Trading Places "Resorts to Ports"?

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

Trading Places offers a program for trading timeshare weeks for cruises, "Resorts to Ports." Now, I know that trading a timeshare week for a cruise is usually a poor deal, but Trading Places seems to offer very good values, in general. So, I'm thinking that if they offer a cruise program, maybe it's actually worth using.

Has anyone used "Resorts to Ports"? You have to join the TPI Vaction Exchnage club ($79 a year) and then pay a one-time activiation fee of $39, so I'm wondering if it's worth doing.

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

Trading Places offers a program for trading timeshare weeks for cruises, "Resorts to Ports." Now, I know that trading a timeshare week for a cruise is usually a poor deal, but Trading Places seems to offer very good values, in general. So, I'm thinking that if they offer a cruise program, maybe it's actually worth using.

Has anyone used "Resorts to Ports"? You have to join the TPI Vacation Exchange club ($79 a year) and then pay a one-time activation fee of $39, so I'm wondering if it's worth doing.

I am assuming that you can't see actual 'cruise pricing' before you join?

That is the catch I believe.

If I know the best deal I can get on a Disney Cruise is 2,000 per person = 4,000 and if I used their program giving a TS week with a 700 MF plus exchange fee 150 plus join fee of 79+39 plus 900 pp AI fee = 2768 then I would say it was worth it.

But do u know before what the deal is?
Many cruise lines give BIG discounts...it would be difficult to assess if it was a bargain or not.
Most savvy TS people fell you can get just as good price on your own.

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

I don't have a clue as to cruises or costs but here are some Holland America Alaska and this isn't using an exchange. We will have to ask Marcie about this.

Date Title Cruise Line / Ship Nights From Price Offer ID
06/22/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Westerdam 7 $1279 206716


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06/27/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Via Glacier Bay Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Amsterdam 7 $1129 202959


Compare Now
06/28/08 7-night Alaska Explorer Cruise via Hubbard Glacier
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Oosterdam 7 $1229 206711


Compare Now
07/04/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Via Glacier Bay Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Amsterdam 7 $1179 206710


Compare Now
07/05/08 7-night Alaska Explorer Cruise via Hubbard Glacier
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Oosterdam 7 $1279 206712


Compare Now
07/06/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Westerdam 7 $1339 206717


Compare Now
07/19/08 7-night Alaska Explorer Cruise via Hubbard Glacier
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Oosterdam 7 $1279 206713


Compare Now
07/20/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Westerdam 7 $1339 206718


Compare Now
07/25/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Via Glacier Bay Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Amsterdam 7 $1179 202960


Compare Now
07/31/08 12-night Mediterranean Tapestry Cruise
Barcelona/Venice
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Zuiderdam 12 $2039 178584


Compare Now
08/03/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Westerdam 7 $1339 206887


Compare Now
08/08/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Via Glacier Bay Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Theme Cruise: Culinary Arts Center
Holland America Line
Amsterdam 7 $1129 202961


Compare Now
08/09/08 7-night Alaska Explorer Cruise via Hubbard Glacier
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Oosterdam 7 $1229 206714


Compare Now
08/17/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Westerdam 7 $1229 206888


Compare Now
08/22/08 7-night Alaskan Explorer Via Glacier Bay Cruise
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Amsterdam 7 $1079 240209


Compare Now
08/30/08 7-night Alaska Explorer Cruise via Hubbard Glacier
Roundtrip Seattle
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Oosterdam 7 $1129 206715


Compare Now
09/17/08 12-night Black Sea, Egypt & Holy Lands Cruise
Rountrip Athens
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Rotterdam 12 $2399 190245


Compare Now
09/21/08 10-night Colors of Canada and New England Cruise
New York City/Quebec City
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Eurodam 10 $1839 190238


Compare Now
11/21/08 14-night Australia & New Zealand Cruise
Auckland/Sydney
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Volendam 14 $1949 190249


Compare Now
11/22/08 7-night Mexican Riviera Cruise
Roundtrip San Diego
Exclusive Amenities & Host
Holland America Line
Oosterdam 7 $769 164264


Compare Now

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

As a Premier member I can see some of it here are the T&C's. The question becomes how much value is given for the week you are trading in.

