I've done a fair amount of investigation in this area comparing to RCI and rental prices for condo's in the past. RCI is more transparent than II in this area and while it's likely not an exact comparison, it has to be very close. One thing that RCI does (besides being more transparent) is it sets trade power more resort by resort while II tends to do more community ratings. II does tend to have resort quality as a separate somewhat independent factor and HL & WR & ? MC is slightly lower rated than the others I'd consider trading resorts. When I think of trading resorts I'm thinking GV, HL, WR, GC, Branson all Platinum plus gold at the desert resorts. Some have been able to get desert Platinum cheaply enough that I'd include it in that group if so.
My criteria for a "trading week" in the Marriott system is lower purchase price, lockoff, and lower fees. I consider a Thursday check in and the FL Club option as plusses. Now there is still some variability in terms of Maintenance fees with the desert weeks pushing this area, esp DSV I. Other considerations are a resort one might use and whether they might enroll in the future (Big plus for LV & Neg for WR). One should consider whether they might own other MVC weeks now or in the future and if so, they want to consider something that will work together to take advantage of the 13 month reservation option. LV has the broadest Platinum season so it's a major plus if one thinking's they might buy something else in the future either to use or as another trading week but don't know what resort in addition to having the highest points if one enrolls. Another plus for LV is the 3 BR trades as a 1 & 2 BR while GV 3BR trades as a studio and 2 BR though generally speaking it's probably better to get two 2 BR than a 3 BR for this situation. Other FL Club resorts might be a consideration if one will use them part of the time or mostly use the FL Club options.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Ultimately it's just a thought process and basic information but it goes on the principle that we don't know what we don't know or haven't thought about for the issue at hand. I'm glad it's working out well for you.
You should be able to get a good week but likely not the best week. In part it may depend on how long the transfer takes to get into your name. $305 and not having to pay dues on this years week is about the best you'll do. Congratulations, I hope it works out well for you.
) Barony (end of august), Lakeshore (re-traded), SF Pulse (canceled due covid), Westin Princeville (re-traded), Harbour Point at Shelter Cove (June 2021) and Sunset Pointe @ Shelter Cove (re-Traded) all out of open inventory but all summer weeks. So far I'm happy as I did all this with the unit locked off trading the studio and 1 bed for a two bed a Barony and a two bed at sunset point. As I said above I'm happy and am thankful for your input Dean, Its working well for me but I only wanted access to Marriott and II and decided this was the best way for me to accomplish that.It's a crazy year and I don't think we can use current trades as an indication. I traded studio & 1 BR from WR to 4 Grande Ocean 4th of July weeks this year and even got a GO week using a non Marriott. Historically I don't think any of these trades would have happened without the current weirdness. I've had ongoing searches for GO for the week we've gone over the past 20 years or so and the only times I've gotten matches were either short notice (2X under 30 days) or one time when I had a VIP search because II messed up and canceled an ongoing search they shouldn't have. Truthfully I think the latter issue was a vindictive II employee. They cold called me and when I said I'd hold out for GO, they said I'd have no chance of success and proceeded to make it so by canceling the search without permission or even discussion. When I realized what had happened a few weeks later and they went back and listed to the call, they admitted it should not have been canceled but obviously they weren't going to give me any employee specific information. II keeps sending me an email that they've found something for my search next year for GO but it's HP for the same dates, I never plan to stay there again if I have other choices.I've had decent luck with WR I've gotten Kauai beach club (3 different trades, we did not get to go and I know its not your favorites
All but one of the HHI trades were very much COVID impacted but the rest happened in 2019 before all the crazy so Hawaii, Orlando and SF trades were not COVID impacted but as they say in the market past experience is not an indicator of future performance
. I'm still happy as I expect to use this week longer term in retirement with a lot more date flexibility and I generally take what's offered and feel fortunate so my expectations are well in check (that Sheryl Crow line "Its not getting what you want, it wanting what you have" feels like important wisdom to me ).
You can get to the II Directory and thus the TDI chart without being a member on II's website.
Clearly mine were. KBC hasn't been a difficult trade in my experience as it pops out routinely when I've been looking. Orlando is almost always easy with planning. SF likely had bulk deposits. So exchanges that as a group likely aren't that difficult even if not Covid related. Barony likely Covid related and might not have matched on a normal year if my MGO experience is any indication. To expand on my thoughts for KBC. I wanted to like it since I had fond memories of staying at the property pre Marriott when it was the Kauai Surf. $79 per night for a room and compact car was a pretty good deal. But we didn't like it, we really didn't like it to the point we both agreed we'd rather have come home and cut our vacation a week shorter rather than stay there. I think it was a combination of being older, poor unit design on the conversion and limited food options without driving (compared to Maui). HMMV.All but one of the HHI trades were very much COVID impacted but the rest happened in 2019 before all the crazy so Hawaii, Orlando and SF trades were not COVID impacted but as they say in the market past experience is not an indicator of future performance
the pulse was a bulk, the one HHI pre covid was Harbor point which does show up some as its not one of the big three, Barony was clearly a covid cancel and KBC was a chance to visit Kauai this summer but the fact that I saw it 3 times in open inventory suggests your assessment is shared by others . I do see Lakeshore (and the other Orlando resorts) often in inventory, I'm trading and know I need to be flexible (which is something anyone getting a trading week needs to remember). I generally use my DVC and or RCI points to do longer term planning and think about this Marriott week as providing opportunistic vacations to mostly great resorts. HHI is a driving vacation for us and longer term (at least up until now) not an important destination (but over time I could see my wife and I going fall or spring) With my wife's air travel concerns the opportunity to go this summer works well for my family but if summer HHI was important to us I'd buy something there.I've been very happy trading internally but I do have tempered expectations, get the best weeks, deposit early and request early. I also try to make sure that my deposits are far enough in advance that if I don't match, I'll have additional options the last year or so. Also, if I do trade for something shorter notice or that might be easier, (Orlando) I am careful to pick which deposit I use. The more advanced planning and flexibility, the better. We're often not overly flexible as we often have a larger trip planned or reservation direct then we swap the exchanges into the spots where we have points or week reservations either kicking the points down the road to use again later or to take a weeks reservation and either rent or take points depending on the specifics. I do general planning for trips 2-3 years out and make weeks reservations 13-15 months out and points reservations at 13 months out when possible and at 12 months out when we need to.You've got that about right
Us, too. I love those units. If I sold everything, those would be the ones I would keep for the trades. Plus, I love the resort.
