Understanding Exchanging

Vacation ownership offers a lifetime of exciting travel adventures and luxurious services through exchange programs. Timeshare exchange is an opportunity to leverage your timeshare ownership into vacations in locations other than yours.

The exchange program enables owners to trade their timeshare for comparable accommodations at other resorts throughout the U.S., as well as internationally. From ski slopes to beaches, spas to luxury cruise ships, modern cities to quaint villages, championship golf courses to dude ranches, exchange programs offer a variety of destinations and accommodations from around the globe.

Most resorts are affiliated with an exchange company, and many resort companies also offer an internal exchange program within their resort group. The major exchange companies, Interval International and Group RCI, streamline the process – making it an easy online or telephone interaction. 

Some fractional and private residence club resorts also offer exchange opportunities for their owners.

Exchange Tips

Timeshare exchange can be a wonderful way to leverage your timeshare ownership into vacations in locations other than yours. 

Follow these tips for getting maximum enjoyment out of an exchange:

• Focus on the vacation experience—as well as the destination— when exchanging.


• Think “what” before “where.” With so many resorts in so many places and units and destinations not always available at all times, think about activities and experiences you would enjoy during your vacation.


• Allow vacation exchange representatives to assist you in finding the perfect destination.


• Advance planning pays off. Place your request as far as possible in advance of the dates you want to travel to maximize your chances of securing the vacation of your dreams.


• Be as flexible as possible when requesting travel dates and resort locations. Listing several options enhances your chance for a timely confirmation.


• Consider a trip in the off-season or visit a lesser known destination that offers a similar vacation experience.


• Remember that resorts may have more small units than large ones. If you are willing to accept a unit that accommodates the number of people traveling, regardless of the size of the unit you are relinquishing, you enhance your exchange opportunities.