II exchange

[JCerniglow]

what is the earliest that anyone has had their requested trade come thru?

 

[smep013]

Not sure what you mean by this question.
We made a request in January 2008 and received notification it was accepted in February, 2008. Our trip was in June 2008.
Hope that helps!

 

[JCerniglow]

thank you for the information. we iniatied a search sept 2 for april may of 2010. no instant match

 

[Dean]

One can search up to two years out but most resorts can only be deposited up to around 11-12 months out. Some are 2 years, a few are 18 months (fixed week Marriott's) and some are 13-14 months (floating week Marriott's). The contract between the resort and/or system will determine how early one can deposit. The other issue is whether the resort or system requires one to pay the fees to deposit or reserve or not. MOST matches occur around 12 months or around 6 months out with quite a number right at 2 months out. But as noted, it does vary with the resort or resort system. Thus it's important to research your specific choices. For example, Kona Coast and the Royals often have many of their deposits come through at closer to 2 years out. The Westin tends to bulk spacebank (give II a bunch of units at one time) around a year out.

Do you have any specific questions about resorts or areas?

 

[Sarahtink]

Just requested an II exchange last week for Dec 09 ... am thinking we will likely hear sometime next Feb or March, but hoping it will be earlier ... have a 3 week window and one resort search right now ... may expand to three resorts early next year if we haven't heard anything. This is the first time we have tried an exchange through II. The one resort we requested is in the Worldmark timeshare system.

Here's hoping you hear soon JCerniglow!

 

[bonnielynn]

I dont understand the exchange.. I am still green with this..
I want to go someplace in May... (09)...
So can you just ask by dates as to what is available, or do you have to have specifics.. my concern with the waitlist is you wont hear until the last moment.. and how do you get air?

Makes me nervous...

My other thought is I could rent/trade.. but never done that and that is another ball of wax...

I am beginning to think this wasn't worth the $$... seems like everything is hard..

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, start by where (in general terms) you want to go in May. Do you need a 2BR, or would a smaller unit do?

 

[Dean]

I dont understand the exchange.. I am still green with this..
I want to go someplace in May... (09)...
So can you just ask by dates as to what is available, or do you have to have specifics.. my concern with the waitlist is you wont hear until the last moment.. and how do you get air?

Makes me nervous...

My other thought is I could rent/trade.. but never done that and that is another ball of wax...

I am beginning to think this wasn't worth the $$... seems like everything is hard..

It doesn't have to be so hard. You can control some items like the dates you request and resorts or area and you can cancel at any time prior to a confirmation and get a refund. I'd recommend you start with an area and see what resorts fit your needs including looking at their check in dates and unit sizes they have to offer. Investigate further a to whether they are beach front or on a bluff, ski in/out, kitchen or not, etc. Request all weeks and resorts that you are comfortable with. That is another area currently where being a direct II member is an advantage over DVC, you can cancel within 24 hours for no penalty where it appears DVC does not adhere to that rule. As a novice you may want to bounce your choices, resorts, etc off one group or another (here, TUG, etc).

 

[bonnielynn]

Seems overwhelming to me because I can't control what is available, if you get on a wait list when you will get a confirmation...

I called and said I was looking for what was available for May 2009, staying in a 1br. She asked where, I said how about Europe (Italy or Ireland).. She said spain was available.

How about the Caribbean? Well the only thing available is Aruba. I can, however, wait list.

I have been looking at the II exhange site. I guess I have to just decide where and then wait list it and hope that I get a confirmation in enough time to get air..

How does everyone else do this?

 

[Dean]

Seems overwhelming to me because I can't control what is available, if you get on a wait list when you will get a confirmation...

I called and said I was looking for what was available for May 2009, staying in a 1br. She asked where, I said how about Europe (Italy or Ireland).. She said spain was available.

How about the Caribbean? Well the only thing available is Aruba. I can, however, wait list.

I have been looking at the II exhange site. I guess I have to just decide where and then wait list it and hope that I get a confirmation in enough time to get air..

How does everyone else do this?

