Interval International Limited Exchange Activity

[spec1]

I'm new to this board and the whole timeshare thing. I almost made a huge mistake in buying HVC points from a sales pitch for $24k. Well, I did sign the contract, but just sent the letter to rescind it (within the allotted 6 day period). Anyway, that deal was obviously a very bad one as I now understand, but from reading and researching more, it seems that one can get a good deal by buying or taking over a resale, with the intent to exchange in Interval International.

However, I'm wondering, how realistic it is to get an exchange into properties that are labelled "Limited Exchange Activity". Specifically, I'm interested in the Franz Klammer Lodge in Telluride in summer (not the winter skiing season). It is showing on II with a TDI between 100 and 130 depending on summer week, so not the highest demand. I'm looking at points-based systems, so for example it should take 1,850 Hyatt points for 1-week 2-bedroom stay there (plus exchange fee). I'm just not sure if I can count on there being any availability. It is normally around $900/night, so would be great value to book with points.

Any advice or shared experience with exchanging points into "limited exchange activity" properties would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[bnoble]

I would never count on availability at any one specific resort--especially not one with "limited activity."

 

[tschwa2]

My guess is it gets limited deposits and they are all in mud season. Nothing in winter and nothing in summer and fall.
Limited often means there are years with 0-1 deposits.

 

[jwalk03]

Typically the properties that say limited exchange activity are almost never available to exchange. Sometimes they may be available to purchase as getaways, sometimes not.

 

[dioxide45]

The only resort we exchanged into that was listed as Limited Exchange Activity was Ocean 2 Resort in Barbados. It shows up often as getaways, but seldom as exchange. I suppose anything is possible, but I wouldn't count on that type of exchange year over year.

 

[Hindsite]

Remember that the ability to exchange ownership to II, or any other exchange, is not usually a contracted benefit and, as Hyatt and Welk owners have just experienced, the terms can be changed significantly, making your "investment" worth a lot less to you.
Over the years people have got use to discretionary benefits being consistently available, but they aren't guaranteed.

 

[spec1]

Thanks for responses everyone. In this specific case, looks like there is pretty much nothing in Telluride on II. Will need to explore other Colorado towns to see if a membership would be worth it, taking into account the risks. I'm finding the "resorts" listed on II are a very mixed bag. Some are quite high-end, others not so much. Of course, I expect the higher end ones to have worse availability.

By the way, I believe the Hyatt sales rep was lying that you can get any Hyatt or Marriott hotel room through II at the studio points rate? I've seen some discussions that booking hotels through II is usually a bad deal, is that so?

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Thanks for responses everyone. In this specific case, looks like there is pretty much nothing in Telluride on II. Will need to explore other Colorado towns to see if a membership would be worth it, taking into account the risks. I'm finding the "resorts" listed on II are a very mixed bag. Some are quite high-end, others not so much. Of course, I expect the higher end ones to have worse availability.

By the way, I believe the Hyatt sales rep was lying that you can get any Hyatt or Marriott hotel room through II at the studio points rate? I've seen some discussions that booking hotels through II is usually a bad deal, is that so?

Yeah they were lying. It’s a terrible use of points.

 

[dioxide45]

Thanks for responses everyone. In this specific case, looks like there is pretty much nothing in Telluride on II. Will need to explore other Colorado towns to see if a membership would be worth it, taking into account the risks. I'm finding the "resorts" listed on II are a very mixed bag. Some are quite high-end, others not so much. Of course, I expect the higher end ones to have worse availability.

By the way, I believe the Hyatt sales rep was lying that you can get any Hyatt or Marriott hotel room through II at the studio points rate? I've seen some discussions that booking hotels through II is usually a bad deal, is that so?

Very few Marriott hotels are in II. They sometimes show up in Getaways if the hotel owner has a private arrangement with II to help them sell excess inventory. But these are rare, very rare. You can't even use Hyatt Vacation Club points to convert to Bonvoy points since they are part of WOH.

 

[2rebecca]

^what they said. Plus, in my opinion, you're setting yourself up for disappointment if you enter the timesharing world with expectations of exchanging into a specific resort. The only way to guarantee you can stay at a specific resort is to own at that resort. I know they show new buyers an II Resort Directory and act like it is as easy as selecting a resort & week and hitting the exchange button, but it doesn't work that way. With timeshare trading, you're more likely to be successful if you're willing to cast a wide net and request multiple destinations, resorts, and dates.

 

[Travel4Fun00100]

I'm new to this board and the whole timeshare thing. I almost made a huge mistake in buying HVC points from a sales pitch for $24k. Well, I did sign the contract, but just sent the letter to rescind it (within the allotted 6 day period). Anyway, that deal was obviously a very bad one as I now understand, but from reading and researching more, it seems that one can get a good deal by buying or taking over a resale, with the intent to exchange in Interval International.

However, I'm wondering, how realistic it is to get an exchange into properties that are labelled "Limited Exchange Activity". Specifically, I'm interested in the Franz Klammer Lodge in Telluride in summer (not the winter skiing season). It is showing on II with a TDI between 100 and 130 depending on summer week, so not the highest demand. I'm looking at points-based systems, so for example it should take 1,850 Hyatt points for 1-week 2-bedroom stay there (plus exchange fee). I'm just not sure if I can count on there being any availability. It is normally around $900/night, so would be great value to book with points.

Any advice or shared experience with exchanging points into "limited exchange activity" properties would be appreciated! Thanks!

I've done around 10ish II exchanges from Harborside Resort at Atlantis (always exchanging my 1BR limited kitchen). I've gotten into plenty of II Elite resorts, and sometimes even gotten larger units, but almost always through requesting first and waiting. As far as limited exchange activity properties, I only had success once and that was with Grand Solmar Lands End Resort and Spa. Took multiple attempts and six months of waiting. I actually have Franz Klammer on a request right now, but am not holding my breath . Telluride is tough with all five of the resorts on II.