Exchange Ideas

[BabsBunny]

Hi all. I'd really like to pack up our family (me, DH and sons who will be 17 and 20 next year) and go away for Christmas 2013. WDW would be an obvious choice, but hearing about how crowded it is, I'm thinking an exchange to someplace warm (i.e. Caribbean, VI, etc.) might be the way to go.

Do any of you have any recommendations of exchanges you've done and have been happy with? Is there a website that lists resorts? Do the exchanges have to be seven nights?

Anyone information or advice you can give would be most appreciated. TIA.

 

[RobDoc]

Here is a link to the World Passport (RCI) options available to DVC members - http://b2b.rci.com/RDGateway/rdg/rdMain.do?clubId=102 These are all 7 night exchanges, but there are some options for shorter stays available thru MS.

 

[BabsBunny]

Thanks, Doc!

 

[ldo]

getting a high demand week at Christmas via RCI is VERY tough. Many owners use their week and the demand is much higher than supply. You should put a request in right away and be flexible. good luck! Elaine

 

[BabsBunny]

Thanks for the heads up, Ido. We'd be open to many different locations, but flights could be tough--especially if we had to book this all very eary.

I'm guess locations like the Keys or Miami or Sanibel would be tough to get into too?

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the heads up, Ido. We'd be open to many different locations, but flights could be tough--especially if we had to book this all very eary.

I'm guess locations like the Keys or Miami or Sanibel would be tough to get into too?

I agree, the week of Xmas can be tough for South FL, Keys, MX and the Caribbean. When I say tough, I mean you likely wont' get it even if you placed the request now. If you can go a week off you might have a better chance. You could take a chance on Daytona or the Panhandle or you might be able to book (likely by wait list) VB. All Inclusive options might be available but they are notoriously poor timeshare trade values and tend to be expensive that time. The caribbean will likely be expensive for flights so you might want to concentrate on South FL and he Keys. Likely your best option is a direct exchange to maybe a Marriott in the Caribbean, Starwood member to Atlantis, Bluegreen to Aruba or Marathon or a Marriott owner at one of the South FL options or possibly Hyatt for Key West or South FL.

 

[BabsBunny]

It's sounding like too much stress and hoping. Our other option is to just book something on cash and be forced to do other trips to WDW too.

Or I could even book AKV at the 11 month window and hope to change over to VB at 7 months. That way we wouldn't have to go for a whole week either. And if flights were ridiculously expensive (which they usually are out of Syracuse), we have the option of driving.

It's so tough to plan far ahead with kids my sons' ages. But it would be nice to take a break from the holiday family obligations and escape.

 

[Dean]

It's sounding like too much stress and hoping. Our other option is to just book something on cash and be forced to do other trips to WDW too.

Or I could even book AKV at the 11 month window and hope to change over to VB at 7 months. That way we wouldn't have to go for a whole week either. And if flights were ridiculously expensive (which they usually are out of Syracuse), we have the option of driving.

It's so tough to plan far ahead with kids my sons' ages. But it would be nice to take a break from the holiday family obligations and escape.

My suggestion is you plan your general location and book on cash but can cancel later. Also investigate the resorts and place any that appeal to you for an exchange request. This is a great way to plan for trips with air as well, esp if you find cheaper air or plan to use FF miles.

 

[Lorelei528]

We just returned from a 6 night stay at The Quarter House in New Orleans from Dec. 22-Dec. 28th. We did an exchange.

We loved it and I did lots of research and Christmas week is known to be a great week to visit New Orleans as it's very quiet etc.

We had a great time! I've been there before but it was my DH's first time there. We did a tour to see the bonfires on the levees of the Mississippi Christmas Eve, which I bet your sons would love....

The Caribbean and warmer places such as might be very difficult to exchange into for that week.....

 

[mort1331]

if your flying out of Saracuse then if you dont mind a little drive to save alot, drive to buffalo. We fly out of there all the time, easy and reasonable prices. Its a bigger airport too.

 

[ldo]

with RCI, SW Coast and Keys are difficult in winter. East Coast--Vero thru Miami are easier. The Mizner in Weston that is usually not hard to get. The panhandle and daytona are much easier than Sanibel, Marco---but it can be COLD there in late December. Sometimes, Sarasota and the Tampa area resorts are available.
Also, another idea--do you like to cruise? RCCL Liberty of the Seas has a GREAT deal on Dec 26 4 day out of Ft Lauderdale--you might consider booking a room for a few nights in either Vero or Ft Lauderdale (great upscale boardwalk with nice European style cafes--tons of Euro-style nightlife for you college kids) along with the cruise--we did this a few years ago and it was great. Make sure to book a room on the beach--we have stayed at both Sheratons--they are fine. You can book cruise and hotel and then cancel at 3 months out or so if an RCI trade comes thru. If you go the cruise route and book flights into Ft Lauderdale, and then something comes up later, you can easily get to anyplace in SE FLa as well as Sanibel or Marco in a few hours--Keys, Sarasota a bit longer.
The Dec 26 cruise was too good to pass up--we're booked.
Good luck, Elaine

 

[BabsBunny]

with RCI, SW Coast and Keys are difficult in winter. East Coast--Vero thru Miami are easier. The Mizner in Weston that is usually not hard to get. The panhandle and daytona are much easier than Sanibel, Marco---but it can be COLD there in late December. Sometimes, Sarasota and the Tampa area resorts are available.
Also, another idea--do you like to cruise? RCCL Liberty of the Seas has a GREAT deal on Dec 26 4 day out of Ft Lauderdale--you might consider booking a room for a few nights in Ft Lauderdale (great upscale boardwalk with nice European style cafes--tons of Euro-style nightlife for you college kids) along with the cruise--we did this a few years ago and it was great. Make sure to book a room on the beach--we have stayed at both Sheratons--they are fine. You can book cruise and hotel and then cancel at 3 months out or so if an RCI trade comes thru. If you go the cruise route and book flights into Ft Lauderdale, and then something comes up later, you can easily get to anyplace in SE FLa as well as Sanibel or Marco in a few hours--Keys, Sarasota a bit longer.
The Dec 26 cruise was too good to pass up--we're booked.
Good luck, Elaine

Thanks, Elaine. Now this sounds interesting! We've only been on one cruise and that was three nights on DCL. While it was a nice time, we decided that if we ever do one again, we'll go with another line, and I understand RCCL is great for teens/young adults.

Can I ask how many points per person for that particular cruise? We'd definitely do two cabins. If we don't have enough points we could pay cash for one.

I start a thread on the Misc board about booking five nights in a two bedroom at AKV at the 11 month window. Can you do that and still cancel for an exchange later on? I'm going over to RCCL website to check the cruise.

 

[chalee94]

you can find pts for disney cruises over at dvcnews.com.

if you trade through RCI for a cruise, expect to give up a ton of pts and have to pay a cash surcharge roughly equal to the cash price of the cruise without the exchange.

i don't think trading pts for a disney cruise is generally a good deal, but trading through RCI for a cruise would most likely be worse...