Making Lemonade from those Lemons we bought.....

[GrayFal]

Okay....remember that first developer purchase that you made?

The one they SWORE you could trade into anything in the II book.....?

WoW - this is great,,,,I can deposit week 2 in Hilton Head and get week 10 in Hawaii or Harborside or the Westin St John or Southern California in July....or even Hilton Head in August.....

WHAT a great thing!

So now, reality has set in, you have found this isn't happening, you have found internet TS sites like TS4Ms and heard from a variety of people that it is NOT going to happen....so what do you do???

MAXimize your time.....look in the II book to check the index at the beginning of each section - to see when the HIGHest demand for your season is.
I am surprised sometimes when I look - but also keep in mind that some Holidays float - like Easter - every year so this can effect the index.

Call Marriott Customer Service EXACTLY on the day your week will be released...there are other people who have figured this out, too....so don't be disappointed by trying to reserve a GOOD week 6 months out. You want to travel Sunday, April 8, 2007 - call on Thursday April 6, 2006 to reserve the Friday 4/6, Saturday 4/7 and Sunday 4/8 check-in.

Deposit early with II - 12 months out for optimal trading power....deposits received before or AT the 12 month mark have highest trading power...it decreases from there with the next 'drop off' at 10 months, then 8 months then 6 months....

Request EARLY - be the first online for your requests....13-14 months ahead has worked for me.

Know when your requested resort owners depoit with II - an example of this is the Royal Resorts in Cancun. Owners there deposit 2 years ahead of use date...I got my Presidents week 2007 exchange to the Royal Sands in March 2005

Be willing to pay an additional exchange fee to get a 2BR many times I will see a resort online that I want to trade into but I want a 2BR for my 2BR deposit...and my GOLD but II RED week won't pull a 2BR.....or the resort....such as Desert Springs I & II - usually only shows studios and 1BRs deposited...eeven in the off season.
Call the II Marriott Desk and ask them to give you the 1BR for your $89 exchange fee and offer to pay an additional $89 to get the studio, too.
I have done this at Marriott Shadow Ridge with a non-Marriott 2BR ($121+121 exchange fee) - but it also works with Marriott weeks.

Check the sightings on this website and even if you can't go this year, write down when these weeks appeared and the time frame...and make a plan to request that resort next year. Example - Harborside at Atlantis deposits Jan, May & Sept/Oct weeks....DVC deposits a lot of Fall and January weeks...Four Seasons Aviara - May & October......

I hope these are helpful tips and others with less then WONDERFUL weeks will post their experiences and strategies, too.

[GrayFal]

Here is some of the trades I made with my 'lemon'

Exchange
Marriott's Fairway Villas at Seaview • MFV
Unit: TOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 52
Sat, December 27, 2003
Sat, January 03, 2004
Confirmed To:
Marriott's Grande Vista Resort • MGR
Unit: THMV (2 bedrooms)
Week: 7 Fri, February 13, 2004 Presidents Week
Fri, February 20, 2004
I own at Grande Vista but since it trades VERY WELL - I use my MFV to trade back in for 2BR units

Exchange
Marriott's Fairway Villas at Seaview • MFV
Unit: TOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 50
Fri, December 14, 2001
Fri, December 21, 2001
Confirmed To:
Marriott's Manor Club Sequel • MSE
Unit: ZZAA (2 bedrooms)
Week: 39 Sat, September 27, 2003
Sat, October 04, 2003
My parents used this week and the 6 rounds of free golf

Exchange
Marriott's Fairway Villas at Seaview • MFV
Unit: TOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 14
Sun, April 04, 2004
Sun, April 11, 2004
Confirmed To:
Marriott's Village d'Ile de France • MVF
Unit: DTOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 9 Fri, February 27, 2004
Fri, March 05, 2004
This was my sons college spring break....he and 6 friends traveled to Paris and Italy for 10 days

Exchange
Marriott's Fairway Villas at Seaview • MFV
Unit: TOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 52
Sat, December 27, 2003
Sat, January 03, 2004
Confirmed To:
The Royal Caribbean • RCB
Unit: D1115 (2 bedrooms)
Week: 21 Sat, May 22, 2004
Sat, May 29, 2004
Family Trip after kids home from College

Marriott's Fairway Villas at Seaview • MFV
Unit: TOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 14
Fri, April 08, 2005
Fri, April 15, 2005
Confirmed To:
Marriott's Custom House • MCU
Unit: OBVI (1 bedroom)
Week: 20 Fri, May 20, 2005
Fri, May 27, 2005
Sons College Graduation

Marriott's Fairway Villas at Seaview • MFV
Unit: TOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 14
Fri, April 08, 2005
Fri, April 15, 2005
Confirmed To:
Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara • FSA
Unit: UUU2 (2 bedrooms)
Week: 18 Sun, May 01, 2005
Sun, May 08, 2005
Got this thanks to a sighting on TUG

Marriott's Fairway Villas at Seaview • MFV
Unit: TOVI (2 bedrooms)
Week: 14
Sat, April 08, 2006
Sat, April 15, 2006
Confirmed To:
Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas • WM1
Unit: 3111 (1 bedroom)
Week: 13 March 26, 2006
Sun, April 02, 2006
I could have gotten a 2BR here but my friends were undecided...and i missed out..great area in high season

So what GREAT trades have you gotten????

