List your GREAT Timeshare exchanges here. [2009 and forward]

[The Colorado Kid]

I have owned at a small Maine TS for 10 years. I am obsessive about checking to see what is available, very flexible and have traded for:
Sheraton Atlantis
DVC - Boardwalk when it was with II
MVC Disneyland Paris
Marriott Harbor Lakes
MVC Ocean Club-During Covid
MVC- Dessert Springs
MVC- Newport Coast

RCI or II? Do you use ongoing searches?

 

[Trav02554]

II I have about half in searches and half in requests.

 

[mdurette]

I would say my 2021 exchanges were succesfull - even with alot of juggling around.

2 weeks at DVC Saratoga Spring on LM reduced TPUs of 15 each. (March and August)
Thanksgiving at Hyatt Windward Point
Week 52 at Marriott Cypress Harbor (but I am looking for a better location to eplus too!)

 

[marmite]

My best exchange of 2021 was catching a Marriott Ocean Club (Lahaina Tower) 3 bedroom in November during Flexchange. Full Oceanfront, 6th floor, just wonderful. My SDO one bedroom sure was punching above it's weight for that trade!

 

[js203]

I bought my first and only timeshare in Nov 2019 and had to stay put for all of 2020 because of the pandemic. But then in 2021, I don’t know if it was beginner’s luck or what , I had much success getting really great flexchanges. All of them are 2brs.

March Spring break : Hyatt Highlands Inn, Carmel

April: Hyatt High Sierra Lodge, Lake Tahoe . The last week of ski season, but had new snow while we were there!

May: Hyatt Pinon Pointe, Sedona . The week before Memorial Day, so glad we avoided the traffic of the long weekend. I lost $1200 to a scammer claiming he had a Sedona week to rent, but was able to snag a flexchange later on.

Sept: Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas

Thanksgiving: HGVC The Bay Club, Big Island. This was reserved with a regular RCI exchange back in 2020 when they did the bulk deposit.

And ending the year on a high note, I am at Embarc Palm Desert right now on a free AC!

 

[wed100105]

DVC switching to II will be an end of an era for us, but I am thrilled to be ending on a high note with two one bedroom units at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Kidani Village in Savannah view rooms this June.

 

[The Colorado Kid]

I bought my first and only timeshare in Nov 2019 and had to stay put for all of 2020 because of the pandemic. But then in 2021, I don’t know if it was beginner’s luck or what , I had much success getting really great flexchanges. All of them are 2brs.

March Spring break : Hyatt Highlands Inn, Carmel

April: Hyatt High Sierra Lodge, Lake Tahoe . The last week of ski season, but had new snow while we were there!

May: Hyatt Pinon Pointe, Sedona . The week before Memorial Day, so glad we avoided the traffic of the long weekend. I lost $1200 to a scammer claiming he had a Sedona week to rent, but was able to snag a flexchange later on.

Sept: Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas

Thanksgiving: HGVC The Bay Club, Big Island. This was reserved with a regular RCI exchange back in 2020 when they did the bulk deposit.

And ending the year on a high note, I am at Embarc Palm Desert right now on a free AC!

Just checking for understanding "Free AC" - are you speaking of an Accommodation Certificate from Interval? When I go thru the booking process on those it costs me $325...maybe I am doing it wrong.

 

[js203]

[mention]The Colorado Kid [/mention] With a free AC you still have to pay the exchange fee plus tax. $300 something is about right.

 

[tschwa2]

Just checking for understanding "Free AC" - are you speaking of an Accommodation Certificate from Interval? When I go thru the booking process on those it costs me $325...maybe I am doing it wrong.

Some people got "free" AC due to a resort closing due to covid. It may have been from an exchange or getaway week. Some of those had no redemption fee, others were more like replacement weeks and only the normal exchange fee applied. Other than that, AC's have a redemption fee. The price can vary but $325 would be in the ball park for most.

 

[10spro]

Thought I'd share my 2021 timeshare exchange success doing manual trades through Interval. I own 3 White weeks at Marriott DSV-I, which I split and deposit into II for 6 weeks total, then manually trade for these amazing vacations. Time and time again, Marriott salespeople try to convince me that I will no longer be able to do this, and every year I do. I'm pretty proud of my accomplishments, successful primarily because my dates are flexible, and I am able to do last minute travel.

