New Years Eve 2008

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

We put in a request to see 2008 arrive in Honolulu (19 months away). We may add more cities later. How good are our chances on getting something? I know flexibility is important, but we do want to be home with the grandkids for Christmas, but outta Illinois for NYE.

[Mark @SFX Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close Mark @SFX]

We put in a request to see 2008 arrive in Honolulu (19 months away). We may add more cities later. How good are our chances on getting something? I know flexibility is important, but we do want to be home with the grandkids for Christmas, but outta Illinois for NYE.

zdxlc9p6 - Thank you for your post. Sorry... I am not going to preach the exchange mantra "FLEXIBILITY with travel dates /locations is the key to successful exchanging", and then tell you the odds of getting confirmed for a Crown or 5* star for New Years Eve Holiday week in Premium Demanded location are good.... because they are not. It's real simple, for Major Holiday Weeks in high quality property, "the Demand is far greater than the Supply" with all exchange companies.

Owners at resorts always have first priority for booking such space and Holiday weeks being the most demanded and traveled weeks of the year, an extremely high percentage of these weeks get booked and used by Owners... not exchangers. Also, the higher the quality the resort... the higher the Owner Occupancy. As you know, as a general rule availability is created when Owners trade out, not when they occupy.

I am not saying it's not possible. Without looking at the trading power of your deposit, the component in your favor is we are about 19 months away.

I urge you to do two things...

1. Seriously consider alternative travel weeks as a Plan B.

2. Get an idea of the cost of airfare. Most people have a coronary when they see the price gouging of airlines for Holiday weeks.

Hope this helps...