I find it amusing that there are so many people who think that owning DVC somehow locks you out of vacationing elsewhere! I own at DVC but spend a week at the Jersey Shore every year as well as traveling internationally at least every other year.
I purchased small contracts on the resale market years ago with the intention of using my points every 2-3 years while vacationing elsewhere in the alternating years. I've had some very nice stays at my home resorts (BWV and AKV) and have even stayed CL on my points. I've also been able to book other DVC resorts inside of the 7-month window at OKW, BCV and VWL.
And you know what? I can make cash reservations just like anyone else, if I don't want to use my points. I stayed at the GF last fall on a fantastic rate when we had a meeting at their convention center.
I can bank my points if we don't want to visit this year and borrow from next year if I don't have enough to cover the entire stay in the villa of my choice. I've stayed in studios, 1-bedrooms and 2-bedrooms. Next fall, I'll be staying in a treehouse villa, having transferred enough points from an SSR owner into my account to cover the reservation. Non-owners cannot do points transfers.
And guess where those points that some of you rent come from? Owners like me who decide not to use our points. We're not "renting" them out to you to break even. We are actually charging you more than they cost us. Although I would never purchase DVC with the intention of making money by renting out my points, it's nice to know that the option is there when or if I find that I'm in a situation where I have no use for them before they expire.
I don't need daily housekeeping and, in fact, I don't want housekeeping entering my room. I don't find it to be that big of a deal to make my bed and straighten the towels every day. Mousekeeping service is provided based on the length of your stay.
Trash and Towel Services
For stays of
seven or fewer nights, Trash and Towel Service is provided on day four. With this service, Housekeeping will
- Empty the trash and put new liners in the wastebaskets
- Provide fresh bathroom towels
- Replace shampoo, facial soap and bath soap
- Replenish facial tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper
- Replenish coffee, sugar, and cream
- Replenish diswashing liquid, dishwasher detergent, sponges, and laundry detergent as applicable
Full Cleaning Service
For stays of
eight or more nights, Full Cleaning Service is provided on day four and Trash and Towel Service is provided on day eight. After that, the cycle begins again on day 12. With Full Cleaning Service, Housekeeping will provide everything included with the Trash and Towel Service, plus
- Change the bed linens
- Vacuum and dust
- Clean the bathroom(s)
- Clean the kitchen/ette and wash the dishes
And as someone else pointed out, full mousekeeping is available for anyone who wishes to pay for it.
The full kitchen in the larger villas are nice to have, but there are no rules that require owners to do any cooking. Nor do we have to do laundry if we don't want to. But, it's nice to have them available if we need them. Throwing my damp clothes in the dryer after being caught in the rain is much nicer than draping them over the shower rod to dry. But for us, the much bigger benefit of having a 1- or 2-bedroom villa is having that "living room" space for relaxing, rather than trying to get comfortable in a cramped resort room.
Naturally, my reasons for purchasing DVC will not be the same for the next owner. And the things that I find to not be important are essential for some people. The decision to sink a considerable sum of money into DVC is not something that should be done without serious thought. It took us years before we decided to jump in and then several months before we found the right contracts for us. We even vacationed with other DVC owners in order to test the waters. What we found to be critical in the decision-making process was to become very informed as to how DVC works and specifically, how it would work for us.