Have NO clue about exchanges...help please!

[rbuzzotta]

DH has asked if I wanted to go to Hawaii for my 40th birthday.....of course the answer was YES...

I am doing research and it is very Expensive!! Dianeschlitch suggested I do an exchange.........only problem, I haven't got a clue.....

We would like to to this summer........my use year is June and I have used my points for our July ressies. I also have 38 banked points and 70 points that are being used for our ressie are those that have been banked!!

Will I lose my banked points........?? Should we wait and go in 2004 (at that point a long awaited 40th b-day present but o.k with me!!)

How does this all work??

Thanks......

 

[workingmom]

Thanks for the heads up about the information on the community board! I would love to exchange for Hawaii for next Christmas! I went to a DVC town hall meeting at OKW last week and found out that you can exchange through DVC member services and interval internation for a 1 bedroom for only 160 points! So I am trying to determine where to go! You may want to look into that too! Good luck!

 

[Dean]

I'm not sure HI is any more expensive than other vacations in resort areas where you have to fly to. We lived there for 3 years and have been back 3 times since and the cost wasn't that bad to us. I know we looked at a Alaska cruise and 3-4 day land package a couple of years ago and the total was coming upwards of $15-17000, OUCH. Air fare from the East coast around $1000 or less per person, less from the West. Rental cars are pretty cheap there, less than $200 a week for a mid or standard size. Hotels can be had for less than $200 per night and condo rentals much less, maybe $700-1200 for a week in a 2 BR depending on time of year, quality and location. Food isn't any more than other similar places either as long as you stay somewhat away from the tourist places. If you get a Condo or timeshare you can eat in many meals, even if you have a regular hotel room, get a cheap cooler and plan sandwiches and danish and the like and eat out about 1 meal per day.

We were there 2 weeks this summer and here is a basic breakdown of what we spent. Air Fare about $100 for four people with FF miles and had to buy a few miles for each child, flew directly in to Maui. Two concurrent 1 BR units at the Embassy on Maui at $385 plus $99 exchange fee each through SFX using our Aruba 1 BR weeks. A direct exchange for the Embassy on Kauai (2 BR) using 168 DVC points but when other party offered to do it as a rental for $900 I jumped at the chance. Interisland for 8 total segments about $500. Rental car for 2 weeks $400. Food maybe $500 including eating out and groceries with steaks, bratwurst for the grill and 2 Luau, one for 4 and the other for 2.

Timeshare exchanges using DVC will not be your cheapest option in the long run unless you are looking at staying at the Marriott's or similar, especially if you value your points at $8-10 pp.