May: Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (South), 1BR Oceanview Bldg 2, filtered ocean view through the trees (Exchange: 1BR DSV-I)
May: Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (North), 1BR Islandview Bldg 7, glimpse of the ocean through pirate ship (Exchange: 1BR DSV-I)
June: Marriott Newport Coast Villas 2BR, pretty decent golf/canyon view (Exchange: Studio)
August: Marriott Timber Lodge (Tahoe) 1BR on top floor, no view, no balcony (Exchange: 1BR DSV-I)
Sep: Westin Nanea 2BR Oceanview Bldg 2, ground floor so very limited ocean view but nice open space next door (Exchange: Studio)
Nov: Four Seasons Aviara 1BR, top floor, golf view, very nice unit (Exchange: Studio)

In all fairness, the next 2 were check-in this year 2022, but the trade was made in 2021, and too good not to include here.

Jan: Marriott Ko Olina, 2BR Penthouse Oceanview, top floor Naia Tower, traded with my lowly little White DSV-I Studio
Jan: Marriott Ko Olina, 2BR Penthouse Oceanview, top floor Naia Tower, also traded with my DSV-I Studio

 

[The Colorado Kid]

[mention]The Colorado Kid [/mention] With a free AC you still have to pay the exchange fee plus tax. $300 something is about right.

Thanks - that is my understanding as well...so in no way normally free unless a special circumstance

 

[Monykalyn]

Thanks - that is my understanding as well...so in no way normally free unless a special circumstance

no not "free" but compared with MF-it is nice to have an "extra" week for minimal cost.
We have an independent TS at Lake of the Ozarks that was gifted to us 20 years ago-MF<$700/yr(usually ~$500 but have 2 years of special assessment to update-first time we've had this), 3 bedroom treehouse villa (like Disney's Saratoga Springs but with an upstairs loft, and downstairs bed/bath as well)-
3 bedroom Cayman Islands beach front
Marriott by Disneyland Paris (the name escapes me--didn't get to use due to covid-was for May 2020)
Multiple Orlando MVC including christmas weeks, Thanksgiving weeks, summer weeks-think we've stayed at all the orlando MVC except Lakeshore. Got a 3 bedroom Grande Vista in 2020 when we drove the kiddo to UCF-Unit is HUGE.

Week 52 at Marriott Cypress Harbor (but I am looking for a better location to eplus too!)

I LOVE Cypress Harbor-probably my favorite of the MVC in Orlando. Are you wanting closer to Disney?
Perhaps the best though is the getaways available with II-can't beat 2 weeks in 2 bedroom on the beach over spring break in Cancun for <$800 last year-best "redo" of my 50th birthday ever.

 

[MichaelColey]

I got an exchange into a 3BR unit at Hyatt's Wild Oak for June! I seldom see deposits there, have never seen a 3BR, and can't remember the last time I've seen a summer unit.

We actually have a cruise that conflicts with it, and I think we're going to cancel the cruise so we can go.

 

[Mjasp]

I got an exchange into a 3BR unit at Hyatt's Wild Oak for June! I seldom see deposits there, have never seen a 3BR, and can't remember the last time I've seen a summer unit.

We actually have a cruise that conflicts with it, and I think we're going to cancel the cruise so we can go.

That’s great! May I ask, what did you exchange for it? Must be one good trader.

 

[jwalk03]

I just exchanged a Harbour Lake Studio (week 7 2023- President's Day Week) for a 1-Bedroom at Marriott's Summit Watch Park City, also for President's Day week 2023!

Just sitting there available, not through an OGS. I actually didn't even have the studio booked for 2023 yet, as I usually book July 4th week for the higher TDI, but I just couldn't pass this up so I held the Summit Watch in II, and made the reservation with MVC and grabbed it with the new reservation once it appeared again after I released it.

 

[ScoopKona]

Depending on where/when, II accommodation certificates can be a real bargain. I always seem to have one at my disposal. I used one Christmas week for a place in San Francisco. I would be lucky to get such a place on AirBnB or similar for $300 per *night*. So $300 was great.

In my experience, those certificates are only good for last-minute, spur of the moment trips -- extending a vacation you're already taking, for instance. We tacked-on SF to our week in Napa -- there was overlap because of check-in days. But Christmas in SF is more fun than Christmas at home.

