Have exchanged but some questions

[Cinderella]

Had to cancel our May ressy for WLV as we wanted to go to Vero or HH in August. Anyway, we couldn't get a one or two bed at either for July or August and cos of banking and borrowing. Needed to choose something before end January or risk losing points.

There wasn't much to choose from and we have opted for a 2 bed villa at Club Monte Anfi in Gran Canaria. Not worried about the apartments as they have a tug rating of 9.75 (thanks for telling us about tug Dean). But, am struggling to get reasonable priced flights.

If we can't get the flights, what are our options now? Can we just pay another $75 and change to another II ressy and when would we have to travel by? Or can we use the points for the cruise or Disney Collection.

I know I have probably screwed up badly here but, I panicked at the thought of losing points and didn't know what to do! Thanks.

PS: for anyone who doesn't know about tug the email address is www.tug2.com and you only pay $15 per year for great info and reviews. brilliant if you are wanting to trade points.

 

[PamOKW]

Is this an Interval International exchange? If so, here's the cancellation policy.

60 or more days before arrival date, you may request exchange accomodations but travel must occur within one year of cancellation date and an exchange fee must be paid.

59-7 days before arrival date, you may request and exchange accomodation 59 days or less but travel must be completed within one year of cancellation date and exchange fee must be paid.

6 or less days before arrival, the week is forfeited.

Hope that helps.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Cinderella
Or can we use the points for the cruise or Disney Collection.

Once DVC Member Services has booked a week at a DVC resort and has deposited that week with Interval international (II), the points are no longer available for use at a DVC resort, nor are the points available as Reservation Points for Conceierge Collection, Disney Collection, or Disney Cruise Line. An II exchange does not involve Reservation Points.

Actually, that makes sense. II has undoubtedly already assigned your week to an II member who is thrilled to have successfully traded into a DVC resort. So there's no way to turn a week that's been deposited into II back into DVC Vacation Points or Reservation points.

Possibly the best thing you can do now is to bite the bullet on the flights to the Canary Islands. Be sure to consider alternate airports near you (which might offer different, cheaper connections), as well as looking into outbound flights a day or two before you want to go and return flights a day or two after you really want to return. Sometimes it's worth spending a hotel night or two to get a better airfare. Also, consider alternate channels for your air tickets, such as ticket consolidators.

By the way, you didn't have to pick a destination at the same time as you deposited in II. You can deposit a week first (through Member Services). You then have two years from your deposited week to complete your travel. In other words, let's suppose that you arrange with Member Services to deposit a May 2002, OKW 2BR week into II. You would then start an ongoing search for you destination and dates of choice, or you could check back with Memebr Services peiodically to see what's available. Perhaps you travel in 2003 or 2004 -- as long as you completed the travel within two years of you deposited week (not within two years of when you deposited the week).

I assume you can, as PamOKW wrote, cancel your II reservation within the timeframes PamOKW lists, under the same rules that apply to II members who deal directly with II (such as Marriott owners). I assume you'd then pay another $75 fee. But I don't recall ever seeing this in the Member Guidebook.

 

[Dean]

That's the II policy ovesrall, not just for DVC. Ask them if they can swap it out for something domestic. If so, you'll be out another fee but that is it. Otherwise it's pay for air fare, cancel and see what comes up later or lose the points. This brings up one of the major advantages of the DVC exchange program, request first. Since they will gave you a couple of days to check on air fare and the like, one can potentially avoid this situation.

 

[Cinderella]

Thanks. Have just looked for flights and found it is £300 cheaper in total if I fly from Liverpool instead of Manchester and book a seperate flight from Madrid. This is a big saving as i would have had to change planes anyway. Will post a trip report when i come back. Was a bit disappointed about HH and Vero but, we all just wanted to go to a beach for a week so i guess anywhere nice is fine and it does look lovely. The beach even has white sand imported from the Bahamas!

 

[Cinderella]

I know Dean but I called three times trying for different dates and each time they kept me on hold forever and when i did get thru last time they kept putting me on hold. I ended up being on the phone for about an hour each time and i was calling from the uk so decided to bite the bullet. By the way, love the pics on your timeshare page. Wish I could afford the flight to Aruba from here - maybe one day!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Cinderella
Wish I could afford the flight to Aruba from here - maybe one day!

Heck, I can't afford the flight from FL to Aruba. Flights are usually around $550-600. I think the lowest I've seen from this area is around $500 per person though I've seen somewhat lower from other cities. That's why I use my Aruba units for exchanging. Just made my reservations today for Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta MX for a 3 BR Oceanfront unit for 8 nights with a jacuzzi on the patio for June of 2003. I'll combine that with two 2 BR units concurrently at Hilton Head's Marriott Grande Ocean and invite family. I guess one of these years I'll need to break down and go to Aruba. Maybe I'll use FF miles if I have any left after HI this summer (trading those Aruba units) and MX next summer. Since I have no DVC points left through the 2003 use year, I guess I'll just play around a little and do some other things.

There's just not enough time and money to do all I want to do. I'm in the timeshare poor house at present, but I think this stuff is addictive. Just today, I agreed to buy a BW contract at $54.50 per point, we'll see if it goes through the DVC resale committee. We don't have a signed contract yet so things could fall through but if we get far enough to see if DVC will allow the sale or not, I'll report back the results.