A Guide on How to Use Interval International: Part II: Exchanges

Here is Part II on using Interval International. 

In Part I, I put together a guide on how to use Interval International for Interval Getaways.  

In this guide, I wanted to put together a guide on how to exchange with Interval International.

Signing In

In order to get access to either exchanges or Interval Getaways, need you to sign in to the website which is found on the top right hand corner. 

As you sign in, you are brought to this screen. 

This time, instead of starting with the Getaways, you click on tab "Exchanges".
 Once you do that, you are brought to this screen.

Once you are hear, you are presented with a similar screen than what is provided with the Interval Getaways. 

You can either search by a "single destination", "search all destinations" or by "Resort name, code or use map". 

As previously mentioned, I generally choose "search all destinations" in order to make sure that all weeks and destinations are shown to me.  Interval's search tool is finicky and does not always produce the same results so I try to force the system to show me everything. 

Dates

Unlike Interval Getaways, Interval International allows you to search and book for two years from the date of the search rather than 18 months that the Interval Getaways allow.  

Again, I try to use the broadest search possible in order to see everything.  You can also narrow down the dates if you are looking for a particular week.  However, if you are looking for a particular week, it is generally recommended to search for the week before and the week after just in case the system does not show you everything. 

"Prime" Resorts

As I mentioned in the Interval Getaway guide and in previous posts, a great way to search is by using the Resort Codes.  Instead of putting in one or two Resort Codes, you can put in a large list of codes for the "best" resorts in Interval International.  Here is a post on this which I highly recommend using. 

Exchanging

Everything up to this point is almost exactly the same as search for Interval Getaways.  However, once you put in the specifics, the next page brings up the following.

Since this is my particular account, you can see my unit on the top, the Hyatt Beach House.  You also see various exchanges.  You can see that there are two line items for 2018 usage that indicates that it is exchanged and two other line items with no other information.

The two items for 2018 usage are two "request first" exchanges.  Request Firsts are ongoing exchange requests which are pending but are not confirmed. The system continuously searches based on specifics entered.  Here are some more details for the Request First function. 

This particular screen will likely differ based on the particular type of timeshare you own (points or weeks) but the general exchange function should be the same. 

Since I own with Hyatt, my weeks are hybrid weeks where I can either use the particular week or exchange it into Hyatt Residence Club points.  If I convert it into Hyatt Residence Club points, I can then exchange those Hyatt Residence Club points into Interval International points.  

Once I click on the "Vacation Exchange", this is the following screen. 

This is one of the most important screens for exchanging.  This is the exchange chart which shows you how many Interval International points are required for a particular exchange.  The bigger the unit, the more points required.  

Also, on the left is the TDI or Travel Demand Index.  This is basically low, medium and high demand seasons. 

For this search, I almost always choose 2 bedrooms for the highest demand time period (1300 points).  Again, the reason for this is to force the system to show you everything. 

Different Exchange Charts

For those readers who do not own a Hyatt week, this page will be different.  This will either show you the particular week that you own and give you the option to exchange that week, exchange a part of that week, either a 1 bedroom and studio, or provides you with a different exchange chart. 

For those readers who own other timeshares, please e-mail me ([email protected]) your screen shots of this page so that I an update these guides for multiple different timeshares.

The exchange charts are one of the most important features of a timeshare as this shows you exactly what is possible for exchanging.  For example, based on the chart above, if you own 870 Hyatt Residence Club points, you can never exchange into a 2 bedroom unit through Interval International. 

As an aside, Hyatt trades very favorable within Interval International which is why I can get such tremendous value.  1300 points for a Hyatt week is a very low demand week which generally can be very cheap to purchase.  While Hyatt's maintenance fees will be somewhat high, a 1300 Hyatt week is a sweet spot between value and usage. 

With only 1300 Hyatt Residence Club points, you will be severely restricted in trading within the internal Hyatt system where there will be many resorts where you cannot trade into a 2 bedroom unit for a week (requires more points) but you can do so within Interval International.  

In order to see how various timeshare trade within Interval International, you should review the basic guides that I have put together here. 

Also, here is a good overview on how various programs exchange within Interval International.

Searching Inventory

​Inventory for Interval Getaways and exchanges are completely different.  Even though a week may be available for purchase, it does not mean that it will be available for exchange. 

When you click on the amount of points you desire to use, you are brought to this screen. 
​

This is essentially the same search tool that was provided for Interval Getaways and what was originally shown. 

As with before, you can put in your search terms and see what exchange inventory is available. 

Similar to Interval Getaways, the results show you the required amount of points required for the specific size of unit and time period. 

For example, here is the current availabilty for St. Kitts and Nevis. 

As you can see, there are various size rooms available and the amount of points required for the size of unit and particular season.

Again, depending on what timeshare you own, the exchanges will be different and amount of points required will be different.  If you own a week based timeshare, it will only show you the units which you can exchange on a 1 to 1 basis.  For example a 1 bedroom to a 1 bedroom or a 1 bedroom to a studio. 

Booking the Exchange

Once you find the unit you want to exchange into, you click the "Exchange" button which will walk you through additional screens. 

This shows you what you are relinquishing for this particular exchange.  In this case, it is 1,100 Hyatt Residence Club points. 

Additionally, it shows you the details of the room and amenities of the resort.  Make sure to read the room description carefully as you want to make sure what you are getting. 

Additional Disclosures

On the following screen are more disclosures. Make sure to read these as there can be fees required or renovations occurring.  This is the place where these types of items are disclosed. 
​

E-Plus and Guest Certificates

Once you get to the next screen, it asks you whether you want E-Plus and/or a Guest Certificate. 

E-Plus is fantastic and highly recommended.  For those of you who do not know, E-Plus allows you to re-book your confirmed exchanged week for up to 3 times with no additional fee.  Here are more details of this program. 

If you are allowing others to use your week, they need to be on the reservation.  Otherwise, problems can occur upon checking in. If you have Interval Platinum, guest certificates are free.  Otherwise, it is a $59 fee. 

Following this screen, you will be presented with payment options. 

The exchange fee is now $199 per week.  

Make sure to use the right credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Ink Business where you will receive 2x points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or 3x points with the Chase Ink Business as these exchange fees code as travel. 

Conclusion

Exchanging should be fairly straightforward but the key is to understand how your particular timeshare trades through Interval International.  Make sure to study the various programs and see how the exchange in the external exchanges.  I find that Hyatt trades very favorably for me so I can get a lot of value for my one week by turning my one week into almost 5 weeks of vacation. 

Make sure to add some comments below in case I missed anything!

---