What has the Most Interval International Exchanges per Dollar on Maintenance?

[Jesse6283]

I know with RCI Points you can really stretch your exchanges, but I’m specifically interested in how this works with Interval International.

Pretty good value and you can exchange into better brands like Marriott or Westin... But its nothing compared to the value of RCI points, if you have a week with 100k RCI points, you could get realistically 5+ exchanges out of that. Of course always have to pay exchange fees on top...

My main question:
Which timeshare club gives you the best value per maintenance fee dollar spent in terms of the maximum Interval points/credits you get for exchanging? I’d love to hear from owners who have done the math preferrably with real world examples

If you give examples on the timeshare you used to exchange, please say how many points you had and what your maintenace fee is for your total points so we can run the math...

Also curious about the Interval Points system, never used it before, I know sometimes you can convert a week into points and use their internal system - I thought that was for short stay exchange only but maybe they have it different than I think... Looking forward to seeing some examples...

Here is my example:

With Worldmark, you can exchange for any week any size for 4k credits within 45 (or maybe its 60 days). So a 3 bedroom high season is typically 12k credits so that is kind of like getting 3 weeks out of one week...At about 1400 for maintenance that is $466 + II Exchange fee per week... (Special note - Worldmark also started charging housekeeping fees when you split up weeks which are usually around $107- 229 depending on room if you run out of housekeeping tokens).

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[Hindsite]

The algorithm for what you can get using points in II is different from the algorithm for exchanging weeks, so that makes any comparison really difficult to make. In addition the various points systems have wildly different denominations, with DVC working in the high 10's to low 100's and Welk working in the low 100,000s. A further complexity within the points systems is that some can vary what they need based on TDI and unit size, whereas others vary by TDI, Unit size and II resort rating.

Then there's the trading point requirements of what you are looking to exchange into that can vary, more so with weeks than with points. How much you "can" get with any week or points is irrelevant if what you actually want isn't available for what you are depositing.

The couple of data points that I am aware of are that 1 good Hyatt week can get you 3 weeks in II, if you are prepared to travel lower season and smaller unit. MVC Club points in II are very close to being very poor value for anything but a few cases. There is a marketing push from one developer who trades in II using Club Interval points so there is more noise around the system for that at the moment than there has been historically.

There is a lot of info in the new to timesharing thread and the various brand threads on what trades well in II, but from what I have seen to date there is no single solution, mainly because it depends a lot on where and when you want to exchange into.

The absolute best bang for your buck in II, in my view, would be effectively using the Accommodation certs that they offer for various promotions. Even with the best traders, you are going to struggle to get a week for $300-500, just because of the exchange fee. If you are smart, you could get 6 of those per year using 1 lock-off unit, 2 that randomly turn up in your II account, 2 for depositing and 2 for exchanging, if you get the timing right with promotions offered.

 

[lindner]

My vote; UDI at CMV. Cost: less than 2K annual dues plus 140 per reservation. Easy to get a dozen reservations a year, so your net cost per deposit into II is about 300 per reservation plus II fees. Good TDI. I own 4 of these; message me if you want one or have questions

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't like RCI. There is no comparison for me. II has the resorts I want. I work too hard to find reservations with RCI, and I have a dozen of ongoing searches in place. I am lucky if I get one that I want.

 

[Ski-Dad]

I find very little value in RCI aside from the pure volume and diversity of properties. To the extent there is value, the size of the RCI exchange fee guts it.

The value in II is not points based. My value experience is in owning lower MF Marriott and Vistana units, specifically two bedroom lock-offs. Split the unit and affect two seperate deposits in II - use your Visatana or Marriott early preference - trade up to 2 or 3 bedroom by paying the $59 upgrade fee.

Average cost per 1 week stay = $1100 to 1200 USD for a 2 or 3 bedroom Marriott or Vistana. Not cheap, but good value for premium accommodations.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I find very little value in RCI aside from the pure volume and diversity of properties. To the extent there is value, the size of the RCI exchange fee guts it.

The value in II is not points based. My value experience is in owing lower MF Marriott and Vistana units, specifically two bedroom lock-offs. Split the unit and affect two seperate deposits in II - use your Visatana or Marriott early preference - trade up to 2 or 3 bedroom by paying the $59 upgrade fee.

