This is a question I get quite frequently from clients about exchanging timeshares and that question is “if I put in two 1 bedroom units in RCI or Interval International, can I take out one week in a two bedroom?

And the answer to that question is “no, but…” Neither timeshare exchange company will allow you to do it that way BUT it’s not unusual to put a 1 bedroom in and take out a 2 bedroom when exchanging timeshares.

Now that’s going to depend on a couple of things, the first of which is how powerful a timeshare exchange you have, and also, if you’ve done everything possible to maximize your timeshare exchange power.  That’s a whole other story.

Exchanging Timeshares is Like Fishing

The first thing you want to do exchanging timeshares is to be broad in your request.  You want to think about exchanging timeshares like fishing.  The broader you cast your net the more fish you’ll likely catch.

So instead of giving RCI or Interval International one to three resorts you’d like as a timeshare exchange to, broaden it out to 8, 10 or 15.  That will increase your possibility of getting a 2 bedroom for a 1 bedroom quite significantly.

Also, you’ll want to find out how many 2 bedrooms units are in each of the timeshare resorts you’re requesting.  A common mistake many people make when exchanging timeshares  is thinking that the majority of the resort’s floor plans are 2 bedrooms when in fact a particular resort may only contain 3 or fewer 2 bedrooms.  If this is the case then you should add another resort to you list.

When exchanging timeshares give an increase span of time

You’ll also want to increase the span of time with which you’ll accept a confirmation.  Instead of requesting just the second week in February, if you can, expand it to include any week in February through March or April.  Again, this will increase your possibilities of getting a 2 bedroom for a 1 bedroom exponentially.

The way not to get a 2 bedroom for a 1 bedroom timeshare exchange is to request only 1 or 2 resorts for only 1 or 2 weeks of the year.

In conclusion, broaden out the number of resorts you’re requesting, expand out your reservation window and learn how to maximize your exchange power and you’ll have a much easier time of getting 2 bedroom suites with your 1 bedroom deposit.  And as always, the farther in advance you do this the better.

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Jeff Pierce, The Timeshare Expert, has taught thousands of timeshare owners the secrets of exchanging timeshares into the best resorts in both the RCI Directory and Interval International for over 22 years.

His two books, The RCI Timeshare Exchange Bible, and The Interval International Timeshare Exchange Bible, are the only books of their kind in the timeshare industry and designed to help you  master at the very complicated art of exchanging timeshares.

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

For 10 FREE videos on exchanging timeshares in RCI and Interval International go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

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Exchanging timeshares made easy

Disney Senior Vice President Joe Rohde said Tuesday that “aulani” means “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages.”

Located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development, Aulani is to include 360 hotel rooms and 481 timeshare vacation villas. The first phase is to open in fall 2011.

Recreational highlights include pools, hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, play programs for children and a river suitable for tube floating.

The resort will also have an 18,000-square-foot spa, two restaurants, a 14,545-square-foot conference center and 48,685 square feet of outdoor venues.

With 481 timeshare villas expect to see some weeks showing up in RCI available for exchange.  Unfortunately, it will take 3-5 years before any appreciable amount weeks are deposited.  And you’ll have to really supercharge your exchange power and request very early to have a chance of getting in.

In addition, the fourth installment of the popular Disney movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean” series is scheduled for filming in Hawaii during the summer of 2010. Johnny Depp will return to his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in “On Stranger Tides.” The film, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, is estimated to mean roughly $85 million to the economy of Hawaii.

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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.

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Palm Island Jumeirah

How about doing something really out there next year for your timeshare exchange by going to Dubai instead of Orlando?  Come to think of it, Dubai just may  be the Orlando of Arabia- as opposed to the Lawrence- although much more upscale.  Timeshares are big business in Dubai and Interval International has 4  resorts there under affiliation.

Considered the 8th wonder of the world, the man-made Palm Island is what put Dubai on the map as a tourist destination.  It consists of a trunk, a crown with 17 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that forms an 11 kilometer-long breakwater. The island itself is 5 kilometers by 5 kilometers. It will add 78 kilometers to the Dubai coastline. The first phase of development on the Palm Jumeirah will create 4,000 residences with a combination of villas and apartments over the next 3 to 4 years.

The Royal Club at Palm-Jumeirah is located on the western side of the trunk-considered the hub of Palm Island.  A 50 meter wide canal gently weaves its way down the trunk past boutique hotels, upscale designer shops and restaurants and some of the priciest real estate in the world.

