Flexchange and unit size

[gondep Member Find all posts View Profile Close gondep]

I have never used II but when I get my points later this year I am going to reserve II units and try that route rather than RCI.

I've read a lot on this board about this flexchange thing. I understand that there is a theory that even in flexchange the upwards quality filter would still apply (possibly at a reduced level).

My question is how does the flexchange period effect unit size?

If I have a resort that is a 1 BR, do you think I will see 2 BR resorts rated at a similar level?


Thanks,

jb

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

Unit size and trading power and season ( RED, Yellow and Green) are not considered during flexexchange period. I just traded a studio for a 2BR Marriott during Flex exchange and have done this several times during the past 3 years.

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

Unit size and trading power and season ( RED, Yellow and Green) are not considered during flexexchange period. I just traded a studio for a 2BR Marriott during Flex exchange and have done this several times during the past 3 years.

This is true BUT - the quality filter is still in place.
So if you NEVER see a Marriott even in off season, chances are u won't see them during flex-change.
Some people have used DVC as another example - they have ownerships that NEVER see DVC - so theydon't see them in flextime, either.....sorry.

[gondep Member Find all posts View Profile Close gondep]

I just traded a studio for a 2BR Marriott during Flex exchange and have done this several times during the past 3 years.

Can I ask what your studio was rated? Was it Gold or Silver or whatever is below Silver?


Thanks,

jb

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

Can I ask what your studio was rated? Was it Gold or Silver or whatever is below Silver?


Thanks,

jb

I am not Larry BUT - I am using a 1BR unrated resort and seeing 2BR Marriott's and other Gold rated resorts in flexchange.
I am NOT seeing Marriott Hawaii.....

Using a Marriott week 1BR - I am seeing Marriott Hawaii, St Kitts

Now I will check with my REALLY unrated week that I love because it lets me see Ireland and other European locations the other resorts don't - BRB,,,,
seeing some Marriott 2BRs but not the 'good' stuff

[gondep Member Find all posts View Profile Close gondep]

I am not Larry BUT - I am using a 1BR unrated resort and seeing 2BR Marriott's and other Gold rated resorts in flexchange.
I am NOT seeing Marriott Hawaii.....

Using a Marriott week 1BR - I am seeing Marriott Hawaii, St Kitts

Now I will check with my REALLY unrated week that I love because it lets me see Ireland and other European locations the other resorts don't - BRB,,,,
seeing some Marriott 2BRs but not the 'good' stuff

As far as the Marriott pecking order - where would you put the Breckenridge, Vail, and Park City Marriotts?

I guess my real question is: do you think I would see any 2BR units at the Breckenridge, Vail, or Park City Marriotts for a January (ski season) check-in with an unrated 1BR inside of flexchange? Obviously given that there were 2BR units available in inventory.

Would a Silver rated 1BR inside of flexchange?

Or do you think I would need a Gold 1BR to pull those?

I know it's always hard to tell because it depends on a lot of factors. Just looking for your feeling on how those scenarios might play out.


Thanks,

jb

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

No chance. And, for none of the reasons you worry about.

With the Marriotts, you run into the internal preference period. Outside of flexchange, it's 24ish days. In flexchange its shorter---just a few days---but even so, Marriott owners have first dibs. So, not only do those units have to make it to flexchange (or be late cancellations) but they also have to have been sitting around for a while and been passed over by all the other marriott owners (who presumably want to ski).

I could be wrong, but I have an unbraded unit on deposit that sees just about everything except FSA---including the Marriotts and Disneys. At the moment, it sees no Marriotts anywhere in the Rockies, for any Janaury '09 or '10 check in. So, it's not like there's a lot of excess inventory for a dog week to snap up cheap.

[gondep Member Find all posts View Profile Close gondep]

No chance. And, for none of the reasons you worry about.

With the Marriotts, you run into the internal preference period. Outside of flexchange, it's 24ish days. In flexchange its shorter---just a few days---but even so, Marriott owners have first dibs. So, not only do those units have to make it to flexchange (or be late cancellations) but they also have to have been sitting around for a while and been passed over by all the other marriott owners (who presumably want to ski).

I could be wrong, but I have an unbraded unit on deposit that sees just about everything except FSA---including the Marriotts and Disneys. At the moment, it sees no Marriotts anywhere in the Rockies, for any Janaury '09 or '10 check in. So, it's not like there's a lot of excess inventory for a dog week to snap up cheap.