1. You must be a member of Trading Places Vacation Exchange Club or Premier Access to complete a vacation exchange. A one-time $39 activation fee is required. Not unless your membership lapses will this fee be re-assessed.
2. A Trading Places International travel counselor will factor in the value of your week and arrive at the balance cost for your vacation. Taxes will be added.
3. Initial package deposit and exchange fee required at time of reservation.
4. Weeks will be accepted up to two years in advance as long as that year’s maintenance fees and assessments are paid.
5. Bonus Weeks will not be accepted.
6. Use Week must not have been previously banked or deposited.
7. The timeshare week that will be applied toward your vacation must be reserved with Trading Places at least six months prior to the arrival date of your use time.
8. No blackout dates for vacation packages or airline tickets.
9. Written confirmations will be sent after initial deposit for package is remitted.
10. A week given to Trading Places to apply toward a vacation is final and cannot be returned.
11. All terms and conditions of the airlines or vacation supplier apply.
12. Your resort must qualify for inclusion in the Resorts to Ports® … And More program.
13. Qualifying vacation packages are for a minimum 7-night stay and are booked on “space available” basis. Rates are per person/double occupancy.
14. “Courtesy bookings” are not included in this program. A courtesy booking is any reservation not subject to full payment of fees paid to Trading Places International.
15. Program and conditions subject to change without notice. Some restrictions apply.

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

As a Premier member I can see some of it here are the T&C's. The question becomes how much value is given for the week you are trading in......
7. The timeshare week that will be applied toward your vacation must be reserved with Trading Places at least six months prior to the arrival date of your use time.
8. No blackout dates for vacation packages or airline tickets.
9. Written confirmations will be sent after initial deposit for package is remitted.
10. A week given to Trading Places to apply toward a vacation is final and cannot be returned.
11. All terms and conditions of the airlines or vacation supplier apply.
12. Your resort must qualify for inclusion in the Resorts to Ports® … And More program. ....

Lawren, is Premier Membership for people who own at specific resorts that have a special relationship with TPI? If so, what resort do you own? I'm never quite sure how Premier Membership works!

I suspect that the part about your timeshare week being reserved with TPI six months prior to arrival date actually means that it must be deposited with TPI six months prior to check-in date, but I'm not sure.

I also wonder which resorts qualify -- looks like I'll have to ask TPI directly. I just thought someone here might have given this program a try.

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

...Many cruise lines give BIG discounts...it would be difficult to assess if it was a bargain or not.
Most savvy TS people fell you can get just as good price on your own.

Well, that definitely seems to be how it is with most of the "timeshare to cruise" programs, such as R.C.I.'s program and I.C.E. These exchange companies give you a discount from the list price of the cruise, but since most cruises are dicounted anyway, you could probably do better just going to a good travel agent that specializes in cruises.

However, Trading Places does have its own department that just books cruises (apparently, Trading Places started as a travel agency, not a timeshare exchange company) and they say they will match cruises prices with any other travel agency. So, if they start with a discounted cruise price, and then let you trade-in your exchange week for a credit towards that price, it might be a good deal.

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

Well, that definitely seems to be how it is with most of the "timeshare to cruise" programs, such as R.C.I.'s program and I.C.E. These exchange companies give you a discount from the list price of the cruise, but since most cruises are dicounted anyway, you could probably do better just going to a good travel agent that specializes in cruises.

However, Trading Places does have its own department that just books cruises (apparently, Trading Places started as a travel agency, not a timeshare exchange company) and they say they will match cruises prices with any other travel agency. So, if they start with a discounted cruise price, and then let you trade-in your exchange week for a credit towards that price, it might be a good deal.

I agree and u might hvae to be our guinea pig

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

Lawren, is Premier Membership for people who own at specific resorts that have a special relationship with TPI? If so, what resort do you own? I'm never quite sure how Premier Membership works!

I suspect that the part about your timeshare week being reserved with TPI six months prior to arrival date actually means that it must be deposited with TPI six months prior to check-in date, but I'm not sure.

I also wonder which resorts qualify -- looks like I'll have to ask TPI directly. I just thought someone here might have given this program a try.

Judy, I own at Desert Breezes in Palm Desert. Trading Places is our mgmt company and the HOA voted to join the Premier Access program.

I suspect the 6 month reservation does mean deposit. Us old pros at RCI don't have any problem meeting that criteria.

TPI also offers the whole legacy "Travel Agent" suite of services; airfare etal. I have not had the opportunity to use those but was thinking of giving them a shot at my entire Hawaii trip for summer 09.

I have been talking to Marcie off and on about scheduling another live chat as we haven't had one in a year. This would be a great lead topic.

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

I'm going to copy this thread and post the copy in "Ask TPI". I'm sure Marcie will have some input.