Interval International for Dummies

[kpk89]

We are looking to possibly exchange a week, but don't know where to start.

Do we have to have a DVC week booked at a DVC resort, and deposit a reservation, or can we simply deposit an amount of points?

Are all the reservations a full week, or can we get something for 5 days?

How soon can reservations be booked (i.e., will it be impossible to get somethign for within the next 2 months?)

Thank you so much for any help you can offer.

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Simply call member services. They handle everything. You don't have to exchange a week, they'll just take your points.

You can book II rooms from 24 months to 14 days before you travel. However, if you're reserving less than 60 days before check-in, there are some special rules that apply.

The tricky part of an II exchange is finding an available exchange. Use the DVCMember web site to look through the available II resorts and pick several choices or several timeframes. This will better your chances.

Member services will be able to tell you if your request is available and how many points it will cost you. (You can't find this info on the web site.)

II bookings are for weekly trips only, and resorts usually have a restriction as to which day of the week you can check in. (Usually Fri, Sat, or Sun)

If MS doesn't find an instant match for your request during the call, they'll give you the option of going on the waiting list. Be aware, though, this will be an automatic booking if it comes through, so be prepared to travel when and where you requested.

You can't bring your points back into the DVC system once the booking has been made. If you cancel the reservation, you need to use the exchange within II. Different rules apply to how soon before check-in you canceled as to how long your exhange credit is good.

DVC charges a $75 fee when you book an II exchange, or when you go on the waiting list.

You can also advance deposit credits into II and make a reservation up to two years later. I guess this is an option if you know you're going to use an II exchange, and have points that couldn't be banked or used in your use year, but don't know exactly where or when you want to travel with II. In this case, DVC will create an actual 7-day booking with your points and transfer it to II. There has to be a room available before the end of your use year for them to allow you to do this.

[kpk89]

Thank you Dave! I am trying to barter a trip for some painting I'm having done at my house, so I guess I need to have the painter tell me when and where she wants to go, and start from there!

I am happy to know that MS can walk me through it ... :faint:

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I need to have the painter tell me when and where she wants to go, and start from there!Convince her to go to Disney and you'll really be set!

[kpk89]

Well, she might -- she really wants to get away NEXT WEEK, which is what gave me the whole idea in the first place, but of course there is not a chance in anyplace to get her booked for next. First and foremost because I won't have any points to work with until April 1! :rotfl:

So since she's looking at any time in the next year, I might get her to do Disney.

[magicaldisney]

BirdsofPreyDave....

when you say II rooms, or II resorts, what does the II refer to? Are there different categories when you exchange?

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Interval Internation (II) is one of the timeshare systems DVC members can exchange with as part of the World Passport Collection. The other is Buena Vista Trading Company.

If you go to the member web site, you'll see links to each of these on the World Passport Collection page. You can search their directories of resorts worldwide to choose where you would like to stay, then call DVC Member Services to coordinate the reservation for you.

[Dean]

We are looking to possibly exchange a week, but don't know where to start.

Do we have to have a DVC week booked at a DVC resort, and deposit a reservation, or can we simply deposit an amount of points?

Are all the reservations a full week, or can we get something for 5 days?

How soon can reservations be booked (i.e., will it be impossible to get somethign for within the next 2 months?)

Thank you so much for any help you can offer.If you know anyone that is an II or RCI member see if they can find you something for cash. Often you can get units for $199 to $299 on short notice. Trading 160-270 DVC points for a timeshare exchange you could easily get with a motel 6 studio is just wrong.

[petbren]

II bookings are for weekly trips only, and resorts usually have a restriction as to which day of the week you can check in. (Usually Fri, Sat, or Sun)

I thought I recently read that we will be able to book II for 3 & 4 night stays now.:confused3


DVC charges a $75 fee when you book an II exchange, or when you go on the waiting list.

Also, my new planner (yes, I got it earlier this week), states that the fee is $95.....hoping this is a mistake.

[magicaldisney]

When we purchased DVC last year, we were told it was going to be raised to $95.00.

[Dean]

I thought I recently read that we will be able to book II for 3 & 4 night stays now.:confused3

Also, my new planner (yes, I got it earlier this week), states that the fee is $95.....hoping this is a mistake.$95 effective Jan and DVC has report 3 & 4 day options (but not 5) coming in a few months.

