A few years ago we paid off our timeshare for the Carriage House. We bought a studio in the red zone which meant that we got the itty-bitty space with a Murphy bed available anytime of the year that we wanted. We never intended to stay at the Carriage House. The Poconos are only an hour's drive away from us and makes a great day trip despite the traffic.

We always believed that we would bank our week and exchange it with Interval International at another more sensational vacation spot for us. It was explained to us that despite our humble studio, the receiving timeshare must provide us with something...