Today's Experience with II

[b2bailey]

For years now Marriott has suggested (at owner's update meetings) there would come a time when Legacy Week owners would be SOL
when attempting trades through Interval.

I believe that time has come.

After 30 years as a Marriott owner, happily exchanging into many wonderful locations, today it was a bust.

I was using an e-plus 2 bedroom Marriott week with no restrictions. I set date parameter from today until 12/31/2026. Location -- ALL.
Party of 5.

I went down the list of locations in US. The best I found was:
Marriott Grand Chateau, 2 bedroom, late September
Panama City Beach, 1 BR sleeps 6, off brand, no reviews in TUG, for July 4

Everything else was off-season -- Palm Springs in the summer, Tahoe in May.

Hawaii, yes. The infamous Kahana Falls -- only in a 1 bedroom.

Makes me glad I paid Marriott to take back my low season Timber Lodge unit.
(Didn't actually pay, except for Maintenance Fees for a year I couldn't use.)

My remaining week is Newport Coast. It took me to Hawaii several times over the years.
I would be afraid to deposit it now.

 

[andre10056]

For years now Marriott has suggested (at owner's update meetings) there would come a time when Legacy Week owners would be SOL
when attempting trades through Interval.

I believe that time has come.

After 30 years as a Marriott owner, happily exchanging into many wonderful locations, today it was a bust.

I was using an e-plus 2 bedroom Marriott week with no restrictions. I set date parameter from today until 12/31/2026. Location -- ALL.
Party of 5.

I went down the list of locations in US. The best I found was:
Marriott Grand Chateau, 2 bedroom, late September
Panama City Beach, 1 BR sleeps 6, off brand, no reviews in TUG, for July 4

Everything else was off-season -- Palm Springs in the summer, Tahoe in May.

Hawaii, yes. The infamous Kahana Falls -- only in a 1 bedroom.

Makes me glad I paid Marriott to take back my low season Timber Lodge unit.
(Didn't actually pay, except for Maintenance Fees for a year I couldn't use.)

My remaining week is Newport Coast. It took me to Hawaii several times over the years.
I would be afraid to deposit it now.

If that's not a temporary outlier situation in terms of II trades, and many legacy owners start experiencing that, I would assume that legacy owner delinquency rates and/or conversions to other Marriott ownership systems would skyrocket. Which is perhaps what they want so they can "retire" all those legacy weeks.

I'm glad I sold my Hyatt Windward Pointe week 49 legacy week late last year. The ROFR papers were filed with Marriott as Marriott now owns Hyatt (?). So I'm assuming Hyatt legacy owners may face the same.

 

[davidvel]

For years now Marriott has suggested (at owner's update meetings) there would come a time when Legacy Week owners would be SOL
when attempting trades through Interval.

I believe that time has come.

After 30 years as a Marriott owner, happily exchanging into many wonderful locations, today it was a bust.

I was using an e-plus 2 bedroom Marriott week with no restrictions. I set date parameter from today until 12/31/2026. Location -- ALL.
Party of 5.

I went down the list of locations in US. The best I found was:
Marriott Grand Chateau, 2 bedroom, late September
Panama City Beach, 1 BR sleeps 6, off brand, no reviews in TUG, for July 4

Everything else was off-season -- Palm Springs in the summer, Tahoe in May.

Hawaii, yes. The infamous Kahana Falls -- only in a 1 bedroom.

Makes me glad I paid Marriott to take back my low season Timber Lodge unit.
(Didn't actually pay, except for Maintenance Fees for a year I couldn't use.)

My remaining week is Newport Coast. It took me to Hawaii several times over the years.
I would be afraid to deposit it now.

You don't need to deposit NCV to see what it would draw in open inventory. You can use a dummy reservation and see what is available. Of course, you could also do a request first with no risk for an ongoing exchange as well.

 

[davidvel]

Tried with 1BR mid (125) TDI, see MOC March studio, lots of 1BR KBCs in May, MKO studios in June, July and December, among others.

That being said, my anecdotal observation definitely sees a significant reduction in ability to trade up in size and trading power in less than 2BR. Not sure the cause, but doubt it has anything to do with sales.

 

[Hindsite]

For years now Marriott has suggested (at owner's update meetings) there would come a time when Legacy Week owners would be SOL
when attempting trades through Interval.

I believe that time has come.

Yes they've been saying that, and been completely wrong, for the 20 years they've been saying that. Don't give them the credit of saying they're "right". MVC use II as their official internal weeks exchange platform, so that isn't going away.

What has been happening, and is documented in the sightings forum, is that there is weird stuff going on with what deposits are pulling from inventory, its all over the map and not consistent enough to ID a pattern. There does seem to be more difficulty with smaller units trading up at the rate they may have done before, but they still represent great value relative to their underlying value.

You can take advantage of the great resource that TUG has and contact Mark at II to see if something is off with how your week is set up, it has been the case very occasionally.

There has also been a long time view that eplus has reduced trading power relative to an original deposit, that could be playing into things.

I'm also finding (based on very limited experience) that inventory comes through on OGS that doesn't show up in visible inventory, it could be that inventory is being held back for matching to OGS match.

The sightings forum remains full of really great exchange inventory available using MVC deposits, so I believe we remain a long, long way from validating sales lies like this.

 

[Shiba]

You don't need to deposit NCV to see what it would draw in open inventory. You can use a dummy reservation and see what is available. Of course, you could also do a request first with no risk for an ongoing exchange as well.

I’ve never done this how do you do a “dummy reservation”?

 

[dioxide45]

I’ve never done this how do you do a “dummy reservation”?

