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Is this possible?

C

carolinept

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I don't know the answer to this question so I thought I'd turn to the experts...

Friends of ours own a 2-bedroom oceanfront unit at Aruba Surf Club. They are considering bringing a large group to Disney and would need two units.

Is it possible to call the Marriott desk or their Marriott advisor and ask for two 2-bedroom units at Grande Vista (or DVC, but I thought this was unlikely) as a trade for their 2-bedroom? I didn't know if this was possible at all. Any other strategies suggested would be helpful.

Thanks!
Caroline
 
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No, they can’t reserve weeks at a resort where they don’t own. They can lock off their Aruba Surf unit into the 1BR and studio and deposit those two pieces separately with II to request two exchanges. However, they would not be able to request 2BR units since, under II policies, the requests must not be for higher private sleeping capacity than for the deposited units.

They have some choices:
  • Use two years' of Aruba Surf weeks to make the two exchange requests.
  • Request an exchange for one week and rent the other - either from Marriott or (less expensively) at one of the many online rental sites.
  • Request an exchange for one week and use Marriott Rewards points to reserve the other.
  • Reserve one or both Grande Vista weeks through Marriott (with Marriott Rewards points or a credit card) and try to confirm two exchanges, upgrading the size, with the separate 1BR and studio portions of the Aruba Surf unit during the last 59 days before anticipated check-in. If either or both exchanges are confirmed, cancel either or both of the reservations made through Marriott. This might be a good bet if the weeks requested are in the off-season.
Keep in mind that exchanges are never a sure thing. So planning on an exchange, especially two exchanges for the same week, requires a good backup plan.
 
To add to Dave's suggestion-perhaps look online on II and see what each side of the SC can pull in Orlando. Esp. the 1 BR side will be able to "see" 2 BR Orlando units. Upgrading a studio to a 2 BR outside of Flexchange is difficult, but even the studio may pull larger units depending on time of year. If you look for Orlando properties without lockout units then the studio can pull those 2 BR's.

At the same time, look at Getaway weeks on II. There are an abundance of the Marriott Orlandos there for good prices. If your friend can't exchange each side of the SC unit for a 2 BR, they can either exchange one side and get a matching Getaway for the other 2 BR or even rent their SC unit(s) and buy 2 Getaways. Summer 2 BR Getaways at Grande Vista were $464-674 and the SC weeks go for a lot more than that as rentals; winter weeks were in the $900-1000 range. There were even a few 3 BR's available. Esp. as an oceanfront owner, I would think renting their Aruba unit (either as a 2 BR or separately) and buying Getaway weeks would be far more profitable. On reality, they could probably cover the cost of their Getaway rentals with the rental of their studio, esp. if they are planning a summer or off-season week, and have their 1 BR either to use or trade.

btw- out of curiosity, I just checked on II to see what my Plat. SC week could pull, and even my studio side was pulling lots of 2 BR's (even Thanksgiving week, along with prime summer and winter weeks) at Grande Vista. The trick will be getting 2 weeks at the same time. I think for that you'd have to call II since as far as I can see on-line you can't see if there are multiple units for the same check-in days, unless coincidentally there is a unit both at MGV and MGR, since Grande Vista has the 2 codes. I would assume other of the Orlando resorts would be able to be seen as well.
 
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m61376 said:
To add to Dave's suggestion-perhaps look online on II and see what each side of the SC can pull in Orlando. Esp. the 1 BR side will be able to "see" 2 BR Orlando units. Upgrading a studio to a 2 BR outside of Flexchange is difficult, but even the studio may pull larger units depending on time of year. If you look for Orlando properties without lockout units then the studio can pull those 2 BR's.

At the same time, look at Getaway weeks on II. There are an abundance of the Marriott Orlandos there for good prices. If your friend can't exchange each side of the SC unit for a 2 BR, they can either exchange one side and get a matching Getaway for the other 2 BR or even rent their SC unit(s) and buy 2 Getaways. Summer 2 BR Getaways at Grande Vista were $464-674 and the SC weeks go for a lot more than that as rentals; winter weeks were in the $900-1000 range. There were even a few 3 BR's available. Esp. as an oceanfront owner, I would think renting their Aruba unit (either as a 2 BR or separately) and buying Getaway weeks would be far more profitable. On reality, they could probably cover the cost of their Getaway rentals with the rental of their studio, esp. if they are planning a summer or off-season week, and have their 1 BR either to use or trade.

btw- out of curiosity, I just checked on II to see what my Plat. SC week could pull, and even my studio side was pulling lots of 2 BR's (even Thanksgiving week, along with prime summer and winter weeks) at Grande Vista. The trick will be getting 2 weeks at the same time. I think for that you'd have to call II since as far as I can see on-line you can't see if there are multiple units for the same check-in days, unless coincidentally there is a unit both at MGV and MGR, since Grande Vista has the 2 codes. I would assume other of the Orlando resorts would be able to be seen as well.
Click to expand...

Could you post what you find for the summer months? I am signing a contract for a Gold Surf Club today and am very interested to see what a 1 bedroom can pull in the summer. For example, next summer I would like to go to NVC. I wonder if a one bedroom SC could pull that (non-flex)? Thanks
 
IMHO, Locking off the units then trading each side is your best option.

Before trading the one bedroom ( you'll be able to get a 2 br for this without much trouble) use the studio and see if you can get a 2 bd unit. You're not likely to be able to trade into GV but the 2 bd only resorts may be possible. (I can see them with my Club Intrawest studio.) Then after getting an unit with the studio get a second unit with the 1 bd.

