DVC Newbie Help please -- Hawaii?

[Tina]

We have made our deposit on 165 points at SSR. We received the package on Friday to review, sign, etc. My question today is about trading outside of DVC. DH and I would like to go to Hawaii for our 10th anniversary in December 2006. We've been saving airline miles forever (120,000 for 2 First Class tix!). What is the procedure now to get our resort? Is there a booking window like the Disney properties (11 month/7 month)? Where can we learn more about the resorts available? Do we have to have all of the points before we book? Where do I go to find out how many points a particular resort requires?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Hawaii is one of the exchanges I think is worthy of DVC points. You need to make some choices about which islands you are willing to accept, and then be very open with your search, and search a year or two out. If you are trying to use Frequent flyer tickets, I would search earlier rather than later. If you want the Big Island, you will likely get Kona Coast II resort right away. We did this one and loved it, but then, the big Island is our favorite anyway! If you are thinking Mauai or Kauai, you might want to be very open, since these are a little harder to get. My advice is to start your search two years out and leave a broad timeframe you will accept and maybe a choice of more than one island. That way, you can see what comes up first and decide from there. We hate to go to Hawaii for less than 3 weeks at a time, so we will do 2 searches. The first search, we ask for anything other than the Big Island (because that one seems to be easier), and the second one we ask for the Big Island. We don't accept Oahu/Honolulu exchanges, because you can find some good deals there for a few days either side of your timeshare stays, and it is the least "Hawaiian" of the islands. Leave you request VERY open timewise too. For the first search, give at least a 6 month window. When the first comes through, you can search for the next one a week on either side of that. We had great luck doing this a couple of years ago.

Another way to go is to join TUG (timeshare Users Group) and do a direct exchange with another owner.

 

[Geezer]

I agree with Diane. We never go to Hawaii for less than two weeks at a time. We did our exchange a similar way last time.

 

[wdwstar]

I also agree with diana, but remember you really cant start planning to exchange out until you have closed on your DVC, it is different if you wanted to make ressies now at one of the dvc resorts. We tried bokking maui almost 2 years out, it never came thru for us. but since then i believe DVC added a few more resorts in maui. I have read dvc members using points per night instead one lump some of points per week for Hawaii and they got the exchange right away. good luck and Welcome Home

 

[Geezer]

I also agree with diana, but remember you really cant start planning to exchange out until you have closed on your DVC, it is different if you wanted to make ressies now at one of the dvc resorts. We tried bokking maui almost 2 years out, it never came thru for us. but since then i believe DVC added a few more resorts in maui. I have read dvc members using points per night instead one lump some of points per week for Hawaii and they got the exchange right away. good luck and Welcome Home

I think that would be for the CC collection, and those are high point options compared to a II exchange where a 1 bedroom might only be 160 points for the week.

 

[Tina]

Thanks everyone. I will start planning as soon as we close (expect to close in early August). We've never been to Hawaii, but we were thinking of a week in Maui with the Big Island as our 2nd choice. I'm not really interested in Oahu. I've seen TUG mentioned here often, but I really don't know what it is. Can anyone offer me a link?

 

[Doug Wolfe]

Tina... Quick suggestion. The minute they let you book, call Member Services and put your reservation request in. Hawaii is usually tough to book. Go to the member website, look at the Hawaii sites you want, and request each of them, then taking the first one that comes along.

December? Christmas time and a popular time to travel. Others may say I am wrong and that is fine. But I would book ASAP. Have fun!!!

 

[Tina]

Thanks Doug. We're going to open up our travel period to cover Nov-Feb - although our actually anniversary is in early December. I really want the Westin Ka'anapali but after looking at the TUG boards (I found them!!) it looks pretty popular. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[jekjones1558]

One note:
You may need to book your FF air tickets EXACTLY on the day they are first available (I think maybe 330 days out). At least that has been our experience with NWA, otherwise the FF are gone. So it would be good to know your exact travel dates before you book air.

 

[downontheBW]

I'll second the advice on booking frequent flyer tickets - especially to Hawaii - as early as possible. I learned that the hard way on our first trip there - I called 10 months ahead of our preferred date and nothing was available so I had to replan our trip. Then I called 330 days ahead. Some airlines will let you hold the flight to Hawaii for up to 2 weeks until you can complete the reservation with the return flight (330 days ahead of the flight back). We used FF miles twice for Hawaii but had coach seats, maybe first class are easier to get? Check with your airline so you don't get any unpleasant surprises.

It becomes difficult if you have to book the FF tickets almost a year ahead and you may not have an exchange lined up yet. That was too much stress for me; we just rented a condo in Hawaii. Private rentals can be quite reasonable. Also did a private trade via TUG.

Another tip - if you're going to visit more than one island, you can get a round trip interisland flight on Aloha Airlines for 5000 United FF miles - that's a real deal. American FF miles are good on Hawaiian Air but I don't know if you need 5000 or 10000 for a ticket. Good luck!

 

[Tina]

Thank you SO SO SO much for all of this great info!!!

 

[Holly]

Can someone explain how the point process works for this if you are trying to book two years out? Do you book with your anticipated points?
If I wanted to plan on exchanging out for Hawaii in 2007 and wanted to use some of my banked 2006 points, all of my 2007 points, and maybe even some of my 2008 points? Can I book it even though the points aren't even here yet?

I hope its okay that I posted this question in yor thread, Tina.

 

[Tina]

All Hawaii questions are welcome here, Holly!!