Considering HH

[Tommy]

I found one of the real advantages of DVC over a timeshare just this month. I had two weeks scheduled at HHI in January, when I got called up for jury duty during the last week. I called and was able to cancel the last week and add on the middle week - which still gave me my two week vacation plans. If I had a "FIXED" week in a timeshare, I would have been out of luck. The flexability of times, and sizes of accomidations really was a big plus in my personal decision.

By the way, HHI is my home location. I have not had problems getting other places I want but the key is to be a little flexible. I was able to get my daughter a week at Boardwalk during Spring vacation and able to get Vero Beach to expand a planned trip to Melborne Florida last year.

 

[David in Manassas]

We own at DVC OKW..but for some reason we find ourselves going to HH every year. Our next trip is Christmas week and we are taking advantage of the Sunday to Friday flexibility. We arrive on Saturday and I have booked one night at the Marriot Grand Ocean for $99.00 for a 2 bedroom unit. That will at least give us something to compare to (I just hope everyone doesn't fall in love with the Marriot!)

David in Manassas VA

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Tommy
I found one of the real advantages of DVC over a timeshare just this month. I had two weeks scheduled at HHI in January, when I got called up for jury duty during the last week. I called and was able to cancel the last week and add on the middle week - which still gave me my two week vacation plans. If I had a "FIXED" week in a timeshare, I would have been out of luck. The flexability of times, and sizes of accomidations really was a big plus in my personal decision.

Tommy, I assume you are comparing a traditional timeshare to a points system as DVC is definitely a timeshare. There are all type of variations out there to include fixed weeks, floating weeks, points sytems, lockoff's, etc. I would agree that DVC is more flexbile than most but not all. It just depends on what you want, when you want it and the overall situation one finds themselves in. For HH, I prefer a full week on the beach. For WDW, 5 day Sunday to Friday is enough for me.

For exchanging, I find the Marriott system and traditional timeshares a better choice and value. To stay at WDW, I find the DVC resorts a better choice. Certainly Marriott at Orlando and the non WDW resorts are very great options. For example, I prefer VB to Marriott's Ocean Pointe resort but both are somewhat similar resorts in many ways. While I enjoy the HH DVC resort, I prefer Grande Ocean and Barony and would probably chose Harbour Club and Monarch over DVC for a full week stay. That's because I prefer location over resort at HH. I also own at Marriott's Harbour Pointe which is just on the other side of the Marina from DVC so I'm not opposed to the location, just prefer the beach and Sea Pines locations over Shelter Cove. Still, I like the Shelter Cover area and have stayed at DVC and Harbour Pointe and had great times there as well.

 

[EROS]

As a stand-alone timeshare, I find DVC to be VERY EXPENSIVE. Points with DVC are clearly worth the most at DVC resorts; as a trading vehicle, you would be much better served by buying a less costly timeshare.

We're DVC owners primarily because we enjoy staying at WDW on-site. If we were contented with off-site, it would make NO financial sense. Of course, there's nothing wrong with using HH as your primary resort but you could purchase elsewhere on Hilton Head for much less. Also be aware that the 7 month booking window at WDW for HH owners may limit you if you wish to travel there during peak usage periods; you shouldn't have too much difficulty booking at the WDW DVC resorts off-peak.

 

[stlrod]

Like Dean and a couple of others, I own Marriott and DVC. However, HH is my home resort for DVC and my Marriott property is in Orlando. I believe more value is obtained by buying the "off-property" (Marriott's dominance is in HH while DVC's is naturally in Orlando.) This past summer when I compared prices for HH and Marriott's Barony Beach for a full week, they came out alsmost identical-DVC got a very slight edge when it increased the MB to $13 (and that was comparing the unit at BB furtherst from the beach.) While being oceanside is great, it comes at a cost. Buying an oceanside unit at BB quickly makes DVC appear to be a better value. What made me decide to buy DVC was the fact that I could get a S-TH stay at DVC for half the cost of the least expensive unit at BB. So, if a full week is not important to you (and you don't mind not being on the ocean), DVC is a good way to go. While Marriott proerties can be bought for a lot less on the resale market, they do not include the Marriott Rewards option which I have found to be extremely valuable (it's great for travlling in Europe.) If you don't think that option would be utilized by you (many do not), then definitely buy resale. I also like the "look and feel" of DVC in comparison to either Grand Ocean or Barony Beach. As far as trading for other timeshares though, nothing beats a Marriott (I have easily traded to Grand Ocean, Manor Club in Williamsburg, Newport Coast and even up to a 3BR at a newer Marriott in Orlando all in prime season.) Either way though, you can't go wrong--it's just a matter of what is important to you. I do get the sense though that tradeability outside of WDW might be the predominant factor--if that's true, then I would go with Marriott and probably buy resale. You indicate that you haven't been to HH. I don't know whether you mean HH or the DVC resort. If you haven't been to HH at all, I would suggest that you consider buying where you vaction the most (provided high qualities properties exist). Whether DVC, Marriott, Hilton or one of the others, the same rule applies: buy where you would want to stay most often. My BIL live is Boston and bought Marriott at the Custom House. He is perplexed by the difficulty he has in trading to Cancun where he takes his family regularly. Quite simply, if that's where he wanted to spend most of his time, he should have bought there. While trading is great, it's best to best to be able to know you will be able to stay somewhere you want if you can not get a successful trade.