Some newbie questions????

[Captain Don]

Hello,
I'm still trying to learn this "Timeshare" game. So, if I want to deposit my Grande Vista Lockout and 1 bedroom as two seperate units, it's my understanding that if I use "deposit first" I have a three year timetable to use the units. Is there a charge for me to exchange into another Marriott property? Can I exchange for another Grande Vista property? Once I deposit the units, how do I go about finding available properties to exchange into? Do I use the II site or the Marriott site? Sorry for all the questions..and thanks for your patience. I hope I haven't confused all of you.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

another thread?

Did you intentionally start another thread, as you just started a similar one yesterday....

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85879

 

[Captain Don]

I didn't start one last night..I did start one yesterday about renting out my unit, as opposed to exchanging it. I'm sorry if I broke any protocol rules. Please accept my apology.

 

[lll1929]

Hello,
I'm still trying to learn this "Timeshare" game. So, if I want to deposit my Grande Vista Lockout and 1 bedroom as two seperate units, it's my understanding that if I use "deposit first" I have a three year timetable to use the units. Is there a charge for me to exchange into another Marriott property? Can I exchange for another Grande Vista property? Once I deposit the units, how do I go about finding available properties to exchange into? Do I use the II site or the Marriott site? Sorry for all the questions..and thanks for your patience. I hope I haven't confused all of you.

If you deposit your units into II, you have from the day of deposit until 2 yrs after your reserved week to trade. Ex: You reserved 11/21/09 - 11/28/09 checkin. You have from 11/21/08 till 11/28/11 to use the week in II.

You can trade back into Grande Vista using II but you will be charged $99.

Marriott to Marriott trades are $99. Available weeks are seen in II. The Marriott site is only used to reserve your initial week at your home resort.

Take a look at the FAQ section in the Marriott area. Dave has done a wonderful job of providing info.

 

[kjd]

Captain Don

If you lockoff your two bedroom MGV into two seperate units and deposit them with I.I. you will probably be able to trade back into MGV for a larger unit. It is true that this will cost the additional $99. However, you should be able to get a two bedroom with the studio unit as a trade if you are flexible.

That will leave you with a one bedroom to trade. You can either bank that unit for three years, trade back into MGV for another two bedroom week or trade for a TS at another location. If you made a developer purchase another option available is to convert the two bedroom unit into Marriott Reward points thereby avoiding I.I. altogether and the $99 charge. The points can be used to stay at a Marriott hotel.

No matter what your decision you must still pay the annual maintenance fee.

 

[Captain Don]

OK..it's starting to come together

Now, If I want to use my lockout unit for a desired week, either at my home resort or at a Florida club resort, can I just book it as I normally do through Marriott with no charge? Then I'm thinking I could deposit the 1 bedroom with II and have that to try and trade up within the next few years. This should only cost me one $99 fee, correct? Wow...this is like going back to school!!!

 

[Dave M]

Yes, with one qualification. Trading up to a bigger unit has a hurdle. If you deposit (for example) your 1BR portion with II, you can't request an ongoing exchange for a 2BR or 3BR unit. II doesn't allow that. However, you can search online at II's site and if one comes up while searching with your 1BR, you can confirm it.

Conversely, for difficult exchanges (e.g., to any Marriott resort in peak season or for another peak week), it's usually best to formally submit your exchange request to II. Why? Because when weeks are deposited, II first matches them to ongoing exchange requests in its system that meet II's comparable exchange criteria. The leftovers, after those requests are filled, are what you can see online when you search with your 1BR week.

Incidentally, when you deposit your week, don't just tell Marriott, "I want to reserve a week starting 11/21/09 with my lockout and please deposit the 1BR with II." Be sure to reserve the very best week (the week you believe others will clamor for) with that 1BR. Then deposit it with II. If you don't reserve a specific week for that 1BR, Marriott can deposit any week it wants for you and it will likely be a week with less trading power than if you reserve a strong week yourself.

 

[Captain Don]

Thanks Dave..another question.

When you say ask for a specific week when I deposit my 1BR, do I use the deposit first option or the request first option? Thanks in advance.

 

[GetawaysRus]

Dave is referring to the Travel Demand Index (TDI). If you go to the Interval International website (or look in the book that Interval mails you), you will find a chart showing travel demand for different regions.

You own at Grande Vista. So look up the TDI Index for Grande Vista (the Orlando index) under the Resort Directory tab on the Interval website. Click on the "Travel Demand Index" link and there it is. (Or find it in the Interval book.) You have purchased in a particular season, which includes certain weeks each year. (On the MVCI website you should also find a chart that shows the weeks that correspond different seasons at your home resort for the next several years).

If you want to use your unit, you of course will reserve time at Grande Vista for the week you want.

When you wish to trade your unit, you may want to reserve a week during your season which shows high travel demand. This should give you greater trading power via Interval International.

 

[Dave M]

When I said "reserve a specific week", I meant reserve with Marriott; then deposit that week with II. And, as GetawaysRus suggests, use II's Travel Demand Index to help decide which strong demand week to reserve.

You can choose to deposit your week with II or use Request First. As far as I'm concerned, the only reason to use Request First is if you think you might change your mind and want to actually use the week you reserved with Marriott, especially if an exchange you want doesn't come through. If you use Request First, you don't have that three-year window for an exchange discussed earlier. Your requested exchange week can't be later than the dates of the week you are using to exchange.