Rangeley Lake Resort/II questions

[missyrcrews]

My husband and I are interested in Rangeley Lake Resort. Here are some questions that are coming up as I research. Wondering if anyone has insight.

1) The week we're looking at is an EOY "red float week." We are still about 8 years from being cut loose from the school calendar. At that point, the red flex weeks would be great....we could go anytime fall/spring. But for right this second, looking at the resort's color coded calendar, there are 2 or 3 weeks that would work for us in the red flex area. The resort says that we call a year out to reserve. Those of you who have float weeks at other places (or maybe even at this resort)...how hard is that process? Do you often get "dud" weeks that you can't use?

2) So, assuming we're assigned a week we can't use, we'd deposit it with II in hopes of getting something else. With RCI (which I've used for years) I can look to see what a particular unit/week/resort will get me for TPU's if I deposit. II seems more "blind faith" based. Is there any way to know if this resort would be a decent trader? I don't want to go to Disney...would just be looking to trade into a Feb break/April break/summer week somewhere here in New England.

3) This resort is owned by or affiliated with Festiva. I've only dealt with an independent resort, which I kind of like. Anyone have experience with Festiva?

Price is right, unit size is right, EOY is right, location/resort is right, access to II is right (gives us access to several resorts here in Maine that we've not had access to with RCI)....just the "float" concept is worrying. I'm used to having "my" week every year. Sigh. I would welcome any information you folks can give. Many thanks!

 

[WinniWoman]

Wow! You are hot on the timeshare acquisition trail lately. LOL!

Anyway, I can't help you with the Festiva question, but I will tell you that besides II and RCI, you can also use that week to exchange through the free independent exchange companies as well until which time you can use what weeks you are assigned at Rangley.

I have thought about exchanging there sometime as well, as there is always availability there in the independents for certain times of the year. I am sure you would be able to get something in New England during the April break.

I have exchanged my white floater weeks at Smuggs for red weeks (spring/fall) in New England through DAE and Trading Places without depositing first. I search all the independents when I have a float week I don't want to use at smuggs.

Years ago, when our son was in school, we exchanged all the float weeks for times when he was off. Planned ahead and made it work- no issues. Went to Williamsburg in April. Went all over the country on the white and pink off-season float weeks- mainly in summer- and some in New England, including New Hampshire (August) and Maine (Samoset in April).

And there is always the chance you could get lucky exchanging back in for the summer during those couple of weeks.

 

[mdurette]

You are correct. With II, your trade power is a bit of a secret. I have always found with II the bigger the unit, the better the week the more likely you are to find a decent exchange.

II has a travel demand index. The highest demand weeks for Rangeley are 25-33. If your float covers one of these weeks, then you should be ok for trading into New England for February and April. (actually, if you are looking for April in New England....I wouldn't even bother to trade, super cheap getaways or extra vacations via RCI or II.

As far as getting what you want with a float week. All my units are float, I just make sure when the booking window opens up, I am on the phone that day to reserve the unit. One of my resorts let me book anything and give to exchange company....the other resort gets really annoyed when I pick high demand and tell them to deposit it. Make sure you can book what you want and deposit it. If they pick the week you deposit and give you something like early December......your trade power will be terrible.

 

[missyrcrews]

Wow! You are hot on the timeshare acquisition trail lately. LOL!

Anyway, I can't help you with the Festiva question, but I will tell you that besides II and RCI, you can also use that week to exchange through the free independent exchange companies as well until which time you can use what weeks you are assigned at Rangley.

I have thought about exchanging there sometime as well, as there is always availability there in the independents for certain times of the year. I am sure you would be able to get something in New England during the April break.

I have exchanged my white floater weeks at Smuggs for red weeks (spring/fall) in New England through DAE and Trading Places without depositing first. I search all the independents when I have a float week I don't want to use at smuggs.

Years ago, when our son was in school, we exchanged all the float weeks for times when he was off. Planned ahead and made it work- no issues. Went to Williamsburg in April. Went all over the country on the white and pink off-season float weeks- mainly in summer- and some in New England, including New Hampshire (August) and Maine (Samoset in April).