Good Luck

PS If you really want GV and can't get a 2 bd with your studio, get a 1bd and then use II getaway to rent a studio. GV will "put them together" for you if they can.
 
Try to get an AC for the 1BR side

If your friends decide to lock off and deposit with II, make sure to reserve a strong week that is eligible for an accommodation certificate (AC).

That way, they will have 3 units available for making reservations at Grande Vista.

GL
Grace
 
gvdelizo said:
If your friends decide to lock off and deposit with II, make sure to reserve a strong week that is eligible for an accommodation certificate (AC).

That way, they will have 3 units available for making reservations at Grande Vista.

GL
Grace
Click to expand...

That is true, an AC is often able to pull a week in Orlando.
 
Bill- my SC plat. studio pulled several 2 BR Grande Vistas through the winter (both MGV and MGR).

Jim- I assume you meant NCV. Online now there are no summer months available. I can see just about every week from Oct. through Feb. with my 1 BR, into March with my 2 BR and nothing with my studio side. I think pulling a 2 BR with the studio in the off season will be doeable but not so far in advance. NCV in summer, which you want, is a hot trade and probably gets nabbed pretty quickly. Given the high trade power of Aruba and the fact that there are only 2 BR's, I would venture to guess you will likely be successful if you put in an ongoing request with your 1 BR, esp. if you give several weeks to search for. Unless you search several times a day you probably won't just see it sitting there (at least not for long). Congrats on your purchase.
 
Dave M said:
No, they can’t reserve weeks at a resort where they don’t own
Click to expand...

This is not what I meant. I do know that you cannot just call up and request weeks where you do not own. I was simply wondering if it ever occurred where if you own at a high-demand resort and reserve a high-demand week, that Interval ever would offer for that week two units at a resort with a lot more availability. KWIM?

I think splitting is the way to go as well. Thank you for confirming this.
 
carolinept said:
... I was simply wondering if it ever occurred where if you own at a high-demand resort and reserve a high-demand week, that Interval ever would offer for that week two units at a resort with a lot more availability. KWIM?
Click to expand...

When you deposit a high value week II gives you an AC. That's the closest you'll get to a 2 weeks for 1 week deposited deal.
 
m61376 said:
Bill- my SC plat. studio pulled several 2 BR Grande Vistas through the winter (both MGV and MGR).

Jim- I assume you meant NCV. Online now there are no summer months available. I can see just about every week from Oct. through Feb. with my 1 BR, into March with my 2 BR and nothing with my studio side. I think pulling a 2 BR with the studio in the off season will be doeable but not so far in advance. NCV in summer, which you want, is a hot trade and probably gets nabbed pretty quickly. Given the high trade power of Aruba and the fact that there are only 2 BR's, I would venture to guess you will likely be successful if you put in an ongoing request with your 1 BR, esp. if you give several weeks to search for. Unless you search several times a day you probably won't just see it sitting there (at least not for long). Congrats on your purchase.
Click to expand...

Hopefully it will pass ROFR, althought Marriott taking my units is becoming common place it seems. Thanks for the information. I figure I will need to use the 2 bedroom to get places like Hawaii or HH beachfront, but I was hoping to be able to use a one bedroom trade for most other 2 bedroom units in the summer months so I can keep the studio either for myself or to rent.
 
So Jim,

Tell us what type of unit you bought and the price you got it for. And congrats, you purchased a GREAT place.
 
JimIg23 said:
Hopefully it will pass ROFR, althought Marriott taking my units is becoming common place it seems. Thanks for the information. I figure I will need to use the 2 bedroom to get places like Hawaii or HH beachfront, but I was hoping to be able to use a one bedroom trade for most other 2 bedroom units in the summer months so I can keep the studio either for myself or to rent.
Click to expand...

Well, if this one doesn't pass hopefully the next one will; I had one nabbed too, so I know the feeling.

If you look at the II sightings on Timeshareforums.com, Angela posts daily sightings using her 1 BR side of her Platinum SC unit (It is the Interval International Exchange Forum and ArtsieAng is the poster; you have to be a member and have 15 posts to see the forum). She sees lots of exchanges; made me anxious to close so I could join II and see what it could pull. Then, we went to Aruba and had such a great time that I don't want to trade it for next year at least :doh: ...I think that's why people say you can't stop at one.:rolleyes:
 
m61376 said:
Well, if this one doesn't pass hopefully the next one will; I had one nabbed too, so I know the feeling.

If you look at the II sightings on Timeshareforums.com, Angela posts daily sightings using her 1 BR side of her Platinum SC unit (It is the Interval International Exchange Forum and ArtsieAng is the poster; you have to be a member and have 15 posts to see the forum). She sees lots of exchanges; made me anxious to close so I could join II and see what it could pull. Then, we went to Aruba and had such a great time that I don't want to trade it for next year at least :doh: ...I think that's why people say you can't stop at one.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...


m61376

Thanks! Angela's listing are great. She is very helpful.

Jim
 
Do a fake trade test with your 1bd and studio sides to see if you can pull a 2 bd for the timeframe you are looking. I used a fake reservation # and saw 2bd units for May 11-18, 17-24, 25-June 1, etc. Looks like I can see 2bd units for almost every week of the year, except for over the summer which I only see efficiency units. I saw about the same results with a studio unit. My lockout unit is Timberlodge. Test it and see what you come up with.
 
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