Advantages of Timeshare Exchange

Beach? Mountains? Desert? Big city? Where you like to spend your vacation and how you like to spend your leisure time are two of the most important factors driving the selection of vacation property. When people invest in a timeshare property, they choose one that will provide the leisure experience they crave. Location, climate, resort amenities, leisure activities and accommodations are at the top of the list when buyers shop for a timeshare. Most people look for a property that suits their interests and lifestyle and look forward to returning year after year, like visiting a dear friend. But occasionally, everyone wants a change. Perhaps a change of scenery from mountain to beach, a change of pace from laid-back resort to flashy big city, or a change of activities from winter skiing to summer hiking sounds appealing. The advantage of timeshare ownership is that you can have it all through timeshare exchange programs. You can experience an infinite number of vacation experiences through exchange programs. By joining an exchange service (RCI and Interval International are the two biggest), you can trade your week or interval for a new and different vacation at comparable resorts around the world. Many resorts also offer owners the opportunity to exchange their timeshare for another within the home resort's property portfolio. Exchanging through your home resort generally guarantees comparable accommodations and amenities. Here's how it works: You place your property into the exchange company's pool of available resort weeks and choose an available resort and week from the pool. There's generally a rating system to assure parity -- that you get what you give -- but you can often arrange to upgrade your choice. Expect to pay an exchange fee and annual membership fee to the exchange company. Before you exchange, you'll want to notify your resort/property management firm to clarify any rules or regulations that may govern exchanges. When you buy your timeshare, ask about exchange policies. As a purchase incentive, resort developers often pay a new owner's first year membership fee in an exchange program. You can also "bank" your timeshare. If you can't use your timeshare during your usual interval and don't wish to exchange it in the current year, you can place your timeshare in the exchange company's pool and use your exchange option in a different year. Some exchange programs will also let you exchange your timeshare week for airfare, hotel stays or rental cars.