Interval International exchange fee increase 1/1/26

[klpca]

I came across this last night: fee increase and after a quick search I didn't see any information already posted. My apologies if it is old news.

The information is found by clicking the "legal" link found at the very bottom of the II website, just to the left of "customer support".

It's $10 increase per exchange for both exchanges and short stay exchanges.

REVISED PARAGRAPH 6 UNDER “FEES”6.
The exchange fee per week confirmed is US$249, plus any applicable tax, and must be paid at the time an exchange request is made. If the request is made by phone, the exchange fee maybe paid by a credit card acceptable to II or by check. Where the exchange fee is paid by check, however, confirmation will not occur until said check has been received and processed by II. Accommodations will be held for five (5) calendar days pending receipt of a check for an exchange fee. In addition, in any instance in which a Member pays a fee by check, II reserves the right to collect an administrative fee where such check is returned to II. Checks are not accepted for Confirmations with occupancy commencement dates within 30 days or less. Exchange fees will be refunded only if an exchange cannot be confirmed, if cancellation of the applicable exchange request is received by II prior to Confirmation, or if cancellation is received by II within the first 24 hours of a Confirmation’s issuance. Exchange fees will not be refunded under any other circumstances.

REVISED PARAGRAPH 7 UNDER “FEES”7.
The ShortStay Exchange fee per Confirmation is variable depending on the duration of the stayas follows:
Duration of Stay
One (1) night US$159
Two (2) nights US$169
Three (3) – four (4) nights US$179
Five (5) nights US$189
Six (6) nights US$199
These fees, plus any applicable tax, must be submitted by the Member at the time a ShortStay Exchange Confirmation is received. This exchange fee is nonrefundable. Any cancellation of a ShortStay Exchange results in the loss of the accommodations relinquished.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Marriott-Marriott, Vistana-Vistana, and Vistana-Marriott (and vice versa) increased a few months ago from $164 to $199. I assumed the exchange fees would go up for my generic resorts, of which I only own one now, and I am happy about that. But exchanging Marriott and Vistana into Disney or Hyatt is now going to be $249.

 

[dioxide45]

But exchanging Marriott and Vistana into Disney or Hyatt is now going to be $249.

I don't think that is the case. The Marriott-Marriott, Vistana-Vistana, and Vistana-Marriott have traditionally been discounted $40 off the full price. Though for a couple years they broke away from that until they realigned it by increasing the Marriott-Marriott, Vistana-Vistana, and Vistana-Marriott exchange fee to $199. It will be interesting to see if that fee goes up to $209 or if it remains the same.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't think that is the case. The Marriott-Marriott, Vistana-Vistana, and Vistana-Marriott have traditionally been discounted $40 off the full price. Though for a couple years they broke away from that until they realigned it by increasing the Marriott-Marriott, Vistana-Vistana, and Vistana-Marriott exchange fee to $199. It will be interesting to see if that fee goes up to $209 or if it remains the same.

I think I said that right. Marriott and Vistana will pay $249 to trade into Disney and Hyatt, up from this year.

 

[pedro47]

I can understand the exchange fees increased; but I hope II, are paying the states sales taxes fees, that they are now collecting to the proper state agencies.

 

[jp10558]

I can understand the exchange fees increased; but I hope II, are paying the states sales taxes fees, that they are now collecting to the proper state agencies.

I really don't understand. I still cannot fathom how the exchange process costs anywhere near $249 (or RCIs $299) to complete. I know, inflation, everything gets more expensive "just because"... I guess I have no idea what VRBO charges, so maybe this is in line - it just seems like Uber and other matching algorithms can do this sort of stuff much cheaper. It's an algorithm and a database, they're not expensive in 2025.

 

[Tuggernaut]

I guess Marriott Vacations is having slows sales of the Abound product and perhaps their off shoring of corporate staff jobs to India has not brought the savings that they expected so raising the cost of an Interval exchange to $249 is the easy solution.

 

[escanoe]

I really don't understand. I still cannot fathom how the exchange process costs anywhere near $249 (or RCIs $299) to complete. I know, inflation, everything gets more expensive "just because"... I guess I have no idea what VRBO charges, so maybe this is in line - it just seems like Uber and other matching algorithms can do this sort of stuff much cheaper. It's an algorithm and a database, they're not expensive in 2025.

