It is no surprise that the depressed economy has started to effect the timeshare market.  Vacations are often among the first expenses to go in a climate of instability.  While it is still too early to tell what time share owners can expect from this most recent economic downturn, we can look at the positive and negative effects it could have on owners, and what you can do to prepare and/or take advantage of the present economic climate.
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Ever thought of trading your timeshare week for a cruise, or using your RCI points toward a week long adventure at sea? As many of you may already know, RCI owners are able to book cruises through RCI timeshare exchange by applying unused points, borrowing points from a future year, or banking and trading a weeks time share. RCI will generally use the option for cruise vacations as a selling point for their program, but are they really a good deal? This article will explore the ways to book a cruise through RCI, and look at whether or not trading your timeshare for a cruise is worth it.
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1. Direct Exchange

The most basic, and cost-effective, way of exchanging timeshare is owner to owner. This requires finding another timeshare owner willing to exchange their week for yours.  Once an agreement has been made between both parties, you would each notify the resort and obtain a guest pass for the party staying in the timeshare during your scheduled week.  The best ways to find parties interested in direct timeshare exchanges is by using websites like Craigslist, Timex and Timeshare Forums, or using your own personal social networks.

Some resorts offer an exchange program within their particular group of resorts.  There are a number of smaller, independent resorts that take part in this type of program, although it is not always advertised.  Many timeshare management companies will offer this benefit as part of there management services in order to avoid a high turnover rate within their resort.  The fees associated with this type of exchange are usually minimal because you are staying within a select group of accommodations, and tend to cost less than a timeshare exchange company’s fees.

3. Timeshare Exchange Company

Timeshare exchange companies allow you to “bank” your week with them, and in exchange you get to choose from their inventory of weeks that other timeshare owners have banked.  You also have the opportunity to use points within this system, being able to stay at certain locations based on the amount of points you own.  Also, outside resorts will bank there unsold timeshare weeks with exchange companies to increase their inventory. Your week and room size will determine your trading power with the exchange company. The most popular exchange companies are II (Interval International, RCI (Resort Condominiums International), Marriott and Disney.

One way to get the most out of your timeshare is to take advantage of the many special offers your time share exchange company makes available to owners. A great way to get the most for your money is to utilize your exchange group’s available last-minute trip deals. The downside to these deals is that travel can not usually be booked more than a month or two in advance, but the upside is that you will stay in gold star resorts, in amazing locations, for a fraction of the regular cost. Interested in making your timeshare work for you? See the checklist below for more information on booking RCI Escapes.
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Many timeshare owners and potential buyers are given misinformation regarding what exactly a timeshare exchange company does for its members, and the benefits of taking part in a traditional exchange program. For example, did you know that as a timeshare owner you have the right to go with any exchange company that deals with your resort? Did you know that there are many small exchange companies out there offering no enrollment dues or exchange fees? I have spoken with many timeshare owners that believed because they signed up for a Resort Condominiums International membership when they first purchased your timeshare, that they needed to conduct all of their future trades through RCI. While I am sure it is lucrative for RCI to convince its members that they need to continue to renew their membership with them, it simply is not true. It is time to separate the facts from fiction and find out the truth about timeshare exchange companies.
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