Set Up My Separate Welk II Account

[WalnutBaron]

Last week I set up my Interval International account attached to my Welk ownership. I've never really liked RCI, so Welk's recent move to affiliate with RCI was not welcome news for me. Regardless, I was glad that Welk still offers the flexibility to be able to deposit into II.

The process was NOT smooth, so getting an account like this set up takes some doing.

Here was my experience:

• I first called Welk (after a 45-minute hold time to get to an Owner Services rep) to get instructions on how to set this up. The rep said I needed to contact II, pay for the new account, and then link the account to my Welk ownership using my owner number.
• I then called II and got the account set up with them, but they did have difficulty linking to my home resort, which is Welk San Diego (Escondido). Not sure why it was so difficult for II, but got it done.
• I then had to call Welk back, give them the new II account number, and request that 120,000 points be deposited as one week into II. This became something of a fiasco with Welk Owner Services because I also have an II account which is attached to my ownership of two fixed weeks with Hyatt Residence Club. For a couple of days, Welk was trying to deposit my Welk week into my Hyatt account, which would have been a major problem.
• Finally--after about five days of emails and phone calls--the Welk week got deposited into the right account and all is well.

I share this because--even though Welk advertises to its owners that they can still deposit into both II and RCI--it's clear that Welk hasn't done much to properly train their personnel in how to make an II deposit, and it definitely cannot be done online.

P.S. The reason this whole exercise was important to me is that Hyatt does not allow Hyatt owners to deposit Hyatt weeks into II and then trade back into Hyatt. Not only that, but Hyatt owners cannot even get visibility on Hyatt Getaway weeks on II. With my Welk week deposited, I now can see Hyatts as well as the Marriotts, Westins, and other high value weeks I search for.

 

[Sapper]

That's a lot to go through to get Hyatt visibility. How's the view? To be clear, I'm asking as a Hyatt owner who has no idea how much Hyatt inventory II is now dumping into the exchange and getaway portion.

I had been eyeing a non-hotel connected time share that supposedly trades well in II specifically so that when it is not used, I can exchange... or use the getaway stuff in order to get back into the Hyatt's which I am currently excluded from knowing about.

 

[WalnutBaron]

That's a lot to go through to get Hyatt visibility. How's the view? To be clear, I'm asking as a Hyatt owner who has no idea how much Hyatt inventory II is now dumping into the exchange and getaway portion.

I had been eyeing a non-hotel connected time share that supposedly trades well in II specifically so that when it is not used, I can exchange... or use the getaway stuff in order to get back into the Hyatt's which I am currently excluded from knowing about.

You'd be surprised, Sapper. I'm seeing a lot of availability--less so on Getaways (though they do exist) but particularly on Exchanges, where I currently see HMS in April, May, August, Sept, and Oct; HBK over roughly the same calendar; HPP, HYS, HWP, and HYB in July. Nothing for Carmel, Siesta Key, Ka'anapali, or some of the other more popular venues, but this was just a snippet's check on a random Tuesday morning. Compared to what I'm used to (without Hyatt visibility), it's a nice view

 

[krj9999]

I'd have to disagree, but may vary by resort. I see lots of Getaways for HWP and HPP for example. And you caught a deposit cycle for July - most exchange weeks don't last long. Getaways won't disappear nearly as fast.

You'd be surprised, Sapper. I'm seeing a lot of availability--less so on Getaways (thought they do exist) but particularly on Exchanges, where I currently see HMS in April, May, August, Sept, and Oct; HBK over roughly the same calendar; HPP, HYS, HWP, and HYB in July. Nothing for Carmel, Siesta Key, Ka'anapali, or some of the other more popular venues, but this was just a snippet's check on a random Tuesday morning. Compared to what I'm used to (without Hyatt visibility), it's a nice view

 

[Sapper]

You'd be surprised, Sapper. I'm seeing a lot of availability--less so on Getaways (though they do exist) but particularly on Exchanges, where I currently see HMS in April, May, August, Sept, and Oct; HBK over roughly the same calendar; HPP, HYS, HWP, and HYB in July. Nothing for Carmel, Siesta Key, Ka'anapali, or some of the other more popular venues, but this was just a snippet's check on a random Tuesday morning. Compared to what I'm used to (without Hyatt visibility), it's a nice view

Any suggestions for a trader resort which has good trading power (I'm still learning about II)?

I was thinking of a Poste Montane week 7 for use on the good snow years and trade on the not so good years, but only know what I have found on TUG and have seen the exterior when in Beaver Creek in the past.

 

[krj9999]

Answer may partly depend on where you want to travel to. PMT week 7 has highest TDI in II, but won't have any internal preference periods like Marriott and Vistana would.

Any suggestions for a trader resort which has good trading power (I'm still learning about II)?

I was thinking of a Poste Montane week 7 for use on the good snow years and trade on the not so good years, but only know what I have found on TUG and have seen the exterior when in Beaver Creek in the past.

 

[Sapper]

Answer may partly depend on where you want to travel to. PMT week 7 has highest TDI in II, but won't have any internal preference periods like Marriott and Vistana would.

Thank you for the info. I looked at both of these systems a couple of years ago, prior to buying the Hyatt. Perhaps I should look again now that I understand time shares a little better now.

 

[lilliand]

I have been an Interval member for years and purchased a 5 year Interval platinum membership just prior to Welk announcing the change to RCI. I talked to both Welk and Interval after the change was announced and was told that if I banked with Interval I would still receive the bonus certificate. I little while later I found out through Interval that although I had Platinum membership my Basic membership that Welk had been paying for would soon be expiring and I also needed to renew that which I did. A couple of weeks ago I banked a week with Interval. Since then I have talked to several reps at Welk and Interval on the phone trying to figure our why the bonus certificate still wasn't showing on the website. Welk said that bonus week needs to come from Interval and they have nothing to do with it. After being on hold for quite some time Interval told me it should be there within 3 days. It wasn't. I called again last night and after being on hold a long time again I was informed that not all banked weeks receive the bonus certificate. We have to bank certain weeks/ locations. Just want Welk / Interval owners to be aware of this.