II Exchange-Easy

[FreeTime]

We had been debating whether or not to try and exchange to Lake Tahoe. I called 2 months ago and said I was looking for a 1 BR or 2 BR any week between June-August and any South LT resort. I was told nothing was available yet, did I want put on a list. I opted not to. I called again last week to put my name on a list. The rep said you are only travelling with four, right? Well there is a studio available in July (the actual week I really wanted to travel) at the Marriott Timber Lodge (where we really wanted to stay). I didn't even know you could exchange studios! We really wanted a 1 BR but I figured I should take what they had. So for 123 points (less than 7 nights at BCV during the same time) we are going to Lake Tahoe. Yee haw!

My point of posting this is that I have seen others indicate that they didn't think II exchanges are a good deal (I know we aren't getting ski season at LT so trading summer at DVC for ski at LT might be a better comparison) and that II exchanges are difficult to get. Maybe I just lucked out.

 

[jodifla]

Thanks for letting us know!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Lake Tahoe in the summer seems like a fairly easy trade to make... More a matter of giving it time than anything else. You might have been better off renting your points and paying cash. Marriott specifically I dont know because I'm comfortable getting what I can for my other week.

 

[littlestar]

I checked the cash rates on Marriott's site (the first week of July was sold out on cash). For the 2nd week of July the cheapest rate I saw was $203 a night for a studio. So by the time you add in tax, I think you did pretty good.

Plus, by doing this exchange, you don't have to hassle with renting your points to a stranger.

It looks like the Wilderness Lodge. Wow. Here's a link from the Marriott site where I found some pictures:

http://www.vacationclub.com/resorts/tl/resortGallery.jsp

 

[winjos]

Have a great time in Tahoe! Take a great big breath of that wonderful pine air for me!

There are plenty of things to do there in the summer. Visit Emerald Bay, take a boat cruise, go horseback riding, rent a boat, swim at the beaches, gamble, catch a show, take a drive to Reno, visit both shores, go to a play, I could go on and on.

I just love Tahoe!

Enjoy!

 

[Dean]

We had been debating whether or not to try and exchange to Lake Tahoe. I called 2 months ago and said I was looking for a 1 BR or 2 BR any week between June-August and any South LT resort. I was told nothing was available yet, did I want put on a list. I opted not to. I called again last week to put my name on a list. The rep said you are only travelling with four, right? Well there is a studio available in July (the actual week I really wanted to travel) at the Marriott Timber Lodge (where we really wanted to stay). I didn't even know you could exchange studios! We really wanted a 1 BR but I figured I should take what they had. So for 123 points (less than 7 nights at BCV during the same time) we are going to Lake Tahoe. Yee haw!

My point of posting this is that I have seen others indicate that they didn't think II exchanges are a good deal (I know we aren't getting ski season at LT so trading summer at DVC for ski at LT might be a better comparison) and that II exchanges are difficult to get. Maybe I just lucked out.

Keep calling back to see if a better unit is available. You may be able to swap out for the larger unit if it is.

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks for the comments everyone.
This will be our 3rd trip to the area and last time we went on the Marriott tour and I decided that we just had to stay there.

Dean, Thanks for the advice? Should I make a request and then change it if it comes through or keep calling back? I will need to pay a change fee, right?

Now my BIL is wanting to go with us. They own through Blue/Green and I am not sure they will be able to get an exchange, especially at the same time. If I recall, Harveys and Horizons is next door?

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the comments everyone.
This will be our 3rd trip to the area and last time we went on the Marriott tour and I decided that we just had to stay there.

Dean, Thanks for the advice? Should I make a request and then change it if it comes through or keep calling back? I will need to pay a change fee, right?

Now my BIL is wanting to go with us. They own through Blue/Green and I am not sure they will be able to get an exchange, especially at the same time. If I recall, Harveys and Horizons is next door?

bluegreen should work for an exchange for there if done correctly. They can use either II or RCI depending on who they belong with. For a "retrade", it has to be on a phone call. I'm not sure how this would work for DVC, you might have to pay the extra points and/or an extra exchange fee.

 

[echo63]

A studio at Marriott Timber Lodge is meant for a max of 3 ppl. They have a queen size bed and a love seat that can sleep a young child. If you have 4 in your party, the studio unit may not be large enough for you. FYI, I frequent Tahoe during winter for skiing, and have found their studios to be very small.

