Need advise -First year usage (Strategy and Tips)

[sophyly]

Hi,

We are new to timeshare and next year will be the first year usage. We are flexible with locations and we wish to stay 3-4 weeks in USA during summer holiday preferably during end June-July.

I need advise and tips on how best to use our TS.

Our entry/departure will be from New York and we plan to rent a car to travel around. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 young kids.

Currently our TS are on closing and transfer, hopefully it will completed before year end. Follows are the TS:

2Br Grand Chateau
4000 Marriott Club Points (AP)
61000 RCI Points

The main cities we wish to explore are New York and Williamsburg. But we are happy to stay and explore other cities along the way. Any suggestions?

It is still possible to secure a reservation/trade for June-July?

 

[GregT]

Hi,

We are new to timeshare and next year will be the first year usage. We are flexible with locations and we wish to stay 3-4 weeks in USA during summer holiday preferably during end June-July.

I need advise and tips on how best to use our TS.

Our entry/departure will be from New York and we plan to rent a car to travel around. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 young kids.

Currently our TS are on closing and transfer, hopefully it will completed before year end. Follows are the TS:

2Br Grand Chateau
4000 Marriott Club Points (AP)
61000 RCI Points

The main cities we wish to explore are New York and Williamsburg. But we are happy to stay and explore other cities along the way. Any suggestions?

It is still possible to secure a reservation/trade for June-July?

Welcome to TUG!

Summer travel can be very busy and timeshare users will often plan 12 months in advance for their reservations. Because you own in Las Vegas, it may be necessary to trade using Interval International (II). Many timeshare users will make a reservation at their home resort (Grand Chateau for you) and then relinquish that week to II, called depositing the week. They then try to trade for another week through II, and they are subject to someone depositing the desired week into II on the other end of the trade.

You would be depositing Grand Chateau and requesting the Williamsburg property. Because you are now 8-9 months away, it's hard to assess how successful your desired trade will be. I specified Williamsburg because it's not the common to see the NY property in Interval International.

There is a property in NY, but summer travel has been pretty highly demanded, and you would be using your points to try and reserve there. I think you own Asia Pacific points, and I don't now how that system overlays with the U.S. properties.

I would read the FAQs sticky at the top of this forum. You own a good week and a good chunk of Marriott points, but timeshares do not work like hotels and it is a commitment to understand how to utilize them. Your 2021 travel experience, if you plan ahead, will likely be superior to your 2020 travel experience, so please consider that as part of the learning process.

One other thing to consider is to travel in Summer 2020 to a location where there are lots of timeshares (like Orlando) -- you should be successful trading into one of the many properties in Orlando -- the traditional urban destinations are much harder.

Good luck and I hope this is helpful!

Best,

Greg

 

[2rebecca]

I don't own a Marriott, so, I can't offer Marriott specific advice. However, I checked Williamsburg's availability on II and there are several units available in June/July 2020 at the Marriott. There are more 1-bedrooms than 2 bedrooms, which is typical since a lot of folks split their 2-bedroom units prior to depositing them into II. (The 1 bedrooms sleep 4.) Hard to say if those will still be available by the time your closing finalizes. If not, there is typically something available in Williamsburg, if you're open to staying at a non-Marriott. I'm searching with a non-Marriott that is rated lower than Grand Chateau, so your unit should have higher trading strength than mine and might see more than mine. Of course, that depends on the week you deposit. The good news is that Vegas doesn't have a huge swing in travel demand between the weeks like a lot of beach resorts, so even the lowest-demand weeks aren't bad. Also, as a Marriott owner, you'll have priority viewing of other Marriott units in II. Hope that helps.

 

[Fairwinds]

Great advise above. I would add that when people report that a property doesn’t show up in interval that just means that it is a popular property or season. It does not mean you can’t get what you want. When a popular week is deposited it will go to a ongoing search and will never be seen by the “instant trader search”. But with the Marriott preference your chances of a confirmation are good when placing a request. As previously mentioned next year could be tough depending on how soon you can place a request. In the future use the II golden rules of deposit early and request early, be patient and reap the rewards. GOOD LUCK!

 

[csalter2]

Although Williamsburg is popular, it’s very, very hot during summer. In fact it’s miserably hot! This, there should be good availability now.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Hi,

We are new to timeshare and next year will be the first year usage. We are flexible with locations and we wish to stay 3-4 weeks in USA during summer holiday preferably during end June-July.

I need advise and tips on how best to use our TS.

Our entry/departure will be from New York and we plan to rent a car to travel around. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 young kids.

Currently our TS are on closing and transfer, hopefully it will completed before year end. Follows are the TS:

2Br Grand Chateau
4000 Marriott Club Points (AP)
61000 RCI Points

The main cities we wish to explore are New York and Williamsburg. But we are happy to stay and explore other cities along the way. Any suggestions?

It is still possible to secure a reservation/trade for June-July?

Is your ownership list 3 different properties?
Is the 2 br grand chateau enrolled in the destination club?

It looks to me like you need to do 3 different transactions-

If your 2br chateau is not enrolled and you don’t want to stay there you need to deposit it into interval and exchange. As others have said you are not likely to find an exchange to NYC but there should be plenty of Williamsburg- and it’s hot! If you don’t find what you want on II place a request- call them or look under general discussion in the community for video tutorials.

Your Marriott destination points need to be used to reserve nights on the MVC site. There is a Marriott pulse location in NYC that you might look for.

And you need to use your RCI points to reserve something on that system.

Sorry if I’ve misinterpreted your situation.
Good luck.

 

[Dean]

Williamsburg, like Branson, LV & Orlando, is EASY to get into often even on short notice for RCI or II. I can't speak to NY. Maybe you could use the MVC points to reserve the Pulse NY. You should be able to get 2-3 weeks in Williamsburg by locking off your GC week and trading with II (2 weeks) and using RCI points for a third week. I'd use the RCI points and GC studio and save the 1 BR II deposit (once you deposit) if you don't need the entire 3 weeks. Realize getting something in NY is going to be difficult at this point and in general so you may want a backup plan for another option.