And there is always the chance you could get lucky exchanging back in for the summer during those couple of weeks.

Thanks for the reminders about the independents. I check DAE fairly consistently, but haven't ever looked at Trading Places. I'll have to check that out. I've only used RCI, and have had VERY good luck with it. I am one to plan way out, and I'm a little obsessive about watching for places to go. (Dennis says I'm a vacation planning beast...is that a compliment?)

If this wasn't an every-other-year place, I wouldn't even consider it. Dennis likes to fish, as do all the kids. We like remote and quiet. Rangeley is within a couple of hours of here, which we like....long drives to get to vacation just tire everybody out! We checked into renting here a few years ago, and it's really quite pricey for a week. (We'd just come back from Lake of the Ozarks, where my family spent every waking moment fishing. They wanted that kind of vacation closer to home!)

Anyhow, waiting for another email to come back from their office, and then we'll see.

I need to just get over my fear of "floating," don't I?!

 

[missyrcrews]

You are correct. With II, your trade power is a bit of a secret. I have always found with II the bigger the unit, the better the week the more likely you are to find a decent exchange.

II has a travel demand index. The highest demand weeks for Rangeley are 25-33. If your float covers one of these weeks, then you should be ok for trading into New England for February and April. (actually, if you are looking for April in New England....I wouldn't even bother to trade, super cheap getaways or extra vacations via RCI or II.

As far as getting what you want with a float week. All my units are float, I just make sure when the booking window opens up, I am on the phone that day to reserve the unit. One of my resorts let me book anything and give to exchange company....the other resort gets really annoyed when I pick high demand and tell them to deposit it. Make sure you can book what you want and deposit it. If they pick the week you deposit and give you something like early December......your trade power will be terrible.

This is a 3 BR unit, so that sounds like it would be a positive. Weeks 26-34 are fixed weeks. I'd probably try to reserve week 25 or 35...that would be the first week school is out, or the week prior to beginning.

I will ask the question about depositing. That would make a big difference. Though in just glancing at the calendar....red flex weeks are all in times that look okay. (week 1-6, 21-25, 35-40) No early December weeks there!

Still thinking......we'll see what we decide! Thanks for your help. I knew you guys would have great input!

 

[WinniWoman]

Check RTX also. They specialize in Festiva owners, but you don't have to be a Festiva owner to use them.

Also Platinum Interchange. I have free memberships with all of them! Lol!

 

[WinniWoman]

Thanks for the reminders about the independents. I check DAE fairly consistently, but haven't ever looked at Trading Places. I'll have to check that out. I've only used RCI, and have had VERY good luck with it. I am one to plan way out, and I'm a little obsessive about watching for places to go. (Dennis says I'm a vacation planning beast...is that a compliment?)

If this wasn't an every-other-year place, I wouldn't even consider it. Dennis likes to fish, as do all the kids. We like remote and quiet. Rangeley is within a couple of hours of here, which we like....long drives to get to vacation just tire everybody out! We checked into renting here a few years ago, and it's really quite pricey for a week. (We'd just come back from Lake of the Ozarks, where my family spent every waking moment fishing. They wanted that kind of vacation closer to home!)

Anyhow, waiting for another email to come back from their office, and then we'll see.

I need to just get over my fear of "floating," don't I?!

Ha! Ha! Well, I have 2 fixed weeks and the one floater and really enjoy the floater

 

[WinniWoman]

Also, remember- with the independents- since you don't HAVE TO deposit first it is a blind trade. You can find what you want and reserve it and then call them and give them what you have. As long as it is the same number of bedrooms or less, you are good.

Last January, I exchanged with Trading Places my 2 bedroom Smuggs Nov week (blue) for a one bedroom Sept. week at Pollard Brook to go to the Highland Games.

Came about 3 weeks before the trip up and I just happened to be looking at Trading Places website again and noticed there was a 2 bedroom loft available at Pollard Brook for the same exact dates we were going. I called Trading Places and they took back the one bedroom and gave me the 2 bedroom, since that is what we gave them in the first place! Not only that, but when we got to the resort I asked if the loft unit we own in (week 31) was available for this stay and it was! So we actually got to stay in our own unit this past Sept!.