Timeshare Exchange

Top 25 Timeshare Exchange Resorts

Article by Mark Silverman from the Timeshare Examiner

Redweek.com, the on-line marketplace for timeshare exchange, rentals and resales has released it’s annual listing of top 25 timeshare exchange resorts, according to it’s memberships.
While interesting, the list is by no means scientific; the responses come from  the 1.5 million Redweek members, which is about 20% of the owners world wide, and skews to the United States, home for most of the sites members.
The results were also not compiled as part of any kind of random sampling, and it is unlikely that any of the respondents have significant exposure to more than a couple of dozen propetries each. As a matter of fact, the rankings are based on the resorts members information requests.
All that aside, the results are still interesting.
I may comment in future columns, in the meantime I present the list for your feed back

Top Timeshare Exchange List

1. Disney’s Beach Club Villas – Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2. Disney’s BoardWalk Villas – Lake Buena Vista, Florida
3. Harborside Resort at Atlantis – Paradise Island, Bahamas
4. The Manhattan Club – New York City, New York
5. Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club – Lahaina, Hawaii
6. Costa Linda Beach Resort – Oranjestad, Aruba
7. HGVC at Hilton Hawaiian Village – Honolulu, Hawaii
8. Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Lake Buena Vista, Florida
9. Disney’s Old Key West Resort – Lake Buena Vista, Florida
10. Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club – Kapolei, Hawaii
11. Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club – Palm Beach, Aruba
12. The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas – Lahaina, Hawaii
13. Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club – Palm Beach, Aruba
14. Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas – Newport Coast, California
15. The Royal Sands – Cancun, Mexico
16. Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club – Koloa, Hawaii
17. Playa Linda Beach Resort – Palm Beach, Aruba
18. Marriott’s Grande Ocean – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
19. Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort: West Village – Kissimmee, Florida
20. Marriott’s Ocean Pointe – Palm Beach Shores, Florida
21. Kaanapali Beach Club – Lahaina, Hawaii
22. The Westin St. John – Virgin Grand Villas – St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
23. Aruba Beach Club – Oranjestad, Aruba
24. Sheraton Vistana Resort – Orlando, Florida
25. The Galleon Resort – Key West, Florida

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 22 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges.

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog.

For 10 FREE videos on getting better timeshare exchanges in RCI and II go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

Join me on:

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Timeshare Exchange

I was talking with a client yesterday and he told me about a new resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines called the Young Island Resort.  I don’t know how long it’s been affiliated with RCI as a timeshare, but not long.  The ID number is 6926 so that tells me it’s pretty new.

It seems that the gentleman and his wife and another couple have been going there for a number of years for Thanksgiving (November) and paying $2,600 for 8 nights including2 or 3 meals a day.  He is new to timeshare, he inherited it from his dad 3 years ago and has never used it, and he was shocked that he could get probably an upgraded cottage for only $189/week.

Better yet, he could use 2 exchange weeks for 2 cottages and his friends could pick up the airfare or meals.  This really got him going.

He waxed poetic about how beautiful the resort and the Grenadines were so I decided to have a look.  He was right.  The Young Island Resort is truly a piece of paradise.  The entire island is only 35 acres and the only thing on it is the resort, spa, lighted tennis courts, restaraunt and beach. No shopping and limited dining but if you’re looking for a place to just get away from it all and relax this is the spot. Young Island owns and operates Two (2) yachts, which can be chartered for a day sail to Bequia or Mustique and it’s just 200 yards from the Island of St. Vincent if you’re looking for other sightseeing opportunities.

Young Island Resort Pool

RCI has listed two types of rooms; studios and 1 bedrooms. Both sleep 4, are air conditioned, have phones and internet but no televisions.  Their website lists 3 different types of cottages, of which there are 28 total, and a 2 bedroom. The daily rates start at $422/night in hurricane season and go to $1,222 for the 2 bedroom, plus tax I assume, making it a great place to do a timeshare exchange. I don’t know how many are timeshares so it would be good to ask RCI when booking.

A perfect add on before or after a week at The Young Island Resort would be to do an exchange for the Trade Winds Cruise Club or the Festiva Sailing Vacation yachts for a week. You will embark on a weeklong cruise aboard one of the club’s luxury cruising catamarans that will take you to places you could not visit on a land-based vacation. All yachts have four or five guest cabins and one for the crew, who are in charge of the yacht and all cooking. Each day sail for an hour or two after breakfast and again after lunch. You will visit different islands every day ending with cocktails and dinner in quiet bays where the yacht will moor overnight.  There is a mandatory all inclusive fee for meals on the yachts.