[ArtsieAng]

Pat, thanks for all the info.

It seems that you were able to make some very good exchanges.

I am curios about you saying to request early, 13-14 month out. On my II account , it will say that I have a week available for deposit about 18 months in advance of my season. If I can only call Marriott to get a week 12 months out, what does this mean? And, how can I request 13-14 months out? Don't I need to wait till the 12 month time frame and first get my week?

thanks....

[Hostelling]

[quote=GrayFal]

Know when your requested resort owners depoit with II - an example of this is the Royal Resorts in Cancun. Owners there deposit 2 years ahead of use date...I got my Presidents week 2007 exchange to the Royal Sands in March 2005

Most of this I do. However how do I accomplish this step?

Daniel

[Glitter Brunello]

Originally Posted by artsieang

Pat, thanks for all the info.

It seems that you were able to make some very good exchanges.

I am curios about you saying to request early, 13-14 month out. On my II account , it will say that I have a week available for deposit about 18 months in advance of my season. If I can only call Marriott to get a week 12 months out, what does this mean? And, how can I request 13-14 months out? Don't I need to wait till the 12 month time frame and first get my week?

thanks....

Angela,

Yes you need to get your week first. BUT once you do that, you can request an exchange up to two years ahead of today's date. It won't get matched until a year out at the earliest, but you'll have queued up early.

Avery

[ArtsieAng]

Originally Posted by Avery

Angela,

Yes you need to get your week first. BUT once you do that, you can request an exchange up to two years ahead of today's date. It won't get matched until a year out at the earliest, but you'll have queued up early.

Avery

OK, thank you, now I understand. I actually did that unitentionally in 2005 on a week that we could not use. We ran out of vaction time for 2006, so I requested a week in 2007.( I still haven't gotten a confirmation.) I wasn't sure if I was missing something.

That is probably the best strategy for getting what you want. As long as you don't need the week for vacationing. I may plan on doing that with all my weeks.


Do you know what happens if you change your request. For instance, I have changed the dates on the request for 2007, and also added another location. I wasn't sure if the request is dated by the date you made your deposit, the original request, or the date of the last request?

Also, can you do this with your home resort? Can I make a request directly to Marriott for a week at my home resort, but for the following year, so that I am ahead of the people who are able to request 13 month out?


I know that I am asking lots of questions. I just want you to know that I really appreciate you taking out the time to answer.....thanks again.

[GrayFal]

Originally Posted by artsieang

Pat, thanks for all the info.

It seems that you were able to make some very good exchanges.

I am curios about you saying to request early, 13-14 month out. On my II account , it will say that I have a week available for deposit about 18 months in advance of my season. If I can only call Marriott to get a week 12 months out, what does this mean? And, how can I request 13-14 months out? Don't I need to wait till the 12 month time frame and first get my week?

thanks....

Originally Posted by Avery

Angela,

Yes you need to get your week first. BUT once you do that, you can request an exchange up to two years ahead of today's date. It won't get matched until a year out at the earliest, but you'll have queued up early.

Avery

Remember that mulitple week owners can reserve 13 months out and if they own 3 or 4 weeks and do lock-offs, deposits can go to II as early as 14 months from use date....again, early requests are better....your exchange could be confirmed at 13 months out when many people don't even request until 10 or 8 months out.
The early bird catches the best exchanges

[GrayFal]

Originally Posted by Hostelling

Most of this I do. However how do I accomplish this step?

Daniel

How do you exchange 2 years ahead or how do you know when resorts deposit?

[GrayFal]

Originally Posted by artsieang

That is probably the best strategy for getting what you want. As long as you don't need the week for vacationing. I may plan on doing that with all my weeks.

You really need to be a year ahead of yourself......that is what allows you to plan early....the first year we bought was 2001...but things did not REALLY come together until 2003 when we were in full exchange mode....LOL

Do you know what happens if you change your request. For instance, I have changed the dates on the request for 2007, and also added another location. I wasn't sure if the request is dated by the date you made your deposit, the original request, or the date of the last request?

I THINK it is based on your original request date.....BECAUSE....I have a request in for Aruba using a Marriott week that I put in Oct 2005 for Dec 2006 with about 6 resorts paying the $149 international exchange fee. Recently, I changed the request to only the 2 Marriotts....and when I asked if I could get a refund of my fee, they said no. I asked "What if I cancelled and put in a new request?" - II said I would then be 'in the back' of the request line so to keep my current request. It does make sense.

Also, can you do this with your home resort? Can I make a request directly to Marriott for a week at my home resort, but for the following year, so that I am ahead of the people who are able to request 13 month out?

Not sure what you mean?
You can take a current week you have reserved and exchange back into your home resort thru II...but you can't reserve your week until 12 months out or 13 months if you own 2 same season/time of year weeks.

I know that I am asking lots of questions. I just want you to know that I really appreciate you taking out the time to answer.....thanks again.

[ArtsieAng]

Thanks Pat,

I have to say, that for the first time since we purchased our timeshares, I feel as if I understand the system.

You, and others on this site have been more than gracious with your knowledge. I really appreciate the information and time that you all take out of your lives to educate people such as myself.

Pat, you have been so patient, and the information you have given me will help me and my family to take the vacations we have always wanted to take. I can't thank you enough.....That lunch I owe you has turned into a really nice dinner.

Thanks again.....