Exchanging into specific resort.

Is it possible for me to exchange to a specific resort? How can that be done being that when I place the exchange request in II, I need a minimum of 3 resorts? Also, for next year, I want to make sure I maximize my trading power. Dave wrote that I should consider using "Request First" rather than depositing my week, how does that work?
Thanks

Assuming you own a resort that uses Interval and that you have a current Interval membership it is possible to exchange into a specific resort. Because it is possible does NOT mean that you will be successful in exchanging into a resort. Popular resorts like Grande Ocean in the summer, Ocean Pointe in March, Maui Ocean Club, etc are a very difficult exchange.

When you do a Request First with II you can always cancel the request if it is not filled and use the week you reserved at your home resort. With a Deposit you lose that week, although you have 2 years after the date of the reservation to make an exchange with Interval.

You do not have to pick 3 resorts when you make a exchange request. Obviously your chances for an exchange are higher when you pick 3 resorts. The catch is that you more than likely won't get the resort you want. I have yet to request more than 1 resort in doing a successful exchange. The KEY is to plan ahead. Those that plan 12 months out will have a much greater chance of exchanging into a high demand resort.

I cannot answer your question on maximizing your trading power specifically without any more facts. I can say that the quality of the resort and a reservation in peak season, (I.E. a beach week in the summer, ski week in the winter) will give you the greatest advantage in exchanging.

Hope that helps a little...

Elden

Flexibility

I too have been highly successful in exchanging into only one designated resort, though it's always been in the Marriott system rather than to other II resorts. I have found that if I can be flexible with dates and don't require a week that everyone in the world wants (Spring Break, for example), I usually get what I want by specifying a two or three week window at less than peak time.

This has worked exchanging into the Waiohai Beach Club, where I did a Request First using my gold week at MCV, which I was told I would never get. My brother exchanged a studio in Breckinridge, CO (third week in April) for the full 2 BR Waiohai at the same time, using Deposit First -- he's retired so has the ultimate in time flexibility. Both of us were called frequently by II to alter our requests, but patience ruled out.

lisilv said:

Is it possible for me to exchange to a specific resort? How can that be done being that when I place the exchange request in II, I need a minimum of 3 resorts?

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II asks that you give them 3 exchanges requests. Those 3 can be three requests for 3 different weeks at the same resort.

Also, for next year, I want to make sure I maximize my trading power.

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To get max trading power, reserve the best week you can at your home resort, request other marriott resort where marriott preferance will greatly help you, deposit it early into II and deposit the biggest unit you can (don't lock off).

Good Luck

lisilv is correct that if you try to make a request on-line, they require you to either put in three resorts or three time periods before you can click through & finish. However, when you call II, they will put in your request for just one resort & time period if you wish.

Jan

Sometimes II will accept exchanges for a single resort and week, other times they will not. If they don't, many TUGGERS use a simple solution. Put in requests for resorts and/or weeks that you know won't be filled or you couldn't pass up if they were. DVC for Xmas and Easter, Maui Marriott, Four Seasons, etc. There is no rule that the requests need to be related or even feasible.

What is my likelihood of exchanging an Ocean Pointe NY week for 2007 week 35 to Grande Ocean or Ocean Watch? Do I increase my chance if I deposit first adn deposit early? My date is NOT flexible.

I would say your chances are reasonable, but not great, because of the very narrow window that you’ll accept. Week 35 (9/1-8) is the first week of summer-end Gold season at GO and likely one of the two most in-demand Gold weeks at GO. I don't think there are many owners that exchange that week, at least based on reports here and at GO owner meetings. Week 35 is not such a peak Gold week at OW (because there are two August weeks included in Gold season), so I'm guessing that you'll have a better chance there.

There will be some weeks available for exchange then, so it all depends on where you stand on the pecking order as to the strength of your week. That means making your request with the very best week you can. Assuming "NY" means a New Year's week for 2006, you should make your request now. Your trading power is maximized by depositing (or using request-first) as early as possible, preferably a full year in advance of the date for your home resort week. Thus, you should have already deposited your week. Do it today.

Normally, it doesn't matter whether you use deposit-first or request-first in getting a successful exchange. However, in this case, you should use deposit-first, because it's quite likely that your own 2006 week would expire before the exchange is confirmed.

jancurious said:

lisilv is correct that if you try to make a request on-line, they require you to either put in three resorts or three time periods before you can click through & finish. However, when you call II, they will put in your request for just one resort & time period if you wish.

Jan

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You can also request one online. Once you have selected 3 resorts and paid for your transaction. Just go back online and edit your pending request and delete the two dates you don't want. GL.....

Or you can just enter the same resort code three times. I have done this before and it works. Good luck.

deposited today my OP New Year 2006, was not required to request 3 resorts - we'll see how successful I will be.
Thanks for the advice.

This is a very hard system to learn great information and I am going to save this thread for future advice.