Exchange Advice-Dean?

[DVCTUG2]

Hope someone can help. I have an exchange on hold til Feb 8 for a 2 bedroom at the Royal Mayan in Cancun. This will use 218 points as we will be exchanging a Sept week at OKW. We have the points to use because we had to cancel our trip last year. My question is..is it ever possible to exchange weeks at Hilton Head for the World Passport Collection? This would use a lot less points if one could reserve an early December or January week there. I will keep the exchange for the Mayan because these points "expire" at the end of September(1999 pts) but for future reference, will they accept weeks at HHI for exchange? Dean, you seem to be the expert at all of this. Do you know the answer?

Thanks and Sorry this was so long...
Kim

 

[Dean]

Actually yes it's possible and truthfully is the best use of points when getting an exchange that will cost you Adventure season. OKW is the best use if it will cost Dream or Magic. The same exchange using HH would have been 133 points. The Royal Mayan is a great place but there are some things to think about. I assume this is an off season like summer time. I wonder if you can find out which exact unit it is and make your decision based on that. A fair number of the units at the RM are not Ocean view at all and many some have little if any view at all. It's a great resort and I think one of the few choices that are worthy of an even DVC exchange. Do you really need a 2 BR or would you be better off searching for a 1 BR with an ongoing search? Of course there's risk if you don't take this unit, you might get nothing.

If you can find out the exact unit, I'll try to check on the view status for you. If you do decide to go, then let me know how it goes. I can also offer some suggestions and give you some other's suggestions as well as to restaurants, airport transfers, etc. Feel free to contact me directly.

Remember that the unit exchanged for II must go through the home resort, banking and borrowing rules so this would limit you unless you owned HH points. It is a good way to plan if you want to do a deposit first and get the HH points amount which is considerably less for all unit sizes. It's a great way to extend the life of points you couldn't use otherwise. For example you could still deposit the Sept OKW time and have this in the bank for an exchange up until Sept of 2003.

Dean

 

[dvc_john]

I would be interested in any suggestions you have about the Royal Mayan, as I've got an exchange (not DVC) into the RM in May.

 

[Dean]

Let me know what unit and I'll see what I can find out.

Dean

 

[DVCTUG2]

Dean,
Thanks for answering. I did try to find out the unit # today after I read on TUG that some buildings have no view, but the lady at Member Services said she couldn't tell me. I would do the ongoing search(for Caribbean or Islander to guarantee a view), but like you said, I could end up with nothing. It's good to know I can do that though, deposit a week and then look for something. I'll probably do that with a HH week if I ever decide to exchange again. The reservation is for May 25, 2002, and it will be over our anniversary so I guess I'll just be happy to get to use the points and plan a little better next time. Thanks so much for your help!

Kim

 

[downontheBW]

Many thanks to Dean for all your great posts on exchange ideas and resort info. We plan to exchange at some time and I'm trying to gather all the knowledge I can so I'll be informed when we decide to do it.
'

Dixie Landings '94, '96
Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club '98
Off site (never again) '99
BWV '00
HHI '01

Heidi

 

[Dean]

When you get the cofirmation, it should have the unit number on it. Let me know and we can find out the view, etc. It's a great resort so I think I'd take it and take my chances. Even if it doesn't have a view, it should be a great exchange. Let me know when you get closer and I'll try to help you get some additional info.

Dean

 

[DVCTUG2]

Great! Will definitely call on you for more info when I get he confirmation! You have been a great help to all on this board.

Kim

 

[MMCD]

My parents own there. I've been there and I'm lucky to return this June. I don't know their room number but we were at the corner and can see the main pool and see quite a bit of the ocean or is it really bay view?

Regardless of the mass body of water, I found the Mayan's to be really plushy. We did nothing but laid by the pool or beach. My mother couldn't convince us to see the ruins/city. My dad had to give us his "orders" to get ourselves out of the resort and see the sites with my mother since this was their condo and we may not be invited back for free again.

The service was excellent!! There was maid service everyday to sweep the sand from our room. They even made our beds everyday and replenished the soap and shampoo. Towels and linen were changed everday if requested for free. (However, they did have signs requesting for conservation of towel and linen change.) There were children's activities everyday. Renting bikes and snorkling equipment was free. Here they handled the pool towels better. They know the maximum #/room. So they only give out that many pool towels per room. You could not get another one until one was returned.

Happy hour was great. Service at the pools were great. Somebody was always available to refill your drinks but did not bug you about it.

I think we even drank the water there. We filled our water bottles when we were forced out of the resort.

The 2BR is smaller than OKW but way bigger than BW. The resort laundry room tends to be crowded at the evenings. I know you didn't ask about how nice the resort was but I thought I'd give my view of my stay in it.

Don't forget to get your shots before going there. I'm sure my freind, Dean, will not lead you astray. But my ex-BIL ate something he should not have.

MMCD

 

[dvc_john]

Thanks for the info MMCD!

Dean: My unit number is B804. I'm pretty sure this is not an ocean front building, but I have no idea what the view is. I'm hoping 804 means 8th floor.

Any advice on things to do? Is Cozumel too far for a day trip? Is Tulum and/or the snorkling place (Xel-A (sp?) a good trip. Already been to Chitzen Itza. What about Isla Mujeres?

Thanks!!!

 

[Dean]

B804 is the B building 8th floor. It will have a great pool view and I think it is high enough to have a pretty good ocean view as well. You should enjoy that unit very much.
Web site with a lot of info about the Royal Mayan
Official Royal website Both have maps and a lot of info but the official site is down tonight.
Fletch's website has Royal Mayan info

Dean

 

[MMCD]

DVC_John,

My mother wants us to go to Cozumel just so we can say that we've been to Cozumel. It can be done. But it depends on what you want to do there. I think we will just step foot, see the shops, eat something, and then go back. Her friends have done it.

MMCD

 

[dvc_john]

Thanks Dean and MMCD!