 

[Mongoose]

Traded HICV into a 2BR at the Hilton Kohala for my 30th Anniversary through RCI. Also had a great trade from II into a 2BR at Marriott Shadow Ridge for spring break.

 

[Mongoose]

Just picked up a 2BR at Marriott Canyon Villas with 1300 expiring Hyatt points on II.

 

[TravelTime]

My best exchange of 2021 was catching a Marriott Ocean Club (Lahaina Tower) 3 bedroom in November during Flexchange. Full Oceanfront, 6th floor, just wonderful. My SDO one bedroom sure was punching above it's weight for that trade!

What is FlexChange?

 

[TravelTime]

no not "free" but compared with MF-it is nice to have an "extra" week for minimal cost.
We have an independent TS at Lake of the Ozarks that was gifted to us 20 years ago-MF<$700/yr(usually ~$500 but have 2 years of special assessment to update-first time we've had this), 3 bedroom treehouse villa (like Disney's Saratoga Springs but with an upstairs loft, and downstairs bed/bath as well)-
3 bedroom Cayman Islands beach front
Marriott by Disneyland Paris (the name escapes me--didn't get to use due to covid-was for May 2020)
Multiple Orlando MVC including christmas weeks, Thanksgiving weeks, summer weeks-think we've stayed at all the orlando MVC except Lakeshore. Got a 3 bedroom Grande Vista in 2020 when we drove the kiddo to UCF-Unit is HUGE.

I LOVE Cypress Harbor-probably my favorite of the MVC in Orlando. Are you wanting closer to Disney?
Perhaps the best though is the getaways available with II-can't beat 2 weeks in 2 bedroom on the beach over spring break in Cancun for <$800 last year-best "redo" of my 50th birthday ever.

Was the 3BR Cayman Islands beachfront a Morris’s property? If so which one and how did you like it? What is a week worth in one of those?

 

[TravelTime]

Thought I'd share my 2021 timeshare exchange success doing manual trades through Interval. I own 3 White weeks at Marriott DSV-I, which I split and deposit into II for 6 weeks total, then manually trade for these amazing vacations. Time and time again, Marriott salespeople try to convince me that I will no longer be able to do this, and every year I do. I'm pretty proud of my accomplishments, successful primarily because my dates are flexible, and I am able to do last minute travel.

May: Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (South), 1BR Oceanview Bldg 2, filtered ocean view through the trees (Exchange: 1BR DSV-I)
May: Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas (North), 1BR Islandview Bldg 7, glimpse of the ocean through pirate ship (Exchange: 1BR DSV-I)
June: Marriott Newport Coast Villas 2BR, pretty decent golf/canyon view (Exchange: Studio)
August: Marriott Timber Lodge (Tahoe) 1BR on top floor, no view, no balcony (Exchange: 1BR DSV-I)
Sep: Westin Nanea 2BR Oceanview Bldg 2, ground floor so very limited ocean view but nice open space next door (Exchange: Studio)
Nov: Four Seasons Aviara 1BR, top floor, golf view, very nice unit (Exchange: Studio)

In all fairness, the next 2 were check-in this year 2022, but the trade was made in 2021, and too good not to include here.

Jan: Marriott Ko Olina, 2BR Penthouse Oceanview, top floor Naia Tower, traded with my lowly little White DSV-I Studio
Jan: Marriott Ko Olina, 2BR Penthouse Oceanview, top floor Naia Tower, also traded with my DSV-I Studio

Wow some great trades esp the MKO 2BR PH ocean view. We just stayed there with DPs. You really lucked out. Was it just random that you picked a 2BR and that was the code? I wonder why MVC deposits those when they book up right away on their portal.

 

[jrb916]

Traded our every 3 year week at Stormy Point in Branson for a week at Point at Poipu!! Thanks for all the great tips found on this site. It made for a great spring break vacation.

 

[10spro]

Was it just random that you picked a 2BR and that was the code?

Random dumb luck. It was during a mini bulk deposit with many dates. I live a good life to be so lucky.

 

[mdurette]

What is FlexChange?

I believe an exchange made within 60 days of check in.

 

[TravelTime]

I believe an exchange made within 60 days of check in.

It’s impressive.