Interval International - Is it as good as they say?

We just got back from a timeshare presentation with Marriott Vacation Club (no, we didn't buy) and they talked a lot about Interval International. We were shown live availability of some prime Hilton Head properties for around $100 a night for a 8 bedroom the next week out. It wasn't planned/staged because I picked the destination. Since I have a remote job, last minute bookings are very intriguing to us and could be useful to our living location.

1. Is Interval International really this good where you can get prime properties off-season for cheap prices? 2. Anything sneaky we weren't told about it? 3. Is there any way you can get Interval International without actually owning a timeshare or somehow safely flipping one quickly? We really have no interest in a timeshare commitment at this time of our lives. 4. Who is actually selling the property on Interval? Is it timeshare owners or the resorts themselves?

Thanks!

josephc728 wrote:

We just got back from a timeshare presentation with Marriott Vacation Club (no, we didn't buy) and they talked a lot about Interval International. We were shown live availability of some prime Hilton Head properties for around $100 a night for a 8 bedroom the next week out. It wasn't planned/staged because I picked the destination. Since I have a remote job, last minute bookings are very intriguing to us and could be useful to our living location.

1. Is Interval International really this good where you can get prime properties off-season for cheap prices?

In the "exchange company" world, which is dominated by RCI and II, space availability always rules all. It's luck of the draw as to what might be available at any given location at any given time. When you mention "prices", you are presumably referring to II "Getaways" (rentals, as opposed to "exchanges". In RCI, these are called "Extra Vacations". In both instances, the weeks offered are essentially "leftovers" (weeks not claimed by any members as an "exchange"). These weeks will almost exclusively be off-season dates or low demand locations. Again, space availability always determines what might be available. I suspect that you may have been painted a more rosy picture than reality would support regarding actual space availabilty. Also, no "8 bedroom" timeshare units exist anywhere on this planet, so I am both confused and dubious about your reference to "8 bedroom". Was this perhaps just a typo error?

2. Anything sneaky we weren't told about it?

Sales weasels will say just about anything to hook a fish (although Marriott sales people are generally much more credible and honest than most others), but we can't possibly know what else you may have been told. Just always bear in mind that, in addition to the initial timeshare ownership acquisition costs (and the associated, ever-increasing annual maintenance fee obligations), there are also exchange company membership costs, exchange fees for each and every ndividual exchange, and of course the costs associated with renting available "Getaways".

3. Is there any way you can get Interval International without actually owning a timeshare or somehow safely flipping one quickly? We really have no interest in a timeshare commitment at this time of our lives.

No. Membership in Interval International first requires actual ownership of a II-affiliated timeshare --- and yes, II does check and verify. "Flipping one quickly" reflects more optimism than the reality of the secondary market warrants. Don't plan on that being a successful approach --- and you would almost certainly lose serious money in any such attempted "flip" (if you even succeeded in finding yourself a new owner at all).

4. Who is actually selling the property on Interval? Is it timeshare owners or the resorts themselves?

Interval International is just an "exchange company". Interval International does not "own" any timeshare weeks to "sell". II essentially has "temporary custody" of limited inventory, all of which has been provided to them either via "deposits for exchange" by individual owners, or made temporarily available to II by resort developers of unsold weeks (in far fewer cases). In no instance does Interval "own" any week(s) being offered, but exchange (or Getaway rental) transactions are nonetheless conducted directly with Interval International, not with the actual underlying owner of record of the week(s) involved.

Hope this helps. If not, I'll cheerfully refund 110% of what you have paid me for providing my input. ;-)

Thank you for the information. Yes, 8 person room, not 8 bedroom - that was a typo. One other question regarding II - can II members book resorts for friends without being present? If yes, is there an additional fee for that?

josephc728 wrote:

<snip> One other question regarding II - can II members book resorts for friends without being present? If yes, is there an additional fee for that?

II members can only book exchanges and / or Getaways in their own (member) name. In the case of "exchanges", members must of course have week(s) "deposited" in order to get an "exchange" in the first place. II Getaways (called Extra Vacations in RCI) are cash transactions which do not require any week(s) to first be "on deposit". That being said, once an exchange reservation is booked, a II (or RCI) member can (...yes, for an additional fee) obtain a "Guest Certificate" for that particular reservation to be changed to the name of another person (who need not be a II / RCI member). The name on the Guest Certificate must of course be a precise match to the i.d. of the person later checking in, or the person checking-in will not be allowed to check-in at all. You, as the II / RCI member who initially obtained the "exchange", need not be present at check-in with the the alternative occupant now named on the Guest Certificate (which should be available to present to the resort at check-in).

Understand that it is expressly prohibited (by very clear and specific written terms and conditions of RCI and / or II membership) to rent out any week obtained as either a Getaway (or Extra Vacation, in RCI) or any week obtained as an "exchange". Getting caught violating these terms and conditions of membership by trying to rent out a week obtained by "exchange" can result in suspension or termination of the membership, as well as denial of occupancy to the would-be "tenant". It happens, to the chagrin of both participants if caught, even if the would-be tenant might be completely unaware that they are engaging in a prohibited "rental" which could cost them their occupancy (as well as loss of the money paid to the violating exchange company member).