New and need help!!!

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

My husband and I purchased in February at an Oasis in Domincan Republic and I know it is a "red float week" (but not sure what that means, think it's good). We just got our member number ect. this week. I am still waiting to get our check in dates from the Oasis VCI (sent and email today).

We want to exchange this years week for a week in October near Disney for us, our two small children and my sister. My understanding when we bought was that our children "don't count" as occupants in a room and therefore we can exchange for a room that accomodates 4 people (3 adults and 2 children, that "don't count"). Is this correct?

Does anyone see any problems with this exchange? i.e. the timing, etc. I will deposit my week and exchange as soon as I get the info requested today.

Also, I know we have to pay our room fee as well as an exchange fee. Are there any other fees i should be aware of ?

Last Question....we were also thinking of depositing next years week and booking an extra room in October for friends of ours that are considering coming with us to Disney. Can I do this? is there a trick to it?

Any help at all would be great. Truth is, the sales guy saw us coming and told us what we wanted to hear and now that we have had time to read everthing we are very very confused.

Thanks all.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

My husband and I purchased in February at an Oasis in Dominican Republic and I know it is a "red float week" (but not sure what that means, think it's good). We just got our member number etc. this week. I am still waiting to get our check in dates from the Oasis VCI (sent and email today).

We want to exchange this years week for a week in October near Disney for us, our two small children and my sister. My understanding when we bought was that our children "don't count" as occupants in a room and therefore we can exchange for a room that accommodates 4 people (3 adults and 2 children, that "don't count"). Is this correct?

Does anyone see any problems with this exchange? i.e. the timing, etc. I will deposit my week and exchange as soon as I get the info requested today.

Also, I know we have to pay our room fee as well as an exchange fee. Are there any other fees i should be aware of ?

Last Question....we were also thinking of depositing next years week and booking an extra room in October for friends of ours that are considering coming with us to Disney. Can I do this? is there a trick to it?

Any help at all would be great. Truth is, the sales guy saw us coming and told us what we wanted to hear and now that we have had time to read everything we are very very confused.

Thanks all.

Hello and welcome to TS4Ms.

I went on the II website to see where u purchased and I found there were 6-7 resorts with Oasis in the name...they all do look nice but some have a Gold and some a Silver symbol next to them that are quality ratings. This can affect what type of resorts u will be able to trade into.
It is also important to know what size unit you purchased as this affects trade power. I think from reading your post it might be a studio unit?
Children do count as occupants of all units although some resorts will allow u to have an extra child in the room if they are under a certain age.
So even if u get a sleep 4 room, they could allow a child to be a firth occupant if the child id under 5....do NOT assume this, you need to ask.

You also say you purchased "red time" - what you really need to find out is WHEN this supposed red time is. Some resort claim all year is red...and this just is not true.
If you look at your resort on the II website, there is a travel demand index.
The high demand (red time) for the DR/Caribbean is week 51-52, 1-15 - the rest of the year is average to below average.
In order to insure the best trade power, you must reserve and deposit a week in that time frame.

II - you must pay a yearly fee to belong to the exchange company....people usually join for 3 years and get a slight discount.
Yes, you have to pay your Maint. fee to your resort and an exchange fee to II to exchange.

As for Orlando in Oct - there is a LOT of Timeshares in Orlando. Kids are back in school in October. Chances are that if your resort will deposit a 'good' week for you, you will be able to see 1 and maybe 2BR units with your studio.
The other option as an II member is to buy a getaway. These are reduced price accommodations that II sells as excess inventory.
Right now I see 2BR units at nice resorts in Orlando for Oct for $500.
So you probably don't need to use your 2011 week for this.

But do get a 'good' reservation for 2011 to either use or to deposit - because it really does matter in terms of trading power.

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

Thanks for the quick info.

First, it is a studio, sorry, should have said that. If we exchange for a 2 bedroom, don't we have to pay an "upgrade" fee?

We bought while on vacation in the middle of February...doesn't that dictate the "red week"? That's what they lead us to believe, that we were buying at a peak time so it would be worth more for exchanges....?

It looks like we have the silver symbol beside our resort but the two resorts we are considering outside of Disney have no rating (and they show available the week we want to go), I assume that it shouldn't be a problem exchanging??? But new question, should I be concerned that there is no symbol/rating beside the resort? I checked Trip Advisor and they are all over the place.

Again, thanks for your help...it's a bit overwhelming. We really only jumped on buying the timeshare because we knew we were planning a trip in Oct. to Disney and the amount we could save via II almost covered our membership (inital cost) fee...Crazy!