It is not based on costs. It is based on what the market will bare as the two duopolists (RCI and II) set prices and try to keep their revenues high.

The internet and online processing has made transactions like this much cheaper over the past 30 years.

 

[RebelR]

I guess Marriott Vacations is having slows sales of the Abound product and perhaps their off shoring of corporate staff jobs to India has not brought the savings that they expected so raising the cost of an Interval exchange to $249 is the easy solution.

I agree that someone at corporate finally figured out that their salespeople are delusional so they had to take matters into their own hands. Attended an encore presentation today at Maui Ocean Club where I expressed interest in getting to executive by buying some Nanea options and enrolling my week at $715 like Hilton allows. Apparently they couldn’t do the enrollment because there’s no current promotion for that but they did give me an offer to buy enough Nanea home options to get there at a 25% discount for a mere $93k. When I told them that I could buy 50 more weeks at the Grand Chateau for that price the meeting quickly ended and I received no encore offer at the end. I will take it for a one hour presentation!

 

[pedro47]

LOL, $93k. Did their big lips drop when you told them that you could buy 50 more weeks at the Grand Château?

 

[RebelR]

LOL, $93k. Did their big lips drop when you told them that you could buy 50 more weeks at the Grand Château?

He didn’t have much to say other than that I would have a harder time getting to Maui through interval but I think he knew the jig was up at that point

 

[dioxide45]

It is not based on costs. It is based on what the market will bare as the two duopolists (RCI and II) set prices and try to keep their revenues high.

The internet and online processing has made transactions like this much cheaper over the past 30 years.

Even as duopolies, they kinda have monopolies in some regard as many timeshares are only affiliated with one of the exchange companies. Also, the timeshare exchange companies are very different from the likes of Uber and Lyft. There isn't nearly the same level of customer support with the ride share companies like there is with timeshare exchange. I also suspect ride share are doing far more volume of transactions compared to timeshare exchange. SO they have the power of volume. More transactions at smaller amounts vs fewer transactions at higher amounts.

 

[jp10558]

Even as duopolies, they kinda have monopolies in some regard as many timeshares are only affiliated with one of the exchange companies. Also, the timeshare exchange companies are very different from the likes of Uber and Lyft. There isn't nearly the same level of customer support with the ride share companies like there is with timeshare exchange. I also suspect ride share are doing far more volume of transactions compared to timeshare exchange. SO they have the power of volume. More transactions at smaller amounts vs fewer transactions at higher amounts.

Yea, the mini chains make it hard because they do limit the number of exchangers in the external exchanges. And with both now owned by one of the TS companies, those systems will obviously have a fixed affiliation. I'm again left with trying TUGs direct exchanges, but then I suppose for the systems you're left with the complicated rental rules, and even for the traditional week TS you have to be pretty lucky to find a 2 person exchange that works.

 

[klpca]

I am way more annoyed by resort and/or parking fees than exchange fees. This increase is two coffees-worth.

I have tried and completed some direct exchanges. Everything turned out fine in the end but it was not without some issues. One exchange, planned almost a year in advance, conflicted with some unexpected medical issues that my husband had to deal with. We really didn't know if we would be able to go until a month before departure. With Interval we would have some options - not great options, but better than no options. Another time our resort - the one that we were letting someone else use - was unexpectedly affected by construction noise in an adjacent property. We were given a weeks notice. In the end it turned out ok as I was able to get a unit reserved away from the noise and the tugger who used the week said that things were fine, but it showed me that direct exchanges work great until they don't. Interval facilitates not only the exchange, but can be useful in mitigating issues that arise in and around the exchange. Is it worth $250? I would say that depends on the person and the overall cost of the exchange.

With one of the units that I deposited into Interval, I received an AC for deposit and another for booking an exchange - so three weeks of usage for one deposit. With that particular unit, my nightly cost was under $100/night including exchange fees. I have another week that I trade in GPX and honestly the resort fees have gotten so high at our preferred property (Hanalei Bay Resort) that I am done with exchanging there. Our nightly cost was about $300 which is lower than renting a two bedroom, but not by much.

I look at the overall cost of an exchange. If I am saving a lot of money over the rental cost I am good. If I am approaching the rental cost, then it is time to reevaluate. The individual fees are just a part of the overall cost of making an exchange.