What Timeshare offers free II membership?

I am researching a TS that will complement what I have. I want to have access to II resorts without paying II membership fees if possible, and want a powerful II trader. Please give me some ideas on what to buy, what will trade best. I was considering Marriott and DVC but my DH thinks those are too pricey. So please give other alternatives. I had considered trading my Sheraton Vistana with II but don't know how powerful a trade that will be. Also what are the fees to join II?

Which Vistana do you have? If its Vistana Resort, it won't be very good. PGA will trade much better with II.

Take in account that nothing is "free". DVC gives you free II membership, sort of. They give you access to II, but they control all aspects of the trade. You actually don't have a membership, you use thier corporate membership.

Starwood also inculdes the II membership, but you pay SVN dues and they control the deposits for your exchanges.

If you purchase Marriott from the developer, you receive a free 1 yr membership to II. For me, that was worthless since I am going to my property in the first year. I used the year to familiarize myself with II for future trading.

Surrey Grand crowne resorts in Branson pays II membership for all owners. I have owned there for years and never paid II . As far as a trader it just does ok like almost all Branson. It is a Five star resort so I guess that helps some.

Hope this helps
Steve

I wouldnt let a free II membership sway me into buying a particular resort. Membership in II is only around $70 a year if purchasing a three or five year membership.

lprstn said:

I am researching a TS that will complement what I have. I want to have access to II resorts without paying II membership fees if possible, and want a powerful II trader. Please give me some ideas on what to buy, what will trade best. I was considering Marriott and DVC but my DH thinks those are too pricey. So please give other alternatives. I had considered trading my Sheraton Vistana with II but don't know how powerful a trade that will be. Also what are the fees to join II?

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I believe that membership in II is $64 per year.

Fairfield has a few resorts that trade via II (definitely Star Island and Governor's Green, not sure of others), but Fairfield will only pay for one membership and since you owned Bonnet Creek first, I believe they will only pay for RCI for you.

I own Star Island but haven't had the need to trade yet, so I can't speak for the trading power of this resort in II.

Good point about not buying for free II membership. Hmmm, I have think more on this. I own at the Sheraton Vistana (Fountains section). I am going to call Sheraton to see if I can deposit what I already have into II next year and just purchase the II membership. I will keep you posted as this would be the cheapest option.

Even though a Marriott resale will be more expensive becasue of ROFR, don't completely discount it. The Marriott 24 day priority window is awfully nice and can help get real nice trades. We just traded a Palm Desert summer season unit for Newport Coast, practically swapping exact dates (very end of August, first week of September) for this year. Really looking forward to it. I'm sure we got it because of the 24 day priority.

There are also other exchange companies that you can use that have no fee to join like SFX and TPI. What is your motivation for using II? If it is specifically to trade into Marriott or Westin then you will need to own one of those to get the best exchanges because of the priority II allows owners. Your Vistana would be subject to blocks on DVC trades and I have a hunch it doesn't have a lot of trade power for general use, either. II has a bunch of trade restrictions and priority agreements that make exchanging a game of Stratego. Buying a Marriott simply to use for exchange is a rather expensive route to follow. Lower cost Marriotts probably don't trade well for the ones in high demand.

You could always buy a 1 year membership just to test the water with your Vistana. If you don't like what you see, you can cancel your membership and get a refund.

lprstn said:

I am researching a TS that will complement what I have. I want to have access to II resorts without paying II membership fees if possible, and want a powerful II trader. Please give me some ideas on what to buy, what will trade best. I was considering Marriott and DVC but my DH thinks those are too pricey. So please give other alternatives. I had considered trading my Sheraton Vistana with II but don't know how powerful a trade that will be. Also what are the fees to join II?

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WorldMark (WM) doesn't have free II, but for the money it seem to be a great trader in II. Also you can use your points to go to any of the 50+ WM resorts.