Do you have another timeshare besides DVC?

[anonymousegirl]

Basically, I want DVC so I can go to WDW once or twice a year, but my non-Disney DH isn't interested so I want to be able to go other places too, just to get him on board with DVC.

I have been doing some research and I know people say it is not the best use of your points to trade out for somewhere else. I believe it is because of the limited offerings available to DVC members through Interval International.

If this is the case, I may want to buy a small contract elsewhere. Does anyone here own other timeshares or have any insights into trading out for other locales, like Cancun or the Caribbean?


Thanks

 

[tomandrobin]

We own at Westin Kierland, Harborside at Atlantis, Westin St John and Westin Lagunamar (Cancun). We love our Starwood ownership and it works really well with our DVC membership.

Before you buy any timeshare, go to tug2.net and spend a couple months reading and asking questions. Buy where you want to travel and would not mind going to often.

Trading into Cancun is not to difficult., depending on when and where you want to travel. Carribbean locations are alot more difficult, with some locations almost impossible.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have been doing some research and I know people say it is not the best use of your points to trade out for somewhere else. I believe it is because of the limited offerings available to DVC members through Interval International.


Thanks

DVC members have tons of choices. The problem here is that DVC may charge way too many points to make a trade, and it could be a place that is nice, but not the same quality as DVC units. Also, you could make a better trade with a timeshare that could actually be something you picked up on the cheap. I own 3 Marriott weeks, and my best trader is a crummy HHI week. I mean, who wants to stay on HH in January?! But it always trades well, and I bought it for under $1000. Several timeshares are like that. Research this on the Tug board, which will have more details.

 

[Caskbill]

DVC members have tons of choices. The problem here is that DVC may charge way too many points to make a trade, and it could be a place that is nice, but not the same quality as DVC units. Also, you could make a better trade with a timeshare that could actually be something you picked up on the cheap. I own 3 Marriott weeks, and my best trader is a crummy HHI week. I mean, who wants to stay on HH in January?! But it always trades well, and I bought it for under $1000. Several timeshares are like that. Research this on the Tug board, which will have more details.

There are a lot of good deals buying resale, such as Marriott. If your plan is to trade, definitely do not buy Marriott retail.

Keep in mind that other timeshares may have expenses. For example, if you own Marriott, you must join II in order to trade, even if trading Marriott to Marriott. II membership is about $90/year. Then if you trade your home resort for something else, there is a fee of about $90 - $140, depending on the location of trade.

If you own a 2-B/R and want to split it into a 1-B/R and a Studio, there is a fee for that also.

Just FYI

 

[Ed T]

I own a week at Hyatt Sunset Harbor Key West which is a great location. I have used the week in Key West and recently traded out the week to go to Puerto Rico in March 2009. I am planning on selling my Hyatt timeshare because I don't always get around to using all my DVC points year to year never mind Hyatt.

Ed

 

[CPTJAK]

I own Starwood and have been happy.

There are so many good ones out there it is hard to say what is best, really depends on what you vacation goals are.

 

[bwvBound]

We have 4 others and love each for different reasons. Agreeing with posts above: Get over to the Timeshare Users Group (TUG) for more research; and "best" really depends on your vacation goals.

Our needs/goals included:

• Day Use! Two of our nearby properties offer unlimited day use to owners: fitness center, pools, hot spring, golf, equestrian, spa, tennis, on-site restaurants, etc. We can "vacation" big time with a half-day visit.
• Drive To locations: We have dozens of drive-to destinations surrounding us.
• Flexible programs: Two are great point systems, one is "UDI" with a pay-as-you-go system, one is "every other year" (right sized for our needs!), etc.
• Trade if you want ... or don't. Only one of ours is a "pure trader." Each of the others we tend to use for their own merits ... but trade when we wish using RCI, II and other exchange companies. We certainly enjoy having direct relationships w/ the exchange companies.
• Discounted trades w/in "last minute windows." Our other point system allows trades made inside the "last minute" windows of RCI and II to be discounted to the cost of a "low season studio" regardless of the unit I book (size, season, location, etc.)
• Other Trade Perks: Our Every-other-Year (EOY) property offers bonus weeks for each week we deposit to the exchange company. Effectively, I get 2 or 3 week-long vacations for the price of 1 week's dues plus exchange fees. Other perks include: access to rental weeks through RCI/II/SFX/DAE, etc.; resort-level bonus time (rental nights; online access to inventory, etc.

Best wishes with your research!

 

[ADP]

We own a week at Sheraton Vistana which is Starwood. We've owned there since 1997 and have been happy.

 

[Laxmom]

We own a couple of Marriott weeks and have been extremely pleased with our trades. By all means, buy resale!!! And check out Tug!

 

[gingermouse17]

No- for now with 3 young kids DVC is all we need.

 

[tidefan]

We also own at Royal Palm Beach Club in St Maarten and have been going for over 5 years now. We really like it, especially after the renovations were completed last year. Like others mentioned before, we got it resale and saved a bundle...

 

[kimberh]

I own in Pigeon Forge, TN week 42... Peak of the Leaves, I trade into the Caribbean every other year. So far, I have been able to get what I have requested, St. Maarten, Antiqua (1 bedroom), Grand Cayman... 4 times. These are two bedrooms. My Mother owns the same week and property, she traded for the first time with us, She received the Grand Cayman for the time frame I told her to get. I think one of our great assests is week 42, It is highly sought after. You have to get a highly sought after resort or time of year. We could never seem to get a room for the Peak of the leaves.

Then we also own a Point system with Bluegreen, It is local. We can stay downtown Charleston by the night, or in one of there many locations. It is part of II, so I can get get a week, then bank it and trade it.

I would buy resale. One of my Bluegreen's I bought off of Ebay.

 

[BroganMc]

We own 4 Marriott weeks: 3 in Orlando and 1 in Williamsburg. One of the advantages to buying retail vs. buying resale is that Marriott allows retail owners to trade weeks for points. So we use our Marriott ownership as part weekly timeshare and part nightly points system. Resale owners don't get that benefit. Although you will pay 50% less buying resale.

We have traded weeks for Hilton Head and Williamsburg before. We're not really into the Caribbean destinations (prefer cruising for that). We have used points to stay in central London for 10 days. And we haven't paid for a nightly hotel stay since buying Marriott weeks. With incentive bonuses we wound up with $1 million points in 2 years time. I think we're down to 350,000 now. Points have also funded weekender trips for July 4th and a couple weeks in downtown Chicago for family.

Summer weeks tend to be the hardest to come by in most destinations. Spring in the traditional Spring break areas. Orlando is super-easy to trade into. (If I'd done it again I would not have purchased all 3 weeks in Orlando.) At the time we purchased that was our way of getting to Disney once a year.

Now we really like going to Disney for long periods. We use both our timeshares to extend the stay. But when we stay Marriott we know we're getting a two-bedroom. We also know we can do fairly last minute trades. DVC always requires more planning as we need to know who's coming with us. At Marriott we can invite anyone and not worry if they cancel last minute.

The fees involved with trades are nominal considering the difference in price between DVC and Marriott. Virtually everything is cheaper with Marriott from maintenance fees to purchase price (even retail). The exception to that is if you're buying in high trade areas like Hawaii.

One thing we find in having both timeshares is that we only use DVC for Disney World vacations. It seems a huge waste to use it anywhere else.