That glossy brochure and the slick salesperson promised you the world—literally. Thousands of resorts, endless destinations, a lifetime of dream vacations. And in a way, they weren’t wrong. But they didn’t tell you the whole story. Welcome to the world of timeshare exchanges, the powerful but often misunderstood engine that can either supercharge your vacation ownership or leave you with a case of buyer’s remorse.
This guide will give you a crash course into the world of exchanges, led by two titans of timeshare exchange, Interval International (II) and RCI. It will reveal what they truly offer, what they don’t, and walk you through the important concept of “trading power”—the currency that dictates whether you’re swapping your week for a luxurious suite or a dated studio. We’ll also break down the myriad fees you should expect to pay with exchanges and, give some brief tips on to leverage the system to unlock those incredible vacation opportunities that the salesperson promised. (More detailed tips to come!)
The Great Exchange: What It Is and How It Works
At its core, a timeshare exchange is a simple concept: you deposit your owned week (or points) into a massive pool of timeshares and, in return, withdraw a week someone else deposited at a different resort.
Companies like Interval International and RCI help facilitate this process for the millions of timeshare owners out there (and extract substantial fees for doing it). The vast majority of timeshare resorts are affiliated with one of these two exchange companies, and your ownership at an affiliated resort makes you eligible for membership.
Think of them as the middlemen or market makers of the timeshare world. They don’t own the resorts; they simply facilitate the trading of weeks and points among their millions of members. This opens up a world of possibilities far beyond your home resort. That week you own in Orlando could become a ski trip to Colorado, a beachfront escape in Mexico, or a cultural immersion in Europe.
Each exchange has access to specific inventory and partnerships with specific timeshare networks. For instance, Interval International is where you’ll find Marriott Vacation Club and Disney Vacation Club inventory (when it’s available), while HGV and Wyndham/Worldmark are typically found on RCI.
The Unspoken Truth: Not All Trades Are Created Equal
A critical piece of information that often gets glossed over in the sales pitch but will be paramount in determining what timeshare you should purchase, and where you might expect to be able to trade for: not all timeshares are created equal. The timeshare exchange system operates on a principle of “like-for-like” or, more accurately, “value-for-value.” exchanging. This value is determined by your timeshare’s trading power.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t expect someone to accept your hot dog for a prime cut of steak. Timeshares are the same. When you go to exchange your week or points, a week in a less-desirable location during the off-season is unlikely to get you a peak-season week at a five-star resort in Hawaii. Several factors that determine your trading power:
- Your Resort Quality and Demand: Is your home resort a highly sought-after, amenity-rich property, or is it a bit dated and in a less popular location? Higher-rated and more in-demand resorts command greater trading power.
- Seasonality: A week during peak season (think Christmas in Aspen or summer on the Riviera) is far more valuable than a week during the shoulder or off-season. Note this ties to the seasonality in the destination. Park City in snow season is a banger. Park City in August is a little more limited.
- Unit Size: A spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo will have more trading power than a studio unit.
- Timing of Deposit: Depositing your week further in advance generally gives you more trading power.
Both RCI and Interval International have their own proprietary systems for calculating this value. RCI is more transparent, assigning a specific “Trading Power” value to your deposited week. Interval International uses a “Travel Demand Index” (TDI) that shows demand for resorts in a specific location by week which is more of a background system that influences what’s available to you.
All of this is to say, the better the week you deposit, the better you will get out of it. This has substantial consequences to the resorts you should consider purchasing (on the resale market, of course!), if you don’t plan to stay at your home resort every year. In a subsequent post, we will review some effective traders with good entry point prices for contracts.
The Price of Admission: A Breakdown of Exchange Fees
While the promise of global travel is alluring, it comes at a cost. Timeshare exchanges are not a free-for-all; there are a variety of fees you need to be aware of. These can add up quickly, so it’s crucial to factor them into your vacation budgeting.
Here’s a general overview of the types of fees you can expect from both RCI and Interval International. Please note that these fees can change, so it’s always best to check their official websites for the most current information.