Once, while staying at The Crane Beach Hotel in Barbados on exchange, I nearly exteneded my vacation a week because the Trade Winds in the Grenadines was available online for the following week.  I didn’t because my wife at the time would never board anything smaller than a cruise ship.  I could kick myself now. 

Make sure you maximize your exchange power and request early to take this dream vacation.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 22 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges. 

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog. 

For 10 FREE videos on getting better timeshare exchanges in RCI and II go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.  

Join me on:

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Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq:IILG), yesterday announced that Welk Resorts Cabo – Sirena del Mar has joined its vacation exchange network. Overlooking the Sea of Cortez near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, this is the first international location in the Welk Resorts portfolio launched by legendary entertainer Lawrence Welk.

“Those familiar with the Welk history know that we strive to ensure whatever we do at our resorts is done with the highest quality standards,” said Jon Fredricks, president of Welk Resorts. “Welk Resorts Cabo – Sirena del Mar, the newest addition to our family of resorts, clearly exemplifies this commitment to excellence.”

Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group, parent company of Interval International, added, “We are very proud to welcome Welk Resorts Cabo – Sirena del Mar, Welk’s sixth property, to Interval’s worldwide network. The resort’s stunning location and full range of amenities carry on the tradition of quality that has made Welk Resorts one of the most respected independent brands in the vacation ownership industry.”

Set on a 65-foot bluff near the popular resort town of Cabo San Lucas on the tip of the Baja California peninsula, Welk Resorts Cabo – Sirena del Mar is being built in tiers to maximize its panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez and El Arco, the landmark stone arch. There are two pools on the seven-acre property and cascading decks have wet wall water features, a vanishing edge waterfall and spa, thatched palapas, and a fire pit. At the rim of the seaside cliff, a spiral staircase leads to a swimmable cove beach.

While the setting may be a world away from other resorts in the Welk Resorts portfolio — including the Welk Resort north of the San Diego suburb of Escondido, the 400-acre flagship property, and the Ozark Mountain-themed Timber Ridge Lodge in the heart of family-friendly Branson, Missouri — the quality and flexible, points-based product is very familiar to more than 43,000 owners at Welk Resorts. Sixteen of the 20 two-bedroom villas in phase one of Welk Resorts Cabo – Sirena del Mar are lock-off units, adding another layer of flexibility. (The remaining four units are two-bedroom penthouses.) The build out is scheduled to progress in five phases for a total of 222 units with a range of configurations, including one-bedroom junior suites.

All units will include luxury amenities such as whirlpool tubs, stainless appliances, multiple flat screen TVs, complimentary Internet access, and pillow-top king-sized beds.

Phase one owners and guests will be able to enjoy a range of on-site amenities including two outdoor pools (one with a swim-up bar), a fitness center, game room, an owner’s lounge and shop selling beverages and sundries. Just five minutes from the property, Cabo San Lucas offers the full spectrum of shopping, dining, golf and water sports.

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Jeff Pierce The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 21 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of getting good exchanges.

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog.

For 10 FREE videos, a $97 value, on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

Join me on:  Twitter FaceBook LinkedIn

I just got back from a 3 day stay at Lawrence Welk’s Mountain Villas, the newest resort on their north San Diego property. This is one of the nicest timeshares in either RCI or II. Here’s II’s resort description:

“Nestled in the foothills of North San Diego, just a short drive from world-famous attractions and sunny beaches, Welk Resorts San Diego offers a panoramic 640-acre vacation playground with dozens of family-friendly activities right on-site. The newest of all of the Welk villa communities, Mountain Villas offers beautiful cabin-style villas set high up on the mountainside, with spectacular views of the sprawling fairways and natural open spaces for which Welk Resorts San Diego are renowned in Southern California.”

There are only about 43 villas open at this time with new phases planned, so it will be a very difficult exchange-especially anytime during the summer. Your best chances are any other time of the year. Make sure you maximize your exchange power and plan 9-12 months in advance.

All units are 2 bedroom lock-offs consisting of a large one bedroom villa that’s approximately 850 square feet and a one bedroom suite that is about 584 square feet. Each one bedroom sleeps 4. Here are some pictures of the Villa:

Notice the 3 sided fireplace in the master bedroom.

