees on subsequent retrades. This certainly works best with enrolled Marriott weeks with $0 exchange fees or when you add Eplus.

So what you can do now, use a deposit to exchange into a week and upgrade to the larges unit size possible. Your exchange should be for as far out as possible. If it is an enrolled Marriott week, then no additional action is necessary. If not, then add EPlus. You should also be able to do this if you have Eplus on an existing exchange. Retrades into larger units should have no upgrade fees during the promotion. Once you have done the initial set of upgrade(s), any subsequent retrades won't have upgrade fees.

iiupgrade.jpg
 
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@dioxide45 Thanks for the tip. I have a newb question. I have an enrolled studio and I see that I can reserve a 2BR in Orlando for Aug 5, 2025 week for $0 upgrade fee. I want to confirm that the subsequent retrades can only be instant exchanges and I won't be able to add a request such as an OGS. Thanks.
 
@dioxide45 Thanks for the tip. I have a newb question. I have an enrolled studio and I see that I can reserve a 2BR in Orlando for Aug 5, 2025 week for $0 upgrade fee. I want to confirm that the subsequent retrades can only be instant exchanges and I won't be able to add a request such as an OGS. Thanks.
That is correct. No OGS once you confirm a trade and do retrades. It is one of the “costs” of taking advantage of the tip.
 
My studio doesn't have a lot of trading power so I think I will be likely using it for instant exchanges into low TDI weeks/season anyway. I think I'll give this a try. Thanks again!
 
I just noticed this free upgrade while doing my regular searches. Too bad there is nothing online that interests me.
 
Before the payment screen, it shows that there is no upgrade fee because of the promotion. However when I click through to the payment screen, the upgrade fee reappears. Glitch? Has anyone else tried?
 
Before the payment screen, it shows that there is no upgrade fee because of the promotion. However when I click through to the payment screen, the upgrade fee reappears. Glitch? Has anyone else tried?

You just have to make sure you click the radio button under promotions on the Payment Summary screen and then it will discount the upgrade fee.

1725378242238.png
 
Yes, you have to go all the way through and check the box. I had a week I needed to use by the end of next year, so I did confirm a two bedroom. The eplus fee adds a lot to it, but well worth having it for the ability to retrade.
 
Do they do this promotion annually?
I haven't seen it before.

I think II is having less income in exchange fees.

Various point systems provide excellent value for owners, over paying $164-$229 exchange fee + upgrade fees. For example, a week in a 2 bedroom at Bonnet Creek might cost me $800 total cost during fall for just about everyone. No additional fees for booking. Sometimes I can get the 2 bedroom unit discounted by 50-60%, making it more like $320 for 7 nights. We have status with Wyndham. I actually like Bonnet Creek a little better than Marriott, but maybe it's the price that I like. I have two of these discounted stays next month.

If I get a Marriott 2 bedroom, I usually have to pay upgrade fees from my one bedroom:

Sheraton to Marriott exchange fee is $164
Sheraton one bedroom to Grande Vista 2 bedroom, $59
Sheraton cost for the one bedroom, $900

$900 + $59 + $164= $1,123

My cheapest 2 bedroom trader is $931 for 2024 MF's. That is my Foxrun week 52:

The cost is almost the the same: $931 + $229 exchange fee, no upgrade fee required. $1,160 total.
 
I haven't seen it before.

I think II is having less income in exchange fees.

Various point systems provide excellent value for owners, over paying $164-$229 exchange fee + upgrade fees. For example, a week in a 2 bedroom at Bonnet Creek might cost me $800 total cost during fall for just about everyone. No additional fees for booking. Sometimes I can get the 2 bedroom unit discounted by 50-60%, making it more like $320 for 7 nights. We have status with Wyndham. I actually like Bonnet Creek a little better than Marriott, but maybe it's the price that I like. I have two of these discounted stays next month.

If I get a Marriott 2 bedroom, I usually have to pay upgrade fees from my one bedroom:

Sheraton to Marriott exchange fee is $164
Sheraton one bedroom to Grande Vista 2 bedroom, $59
Sheraton cost for the one bedroom, $900

$900 + $59 + $164= $1,123

My cheapest 2 bedroom trader is $931 for 2024 MF's. That is my Foxrun week 52:

The cost is almost the the same: $931 + $229 exchange fee, no upgrade fee required. $1,160 total.
Weren't vistana resales grandfathered into abound? You wouldn't have an exchange fee Marriott to Marriott. So eplus becomes unnecessary with unlimited retrades to Marriott properties and no exchange fee
 
Weren't vistana resales grandfathered into abound? You wouldn't have an exchange fee Marriott to Marriott. So eplus becomes unnecessary with unlimited retrades to Marriott properties and no exchange fee
Not for voluntary resales.
 
Not for voluntary resales.
True, you are correct that my Sheraton Broadway Resort weeks are voluntary resales, bought before the Marriott takeover, but they were not brought into Abound.

Our Westin Ka'anpali weeks were brought into Abound. I guess Marriott wanted the Maui weeks. Cannot imagine why. Sarcasm. Westin is way better. ;)
 
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I did this last year, and they upgraded me to a 2 BR from a studio. I then exchanged to my furthest date and purchased e-plus.
 
I used e-plus2 to take the free upgrade to a 2 bedroom, as far out as I could, Jan 10, 2025. I now have until Monday, March 10, 2025 to make final retrade.
 
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