Exchanging for Mexico or Hawaii

[3princesses]

Hi---just wondering if anyone would share experiences exchanging through II for Mexico or Hawaii. I'm just looking for ballpark what kind of points we would need for a week during February for a one bedroom. THANKS!!!!! <IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">

DVC'er since summer '00 with an add on in the works.

 

[Dean]

The points costs will be196 most likely, 218 possibly for both parts of the world. Feb in MX and HI is high season and by agreement between II and DVC, will cost Dream if available, Magic if not. Since DVC will use the least expensive resort, that will usually be OKW. Now there are circumstances where you could pay a little less or more. Since DVC must use all of the banking and borrowing rules as well at Home resort priority, it may be that some would be required to use their home resort instead of OKW. This would cause the exchange to cost even more.

Truthfully, there are few resorts that would be worth 200 DVC points but there are a few. Everyone's circumstances are different so how many "extra" points you have and how badly you want to exchange may factor in. The Royals and VCI (also a royal) and possibly the Omni in Cancun, Paradise Village and possibly Ocho Cascadas (adult basically) in PV. For HI, I'd list the Marriott's, Kona Coast, Hanalei Bay, Sands of Kahana and One Napili. Lawaii Beach and Cliff's club would be added it these seemed to appeal to the exchanger, both are great resorts but the exchange experience is extremely variable and with risk of a bad unit for exchangers.

That doesn't mean that some of the other resorts aren't good, their just not great. Especially for MX and HI, you might look at a direct exchange with an owner or one of the independent exchange companies. Companies like SFX, Trading Places, Platinum Interchange, Donita's seem to have a lot of CA, Western Canada, Tahoe, MX and HI availability. This might give you access to some additional resorts as well as additional units available at already listed resorts.

Resorts I'd consider adding to the list for MX would be Club Casa Dorado (which I think is different than the resort on the DVC list), Hacienda Del Mar, Pueblo Bonito Rose and the Westin Regina in Cabo area. For Cancun, maybe the Westin. Maybe the Allegro Diamond in Cozumel. For PV, I’d add the Allegro Diamond, the Westin and the Krystal.

For HI, I’d add the following. The big island, Bay Club. For Kauai, the Embassy and Puhio at Shearwater. For Maui, the Embassy and the Whaler. There are currently no Oahu resorts I’d consider except the Hilton HI Rainbow if it’s available by then. Marriott will have units later and I suspect they will be on the DVC list.

I hope this helps.

Dean