DVC - Ireland?

[surfergirl602]

Has anyone used their points for Ireland? Hubby and I were going to renew our vows in WDW next summer, but so many problems have come up that we're thinking about canning the entire thing, leaving the kids with the grandparents and heading to Ireland for a week by ourselves, something that has been a dream of ours for years now.

I have no idea how to go about even getting info on this - our guide really hasn't been much help on this so far.

 

[Sammie]

Guides are sales people not travel agents, sorry but I would not expect them to be any help.

Basically you are going to have to do the researching. Go to DVC member site and see what listings there are for exchange with RCI.

Once you do, then research them online for reviews etc.

Then you have to contact member services and see if you can even get anything.

Trading out is not as easy as the sales people will lead you to believe when they are selling it to you.

You may find it is a better deal to rent your DVC points and take the money and book a trip yourself or use a travel agent.

Especially since there seems to be only one listing for Ireland.

Good luck.

 

[surfergirl602]

Guides are sales people not travel agents, sorry but I would not expect them to be any help.

Basically you are going to have to do the researching. Go to DVC member site and see what listings there are for exchange with RCI.

Once you do, then research them online for reviews etc.

Then you have to contact member services and see if you can even get anything.

Trading out is not as easy as the sales people will lead you to believe when they are selling it to you.

You may find it is a better deal to rent your DVC points and take the money and book a trip yourself or use a travel agent.

Especially since there seems to be only one listing for Ireland.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info - I didn't mean our sales person - I don't know why I put that! (probably because I was looking at the points board before posting) I meant the dvc services person I spoke with.

We've only been dvc owners for about a year now. We've only taken one dvc trip (just got back) and I don't know anything about renting points, or trading points with RCI. I did look at their locations and Ireland has only 1 place. Scotland has 15, lol.

I also looked up travel agents for our area... and none of them do Europe! (We're in OK) and of course, they all do Vegas!!

 

[Sammie]

Thanks for the info - I didn't mean our sales person - I don't know why I put that! (probably because I was looking at the points board before posting) I meant the dvc services person I spoke with.

We've only been dvc owners for about a year now. We've only taken one dvc trip (just got back) and I don't know anything about renting points, or trading points with RCI. I did look at their locations and Ireland has only 1 place. Scotland has 15, lol.

I also looked up travel agents for our area... and none of them do Europe! (We're in OK) and of course, they all do Vegas!!

Ok, I would think member services could at least give you guidance on how to book.

I know I was surprised Ireland only has one and France has none outside of Disneyland Paris hotels.

Frankly I am not as pleased with RCI choices in Europe but they did not ask my opinion when they changed. lol.

Honestly if you can rent your points, and take the cash and plan a trip you would probably get a better deal.

The place listed for exchange looks nice in photos but I would check online reviews.

Also go to the UK boards and ask if anyone has used theirs for Ireland you might find a few that have.

Sadly even though the sales agents really push the exchange options, DVC is best used for Disney vacation club resorts only.

Some people rent their points to others that want to book a Disney World stay. They take the cash and book other trips and get a better deal. You have to do the legwork on renting though, or you can use David's Rentals and he will rent them for you and pay you the money.

Basically if you decide you want to use your points for the Ireland location, you call Member Services and see if you can get it. Summer is peak time though so it might be hard to get.

 

[surfergirl602]

Ok, I would think member services could at least give you guidance on how to book.

I know I was surprised Ireland only has one and France has none outside of Disneyland Paris hotels.

Frankly I am not as pleased with RCI choices in Europe but they did not ask my opinion when they changed. lol.

Honestly if you can rent your points, and take the cash and plan a trip you would probably get a better deal.

The place listed for exchange looks nice in photos but I would check online reviews.

Also go to the UK boards and ask if anyone has used theirs for Ireland you might find a few that have.

Sadly even though the sales agents really push the exchange options, DVC is best used for Disney vacation club resorts only.

Some people rent their points to others that want to book a Disney World stay. They take the cash and book other trips and get a better deal. You have to do the legwork on renting though, or you can use David's Rentals and he will rent them for you and pay you the money.

Basically if you decide you want to use your points for the Ireland location, you call Member Services and see if you can get it. Summer is peak time though so it might be hard to get.

I did check out the reviews and 90% of them are 4 to 5 stars, with great comments. The place looks nice, too.

Is there a guide on how to rent out points?

the lady I spoke with was kind of flaky - I'm going to call back after talking to the other half and seeing what he wants to do.

I'll go ask on the UK board - I never thought of that!

 

[ToddyLu]

I am sure you have already looked into it....but Adventures by Disney does do a Emerald Isle Adventure. It is very expensive by my standards...adult only in 400 points each or about $4000.00 cash each person. MIL had booked and then cancelled earlier this year due to issues with airport security ad safety alerts and volcano eruptions. So this would be an option in addition to renting and RCI.

 

[McCrae]

Ireland is a great place, you will have a fantastic time.

My suggestion would be to use cash to book your vacation. The economy in Ireland is currently very weak and you will get some great deals if you look around.

Here is a link to Air Lingus....some good flight prices as well.

http://www.aerlingus.com/home/index.jsp

 

[JimMIA]

There is a link on the DVC Member site where you can view all RCI destinations available through DVC (there are a little less than 600).

Go to vacation planning, and then look at the vacation planning tools on the right side of the page and you'll see RCI. Click there and then look around and you'll see a link for "View destinations."

[ETA: I took my own advice, and Sammie is right. There is only one choice in Ireland.]

