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We are pretty new to the timeshare world and am certainly learning something new almost every day since discovering these forums! We bought out a friend's Florida (Weston) Vacation Village at Bonaventure timeshare early last year – fixed Week 12 every other year – Gold Crown - Red – 2BR lockoff. We had just gone to Florida and knew that we didn’t want to go again in 2006, so we instantly deposited it into RCI. We were hoping that with 10-11 months out, we could maybe exchange for this spring for a last family vacation – we were silly and were hoping for Jamaica! Ya know, the “wish book” showed plenty of resorts on the island – we were just hoping for one of them! And I’m sure that you’ve already heard it, “you can always trade for any where in the book!”
Needless to say that didn't happen - and we thought that we had done everything that we could. One of the problems that we had was that we wanted to trade for Jamaica - and I guess no one wants to deposit their Jamaica weeks – we learned directly from the resorts that they offer flexible timeshares, so if you can’t go YOUR week, they will work with you to go another - so then we expanded it to the entire Caribbean and RCI could only come up with a few places in the DR (all of which had very poor reviews so we didn’t consider them). We were told that sometimes it takes two years to get what we want - which is fine - but I now want to make sure we get something that we want for next spring 2007.
So...after perusing these boards for hours -I was wondering if any of you could give us newbies some helpful exchange/search tricks. From everyone's posts, it seems like exchanging for what you really want is next to impossible - or a full-time job – or pure luck!
We have a 2BR lockoff – Week 12 (end of March) - Red - Gold Crown – floating unit # (so don’t know exactly where the unit is from year to year) – RCI agent said that it’s a great week for trading – so thought it would mean great trading power – but maybe not. Another agent told us that it wasn’t in a great location, but it was a good week, so it would trade well. So we were hopefuly. We deposited it last April – so only 11 months in advance. What now what is the best way to use this unit?
Right now I have two ongoing searches for Feb-April 2007. I would really like to have a 2BR unit with at least two separate rooms so that no one really has to sleep on a sofa in the living room! What should I be trying to exchange with? Right now RCI has two ongoing searches for us - one using the 1BR unit and one using the lockoff side (which they are calling a studio - which I am not sure is correct) - both searching the entire Caribbean! Is this the best way? Should we be using both sides of our deposited unit together to get a 2BR - or is there a chance that we can get at least another 1BR in the Caribbean using our 1BR - thus saving the other side for another vacation? That's how it was explained to us - but after reviewing these boards - the entire exchange process seems like pure luck.
Do you guys normally split up a 2BR lockoff? And then do separate searches with each unit? Or is it best to leave it together? RCI TG told us that there are not that many 2BR units in the Caribbean and that it would be better for us to do two searches for 1BRs. But I do see quite a few 2BR units down there – and we would take two hotel-type units if we had to. Do you think that there is any chance of getting (2)1BRs or (1)2BR in the Caribbean somewhere?
We would love to be able to use it next spring sometime somewhere – and see if this exchange thing really works! I'm hoping that with still a year out - after depositing a year ago – we should have time to get something decent - is that hoping for too much? Do we lose value now that our week has past? I tried to let RCI do their thing last year – and work for us - now I decided it was up to me to find some place for next year. Hence, the discover of these boards!
Is there anywhere here on the site - or anywhere - that tells you about what your "week" is worth in regard to trading power. I’ve seen mention of something called VEP? Or is the best way - just searching every day to see what shows up?
Thanks so much for your help – and any advice you can give us!! We want this to work!
Needless to say that didn't happen - and we thought that we had done everything that we could. One of the problems that we had was that we wanted to trade for Jamaica - and I guess no one wants to deposit their Jamaica weeks – we learned directly from the resorts that they offer flexible timeshares, so if you can’t go YOUR week, they will work with you to go another - so then we expanded it to the entire Caribbean and RCI could only come up with a few places in the DR (all of which had very poor reviews so we didn’t consider them). We were told that sometimes it takes two years to get what we want - which is fine - but I now want to make sure we get something that we want for next spring 2007.
So...after perusing these boards for hours -I was wondering if any of you could give us newbies some helpful exchange/search tricks. From everyone's posts, it seems like exchanging for what you really want is next to impossible - or a full-time job – or pure luck!
We have a 2BR lockoff – Week 12 (end of March) - Red - Gold Crown – floating unit # (so don’t know exactly where the unit is from year to year) – RCI agent said that it’s a great week for trading – so thought it would mean great trading power – but maybe not. Another agent told us that it wasn’t in a great location, but it was a good week, so it would trade well. So we were hopefuly. We deposited it last April – so only 11 months in advance. What now what is the best way to use this unit?
Right now I have two ongoing searches for Feb-April 2007. I would really like to have a 2BR unit with at least two separate rooms so that no one really has to sleep on a sofa in the living room! What should I be trying to exchange with? Right now RCI has two ongoing searches for us - one using the 1BR unit and one using the lockoff side (which they are calling a studio - which I am not sure is correct) - both searching the entire Caribbean! Is this the best way? Should we be using both sides of our deposited unit together to get a 2BR - or is there a chance that we can get at least another 1BR in the Caribbean using our 1BR - thus saving the other side for another vacation? That's how it was explained to us - but after reviewing these boards - the entire exchange process seems like pure luck.
Do you guys normally split up a 2BR lockoff? And then do separate searches with each unit? Or is it best to leave it together? RCI TG told us that there are not that many 2BR units in the Caribbean and that it would be better for us to do two searches for 1BRs. But I do see quite a few 2BR units down there – and we would take two hotel-type units if we had to. Do you think that there is any chance of getting (2)1BRs or (1)2BR in the Caribbean somewhere?
We would love to be able to use it next spring sometime somewhere – and see if this exchange thing really works! I'm hoping that with still a year out - after depositing a year ago – we should have time to get something decent - is that hoping for too much? Do we lose value now that our week has past? I tried to let RCI do their thing last year – and work for us - now I decided it was up to me to find some place for next year. Hence, the discover of these boards!
Is there anywhere here on the site - or anywhere - that tells you about what your "week" is worth in regard to trading power. I’ve seen mention of something called VEP? Or is the best way - just searching every day to see what shows up?
Thanks so much for your help – and any advice you can give us!! We want this to work!
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