Hyatt Highlands Inn Pool

I just got confirmed for the best exchange ever out of the 50+ I’ve done. I deposited my 2009 Swallowtail at Sea Pines week 43 on Hilton Head, probably 10-12 months in advance. I started my search on Nov 9, 2009 exclusively for the Hyatt Highlands Inn.

I don’t remember how big of a span of time I requested, but I’m sure I told II that I’d take any week from Aug 2010 through Dec, and I’d accept a 1 bedroom.

On Jun 8, 2010 I was confirmed into a 1 bedroom ocean view for Thanksgiving 2010. (Sorry I couldn’t make the picture come out better)

What’s interesting is that my timeshare in Hilton Head is not even ranked as a Premier or Select Resort and although week 43 is Red, it is not prime Red week like the summer weeks are.

Hyatt Highlands Owners Lounge

I’m confirmed to unit #405 which is an ocean view.  When I went to the Hyatt Hotel website and to rent that 1 bedroom during Thanksgiving would cost $4,683 plus tax.  Let’s call it $5000. I paid $4500 for that week 20 years ago.  This is timesharing at its best.

Hyatt Highlands Jacuzzi

For several years now I’ve offered the secrets to getting incredible exchanges, no matter what quality of timeshare you own, through the sale of my Timeshare Exchange Bibles.

Hyatt Highlands Inn Balcony

If you haven’t picked up your  copy yet you can get The Timeshare Exchange Bible – II Edition by Clicking Here Now!

You can pick up your  copy of The Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition by Clicking Here Now!

Hyatt Highlands Inn Bedroom

Life’s too short and you’ve spent too much money on your timeshare to be getting mediocre exchanges.  Get your Timeshare Exchange Bibles now.

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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.

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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Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort

Good news for the timeshare industry.  Hilton announced that they will be adding two more timeshare towers to their Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort in Oahu. The new project, which is self-financed, will nearly double the timeshare accommodations capacity at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort.

Here’s what the Hilton Corporation has to say about their resort:

“Discover the unique environment and culture of Hilton Hawaiian Village® Beach Resort & Spa – our exquisite Waikiki hotel. Imagine lush tropical gardens, waterfalls, exotic wildlife and priceless artwork. This one-of-a-kind Honolulu Hawaii hotel resort is the only true resort property in Waikiki.

The good news is not only will there be more exchange availability in the always difficult Waikiki are but also a sign that Hawaii’s economic recovery has begun.  The University of Hawaii Research Organization expects that tourism and visitors to Hawaii will increase by 2.9 percent in 2010 and that spending will stabilize.

Timeshare owners and timeshare renters, vacationing in Hawaii timeshare spend an average of $4202 each time they visit. An astounding eighty-six percent of these dollars don’t wind up just in the busiest Hawaii timeshare destinations such as Waikiki timeshare or Kaanapali timeshare, but are spent away from the resorts in malls, grocery stores, entertainment, restaurants, and even convenience stores.

I don’t know about you, but I’m long overdue to return to Hawaii.  I lived in Maui at one time and have done many exchanges there.  The Hawaiian Islands are a good destination to exchange your timeshare because the prices of good hotel rooms are so expensive.

Add to that the price of not having to eat out every meal when staying in a fully furnished condo, and you can save quite a bit of money to use at other attractions.  As always, you’ll want to put in your request with RCI as far in advance as possible. 

Remember, avoid going to Hawaii in September if possible.  The second and third weeks in September are the most likely time to be hit by a tropical storm or hurricane.

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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:

Twitter   Facebook    My Space           

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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:

Twitter   Facebook    My Space          

Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay

Before I call them to bank my weeks, are there any other suggestions?”

Hi Richard,

I’m glad you’re applying, or attempting to apply, the strategies in the Bible.  I did mention that not all resorts will let you pick the week.  Since I don’t own Pueblo Bonitio, I can only guess as how to deal with this.  You’d definitely be better off with a powerful Red winter week than a white week when exchanging in RCI.

First off, did you buy a white week?  If not, I’d certainly demand a red week be banked regardless of what the computer generates. You might try calling and asking “if I want to bank a week, and that week is randomly generated can you tell me before it’s deposited what it’s going to be?”  If so, and the week is a crummy one, say no thank you and call back another time.

