Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - who has Interval backlog/empty timeshares ?

I have been using Skyauction for a couple of years with good success.I figure they are getting inventory from RCI.Some are nice and some not.How does Interval International get rid of their inventory ?They seem to have superior units.I pay $320 a week taxes in. for Skyauction.Anyone know ?

this is a great question and hope someone can provide an answer. I have loked at Skyauction as well, but many listings were for weeks that I couldn't use.

I bought a week in Orlando at the Marriott Grande Vista through ebay. The seller owned a timeshare (not one at the Marriott) and he had membership in Interval International which entitled him to buy unused weeks at the resorts managed by I.I. He bought and then resold the week and transferred it into my name. I'm not sure if this was permitted by Interval International, because he shut down his ebay account. I did the same thing with another ebay seller who had a store that bought and sold unused RCI timeshare weeks. We ended up with two great vacations for less than the price of one.

there is another bidding site called bidshares.com that lets you bid on rentals and timeshare resales, but I've never used it.

I've bought several skyauction certificates and they have really all worked out well. The best value are generally the "Home & Away" auctions - instead of the specific property auctions - because then the "Service Charge" is only $195 per week instead of $295. (We've generally won them with bids under $40). Best of all are the "Blow-out Sales" they have a couple of times a year (recently as "deal of the day"). For those you only pay the flat $199 per week with no other charges (other than the $20 handling fee for all the certificates you buy). We've had great stays at Mizner Place in FLL, Kissimmee, Malaga and Tenerife. It's often difficult getting vacancies anywhere in Florida other than WDW area with the Getawayweeks redemption.

I would also be interested in obtaining the II weeks if anyone knows of a source.

Thanks for the 2 helpful posts.We too,stayed at Mizner in F.L.It was really nice albeit a older crowd !We also regularily get Vacation Village which is spacious but dated.Do you know if a membership is available in I.I. without actually owning a timeshare ?

I've bought several skyauction certificates and they have really all worked out well. The best value are generally the "Home & Away" auctions - instead of the specific property auctions - because then the "Service Charge" is only $195 per week instead of $295. (We've generally won them with bids under $40). Best of all are the "Blow-out Sales" they have a couple of times a year (recently as "deal of the day"). For those you only pay the flat $199 per week with no other charges (other than the $20 handling fee for all the certificates you buy). We've had great stays at Mizner Place in FLL, Kissimmee, Malaga and Tenerife. It's often difficult getting vacancies anywhere in Florida other than WDW area with the Getawayweeks redemption.

I would also be interested in obtaining the II weeks if anyone knows of a source.


I am aprehensive about bidding on one of these Skyauction certificates because we want to go back to Hilton Head sometime this summer as we have children in school and this seems to be High Season for rentals in this area. I am not keen on the possibility of only being able to use this certificate in Branson, Missouri or on some God-forsaken lake community in Texas....;) Is it possible to get a condo in Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, or on the Outer Banks of NC during the summer vacation months (mid June to the end of August)?

iamfrugal, I copied the following from the Interval International website:
Membership is limited to owners at Interval-affiliated resorts. And while the properties are not owned or managed by Interval International, they all must meet Interval's criteria for quality

a colleague from work owns two time shares and has membership in RCI, she did not use either time share week this year and offered to book a week at an RCI Property and then transfer it into my name. I generally don't like to mix my business life with my private life especially when it involves $$ and my limited vacation time with my family. But, weekly rental rates at this Hilton Head condo are about $1200 and up if booked through the condo management company, so if I could get it for about $600 through my colleague, I might have to compromise.

I am aprehensive about bidding on one of these Skyauction certificates because we want to go back to Hilton Head sometime this summer as we have children in school and this seems to be High Season for rentals in this area. I am not keen on the possibility of only being able to use this certificate in Branson, Missouri or on some God-forsaken lake community in Texas....;) Is it possible to get a condo in Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, or on the Outer Banks of NC during the summer vacation months (mid June to the end of August)?




I've never seen any of the three come up for high-season school holidays. The Outer Banks shows up occasionally in early Spring. Have a look at www.getawayweeks.com to get some idea of the offerings. That is where you are usually directed to look before bidding for a certificate at skyauction. Although, IIRC, my last two certificates go through a different link, but with the same results.

Have a look at www.getawayweeks.com to get some idea of the offerings. That is where you are usually directed to look before bidding for a certificate at skyauction.

thanks! The Home and Away certificate looks like a great deal with tax and fees of $195 and using the link you provided, one could see what is available before bidding. There's an auction going on now where the top bid is $21 and it includes a $50 certificate towards future sky auction travel.

Hammie,there are many different "ways" to get your weeks on Skyauction.I have got certificates but also if you click on Vacation rentals at the top of the home page ,you can pick your destination and your month (either check buy it now or auction....I always check both.) and you will see availability.I have gotten very lucky with this site.Even months away from my stay.I would say check often.320 a week for a condo is a pretty decent price for me.I always check out possibilities on tripadvisor FIRST though.