Realize that given the dynamics of the area and time of year, that is not being flexible. I'd say your chances of getting anything are about as close to zero as you can get unless you're looking for a studio but then it's still very low. IMO, anything less than 1 year out for most trades is short notice. If you want the panhandle, try using BVTC for Club Intrawest directly though you may not be able to book exactly 7 nights that way. I'd add all the resorts in the area except Ocean Towers. You may also want to look at a private exchange with an owner in the area.
NO, you want to have an ongoing search in at the time units start to come in. The problem from August is you have have lost out on option both because units may have come and gone prior to your search and because others were able to get on the list before you. I don't hold out much hope but you might get lucky inside the 30 day window. Did you try the BVTC option at all, that's almost certainly your best chance of getting anything.
I would look at the 2 locations as basically the same. I doubt it would have affected your results had you listed all 4 good resorts though.
I don't have any RCI weeks deposits but at the present time there are no points resorts for a full week (didn't look for shorter) and only 2 weeks resorts that I can see, both lower resorts and smaller units. I'd only miss points resorts in the weeks side and that's not likely an issue in this situation. It's unlikely any of these options will show up on the website due to ongoing searches unless you get under 45 days. Hopefully the OP is searching for a full week as only 1 of the 2 resorts in question does points. One thing to realize about the Holiday inn system is you can't trade again to their system (any resorts) for a period of time, I think it's 3 years.
If you have only taken what they had and not used the waitlist/search function, you've significantly limited the value you could receive from such options.I've always taken what was available. Every time I've tried for specific times/dates, there has never been anything. Be flexible is all I can say.
I've been dealing with RCI since 2003 and believe me, I've used the wait list/search options. I had a search once for over a year and nothing ever opened up. It made me a little suspicious....hmmmmmmmmm.
I've never kept an ongoing going long enough to see if it works.
I don't think I've ever had a reasonable request with RCI or II that wasn't filled unless I found something on my own first. I think most ongoing requests that don't fill are either unrealistic or not let to run long enough. Unrealistic could be reaching too high, starting too late or trying for things that are very unlikely for anyone to get say Xmas Maui for example. Regardless, the best chances of getting anything outside the 45 days window with RCI or the 60 day window with II is to have an ongoing search that is started at least a year prior to the time requested. That's even more true with DVC given that you don't have direct access to RCI.I've been dealing with RCI since 2003 and believe me, I've used the wait list/search options. I had a search once for over a year and nothing ever opened up. It made me a little suspicious....hmmmmmmmmm.
