Timeshare Exchange: The 6 Essentials To Living Like A Movie Star On Vacation

I have traveled extensively using my timeshare for 14 years now. Because of timeshare exchange, I have vacationed in some of the best destinations around the world in some of best resorts. My wife and I sipped champagne on the beach of Marbella gazing at the Mediterranean, had a candlelight dinner at sunset on the beach in Aruba, and so much more. With the proper preparation, exchanging a timeshare is simple. Trust me; I've made several mistakes along the way. Exchanging a timeshare is more complex than it seems. Let me share with you the essentials of getting the timeshare exchange you want.

Preparation for getting the best timeshare exchange is essential, just like assembling your child's bike at Christmas. After we prepare, then I'll review the different options on what timeshare exchange services are available and how much they cost. Ready? Here we go.

1. What do you want to do on vacation? Most people start out planning their vacation the wrong way. They ask the wrong question. They choose a destination first and then they start getting locked into what is available at that destination or resort. As a result they close themselves off to other fantastic vacation options. So what do you want to do on vacation? For example: Scuba dive? Golf? Relax in a spa? Write down the top 1-3 things for everyone going.

2. Where do you want to go? Now that you know what you want to do, let's figure out where you want to do it. Maybe dad wants to surf, mom wants a spa, and the kids want to play on the beach? If you properly prepare, you'll probably be able to do all 3 at the same destination and make everyone happy. Now that you have identified your first choice, identify 2 other destination choices that offer the same type of vacation (e.g. If Orlando is the choice, consider nearby Tampa with an amusement park, golfing and nearby spa). Another thing to consider (often overlooked) is location of the airport. If you can fly direct to one destination versus having to stop 1 or 2 times will probably save you money but will definitely save you time and unnecessary stress. For example, if my closest airport (LAX) flies direct to Tampa, saving me $200 per ticket and 2-3 hours of added travel time that is certainly something to consider. That means more spending money on vacation or perhaps another vacation altogether.

3. What kind of accommodations do you want? - I didn't say "choose a resort" on purpose. That's because you don't want to get locked in to a resort before you figure out what amenities they offer. Choose a resort after you figure out what you want. For example, if you are vacationing with children, you probably want at least a 2-bedroom unit or perhaps a kitchen so you can keep food on hand. So if a resort only offers 1 bedroom units then even though it is a gorgeous resort, it probably isn't going to work out. Think about amenities like a kitchen, crib, handicap accessibility or even want amenities like hot tub or a deck. Figure out those things first and then identify the resort. Another point to consider is check-in date. What day of the week you plan to travel? Some resorts only have check-in dates on certain days (i.e. Saturdays). So make sure that check-in day lines-up with your travel plans. I've made this mistake where the days didn't line up so I rented a hotel room for one night and then the next day we had to move the luggage to the new resort. We won't ever do that again.

4. Identify the resort - Now that you know where you want to go and what accommodations you want and need, it's time to select the resorts to visit. Do your research - There are a lot of great online websites for reviews written by travelers. Traveler-written are the only ones I trust. I don't trust paid-for reviews or those written by the resort. Check out TripAdvisor and TimeshareJuice for great traveler-written reviews. Questions to consider: Can I buy groceries at the resort? Is there a grocery store nearby?

5. When do you want to go? Ok we're almost there. Now we get to search on specific time to arrive. Flexibility on this one point alone can mean the difference between a "great unit in a great resort" or "an average unit in an average resort". Are you locked-in to a specific week? I suggest be open to 2 different weeks if possible. Are you flexible on your check-in day (i.e. can you check-in on a Thursday instead of a Saturday?). Every resort has certain check-in days. Some resorts have multiple check-in days of the week. For example, there might not be availability at the resort on Friday check-ins but Sunday check-in is open.

6. Options: OK, last but not least is choosing what timeshare trading service we want to use. You can choose a service like RCI or Interval International ($250). RedWeek/Dial an Exchange ($150) is a lower cost option. You can call your resort company ($100) and ask them to arrange an exchange. The last and least expensive option for exchanging your timeshare is TimeshareJuice.com. It's a totally free service online.

In summary, timeshare exchange is not quite as simple as it looks on the surface. But the more planning you do ahead of time the more flexibility and options you will have. And that will lead to better timeshare exchanges and better vacations every year.

I hope that was helpful.

See you by the pool! Erick


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Erick Arndt is an avid traveler and the Founder and CEO of TimeshareJuice. To find out how you can exchange your timeshare for free go to Timeshare Juice !