For those with small (>60pt) contracts

[BlakeNJ]

I am still learning the ropes to bear with me...

We are thinking of adding on. It would be a small contract. Less than 60pts. We currently have 150pts at SSR. I'd love a few at BCV or AKV or really anywhere! We are a family of 5 so a studio is out of the question. We could stay in a 1br without complaints for sure. I know these points would get us in at the 11mo mark at that resort but if I needed more pts for that particular stay, would I only be able to book nights for the points I have at that resort and wait until 7mo to book the other nights using my SSR pts? Or are there other options. I could bank/borrow to book that stay, right? Maybe I just answered my own question.

I'd love to hear what others do with a small contract!

Blakely

 

[dianeschlicht]

We own 69 points at AKV as our second resort. We chose that rather unusual number based on how many points it would take for a 2 bedroom at our preferred time of travel. We planned on every third year at that resort, so divided the number by 3 and that's what we purchased. You can not use add ons from a different resort at the 11 month window at your first resort. You would have to use banking and borrowing at each to do 11 month window bookings. Bear in mind that enough points for an everyother year booking would work great at both.

Also, at AKV the 1 bedrooms sleep 5 (except for the value level rooms), so your family of 5 would each get a bed too.

 

[BlakeNJ]

Thanks Diane. That is what I thought. Every other year might be the way to go! Is there any speculation that the 1br at KT would sleep 5 as well? I've been looking around but can't get a feel for what the price per point would be there. If it's going to be outrageous then I won't even bother waiting and go for another resort.

 

[Cricket2]

...We planned on every third year at that resort, so divided the number by 3 and that's what we purchased.

Something that isn't always obvious to new owners when this is done is that you have to skip your first year when owning an "every 3 year contract" (unless you have a resale with banked points of course). You have to buy a use-year ahead of traveling with it for the first time in order to start the bank cycle properly. We still haven't caught up on our VWL contract because our travel windows are all whacked out from our first trip using a "mixed bag" of points. Just a thought

 

[dianeschlicht]

Something that isn't always obvious to new owners when this is done is that you have to skip your first year when owning an "every 3 year contract" (unless you have a resale with banked points of course). You have to buy a use-year ahead of traveling with it for the first time in order to start the bank cycle properly. We still haven't caught up on our VWL contract because our travel windows are all whacked out from our first trip using a "mixed bag" of points. Just a thought

Good point, and actually, we did something similar with our AKV points as well. When they opened up the booking for CL level last year, we decided it might just be our only chance to get that, so we went ahead and borrowed forward. Now I'll have 42 points instead of 69 this year, and I'll have to bank them forward and plan to use them in 2010 along with '10 and '11 points. It will mean we have to do a 1 bedroom or switch unit sizes within the trip, but not a biggie for us.

 

[lizziepooh]

I think it helps to look at the point charts and try to have a plan for unit size, travel season and purchase add on points accordingly (like Diane). Of course I realize plans can change. When we purchased our add on at BCV we were going to purchase 104 points which would give us a week each year in a studio during our usual travel times. We ended up purchasing 110 points as we realized that amount would give us 5 weeknights in a one bedroom during the same timeframe if we decided we didn't want to stay in a studio. I'm glad we went with 110 as we now pretty much stay in the one bedroom units.

 

[BlakeNJ]

So, if I bought AKV for 50pts, they would be '09 points. No trip in '09 (bank), trip in '10 w/ banked '09 pts and borrowed '11 pts? Maybe it's better to buy more pts ad stay at AKV every other year. Wait, did I hear myself right, I'm now buy more points? WTH!

One thing my guide did mention was if I bought SSR I'd get the same use year so I'd have Oct UY '07 pts to bank and use with '08 that will come in just a few months. But that wouldn't really help me since I would like pts at another resort. Would I get the same UY if I bought AKV? What did they do for you, Diane? Off to think some more....