The thought of asking for help on the DIS UK community board is a very good one. You'll probably get more accurate and up-to-date info there than most places.

 

[surfergirl602]

I am sure you have already looked into it....but Adventures by Disney does do a Emerald Isle Adventure. It is very expensive by my standards...adult only in 400 points each or about $4000.00 cash each person. MIL had booked and then cancelled earlier this year due to issues with airport security ad safety alerts and volcano eruptions. So this would be an option in addition to renting and RCI.

Adventures by disney is soooooo expensive! 467 points per adult! That's insane!!! I'm sure we can make our own fabulous trip for much much cheaper. You'd think that being able to take these types of trips for cheaper than cash would be appealing and a great incentive to DVC.... apparently not! lol

 

[surfergirl602]

Ireland is a great place, you will have a fantastic time.

My suggestion would be to use cash to book your vacation. The economy in Ireland is currently very weak and you will get some great deals if you look around.

Here is a link to Air Lingus....some good flight prices as well.

http://www.aerlingus.com/home/index.jsp

Good to know! I'm really leaning towards just banking the points and saving them, and seeing how a cash trip goes. We'd still be spending the same amount really, for all the people that we would be inviting with us, who we would be paying for.

Ugh. So many decision, I really just don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But I kind of want to spend this very special time with just my hubby, and not his parents, my mom, my sister and her husband, hubby's two best friends, and their wives, etc.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ireland is a great place, you will have a fantastic time.

My suggestion would be to use cash to book your vacation. The economy in Ireland is currently very weak and you will get some great deals if you look around.

Here is a link to Air Lingus....some good flight prices as well.

http://www.aerlingus.com/home/index.jsp

Yes.


This is ancient info, but since it seems they still only have ONE spot in Ireland it might be of some worth. In '95 I was graduating from chiro school, and my mom and stepdad owned at RCI. A YEAR before Oct '95 they started trying to get accommodations for me. And they never did get anything for me. A year! And they were owners! And October is NOT the high season (it turns into rainy season...beautiful, but not what many want). Since my mom had promised to cover the room, she got us a B&B&rental car package through Aer Lingus, and it was absolutely lovely.

Can't believe they still only have one spot....

 

[Sammie]

Good to know! I'm really leaning towards just banking the points and saving them, and seeing how a cash trip goes. We'd still be spending the same amount really, for all the people that we would be inviting with us, who we would be paying for.

Ugh. So many decision, I really just don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But I kind of want to spend this very special time with just my hubby, and not his parents, my mom, my sister and her husband, hubby's two best friends, and their wives, etc.

I don't blame you at all. I would so be in for the alone time and not a family get together. As much as I love my family it can be so stressful trying to organize it all.

If you do decide to rent points there is a wealth of info on how to do it, on the Rent/Trade forum and as I said David's Rentals a sponsor on the DIS will handle it for you.

Can't believe they still only have one spot....

Totally agree it is pretty lame. They advertise constantly about how great DVC is to travel to other destinations and they offer, "one" place in Ireland.

II has 6 and for you new members this what they offered for years. When they changed they tried to convince us it was due to "member feedback" about wanting for options to trade into. Did not buy that then, it was about money as always.

This is another reason when you see the constant suggestions for those considering DVC to never buy it for anything other than staying at Disney Vacation Club resorts.

To the OP hope you find what you are wanting.

 

[pmcpmc]

Thanks for the info - I didn't mean our sales person - I don't know why I put that! (probably because I was looking at the points board before posting) I meant the dvc services person I spoke with.

We've only been dvc owners for about a year now. We've only taken one dvc trip (just got back) and I don't know anything about renting points, or trading points with RCI. I did look at their locations and Ireland has only 1 place. Scotland has 15, lol.

I also looked up travel agents for our area... and none of them do Europe! (We're in OK) and of course, they all do Vegas!!

I don't mind renting our dvc home in Belfast while we are at our home at boardwalk in florida.

 

[JimMIA]

Totally agree it is pretty lame. They advertise constantly about how great DVC is to travel to other destinations and they offer, "one" place in Ireland.

II has 6 and for you new members this what they offered for years.

RCI has 67 resorts in Ireland, but only ONE of those is available for DVC points. Another reason why it's often said that using your points outside of DVC is often not a very attractive option, no matter how the sales weasels hype it.

 

[Sammie]

I don't mind renting our dvc home in Belfast while we are at our home at boardwalk in florida.

Now there is a plan home swap for DVC home.

 

[Sammie]

RCI has 67 resorts in Ireland, but only ONE of those is available for DVC points. Another reason why it's often said that using your points outside of DVC is often not a very attractive option, no matter how the sales weasels hype it.

Exactly I think DVC likes to have new members think they are getting access to everything that RCI offers but in truth it is very limiting.

 

[MissMet]

I'd bank the points and pay out of pocket.

I just got back from a trip to Europe- 3 of the days were in Dublin. There are great hotels with a very low price. We stayed at the Best Western Premiere Academy Plaza Hotel. It is nothing like the best westerns here in the US. It was an awesome hotel in a perfect location & it was not expensive at all. I picked it because of all the exceptional reviews on tripadvisor.

http://www.academyplazahotel.ie/

We flew delta to Ireland, but flew aerlingus from Dublin to Barcelona. We weren't that impressed with aerlingus & were disappointed with all their hidden fees. They start out cheap but with all the fees the flight ended up just slightly lower than with another airline.

I'm dying to get back to Ireland! It's gorgeous, the people are unimaginably friendly and it's easy to navigate - they speak English! You will not be disappointed if you go to Ireland!