Exchange companies.

kjk

I can never find anything available for the places I would like to go anymore with RCI. Examples: Bermuda, Florida Keys, and the Colorado mountains a few months out.

Last week I did search after search for different places all over that we have traveled to in the past and... NOTHING.

It used to be so much easier. What has happened?

Evidently you're searching for hard to get areas/times (exchanging is all about supply and demand) within a short time frame of only a few months. I do know that Key West is hard to get in an exchange.

The successful key to exchanging is to plan your destinations at least a year in advance, deposit your timeshare and repeatedly keep checking for what is available or you can perform an ongoing search. You can do an ongoing serarch yourself online or get a guide to do it.

Also, I think the proliferation of many new timeshare resorts has had an impact on exchanging. It seems that most exchangers want the same hard to get areas, and the people that prevail in getting those exchanges are those that plan far in advance.

Many people don't care to plan vacations a year or more in advance, but in timesharing that's what you have to do in order to get what you want.

darrellvickiek wrote:

I can never find anything available for the places I would like to go anymore with RCI. Examples: Bermuda, Florida Keys, and the Colorado mountains a few months out.

Last week I did search after search for different places all over that we have traveled to in the past and... NOTHING.

It used to be so much easier. What has happened?

jayjay wrote:

Evidently you're searching for hard to get areas/times (exchanging is all about supply and demand) within a short time frame of only a few months. I do know that Key West is hard to get in an exchange.

The successful key to exchanging is to plan your destinations at least a year in advance, deposit your timeshare and repeatedly keep checking for what is available or you can perform an ongoing search. You can do an ongoing serarch yourself online or get a guide to do it.

Also, I think the proliferation of many new timeshare resorts has had an impact on exchanging. It seems that most exchangers want the same hard to get areas, and the people that prevail in getting those exchanges are those that plan far in advance.

Many people don't care to plan vacations a year or more in advance, but in timesharing that's what you have to do in order to get what you want.

darrellvickiek wrote:

I can never find anything available for the places I would like to go anymore with RCI. Examples: Bermuda, Florida Keys, and the Colorado mountains a few months out.

Last week I did search after search for different places all over that we have traveled to in the past and... NOTHING.

It used to be so much easier. What has happened?

Well actually we deposited our weeks several years in advance, and I did searches way out time wise (over a year) for many areas. I just listed a few as examples. I probably searched 10 different areas in all. I did searches for many areas in many time frames. I was stunned that I came up with nothing. This year RCI ended up giving us a week in our own time share as an exchange, which of course, is rather a waste of money on our part. That has happened twice now, and I can say with 90% certainty that we won't be using RCI any more after we finish up with them this go around. They simply don't deliver any more, and time after time, they don't have anything, but never fail to give another sales pitch, which I can't begin to describe how annoying that is. RCI used to be great, not so anymore.

Anyhow Jayjay, in one sense you did tell me something I needed to hear, if you CAN NOT get a time share when planning a vacation with less than a year's notice, then RCI simply doesn't work for us.

That's the mantra of many RCI and II members these days (can't get preferred exchanges).

I don't believe you have to plan a year or more in advance for ALL exchanges, just those exchanges that are hard to get (supply and demand). You mentioned popular areas such as Burmuda and Key West.

Timesharing may not be for you any longer if you can't get the exchanges you prefer. Many people are bailing out (selling) due to not being able to snag an exchange they want. It may be time to sell and merely rent in the future .... less hassle.

darrellvickiek wrote:

Anyhow Jayjay, in one sense you did tell me something I needed to hear, if you CAN NOT get a time share when planning a vacation with less than a year's notice, then RCI simply doesn't work for us.

We have a studio w/II, at a Jersey shore timeshare, with a week mid August; Last time we got our II book, they no longer had a rating system, so not sure where we rate comparatively anymore. But my mom belongs to RCI, owns in Bermuda, at St. Georges, week in early May...we're all going to wedding in August. Figured we'd use our timeshares and stay a week as well. I got a one bedroom that has a loft, a private bedroom plus a murphy bed and sofa bed; my mom couldn't get anything. we all deposited the same time. So, II seems to have worked out well for us. We've always traded up when we exchage. Usually getting 2 and/or 3 bedrooms, banking January or so, although this year didn't know about this wedding till March so banked late. We didn't need as big a place this year since it's only three of us going, but I'm happy w/II's service. The price is excessive, but not as much as RCI! May try one of the independents though...didn't realize it was possible. Thanks all!

