Any DVCer also owns Hyatt Timeshare?

[luckytso]

After buying all the points, I think I bought way over than what we need. Now I am thinking about maybe selling some of my points (very unwilling but I don't think DH would be happy if I buy anymore timeshare without letting go some) and use the proceeds to buy another timeshare so that we can go to other places at times.

I am seriously considering buying a timeshare either with Marriott or Hyatt.

I have read up all the message board and other write-up on TUG's website. I am wondering if you have any suggestions, especially about Hyatt. It is a point system and sounds great.


Thanks in advance for any suggestion you may provice.

 

[dvc_john]

I own at DVC and Hyatt (also Hilton and Marriott).
The Hyatt resorts are great, and it has worked out for me. I have not even stayed at the Hyatt I bought at, but have stayed at 5 others, plus 2 II trades using my Hyatt points.

The Hyatt system is sort of a hybrid point system, and is not as flexible as DVC. With DVC it's first come, first served on reservations, with generous borrowing and banking privileges.
With Hyatt, you buy a fixed unit/week at a particular resort, and that week is worth a number of points. You have until 6 months before your week begins to decide whether to use your week, or turn it into points to use somewhere else. To go to another Hyatt resort, someone there has to give up their week. If you want to use your points after your week, you can only use them for the 6 months after your week, and only within 60 days of your travel dates. Also, you can't book any number of days you want. It's either a full week, or split week (a 3-day weekend or 4-day mid-week). Like DVC, you can get more mileage from your points by avoiding weekends. Not all resorts have studio, 1-BR, and 2-BR. Some only have 2-BR.
You can also use II to exchange to non-Hyatt resorts.
It's really a lot more complicated than DVC.
But like I said, they have some really nice resorts, and it's worked for me. In fact, I'm tempted by the new Coconut Plantation resort.

Of the four brands I own, Hilton is the most flexible after DVC.

At Marriott, you also buy either a fixed unit/week or a flex unit/week. If you want to go to a different resort, you exhange using II. Marriott exchangers get a priority window when requesting an exhange into another Marriott. The best thing about Marriott is the very large number of resorts and locations they have.

 

[luckytso]

John,

I am thinking about buying 2200 pts with Hyatt. However, based on what people said on TUG, it seems that there is not as much difference in price buying resale vs. buying from developer because they use the first right of refusal.

Also, if I do find a resale, does it matter which week I need to get? Personally, I chose my DVC's use year for a reason, is it the same for Hyatt? Do you think the week $ is important?

Is it difficult to exchange into other Hyatt resorts in your experience? How early do you have to decide where and when you want to go to get the exchange internally?

If you do get a week somewhere, can you cancel and rebook somewhere else or for a different week?

What are the fees involved besides the annual MF? Do you have to pay separate membership fee to join II?

Thanks again.

 

[dvc_john]

Sorry for the delay in response, but I'm traveling and don't have daily access to a computer.

As for week, it does matter to some extent because of time shifting. For instance, I own a December week. I request any time from 1 year before my week, to my actual week. To make a ressie for a time after my week, I can only use the 60 day reservation window. So if I want a January 2004 week, I can use my December 2004 points, but I can't request it until December 2003. Or I can use my December 2003 points, but I can't make the request until November 2003. On the other hand, if I wanted a November 2003 week, I could request it in December 2002 using my December 2003 points. Generally I've always gotten what I wanted, but frequently you don't get an immediate confirmation - you often get waitlisted.
Other costs: There is a reservation fee for any reservation other than the actual week you own. (I think it's $29, but am not sure.)
I think there is a fee if you turn your points into the Hyatt hotel program points. And if you use a split week (either the 3-day weekend or 4-day midweek) there is a cleaning charge for the extra cleaning required. (At the Hyatt Windward Point in Key West where I was last week, the fee was $31.) As for II, you pay a Hyatt membership fee with your annual maintenance, and it includes an II membership. However, if you own other II resorts that aren't Hyatt, you can't use the Hyatt II membership for those also.
I don't think it matters if you buy resale, but I'd check it out first. The only program that I'm aware of that makes a difference is Marriott, where if you buy resale and not thru Marriott resales, then you forfeit the privilege to change your Marriott Vacation Club week into MarriottRewards points.

Hope this helps. As for me, I like all the programs, but I would never give up my DVC. Have you considered just using your DVC points to make a trade using II to a Hyatt or Marriott??