If there is one thing about timesharing that causes more grief for people, it's got to be exchanging. Now for me, I believe there are two reasons for this:

Over promising at the resort and understanding how it works.

ARDA, the American Resort Developer's Association, says that exchanging is one of the main reasons why people buy. I don't know about that, but it's certainly one of the big promises made by every timeshare salesperson on earth. "Just bank and go", they say, "It's that easy!" Well its not and you and I know it! But before I reveal to you Maria's Seven Secrets of Exchanging, let me introduce myself and tell you what I do at Holiday Resales.

Well first off, of course, my name is Maria Martinez. I make reservations and exchanges at Holiday-www.holidaygroup.com. That's all I do; all day long. I guess you'd say I'm a professional exchanger. Every day I reserve, I bank and I exchange. I do like . . . a hundred or more weeks in either RCI or II per month. Not every one is perfect, but I find it's kind of like my dad used to say about fishing. "Hun", he'd call me that. "If you don't put your hook in the water, you're not going catch nothing". So while I don't always get the exchange I want, I know if I don't even try, I'm not going anywhere. Well . . . I don't really get to go, but you know what I mean. So I've put these seven secrets together. They're not actually secrets, but they are what I've come to learn works and dad would be happy if I passed them on to you. Ok?

My Seven Secrets of Exchanging
By Maria Martinez

Here are a couple of general things you should remember about exchanging. No, I'm not counting them as secrets. Just wait.

First: Remember the exchange is based on the 'like-4-like' principle. What you own is what you get. A red week should get you a red week and a one bedroom should get you a one bedroom. Now that's the principle. It doesn't always work that way, but that's where we have to start.

Second: If no one makes a deposit, the exchange company won't have it to exchange. Doesn't matter. No show - no go, I call it. So once you understand these, I can start my secrets, so pay attention, ok?

Number One Secret--Boy and this is really my number one. You've got to bank early. Once you pass six months until your reserved week, your trading power disappears fast. Remember bank your week before six months. I warned you! Right?

Number Two Secret-You've got to request early. Got it? The other day I made four individual exchanges into a Florida Gold Crown resort, all during the same high season week! Spring break anyone?

Number three secret-Check your RCI guide if the request you want is not working. They know fi a resort has been added to the program that's not even listed in the directory. The other day when nothing was happening on a search, I called my RCI guide. She me information that a new resort had just come online and had an available week. Wow! Without that call I would have crashed and burned for sure.

Number Four Secret-You've got to get up before the fish do. Right, dad? I try to make my online exchanges before 7am before the new inventory gets picked over. It seems to work for me.

Number Five Secret-Trade priority goes to resort owners. So owning a white or even a blue week could get you into a red week at your own resort. Cool, huh? Sometimes the resort will make a deal with the exchange company and block their own members from exchanging like this and sometimes from even exchanging to other resorts in their local area. They do this I think to make more sales.

Number Six Secret-Now I hate to show favorites. I don't mean to, but you might want to consider a RCI Points program. There are weeks available to points members that are not available to weeks members. I just reserved a week at a great Caribbean resort for Easter week through the points program that was not available to weeks members. And I was able to find Hawaii resorts on points, not available on weeks. You tell me!

Number Seven Secret-If you have a points membership with RCI, you can deposit that blue or white week into your points account and change it into points for airfare, cruises or car rental. Hey, that's one way to get somewhere on that low season week. Not many know that one.

My Bonus Secret-Ok, I saved my best secret to last because you deserve it. Your Holiday timeshare consultant -- www.holidaygroup.com -- has a secret stash of RCI points memberships that we didn't put out on Holiday Group's website. There's not enough to go around so it's first come, first serve. Anyway, we'll have more in the future if you want. So call when you like. Hope you liked my secrets.

That's all!
Maria