You really need to pick the Pueblo’s reservationist’s brain on how best to do this.  Maybe banking much earlier will help.  You’ll have to dig deep to get the best answer.  One of the keys to getting great exchanges starts with understanding your home resort’s reservation policy.  That’s best done before you purchase your timeshare but seldom happens.

When I bought my weeks at Whistler I made sure I could pick which weeks I could bank so I always bank 4th of July weeks.  (I chose to buy summer floating weeks because they were cheaper then winter.  I gambled that summer weeks would increase in exchange power over the years to nearly equal winter weeks and in fact they have) Good info to know if you ever plan to buy more timeshare.

Let me know what Pueblo says so I can help out other timeshare owners.  I’ll blog this to help other timeshare owners facing the same problem.

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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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Las Vegas

I’ve just returned from Las Vegas where I attended, for the first time, the yearly convention for the timeshare industry.  It is held by ARDA, The American Resort Development Association which is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has nearly 1,000 corporate members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC).

The convention is geared toward the timeshare developer and the ancillary companies that service them while this blog is aimed at the timeshare consumer but I came away with a very positive feeling for the industry.  Certainly the current economic climate has taken its toll, but the best minds in the industry were there to put on educational sessions to deal with this and other factors affecting the industry.

While surviving in difficult economic times was certainly one of the focuses of the convention, ARDA also sets the standards and identifies best practices and innovations for the industry.  There were sessions on going green, running an effective HOA, understanding today’s leisure traveler, innovative ways to improve owner satisfaction and fundamentals of resort management – all of which will contribute to timeshare owner’s enjoyment and satisfaction.

ARDA also does a great job lobbying in Washington DC for timeshare owner rights.  They have been instrumental in keeping us from having to pay transient hotel taxes when we do an exchange in many parts of the country.  They are a nonprofit so feel free to make donations.  To learn more about this very important and useful organization click here.

The most exciting thing for me personally was that RCI has a copy of my Timeshare Exchange Bible – RCI Weeks Edition and has read some of the articles I’ve done about them.

At first I thought that they would now put out their own Bible to compete with mine.  But to my surprise, RCI encouraged what I was doing and offered me assistance in getting out information on another of a long line of product and service enhancements they have been making of late due out later this year.  Rather than seeing me as their competition they want as many timeshare owners as possible to understand the best procedures of getting a good timeshare exchange.

All RCI members are going to be greatly pleased by what they will be rolling out regardless of where they own.  In my opinion, what RCI is doing will be considered one of the great leaps forward in the timeshare industry since its inception.

RCI has already broken the mold with RCI TV and continues to strive to improve their service.  But I promised not to tip my hat early on this so you’ll have to wait until later this year.

I also got to speak briefly with Howard Nusbaum, President and CEO of ARDA, about The Timeshare Exchange Bibles and he asked me to send him copies.  He also thinks it imperative to educate timeshare owners on the art of getting good exchanges.

Refer back to this blog for further updates and be the first to learn of the new RCI enhancements when they pull the trigger.

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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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His favorites are: 1) WeatherBug 2) Where 3) XE Currency 4) Google Earth and 5) Translator.  I couldn’t find the website for the app he uses for Translator but Google is in the process of developing one now.

You can find this helpful but short article by clicking on this link: Travel Apps

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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:

Twitter Facebook My Space

“The central location of Grand Lodges adjacent to three ski areas is ideal for our upscale members, who will have the opportunity to visit this high-quality ski-in/ski-out resort,” said David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International. “This destination offers a wonderful variety of recreational options, including an extensive night skiing area at Mt. Hood Skibowl and summer skiing at Timberline Palmer Snow Field.”

Since it is being sold as fractional, it typically means that for exchangers we’ll have a harder time getting either the winter or summer weeks.  Fractional resorts usually package together the prime with the not so prime weeks when sold.  For instance, the 3 week package probably contains 1 winter ski week, 1 summer week and 1 spring or fall week.  The week most likely to get deposited with Interval International is the spring or fall week-at least for the first 4 or 5 years.  After that, we can expect to see some winter and summer weeks up for exchange.

If you jump on it right away, it’s possible to exchange into the Grand Lodges, even in prime time, because the developer’s usually have more inventory than owners.  They give some of that inventory to II to fill their rooms and as a way to market them as well.  But you’ll need to jump on it now and maximize your exchange power.

