Trade into a 1BR in Hawaii then upgrading

[thinze3]

I am thinking of placing an exchange request into Maui and KoOlina for summer 2013. We want to go for 2 weeks. I will be using a 1BR BeachPlace deposit.

I know many of you take 1BR trades and then watch closely (with Tug friends' help) to upgrade that 1BR to a 2BR inside Flexchange. I think NJDave does this often.

What are the odds of making this happen. Obviously I can reserve a backup room using points or even cash. I will also place a trdae request for a 2BR using a 2BR BeachPlace deposit, but may release when the 1BR comes in.

I kind of like the thrill of the hunt.

 

[dioxide45]

It can be done. We did it with a Surfwatch reservation. You have to watch II like a hawk. Not just once or twice a day. When those weeks pop up in flexchange, they disappear fast. Keeping the II website open and clicking the Search button every ten minutes wouldn't be overkill.

 

[larue]

Lots of flex change availability shows up for Ko Olina throughout the year. I think your chances are pretty good. Maui Ocean Club is harder to find at the 2 bedroom level but it is rare when I don't score an uptrade from a 1 bedroom to either a 2 (most often) or 3 (less often though I got one the week after Thanksgiving this year) bedroom.

 

[NJDave]

I think you should have no problem getting a two bedroom at KoOlina. However, in Maui, two bedrooms are difficult to come by. You may need to accept a second one bedroom using an AC (I don't think that XYZ's are allowed in Hawaii anymore). One bedrooms do come up frequently in Maui.

I not only check for additional units or to upgrade the size of the units in flexchange but look to upgrade the view. However, it will cost an addtional exchange fee.

We (really just me as I do all the planning) are considering going next January. It will depend on what college my daughter goes to and how long her winter break is. Anyone have experience with flexchange in early January for Maui and KoOlina. Is it the same as the summer?

 

[winger]

I think you should have no problem getting a two bedroom at KoOlina. However, in Maui, two bedrooms are difficult to come by. You may need to accept a second one bedroom using an AC (I don't think that XYZ's are allowed in Hawaii anymore). One bedrooms do come up frequently in Maui.

I not only check for additional units or to upgrade the size of the units in flexchange but look to upgrade the view. However, it will cost an addtional exchange fee.

...

how does this work?
So if had a confirmed unit say OF 1bd, if I see a 2bd during flex, do I call ii to upgrade (just pay the exchange fee again, but since I being to the DC this change ends up being $0? )

Also how do I work this after hours when ii cannot be reached by phone?

 

[dioxide45]

how does this work?
So if had a confirmed unit say OF 1bd, if I see a 2bd during flex, do I call ii to upgrade (just pay the exchange fee again, but since I being to the DC this change ends up being $0? )

Also how do I work this after hours when ii cannot be reached by phone?

If II is closed and you have another week that you can confirm it with, confirm it then call II and cancel the confirmation and have them confirm it on a rexchange. If they are open, put it on an 18 minute hold and then call II.

There should be no fee to reexchange if you are enrolled in DC.

 

[winger]

If II is closed and you have another week that you can confirm it with, confirm it then call II and cancel the confirmation and have them confirm it on a rexchange. If they are open, put it on an 18 minute hold and then call II.

There should be no fee to reexchange if you are enrolled in II.

The 18 minute hold, is this a new option on one of the ii screens ? I do not remember seeing it, but again normally get confirmed with ongoing requests and do not play with my exchanges after that point.

One potential downside with this methos is if one has a 1bd ocean view, upgrading to a 2bd may result in a view downgrade (unknown at the time of the exchange bc ii normally cannot tell what view you have confirmed into)

 

[dioxide45]

The 18 minute hold, is this a new option on one of the ii screens ? I do not remember seeing it, but again normally get confirmed with ongoing requests and do not play with my exchanges after that point.

One potential downside with this methos is if one has a 1bd ocean view, upgrading to a 2bd may result in a view downgrade (unknown at the time of the exchange bc ii normally cannot tell what view you have confirmed into)

An 18 minute hold happens when you click the exchange button. You then have 18 minutes to complete the transaction.

 

[winger]

An 18 minute hold happens when you click the exchange button. You then have 18 minutes to complete the transaction.

I see. Since I am enrolled in the DC program, would I just choose to exchange using he DC points option (even though I do not have any points) just to hold the unit?

When I call the ii rep, they can 'un-hold' the reservation?

During off hours, if I do not have another week to confirm the new unit, can I choose to confirm the exchange using the DC points option (even though I have none)? I assume it takes ii a day or so to verify my DC points, but I would called to process the reexchange before that occurs. Using this method, I assume I will not have to ask ii for a points refund since the would not have a chance to use my non-existent DC points.

 

[dioxide45]

I see. Since I am enrolled in the DC program, would I just choose to exchange using he DC points option (even though I do not have any points) just to hold the unit?

When I call the ii rep, they can 'un-hold' the reservation?

During off hours, if I do not have another week to confirm the new unit, can I choose to confirm the exchange using the DC points option (even though I have none)? I assume it takes ii a day or so to verify my DC points, but I would called to process the reexchange before that occurs. Using this method, I assume I will not have to ask ii for a points refund since the would not have a chance to use my non-existent DC points.

You won't be able to use DC points to confirm a Marriott exchange in II. You can't search Marriott weeks with them. Not sure I would try to confirm with a week that I didn't already have deposited. if they are closed and you have no deposits, you may have to hope they still have the week available when they open up.

 

[Big Matt]

I'm not so sure that you will see a lot. Ko Olina is a lock off resort. Unless you get lucky, you will see a lot of 1BR and studios during flexchange. I think a better strategy would be to get a studio some other way (AC, etc.) and combine them.

