Question about II membership

[Cyndy]

We have been members of II since purching our first timeshare 3 years ago. We have only exchanged once, as we enjoy returning to Hawaii every year.

This week we got our renewal notice from II. My question is this, can we drop it for a year or two and then rejoin? Since we will probably only exchange every 2-3 years, we really don't reap any benefit from belonging in those off years. Just curious if you can drop and rejoin or if they frown on that.

Thanks.

 

[Dave*H]

I'm sure they would rather have you remain a member, but they will also be happy to have you (and your money) back when you decide to rejoin.

 

[gmarine]

We have been members of II since purching our first timeshare 3 years ago. We have only exchanged once, as we enjoy returning to Hawaii every year.

This week we got our renewal notice from II. My question is this, can we drop it for a year or two and then rejoin? Since we will probably only exchange every 2-3 years, we really don't reap any benefit from belonging in those off years. Just curious if you can drop and rejoin or if they frown on that.

Thanks.

I believe you can do that but it can present problems because you have to be a member at the time you make an exchange and at the time you travel on an exchange.

So for example if you want to make a request this year for an exchange next year you would need to be a member during both time periods. And since it is cheaper per year for multi year memberships it may work out better to do that than renew one year at a time.

By being a member you also get access to Getways which can be very good at times.

 

[Cyndy]

That's a good point about having to belong this year in order to exchange the following year. I had not thought of that. So much for trying to save a few bucks one year!

 

[sfwilshire]

Clearly the favored TUG solution to this is to just buy more weeks.

Sheila

 

[Bill4728]

You can also join one of the many alternate exchange companies. For example, SFX doesn't charge you for its Gold membership until you do an actual exchange. They also have great last minute rentals available called their sell off list.

Good Luck

 

[debraxh]

I like Bill's idea. I wouldn't remain an II member if I didn't exchange at least one property every year.

If SFX will accept your week it would be a lower cost alternative. If they don't there are other independent exchange companies, I'm just not as familar with them.

Good luck.

 

[Dean]

II lists a fee to rejoin, I think it's $120. I don't know how well they enforce it.

 

[brucecz]

This fall we renewed and got 2 years of II for the price of one year.

Bruce

 

[brucecz]

Thanks for the great advice. I will try and find another CMV UDI to buy seeing that I did not win that ebay CMV UDI auction tonite.

Bruce

Clearly the favored TUG solution to this is to just buy more weeks.

Sheila

 

[tashamen]

II lists a fee to rejoin, I think it's $120. I don't know how well they enforce it.

I've never heard of this fee. II didn't charge me anything to rejoin after a year or two when my membership had lapsed. I also recently got a deal of 3 years for the price of 2 to renew.

 

[Judy]

Alternate exchange companies

You can exchange through these without paying membership fees:
SFX if they except your week;
Dial an Exchange.
There is also an exchange company that specializes in Hawaii. I don't know much about that one. Perhaps someone else can give you details.

 

[Kola]

Check out http://www.htse.net/web/index.php

They also offer specials without your deposit.

Kola

 

[buzzy]

You can also join one of the many alternate exchange companies. For example, SFX doesn't charge you for its Gold membership until you do an actual exchange. They also have great last minute rentals available called their sell off list.

Good Luck

I was actually thinking of that myself, but I own Marriott and thought I would lose the advantage of the 31 days or whatever it is that Marriotts have trading priority to other Marriotts. I own odd years and had the same concern with II however I just signed up today for 5 years because it makes the per year less. I figured also that I don't have to worry about the cost going up plus it would have been difficult to juggle the whole "need to be a member when you deposit and when you travel." I think the timing would have been difficult. I will tell you that I am wondering if I made the right decision.

 

[Dean]

I've never heard of this fee. II didn't charge me anything to rejoin after a year or two when my membership had lapsed. I also recently got a deal of 3 years for the price of 2 to renew.

It says something like if you don't renew within 90 days of expiration, you may be charged a fee to rejoin in my Marriott II book. I went on II's website under legal info (link at the bottom) then disclosure statement. It now says $200 to reinstitute an expired membership in the second column of page 9 of the "Buyers Guide", the very last sentence under Fees #1. The last time I looked at it I am thinking it was $120. So I guess they've increased it fairly recently. I can send you the pdf if you'd like.