Average cost per 1 week stay = $1100 to 1200 USD for a 2 or 3 bedroom Marriott or Vistana. Not cheap, but good value for premium accommodations.

I agree!

My most expensive traders in II are the Shadow Ridge Platinum weeks. I pay the $99 lockoff fee, get two deposits, these are about $1,150 each side (studio trades extremely well). Pay $199 for exchange, upgrade fees for unit size are $59 (with Platinum II membership). It's not cheap, but that resort quality is exceptional. Amenities are worthy. Size upgrades are minimal cost for us. I always want a 1 bed or larger.

And I have to add, Maui through RCI is not easy, and most of the choices are terrible. Maui Lea is an exception. Kahana Falls and Sands of Kahana are mediocre (severe mouse issue at SOK ate a bunch of corn chips and flour tortillas), and Kahana Beach one bedrooms are top-notch, wonderful, the best thing in RCI, but it's easier to get full weeks through II via exchange because Kahana Beach one bedrooms are not easy to get through RCI. Studios are okay too. Queen bed (no longer a murphy bed), a decent kitchenette, a balcony that has ocean views or oceanfront, and a nice living area. Bathrooms have been updated.

 

[travel maniac]

My vote; UDI at CMV. Cost: less than 2K annual dues plus 140 per reservation. Easy to get a dozen reservations a year, so your net cost per deposit into II is about 300 per reservation plus II fees. Good TDI. I own 4 of these; message me if you want one or have questions

PM sent

 

[Jesse6283]

The algorithm for what you can get using points in II is different from the algorithm for exchanging weeks, so that makes any comparison really difficult to make. In addition the various points systems have wildly different denominations, with DVC working in the high 10's to low 100's and Welk working in the low 100,000s. A further complexity within the points systems is that some can vary what they need based on TDI and unit size, whereas others vary by TDI, Unit size and II resort rating.

Then there's the trading point requirements of what you are looking to exchange into that can vary, more so with weeks than with points. How much you "can" get with any week or points is irrelevant if what you actually want isn't available for what you are depositing.

The couple of data points that I am aware of are that 1 good Hyatt week can get you 3 weeks in II, if you are prepared to travel lower season and smaller unit. MVC Club points in II are very close to being very poor value for anything but a few cases. There is a marketing push from one developer who trades in II using Club Interval points so there is more noise around the system for that at the moment than there has been historically.

There is a lot of info in the new to timesharing thread and the various brand threads on what trades well in II, but from what I have seen to date there is no single solution, mainly because it depends a lot on where and when you want to exchange into.

The absolute best bang for your buck in II, in my view, would be effectively using the Accommodation certs that they offer for various promotions. Even with the best traders, you are going to struggle to get a week for $300-500, just because of the exchange fee. If you are smart, you could get 6 of those per year using 1 lock-off unit, 2 that randomly turn up in your II account, 2 for depositing and 2 for exchanging, if you get the timing right with promotions offered.

Hey Thanks for your reply. I did try using the free Exchange certificates as well, and have used them before - but I noticed that the good resorts I want are usually only available with that option for last minute - anything in the future is usually not very desirable inventory (well not always.... For locations like Orlando that have a lot of inventory, you can still get Marriott, etc). But yeah, I get your point abou their being a lot of different points programs, etc that is why I wanted people to give examples of the math, how much points in your home club (and maintenance fee) and then what that gives for exchanges on Interval, so we can kind of run the math ... The best I have had so far is definitely worldmark because you can basically see every single optin (high trading power) and with that 45-60 day instant exchange I think they call it, 4k you can stay at any resort, any room size ... So it is really good but I am sure there is even better out there...

 

[Jesse6283]

My vote; UDI at CMV. Cost: less than 2K annual dues plus 140 per reservation. Easy to get a dozen reservations a year, so your net cost per deposit into II is about 300 per reservation plus II fees. Good TDI. I own 4 of these; message me if you want one or have questions

Thank you for your reply, this is exactly what I was looking for - will add this one to the research list, but sounds to me like we have a winner

 

[jp10558]

Thank you for your reply, this is exactly what I was looking for - will add this one to the research list, but sounds to me like we have a winner

I'd love to hear what sort of trades people are getting with CMV. Because if you're not pulling MVC where and when you'd like to go, I think II independents are very similar to RCI but number of locations and availability are much worse.