 

[winger]

I'm not so sure that you will see a lot. Ko Olina is a lock off resort. Unless you get lucky, you will see a lot of 1BR and studios during flexchange. I think a better strategy would be to get a studio some other way (AC, etc.) and combine them.

just note that combining a studio with a 1 bedroom is not always guaranteed. if the few types of each unit or different, there is a chance the resort will not want to combine them for you. this happened to last a few years ago at ko olina when we had an ocean view studio and a 1 bedroom garden view. even though the units were available, the front desk decided to get us many reasons why they could not combine the units for us into one single 2bedroom unit.

 

[dioxide45]

just note that combining a studio with a 1 bedroom is not always guaranteed. if the few types of each unit or different, there is a chance the resort will not want to combine them for you. this happened to last a few years ago at ko olina when we had an ocean view studio and a 1 bedroom garden view. even though the units were available, the front desk decided to get us many reasons why they could not combine the units for us into one single 2bedroom unit.

I agree that combining units is not guaranteed. However, we had an opposite experience last year at Ko'Olina. We had a 1BR GV and a studio OV. I called and made the request to have them combined. I even indicated that we would be okay with a 2BR GV. They were able to meet our request and we were placed in to a 2BR gardenview. I guess it all depends what they have open and who is working that day.

 

[indyhorizons]

If II is closed and you have another week that you can confirm it with, confirm it then call II and cancel the confirmation and have them confirm it on a rexchange. If they are open, put it on an 18 minute hold and then call II.

There should be no fee to reexchange if you are enrolled in II.

Dioxide, could you explain what you mean here? Thanks (Happy New Year)

 

[dioxide45]

Dioxide, could you explain what you mean here? Thanks (Happy New Year)

Sorry, I meant to day Enrolled in DC. I have updated my post.

 

[mkahanek]

I am thinking of placing an exchange request into Maui and KoOlina for summer 2013. We want to go for 2 weeks. I will be using a 1BR BeachPlace deposit.

I know many of you take 1BR trades and then watch closely (with Tug friends' help) to upgrade that 1BR to a 2BR inside Flexchange. I think NJDave does this often.

What are the odds of making this happen. Obviously I can reserve a backup room using points or even cash. I will also place a trdae request for a 2BR using a 2BR BeachPlace deposit, but may release when the 1BR comes in.

I kind of like the thrill of the hunt.

I did this exact thing. I had a couple of weeks to play with and turned a mountain view Ko Olina studio in to a two bedroom mountain view. I kept hounding until I saw another 2BR pop up. I snagged it. Looked at the room code and found it was an ocean view. Called and cancelled my mountain view.

Of course this all depends on how much you want a particular view. Once you cancel a reservation (inside flex change) your replacement week can ONLY be used during flexchange and expires in one year. ALso if you book with a replacement week it can NOT be cancelled.

For our travel this was acceptable as we can not travel in 2012.

You might even get lucky and snag a 3BR as I saw some of those during my search.

 

[thinze3]

Haven't I read before that if you simply upgrade to a larger unit at the same resort and the same dates there is no upgrade fee?

Or am I thinking that only applies to owners at that resort?

 

[dioxide45]

Haven't I read before that if you simply upgrade to a larger unit at the same resort and the same dates there is no upgrade fee?

Or am I thinking that only applies to owners at that resort?

No, that was to change checkin days. If you have a Saturday checkin and see a Sunday instead, people have been able to change the dates with no additional exchange fee. Of course if you are enrolled in DC, you won't have to pay the additional exchange fee to reexchange.

 

[indyhorizons]

No, that was to change checkin days. If you have a Saturday checkin and see a Sunday instead, people have been able to change the dates with no additional exchange fee. Of course if you are enrolled in DC, you won't have to pay the additional exchange fee to reexchange.

Resurrecting this thread- as i have a question re: Dioxide's statement above. If I change the checkin dates based on above- is it only for the same weekend that there is no fee? Let's say I book Week 13 and then Week 14 becomes available later (same resort, same unit size, same season), would there be an exchange fee in this scenario?
Thanks.

 

[brigechols]

Looked at the room code and found it was an ocean view. Called and cancelled my mountain view.

How do you determine the room code from the II screen? Do you have to go all the way through the confirmation process or is there another way?

 

[LAX Mom]

How do you determine the room code from the II screen? Do you have to go all the way through the confirmation process or is there another way?

There is no way to know the room code until you have completed the booking. I've asked II agents, but haven't found one who knows how to find this information.

 

[LAX Mom]

Resurrecting this thread- as i have a question re: Dioxide's statement above. If I change the checkin dates based on above- is it only for the same weekend that there is no fee? Let's say I book Week 13 and then Week 14 becomes available later (same resort, same unit size, same season), would there be an exchange fee in this scenario?
Thanks.

One time I was able to avoid an additional exchange fee when I changed a NCV Friday check-in to a Sunday check-in. Same week, just 2 days later.

I tried it a few months ago with a Ko'Olina week, but they were going to charge me another exchange fee and it wasn't worth it.

If you switch weeks (week 13 for a week 14) they will charge you another exchange fee. (Unless you have a DC points membership.)

 

[indyhorizons]

One time I was able to avoid an additional exchange fee when I changed a NCV Friday check-in to a Sunday check-in. Same week, just 2 days later.

I tried it a few months ago with a Ko'Olina week, but they were going to charge me another exchange fee and it wasn't worth it.

If you switch weeks (week 13 for a week 14) they will charge you another exchange fee. (Unless you have a DC points membership.)

Thanks Lisa. I will keep checking and book the week/day I need. I have faith.