- Write down your bucket list destinations.
- Check to see if your trading exchange company has an automatic ongoing search option. Put in a request for your bucket list destination. You will receive emails or a phone call when a unit becomes available. (This feature is very helpful for hard-to-book destinations due to their popularity.)
- Utilize Extra Vacations option. Extra Vacations are units which are available for a fee for the week. The fee will be set or have a range based on the dates you want to go. You won’t have to use any of your timeshare credits for this. Always check to make sure the cost is less than it would be to book the property on your own. For instance, you want to go to New Orleans in January. First you check the regular trade options, next check the Extra Vacation options and cost. Now, you use a hotel booking site (I prefer booking.com (but they all will work). Put in the property (hotel or resort name) the city, the dates of travel and see what the cost is. Only use your timeshare trade or Extra Vacation when the value is better. When checking this at this writing I could save $700 for a week booking a Hyatt property in New Orleans.
- If your time is flexible and you can travel without much notice, utilize Last Call vacations. These vacations are listed for availability usually within the next 60 days. The unit trading amount will be less as well as sometimes there is a trading cost at a discount. I use these options for destinations that are within driving distance.
- Be flexible and willing to go to places you didn’t think about visiting. Visit locations during the off season for more availability options. Always read reviews of the property and or season you are thinking about visiting to make sure it matches your needs and/or expectations. For instance, we are traveling to Montana in November and visiting Glacier National Park. We know it will be cold. We know the park is open for entrance, but no services are open. We are still looking forward to discovering and exploring this part of the United States during a less populated time enjoying the beauty and experiencing the local scene.
