Question about trading a timeshare week

[Mjasp]

We own at Vistana Resort, we own a fixed week in August. We just joined Interval International. I called them Saturday and asked if they had availablility in Orlando for Easter Week 2004. They said NO and that Easter Week is going to be tough to get as it is in high demand. Has anyone traded a "regular" timeshare, not DVC, for a sought after week and what do you think the chances are of getting Easter Week in 2004 are?

With all the timeshares in Orlando, I can't believe there wouldn't be availability. Do I have a better chance with RCI, since they are bigger? Should I join RCI? I like II because I don't have to relinquish my week until there is a confirmed trade.

What have your experiences been?

They also said I would have to pay my maintenance for 2004 before I would be able to trade, but our maintenance isn't due till Novemebr, should I call Vistana and ask if I could pay early? Do they do that?

Thanks

 

[Dean]

I don't know if Vistana requires you to pay the fee before exchanging, you should call and ask them that. Many do require you pay the fee before depositing or exchanging with II.

Remember that Vistana is new to II and that most deposits are still likely to go to RCI. So if you want to get a week back in to Vistana, you may have been better off joining RCI instead of II. Also, II allows the resorts to block exchanges within a radius, usually about 45 miles. You should find out if Vistana has a block. If they do, you're only options through II will be back into your home or sister resort.

Easter is a difficult week but you should go ahead and place an ongoing search. Pay the dues if need be then decide if you might use your week if you don't match Easter. If not, deposit NOW; if you might use it next year otherwise, do a request first. You may also want to check with some of the indepenent Exchange companies like San Francisco Exchange to see if they have availability. Are you a member of any of Starwood's points options where you might be able to do an internal exchange other than through II (or RCI).

I just checked on line and while there are no Vistana units listed, there are other companies. Do an ongoing search and/or look at some of the other options I mentioned and you should get something within a few months.

 

[Dean]

To add, I wouldn't join both II and RCI for just one week. I'm not even sure I'd join either if i planned on using my week routinely. And I'd never buy Orlando mainly for trading purposes. You can always use one of the Independent's for the occasional trade.

 

[Mjasp]

Dean..Thanks for the help, I do plan on using Vistana routinely, but I am cruising next August and can't take 2 weeks vacation in one month, work wise that is.

Joanna

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Dean..Thanks for the help, I do plan on using Vistana routinely, but I am cruising next August and can't take 2 weeks vacation in one month, work wise that is.

Joanna

Then you may be better off cancelling II and using one of the independents for the rare exchange if that's all you own. Does Vistana have a rental program?

 

[Mjasp]

Dean...Yes Vistana has a rental program, another option.


You are correct II does have an exchange block.

Do you know if RCI also has one?



My friends trade through RCI, and they traded Orlando for Orlando through RCI, but maybe they are more laxed about the block than II. Also, II just started with Vistana last year, so getting a week for Easter would have been slim or none.

I did cancel my membership today with II. Really not worth keeping it.

Thanks for all your help

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Dean...Yes Vistana has a rental program, another option.


You are correct II does have an exchange block.

Do you know if RCI also has one?



My friends trade through RCI, and they traded Orlando for Orlando through RCI, but maybe they are more laxed about the block than II. Also, II just started with Vistana last year, so getting a week for Easter would have been slim or none.

I did cancel my membership today with II. Really not worth keeping it.

Thanks for all your help

II tends to block by area while RCI blocks the number of exchanges, usually limiting one to no more than one exchange in every 4 years. Getting more than one week together is considered one exchange either concurrently or consecutvely. The function is similar for hard to get places with only a few options. For Orlando, you just rotate the resorts if you wanted to exchange every year. Personally I'd likely go with RCI for Vistana if that's all I owned or just not join a company and use the smaller ones like San Francisco Exchange, Donita's, Dial an Exchange, etc. many don't even have a membership fee and their exchange fees tend to be lower. II is very heavily leaden with Marriott and DVC making owners on the outside harder to get it. Still Vistana is a Huge resort so if you request first or deposit, you should get something back into one of the Vistana resorts as the regiional blocks won't apply to internal exchanges.

Are you in the Starwood points system?

 

[Mjasp]

No Dean, I'm not in Starwood points.

Do any of the exchanges you listed have request first. If not, maybe I would be better off going with RCI. I think RCI also offers bonus weekends.

I can't thank you enough for your help.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mjasp
No Dean, I'm not in Starwood points.

Do any of the exchanges you listed have request first. If not, maybe I would be better off going with RCI. I think RCI also offers bonus weekends.

I can't thank you enough for your help.

San Francisco Exchange, Platinum Interchange and Dial an exchange definitely do. With SFX, it might not be available if you're not a paid member, I'm not sure. You can also look at some of the websites like TUG for direct exchange info. I don't think RCI does much for bonus weeks, not as much as II at least. SFX is very good with bonus weeks, better than anyone else for the ones they give. Even the ones that don't do request first will let you contact them periodically to see what they have. You can then do an instant exchange. What's best depends on your situation and where you want to use the week later. Overall, SFX is likely the best of the indepenents but Donita's, Dial an exchange, Platinum Interchange and Trading places are good options as well. I think some give you three years after the week instead of two to use them.

Your best bet may still be to rent it out if you can cover your fees then if you want to rent something to supplement later, you'll have more options. Good luck.

 

[disneydiz]

This past Easter week, we stayed at the BW, but three other families that came down with us traded their timeshares and stayed at the Marriott Grande Vista. Only one family owns a Marriott timeshare. The other two own small/obscure timeshares in Daytona Beach (that they purchased for $1,500). All had no trouble getting into Grande Vista. The reservations were made in September and only took a couple weeks to come through.

 

[Mjasp]

Disneydiz...Which exchange company did they use? RCI or II?

Thanks

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Disneydiz...Which exchange company did they use? RCI or II?

Thanks

Marriott's Grande Vista is only with II. Orlando is an easy trade if you plan things right. Even with DVC, it's possible to get in much of the year now days.

 

[disneydiz]

All three families used II. In fact, two of the families are booked again for Grande Vista for Easter week 2004.

 

[Mjasp]

The problem with II is that you can't trade Orlando for Orlando.

With RCI you can trade Orlando with Orlando, but you can't trade into the same resort more than once in a 4 year period. But there are many resorts in Orlando to choose from.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Mjasp
The problem with II is that you can't trade Orlando for Orlando.

With RCI you can trade Orlando with Orlando, but you can't trade into the same resort more than once in a 4 year period. But there are many resorts in Orlando to choose from.

This is partly true. The destination resort must decide whether they will participate in the regional block for II (or the 1 in 4 or 1 in 3 for RCI), some do and some don't. This is a method developers use when selling to say "if you want to stay here you must buy here". Regardless, trading within the system you own at is exampt from any block. I would agree that outside Marriott, trading to Orlando is easier with RCI year in and year out.

 

[WolfpackFan]

This thread makes me so thankfull for the simplicity of DVC.

 

[greekboy32]

Are you in the Starwood points system

Is there anywhere where you can see an exchange chart, I know SPG dosen't really have one.
Thanks

 

[Mjasp]

No, I'm not in starwood points.