Here’s the living room.

And finally the bathroom.

The one bedroom suite is gorgeous as well.  Here’s the master bedroom.

The bathroom.

And the kitchen/living room.

And lastly, the second of 2 water parks on site.

There are 3 different resorts on this property in Escondido.  You’d enjoy any one of them.  Those of you that want the newest Mountain Villas be sure to request code WMX in Interval International.  The other 2 resorts on this property are Villas on the Greens and the original Lawrence Welk Resort Villas.  You’ll find them in both RCI and Interval International.

Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets to getting the best exchanges with both RCI and Interval International for over 18 years.

His two books, The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition, and The Timeshare Exchange Bible – Interval International, are the only and most authoritative in the timeshare industry.

I would love to have you share your opinions and personal insights on this blog.
For 3 free tips on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

The Cliffs at Peace Canyon in Las Vegas has gotten a lot of good reviews.  It even gets good reviews in Trip Advisor whose contributors are pretty persnickety  when rating resorts.

Cliffs at Peace Canyon

Here’s a picture of the living and dining room.

Living and Dining Room

RCI rates it as a Gold Crown.  According to Timeshares Daily, “The Cliffs at Peace Canyon is one of the best timeshares in Las Vegas. Its located 15 minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip, near fantastic outdoor locations like Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam.

The property offers a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas gaming tables. It has a Spa fully equipped with saunas and offers hot-stone massages, European treatments, Swiss showers, salt scrubs, and more.

If you have a taste for golf, the property has an 18-hole golf course. After basking under the sun after the match, you can wash your fatigue away with a swimming pool nestled amidst the Peace Canyon.

The timeshare offers one and two-bedroom accommodations, both include a kitchen, a living room, and a dining area. When the desert breeze comes in, you can relax in front of gas fire places.”

As nice it is I wouldn’t exchange my timeshare for the Cliffs.  I did a quick search on Expedia and found that I could rent a 1 bedroom for around $55/night-less than my maintenance fee.  Even over the 4th of July weekend the average rate was only $72/night.

Do some research before exchanging your timeshare.  You want to use your exchange week in resorts that you would have to pay at least $150/night to stay in.

We started our wine tasting weekend at the beautiful Korbel Winery, just outside of Guerneville, CA.  Many people think Korbel only produces cheap champagne, but their Premier Champagne, for about $25, is really excellent.  They also produce a very drinkable Chardonnay for about $15 as well.

This is a good place to start at 11:00 am.  Champagne at that hour is far preferable to red wine.

The Family

Our next stop was Iron Horse Vineyards for more champagne.  I had remembered it being better than what we tasted that day but the real reason I wanted to go there was for the view.

Our next stop was the Dutton Family Vineyards.  There we tasted the best wines of the day.  Their Chardonnay and Pinot’s were some of the best I’ve ever tasted.

After a couple of more stops we picked up some supplies from the grocery store and went back to the timeshare and bar-b-qued up some steaks and chicken and drink some of the fine wine we had purchased.

The WorldMark Wine Country Sonoma is perfectly situated in the heart of  wine country.  The resort is very well taken care of, the staff very helpful and friendly and the timeshare condos well appointed.  I highly recommend it as an RCI exchange.  Below are more pictures of the 3 bedroom unit I got with my 1 bedroom.

We had our own bar-b-que on the patio and the fireplace and entertainment center were great.

And finally pictures of the master bedroom.

In the next post I’ll share with you some pictures of one of the most beautiful drives you can do anywhere.  If you ever want to exchange your timeshare to this area, you don’t want to miss this drive.

This is the last post on the Crane Beach Hotel in Barbados.  The cover of Travel and Leisure’s December 2008 issue featured a photo of the exact room I stayed in.  I had exchanged my RCI timeshare to this incredible resort for only $184/week.  That room was probably about $400/night at the time.

These are a few pictures of the restaurant on site.

This is the poolside bar.

This is the view of the restaurant and pool from the pink sand beach below the hotel.

The Crane Beach Hotel is a highly demanded RCI timeshare resort.  Make sure you request far in advance to have a chance of exchanging into it.  To give you a substantial leg up on other timeshare owners requesting this resort, make sure you get a copy of The Timeshare Exchange Bible now.

