Walking the talk

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

as many of you know I have my issues with RCI and their treatment of weeks owners. The lack of inventory during primetime the uptick in rentals thru their various outlets. The upgrading to get into various areas. The downgrading of historical tiger traders.

So this is the year I am walking the talk.

I have Hawaii requests in for summer 2009 with Trading Places. TPI has already come thru with an exchange for the Kona Hawaiian Resort in July and I am waiting for a Maui match on either side of that exchange.

Friday I took advantage of the Primetime Rewards that DAE is offering. I gave them my Cape Cod summer and requested Puerto Rico for Easter 2009. The request is pending and I expect it will be for a while. They get the inventory from RHC.

Just wanted you all to know that not only do I support the Independents verbally but now am putting my vacations where my mouth is. The only reason it has taken me so long is I had vacations planned out for 2 years because of the way RCI forces you to plan so far ahead.

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

CONGRATS!!! I too have started using the independents. One more deposit with RCI tht expires in Dec 08 and I am done.

I have one more deposit with II and 2 AC's. Haven't decided whether I will stay or go. I requested a one time break to cancel an exchange I made Friday & didn't realize they closed at 8 pm on Saturdays (called at 8:06). Called first thing this morning and they refused to give me the break. That is what is nice about the independents - they are not so rigid with the rules.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

Most of my resorts only allow reservations at the 12 month mark. So far I have 2 prime time Scottsdale Sheraton weeks (March Spring training) that I know I won't be using. I am going to deposit them at TPI rather than II as I have done in the past. They get decent trades but no AC. I'm scaling back on long distance travel with the rising cost of gas and I know TPI can get me some nice exchanges in the west for the future. SFX has done okay for me as well. As the year progresses, and I can reserve my other resorts, I may deposit at SFX as well. I don't think I will use II much from now on.

[Joe L Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe L]

Lawren,
I don't trade my Royal Carib and am not a member of II. I am thinking about bailing on RCI with my Lowveld Lodge, SA. Which independant would be best for Lowveld?
Goulash lover Joe

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I have to say I have been happy with II - I do think it is very dependent on what u own - I have high end, middling and a very standard resort with them and I see a high variety of weeks and locations......

I also own Marriott and Starwood which has MAJOR advantages to trading thru II.

I like the quality of the II resorts but with my 'standard' resort, I see lots of European resorts I don't see with the others.....which I can use in the future to 'match' up with my Ireland week.

If I were interested in more western travel like chelle - I would definitely give TPI a try.

My 'standard' II resort will probably go in 2009 with DAE - it is one of the areas they identified as high demand and $1 exchange fee - so I think that is where it will go.

I don't have any more deposits with SFX - and will defer using them again until I want to return to a Grand Mayan or to San Fransisco...the fact u can not search online with them is a major negative for me - plus I usually want to go to a specific area during a specific week because of the way we travel ....and this is not their operating model.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren,
I don't trade my Royal Carib and am not a member of II. I am thinking about bailing on RCI with my Lowveld Lodge, SA. Which independant would be best for Lowveld?
Goulash lover Joe

Joe both TPI and DAE will take it. Just focus on where they go most when requesting your trade.