II Exchanges

[WolfpackFan]

I'm just curious about something. I know we can call MS and put in a request for an II exchange and the more flexibility we give them, the more apt we are to get an exchange. But is it possible to just call MS and say "what is available for exchange"? Once I retire next year (and DW year after), we will have extreme flexibility. We can pretty much go where and when we wish and we're not real picky. There are places all over the country we are interested in visiting. So it seems to me that if I could just call MS and say "what can I trade for and when is it available" would be alot easier than me telling them what we want.

And PS - I don't want this to start into a "using DVC points for II exchanges is a bad use of points". I will never rent nor do I plan to go to WDW every year. The money aspects are extremely secondary to us.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

But is it possible to just call MS and say "what is available for exchange"? Once I retire next year (and DW year after), we will have extreme flexibility.

Yes, there is always an inventory of high quality timeshare resort weeks at II, and MS can arrange instant trades for you.

You just have to know that the best, high demand weeks at the best high demand resorts won't ever be there. As soon as such weeks are deposited by their owners, those weeks go to satisfy ongoing requests.

However, if you can avoid travelling during school vacation periods, and you're flexible, you should be able to get great exchanges.

For example, I've never seen a summer week at Marriott's Newport Coast Villas sitting around in II. But I've seen fall weeks at this resort, just waiting for an exchange. Same great resort as in summer. Same great weather as in summer. And available for an instant confirmation!

 

[spiceycat]

any chance you can get a fairly cheap II timeshare and join their program.

they have some really nice getaways. you can price what you would pay by this site.

www.condodirect.com - II public site - oh the real getaways have some other resorts like Marriott who did not want to go on II public site. there are few others resorts who aren't listed on this site. Anyway subtract $100 - $200 to get the price you would pay as a member of II.

RCI does have a site like II but it does have
www.skyauction.com
a great place to find a cheap week in an excellent resort. Just look at the timeshares - I personally don't think the hotels are worth it (I am in the minority here). the greatest selection is last minute. most of my bargins have been brought 10 days or less before leaving.

if you want to travel after your retirement (I am so jealous - I still have to work for 11 years) getaways and other sites are a good source.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We got an instant exchange earlier this year for a week in Palm Desert Cal.
We even had a choice of resorts and ended up choosing the Marriott Desert Springs Villas II. The best non Disney vacation we have ever had.!

Mick.

 

[rocketriter]

We got an instant exchange for the Marriott Ford's Colony at Williamsburg in mid-August.

 

[Dean]

They can look but II deposits are listed by location. So you need to give them some idea of where you want, what day and the like. At the risk of going where you said you didn't want to go, you may want to reconsider your options. Anything just sitting there is likely not to be that high demand. And if you buy an II (or RCI) timeshare or two, you can have access to look at their system directly at all hours of the day or night when the best stuff is likely to be there. And get access to their cheap short notice and off season rentals. If you're that flexible and can truly travel off season, you would be nuts to do so through DVC to do so.

 

[TnRobin]

Even if you try to wait list for a few options it can be very quick. I was only waitlisted for 2 days for our Hawaii exchange.

 

[mark&sue]

I live in the UK and wanted to go somewhere at no travelling cost for one of our school holidays in February. (We will splash out for trip in October 2006 to WDW, flights are very expensive during school holidays). I got an instant match but was first told I needed to give a region. I asked for anything in the UK but for one specific week. As UK is small we can drive anywhere in UK!

I hope to use these points in Europe with cheap flights as a second holiday each year as well as our annual trip to WDW. I was very impressed with the service and I too do not foresee renting out points unless it is not possible to travel at all.

Good luck



Susan