going international

[ladydi Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ladydi]

We just bought a timeshare in cabo san lucas at hacienda del mar. I would like to trade into something international. What are the pros and cons of going international? I would like Italy or Greece. Is this a two year inadvance process thru RCI? Also, I bought a gold crown in redweek. One bedroom luxary .I still don't know what that means. Can someone explain it to me. I know that gold crown's are 5-6 star hotels, but i'm confused on the redweek. just confused over everything. If I am not sure where I want to go next year, do I deposit now or wait until i know exaclty where I want to go.

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

We just bought a timeshare in cabo san lucas at hacienda del mar. I would like to trade into something international. What are the pros and cons of going international? I would like Italy or Greece. Is this a two year inadvance process thru RCI? Also, I bought a gold crown in redweek. One bedroom luxary .I still don't know what that means. Can someone explain it to me. I know that gold crown's are 5-6 star hotels, but i'm confused on the redweek. just confused over everything. If I am not sure where I want to go next year, do I deposit now or wait until i know exaclty where I want to go.

RCI doesn't treat most mexican timeshares very well for exchanging.

I've stayed in plenty of gold crowns and 5* resorts that are certainly not 5* hotel equivalents. PLUS european resorts aren't rated the same way as american and some mexican resorts are. They are much more spartan.

Did you buy a fixed week or a floating week? If fixed which week? If floating what range of weeks can you reserve?

Does your resort let you chose which week you will bank or do they assign you a week?

Does your resort affiliate with any other exchange company than RCI?

If you don't want to use your resort next year definately deposit it as soon as possible but explore your options closely as RCI may not be your best bet.

Greece will probably be more available than Italy but if your check-in range is limited by say a school schedule and you are looking for summer you will have to be looking at 2008 for a trade to Greek Islandsin RCI and hope you have the trade power to get it, unless you want Crete.

[ladydi Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ladydi]

going international

our week is week 1 thru 50. they said the only two weeks is 51-52 (christmas/new year). they never explain anything about what week in floating we can exchange for. the just said call up, deposit your 1 thru 50 week. the only two weeks you can't get are 51-52. our resort is also affiliated with sanfranciso exchange. (by reading all these review, i here is better than rci). when you deposit your week, do you have to pay anything at that time? i saw on sanfranciso exchange last week that if I deposit my week, i get two more. with that two, is that payable at the time of depositing my first week?
sorry for all the questions, just trying to learn.

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

I suggest you post any questions re San Francisco Exchange (SFX) for Mark on the Ask SFX board. But if your week qualifies for their current promotion, you will get:

1) 1 exchange week, good for at least two years after your checkin date, charge will be the regular exchange fee of apx $149
2) one regular bonus week, good anywhere except NYC through 12/31/07, charge will be $399 for a one bedroom (if you deposit soon), not sure if holidays are allowed, ask Mark
3) one mexican bonus week, good through 12/31/07 in Mexico, no holidays, charge will be $399 for one bedroom (if you deposit soon)

Mark will be able to give you a better idea about availability in Europe and let you know whether your resort qualifies (and if yes, which week to reserve and deposit)

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

Ladydi

You are welcome to ask as many questions as you need or want to. Timeshare is mysterious and even after 10 years of it I still learn things.

Have you asked the SFX rep ( Mark ) on this board http://www.timeshareforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=75 which week numbers they will accept?

The next step would be to call your resort and book one of those weeks and then deposit it with SFX. If they take your resort you are already ahead of the game. They take only very nice properties at specific times of year and locations.

You should start looking at which resorts/locations handled by SFX that you would like to exchange to and when. The sooner you can put in a request and the more flexibility you have in when you can go the better off you will be.

BTW The reason you can't reserve week 51-52 is that is the Christmas break for schools across the US and therefore it is the HIGHEST demand time.

Feel free to ask questions of all of us. The learning curve is pretty steep but you'll get there.

PS I see that Avery and I were replying at the same time.

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

PS I see that Avery and I were replying at the same time.

Hopefully between us Ladydi got a complete answer (though she should probably read our replies in reverse order..)

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

our week is week 1 thru 50. they said the only two weeks is 51-52 (christmas/new year). they never explain anything about what week in floating we can exchange for. the just said call up, deposit your 1 thru 50 week. the only two weeks you can't get are 51-52. our resort is also affiliated with sanfranciso exchange. (by reading all these review, i here is better than rci). when you deposit your week, do you have to pay anything at that time? i saw on sanfranciso exchange last week that if I deposit my week, i get two more. with that two, is that payable at the time of depositing my first week?
sorry for all the questions, just trying to learn.

In my opinion SFX is far superior to RCI. I have used SFX exclusively for 9+ years. Prior to that, I was with both RCI and II.

First you will have to reserve a week at your resort before you can deposit. You must have a fixed date in order to deposit the week with SFX or any exchange company. You will need a prime time week for SFX to accept it. Determine which weeks are the heaviest demand and them reserve one of them. Having been to Cabo, I would expect that Jan-Mar would be good.

You will need to be a Platinum member in order to receive the bonus weeks and many of the other benefits. There is a membership fee for Platinum membership.

As a Platinum member your exchange fee is $129 for either domestic or international. You do NOT pay any exchange fees or for bonus weeks until you get a confirmed exchange. There are no fees due when depositing your week.