I think DVC members just have to get over the reservation mentality and realize that the good stuff will essentially never be there when you call and plan accordingly and deal with delayed gratification. And you don't want to work if from the what's available angle, you want to decide what resorts and time best fits your needs so you can get what YOU want. Keep an eye on air if it's an issue and make changes to your request if need be accordingly. I think it was on the other similar thread where I mentioned making air fare reservations (esp FF miles) then trying to fit an exchange in to that plan. That does assume you have an idea of your chances of success OR that you are prepared to do the trip on cash or some other options like hotel reward points. That's exactly what I did for HI last time. I make air at 330 days out (first class direct from ATL) and made two weeks of reservations at Marriott's on the islands I wanted for the dates I needed. Then as the exchanges came through, I cancelled the reward reservations.

While I haven't mentioned it lately, don't forget there are other exchange companies that will take DVC than II. One can often work with several of them to increase the chances of success.

 

[Billybob7]

While I haven't mentioned it lately, don't forget there are other exchange companies that will take DVC than II. One can often work with several of them to increase the chances of success.

Dean, please explain how this is done, please?

Are you saying if one wants to book a timeshare in say Hawaii, you do not need to go through II?

Thanks!

 

[disneymom8589]

Back in June I called MS to see about the availability of an exchange through II to either the Atlantis or Hawaii for my DD's honeymoon in July 2009. Neither location was available at that time (very popular areas according to MS), but they did have an instant match in Cabo San Lucas that my DD and her future DH are excited to go to next year!

 

[Dean]

Dean, please explain how this is done, please?

Are you saying if one wants to book a timeshare in say Hawaii, you do not need to go through II?

Thanks!

There are a number of smaller independent exchange companies including San Francisco Exchange, Dial an Exchange, Trading Places Intl, Trading Places Maui, HI Timeshare exchange (HTSE) and Platinum Interchange. Each has their niche. They all seem to have a lot of HI, CAN and MX options and many times they share inventory. DAE is very strong in Europe. They all work a little different. Most will allow an exchange without a membership fee, a couple will do request first, some give bonus weeks, SFX specializes in higher end options that are mostly 5 star. They are not for everyone but can offer additional choices for exchanging, esp for certain locations. If one is interested I'd find their website and investigate, then talk to them. One issue they might have is that since DVC won't talk to them to confirm the week, they would have to go on faith for the exchange. Also don't forget that redweeks has an exchange options now including a deposit for points option. And there's always the private exchange route.

On our HI trip in 2002 we got 2 1 BR units at the Embassy on Maui (now KBC) through SFX.

 

[JCerniglow]

Thanks for all of the replies. This was most helpful. I truly appreciate the information about when the Marriotts bulk space. Thank you also for the well wishes. Happy travels.

 

[Tiggerlover48]

I put in a request for 3 different properties in Maine from June 26 - Aug. 30, 2009 and I didn't get an instant match. I'm wondering how long it will take to confirm.

 

[bonnielynn]

At least Maine is drivable, so when they do give you a confirmation you aren't scrambling for airline tickets.

I am going to look at those other sites and see what you can get for points... Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[maciec]

I made my deposit in August 2007 for 3 different resorts 2 in Aruba and 1 in Mexico. I requested any week in October 2008. We got the Royal Sands in Mexico 1 week later.

 

[Dean]

I put in a request for 3 different properties in Maine from June 26 - Aug. 30, 2009 and I didn't get an instant match. I'm wondering how long it will take to confirm.

No way to know if or when other than educated guesswork. IF you get a match it will likely be right around Dec/Jan or right at 2 months out but it could be any time. Like any auction, decide in your own mind when you have to cut if off and make sure you call DVC to cancel the search so you can preserve your points and save your $95 fee.

 

[bonnielynn]

So you get the $95.00 deposit back if you cancel? I thought they kept it.

 

[Dean]

So you get the $95.00 deposit back if you cancel? I thought they kept it.

It's "nonrefundable". In practice that means they have discretion. If you cancel prior to any match OR if you don't match, you get it back. If you match then later cancel, they keep it (generally).