Question on Trading...Marriott Properties

[rosepointe]

I am still new to the trading strategies as we purchased to use most of our time in Aruba. I have read alot of the posts the last 8-9 months. I am still very confused.

We might be looking to trade next year but am not certain how to approach it best. We have a 2 bedroom Oceanside at the Surf Club and could split it since we might just travel alone next year. Thinking about Hawaii June-August time frame (and we would travel for several weeks so we are flexible with dates.)

I was also thinking of booking the lockoff for Thanksgiving week 2009 for the two of us and booking the 1 bedroom at the Surf in the summer to use as a trade. Since we do not need the entire unit will be have a chance at a good trade without booking our unit for 8.

I do understand that we should request first and not deposit. Is that correct?

Any suggestions as to how to approach this?

Thank You
Sue

 

[lll1929]

If I understand your question, you are wanting to know if you should do a request first or deposit first for Hawaii using your 1bdrm portion of your 2bdrm unit.

If you know, for sure, that you do NOT plan to use the week you reserved at Surf Club, do the deposit first. It will get you an AC (free week with limitations).

If you have a week that you wouldn't mind visiting Aruba, book that week, do a request first into II for Hawaii. Therefore, you can cancel your request at anytime and still go to Aruba.

I would book your 2009 lockoff for Thanksgiving week since you are sure you plan to use that week. I would book your 1bdrm for the week after Thanksgiving. You can then do the request first. If you decide to cancel your request, you will have 2 wks in Aruba booked.

If you are not interested in 2 wks in Aruba, book your 1bdrm now, deposit first into II for a greater chance of getting into Hawaii. The earlier you deposit, the greater your chances of getting your exchange.

 

[rosepointe]

Thank you Lora.

I might not have worded the question well but your answer provided most of the information I needed. I was wondering if I needed to deposit the entire unit (2Bedroom) in order to get a trade. I suppose I do not and can do just as well by locking the unit off, reserving at the Surf Club next summer and requesting a 1 bedroom next summer in Hawaii.

We would love 2 weeks of Aruba in Nov but my husband is faculty and we only get a week in Nov. We do get several in December though. We are however leaving Sun for 2 weeks. A week in our unit with our adult children and a week in a lockoff after they leave which I rented.

Do we get any priority for a good view if we deposit an oceanside (better view) vs an oceanview unit? That is not a major factor just a curiosity.

Also with respect to the AC. How do I know I will get one? I thought they only issue one if we deposit the entire unit. Am I reading something wrong somewhere? We got a card from Interval and I thought it said the entire unit at the Aruba Surf Club needed to be deposited for an AC. I will have to find the card and double check.

The last point...I have heard others say not to deposit first but request. What I am understanding from your post in that our chances improve if we deposit first. That is not a major problem for us as we travel alot and will use the week somewhere.

Thanks again.
Sue

 

[lll1929]

Do we get any priority for a good view if we deposit an oceanside (better view) vs an oceanview unit? That is not a major factor just a curiosity.

I don't know the answer to this question, sorry
Also with respect to the AC. How do I know I will get one? I thought they only issue one if we deposit the entire unit. Am I reading something wrong somewhere? We got a card from Interval and I thought it said the entire unit at the Aruba Surf Club needed to be deposited for an AC. I will have to find the card and double check.
II does mail cards regarding depositing your entire unit for an AC, but they also issue them if you do a deposit first on your 1bdrm. Read the Marriott FAQ. Dave has outlined the steps to see if you qualify for an AC.

The last point...I have heard others say not to deposit first but request. What I am understanding from your post in that our chances improve if we deposit first. That is not a major problem for us as we travel alot and will use the week somewhere.
The chances are the same regardless of deposit first or request first. The only big difference is the deposit first will get the AC and the deposit first means you lose rights to the week you deposit.

Hopefully others will chime in to answer your questions. Good Luck

 

[applegirl]

I thought you only got the A/C if you deposited the whole unit too. Maybe I'm wrong though.

If you know for sure you will not be using the lock-off at your home resort, then you might as well deposit right away. You will have up to 2 years to use it and if you do get an A/C for it, that's reason alone to go ahead and deposit it. The thing key to exchanges is to get your request in as early as possible so you "get in line" sooner rather than later.

Do your deposit and request for Hawaii ASAP. YOu have the best chance with a Marriott property of course.

 

[lll1929]

I thought you only got the A/C if you deposited the whole unit too. Maybe I'm wrong though.

If you know for sure you will not be using the lock-off at your home resort, then you might as well deposit right away. You will have up to 2 years to use it and if you do get an A/C for it, that's reason alone to go ahead and deposit it. The thing key to exchanges is to get your request in as early as possible so you "get in line" sooner rather than later.

Do your deposit and request for Hawaii ASAP. YOu have the best chance with a Marriott property of course.

Several folks including myself received ACs for depositing the 1bdrm of a 2bdrm unit. I own at Marriott Aruba Ocean Club. I am pretty sure the 1bdrm of Aruba Surf Club would qualify as well.

Only 1bdrm deposit firsts get ACs. The lockoffs will not get an AC.

 

[m61376]

II was giving AC's for all 1BR or 2 BR SC deposits through Sept. 2009, last I heard.

If you only want/need a 1BR, definitely lock-off and book the studio for Thanksgiving, if that's when you want to use it. I would recommend, however, that you book a strong week for the 1 BR, and not the week after Thanksgiving, which will not be as strong a trader as a summer week or Thanksgiving week. Also, if you book the 1BR for summer of 2009 now, you can deposit it immediately and put in your request NOW. Keep in mind that many owners deposit at the 12 month mark, so reserving this week and getting your request in will increase your chances. You might also consider trading both halves for 2 weeks on different islands next year.

As for view- II is view blind, so it doesn't matter that you deposit an OS; you don't have any better chance of getting an OV in Hawaii.

If you use both halves to reserve 2 weeks in Hawaii in advance, you can try to get a studio or 1BR over Thanksgiving in Aruba during Flexchange- something to consider.

 

[rosepointe]

Great info all. Will have to get to this when we return as I am packing now for Aruba. Since I am not 100% sure of our summer plans next year I will reserve the 1 bedroom at the Surf during the summer......request Hawaii...if we get it fine if not I will look for something else..and book our lockoff for ourselves when Thanksgiving 2009 opens up.

While I am great at travel and planning 6 weeks on the road overseas I am a novice at TS's.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Sue

 

[lll1929]

If you only want/need a 1BR, definitely lock-off and book the studio for Thanksgiving, if that's when you want to use it. I would recommend, however, that you book a strong week for the 1 BR, and not the week after Thanksgiving, which will not be as strong a trader as a summer week or Thanksgiving week.

I was looking at the Travel Demand Index for Aruba in II and week 48 which is the week after Thanksgiving has a greater demand. I though that indicates a stronger trader?

 

[Big Matt]

I've done the same thing at Manor Club Sequel.

Several folks including myself received ACs for depositing the 1bdrm of a 2bdrm unit. I own at Marriott Aruba Ocean Club. I am pretty sure the 1bdrm of Aruba Surf Club would qualify as well.

Only 1bdrm deposit firsts get ACs. The lockoffs will not get an AC.