I'm still getting great exchanges- What about you?

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

Just posted this on TUG and I'm so excited so thought I'd post here as well for those of you that don't read TUG BB.

OK so I'm not happy with both II and RCI with their renting out weeks and diminished trade power but the truth is I'm still getting great trades even though they are not as easy to find. So how is everyone else doing with their number 1 hobby which for me is snagging that fantastic trade.

First off I am somewhat flexible since I don't look for specific resorts just for regions at certain times of the year with a wide window of time. I then search for the what I consider the best available trade during that time frame.

We go on vacation a few times a year as follows.

1) December through February anywhere warm like Caribbean, Mexico or Hawaii.

2) Family vacation during spring break taking married daughters, grand kids and son. Need several units next to each other for two weeks.

3) Summer vacation.


This is some of what we have gotten over the past 4 years.

1) Mayan Palace Acapulco 1BR- January
2) Morritts Grand - Grand Cayman Island-2BR oceanfront December
3) Vacation Village - Westin Florida 2- 2br units and 1BR unit for two weeks for entire family for spring break.
4) Marriott Grande Vista- Orland 2BR flexexchange summer
5) Carpedium Assisi golf resort 1 BR Rome- Summer
6) French Riviera 1BR 2 bath- June
7) Melia Paridissus all inclusive Punta Cana studio- December
8) Royal Mayan and Club international Cancun two week back to back 2BR- December

So you say I know we used to get great exchanges as well so where are you confirmed to for the rest of 2007 and 2008

1) Westin Kearland resort 1BR flexexchange August 2007
2) Tradewinds Cruise Club St. Marteen December 2007 ( going solo)
3) Mayan Grand Acapulco ( waived 1-5 rule) January 2008

And now for my big surprise confirmed this Friday


Windjammer Landing ( non all inclusive) 2BR Villa with private pool- St. Lucia -December 2008. Apparently I stumbled on this bulk space banking and I think I may have snagged the only 2BR that was there in December.

So where are the rest of you going for the rest of 2007 and 2008 and are you still getting great exchanges? Am I happy?
__________________

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

Hi Larry,

So far in 2007, I have stayed at:

Four Seasons Aviara
Marriott's Mountainside

Later this year, I will be staying at:

Marriott's Surf Watch
Marriott's Ocean Pointe (rental)
Mariott's Legend's Edge (rental)

For 2008, I have booked:

Rancho Manana
Villas at Izatys

All of these are 2 bedroom units except for Surf Watch which is a 3 bedroom. I'm extremely happy with my exchanges and rentals. Timesharing is working great for me.

Steve

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

I complain because of the hassle. But we are doing pretty well, too.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Yes, I am still getting amazing trade altho I have to work a little harder at it.
Feb: 2br FF Grand Las Vegas, took my next door neighbors
May: 2BR Mayan Palace -Mayan Riviera
Oct: 3 BR Houses of Summer Bay - Orlando, Halloween Week

Feb 2008 Tug Cruise
July: Tradewinds Cruise Club- BVI--Kelli's BD
Oct: Looking for Poconos as soon as I know the exact date of the Balloon Festival

I consider these fantastic trades as I only paid $500 & $250 respectively

shaggy

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

We're getting some fantastic trades too. Just takes lots of research & planning ~~ but then, that's the fun part ~~ next to actually going that is!!!

Sue

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

I love the planning and don't consider it a hassle at all. I only have a blue week to exchange with at the present time in RCI. Drives me nuts, knowing that all those good exchanges are passing me by. I watch the sightings and only see an occasional Hawaii week outside of that magic three-week window. I did pull a Maui Lea at Maui Hill 2 bedroom with last year's blue week, and I have seen more than one Paniolo Greens.

[bevvy5 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bevvy5]

Try having NO RCI weeks at all for three or four months, but I'll phone tomorrow and get my floating week for next year assigned.

Yes, I'm very happy with my RCI and II exchanges. I'm always planning two years ahead and we don't have to go during holiday times but all in all, we get more than we give.

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

I'm not a member of RCI, but as far as II goes.....I still see very good, to great exchanges, almost on a daily basis. Not just flexchange either. I see some fantastic stuff, six months to a year out.

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

I think great exchanges is in the eye of the beholder. What might be a greeat exchange for you might do nothing for me and the same holds true in the reverse. I still some nice things, but the pickings are slimmer than they used to be, and it takes more work to find something that works in all ways. We don't vacation during summer since we live on the beach, but I am finding it more difficult to find great shulder season exchanges to places I want to go even giving up prime summer weeks to do it.

JMHO,

Joy

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

We really enjoy our exchanges.

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, Cabo this past Xmas

Westin Palm Desert, CA this past Easter week

Maui and Kauai this summer (right now)
Carlsbad, CA end of July

Palm Desert Xmas and New Years at Marriott and Westin

Sedona and Carlsbad, CA summer 2008 (Hopefully also a Big Island exchange with SFX in June if that comes through)

Grand Mayan Riviera Maya Xmas 2008, then Royal Islander the next week

We make exchanges usually 20+ months in advance.

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

No. I am seeing only very rare instances of "great" exchanges. Places I would love to go to at times I can go to them.

SCal and Eastern coastal summer and spring break caribbean and southern florida are not available any longer. So why pay them? I will take my money where my feelings about this phenomena are and not pay RCI any longer.

We have and are enjoying our 2007 week exchanges with RCI but those were all booked in 2005/06.

I'm taking a break.

Perhaps when I do not have to deal with a school calendar I will return.That's 5 years from now and who knows what will happen in the meantime. My guess-timate is that I will NOT fork over somewhere in the range of $3,400 WITHOUT any additional price increases to RCI in that timeframe. Small peanuts to a company like them but....

I still post some outrageously great exchange opportunities and will continue to do so for the membership here; but as a previous poster opined "If I can't go then what good does it do me"?

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

. . .
I still post some outrageously great exchange opportunities and will continue to do so for the membership here; but as a previous poster opined "If I can't go then what good does it do me"?

The good it does you is knowing that you made someone else happy.

Thanks for all of your generous giving.