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We just bought our first time-share through Canoa Coral by Hilton in the Dominican Republic. To be totally honest, we weren't even looking into the possibility of buying one but got snagged by a fast talking salesman. Oh well, live and learn. Anyways now that we have it we definitely need to learn how to use it since we bought 26 weeks!! My question is ... Can you exchange through both Interval International and RCI? Can anyone tell me which one is better? Is it difficult exchanging weeks? I'm also worried about getting low cost air fare since when you buy from a travel agent, you buy a package which has a charter (low cost) already included. I definately don't want to end up spending more than if I'd gone through the travel agent. Can anyone out there with some experience please help this desperate first-timer!! Do I just look through the Interval catalogue and see if I can book there?????
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Did the salesman tell you that you could exchange with either? A casual glance at the resort directory at www.rci.com does not show that Canoa Coral is affiliated with RCI. A glance at the resort directory at www.intervalworld.com does show an affiliation with II. If it were affiliated with both you could exchange with either but that would double your annual membership fees that you have to maintain to be a member.
To see what you can book with II, you must be a member. An initial membership may have come with your purchase. If you are a member you can search availability using their 'request first' option or you can deposit your week and do a routine search.
For places like the D.R. it is often times less expensive overall to have a package deal with air, lodging, and even all-inclusive fees being less than what you might pay for your annual maintenance fee and commercial airfare.... not enough time for all the timeshares ® -
You might also check to see if your resort would be accepted as a deposit by one of the following independent exchange companies:
www.daelive.com
www.htse.com
www.platinuminterchange.com
www.tradingplaces.com
I suspect that most of them WOULD take it, and some of them have FREE membership. You only have to pay the exchange fee. You can join all of the companies that will take your resort as a deposit.Comment
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There are some resorts which are dual affiliated with RCI and II. If they are not in the exchange company directory they usually are not affiliated, but you can always ask.Comment
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You could also check with Mark at ASK SFX on Timeshare Forums to see if they accepted your Resort for trades.Comment
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drdv,
If you only signed recently (i.e. within the last few days), you might want to check your contract to see if you can recind. Salesman do not tell you but a lot of those you can back out within 7 days but you have to follow the requirements set up to cancel.Traveling Broadens the mind and I want to do more
French Quarter Fest in New Orleans is my favourite festivalComment
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Am I reading this correctly?Originally posted by drdvComment
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how do you get 26 weeks. is that in 1 year or over several yearsComment
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I am not the OP BUT.....
In Mexico and I imagine other locations....you buy a contract with a number of 'uses' or weeks ownership...OP purchased a 26 week contract.
My friend who owns at Villa del Palmar flamingos - Universal Vacation Club has a similar contract - 25 weeks or uses over a 25 year period....which is to her advantage as she likes to go every other year. She can book her ownership with great flexibility..so she chooses to book 2 'uses' or weeks every 2 years without having to do an II exchange and with out paying any fees.
Next year, she is using 1 1BR week 2006 for herself and DH and then splitting her 2007 week into 2 studios for her kids so she will have 3 units for one week.
She pays the MF when she uses her week - she could use all 25 weeks in 10 years and her contract would be finished.
She could have also split her 1BR - 2 weeks into 4 studio weeks and stayed a month.....another 'lemonade out of lemons' situation!
I don't know what the demand for DR is....Comment
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Originally posted by drdv
I see that resort online and stay away because i heard not such good review about Dominican. But Hilton quality is pretty good.
how did you like the island ? how was the resort ?Comment
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Gotchya, thanks.Originally posted by GrayFalComment
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