TUGgers' success w/exch to St John, Bahamas, Cancun,Hawaii?

[Carol C]

I'd like to know what Interval exchanges folks w/SBP have scored to these desirable locations? What time of year did you go, what timeframe did you request, what did you deposit and how far in advance? Any upgrades size-wise? I appreciate any/all info, but if you have that "loose lips" philosophy please feel free to PM me with advice. TIA for all your help, you savvy veteran TUGgers that own Starwood!

 

[Ridewithme38]

Oh! I'm sorry i can't help! I own at SBP, but haven't used it to exchange YET. But, i do plan to TRY to exchange for Hawaii for the summer of 2016. So i'm VERY interested in this thread!

 

[sjsharkie]

I'd like to know what internal exchanges folks w/SBP have scored to these desirable locations? What time of year did you go, what timeframe did you request, what did you deposit and how far in advance? Any upgrades size-wise? I appreciate any/all info, but if you have that "loose lips" philosophy please feel free to PM me with advice. TIA for all your help, you savvy veteran TUGgers that own Starwood!

First, I assume you by internal, you mean in interval with Starwood preference (versus SVN). With SVN, the property itself wouldn't matter - just the amount of SO's you had.

St. John -- Your probability is less than 1% IMHO. I have never seen a sighting, and I've had a 2BR SDO request out there for some time with no success. Yes, it is possible that someone has trumped me with a higher TDI request, but I don't think you're SBP trade would fare much differently. It is almost impossible because most would rent rather than trade their St. John week. If you did score it, you would likely have to be very flexible with dates. This may change with the new phase opening up and the developer having extra units on hand, but I suspect most developer on-hand units would be rented through higher revenue channels (i.e. SPG)

Bahamas -- Shoulder/low seasons possible. However, with 8 month single day SVN reservations opening up, I suspect this trade may get tougher in II. Prime summer, spring break and Christmas/NY weeks almost never come up.

Hawaii -- Shoulder/low season is very realistic. I've even seen some spring break weeks come up. WPORV is much easier to get into than WKORV for higher demand seasons. Prime summer weeks almost never come up --studios if they do. For example, we used to see late August WPORV weeks come up -- I don't even see those anymore.

Bulk banks are your best bet so put in an ongoing request as far in advance as possible for your best odds at snagging one.

Good luck.

-ryan

 

[DeniseM]

Sometimes, with an instant online exchange, you can trade a smaller unit for a larger unit - but waiting for an instant online exchange will really limit your chances, because the online inventory is the leftovers, after all the ongoing requests have been filled.

Your best chance for a difficult exchange is to put in an on-going request, for a wide range of dates, as far in advance, as possible.

BTW - Cancun is a super easy trade all the time, except maybe holiday weeks. It's not in the same ball park with the other 3 that you mentioned.

 

[Carol C]

Sometimes, with an instant online exchange, you can trade a smaller unit for a larger unit - but waiting for an instant online exchange will really limit your chances, because the online inventory is the leftovers, after all the ongoing requests have been filled.

Your best chance for a difficult exchange is to put in an on-going request, for a wide range of dates, as far in advance, as possible.

BTW - Cancun is a super easy trade all the time, except maybe holiday weeks. It's not in the same ball park with the other 3 that you mentioned.

Hi Denise...I meant Lagunamar and not the Westin at the end of the hwy. I've visited that property and think it's great. I really don't have luck with II or RCI when it comes to ongoing searches...but maybe it's worth another try.

To the previous poster to Denise...thank you very much for all the specific advice on resort locales I mentioned. And yes I did mean an Interval (aka II) exchange and not "internal", as I do not have staroptions/SVN. So thanks for pointing me to make an edit in my original posting.

Thanks again to all who posted. If anyone else wants to chime in, feel free, as at least two of us are interested in smart strategies to snag the more difficult exchanges from Starwood to Starwood within the II system.

 

[DeniseM]

I meant Lagunamar too - there are no other SVN resorts in Mexico - it's an easy exchange.

I really don't have luck with II or RCI when it comes to ongoing searches...but maybe it's worth another try.

Not to beat a dead horse, but this is a very important point with II trades on-going searches are ALL filled before any inventory goes online - the online inventory is the leftovers - so with these difficult exchanges the odds are FAR better with an on-going request.

Your chances of getting WSJ or HRA with an Instant Online Exchange are extremely slim, because all the Starwood owners who put in On-going request will get their exchanges FIRST, before anything even goes online.

Have you read the II FAQ at the top of the forum?

 

[Carol C]

I meant Lagunamar too - there are no other SVN resorts in Mexico - it's an easy exchange.



Not to beat a dead horse, but this is a very important point with II trades on-going searches are ALL filled before any inventory goes online - the online inventory is the leftovers - so with these difficult exchanges the odds are FAR better with an on-going request.

Your chances of getting WSJ or HRA with an Instant Online Exchange are extremely slim, because all the Starwood owners who put in On-going request will get their exchanges FIRST, before anything even goes online.

Have you read the II FAQ at the top of the forum?

Denise...I've been with Interval since 2000 as a Marriott owner but never got an exchange via ongoing search, Marriott to Marriott. But I'm willing to try it with Starwood now that I own there thanks to the generosity of TUGger Tracey. Thanks again for your work on TUG, Denise!

 

[DeniseM]

If you have never been able to get an exchange, I'd examine these things:

-Are you putting your on-going request in too late?

-Are you only requesting holiday weeks, or high season weeks, or are you requesting a broad time frame?

-Are you trying to request a 2 bdm. with a 1 bdm.? (at resorts where possible)

-Are you having problems with the mechanics of the exchange?

 

[bobpark56]

Denise...I've been with Interval since 2000 as a Marriott owner but never got an exchange via ongoing search, Marriott to Marriott. But I'm willing to try it with Starwood now that I own there thanks to the generosity of TUGger Tracey. Thanks again for your work on TUG, Denise!

We have been members only since 2006, but we have had several enjoyable Marriott-Marriott exchanges via I.I. Aruba, Marbella, Surfwatch, Newport Coast, Kauai Beach Club, Frenchman's Cove, and Summit Watch come to mind. Still trying to get Boston, though.

Perhaps you should re-examine your search methods. It helps if you request units and time periods that make sense w/r/t your deposit.