Need exchange co. advice asap. Thanks

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

- I called Untitled Document a few minutes ago. HTSE said I need to be a member and pay either $49/1 year, $125/3 year, or $199/5 year just to deposit. I forgot to ask what the exchange fees are. I mentioned I expect to be in Hawaii from all of Jan-March 2010. They said that is high season and they have nothing they can confirm yet as most depositers have not paid MF yet.

I don't know much about:
Trading Places International - Timeshare Rentals, Exchange, Resales, and Travel Services
SFX (we have a membership thru Mayan)

I am guessing DAELive.com Timeshare, Vacation Ownership & Points Clubs Exchange Service might be best but I don't want to make the same mistake as last year when I deposited 6 weeks with http://PlatinumInterchange.com and have only found one good week to redeem.


The first one needs to be banked ASAP.

1) Torres Mazatlan
Vacation Internationale
Check In: 13 Oct 2008
Check Out: 20 Oct 2008
7 nights

I think http://IntervalWorld.com takes deposits as points. Since the TM reservation is charging 1/2 points because of the DRI/VI dispute, it doesn't make sense to bank with II as is.

I had a 5 day reservation then didn't need it. I just added 2 nights. I will be charged $61 for 'maid points' as VI has 'condo points' and 'maid points' thus short reservations cost at least 91 maid points for a full cleaning. I can cancel the reservation but the 38.5 condo points must be used by 12/31/08 and I have no need for them this year.

2) A nice Las Vegas property. We own week 4 in January but we can get any available week 59 days or less in advance BUT they won't let an exchange company CONFIRM the reservation because they ONLY confirm week 4 exchanges. One exchange company told me they could take the week and noted for their employees not to confirm. But they called the TS.

Are there any other exchange companies that will accept weeks and allow the exchanger to go to the resort as the 'owner's guest.' The same exchange company told me if I gave them Velas Vallarta they knew people would rather get a 'guest letter' from us so they wouldn't have to pay AI.

3) A really nice Mexican resort. I internally banked the 2007 week. I didn't know last year that I could have deposited for RCI points. I deposited 2008 & 2009 for RCI points. The latest it can be used without additional fees is week 39 - 27 Sep - 4 Oct. It is now past the 60 day requirement for most exchange companies.

4) Playa Maria -Mazatlan, Mexico
we still have FIVE weeks we can bank but I am still trying to rent some
WEEK: 47 DATES: NOVEMBER 22-29 - Thanksgiving Week
WEEK: 48 DATES: NOVEMBER 29- DECEMBER 6
WEEK: 50 DATES: DECEMBER 13-20 2008
WEEK: 51 DATES: DECEMBER 20-27 2008 - Christmas Week
WEEK: 52 DATES: DECEMBER 27- JANUARY 3 2009 - New Years Week

5) Other weeks BUT I will probably deposit non-point RCI resorts into the RCI point for deposit program.

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

Trying to cut to the chase here flexi.

You want to deposit weeks and exchange for Hawaii in Jan/Feb/Mar 2010.

Strongly suggest TPI. They will take any deposit (the exception is the one where the exchanger would need to be your "guest". No one is going to take that.) They do not have a trade power assignment at this time and they get a lot of inventory in Hawaii. They have unit "upgrade fees". Also on a stickie in the forums, which I feel are reasonable.

Our members speak well of them.

You can get a Bonus week for each week you deposit if you use the code on the stickie in the forum and deposit + 60 days out.

Check the "Ask Trading Places" forum for more detail. Our representative from TPI is Marcie and she is an absolute doll to work with.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I agree with Lawren. Would like to add that II would probably be my last choice for consecutive winter months in Hawaii. HTSE also has good HI inventory, they manage, I believe, the Lawaii Beach Resort on Kauai and usually have weeks there.

Any gaps can be filled in through RCI in the 14 day window, if you don't mind a little nailbiting.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

I am not sure what you are asking

HTSE has great Hawaii space, as of today for your Jan-Mar 2009 period they have

Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 1/13/2009 1/20/2009 Studio/2
Kahana Falls Maui 1/16/2009 1/23/2009 Hotel Unit
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/15/2009 2/22/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/19/2009 2/26/2009 1B/4
RAVC Waikiki Oahu 2/23/2009 3/02/2009 1B/4
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/24/2009 3/03/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/25/2009 3/04/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/04/2009 3/11/2009 Studio/2
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/13/2009 3/20/2009 2B/6
Kona Billfisher Big Island 3/15/2009 3/22/2009 2B/6
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/20/2009 3/27/2009 2B/6
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/22/2009 3/29/2009 1B/4
RAVC Waikiki Oahu 3/23/2009 3/30/2009 1B/4
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/24/2009 3/31/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/24/2009 3/31/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/26/2009 4/02/2009 Studio/2
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/27/2009 4/03/2009 1B/4

Sonya has a low annual fee and a very low exchange fee, $89 iirc, she and the rest of her people are great to work with. ( Hi Sonya)


Trading Places manages several Hawaiian resorts, and normally has quite a bit of winter availability.

