II Accommodation Certificate?

SnowDogDad · Apr 3, 2016

I have been an II member for 2 years or so, but have never traded a week before. I got a mailer from Interval asking me to deposit a week and if I do before the deadline, I'll get an Accommodation Certificate.

From reading the threads, these seem highly desirable. Has anyone used an Accommodation Certificate before? Are they easy to use? Do they have a lot of restrictions?

dioxide45 · Apr 3, 2016

They used to be highly desirable and some people still clamor for them. IMO, they have lost their luster. If you have no usual intention of depositing the week, don't let the AC lure you. ACs offered for a deposit usually have tiered pricing. Meaning using it for a studio is fairly cheap, but the price goes up as the unit size goes up and a 2BR or 3BR unit can be rather pricey.

They are also usually grid restricted, but the grids on these tend to drop off within 59, 45, 30 or 14 days depending on the AC. If you can travel last minute and have lots of time and patience looking at II very often, you can usually snag a pretty good deal.

DeniseM · Apr 3, 2016

Maybe, as a Marriott owner, you will get better AC's than the standard AC's. But as a Starwood owner, I have received several AC's from II, and never used any of them.

The standard AC is very restricted, and you can usually only use it for resorts/areas with over supply. You can't use it for prime resorts.

When you get one, and go through the steps to use it, you get a list of resorts that are available (Tuggers call this a grid.) I have never seen anything I wanted, and the fee is higher than a normal exchange fee.

If you are retired and flexible about when and where you go, you may get some use out of it, but I thought the choices were mediocre.

lily28 · Apr 4, 2016

I deposited a marriott last October and got a 2 bedroom AC which is grid restricted. When I first check, I can get 2-3 bedroom marriott in Orlando for June and August and Aruba in June. Now orlando is not on the grid at all from June to August. Very disappointed at loss of power on AC given for deposit.

mdurette · Apr 4, 2016

If you were planning on depositing the week anyway, then certainly deposit the week in the time frame they want to get the AC. I have always been able to use the ACs they give for deposits.

But, if it wasn't your intention to deposit, just stick with whatever your original plan was.

Bwolf · Apr 4, 2016

What Mdurette said.

twinmommy19 · Apr 4, 2016

Marriott opted out of participation in most ACs with a few limited exceptions as of mid March per my II rep a few weeks ago. This significantly devalues the ACs IMO. They used to be great for confirming studios and shoulder season. I suppose you could still snag a deal at a nice privately owned resort during flex period but the value is significantly reduced now.

hjtug · Apr 4, 2016

SnowDogDad said:
I have been an II member for 2 years or so, but have never traded a week before. I got a mailer from Interval asking me to deposit a week and if I do before the deadline, I'll get an Accommodation Certificate.

From reading the threads, these seem highly desirable. Has anyone used an Accommodation Certificate before? Are they easy to use? Do they have a lot of restrictions?

Have you read this thread where II ACs were discussed in 2014?: http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214517&highlight=What's+great

SnowDogDad · Apr 4, 2016

Thanks for all the feedback. (And the link to the previous thread.)

I was planning to deposit a week anyway. Good to know about the restrictions / limitations of the AC up-front though. I'll hopefully be able to use it.

Jim

Chucez · Apr 8, 2016

Interval Certificates

I have received several over the years. They are just like a deposit, good luck being able to redeem it.

BostonKingB · Apr 25, 2016

twinmommy19 said:
Marriott opted out of participation in most ACs with a few limited exceptions as of mid March per my II rep a few weeks ago. This significantly devalues the ACs IMO. They used to be great for confirming studios and shoulder season. I suppose you could still snag a deal at a nice privately owned resort during flex period but the value is significantly reduced now.

this is hugely disappointing. Are there any "Great" resorts left that take Accomodation certificates? I saw that all of the Hyatt properties are out... I couldn't find anything in Bermuda either.

BostonKingB · Apr 25, 2016

twinmommy19 said:
Marriott opted out of participation in most ACs with a few limited exceptions as of mid March per my II rep a few weeks ago. This significantly devalues the ACs IMO. They used to be great for confirming studios and shoulder season. I suppose you could still snag a deal at a nice privately owned resort during flex period but the value is significantly reduced now.

this is hugely disappointing. Are there any "Great" resorts left that take Accomodation certificates? I saw that all of the Westin and Hyatt properties are out too...

dioxide45 · Apr 25, 2016

I would think that the Royal and Videnta properties in Mexico participate.

tschwa2 · Apr 25, 2016

DeniseM said:
Maybe, as a Marriott owner, you will get better AC's than the standard AC's. But as a Starwood owner, I have received several AC's from II, and never used any of them.

Denise, are you offered them as a deposit incentive (deposit your fixed week starwood that falls between dates x and y by date z and receive an AC), or only as the random just because or make and any exchange or buy a specific getaway? I ask because I thought Starwood weeks never received AC's as a deposit incentive but maybe it is just float weeks that never receive the offers.t

Deposit AC's are little less restrictive- usually you can make a request for locations on the grid and the grid falls off at 59 days but they still don't have a lot of pull and can be more expensive to redeem than some of the others which truly only match to smaller, lesser properties in areas with a lot of excess inventory.

DeniseM · Apr 25, 2016

They are random - not deposit incentives, and you have to use the grid.

II Accommodation Certificate?

SnowDogDad

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert

DeniseM

lily28

mdurette

Sighting Expert & TUG Review Crew: Expert

Bwolf

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

twinmommy19

hjtug

TUG Review Crew: Expert

SnowDogDad

Chucez

TUG Review Crew

BostonKingB

BostonKingB

dioxide45

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tschwa2

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DeniseM