We want II exchange ?how?

[easterntraveler]

We want the cheapest II exchange capability to use during Thanksgiving or Christmas at places like Gatlinburg Smoke Mountain Resort, Aspen Sheraton, etc...

Looking for low cost and very low maintenance fees. We own 4 weeks of Hilton so the only thing we don't have is the ability to use II.

Would really like the ability to transfer unused points into a hotel program or use for airline tickets should we not wish to vacation at a resort that year.

Probably will never go to where we buy, only exchange for another location.

 

[DeniseM]

A low-cost timeshare will not have enough trading power for a prime resort during a holiday week.

II assigns trading power to timeshares, and a low cost timeshare will not have high trading power.

Also - school holidays are the highest demand weeks of the year, and there is no guaranteed way to get one, unless you own it, or rent it from an owner.

Trading a timeshare for hotels or airline miles is almost always a losing proposition. The exchange value is very poor - it favors the management company - not the timeshare owner. It's almost always cheaper just to pay for the hotel or buy airline tickets.

 

[presley]

It may be possible with Shell or Worldmark, if requested over a year in advance. I have had holiday weeks match before, but I've never tried for Christmas.

You can buy Shell for $1. and have higher than average MFs.
You can buy Worldmark for a few thousand on resale and have lower than average MFs. If you are considering that, look at all the resorts they offer. You may find some you'd like to stay in as an owner.

To have a guarantee, you can either buy exactly what you want or rent. Rentals are at a premium during holiday weeks, but they will be less than renting directly from the resort. II offers some rentals, but I have no idea if they do for any of the resorts you are interested in.

EDIT: Buying resale in either Shell or Worldmark excludes you from using points for hotels, air, etc.

 

[icydog]

We want the cheapest II exchange capability to use during Thanksgiving or Christmas at places like Gatlinburg Smoke Mountain Resort, Aspen Sheraton, etc...

Looking for low cost and very low maintenance fees. We own 4 weeks of Hilton so the only thing we don't have is the ability to use II.

Would really like the ability to transfer unused points into a hotel program or use for airline tickets should we not wish to vacation at a resort that year.

Probably will never go to where we buy, only exchange for another location.

Here's an idea. Buy a silver Marriott week in Utah. Thanksgiving is part of the silver season and they can be won very easily on eBay. The problem is the maintenance fees are not low. They will be in the neighborhood of $1200 to $1400 a year but since the Utah resorts, Mountainside and Summit Watch, are both lock offs then you you'll get two weeks for your maintenance fee.

 

[icydog]

Here's a link to a recently sold Marriott Mountainside

There's a gold week up for auction for free right now but Thanksgiving is in the silver season

 

[DeniseM]

This would work for Thanksgiving in UT, but not the other dates/resorts that the OP wants.

 

[icydog]

This would work for Thanksgiving in UT, but not the other dates/resorts that the OP wants.

He seems interested in any property, anyplace. He states he'll never go there himself. I just thought a nice place would be Utah.

But, come to think of it, he probably is interested in a RCI resort anyway. They're probably cheaper than Marriott's in maintenance fees.

 

[VacationForever]

In addition to everything Denise said, you won't have the ability transfer to hotel points buying resale. It is a perk for a developer purchase.

 

[easterntraveler]

He seems interested in any property, anyplace. He states he'll never go there himself. I just thought a nice place would be Utah.

But, come to think of it, he probably is interested in a RCI resort anyway. They're probably cheaper than Marriott's in maintenance fees.

NOT RCI, we are looking for II we already have RCI and want II to compliment our usage.

 

[taterhed]

So, basically...
You want:

• low buy-in
• low MF's
• Excellent trade
• Hotel points
• Usable (trade) at peak season
• (as a ) trader

Well...
I think you're asking for a free lunch and free drinks (top shelf).


Lot's of low buy-in, TS's
Lot's of low MF TS's (shrinking)
Lot's of great traders...
Lot's of units in hotel programs (Marriott, SPG etc..)




But combine all of the above? Not so easy.


Good luck

 

[tschwa2]

I have some suggestions. Low buy in, good trading power, lowish MF's

A 2 br EOY 1-52 SDO -annualized MF about $550
or an annual small SBP MF about $450
both would have Starwood priority and S to S discount (don't know what will happen with the ILG buyout) The SDO would have a higher MF but could be used for a 2 br search when needed.