Could someone tell me what II is? I am an RCI member with weeks in a great spot near Toronto but always have trouble exchanging. Anyone else the same?

deec20 wrote:

Could someone tell me what II is? I am an RCI member with weeks in a great spot near Toronto but always have trouble exchanging. Anyone else the same?

II stand for Interval International. I think these boards have plenty of stories about exchange problems with RCE. Worth reading. We have already decided to not space bank weeks with RCI, as the exchange program hasn't been working for us, so there is no point to spending money on their membership. As I said in an earlier post, we are spending money to trade weeks and we end up getting weeks at our own timeshare because supposedly there is nothing else available.

Not a deal in any sense of the word.

Alisonj5;

Is the timeshare exchange company you refer to one that deals only with New Zealand properties?

Will you also please provide the website (or email contact) for this company?

Thanks,

Kathi

If the copmany you are asking about is II, then Interval International's website is www.intervalworld.com They deal with places all over the world and continental US

darrellvickiek wrote:

jayjay wrote:

Evidently you're searching for hard to get areas/times (exchanging is all about supply and demand) within a short time frame of only a few months. I do know that Key West is hard to get in an exchange.

The successful key to exchanging is to plan your destinations at least a year in advance, deposit your timeshare and repeatedly keep checking for what is available or you can perform an ongoing search. You can do an ongoing serarch yourself online or get a guide to do it.

Also, I think the proliferation of many new timeshare resorts has had an impact on exchanging. It seems that most exchangers want the same hard to get areas, and the people that prevail in getting those exchanges are those that plan far in advance.

Many people don't care to plan vacations a year or more in advance, but in timesharing that's what you have to do in order to get what you want.

darrellvickiek wrote:

I can never find anything available for the places I would like to go anymore with RCI. Examples: Bermuda, Florida Keys, and the Colorado mountains a few months out.

Last week I did search after search for different places all over that we have traveled to in the past and... NOTHING.

It used to be so much easier. What has happened?

Well actually we deposited our weeks several years in advance, and I did searches way out time wise (over a year) for many areas. I just listed a few as examples. I probably searched 10 different areas in all. I did searches for many areas in many time frames. I was stunned that I came up with nothing. This year RCI ended up giving us a week in our own time share as an exchange, which of course, is rather a waste of money on our part. That has happened twice now, and I can say with 90% certainty that we won't be using RCI any more after we finish up with them this go around. They simply don't deliver any more, and time after time, they don't have anything, but never fail to give another sales pitch, which I can't begin to describe how annoying that is. RCI used to be great, not so anymore.

Anyhow Jayjay, in one sense you did tell me something I needed to hear, if you CAN NOT get a time share when planning a vacation with less than a year's notice, then RCI simply doesn't work for us.

Sorry about your exchange problems. Is the property you are exchanging a Gold or Silver rank or unrated with RCI? A Red, a White, or a Blue week? If you are exchanging weeks, not RCI Points, these factors make a big difference.

MD

I am a member of DAE. This is a very rewarding club to be in. www.daelive.com is the website. Membership is FREE. Just check the website contacts to join up. There are offices in UK, Australia and NZ, Mexico and recently a new one in Arizona. Two years ago, after waiting for several months for RCI to help, I exchanged into Scotland at a few months notice through DAE at premium time, June, receiving a good sized unit sleep 6 in exchange for my own similar one in New Zealand. Since then, from the website I regularly access the BONUS WEEK list, (just follow the easy directions after you have logged in). These Bonus weeks are short notice 7day stays, costing from $110NZ ($US70) to $380NZ/week and only available over the next 8 week period, so I check every week. This is great for people who cannot book a year away. Obviously, the easiest bonus weeks to book are the studios or 1BR. However, you just research the resort to find if the amenity level is satisfactory. You are NOT required to exchange anything for a Bonus week - just pay. I have booked 2 weeks for myself in our winter (ski area), and 2 different weeks for my married sons. These 4 weeks cost me $690NZ - about $US470 total. Bonus weeks are available in all other countries. If you watch every week you get familiar with what is happening according to the seasons, school holidays, skiing, etc. and your SPEEDY DECISIONS DO COUNT. Obviously, winter breaks are easier to find than summer. I find that bonus weeks are so cheap that I can pay for 7 days, but only take a long weekend and it is still more economical than a hotel/motel, usually with extra room and amenities. You may search and confirm your own exchange holidays, purchase bonus weeks or book rental weeks on line. By the way, I still belong to RCI (just in case!) and my parents have membership with II. We always like to have 1 weeks banked with RCI or II for any long-term as yet unplanned holiday, as they still command the largest worldwide inventories. Its just that DAE gives us the best of both worlds - shortplan bonus holls - and longterm bookings of 'exchange weeks' where you DON'T HAVE TO BANK YOUR OWN WEEK into the system until DAE have confirmed your holiday. This effectively means you can have two legs in two different camps until you have confirmed your choice. There may be a considerable advantage in having less members, in that there is less pressure on good holiday picks.

