Multiple back-to-back weeks in same city/location

[Teresa]

I don't think I.I. can do this for me because I've asked BUT what would you suggest about getting back-to-back exchanges in the same city? I get that I.I. is really not set up to 'manage' things for me (although that might be a nice feature - wink).

This is what I want to do: Stay in the same city or area for four weeks in a row. Right now I'm thinking south Florida so let's 'pretend' Ft. Lauderdale area is where I want to go (could work!). I.I. tells me to put in four exchange requests for all the dates. I have the 'inventory' (deposits) to do that. Trouble is, what happens if I get just a few of the weeks confirmed and end up 'homeless' for the other two? OR what happens if the same week comes through for more than one of the exchanges? Yes - I could refuse one of them within 24 hours.

Last year I was doing three weeks and it was a bit of a disaster. I ended up in Ft. Lauderdale (Marriott through ebay - fabulous), New Smyrna Beach (last minute - about a week before we left - through I.I. (I saw it on-line)) and ended up in North Carolina on the beach for the last week (through I.I - booked earlier when I was insane - wink).

After quite a bit of discussion between my husband and me, we decided we want to stay in the same area (instead of driving a few hundred miles between places) but are okay with changing resorts in the same general area or even units at the same resort (if we got lucky enough to stay in the same place twice in a row). We ended up talking about just renting a place from the VRBO website and forgetting about the timeshare exchange process all together which could mean my deposits (along with the costs) could expire worthless. Yes - I could gift them to someone but many of my friends and relatives know they just have to ask to use something and it would probably happen. Everyone is just too busy to vacation sometimes.

The VRBO option gives us 'the same place' guaranteed. 'Cost' would probably be about the same as four timeshare exchanges but, again, I'd lose my exchange underlying costs (so I'm paying about twice as much). Actually, renting one place direct from an owner for four weeks in a row would be less per week than renting four different places.

I KNOW there are some tuggers out there who have done similar things. Tell me how you did it!

 

[tschwa2]

With interval, you can book a request for the general time period and then call and have them link, or wait until you get one match and then call and modify the others. I know they will do this for 2 weeks but I don't know how it would work for 4.

What time of the year are you looking at. If you want really any Florida, other than Orlando but especially S Florida during snowbird season, you are going to have a tough time getting one good exchange let alone 4 weeks in a row in the same area.

If you haven't already deposited you may want to rent you own weeks and then just rent when and where you want. Even if you don't profit or even lose a little money in the transaction (rent for a little less than MF) you are still ahead of just renting and depositing and letting your deposits expire.

If you are looking at off season like non holiday Oct-Dec then you might have a shot at exchanging 2-4 weeks and then renting any stray weeks you need.

 

[Teresa]

Thanks for the response

Thanks for the input. I guess expecting II to come through with four exchanges in the same place for four weeks in a row is a pipe dream for nearly anywhere that is warm during February.

I actually have had requests 'expire' (so I get money back - sheesh). I've had a request in for just one week for several months and it's still sitting there - waiting. I understand that many 2016 weeks may not even hit exchange companies until early 2016 when maintenance fees are billed and paid. Sorta stuck here.

DH and I have talked about South Padre Island. Decent inventory right now on VRBO - nothing with II at the moment. Has anyone done the 'snowbirding' thing to South Padre Island, TX? Experience?

Thanks!

 

[sfwilshire]

If any of your resorts are dual-affiliated, I would suggest joining RCI and putting some weeks there also. That would increase your odds. We have managed to book longer vacations as you describe, though never in February since that isn't an option for us. We have RCI Weeks, RCI Points, and II.

We booked three weeks in Hawaii on three islands, and four weeks in the UK with only one of them a rental (England/Scotland/Wales). We have also booked multiple adjacent weeks in New England and Eastern Canada.

When we try to plan such a trip, we book the hardest location first. For example, we booked Maui first for our Hawaii trip and then searched for other weeks around it. Since you want to stay in one place, I would book the hardest week first. In February, that is probably the holiday week.

The E-Plus option will be helpful in II. It won't be easy, but you may be able to pull this off.

Sheila

 

[vacationhopeful]

Perhaps you need to REBALANCE your timeshare portfolio .... really ... between MFs, 2 exchange company memberships PLUS the exchange fees PLUS the every year battle to get warm... start over with your ownerships.

I truly do NOT expect MORE inventory in exchange companies to appear as the "Babyboomer" generation decides the frozen wasteland is NOT for them between late December thru late March.

And I am already getting serious inquiries for 2016... starting LAST MONTH.