Anyone used points for other rentals?

[kittylady1972]

We will most likely be buying into DVC finally in the next few weeks. If our guide gets back to us tonight and can get us the $86 promotion (we have member referrals) we'll be all set and ready to settle as we've already secured financing.

My question is about using points at non-Disney properties. We know at this point we don't plan to return to Disney until sometime in 2008, however we were planning a trip to Myrtle Beach for this summer instead. I noticed that there are a few timeshare resorts there (not Disney owned) and I'm wondering if anybody has ever used their points to secure other timeshare rentals and about how many points the Myrtle Beach properties would cost us for a 2BR unit. Any ideas? I'm just hoping perhaps we can start using some of our points for that trip now once we get it all squared away.

Thanks for any help you can provide me!

 

[sjpvac]

Can't tell you about Myrtle Beach, but I've used points for rentals both through the Concierge Collection and Interval over the last few years. I got stuck once at a dump called the Petit Aurberge in San Francisco through Concierge where the rooms were so small I couldn't accept bed-turndown services because with two people in the room and no closets (so I had the luggage on the floor), there wasn't enough room to let a third person in. I complained and asked for half my points back, but DVC turned a deaf mouse-ear and did nothing, except drop the hotel a few years later from their listings. Last year through Interval I got a week in Venice, Italy in March at a condo that was decent for 144 points after being wait-listed for several months and last week got back from four nights at the Grand Wailea in Maui which was spectacular for both the view and the cost of 80+ points a night. Most DVC members state that you don't get as much value for staying off property and having been around since OKW gave out park tickets along with the room, I have to agree.