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

When we purchased DVC last year, we were told it was going to be raised to $95.00.Sorry, it is $95. I was going by the Interval International page on the DVC member web site, which hasn't been updated and still shows the $75 fee. The "making a booking" page does show $95. (I sent an email to MS asking them to fix their web site.)

[Scotch]

What does the low, middle and high season on the DVC-II points chart refer to? Unlike RCI, II doesn't list color seasons for its resorts. Is there any guide out there that identifies the weeks that would fall within the low, middle and high season categories at least for geographic areas?

[Dean]

What does the low, middle and high season on the DVC-II points chart refer to? Unlike RCI, II doesn't list color seasons for its resorts. Is there any guide out there that identifies the weeks that would fall within the low, middle and high season categories at least for geographic areas?Actually they do, just not on the DVC portion. You can follow this Link (http://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1500) to II's non member directory where you can see the color codes, the regular link of their home page is not working for me right now. Unlike RCI, II doesn't allow non members or even many members, to see the icon telling the resorts that are 5*. They actually only reveal that to members who have their primary ownership at a 5* resort. II is in the process of changing their resort recognitions so you should see the 5* go away and then see two different codes going forward which will allow for better differentiation between resorts. You'll then be able to see the red/yellow/green codes which should be comparable to RCI's red/white/blue, they should match up very well for any given area. The HIGH/MID/LOW will actually vary somewhat. Here's the best way to think about it. If it's not red time it's likely LOW DVC season. If it's peak and red, it's likely HIGH season with the rest in between. There are actually some examples or red time being LOW season, HI comes to mind. In reality each individual resort actually makes the determination as I understand it and DVC isn't involved in the process, only along for the ride. Technically DVC can't absolutely tell you what a given exchange will cost until they actually have the exchange in front of them though there won't be a lot of variation from one year to another other than with holidays that float.

[Scotch]

Thank you, Dean. I thought I was imagining my recollection that II had color charts with weeks for particular resorts (I've been an II member for many years) When I looked at the latest hard copy Directory (Marriott version) I couldn't find color designations next to the resort listings so I thought I was mistaken and I must have been thinking of RCI listings.

[Dean]

Thank you, Dean. I thought I was imagining my recollection that II had color charts with weeks for particular resorts (I've been an II member for many years) When I looked at the latest hard copy Directory (Marriott version) I couldn't find color designations next to the resort listings so I thought I was mistaken and I must have been thinking of RCI listings.Starting with the edition for 2006 I believe, II has moved the color codes in the book to the index. If you look at the name of a given resort in the index, you'll see the color codes following then the page number the resort can be found on. The other change that's new for this year is related to the Travel Demand Index, that chart that lists all weeks i-53 and has a relative demand grid based on an average of 100. The change is that each chart is numbered and that each resort has a number included in it's listing so you no longer have to guess which chart applies to a given resort. Remember that the TDI charts are not standardized across the board only to other choices in the same group. Take the groupings such as HI, FL, SE, Middle Atlantic and realize that EACH grouping is standardized but not to each other. Thus a resort with a demand of 100 in HI has absolutely nothing to do with that same score for a resort in CA, FL, etc. It's a missed opportunity for II in my book to give members a glimpse of the actual demand for any given week and area.

[Scotch]

Starting with the edition for 2006 I believe, II has moved the color codes in the book to the index. If you look at the name of a given resort in the index, you'll see the color codes following then the page number the resort can be found on. The other change that's new for this year is related to the Travel Demand Index, that chart that lists all weeks i-53 and has a relative demand grid based on an average of 100. The change is that each chart is numbered and that each resort has a number included in it's listing so you no longer have to guess which chart applies to a given resort. Remember that the TDI charts are not standardized across the board only to other choices in the same group. Take the groupings such as HI, FL, SE, Middle Atlantic and realize that EACH grouping is standardized but not to each other. Thus a resort with a demand of 100 in HI has absolutely nothing to do with that same score for a resort in CA, FL, etc. It's a missed opportunity for II in my book to give members a glimpse of the actual demand for any given week and area.

Boy I really need to re-review my II directory -- I missed all that! Thanks for pointing them out for me.

[Dean]

Boy I really need to re-review my II directory -- I missed all that! Thanks for pointing them out for me.Glad to help, besides, it gives me a chance to point out to others where to find some info they may have missed, as you did.

