So Cal /San Diego timeshares

[LynneM Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LynneM]

Hi

am starting to plan for next Summer vacation, and would really love to spend some time in So Cal/San Diego area. Would like to visit Disneyland, San Diego zoo, Sea World, Del Coronado etc. Would probably fly into LAX from London, then try to get a trade into a TS for at least one week. This is where you all come in! I am a Marriott owner in Europe, and know how highly rated Marriott Newport Caost Villas are, I have also heard they are a very difficult trade and I would be looking for early August. So can anyone recommend any other II resorts that might be suitable, would prefer to be near or on beach, two bedroom, any help would be much appreciated

thanks

Lynne

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

Coastal California during the summer is going to be tough. Hope someone has some ideas for you. I trade with RCI so I don't know what is available to you with II. Good luck!

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

Took a quick search for Marriott Newport Villas in our II Exchange opportunities forum. August appears next to impossible even with a Marriott preference.

I know RCI would be wicked difficult for 2BDRMs as well.

You may stand a chance if you can take your trip the latter half of August instead. A lot of schools here in the US resume by then (although not California) but at least that would increase your chances.

FWIW the one August MNV I did see ont he search was a 24Aug check-in.

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

You might do better trying to get a direct exchange or a rental. When the new Anaheim WorldMark comes online, that might be an option, but probably not in time for you.

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

I just did a quick check with RCI and only found a couple of coastal resorts during summer 2009, and those were all studio or one-bedroom.

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

Maybe Trading Places? They get Riviera Beach, Capistrano Surfside and some others.

Two bedrooms in August is going to be brutal.

At least we are talking 2009.

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

Hi

am starting to plan for next Summer vacation, and would really love to spend some time in So Cal/San Diego area. Would like to visit Disneyland, San Diego zoo, Sea World, Del Coronado etc. Would probably fly into LAX from London, then try to get a trade into a TS for at least one week. This is where you all come in! I am a Marriott owner in Europe, and know how highly rated Marriott Newport Caost Villas are, I have also heard they are a very difficult trade and I would be looking for early August. So can anyone recommend any other II resorts that might be suitable, would prefer to be near or on beach, two bedroom, any help would be much appreciated

thanks

Lynne

Hi Lynne,
If you are a PLATINUM week Marriott owner - reserve the BEST week in your season and put a request in NOW for early August.
Being one of the first ones online for an exchange is very helpful. If you told us where u own and what season it would be a big help in terms of advice.
You will NOT see this sitting online.

[catahoula Member Find all posts View Profile Close catahoula]

I wouldn't be surprised if The Lawrence Welk resorts pop up. I exchanged into the Welk resort this year at Escondido . I went through RCI early this year and August came through.
If anybody has stayed at the Welk maybe you can advise.

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

How firm is your schedule?

If you can come over in September or October you will have better weather and the summer crowds will be gone. This is my favorite time in SoCal. Also trades will be easier.

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

I wouldn't be surprised if The Lawrence Welk resorts pop up. I exchanged into the Welk resort this year at Escondido . I went through RCI early this year and August came through.
If anybody has stayed at the Welk maybe you can advise.

I stayed at the Welk in Escondido in August (or maybe it was July) a couple of years ago. I got a last-minute exchange through DAE. I wouldn't necessarily expect that to happen again, but I do see 2-bdrms at this resort in II fairly often. The resort is lovely but Escondido is quite hot in the summer. Also, the resort isn't close to much, except the town of Escondido and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Despite the proximity to the Wild Animal Park, we spent more time at the San Diego Zoo (they are both part of the same organization), because the weather at the Wild Animal Park was just too hot for us -- you're talking as much as 30 degrees warmer than at the zoo.

In general, driving anywhere in Southern California is a nightmare. Figure maybe 45-60 minutes from the Welk to downtown San Diego, more if the traffic is really bad. And, you could be looking at five hours of sitting in traffic to get from San Diego to Disneyland. I know that there is a proposal to build a tollway between San Diego and LA, but I have no idea when that might actually happen or even if the fights over it have ended yet.

I'd suggest renting out your Marriott, then using the proceeds to rent some time near Anaheim and some time near San Diego. If you don't mind a bit of a commute, or like dry heat, the Welk in Escondido should work for the San Diego portion.

[LynneM Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LynneM]

Hi everyone, thanks for all your replies. Thought I was perhaps asking for a bit much, but its worth asking the question!

Firstly, although I'd love to travel in Sept/Oct this is not possible due to our school holidays over here in UK.

Heat not really a problem for us, we even went to Scottsdale in August and thought it was ok!!

Also I only own Gold and Silver Marriott weeks both in Spain so can't really rely on Platinum getting me a trade! Will take a look at some of the resorts you have all mentioned and may have to go back to the drawing board!

Thanks again though for your suggestions

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

If hot, dry weather is no problem, the Lawrence Welk in Escondido might be your best bet for a trade I'd do a couple days in a hotel in Anaheim if I wanted to do Disneyland -- fighting the traffic between San Diego and Los Angeles just isn't worth it.

There are some Worldmarks near San Diego that should be nice, but I don't know what the chances of getting one as a trade for summer are. In general, summer on the beach in Southern California is one of the hardest trades in all of timesharing. There are just so many people in that area, and so few timeshares, and everyone wants to be right near the beach so that they don't have to deal with the parking and traffic issues. Renting a Worldmark from an owner might be a possibility, or renting one of the other timeshares in the area. Frankly, with the dollar so weak, you could probably do very well renting your Marriott to someone in England and then renting a Southern California week from an American. There are also some timeshares near Anaheim that have daily resverations, but I don't know if any have two-bedrooms.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Try for NCV, If you don't get it by Sept or Oct of this year then I would expand to the other resorts. NCV is just so much nicer than the others.

The key is to request now and don't give up till 10 months before travel. That gets you 2 months to match since most people can't deposit till 12 months before the checkin date.

PS I have a SoCal beach front TS ( Riviera Shores) I like it alot but the 2 bedroom don't face the ocean ( the 1 bedroom do!!) and it is just not the same thing to be so close to the ocean and look at a wall. That is why when we stay there we get -two- ocean front one bds for 5 days, which is the same # of points as a 2 bd for a week.