About to join II

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

I just paid my maint fees on my ts and am getting ready to join II...
Any tips, suggestions, or advice before I sign up???
Any deals I should be aware of. When I first called to get some info,
I asked if my ts qualified for AC, and they advised that it did. That was last fall. I hope that is still the case.
Thanks,
Paul

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

I just paid my maint fees on my ts and am getting ready to join II...
Any tips, suggestions, or advice before I sign up???
Any deals I should be aware of. When I first called to get some info,
I asked if my ts qualified for AC, and they advised that it did. That was last fall. I hope that is still the case.
Thanks,
Paul

They will try and sell you there 'Gold membership' - say NO as you can always change yout mind and add it on for $54-ish a year - once u r a member, read what it offers and then decide.
Never has been worth it for me.

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

For WorldMark owners, II has a 2 for 1 deal. Two years for the price of one - use code: 93124. $84. Expires April30, 2008.

Try it, and you may get it even though you are not a WM owner. Let us know if it worked.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Just prepare to be disappointed with the offerings and bombarded with calls to take areas/resorts/dates you did not request. SOP for II. And don't buy Gold membership as thats even of less value than standard.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

There are always special offers for membership. 5 years is the current best deal. You can get value out of the Gold only if you use the get-aways netting the discount. Keep in mind, if unhappy with the offerings in exchange, you can always cancel your membership for a prorated refund at any time.

With all that in mind...I have been very satisfied with my exchanges. It really depends on what you own & where and when you want to exchange. Be sure to ask about the AC before you make a deposit!

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

Just prepare to be disappointed with the offerings and bombarded with calls to take areas/resorts/dates you did not request. SOP for II. And don't buy Gold membership as thats even of less value than standard.

This has not been my experience - of course, it depends on what you own - if you tell us resort and season/week, we could specifically advise you.

I own high end Marriott/Sheraton's - middle of the road studio/1&2Brs weeks and even a GASP rather low quality week(that I only use or rent at this point but have in my account).

With II, you have the ability to search with your week without depositing it - and that is THE most important thing for me. If you own a fixed week - you will see right on the exchange page under your week an offer for an AC.
The AC is an extremely good deal if you can use it - either within 60 days or in one of the grid locations.

AS for the phone calls - I am very rarely bothered with one - I put the dates and the resorts I want and I get matched online - the exception for me has been when I request a DVC resort - they have SO much inventory in Orlando that they do call to offer you other properties. I request they put me on their 'do not call' list for 90 days (or 60 or 30) unless they have a match - and then they don't call.

I have a SUPER RCI trader - 2 weeks per year - but the last week I deposited was a DAWG - I called RCI 4 or 5 times about it -- and they would NEVER acknowledged there was a 'problem or difference' with the deposit. I said, 'look at the exchange history' and they still refused to do anything - so at this point, I am contemplating dropping RCI for a while or forever. All my weeks can be deposited with II or SFX or I rent. It makes me sad to see those Manhattan Club sightings but I can always have a 'friend' help me out if I want one.

There are always special offers for membership. 5 years is the current best deal. You can get value out of the Gold only if you use the get-aways netting the discount. Keep in mind, if unhappy with the offerings in exchange, you can always cancel your membership for a prorated refund at any time.

With all that in mind...I have been very satisfied with my exchanges. It really depends on what you own & where and when you want to exchange. Be sure to ask about the AC before you make a deposit!

YUP

and just look at the II sightings board

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

I have a SUPER RCI trader - 2 weeks per year - but the last week I deposited was a DAWG - I called RCI 4 or 5 times about it -- and they would NEVER acknowledged there was a 'problem or difference' with the deposit. I said, 'look at the exchange history' and they still refused to do anything - so at this point, I am contemplating dropping RCI for a while or forever.

Has anyone ever had this happen one year and then seen better results the next year? That is, several years of good trading, then a bad year where the same deposit seems much weaker, then back to good years?

I'm talking about RCI in an II thread. But does this ever happen in II, too?

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

There's also a 3oth Anniversary 2 X 1 deal currently for Royal owners with 1 year free gold membership to boot.

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

Thanks

Thanks to all who responded...
You all have been very helpful
Ill let you know how I make out....
Best wishes,
Paul

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

Has anyone ever had this happen one year and then seen better results the next year? That is, several years of good trading, then a bad year where the same deposit seems much weaker, then back to good years?

I'm talking about RCI in an II thread. But does this ever happen in II, too?

Yes that most certainly does happen, but like Pat I lost my temper over the last time and no longer have an RCI account. My weeks are welcome elsewhere and 2 of the 4 I can rent or use myself.

I feel better for voting with my wallet.

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

Has anyone ever had this happen one year and then seen better results the next year? That is, several years of good trading, then a bad year where the same deposit seems much weaker, then back to good years?

I'm talking about RCI in an II thread. But does this ever happen in II, too?

Joycapecod - had a similar thing happen and when she deposit the following years week - it was back to business as usual....but i really don't feel like chancing it to be honest..and II will give me a AC for the week.
And another friend here used the week in II to trade into Hawaii so how bad could it be????

[jfitz Member Find all posts View Profile Close jfitz]

Just prepare to be disappointed with the offerings and bombarded with calls to take areas/resorts/dates you did not request. SOP for II.

As a longtime II member that has certainly not been my experience. My deposits have generally pulled trades equal or better than my deposits. My expectations are, however, realistic; I expect like for like, recognizing that the days of trading into a Caribbean week 52 with a Pocono mud week are long gone.

And don't buy Gold membership as thats even of less value than standard.

Good advice for most. However, for a few, the additional discount on Getaways will justify the upgrade to Gold.

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

And don't buy Gold membership as thats even of less value than standard.

It is not of less value than standard, the Gold membership its an upgrade meaning that you will need the Basic to have the Gold, in other words the total for a year of basic is $84 dollars, the total for a year of gold is $138.

Gold membership is worth it for me, I buy 2-3 getaways every year for myself, friends/family etc... I get a $25 dollar discount on each so that alone pays for the membership. And I also get all the other benefits like airline and car rentals coupons, and my favorite... exchanging my week for a cruise.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Gold membership is worth it for me, I buy 2-3 getaways every year for myself, friends/family etc... I get a $25 dollar discount on each so that alone pays for the membership. And I also get all the other benefits like airline and car rentals coupons, and my favorite... exchanging my week for a cruise.

I hope you got a great deal on that week for cruise but, in general, the wisdom on the various timeshare blogs is that the value in those "trades" simply isn't there. The many discounts readily available on cruises usually are far better than the full price rates used to set the "discounts" using a week as partial payment. The possible exception occurs if a group can use many rooms and the week can be used to discount them all.

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

Anyone have an expiring AC???

Well, apparently my "red" week in Myrtle Beach has as little value in II as it had in RCI...it doesnt even qualify me for an AC
They advised that it could take up to 30 days to "verify" my ownership and to be able to search on line...
I was hoping that with an AC I might be able to snare a week at the Marriott Newport Beach Villa next September so I could visit my son again
who is living in So Cal. Anyone have an expiring AC they will not be using????
Thanks,
Paul