The resort has 16 open-plan units with three different floor plans that range from 1,800 to 2,300 square feet.  The units include three bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and a private balcony with access from the master bedroom and living room, as well as offer a rustic elegant style with Brazilian cherry hardwood floors and Cascadian stone fireplaces in most units.

The developer of Grand Lodges and managing member of Mt. Hood LLC II, Kirk Hanna says, “Our vision was to create the ultimate balance between a getaway retreat and a comfortable home,” Kirk Hanna is also the owner of Mt. Hood Skibowl and continued to say, “Units are acoustically engineered to give owners a quiet appreciation of the stunning panoramas. The on-site recreation center and full-service concierge and spa will provide first-class pampering. And, our affiliation with Interval International completes the picture by expanding our owners’ vacation options to other quality locations worldwide.”

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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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Westgate Planet Hollywood Towers

The long-awaited 52-story Westgate residential, vacation ownership, and timeshare resort, PH Towers at Planet Hollywood, officially opened this week.  Grand opening of the 1,200 room resort began with room availability to timeshare owners and will be followed on December 28 by rooms available to the general public.

The first 20 timeshare owners of Planet Hollywood’s PH Towers by Westgate checked in Friday morning, marking the first of several residential tower openings over the next few months.

Westgate Resorts Chief Operating Officer Mark Waltrip said the tower is open this week for the 200 timeshare owners who purchased for the last two weeks of 2009. An estimated 500 units will be open by Christmas with the rest of the tower open by Jan. 1, Waltrip said.

The resort’s timeshare units account for approximately 20 percent of the total number of rooms at the property and include studio timeshare units, and one and two bedroom timeshare units. Many feature dramatic city views with floor to ceiling windows, marble accented bathrooms, spa tubs, and other luxury amenities.  But perhaps the real draw of Las Vegas timeshare at the PH Towers is its location at the heart of the Vegas Strip, on four acres next to the Miracle Mile Shops. At build out, you’ll find some 170 specialty stores and thirty restaurants in what Westgate timeshares describes as “retail bliss” for the “semipro shopper”.

Ownership amenities including an exotic tropical pool complete with sandy beach and private cabanas, an elite 46th floor pool for the exclusive penthouse suites, and a world class fitness facility, restaurants, onsite casino and marketplace/deli.

About 80 percent of the tower will be used as hotel rooms and will welcome guests Dec. 28 and officially celebrate the tower’s grand opening in early January.  Waltrip said rates will range from the low $100s to $600s. Guests will have direct access to Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino and Miracle Mile Shops.

The Resort will be connected to the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino which will give our guests direct access to amenities such as the all new Planet Hollywood Casino, twelve premium restaurants featuring an eclectic range of cuisine and a full-service shopping mall with over 140 shops.

Interval International is the exchange company for the PH Towers at Planet Hollywood.  Typically, for a new timeshare of this quality, I’d expect it would be a difficult exchange, but Westgate is going through some difficult times and is getting a lot of bad press.  There are already many resales for this property and it just opened so after the initial rush of owners wanting to stay there I think we’ll see good exchange availability.

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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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“RCI announced that RCI TV, its innovative web-based television network that until now was exclusive for RCI subscribing members, is live and available to all consumers on RCI.com.” (from CNNMoney.com) To read entire article Click Here.

Great, now you don’t even have to belong to RCI to see and rent timeshare weeks from their website.  RCI claims in their press release that RCI TV will bring enhanced awareness about timesharing to non-timeshare owners, ostensibly to help developers sell more timeshare, but it sure won’t hurt their rental business. One can only surmise that increased demand from the non-timeshare owning public to rent weeks will dry up the supply of desirable exchange weeks even further.

RCI goes on to state:
“This new accessibility allows the general public to view educational and entertaining “Resort Showcase” and “Destination” channels along with other information dedicated to increasing timeshare industry awareness and promoting the benefits of vacation ownership. Through the Resort Showcase channel, prospective purchasers can also link directly to selected developers’ websites for more information or a chance to visit resorts.”

I applaud RCI for setting up RCI TV.  It’s a great resource and planning tool for the timeshare owner to obtain information on resorts before they start an exchange request, but I see even greater advantages for the company and timeshare resort developers-possibly at the expense of us.  Let me know what you think by leaving your comments.

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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:

Twitter Facebook My Space

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:

Twitter Facebook My Space