On the other hand, if the room that you reserved is a lock-off unit, it is just like a regular hotel room with two beds (but no kitchen).

 

[mbw12]

Thank you for posting....I enjoy hearing about people's trading experiences!

 

[FreeTime]

A studio at Marriott Timber Lodge is meant for a max of 3 ppl. They have a queen size bed and a love seat that can sleep a young child. If you have 4 in your party, the studio unit may not be large enough for you. FYI, I frequent Tahoe during winter for skiing, and have found their studios to be very small.

On the other hand, if the room that you reserved is a lock-off unit, it is just like a regular hotel room with two beds (but no kitchen).

I am really confused now. I researched the Marriott on Trip Advisor, for example and they do indicate that the rooms are small on the 1st & 5th floors and most people said that the room had a queen and a small sleeper sofa. The confirmation I received says a king bed and Q Sleeper. Do I have any recourse?

 

[Dean]

I am really confused now. I researched the Marriott on Trip Advisor, for example and they do indicate that the rooms are small on the 1st & 5th floors and most people said that the room had a queen and a small sleeper sofa. The confirmation I received says a king bed and Q Sleeper. Do I have any recourse?

No as a DVC exchange for a studio is actually only for two people officially though most will sleep 4. One could not set up a request for more than two and that is all the unit is guaranteed to sleep. You could point to the info on the confirmation but you would lose any battle other than DVC might compensate you on the back end if you complained enough as some others have done when things didn't measure up.

Some reports I saw listed a queen plus pullout queen but on the floorplan it looks like a King plus pullout queen which is c/w many Marriott lockoff units. It appears to have no kitchen facilities to speak of, not even a kitchenette but I am not certain on that one. I'd call back and see if I could get a 1 BR, keep calling.

 

[FreeTime]

No as a DVC exchange for a studio is actually only for two people officially though most will sleep 4. One could not set up a request for more than two and that is all the unit is guaranteed to sleep. You could point to the info on the confirmation but you would lose any battle other than DVC might compensate you on the back end if you complained enough as some others have done when things didn't measure up.

Some reports I saw listed a queen plus pullout queen but on the floorplan it looks like a King plus pullout queen which is c/w many Marriott lockoff units. It appears to have no kitchen facilities to speak of, not even a kitchenette but I am not certain on that one. I'd call back and see if I could get a 1 BR, keep calling.

Thanks Dean.
I guess I should have known that the studio would only sleep two?? I wondered why I was never asked when making the reservation how many I had in my party. I will continue to try and get the one br, but am concerned if I don't. If I show up with 4 (2 adults, 2 young kids), will Marriott allow me to pay to upgrade? Or can I call the resort directly to upgrade now?

 

[FreeTime]

Okay, I checked vacationclub.com website again and it appears that I have the lock off portion of a 2br, it looks like a QN bed and double sleeper sofa and the website does not give a description. I called DVC and they said that they don't know how I even got a studio as they never see them available for Marriott. I asked about the bedding size. MS called Marriott directly and confirmed that it is a King B and a sleeper sofa. They also said if there are any issues being that this is an Interval International exchange that Disney would directly get involved for a quick resolution if I show up and it is incorrect (not sure how). I am hoping for the best at this point.

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean.
I guess I should have known that the studio would only sleep two?? I wondered why I was never asked when making the reservation how many I had in my party. I will continue to try and get the one br, but am concerned if I don't. If I show up with 4 (2 adults, 2 young kids), will Marriott allow me to pay to upgrade? Or can I call the resort directly to upgrade now?

Maybe we should draw a distinction between exchange requests and actual unit occupancy. For DVC, the studios exchange for 2, one BR for 4, two BR for 6 and a 3 BR for 8. I've made the case in the past to investigate the exchange as many resorts will actually handle more than the exchange numbers. The trouble you get into is if a resort has different types of the same unit size, say a 2 BR that sleeps 6 and another that sleeps 8. All of the studios there are the lockoff size. Again, it looked like there was no kitchen at all, did you ask about this? While DVC will get involved if there's a problem and you're outside the DVC II exchange rules, I wouldn't expect them to back one up.