You don't really do a dummy reservation, you do a search using a dummy confirmation number. You can search II inventory without having a reservation with Marriott. Just enter an 8-digit confirmation number. Any number. I usually use 81234567.

 

[b2bailey]

You don't need to deposit NCV to see what it would draw in open inventory. You can use a dummy reservation and see what is available. Of course, you could also do a request first with no risk for an ongoing exchange as well.

Thanks for the reminder. I've never been in the position of needing to do that.
My NVC week doesn't begin until June, so can't test it before then.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am very surprised you aren't seeing Marriott's Ocean Pointe for this summer. There are still some 2 bedrooms, but I see them with my 2025 weeks, and I haven't checked with my 2026 weeks.

Marriott and II have definitely decided trading power has to be at a very in-demand resort (think platinum-season/warm beach locations in January-March). I have so-so trading power for my President's Week at Shadow Ridge Villages for 2026, but Marriott's Willow Ridge 4th of July weeks have terrible trading power. I may have to use those for Orlando only.

I loved calling II recently to have them tell me, "Not every Marriott week should be able to get Hawaii Marriott and Westin resorts."

I rented my 3 one bedrooms for President's week 2027 (and the next two weeks) to a gentleman who wants to do that each year. I am good with that. I will try to rent the studios.

The Enclaves week, I don't know what I should do with it. The one bedroom is a pretty nice accommodation. Maybe I can reserve both sides and rent them to recover MF's for 2027.

It's a shame we have to fumble about trying to figure out how to deal with these changes. II can be matter-of-fact as much as they want, but the changes are drastic to my trading power. My 2025 deposits pulled a 2 bedroom for 2/28 at Lahaina and Napili Villas with an ongoing search.

 

[Hindsite]

It's a shame we have to fumble about trying to figure out how to deal with these changes. II can be matter-of-fact as much as they want, but the changes are drastic to my trading power. My 2025 deposits pulled a 2 bedroom for 2/28 at Lahaina and Napili Villas with an ongoing search.

We've always had to guess what TP weeks have, just that its been changing a lot more for yours recently as you work the system to get very good value from your ownerships. In terms of "drastic", are you still getting good value for the deposits, even if you have to use a 2-bed to get a 2-bed, compared to the ownership cost of where you are exchanging in to?

I'm still getting good value, my low season MVC weeks are still trading up 1 to 2 seasons to resorts I want to go to when I use an OGS, and I can't rent the weeks I get for less than the maint fees of my deposit. So I hope your higher season weeks are still getting more "expensive" resorts.

 

[GrayFal]

The issue with EPlus is that what you are seeing right now is not the same as 15 minutes from now.

I recently wanted to upgrade from a studio Aruba Surf to a 1BR Surf or Ocean Club last November.
Only 2 check in dates would work w my flights and following week accommodation.
I was to the point where I really wanted this to happen so started checking II every hour or two via the app for Aruba exchanges.
The amount of inventory that changed over the one check in weekend Thursday to Monday was mind boggling.
Units would come and go and then come back.
I finally was successful after 5 days but I could not believe how much shifting inventory I saw.

I am still very successful and satisfied with my ongoing searches matching - instant exchanges using a deposited week or EPlus definitely takes more “work”.

I could have written what @hindsight said in post #5, agree with it all

 

[b2bailey]

!

I am very surprised you aren't seeing Marriott's Ocean Pointe for this summer. There are still some 2 bedrooms, but I see them with my 2025 weeks, and I haven't checked with my 2026 weeks.

Marriott and II have definitely decided trading power has to be at a very in-demand resort (think platinum-season/warm beach locations in January-March). I have so-so trading power for my President's Week at Shadow Ridge Villages for 2026, but Marriott's Willow Ridge 4th of July weeks have terrible trading power. I may have to use those for Orlando only.

I loved calling II recently to have them tell me, "Not every Marriott week should be able to get Hawaii Marriott and Westin resorts."

I rented my 3 one bedrooms for President's week 2027 (and the next two weeks) to a gentleman who wants to do that each year. I am good with that. I will try to rent the studios.

The Enclaves week, I don't know what I should do with it. The one bedroom is a pretty nice accommodation. Maybe I can reserve both sides and rent them to recover MF's for 2027.

It's a shame we have to fumble about trying to figure out how to deal with these changes. II can be matter-of-fact as much as they want, but the changes are drastic to my trading power. My 2025 deposits pulled a 2 bedroom for 2/28 at Lahaina and Napili Villas with an ongoing search.

I logged on and you were right. Many 2bedroom at Ocean Pointe.

 

[Hindsite]

I was to the point where I really wanted this to happen so started checking II every hour or two via the app for Aruba exchanges.
The amount of inventory that changed over the one check in weekend Thursday to Monday was mind boggling.
Units would come and go and then come back.
I finally was successful after 5 days but I could not believe how much shifting inventory I saw.

I can't decide whether your experience is heartening or depressing

I'd really rather not embolden the part of me that enjoys the thrill of stalking II inventory, but then it could be fun and worthwhile

There are probably worse addictions I could have...

 

[rickandcindy23]

What are my chances of an ongoing search working to get something for 2/22 from this date? I entered ongoing searches for Marriott/ Westin with Marriott/Sheraton weeks. Does anyone get anything between 16-30 days out? I assume within 15 days I will get nothing.

I am hoping to match something and then I will ask II to switch it to an eplus I have that expires at the end of March. I may just lose that week. I don't know why I didn't think that through. I had retrades still left past May but grabbed 5/9 at Disney's Saratoga Springs and the week's expiration date is 3/30/2026.

I still have the 5/9 but I cannot use the week for a full retrade past 3/30. I will quote my adorable eight-year-old granddaughter who said, "So Grandma, you're all vacationed up."