I am in a bit of a pickle

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Cindy,

I think it really sucks that you can't rent the unit you have to recoup your expenses.

I think rentals of exchanges should be allowed. If weeks exchange systems truly were like for like exchanges, then nobody would be complaining since the unit that someone else deposited would be equally desirable. The real problem is not rentals. The real problem is that the exchange system is patently unfair. Trade ups abound for the smart exchanger leaving the scraps for the average exchanger.

I really believe that the exchange companies really do want to allow rentals since they will attract lots of exchangers into the system and significantly increase exchange volume. But, they can't when it is possible to exchange for 2 Four Seasons units for a total cost of $375 and $535 including the exchange fees when the maintenance fee for the owners of those two units paid in excess of $1800 each. That's what I just did. I simply underpaid.

I wouldn't be surprised if the main cause of these so called crack downs were from exchangers who complain about seeing these rentals available in rental venues. Otherwise, why would an exchange company care? They are probably doing it to appease disgruntled exchangers who can't get what they want because they are being out hustled by more saavy exchangers.

Profit is NOT a four letter word.

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

That might be the safe thing to do. The kids' friends seem to be unable to go at this time. That is too bad. I guess once they all graduated from college and got jobs, they just cannot take a week off whenever they want. Our son just got married in May and took his vacation for their trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Does a flexchange mean reduced trading power similar to an AC, or is it broader than that? Do I have to use the grid and look in specific areas? I have never had to cancel an exchange with II before.

Hopefully the guide you speak to will let you switch the week and use the older one for the newer reservation with just a cancellation fee. If you get nice guide and ask nicely and haven't made a lot of special requests in the past. I've had success with RCI doing that when I reserved the wrong week.

My sister has a cancellation week in her account and it sees pretty much everything ( with ONE notable exception ) in the 59 day flexchange wndow.

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

Lawren,
Is that exception Disney Vacation Club?

Boca,
Well, the whole renting of exchanges really does seem wrong to me, unless you are trying to get back exactly what you paid. I will still be out a week that I could use for something else, but within the Flexchange window, I can always rent a Marriott Grande Villa one bedroom in the off season from II for way less than MF's.

If you took those two Aviara weeks and put them on redweek and asked $1,800 for each of them, that would be unethical. Then again, exchange companies (mostly RCI) do just that. Keeping great exchanges from members to keep the cash is not an ethical way of doing business.

Your Bluegreen weeks are really great traders. I hope Westgate's owner does not ruin that system for you. You are very kind.

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

I talked Rick into going both weeks!

I told him that he only needs to trade one shift at the firehouse more than before, so I get to keep the week. I am so glad! You gotta get him when he is eating dinner.

I told him that I thought we could cut the second week about 1 1/2 days short, which was fine by him. I thought that would be perfect timing. I am so excited about my first timeshare trades to Disney's Old Key West in a one bedroom. We rented five days from an owner last year and I just loved it. Rick didn't like the noise of the buses, (made him think the firetruck was leaving the firehouse without him, and he is the driver) so we moved to another unit the second day.

I want to know what area to request. I know that owners get first grabs, but I was hoping someone would have some ideas. I am going to grab my map and see if I can request some general areas away from the noise. Can I request ahead of time?

[cindi Member Find all posts View Profile Close cindi]

I told him that he only needs to trade one shift at the firehouse more than before, so I get to keep the week. I am so glad! You gotta get him when he is eating dinner.

I told him that I thought we could cut the second week about 1 1/2 days short, which was fine by him. I thought that would be perfect timing. I am so excited about my first timeshare trades to Disney's Old Key West in a one bedroom. We rented five days from an owner last year and I just loved it. Rick didn't like the noise of the buses, (made him think the firetruck was leaving the firehouse without him, and he is the driver) so we moved to another unit the second day.

I want to know what area to request. I know that owners get first grabs, but I was hoping someone would have some ideas. I am going to grab my map and see if I can request some general areas away from the noise. Can I request ahead of time?

Yeah!!! Good for you, getting to do both weeks. What a GREAT solution to your problem!

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

If I could find any way to work it out, I would pay the change fee on the flights and stay two weeks. If you are taking kids, they'll want to hang around the resort a lot. You could alternate days between going to the parks and just staying home to play in your own pool.

I could easily see being happy for two straight weeks there. We were sorry to leave after only one.

Even if you could only stay part of the second week, it would probably be worth it.

Sheila

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

Sorry. I didn't read the second page of the thread before responding. Glad to see you worked it out.

As for requesting a unit, we waited until we got there and requested a unit on the lake side. They happily complied. Nice staff. You would probably be better off on the end away from the clubhouse just for noise reasons. We were right on the "guiet" end and enjoyed the location.

Sheila