| Fee Type | RCI (Resort Condominiums International) | Interval International (II) | What It’s For |
| Annual Membership | Varies based on whether you have a Weeks or Points membership. Can range from approximately $100 to over $150 per year. | Typically around $99 for a basic annual membership, with Gold and Platinum tiers available) | Simply maintaining your account and giving you access to the exchange network. |
| Exchange Fee | Charged each time you book an exchange. This can vary depending on whether you book online or over the phone, and the type of exchange. Expect to pay in the range of $200-$350 per exchange. | Similar to RCI, a fee is charged for each exchange. This typically ranges from around $200 to $300. | The service of facilitating the trade. Typically tied to the unit size you are trading into. |
| Guest Certificates | If you want to let a friend or family member use your exchanged week, you’ll need to purchase a guest certificate. This can cost around $100 or more. | Also requires a guest certificate for non-member use of an exchange. The fee is usually $80-$100. | Allowing someone else to use your vacation. |
| Upgrades and Add-ons | RCI offers premium membership tiers (like RCI Platinum) for an additional annual fee, which can provide benefits like priority booking and discounts. | Interval also has premium tiers (Interval Gold and Platinum) with perks like discounts on Getaways (see below) and complimentary guest passes. | Enhanced benefits and discounts. |
| Other Potential Fees | Fees for combining deposits, extending the life of a deposit, and for “Last Call” or “Extra Vacations” (discounted cash bookings). | Fees for ShortStay Exchanges, extending the window to use a deposited week, or trading an already exchanged week. | Various additional services and booking options. |
The Incredible Opportunity: Trading Up and Expanding Your Horizons
Now for the exciting part. Despite the complexities and costs, timeshare exchanges can be an incredible tool for savvy travelers. With a little planning and flexibility, you can turn your single-week ownership in one resort into your passport to a world of new experiences, in premier resorts, over multiple weeks, for fractions of the cost.
- Location, Location, Location: The most obvious benefit is the ability to travel to new and exciting destinations each year. You’re not tied to the same resort, or even your specific timeshare network, allowing you to explore different cultures, climates, and activities.
- Unit Size Upgrades: This is one of the most powerful and often overlooked benefits. If you own a studio or one-bedroom unit, you can often exchange it for a much larger two- or even three-bedroom unit. This is fantastic for growing families or for traveling with friends. Both RCI and Interval International offer the ability to upgrade your unit size for a fee, which is often a fraction of the cost of booking a larger unit directly. (For instance, on Interval International unit upgrades range from $59-$79 per unit step (a studio to a one bedroom is one unit step, a studio to a two-bedroom is a two unit step, so would be $118) Imagine trading your cozy one-bedroom for a spacious villa with a private balcony and multiple bathrooms – it happens all the time!
The Reality Check: Managing Expectations
Now, let’s address the “it’s not always true” part of the sales pitch. While the opportunities are real, so are the limitations. Here are some common frustrations and how to navigate them:
- Availability: This is the most important consideration that is glossed over. Just because a resort is in the included in exchange network doesn’t mean there will be availability when you want to go or even ever. Availability is dependent on weeks at that specific resort being deposited into the exchange, and you being the first to see it. The supply is not infinite. As such High-demand weeks at popular resorts are snapped up quickly, often through saved searches so you’ll never even see them on the exchange.. The key is to be flexible with your travel dates and to plan as far in advance as possible so you can capture things as soon as they are deposited.
- The “Spam for Steak” Dilemma: As mentioned, your trading power is paramount. If you own a less desirable week, you’ll have a harder time exchanging into a premium property. To maximize your trading power, consider buying a timeshare in a high-demand location or season if exchanging is your primary goal.
- The Learning Curve: Successfully navigating the world of timeshare exchanges takes a bit of effort. You need to understand your ownership, the exchange company’s rules, and how to search effectively. Don’t be afraid to call the exchange company and speak to a vacation counselor.
Making the Most of Your Exchange: Tips for Success
- Plan Ahead: The early bird gets the best exchange. Start your search as soon as you know your desired travel window.
- Be Flexible: The more open you are to different destinations and travel dates, the greater your chances of finding a fantastic exchange.
- Know Your Worth: Understand the trading power of your timeshare. If you have a high-demand week, don’t settle for a subpar trade.
- Consider Upgrades: It is almost always worth it to pay the unit-size upgrade fee if that size unit is available. It can dramatically enhance your vacation experience for a relatively small cost.
- Look for “Getaways” and “Last Call” Deals: Both RCI and Interval International offer last-minute cash bookings at significant discounts. These are a great way to get more travel out of your membership without using your deposited week.
- Read the Reviews: Before confirming an exchange, read reviews of the resort from other travelers on sites like TripAdvisor to ensure it meets your expectations.
In conclusion, the promise of a world of vacation opportunities through timeshare exchanges is both true and not. It’s not a magical, effortless system where any timeshare can be swapped for another. However, for the informed and proactive owner, it is a powerful tool that can unlock incredible travel experiences, provide spacious accommodations in desirable locations, and ultimately, help you get even more value and enjoyment out of your timeshare ownership. The key is to understand the rules of the game and to play it wisely.
