It’s rumored that getting prime season weeks in RCI or Interval International’s best resorts, designated as Gold Crown and Premier respectively, are impossible because the owners are either using them or renting them out for a large profit.  If the premise were true, then it would follow that we wouldn’t have access to these prime weeks since they would never make it into RCI or Interval International’s exchange pool.  But it isn’t.

The reason this rumor exists is because so many timeshare owners don’t know how the exchange process works and aren’t using it correctly.  These prime weeks are there, they’re just hard to get.  I’ve been exchanging my 1 Bedroom summer week in a non-ranked resort in Whistler British Columbia for Gold Crown resorts for 20 years now.

One of the top 3 reasons people buy a timeshare in the first place is to exchange it. Certainly the owners of the very best RCI or Interval International affiliated timeshare resorts are less likely to bank them for exchange, especially prime weeks, but we’re only talking about 1-3% of the nearly 8000 resorts out there.

As for timeshare owners renting out their weeks, in the more than 20 years I’ve been in the timeshare business I’ve only worked for one company that had a rental program for their owners-Lawrence Welk Resorts.

None of these very high quality properties I’ve worked for in the past, Four Seasons Scottsdale, Westin Cabo San Lucas, Fairmont Heritage Club Ghirardelli Square, Sol Mar and Sheraton Hacienda del Mar, had a rental program. Renting a timeshare out on your own is difficult and not very profitable so few people are successful at it. Try it yourself sometime.

I just used RCI’s Enhanced Search feature to pull a bunch of Gold Crown, prime red weeks with my least powerful exchange week. It also pulled August 2010 weeks in Hyannis, South Yarmouth. While none of the resorts in the Cape Cod area are Gold Crown, they’re too old, getting a summer week there is extremely difficult. My exchange week did not pull Key West for August of 2010 but it did pull every other high demand beach area in Florida except Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Because my exchange week did not pull Key West, Sanibel or Captiva Islands, one might naturally interpret it to mean that none of those weeks ever get deposited into the exchange pool.

In reality it really means that the owners in those resorts haven’t gotten around to depositing their 2010 weeks yet. I know from past experience that if I’ve maximized both my exchange and request power, and started a pending search now, I would get it.  Certainly there are far fewer weeks coming out of these areas than out of Orlando, but the availability is only going to increase from now until March of next year when many timeshare owners will start depositing their August 2010 weeks. Timeshare owners will continually to want to exchange their timeshares and experience new places.

Also, you can forget the “like for like” basis on exchanging timeshares-that you must own a Gold Crown resort to exchange to a Gold Crown resort. It rarely pertains as evidenced by all of the great exchanges I’ve gotten in the last 20 years. My one bedroom week just pulled a Gold Crown 3 bedroom at the Club Velas Vallarta in March of 2010. And it also pulled plenty of other Gold Crown, 2 bedroom units in Florida, including the Hilton Grand Vacation Club, Cancun, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas in March as well-all this with a 1 bedroom in a non-ranked RCI Resort.

Don’t believe the rumors and give up on trying to exchange into the best resorts during prime season.  There are many steps to learn on how to get good exchanges so learn what it takes to do it right and you’ll enjoy your timeshare much more.

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

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

When visiting Belize make sure you take a trip up the New River to see the Mayan ruins at Laminai.  You can drive to the ruins but by catching a boat from  Orange Walk Town not only will you have a leisurely river trip of 2 hours, but you’ll see it the way the Maya did.

Keep your eyes open for some of the more than 500 species of birds that make Belize a birding Mecca, iguanas and crocodiles along the way.

Laminai means “submerged crocodile” in Mayan and was inhabited from roughly 1600 B.C. until the Spanish conquest.

Laminai’s High Temple was built around 100 B.C. and is the tallest know Mayan Pre-Classic structure.  It’s one of the few temples tourists are allowed to climb and the view from the top, at 125 feet is spectacular.

High Temple

There are no RCI or Interval International timeshare resorts nearby so you’ll have to make it as an addition to your timeshare stay in Belize.  You may want to splurge and stay at one of the many “eco lodges” that are now becoming so popular worldwide.  They’re usually pricey but offer a much different experience than staying at a hotel or timeshare

I did a quick Google search and here are a few I found listed for Belize. I haven’t stayed at any of these so check them out before you make a reservation.

Chaa Creek was rated in the top 50 Eco Lodges by National Geographic Magazine in 2008 and has won many awards.

Chan Chich Lodge is “carefully situated in the plaza of an ancient Maya city and surrounded by pristine forest, the lodge consists of 12 individual thatched-roof cabanas and one beautifully appointed 2-bedroom Villa. With a screened-in pool and jacuzzi, fully stocked bar and excellent cuisine, your every desire will be fulfilled by the exceptional facilities and outstanding service we provide.”

Jungle Lodge

Reading Room

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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 3 FREE tips on getting a better exchange in RCI and II, go to TheTimeshareExpert.com.

Interval International just posted spring exchange availability including resorts available for this Easter.  Easter timeshare weeks are some of the hardest to get so you want to act now before they’re gone.

There are only a few locations available for Easter in ski and beach resorts so get going now.

See the list below for availability.

The first 3 months of each year is what I call exchange season.  Interval Interantional and RCI receive a big bulk of timeshare owners depositing their weeks into the timeshare exchange pool at this time.  The best resorts and weeks are snapped up immediately by savvy timeshare exchangers that have maximized their exchange and request power.

Click here to learn how to get the best exchange results in RCI.

Click here to learn how to get the best exchange results in Interval International.

* Certain destinations may not be available every week of the exchange availability window.

♦ Indicates availability for Easter week.
♦ Indicates availability for Memorial Day week.