Interval for Dummies??

[Cathy in Boston]

Is there any way to check and see what resorts in a certain area (i.e., Aruba) are available for exchange in certain timeframes, without entering your unit into the search?? I am just curious as to whether or not anything is even available for the period I MIGHT be able to get away. I have a couple of units deposited, but I don't want to lock myself into anything yet.

???? Thanks!!

 

[gmarine]

When you log in to your II account click on Exchange, then View Your Units, then click on the Exchange tab for one of your units. You can then enter the dates and place of your search and see what is available.

 

[rsnash]

You have to select your exchangeable unit to do the search, but that doesn't compel you to actually do the exchange. There are many confirmations and exchange fees to pay before the exchange actually takes place, so no worries about doing the search.

 

[Cathy in Boston]

Okay thanks, I was really afraid once I clicked on one of the units, that was "it," lol.

 

[golf261]

Another "Interval for Dummies" question - on the II exchange page, it says I can search up to 2 years in advance, but when I change the dates to reflect that, the system only allows me a year from today's date. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[refumpcpa]

Make sure you are on the Exchange tab and not the Getaway tab.

 

[Berea1]

Searching for a trade

When you sign on to II, it always opens on the Getasway tab. I wish there was a way to change that but II said there wasn't a long time ago.

Do the search using several of your units that you have deposited with II. That way you can get an idea which one is your strongest trader and which one is the worst. Try to avoid trading your strongest as it will let you see trades that you can't see with the other ones.

Also, deposit your unit as far out as you can. For instance, I am contemplating depositing my weakest traders now for 2010 to give them just a little bit more trading power. Also, that way I can extend my time search into 2010 and even 2011, as it allows me to look at the time period two years beyond my use date in 2010.

Your time search may be limited because you are on the Getaways tab or because of the date that you deposited the unit you are limited to only one year out. I can go out to JUne, 2010 with some of my units.

Patrick

 

[icydog]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who tried to get an exchange from the Getaways screen. Now I do it by rote and click through the II site like a hot knife through butter. Of course I do searches all day long, every day, so I should be fast. :whoopie:

 

[m61376]

And if you want to look with an undeposited unit, you can use 87654321 as a fake reservation number (any 8 digit number beginning with "8").

 

[tasnam]

My first post so please go easy on me.....


Where do I enter that 8 digit number on the Interval site?

Which section?

tasnam

 

[Valleykat]

Another newbie here with a silly question. What is the point of all the searches that people do on a routine basis? We have a Marriott timeshare and use II for exchanges. We reserve the best week we can, deposit it, decide where we want to go and then request an exchange for the deposited week. It's worked for us so far. Is there something we're missing?

 

[RIMike]

II

So far anyway my experience has been with top end properties like Marriott and Royals, where I own, the trading has been excellent. But you search because sometimes every difficult places come up for a very short period of time. So like I once saw Nepal...I only wish I had been able to travel when it was available.

In my exchange experiences, some places seem a lot more difficult than others. Even so for my exchanges, I call the same guy at II to make my requests. The only one I have not gotten yet is the Winter Olympics in BC...which I doubt I will get...just too many requests.

 

[Valleykat]

So how do you get your "own guy" or gal to call that is working in your best interest? Is that likely to yield better results than simply entering your request online?

 

[tasnam]

Another newbie here with a silly question. What is the point of all the searches that people do on a routine basis? We have a Marriott timeshare and use II for exchanges. We reserve the best week we can, deposit it, decide where we want to go and then request an exchange for the deposited week. It's worked for us so far. Is there something we're missing?

Valleykat,

Can you please explain your comment to me above?

Either you are mocking me for asking my question or you are relating to me.

Also this "What is the point of all the searches that people do on a routine basis?" -How do you know if I did or did not do the searches prior to my post?

I'd like to know which so I can respond in kind.

 

[Valleykat]

I was by no means mocking you Tasnam. I have been on this forum for a very short while and have seen frequent references in different threads to searches in that time. That is what my remark about a routine basis was referring to. Since this thread was titled Interval for dummies, and I was ignorant about them, I thought it was an appropriate place to bring it up. There was no sarcasm intended. I really wanted to know why and when people search and if I should be doing it. Since the subject of searches comes up so often, I felt it might be perceived as a silly question by some more experienced TUGers.

 

[Valleykat]

After I posted my response, I noticed that Tasman thought my reply was directed personally at him. It wasn't. It was just a contribution to the thread based on the fact that the topic of searches was being discussed. No offense intended.

 

[spatenfloot]

I was by no means mocking you Tasnam. I have been on this forum for a very short while and have seen frequent references in different threads to searches in that time. That is what my remark about a routine basis was referring to. Since this thread was titled Interval for dummies, and I was ignorant about them, I thought it was an appropriate place to bring it up. There was no sarcasm intended. I really wanted to know why and when people search and if I should be doing it. Since the subject of searches comes up so often, I felt it might be perceived as a silly question by some more experienced TUGers.

People search often because sometimes very desirable trades come up for only short periods of time. If you don't know exactly where you want to go, it can help you decide if you see a nice place pop up. That is how I got London (inside the city) for New Year's week once. Luckily, I took it because that timeshare won't be available anymore in the future (Sunterra).

 

[Valleykat]

Thanks Mike and Spatenfloot. That is what I was thinking, but I wanted to be sure it wasn't something I needed to be doing since so many seem to approach their trades that way. Still trying to figure this whole game out. I'm learning a lot here.