[maciec]

The HIGH/MID/LOW will actually vary somewhat. Here's the best way to think about it. If it's not red time it's likely LOW DVC season. If it's peak and red, it's likely HIGH season with the rest in between. There are actually some examples or red time being LOW season, HI comes to mind.


Add Mexico to the list. We booked a 1 bedroom at the Royal Sands for the last week of October and it cost us 144 points. On II's webiste site weeks 1-52 at all RED which should indicate high, but I guess it's really mid season for us :confused3

[Dean]

Add Mexico to the list. We booked a 1 bedroom at the Royal Sands for the last week of October and it cost us 144 points. On II's webiste site weeks 1-52 at all RED which should indicate high, but I guess it's really mid season for us :confused3That was actually one of the misperceptions I was trying to get across. Red often does not equal HIGH season. Peak times are usually HIGH season, most of the rest of the time is MID season and some red time is actually LOW season. I don't know of an example in reverse where it's not red time but is above LOW season though there may be some along the way. Here's the info for the Royal Sands: Royal Sands, Cancun **High = 1-16, 25-34, 51-52. Mid = 17-24, 35-48. Low =
> 49-50**

[Scotch]

Dean, I recently used up our last II banked week as we sold our last Marriott a year ago. I'm not sure whether I want to buy another II week for use/exchange right now, and that is the only reason I am looking at DVC-II options just to see if I might want to utilize that at some point. But when I calculate the cost of using our DVC points -- ouch! I seem to remember a long while ago when I read one of these DVC II threads that you mentioned in your opinion there are only a few resorts in the II system that is worth using DVC for exchange but I cannot recall what you listed. Could you state those resorts again? (Of course I could have faulty memory and maybe you never made such comments!)

[Dean]

Dean, I recently used up our last II banked week as we sold our last Marriott a year ago. I'm not sure whether I want to buy another II week for use/exchange right now, and that is the only reason I am looking at DVC-II options just to see if I might want to utilize that at some point. But when I calculate the cost of using our DVC points -- ouch! I seem to remember a long while ago when I read one of these DVC II threads that you mentioned in your opinion there are only a few resorts in the II system that is worth using DVC for exchange but I cannot recall what you listed. Could you state those resorts again? (Of course I could have faulty memory and maybe you never made such comments!)If you still have your II account, you may still be able to do getaways. As someone who already has some experience with the other side, you are in the perfect situation to evaluate all the options. I guess it depends on how much and what type of trading you want to do, a host of your personal vacation options and preferences, and we all know that the info on both sides could change down the line though DVC trading is likely to change more than II going forward.

IMO, the only options worth trading to using DVC points are high demand resorts during peak times. Things like ski areas, Caribbean, MX, HI all in winer and beaches in summer. I've never listed an inclusive list but rather examples which were often inclusive for a given area. For HI, it's the former Embassy's, all Marriott's and Westin. For Cancun it's the Royals week 51-16 only. I simply don't feel that giving up 270 points for most exchanges is reasonable when you could easily rent them out for $3000 and use that cash for other options such as renting a condo or timeshare, having a lot more options and choices and have money left over. I see a lot of people who go to a great resort during a lower season that they could have rented 2 or 3 times for the same value, had a good time and think they got a great deal.

There are a lot more restrictions and negatives trading DVC than most other II timeshares. Same cost during flextime (all other points systems have lower points), no bonus weeks, essentially no chance to uptrade in unit size or season, limited choice of resorts to trade to and no getaway availability. Now if DVC would change all this my opinion would change greatly, though I generally think it’s a bad idea to own a top end timeshare for exchanging, it’d be perfect for an occasional exchange. Only you can decide what’s best for you but to me owning less DVC points and then having something else that complements to use and trade seems perfect. For Marriott there are using and then there are trading locations and not that much overlap. If you can find some overlap with something that you would use but was also reasonable to trade, that might be perfect for someone in your situation. Another Marriott option would be to look at with a lockoff and possibly EOY. Branson Horizons is a great choice for trading and fits all the trading criteria. Ocean Point (not sure about the new Oceana Palms) and Williamsburg have lockoff’s, trade well and are reasonably priced as a rule. Other great choices as a complement to DVC are some of the other points systems including Bluegreen, Wyndham, RCI points, Sunterra, Hyatt, Hilton and the like. Some have EOY options and some are very reasonable to inexpensive. Bluegreen is the one I am intimately familiar with and one could buy 8000 or so points EOY for probably $2000-2500, have RCI included and also join II if you wanted. Those like myself who can do with a 1 BR at DVC and don’t go peak times might also consider simply owning outside DVC and trading in, just don’t look at other Orlando options for that approach.