Hi Alisonj5:

Thanks so much for all the good information. I belong to II, but will certainly check into DAE.

Kathi

RCI seems more interested in its ever increasing network of rental sites to rent out our spacebank deposits to the general public than in its original business as an exchange company. That's why exchanges have been going to the dogs ever since Cendant took over RCI, and it is also why there is now a class action lawsuit against RCI to try to put a stop to this ripoff of RCI members.

For better and more honest service, try one of the independents: www.daelive.com www.htse.net www.platinuminterchange.com www.sfx-resorts.com www.tradingplaces.com www.interchange-timeshare.com.au

I know it might seem like a secret... but RedWeek also has an exchange program that allows banking of weeks and some unique features that you will not find with other exchanges. Small now but not for long.

randy wrote:

I know it might seem like a secret... but RedWeek also has an exchange program that allows banking of weeks and some unique features that you will not going find with other exchanges. Small now but not for long.

roy128 wrote:

randy wrote:

I know it might seem like a secret... but RedWeek also has an exchange program that allows banking of weeks and some unique features that you will not going find with other exchanges. Small now but not for long.

Thanks, Randy. We have been trying to get you folks to evaluate our week at Sanibel for several weeks, but have not received a response. Please let me know what is happening??

Hi Roy,

If you log into RedWeek.com and go to "Your Account" you should see that there are two expired offers. Your email account must have filtered the offers but we sent them to you. You should submit new valuations, then if you haven't received an e-mail from us within 24 hours, check Your Account, where you will see it in the "awaiting offer acceptance" count when it's ready or "pending valuation" if we haven't submitted it yet.

Thanks, Marty

I went to DAE's website and put in Florida to see what FL resorts they have. When you click on the resort some of them don't show any photo. I didn't see any rating whatsoever such as so many stars or gold crown, etc. And I didn't see any reviews.

I am currently with RCI and definitely use their rating system, photos, reviews when deciding which resort to choose.

Can anyone fill me in on this with DAE? Joan

------- I used various Resort Directories/Info (incl RCI's online one) to identify resorts I'd like to excahnge to, then put in my request to DAE. DAE rang to ask me to refine my list - some resorts they were unlikely to get, but of the others on my list, they said if I could Identify which wa my first preference - they would probably be able to secure it for me - and they DID.

For me, I like DAE for no membership fees, good service, lower exchange fees (and the option of AUD$8 insurance fee to allow cancellation for any reason with full refund of exchange fee plus re-banking of my week).

Here's the rub with RCI, even if I deposit early I still have problems. If you want to plan way in advance they won't let you do exchanges longer than 24 months away. So what is the magical amount of time that is not too short but less than 24 months to be trying to do your search thru RCI. I don't like the idea of having my week tied up by depositing it as a "search" while they are looking for a hotel room in for Manhattan, NY when I know they probably won't be able to find it. Joan

------------------------------------------------------------- Evidently you're searching for hard to get areas/times (exchanging is all about supply and demand) within a short time frame of only a few months. I do know that Key West is hard to get in an exchange. ...

...Many people don't care to plan vacations a year or more in advance, but in timesharing that's what you have to do in order to get what you want.

I have been a member of RCI ever since we bought our timeshare resale about 4 years ago. But when I look for exchanges for my week 24, 2 bdroom unit at Powhatan Plantation in Williamsburg, VA there's lots of places I never seem to be able to go so always end up in Orlando. I'd like to be able to go to the beach areas in MD, DE, and NJ.

So I am considering depositing this next time with II. That would mean that I have some weeks deposited with RCI and then 2 new weeks deposited with II. Has anyone else done this, using both RCI & II at the same time for their unit (but different years deposited)? Is it too confusing? Pros/ Cons?

thanks for your help. Joan