They also accept any deposit, their only trade power issue is size, if you deposit a 1 bedroom you can trade for a 1 bedroom or smaller, upsizing will incur an additional fee.

They also have a VEP ( club) for $129 a year, you get $20 off each exchange, a bonus week ($189 to redeem for same size unit 45 days prior) for every deposit over 60 days from start.


II and RCI are the biggest ponds, you might want to toss some deposits their way just to broaden your search areas.

Other than that, why not use your VI points ( the 1000 plus ) to make reservations on Maui, Big Island, and Oahu, as you didn't care for the resorts on Kauai?

jmho,

Greg

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

The first one needs to be banked ASAP.

1) Torres Mazatlan
Check In: 13 Oct 2008
Check Out: 20 Oct 2008
7 nights

I think II takes deposits as points. Since the TM reservation is charging 1/2 points because of the DRI/VI dispute, it doesn't make sense to bank with II as is.

Where did you get the info about TM at half points? It's currently only through Oct 31st, right?

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

Where did you get the info about TM at half points? It's currently only through Oct 31st, right?

When you mentioned the DRI fence, I was scheduling Mazatlan for October. I thought I needed some TM days to fill the gap of checkin/checkout days.

VI mentioned some issues at TM and said they are only charging 50% points until 10/31/2008.

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

HTSE has great Hawaii space, as of today for your Jan-Mar 2009 period they have

Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 1/13/2009 1/20/2009 Studio/2
Kahana Falls Maui 1/16/2009 1/23/2009 Hotel Unit
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/15/2009 2/22/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/19/2009 2/26/2009 1B/4
RAVC Waikiki Oahu 2/23/2009 3/02/2009 1B/4
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/24/2009 3/03/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/25/2009 3/04/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/04/2009 3/11/2009 Studio/2
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/13/2009 3/20/2009 2B/6
Kona Billfisher Big Island 3/15/2009 3/22/2009 2B/6
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/20/2009 3/27/2009 2B/6
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/22/2009 3/29/2009 1B/4
RAVC Waikiki Oahu 3/23/2009 3/30/2009 1B/4
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/24/2009 3/31/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/24/2009 3/31/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/26/2009 4/02/2009 Studio/2
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/27/2009 4/03/2009 1B/4

Sonya has a low annual fee and a very low exchange fee, $89 iirc, she and the rest of her people are great to work with. ( Hi Sonya)


Trading Places manages several Hawaiian resorts, and normally has quite a bit of winter availability.

They also accept any deposit, their only trade power issue is size, if you deposit a 1 bedroom you can trade for a 1 bedroom or smaller, upsizing will incur an additional fee.

They also have a VEP ( club) for $129 a year, you get $20 off each exchange, a bonus week ($189 to redeem for same size unit 45 days prior) for every deposit over 60 days from start.


II and RCI are the biggest ponds, you might want to toss some deposits their way just to broaden your search areas.

Other than that, why not use your VI points ( the 1000 plus ) to make reservations on Maui, Big Island, and Oahu, as you didn't care for the resorts on Kauai?

jmho,

Greg

Thanks for the advice.

1) I plan to review the 10 htp://VacationInternationale.com properties, pick at least one to use most if not all my banked points, reserving on 1/1/09 for 1/1/2010 with 'points protection' in case I change/cancel. I will have to use ALL of those points by 12/31/2010 though.

2) HTSE rep on the phone probably didn't look at her inventory.

3) I have these II deposits already:

3 Playa Maria weeks
Jockey Club + accommodation certificate
El Rancho in Mazatan & can deposit at least two more.

I can get more accommodation certificates if I deposit to II:
Polo Towers - week 4 - 2009
Pono Kai, Kauai, Hawaii - 13-20 Dec 2008
El Rancho, Mazatlan- 2 accumulated weeks

4) RCI Points:
I have 205K points left & will have more when I do more points for deposit

5) RCI Weeks:
Plaza Pelicanos, Puerto Vallarta expires 11/30/2008 - I have no idea what to do with it

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Thanks for the advice.
1) HTSE rep on the phone probably didn't look at her inventory.

2) I have these II deposits already:
3 Playa Maria weeks
Jockey Club + accommodation certificate
El Rancho in Mazatan & can deposit at least two more.

I can get more accommodation certificates if I deposit to II:
Polo Towers - week 4 - 2009
Pono Kai, Kauai, Hawaii - 13-20 Dec 2008
El Rancho, Mazatlan- 2 accumulated weeks

RCI Points:
I have 205K points left & will have more when I do more points for deposit

RCI Weeks:
Plaza Pelicanos, Puerto Vallarta expires 11/30/2008 - I have no idea what to do with it

By all means place your II requests against your existing deposits. But be prepared to not get matched until the 6-9 month window and be careful to limit requests to resorts of like quality and size. I wouldn't give them any more weeks, I'd sooner give them to TPI or HTSE. The RCI points should be some good, someone else will have to weigh in on that since I am still avoiding having to learn points.