Another wonder to behold in Dubai is the Burj al Arab, one of the tallest and certainly most unique hotels in the world.

One of the tallest hotels in the world

Construction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994. It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow a type of Arabian vessel. Two “wings” spread in a V to form a vast “mast”, while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium.

Burj Al Arab promotes itself as the world’s only “7-star” property and while that designation doesn’t really exist in the hotel rating system it is certainly one of the most opulent hotels in the world.  The rooms start at $1,000/night and go up to $28,000.  In fact, they charge $75 just to go in and see it.

Other activities include moonlight cruises, golf, desert safari, all manner of water sports, indoor snow skiing and world class duty free shopping and dining.  You’ll want to go in the winter and avoid the Arab holy holiday of Ramadan.  You’ll need to supercharge your exchange power first and request at least a year in advance to get a timeshare so now’s the time to get going for winter 2011.

I expect RCI will affiliate some timeshare resorts but for now Interval International has a lock on things.  But Dubai is an international hot spot for tourism and timeshare is becoming a major part of the room mix.

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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 on getting better timeshare exchanges in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

Join me on:

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I decided to exchange my timeshare to the San Juan Mountain and Golf Resort for several reasons; I’ve been wanting to explore that area for some time now, I could drive there, there is a Balloon AND Wine and Food festival that weekend and the golf rates at the 3 courses drop from $89 to $35 that week.

As I mentioned earlier, I like to drive so I’m looking forward to the 8 1/2 hour trip through Tuba City, the Navajo Nation and the Four Corners region from my home in Scottsdale, AZ.   If time permits I may take a day on my return to stop at Canyon de Chelly.

Canyon de Chelly

The San Juan Mountain and Golf Resort is new having just opened in June of 2009.  Interval International has rated it as a Premier resort, its highest category.  There are 20 units open now with room for 200 total at build out.  The timeshare consists of 2 properties; The Timbers, stand alone 2 and 3 bedroom homes and The Links consisting of 1,2 and 3 bedroom condos.

The Links at San Juan Mountain Golf Resort

According to the website,

“The Links is a beautiful vacation ownership community located on the Pagosa Springs 27-hole Championship Golf Course. Guests and owners are within walking distance to shopping and dining. In the winter, the Links provides cross country ski-in/ski-out services on the groomed golf course track as well as downhill sledding in front of the building. Some of the extras include:”

• Panoramic Views of the San Juan Mountains
• Gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, granite countertops, garbage disposal, and tile floors
• Cable TV and High Speed Internet Access
• Double insulated, sound proof common walls
• Luxurious bathrooms with granite counter tops, walk-in shower, and garden tub

Living Room

Main Street San Pedro

No vacation to Belize would be complete without a visit to Ambergris Caye and its little beach town of San Pedro.  In all of my travels this is one of my favorite places.

You can get there from Belize City by water taxi or plane.  It takes about 75 minutes by water taxi or ferry and is only $12.50 US one way.  A great way to go if the water’s not choppy.

There are many flights a day from both the Municipal and International airports.  Both Mayan Island Air and Tropic Air charge about $25.00 US each way. Both airlines have great safety records but if you’re not comfortable in small planes you may want to take the ferry.  I recommend flying over and taking the ferry or water taxi back.  That way you get to see it from the air and water.

Typical Beach

You can now search RCI online the realtime availability your timeshare week will pull.  In my last post I wrote that if you have more than one timeshare week banked in RCI, being able to see this instant availability is a great way to monitor how effectively you’re maximizing your exchange power by comparing what one week pulls to the other.

For instance,  I own 2 weeks in Whistler, British Colombia.  Both are 1 bedrooms but one is a 6/4 sleeper and the other is a 4/2.  I now have 4 weeks banked with RCI -  both from 2008 and both from 2009.  Here’s  how many weeks are available to me from each banked week.

Year          Size Unit      # of Weeks Available

2008            4/2                           131,072

2008            6/4                           136,512

2009            4/2                           106,616

2009            6/4                          106,616

Notice how the first two weeks listed pulled about 30,000 more weeks than the last two.  The difference is not that the first two are 6/4 sleepers and the last two are 4/2 as one may expect.  The first two are 2008 weeks and the last are 2009 weeks.

The big difference between the two is when they were banked with RCI!  I banked two 4th of July weeks in 2008 and 2 in 2009.  But the 2008 weeks I banked in August 2007.  I didn’t bank my 2009 4th of July weeks until February.

I can’t say it enough.  Bank early! For 3 FREE exchange tips, Click Here Now!