The buyers get to fix their vacation costs forever. It's a good trade-off. Buyers can purchase time during a particular season paying more for prime vacation times rather than being tied down to a certain week. Even better, the two big membership organizations that arrange most of these trades, RCI and Interval International, can arrange entire trips, from plane tickets to rental cars, using their muscle to snare bargain rates. It's often necessary to plan nearly a year ahead and spend some time on the phone or on the Internet to get what you want.
Many families say that's a small price to pay.
In fact, the concept is so popular that one in six buyers are adding weeks to what they already own, industry research shows. The Mary Murphy and her family have two weeks at different resorts. Randy Abood owns several at the Cliff House in Snowbird and serves as president of the 750-member owners group there. Cindy Hartog, a mother of three from Connecticut, has bought and sold 10 over the years. But when you do your homework, it can be a great way to go where you want to go, at a price you want to pay.