Erin

[thinze3 Member Find all posts View Profile Close thinze3]

Several things to know.

Once you get your documents, do as Pat mentioned and find our exactly what you own. Just because you bought your unit while visiting in February doesn't mean that the season you bought is winter season. Most resorts in the Caribbean have at least two seasons. High season is during the winter months and usually costs a little more than the other seasons.

Is it a deeded week or a points membership?

Does it trade with II or RCI?

Assuming II:
Try to reserve a good week during your season, one that shows high demand on the II Travel Index chart and one that is at least six months away. This way when you deposit your week with II you will have maximum trading value.

After you deposit you unit with II you can place an ongoing request in search of that perfect resort. Because you cannot request anything larger than what you own (studio for studio), you can get around this by requesting resorts that only offer 1BR or 2BR units. For instance, place a request for Marriott's Cypress Harbour (MCP), it only offers only 2BR units and is a VERY top notch resort. Cypress Point (CYN) is a mid class resort and has only 2 & 3BR units.

There is plenty of availability of each for this October using a studio as a deposit. I just checked and could get a 3BR at CYN or a 2BR at MCP if I deposit a studio unit.

Studios are great for upgrading if you can travel during off-season or last minute (within 59 days).

I hope I didn't ramble to much.
Good Luck

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

CAPS

Thanks for the quick info.

First, it is a studio, sorry, should have said that. If we exchange for a 2 bedroom, don't we have to pay an "upgrade" fee?
NOT IN INTERVAL - IF YOU CAN "SEE" IT WITH YOUR DEPOSITED WEEK - YOU CAN CONFIRM IT ONLINE....SO A STUDIO AT A GOOD RESORT AT A GOOD TIME OF YEAR WILL SEE 1,2,even 3br UNITS IN ORLANDO WHICH HAS A VERY LARGE SUPPLY OF TSs

We bought while on vacation in the middle of February...doesn't that dictate the "red week"? That's what they lead us to believe, that we were buying at a peak time so it would be worth more for exchanges....?AS THINZE SAID - CHECK YOUR PAPERWORK....WHAT THEY SAY AND WHAT IS REAL ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

It looks like we have the silver symbol beside our resort THIS IS VERY GOOD - IT INDICATES THAT II VIEWS YOUR RESORT AS A QUALITY RESORT but the two resorts we are considering outside of Disney have no rating (and they show available the week we want to go), I assume that it shouldn't be a problem exchanging??? ACTUALLY IT CAN BE BECAUSE II WILL ONLY ALLOW YOU TO TRADE DOWN IN QUALITY A SMALL AMOUNT - SO SOMETIMES THIS CAN DICTATE YOUR ABILITY TO DO A TRADE....BUT IF U R SEEING IT WITH YOUR UNIT IN YOUR II ACCOUNT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT.But new question, should I be concerned that there is no symbol/rating beside the resort? YES YOU SHOULD. THERE ARE MANY RESORTS IN ORLANDO - WHY DON'T YOU PICK ONE THAT HAS A GOLD OR SILVER THING - AND THEN CHECK TRIP ADVISER - MARRIOTT SHERATON CYPRESS POINTE ARE ALL VERY NICE....AVOID WESTGATE AS THEY ARE JUST A SLEAZY COMPANY - AND THEN CHECK TRIP ADVISER FOR THOSE checked Trip Adviser and they are all over the place.

Again, thanks for your help...it's a bit overwhelming. We really only jumped on buying the timeshare because we knew we were planning a trip in Oct. to Disney and the amount we could save via II almost covered our membership (initial cost) fee...Crazy!

Erin

Once you get your documents, do as Pat mentioned and find our exactly what you own. Just because you bought your unit while visiting in February doesn't mean that the season you bought is winter season. Most resorts in the Caribbean have at least two seasons. High season is during the winter months and usually costs a little more than the other seasons.

Is it a deeded week or a points membership?

Does it trade with II or RCI?

Assuming II:
Try to reserve a good week during your season, one that shows high demand on the II Travel Index chart and one that is at least six months away. This way when you deposit your week with II you will have maximum trading value.

