!!
I think the reason the direct exchange board hasn't been successful is that there are too many Hawaii owners who want to go elsewhere. There are a few other factors at work, too: the StarOptions system is terribly out-of-whack in terms of values of some resorts (i.e. St John) versus others (i.e. Hawaii). Many more people want to go to Harborside and St John than want to go to Hawaii, I think, because alot of the Harborside/St John owners live in the eastern half of the US and don't want to fly to Hawaii, and they love their home resorts and don't want to go anywhere else. When I can one day direct trade my THREE bedroom, PRIVATE POOL WSJ for an equivalent (in my mind) Harborside or, when my five year old is older - Hawaii/Maui property, then I will. Until then, we'll just keep using our 2 weeks in St John.
I also find it amusing that people think I would willingly trade my three bedroom property for a one bedroom - why do you think I spent the money for the three bedroom?!!
I know this has been discussed in other threads, but I don't think I could be persuaded to trade my WSJ 3 bedroom Hillside for one of the to-be-built, newer WSJ 3 bedrooms simply because we enjoy our private pool and courtyard too much; the newer units don't have them.
JMO, of course, feel free to disagree.
Lori