Suggestion for timeshare exchange

[cjhampton]

We are headed to Disney in April 2004 for the first time. We want to exchange our timeshare to help with costs. Of course the disney timeshares are not available. I would appreciate any suggestions on which timeshares would be good to look at and which ones to stay away from. I belong to II.

Thanks!

 

[MulanMom]

Thumbs up for the Marriott Grande Vista. Huge, beautiful resort on the lower, less congested section of International Drive. It's very near SeaWorld and WDW is only a short drive.

As a timeshare owner, have you ever heard of TUG (Timeshare Users' Group)? Their web address is www.tug2.net. Though their classified ads and message boards are free, there is a section whereby members post their experiences at timeshares all over the world. One tidbit I heard from there is it may be easier to pick up a cheap getaway week in Orlando rather than using your exchange week.

Hope this helps!

 

[Lisa P.]

Assuming you will be trading into a 2BR or larger, my personal preferences would be (more or less, in order):

--- any of the Disneys
--- any of the Marriotts
--- Sheraton's Vistana Villages
--- Star Island or Fairfield Star Island
--- Sunterra Cypress Pointe Grandvillas (location)
--- Orange Lake Country Club
--- Wyndham Palms

I think all of these are pretty nice and would provide a comfortable, clean & very pleasant resort for a home base. Good pools, attractively maintained resorts.

If none of those are available, then I'd consider:

--- Sheraton Vistana Resort
--- Polynesian Isles
--- Ron Jon/Liki Tiki
--- Sunterra Cypress Pointe (phase I)
--- Parkway International
--- Amerisuites VC at Calypso Cay

Personally, I'd avoid most of the others unless I really needed a certain date and there was very little to choose from at the last minute. Also, if you will be seeking a 1BR, then make sure you will have a full kitchen, not a partial or mini-kitchen. Full kitchens usually assure you of getting the better half of a larger lock-off unit. Considering the ease and low price of renting a studio from an owner (lower than your maint fees at your home resort), I wouldn't bother trading into one in Orlando. And don't accept a studio at Orange Lake for any reason - they don't have exterior windows, only window overlooking an interior common area. HTH.

 

[cjhampton]

Thank you for all the information. It is very helpful! When you say it is easy to rent a studio in Orlando area, how would I go about doing that?

 

[Lisa P.]

Try any of these sources for cheap rental weeks:

First... you belong to II, so visit the II website and search for available Getaway rental weeks. That's going to be your best source. If you will be going during a relatively quiet time frame, you will probably find plenty of options for reasonably priced II Getaway rentals in every unit size from studio through 3BRs. They are posted from a year ahead. The prices will drop in the last month or two prior to travel. In very quiet times, even DVC OKW may be found, especially studio weeks.

Next, look at other rental ads and websites:

TUG owner classifieds for rentals

Timeshare Classifieds

SkyAuction.com

Remember that these sources will not generally require a timeshare sales tour but they are also usually prepaid and non-refundable, unchangable later. If you will be renting from an owner, check with the resort that they are indeed an owner or obtain some kind of proof of their ability to rent the advertised week to you before forwarding payment.

If you are okay with a studio rental, you may consider just renting a DVC points reservation from a member here on DIS by looking at the Rent/Trade forum. Find out how many points you would need for your desired dates and multiple by $10 to get an approximate idea of what this would cost. Then decide if that's worth it to you. HTH!