[Scotch]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Dean.

[Dean]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Dean.My pleasure, I hope it's helpful. Let us know what you decide.

[Scotch]

My pleasure, I hope it's helpful. Let us know what you decide.

I will! I do miss having an II week in the bank; I have one non-DVC timeshare left -- a small S.CA trader in RCI. But RCI doesn't have lots of the nicer "high end" resorts available in II. The pace of increase in m/fs of the Marriotts made me wary about keeping any long term when we can't seem to settle on one that we definitely love to use (unlike DVC, which we love and use regularly during prime seasons). But I haven't ruled out buying another Marriott for trading purposes only because of the recent discussion on TUG re possible upcoming changes to treatment of resale vs. direct buyers.

It would be so helpful if DVC-II could publish a directory of resorts with a notation next to each resort exactly which weeks fall under the DVC-II exchange low, medium and high seasons if they do not correspond to II's color seasons. For planning and valuation purposes, such information would be very useful. Has DVC ever done that for II exchanges?

[Dean]

It would be so helpful if DVC-II could publish a directory of resorts with a notation next to each resort exactly which weeks fall under the DVC-II exchange low, medium and high seasons if they do not correspond to II's color seasons. For planning and valuation purposes, such information would be very useful. Has DVC ever done that for II exchanges?No they have not but honestly I don't think they could, the determination is made by each resort individually. But I think it's easy to get an idea for those that have a feel for prime time at certain areas and have access to the kind of info we've discussed in this thread. I could guess with at least 90-95% accuracy and for those few times i was wrong, I would not be off by more than 1 level.

[sanbornangel]

Does any one know what Playa Linda is like in Aruba? We are going for a week next November. It was 124 points for the week. We really wanted to go to Atlantis in the Bahamas but were told by II that it is impossible to get. We were wondering why it is listed if no one gives up their week.

[Dean]

Does any one know what Playa Linda is like in Aruba? We are going for a week next November. It was 124 points for the week. We really wanted to go to Atlantis in the Bahamas but were told by II that it is impossible to get. We were wondering why it is listed if no one gives up their week.I don't have the info for Playa Linda. A couple of years ago Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club was High = 1-16, 51-52. Mid = 17-50. It's likely PL and Costa Linda are the same though given their lower resort rating compared to the Marriott's, it's possible you'll see some fall time in the low season like you do places like the Cayman's, esp Sept and weeks 49 & 50.

Atlantis is tough but not impossible. Give it a try, no harm done.

[smep013]

This whole process is very confusing to me.
If I request a search for summer 2009, and they find an exchange, what points will they use?
I have an August Use Year.
Will they take from use year 2008?

[Dean]

This whole process is very confusing to me.
If I request a search for summer 2009, and they find an exchange, what points will they use?
I have an August Use Year.
Will they take from use year 2008?I'm told the rule is they take points from the UY where the trip occurs just like they would for a DVC stay. The exception would be if the trip occurs in the UY two years ahead, say a June 09 trip for a June UY done now, where they'd give you the choice of the current UY or the next. This isn't an issue that will happen very much with exchanges but is more likely an issue with DCL. Maybe someone who's reserved with points for DCL far out once they changed the system can give their experience in this regard. My guess is they'll make it work if you have the points at all accessible. In your case they'd use 2008 points for travel before August 09. For August 09 or after for travel you'd have your choice of 07 or 08, until 1 Aug, 08 comes around and then it'd have to be 09 points but could include points banked or borrowed to 09. Given that most resorts don't deposit more than 12 months out there are not many times when this will apply to exchanges. There are a few that deposit 18 months out and a few that are 2 years out. The ones talked about here that are up to 2 years out that I am aware of include the Royal's in Cancun and Kona Coast on the Big Island. Floating Marriott's can be as early as about 13.5-14 months out but only for very few units, most till be 12 months or less. Fixed week Marriott's can be 18 months out and this includes some, but not all, of the HI Marriott units.