Exchange companies

Resorts Condominiums International - RCI

Great for last minute travel and advance planned holidays.

RCI are a large global operator and have a huge stock of inventory for exchanges from economy to top end luxury resorts.6. If you own a larger apartment or a fixed week RCI will reward you with an increased trading power.

They are particularly strong in the USA where they started but also have significant international coverage outside of the Pacific area.

High demand timeshares in good condition with expanded facilities often have expensive levies to match.

RCI recognises this by applying a trading power against each week they are given based on the time of year, demand and value/amenities of the timeshare.

RCI will give you two years to use your week from the "date of the spacebank allocated to you" (not when you spacebank.) This can give you more or less than two years depending on what your resort has left when you contact them. Remember to check what is available when you contact with your resort to "spacebank your week".

In order to place a request with RCI you must have a week banked . RCI will only offer you exchanges that are less than or match the trading power of your banked weeks.

Combine your weeks together to increase your trading power and exchange options.

Combining two or more weeks with RCI for 12 or 24 months gives you one large trading power, opening up more options and a wider date range to use effectively giving you an extension.

Banked two weeks worth 18 and 22 trading power, combined them and swapped these for one week in Whistler getting brilliant value for money.

9 and 12 month extension options are available but are more expensive than combine fees. It is often best to bank an extra week and combine it with the banked week about to expire.

Travel at short notice to get "2 or more for 1".

RCI reduce trading power close to travel so a room does not remain empty. You can get 2 or 3 weeks for your week banked and will also retain any unused trading power.

You will need to pay a swapping fee for each exchange but this is still a great option.

If you prefer "human" communication then consider RCI.

RCI exchanges are more expensive than 7 Across, however if you place a request in advance and an exchange becomes available, this extra charge can be worth it as RCI will hold the inventory matching your request and will email you. If you do not respond immediately the RCI call centre located in the Phillipines will phone you. You will not miss out if you have not checked your phone or computer.

RCI also offer cancellation insurance.

7 Across .(Formerly Dial and Exchange.)

When you are continually connected to your electronic devices.

7 Across offers a no frills online option giving you plenty of time to use your week but this requires ongoing monitoring of your electronic devices. It works best with "Gold Advantage " and creation of a "Wish List."

7 Across will give you three years to swap your week from the day you spacebank your week. This is a great amount of time to find an exchange. If you do not find one in 3 years you can extend the expiry date for a further 6 months for $99.

7 Across "keep things simple" and are free to join but most owners find they need to upgrade to Gold Advantage to secure an exchange.

Join Gold Advantage with 7 Across to get two weeks priority access to new inventory and 10% discount on exchange and rental fees.

Gold Advantage Membership is $109 per year or $225 for 3 years.

When 7Across are given new spacebanks they email all gold advantage members with matching dates and locations on their wish list. They confirm bookings on a first in first served basis. Standard members are emailed two weeks later about any remaining inventory.

It is very important to create a "Wish List" as the most desirable exchanges do not reach general listings or get offered to non gold advantage members.

"Wish list matches" are emailed between 6am and 7am NZ time each working day. Check your email first thing each day as some inventory is taken up very quickly. (This is unlike RCI who hold inventory and contact those who have requested in order of date of request)

7 Across exchanges are $227 or $299 (with insurance which allows you to cancel your booking until 24 hours prior to arrival and book an alternative exchange).

7 Across are focusing on communicating online with minimal human contact but still have a phone line 0800 323 548 to their contact centre in the Phillipines.

7 Across treats all spacebanks the same . All inventory; studios, one bedrooms, two bedrooms, two bedrooms with two bathrooms, three bedrooms and executive suites all go into the same pool.

You can then book whatever is available. When you bank one week you can swap for another week in return even if it is a different type.

Trade your timeshare into Wyndham/Worldmark.

If you are a Wyndham/Worldmark member you can use your conventional timeshare to swap into other accommodation like hotels etc.

32 weeks prior to arrival (approximately 8 months), when you have made an owner booking at your home resort you can complete an application with Wyndham containing the details.

Wyndham will forward a request to your home resort and the resort will cancel your owner booking and convert it to a Wyndham spacebank. Wyndham will then allocate points to your Wyndham account.

Wyndham members receive a complimentary RCI membership so there is also an option to bank with RCI.

Exchange & Play (E&P)

Classic offer an exchange option to any of the resorts they manage for $227.

Your owned week is banked giving you an E&P credit that lasts for up to 3 years. When you wish to us it you can book your week via the Classic portal. When you book it you pay the $227 to obtain the exchange.

Classic automatically allocate un-used weeks into this system in september each year (autobank). If you don't want this to happen you need to make arrangements with Classic before that date about how your week will be used.