The least desirable timeshare week......

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

I have said this before, but today, it once again became obvious to me. If I had to guess, I'd guess that the week before Xmas is the least desired timeshare week, in the calendar.

If you don't mind traveling that week, put in a request for the resort of your dreams. Your chances of getting that exchange are very good.

And whatever you do, do not buy that fixed week. Do not accept that week for exchange, from your resort, under any circumstances. Your trading power will most likely be zilch!

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

I have said this before, but today, it once again became obvious to me. If I had to guess, I'd guess that the week before Xmas is the least desired timeshare week, in the calendar.

If you don't mind traveling that week, put in a request for the resort of your dreams. Your chances of getting that exchange are very good.

And whatever you do, do not buy that fixed week. Do not accept that week for exchange, from your resort, under any circumstances. Your trading power will most likely be zilch!

Agreed, but one possible exception, NYC. I've had oodles of request for it. When I was a kid in the 60s I remember my parents used to go and did neat Xmas shopping at FAOSchwartz, etc, back when stores with products like that weren't found everywhere.

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

Agreed, but one possible exception, NYC. I've had oodles of request for it. When I was a kid in the 60s I remember my parents used to go and did neat Xmas shopping at FAOSchwartz, etc, back when stores with products like that weren't found everywhere.

True, NY would be an exception. There may be a few other exceptions as well, but they would anomalies.

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

I have to agree Angela. A lot of nice stuff in RCI for 12/15 check-ins.

I think the second least desireable would be the week immediately following New Years. Week 1. With the exception of certain snowbird areas there is usually a lot of availability then as well.

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

I have to agree Angela. A lot of nice stuff in RCI for 12/15 check-ins.

I think the second least desireable would be the week immediately following New Years. Week 1. With the exception of certain snowbird areas there is usually a lot of availability then as well.

I feel sorry for people who unknowingly accept these weeks from their resorts for exchange. They are going to have such poor trading power.

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

I feel sorry for people who unknowingly accept these weeks from their resorts for exchange. They are going to have such poor trading power.

When I was younger and dumber I actually took a week 1 and deposited in RCI. It worked out, I got a Thanksgiving week in SXM at a very nice resort. I had to work very hard for that trade and that was before RCI became what it is today. I wouldn't take the risk now.

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

Does this mean good news for us then as that is our Summer holiday season and we plan on doing our Europe/ Usa trips from the week prior to Christmas to the last week of January?

Australia,s 6 weeks of school holidays! We will be using those weeks for many years to come so I hope that does mean we get offered some great locations at that time.

We were talking about this last night. We do not not when the holidays are around Christmas in Europe or the USA.

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

Does this mean good news for us then as that is our Summer holiday season and we plan on doing our Europe/ Usa trips from the week prior to Christmas to the last week of January?

Australia,s 6 weeks of school holidays! We will be using those weeks for many years to come so I hope that does mean we get offered some great locations at that time.

We were talking about this last night. We do not not when the holidays are around Christmas in Europe or the USA.

It will be great if you plan it right. The week of December 15th will be very easy, and the week immediately following New Year's should also be easy. Christmas and New Year's weeks will be more difficult, as much of the US takes holiday during those two weeks. My advice would be to think about where in the US you'd like to go. There are places that are easier than others to book for the holidays, for example beach locations that aren't warm enough to sunbathe during our winter, such as the East coast (except for Florida and New York). Ski resorts are impossible during those weeks.

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

I have to agree Angela. A lot of nice stuff in RCI for 12/15 check-ins.

I think the second least desireable would be the week immediately following New Years. Week 1. With the exception of certain snowbird areas there is usually a lot of availability then as well.

Gee I usually agree with you but I don't think you can make a blanket statement that week 1 is a poor trader. I owned a studio week 1 and 2 at Flamingo beach resort in St. Martin and week 1 was an awesome trader actually much better than week 2 which was in the same unit at the same resort. I was able to see 2BR gold crown resorts during peak season just about anywhere with RCI. Granted this was a few years ago and after renting this out for a couple of years and then selling both weeks I don't know how it trades now. As a matter of fact if you look at the demand index in II for the carribbean week 1 has one of the highest demands. I also rent out weeks in Aruba and week 1 is very much in demand since many people who no longer travel with their kids in week 52 want to extend their week 52 into week 1.