After you deposit you unit with II you can place an ongoing request in search of that perfect resort. Because you cannot request anything larger than what you own (studio for studio), you can get around this by requesting resorts that only offer 1BR or 2BR units.GREAT ADVICE! For instance, place a request for Marriott's Cypress Harbour (MCP), it only offers only 2BR units and is a VERY top notch resort. Cypress Point (CYN) is a mid class resort and has only 2 & 3BR units.
I WOULD ALSO ADD MARRIOTT ROYAL PALMS, SABAL PALM, IMPERIAL PALMS AS 2&3brs WITHOUT LOCK-OFFS

There is plenty of availability of each for this October using a studio as a deposit. I just checked and could get a 3BR at CYN or a 2BR at MCP if I deposit a studio unit.
YES, I SAW ALL THESE AS WELL - ORLANDO IN OCTOBER IS AN EASY TRADE EVEN WITH A STUDIO BUT YOU MUST GET YOUR RESORT TO LET U RESERVE A HIGH SEASON 51-52, 1-15 WEEK TO DEPOSIT
Studios are great for upgrading if you can travel during off-season or last minute (within 59 days).

I hope I didn't ramble to much.
Good Luck

Probably at your home resort, if u wanted to reserve a larger unit then you own, you would have to pay an "upgrade" fee - this is common among these type of clubs.
But with II - if you are searching online and you can "see" it while searching, you can hit the exchange button and it is yours.

Let us know how u make out.





And Erin - you notice we are not telling you what a terrible thing you did by buying this TS.
Since you said u purchased it in February, there is nothing to be done, it is yours.
In the future (because you WILL buy again ) NEVER buy from the developer - do your homework and decide before where u want to go and what will fit your growing families lifestyle.
Your next purchase should be a 2BR in a high demand time in an area your family would like to visit (think Myrtle Beach Summer, So California summer, ski resort winter) so you have room for family and Friends and good trade power as well. Many suggest avoiding a purchase in Orlando unless it is in a 'system' where u get a trade preference such as Marriott or Sheraton/Starwood or Hilton or Hyatt.

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

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS. This is how it turned out.

So I deposited by studio (got week 50 for my float) and booked a 2 bedrooms suite at Marriot Royal Palms. PRETTY NICE TRADE UP IF YOU ASK ME! Then I took Grayfals advise and didn't waste another of my home weeks for deposit but instead booked the same room through a Getaway for my friend and her family to join us for only $550 for the week. AWESOME! I have all my confirmations printed so, knock on wood, all will be good to go in October.

I will say when I contacted my home resort to get my week for deposit and asked for week 51 or 52 so I would have trading power they tried to tell me that they only had 49 and 50 and I had to pay an upgrade ($300) for a two bedroom, which had I not got such good advice here I would have fallen for but I told him to deposit week 50 studio and I would take care of the rest with Interval online...THANKS Thinze3!!!

Cheers and I am sure I will be talking with you all again.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS. This is how it turned out.

So I deposited by studio (got week 50 for my float) and booked a 2 bedrooms suite at Marriot Royal Palms. PRETTY NICE TRADE UP IF YOU ASK ME! Then I took Grayfals advise and didn't waste another of my home weeks for deposit but instead booked the same room through a Getaway for my friend and her family to join us for only $550 for the week. AWESOME! I have all my confirmations printed so, knock on wood, all will be good to go in October.

I will say when I contacted my home resort to get my week for deposit and asked for week 51 or 52 so I would have trading power they tried to tell me that they only had 49 and 50 and I had to pay an upgrade ($300) for a two bedroom, which had I not got such good advice here I would have fallen for but I told him to deposit week 50 studio and I would take care of the rest with Interval online...THANKS Thinze3!!!

Cheers and I am sure I will be talking with you all again.

This is all good news BUT

You need to reserve your 2011 week now - usually 12 months ahead so try and get a march week for 2011 - the sooner u deposit it the better the trade power is - definitely depsoit before 10 months of check-in.

At Royal Palms - you get to use all the facilities of the Marriott Orlando World Center Hotel - go look at the website - u will be impressed.
And this TS is right on the way to WDW/

Ya done good for a newbie!

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

This thread makes me happy

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

When I read the original post, I did not see a happy ending coming. So happy to be wrong!

Those of you who chimed in and gave such spot-on, well-timed and succinct advice did good

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

Still happily on vacation!

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

Still happily on vacation!

[thinze3 Member Find all posts View Profile Close thinze3]

This thread makes me happy

Me too!

Talking about jumping right in and taking advantage of the system. I have two friends who have owned very nice lock-off timeshares and have never done in many years what Erin did in two months.

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

WOW - What a way to jump in to TS! Congrats for making the best of everything and starting yourself on the right footing to a positive TS experience. Hope you have many more wonderful TS vacations in the future!