Other option would be an EOY 4br lockoff in a second tier (but still premium II rated) resort with a high season fixed week in an overbuilt locale like Williamsburg, Branson, or Orlando. These can be had with MF of around $800 every other year. You don't have priority, and exchange discount but you do have the trading power of a 2 br for ongoing searches. You want a fixed week so they can't try to deposit a lower season week.

 

[taterhed]

I have some suggestions. Low buy in, good trading power, lowish MF's



A 2 br EOY 1-52 SDO -annualized MF about $550

or an annual small SBP MF about $450

both would have Starwood priority and S to S discount (don't know what will happen with the ILG buyout) The SDO would have a higher MF but could be used for a 2 br search when needed.



Other option would be an EOY 4br lockoff in a second tier (but still premium II rated) resort with a high season fixed week in an overbuilt locale like Williamsburg, Branson, or Orlando. These can be had with MF of around $800 every other year. You don't have priority, and exchange discount but you do have the trading power of a 2 br for ongoing searches. You want a fixed week so they can't try to deposit a lower season week.

Very nice suggestions. As you say... Depending on the buyouts


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Quiet Pine]

A 2 br EOY 1-52 SDO -annualized MF about $550

I paid MF for mine about 20 minutes ago: $576.49.

 

[easterntraveler]

What is "SDO" and "S and S discounts"?
Where is this property?

 

[e.bram]

Forget trading.
Buy where and when you want to be. ie Fixed week, fixed unit, fixed time.

With II you can see what's available before you deposit. If you don't what you like use your unit.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

I have some suggestions. Low buy in, good trading power, lowish MF's

A 2 br EOY 1-52 SDO -annualized MF about $550
or an annual small SBP MF about $450
both would have Starwood priority and S to S discount (don't know what will happen with the ILG buyout) The SDO would have a higher MF but could be used for a 2 br search when needed.

Other option would be an EOY 4br lockoff in a second tier (but still premium II rated) resort with a high season fixed week in an overbuilt locale like Williamsburg, Branson, or Orlando. These can be had with MF of around $800 every other year. You don't have priority, and exchange discount but you do have the trading power of a 2 br for ongoing searches. You want a fixed week so they can't try to deposit a lower season week.

This was the advice given to me when I bought to score great trades. I love my 2/2 EOY SDO Lockout. I'm going to Hawaii with that SDO.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

What is "SDO" and "S and S discounts"?
Where is this property?

SDO is the Sheraton Desert Oasis in Scottsdale Arizona

 

[tschwa2]

SBP is Sheraton Myrtle Beach if you buy to exchange make sure you get a gold plus small bedroom with MF around $450 annually.

S to S exchanges just means Starwood to Starwood. So if you own one the exchange fee to any of the Sheratons or Westins would be discounted about $40 so its around $135 through II currently. I would be difficult if not impossible to get the newer Sheraton or Westin ski resorts during ski season in a 2 br. It is possible in the older resorts like Sheraton Lakeside Terrace.

 

[sue1947]

Forget trading.
Buy where and when you want to be. ie Fixed week, fixed unit, fixed time.

With II you can see what's available before you deposit. If you don't what you like use your unit.

With II or RCI, you see the leftovers online. If you don't see what you want, put in an ongoing search.
If what you want is a popular time at a popular spot, then buying that week is the best option.

Sue

 

[Marathoner]

Worldmark fits alot of your criteria:
- low maintenance fees at about $720 for 10,000 credits (equivalent to a peak season 2BR)
- strong trader on II (I own it and have traded into a number of nice resorts in peak summer as well as Christmas)
- high level of flexibility including ability to rent extra credits and borrow from next year. You can book just weekends or many weeks, subject to the number of credits you own
- low buy-in cost on ebay and other websites

I recommend buying 10,000 points to get started.

There are some limitations to WM:
- there is no hotel point conversion program
- Worldmark has many more resorts in the West than along the East Coast. But this shouldnt matter to you because you said that you'll never use it

We want the cheapest II exchange capability to use during Thanksgiving or Christmas at places like Gatlinburg Smoke Mountain Resort, Aspen Sheraton, etc...

Looking for low cost and very low maintenance fees. We own 4 weeks of Hilton so the only thing we don't have is the ability to use II.

Would really like the ability to transfer unused points into a hotel program or use for airline tickets should we not wish to vacation at a resort that year.

Probably will never go to where we buy, only exchange for another location.