Thanks I appreciate your candor.

I'm not trying to get away with trading the worst possible resort for the best resort at the hight of demand. I have not made my reservations yet and I'm trying to gauge what I should reserve for deposit. If I should deposit a Gold rated 2BR or if a Silver 1BR would work just as well.

Another piece of my story is that my wife works for an airline. So we fly almost free - but we have to fly standby. So planning years ahead doesn't do us much good. It's actually better for us to put everything together 60 days or less before we go. Hence all the questions about flexchange.

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

Can I ask what your studio was rated? Was it Gold or Silver or whatever is below Silver?


Thanks,

jb

Silver

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

What I'm suggesting isnt' that you need a larger or higher-quality unit. What I'm suggesting is that, to get into a Marriott ski week, you might well need a Marriott to deposit.

That's not an area I search, though, so I'll let others chime in.

[gondep Member Find all posts View Profile Close gondep]

What I'm suggesting isnt' that you need a larger or higher-quality unit. What I'm suggesting is that, to get into a Marriott ski week, you might well need a Marriott to deposit.

That's not an area I search, though, so I'll let others chime in.

I understand. The Marriott preference makes it more difficult.

What I was wondering was if it would be possible. If it's possible, then it's up to me to make the decision on whether to gamble on the slight chance of it happening. I may decide I want to spin the roulette wheel and bet on lucky number zero. But if there's no zero on the table then I don't want to make that bet.

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

Possible? Anything's possible.

I still think you'd be best served by signing up for an account, and trying some search-first searches to see what you can see. Short of someone else with exactly your resort, that's the absolute best information you can get, and again it's only going to cost you, at most, a bit more than $7 to look around for a few weeks.

Try it---if you see these resorts in the offseason, then you know that you can see them in flexchange too. Right now, with a unit that has enough quality to see Marriotts and Disneys (but not FSA) I see all sizes of Marriott units in all three of your destinations for Fall, Spring and Summer. So, you'll know whether you pass the quality filter as soon as your week is verified.

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

I understand. The Marriott preference makes it more difficult.

What I was wondering was if it would be possible. If it's possible, then it's up to me to make the decision on whether to gamble on the slight chance of it happening. I may decide I want to spin the roulette wheel and bet on lucky number zero. But if there's no zero on the table then I don't want to make that bet.

It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to see a 2 bdrm Marriott ski week, with a low end, 1 bdrm unit. Ski weeks are some of the most difficult to get, and the Marriott preference will most certainly lock you out.

Is it possible? of course nothing is ever impossible, but your odds are extremely low. I'd suggest going another route. JMO.

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

No chance. And, for none of the reasons you worry about.

With the Marriotts, you run into the internal preference period. Outside of flexchange, it's 24ish days. In flexchange its shorter---just a few days---but even so, Marriott owners have first dibs. So, not only do those units have to make it to flexchange (or be late cancellations) but they also have to have been sitting around for a while and been passed over by all the other marriott owners (who presumably want to ski).

I could be wrong, but I have an unbraded unit on deposit that sees just about everything except FSA---including the Marriotts and Disneys. At the moment, it sees no Marriotts anywhere in the Rockies, for any Janaury '09 or '10 check in. So, it's not like there's a lot of excess inventory for a dog week to snap up cheap.

I agree - I own marriott and search all the time - even 12-13 months ahead i do not see ski weeks - they are either used by owners, rented by owners to others or snapped up with an ongoing search by other Marriott II members.
Never say never BUT - no way will u get one without a marriott.
That does not mean however that you can't get a ski week - just probably not those resorts.

[gondep Member Find all posts View Profile Close gondep]

I agree - I own marriott and search all the time - even 12-13 months ahead i do not see ski weeks - they are either used by owners, rented by owners to others or snapped up with an ongoing search by other Marriott II members.
Never say never BUT - no way will u get one without a marriott.
That does not mean however that you can't get a ski week - just probably not those resorts.

That's fine. I appreciate all the advice.

I don't have to have a Marriott. I'm actually an Eagle Point owner. And if you've ever been to Eagle Point you know it's not a Marriott (although units are currently going through a major upgrade including granite countertops, new floor and wall tile, and flat screen TVs). I'm just trying to set my expectations at the appropriate level so that when I see something that might be my best option I won't pass on it hoping for something that's not going to happen.