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

HTSE has great Hawaii space, as of today for your Jan-Mar 2009 period they have

Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 1/13/2009 1/20/2009 Studio/2
Kahana Falls Maui 1/16/2009 1/23/2009 Hotel Unit
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/15/2009 2/22/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/19/2009 2/26/2009 1B/4
RAVC Waikiki Oahu 2/23/2009 3/02/2009 1B/4
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/24/2009 3/03/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 2/25/2009 3/04/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/04/2009 3/11/2009 Studio/2
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/13/2009 3/20/2009 2B/6
Kona Billfisher Big Island 3/15/2009 3/22/2009 2B/6
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/20/2009 3/27/2009 2B/6
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/22/2009 3/29/2009 1B/4
RAVC Waikiki Oahu 3/23/2009 3/30/2009 1B/4
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/24/2009 3/31/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/24/2009 3/31/2009 Studio/2
Imperial Hawaii Vacation Club Oahu 3/26/2009 4/02/2009 Studio/2
Cliffs Club Kauai 3/27/2009 4/03/2009 1B/4



Greg

Greg That is 2009 inventory, none of which is floating my boat. None of the Indies would have anything showing for 2010 at this point, which is what the OP is looking for. That is not how they are used to working.

Granted this is the "leftovers". We don't see the matches already made. Looking at on-line inventory just gives an overall feel for where an independent gets inventory. I agree HTSE is a great company to work with and we are thrilled to have them represented here. If I ever want LBR I know where to deposit.

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

THANKS everyone for your advice. Dealing with TS/exchange companies/making reservations can drive me crazy. And it is too time consuming.

I called TradingPlaces.com, asked for Marcie, they told me she was on vacation this week and transferred me to Nicolas M.

Nicholas at TP said that unless I deposit 70 days in advance I will ONLY receive exchange credit IF someone comes along and uses my week. First time I have ever heard of this although it makes sense from a business model.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

On Maui

I would recommend booking a Valley Isle Studio, prime time is 80.5 points per week, so the 12 weeks would be 966. Same ocean front unit, service every week, a short drive to any of the Kahana or Lahaina spots. Free parking. Or for another 294 ( 1260) points you could get a one bedroom. The studios are ocean front and on either the 4th or 9th floor, can't beat the views or the location. Some of the one bedrooms are ocean view, or partial ocean view. Still nice, just not the direct ocean front experience.

jmho,

Greg

Thanks for the advice.

1) I plan to review the 10 htp://VacationInternationale.com properties, pick at least one to use most if not all my banked points, reserving on 1/1/09 for 1/1/2010 with 'points protection' in case I change/cancel. I will have to use ALL of those points by 12/31/2010 though.

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

THANKS everyone for your advice. Dealing with TS/exchange companies/making reservations can drive me crazy. And it is too time consuming.

I called TradingPlaces.com, asked for Marcie, they told me she was on vacation this week and transferred me to Nicolas M.

Nicholas at TP said that unless I deposit 70 days in advance I will ONLY receive exchange credit IF someone comes along and uses my week. First time I have ever heard of this although it makes sense from a business model.

Inside of 60 days they do not guarantee you an exchange. Makes sense. If it is now 70 days I haven't been informed. and I SHOULD be as I am the pro tempore vendor manager for TPI here at TS4Ms.

PM me.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

When you mentioned the DRI fence, I was scheduling Mazatlan for October. I thought I needed some TM days to fill the gap of checkin/checkout days. VI mentioned some issues at TM and said they are only charging 50% points until 10/31/2008.

You'd think they'd at least advertise it on the site somewhere or in an email...

Nicholas at TP said that unless I deposit 70 days in advance I will ONLY receive exchange credit IF someone comes along and uses my week. First time I have ever heard of this although it makes sense from a business model.

That's the way it is, I've done many last minute (well 59 day ahead deposits) and have always ended up getting credit.

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

Inside of 60 days they do not guarantee you an exchange. Makes sense. If it is now 70 days I haven't been informed. and I SHOULD be as I am the pro tempore vendor manager for TPI here at TS4Ms.

PM me.

Lawren, I recall 70 days as well with TPI when I/we did a late deposit last year....at the time it seemed like an odd number so that is why I remember it.

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

Lawren, I recall 70 days as well with TPI when I/we did a late deposit last year....at the time it seemed like an odd number so that is why I remember it.

I'll drop them a love note. < 60 days is what we have always been told. If your deposit gets taken, well then they owe you an exchange.

EDIT to correct myself regarding the Bonus weeks. Those are for deposits + 120 from start dates. Apologies folks. Even I make mistakes.