II Points/Short Term Stays in Mid-Atlantic Area, Exchanging Question Related to Expected Purchase

[escanoe]

I am still plotting (glacial pace looking for a bargain) my entry into owning an II affiliated timeshare. All past experience is RCI & HGVC.

I am torn between getting a good trader in II weeks versus something in the HRC system that can trade in points through the II portal and be a fairly good trader.

I am wondering if an II points portal will give me any options vs having a 4BR that will lock-off onto two sides and trade in weeks. Due to family/work/school schedule we often do some long weekend trips for places such as Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. Do many/any of the II affiliated timeshares there have short stay availability? Will I be at an advantage trying to make such trades through an II points portal versus a weeks account? Thanks for any advice anyone may have.

 

[tschwa2]

You would have almost no advantage of using a points portal vs a weeks account. With a weeks account a single deposit would get you 2 short stays which could be up to nights. With points weekends cost more so a full week of points would probably only get you two 3 night stays.

Virginia Beach is usually only available during off season and often in smaller units. Williamsburg is available shoulder and off and even some primer periods though short stay.

II usually only makes locations and dates with an over abundance of inventory available for short stays.

I have searched many times for short stays but have never used them because I haven't seen anything worth my time. I do have a late deposit which is ineligible for ongoing searches and can normally only be used to book 59 days or fewer that I may be using for 2 short stays if there is anything that I or any family members can use.

 

[escanoe]

Is there usually much inventory available on II for the Marriott (Ford's Colony) at Williamsburg?

I may not be overly impressed with the grandeur of the Virginia Beach VSA Resorts using RCI Points, but they are good enough and if you book about 7 months out or more they have good availability. I an thinking I may still like my RCI points account more than II once I am in it, but I am thinking having eggs in two baskets may give me more choices.

 

[hjtug]

I believe Ford's Colony MMC has only two bedroom units. Another section MSE also has has smaller units. We have had some success in using studio deposits for getting two bedroom units at MMC during the off season. Depositing larger units could probably have even more success. We have stayed there several times for New Year's week and recently we stayed there for a week in September.

 

[tschwa2]

Williamsburg has a lot of inventory. It isn't unusual to have non prime Manor Club available for short stays and for AC's through II. Vacation Village Williamsburg (Williamsburg Plantation), The Colonies and Kings Creek properties are more commonly seen though.

 

[escanoe]

Williamsburg has a lot of inventory. It isn't unusual to have non prime Manor Club available for short stays and for AC's through II. Vacation Village Williamsburg (Williamsburg Plantation), The Colonies and Kings Creek properties are more commonly seen though.

I have now had an II account for about four weeks. I have yet to spot any Manor Club availability. That is strange to me considering I am seeing Marriott inventory available in HHI and other places.

 

[tschwa2]

I have now had an II account for about four weeks. I have yet to spot any Manor Club availability. That is strange to me considering I am seeing Marriott inventory available in HHI and other places.

You are caught in a regional blackout. You can't see Marriott and Westgate in Williamsburg using Colonies or VV of Williamsburg.

 

[escanoe]

Now I learn abt this. Westgate is no big loss, but was hoping to try Manor Club sometime. Does this restriction also apply to my certificates and Getaways or might I sometimes have options there?

I see some Westgate availability for Getaways, but not Manor Club.

 

[tschwa2]

Now I learn abt this. Westgate is no big loss, but was hoping to try Manor Club sometime. Does this restriction also apply to my certificates and Getaways or might I sometimes have options there?

I see some Westgate availability for Getaways, but not Manor Club.

Getaways and certs shouldn't be affected but Marriott's are sometimes excluded from certs. I think there just isn't any getaways right now at manor club.

 

[HudsHut]

I checked, and Tracy is right. There are many weeks for exhange, but there are no Getaways at either Marriott in Williamsburg.

 

[escanoe]

Getaways and certs shouldn't be affected but Marriott's are sometimes excluded from certs. I think there just isn't any getaways right now at manor club.

I am now seeing some Manor Club certs with the random AC that II gave me. They are not showing up on the two ACs I received when opening the account (maybe those have the same local restrictions as my deposits).

At some point I will check out Manor Club. I suspect it is probably the nicest timeshare in Williamsburg, but my kids like Kingsgate quite a bit ... and I like the geographic location of Kingsgate better.