It’s interesting to note that Travel and Leisure magazine lists rooms at the Crane Beach Hotel “starting at $410/night.”  I stayed there on exchange for $184/week by exchanging my timeshare.
In the last post of the Crane Beach Hotel , a RCI timeshare, I showed some pictures of the beautiful pool and beach. If you’ve never been to Barbados make sure you put it on your “must see” list.

These next pics are of the 2 rooms we had.  We were there for 10 days – 7 as a timeshare exchange that we paid $184/week and 3 days paying $350/night.

View from our living room.

This is the view from our patio.

View from patio of lawn, ocean and sculpture.

These next photos are of the 1 bedroom for which we paid $350/night.

Here’s the bedroom.

View from our deck on the second floor.

That’s it for now.  In the next and last post for The Crane Beach Hotel I’ll share some pics of the restaurant on site and some of the island’s other attractions.

This RCI timeshare is very difficult to exchange to, especially from Christmas through April.  Make sure you pick up a copy of The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition to give you the best chance of getting into the best timeshare resorts available.

I’ve seen quite a few articles on The Crane Beach Hotel in Barbados, an RCI resort, lately.  Travel and Leisure magazine pictured the timeshare room I stayed in on their Dec 2008 cover.  I thought I’d share some photos with you when I was there on a timeshare exchange.

Theses photos are of the incredible pink sand beach that sits below the hotel.  Only hotel guests and locals use this beautiful beach so it was never crowded the week I was there.

The sand is very soft and fine.  (These are not my toes.  I prefer a different shade of red.)

Pictures of the famous pool that overlooks the beach and it’s Doric columns.

I’ll be adding more to this post soon.  If you want to exchange your timeshare into this fabulous RCI resort make sure you request in advance.  You’ll want to supercharge your exchange power first.

Sant Fe History

Santa Fe is the oldest capital in the United States and oldest European community founded West of the Mississippi River. Before American statehood, it was a Pueblo Indian dwelling, Spanish province, Mexican territory, trade route, and Confederate outpost.

From 1050 – 1607 contemporary Santa Fe was mainly a series of Pueblo villages called pueblos. Archaeologists confirm that Pueblos abandoned the site in the 1400′s for areas nearby Santa Fe. The Spanish arrived in the Santa Fe site in 1607 in an effort to colonize and conquer North America.
 

Don Pedro de Peralta, a conquistador, officially founded Santa Fe in 1607. He succeeded Don Juan Onante, the formative governer of Santa Fe. The Spanish sent soldiers, officials, and Franciscan missionaries to Pueblo Indians in the region. At the time, there were an estimated 100,000 Pueblos living in 70 towns around Santa Fe. The Spanish outfit attempted to convert the Pueblos to Catholicism. A band of Pueblos revolted against Spanish explorers and colonists. They pushed the Spanish back into Mexico and destroyed most of Santa Fe except the Palace of the Governers.

Don Diego De Vargas successfully resieged the city from the Pueblos in 1692. This placed New Mexico under Spanish rule once again. De Vargas led the expansion of Santa Fe and initiated trading agreements with the British, French, and Americans. Similarly, the Pueblos created a peaceful alliance with Comanche, Navajo, and Apache Indians.

In 1821, when Mexico finally gained independence from Spain, Santa Fe was named as the capital of the province of New Mexico. This ended the closed empire strategies of Spain; therefore, American explorers could enter the borders of New Mexico.

William Becknell led a group of trappers and miners down the Santa Fe trail from Arrow Rock, MS. In the Chimayó rebellion of 1837, New Mexican farmers killed the governer of Santa Fe and resisted Mexican rule. After Mexico defeated the farmers, Santa Fe plaza symbolized a peaceful founding with the planting of its cottonwood trees.

The Mexican-American War took place from 1846 to 1848 in New Mexico. Mexico eventually ceded New Mexico and California to the US.

The US recognized New Mexico’s statehood in 1912.  The Museum of Fine Arts completed construction in 1917 and in 1926, the Old Santa Fe Association commenced.The association aimed to preserve the charm and cultural heritage of Santa Fe.

City ordinances prevent construction of high-rise buildings to keep the panoramic views. The same zoning restrictions only permit adobe or Spanish Colonial style architecture downtown.

Don’t miss this interestingpart of the US.  There are several RCI timeshares and one Interval International timeshare located there.  Remember, because there are so few units available to place your request more in advance.