Don't you just LOVE a great exchange!

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

......Or at least what you feel is a great exchange for you.

Last week I finally got my Grand Regency at Thousand Hills in Branson, MO one bedroom unit deposited with I.I. Last night I got to playing around with it on Interval and found several two bedroom units at The Ridge Tahoe available for this one bedroom prefered unit.

Originally I had a request first in to exchange our one bedroom Marriott's Grand Chateau unit for a one bedroom Marriott Timber Lodge unit but, when this option came up it was to good to pass up. We've been to The Ridge twice before and really enjoy both the resort and the location up on the mountain so, I talked with the wife and we jumped on the opportunity.

At the same time I got to playing around with that Marriott unit we had deposited and found a 2 bedroom May week on HHI at Marriott Harbor Town resort. We have been to HHI on a Marriott exchange at Barony and are familiar with the location of this resort and that it's one of the older resorts. We had discussed the fact we'd like to stay at this resort solely because we loved the location in Harbor Town so, we made that exchange as well. I suppose I could have held out for Surfwatch or Grand Ocean but, we really liked Harbor Town's location and think it will be a fine place to stay, relax and get in some good bike riding.

I love it when things fall into place and we not only get the exchanges we want but get what we feel are outstanding exchanges for our units. We might not be trying a lot of new places next year but, we will be at a couple of new resorts and, I'll finally get to add pictures of The Ridge to my photo albums. On our past trips there, I hadn't really started taking pictures of the resorts and units and have regretted not having a photo album of the Ridge. Looks like that problem will be solved.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Congratulations and Enjoy!!

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I'm not sure either exchange represents anything special but, that 1 bedroom select resort we exchanged in Branson was purchased on the resale market for $285 and has MF's of $265/year. That little throw away week that I purchased on a whim and really don't need actually has done a decent job as an exchange week.

And to think, last year I offered to give it away to a co-worker for my original purchase price but she turned me down. I really don't need the week but, it does such a nice job of getting us good exchanges that I would hate to give it up.

As for the upgrade of our one bedroom Marriott LO unit in Las Vegas getting us back into HHI and a two bedroom unit, I probably could have done better and held out for Barony, Surfwatch or Grand Ocean but, we had seen Harbor Town on our last trip to HHI and both of us thought this would be a great location for us. HHI beaches and the ocean there just don't compare to the beach and clear blue ocean in S. Florida and we decided that HHI isn't necessarily a beach front vacation destination for us. Harbor Town was in a location we enjoyed last time and, has access to what appeared to be some really nice bike trails. We might change out minds after spending a week there as we don't expect it to have that "resort" feel to it as much as the big three Marroitt resorts on HHI but, for now we're excited about trying something a little different. It's always nice to be able to move up from a one bedroom unit into a two bedroom unit in a location and for dates that work out nicely.

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

Doug, What tine of year for the Tahoe exchange? Don't you love when things just fall into place? The only problem is...no vacations left to plan!

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Doug, What tine of year for the Tahoe exchange? Don't you love when things just fall into place? The only problem is...no vacations left to plan!

We'll be there the end of July. I pretty much had my pick of 2 bedroom units including dates that would have had us there over the 4th of July. Personally, I stay away from Holiday's that potentially attract large crowds. The end of July worked out better with our vacation schedule so I took that week.

Yea, I hate it when I don't have anything to play with as far as searching online with Interval but, now I can shop airfare's and car rental rates. Maybe that will keep me entertained enough until it's time to make reservations for out September and November vacations and then our December short stay trip to Branson to see the lights.

[thinze3 Member Find all posts View Profile Close thinze3]

Congrats on the exchange!

There are Ridge Tahoe units all the way til May 2011. I see 2BR's for spring break in both 2010 and 2011.

I have a request in for a specific 2BR unit using a DSV II studio unit. Is there snow still on the slopes in mid-March?

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Congrats on the exchange!

There are Ridge Tahoe units all the way til May 2011. I see 2BR's for spring break in both 2010 and 2011.

I have a request in for a specific 2BR unit using a DSV II studio unit. Is there snow still on the slopes in mid-March?

The lastest we've been to Lake Tahoe has been towards the end of May into early June. There was still snow at the higher elevations but not much on the ski slopes. I would think that there would still be a good amount of snow in March but I couldn't really say with any certainty.