Wait I just noticed you did say " with the exception of certain snowbird areas" so maybe we actually do agree again.


With regard to week 50 although I do agree that it doesn't have the best trading power depending on the resort and location in many places week 50 is far from the worst trading power. Again I'll use the caribbean as an example I would much rather have a week 50 than a hurricane week. As a matter of fact I do have a week 50 in St. Martin as well as a week 51 which is an outstanding trading week. For the same reason that I bought week 50 with week 51, many people who own week 51 and have multiple weeks try and trade into week 50 so that thay have two weeks back to back and can reduce their airfare by starting their trip before the xmas holidays.

Again based on II demand index week 50 is about average in the caribbean with 38 and 39 having the lowest demand and probably the lowest trading power.

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

It will be great if you plan it right. The week of December 15th will be very easy, and the week immediately following New Year's should also be easy. Christmas and New Year's weeks will be more difficult, as much of the US takes holiday during those two weeks. My advice would be to think about where in the US you'd like to go. There are places that are easier than others to book for the holidays, for example beach locations that aren't warm enough to sunbathe during our winter, such as the East coast (except for Florida and New York). Ski resorts are impossible during those weeks.

we already have a confirmed week in Tuscany for Christmas week 2008 so we are hoping for a 15th dec. 2008? in Europe. USA will be in 2011 for us.

I hope you are right and we can get in easily. We are trading a week 2 ( actually we own a week 2 but it has been deposited as a week 4, not sure why but RCI said it would not make any difference? )

We are hoping for somewher in the Alps for either the 15th or after the christmas week - the 27th december.

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

With regard to week 50 although I do agree that it doesn't have the best trading power depending on the resort and location in many places week 50 is far from the worst trading power. Again I'll use the Caribbean as an example I would much rather have a week 50 than a hurricane week. As a matter of fact I do have a week 50 in St. Martin as well as a week 51 which is an outstanding trading week. For the same reason that I bought week 50 with week 51, many people who own week 51 and have multiple weeks try and trade into week 50 so that thay have two weeks back to back and can reduce their airfare by starting their trip before the xmas holidays.

Again based on II demand index week 50 is about average in the Caribbean with 38 and 39 having the lowest demand and probably the lowest trading power.

Larry....There are some exceptions. I was really thinking about the states, when I made that comment. I can understand your point when it comes to the Caribbean, Mexico, etc & hurricane season......I have to say tho, it's the one week that I see the most availability on a regular basis. The Caribbean & Mexico, etc., may have worse weeks, but I always see availability at those locations, as well. The Marriott's & Royals, etc....Same last year.

My point was that if I had to choose one specific week, it would be week 50, for most locations.

PS......BTW, that's an uneducated guess. I've never worked for an exchange company, and have no real way of knowing. It's my observation only. I certainly could be wrong, and only bring it up to warn perspective buyers, and exchangers.

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

Gee I usually agree with you but I don't think you can make a blanket statement that week 1 is a poor trader. .....
Wait I just noticed you did say " with the exception of certain snowbird areas" so maybe we actually do agree again.

Larry we do agree. It is a hard trade to the caribbean and SW/SE Florida anytime in the first quarter. So if you own there it should be a dynamite trader.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

We are traveling that week to SoCal. Got a trade from my Sept Whistler TS to Marriott Newport Coast. DD is out of college and the girls want to do some Xmas shopping in SoCal. Come on is there ever a bad time to visit Socal and visit The Mouse.

It may be a low demand week for travel but we're hoping to have a ball.

[gjw007 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gjw007]

If you are looking strictly from a trading perspective, it is not the best week to own but I owned week 50 for many years, used it every year, and if used as I did, I would recommend it. It was the week that went every year (I still do but now I exchange into it). If I didn't own any other weeks and didn't need to use an exchange company, I could have avoided the $99 per year membership fee. As it is, I avoid the $164 exchange fee. If it were the only week I owned and since I used it every year (no need to trade), I wouldn't have a need for the exchange company, I wouldn't need to spend an additional $263 to exchange into the week. It is a great week if you like Christmas without the rush of Christmas week. I think the January weeks, depending on the location, are much worse. I think the blanket statement that a week that is poor for one is poor for another.