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Some Trading Places questions
I’ve been trying to find out about some of the independent exchange companies. I just saw that Lawren says she really likes Trading Places, and I know that Lawren really knows her exchange opportunities, so that’s a high recommendation! So, I went and tried to figure out Trading Places’ system.
This is what I think the rules are:
1) No membership fee is required to use Trading Places. A premium membership called the Vacation Exchange Club is available to all members for a fee ($79/year, discounts for multiple years), but is optional.
2) Any timeshare affiliated with RCI or II can be traded through Trading Places.
3) The exchange fee for “regular” members is $139 back to you own resort, $149 domestic, $159 international.
4) Trading Places does not use trading power based on demand or “color seasons.” However, larger units and units with more amenities rate higher in trdae power. Apart from this, it is first come, first served. [Note: I'm really not sure about this one! Reading the Chat session made me more confused on this than ever!] If you want a unit larger than the one you deposited, an upgrade fee applies. The fee is $200 to upgrade from 1 bdrm to 2 bdrms.
5) You can place an ongoing search w/Trading Places up to 12 months before the desired check-in date.
6) Search first is allowed, but TPI prefers owners to deposit first. Deposits are good for two years after check-in date.
7) Depositing early may earn you a “Bonus Week.” This is a week taken from Trading Places’ last minute inventory. The fee for a Bonus Week is $169.
8) About 33 resorts have a preferred relationship with Trading Places. Owners of these resorts are part of the “Premier Access” program. Only owners at these resorts can join Premier Access.
9) 10 of the Premier Access resorts are in Hawaii. This gives Trading Places good Hawaii inventory.
10) Trading Places Maui started as a branch office of Trading Places, but then became a separate company. There is now no connection between the two companies.
Please let me know if all of that is correct!
Here are my questions:
A) Is it true that Premier Access members can trade back into other Premier Access resorts with no exchange fee?
B) My understand is that Trading Places is the management company for some of the Premier Access resorts. Is it the management company for all of the Premier Access resorts?
C) When I look at online exchange availability, the “View by Resort” option provides a list of 150 resorts. Every one of those resorts, when I selected it, had at least one week available for exchange. So, does that mean that all resorts with current exchange availability are listed in the “View by Resort” drop-down menu, or is the list maybe just ones for which TPI usually ahs inventory?
D) Does TPI have any limitations when it comes to accepting studio or hotel-sized units? (Other than that trading to larger unit will require an upgrade fee.) What is the fee from, say, a studio to a two-bedroom (if this is even allowed)?
I’m also curious about personal experiences with Trading Places. What sort of luck have people had doing an ongoing request with TPI? Is it mostly just the Premier Access resorts that are available, or have people had good luck requesting other resorts?
I know that Marcie, the TPI rep, is away until Monday, July 9. No problem! I'm interested in responses from anyone, and I'm in no hurry.
This is what I think the rules are:
1) No membership fee is required to use Trading Places. A premium membership called the Vacation Exchange Club is available to all members for a fee ($79/year, discounts for multiple years), but is optional.
2) Any timeshare affiliated with RCI or II can be traded through Trading Places.
3) The exchange fee for “regular” members is $139 back to you own resort, $149 domestic, $159 international.
4) Trading Places does not use trading power based on demand or “color seasons.” However, larger units and units with more amenities rate higher in trdae power. Apart from this, it is first come, first served. [Note: I'm really not sure about this one! Reading the Chat session made me more confused on this than ever!] If you want a unit larger than the one you deposited, an upgrade fee applies. The fee is $200 to upgrade from 1 bdrm to 2 bdrms.
5) You can place an ongoing search w/Trading Places up to 12 months before the desired check-in date.
6) Search first is allowed, but TPI prefers owners to deposit first. Deposits are good for two years after check-in date.
7) Depositing early may earn you a “Bonus Week.” This is a week taken from Trading Places’ last minute inventory. The fee for a Bonus Week is $169.
8) About 33 resorts have a preferred relationship with Trading Places. Owners of these resorts are part of the “Premier Access” program. Only owners at these resorts can join Premier Access.
9) 10 of the Premier Access resorts are in Hawaii. This gives Trading Places good Hawaii inventory.
10) Trading Places Maui started as a branch office of Trading Places, but then became a separate company. There is now no connection between the two companies.
Please let me know if all of that is correct!
Here are my questions:
A) Is it true that Premier Access members can trade back into other Premier Access resorts with no exchange fee?
B) My understand is that Trading Places is the management company for some of the Premier Access resorts. Is it the management company for all of the Premier Access resorts?
C) When I look at online exchange availability, the “View by Resort” option provides a list of 150 resorts. Every one of those resorts, when I selected it, had at least one week available for exchange. So, does that mean that all resorts with current exchange availability are listed in the “View by Resort” drop-down menu, or is the list maybe just ones for which TPI usually ahs inventory?
D) Does TPI have any limitations when it comes to accepting studio or hotel-sized units? (Other than that trading to larger unit will require an upgrade fee.) What is the fee from, say, a studio to a two-bedroom (if this is even allowed)?
I’m also curious about personal experiences with Trading Places. What sort of luck have people had doing an ongoing request with TPI? Is it mostly just the Premier Access resorts that are available, or have people had good luck requesting other resorts?
I know that Marcie, the TPI rep, is away until Monday, July 9. No problem! I'm interested in responses from anyone, and I'm in no hurry.
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