Hawaii Exhange??

[MikeChan408]

Can someone explain how to book a world passport or member getaways trip with points? The dreambook makes it seem like you just call MS, and book with points like a DVC resort. But I have been reading threads with something about timeshare exchanges? Which way does it work?

 

[OnMedic]

Yes, it will for the most part be an exchange into another timeshare. I have heard some nasty stories about lack of choice and flxibility with trading DVC points through II for a week elsewhere. My strong suggestion is to know exactly what you want and make a direct exchange with another owner (ie. Hilton, Marriott, Westin, etc)

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

When does MS charge the exchange fee and convert your points from Vacation Points to Reservation Points? Is it when you request an exchange with II, or when you find and agree to the actual exchange you want?

I guess I can live with there being some degree of limited availabilities when asking for II locations, but I don't want to be committed to using my points or paying an exchange fee until I know I'm going to get what I want.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I will try to explain this as best I can. Hopefully Dean will chime in to correct me or add to my explanation. Ok, first you must decide if you want to book at 3 choices of resorts and say which months you want to book for. There is another option for just choosing one resort, but I can't remember the terms. I chose the first option. The resorts are on the dvc website under interval international. One bedroom is 160 in high season, and 270 I think for 2 bedroom. You can start your search 2 yrs. out if you don't get an instant match. I didn't get an instant match, so then I have to call either week by week or month by month to add time to my search. Kinda like the day by day ressie's. So I have my search for a one bedroom condo in Maui at Westin and Marriots Beach Club. To get the exact 2 yr. time frame, I called the beginning of June for May, beginning of July for June, etc. thru the middle of August. So now I wait. This is all done through MS. Once a match occurs, you can't say yes or no to it. You have to accept it, or cancel, then your pts. are put in holding category. So really be sure about your resorts you pick.Oh, and you will be charged $75 for the search ($95 at 1/1/08). You don't lose your pts. till a match is made. Best of luck!

 

[WolfpackFan]

Once a match occurs, you can't say yes or no to it. You have to accept it, or cancel, then your pts. are put in holding category.

Whoa, am I reading you right here. That when they call with a match, if I decide not to accept the exchange they put the points in holding? I don't think that is correct, if I am reading you right.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Ok, maybe not holding ( I think that is when you cancel in less than 60 days) but you don't get your points back. I think it is the reservation status.They have to be used within that UY and you can't use them at any WDW resorts, only the same category you were booking in ( I think the II is Passport Collection). So once they find a match, it is considered a reservation, no saying yes or no. You can cancel your search and there is no penalty, you even get your $75 back. But once a match is found, it is a done deal.This was part of the changes made recently.

 

[Anita13]

There are several options for the points if you don't want the trade. You can keep the week and do a re-trade for another resort at another time. It is almost as if you own it for the week. If you cancel before 60 days out they keep the points in II and you can make another reservation with them. It's within the 60 days that thing get hairy. You will then only have a limited amount of time to make the plans.

 

[Dean]

Whoa, am I reading you right here. That when they call with a match, if I decide not to accept the exchange they put the points in holding? I don't think that is correct, if I am reading you right.

Actually with the current set up they will not call and will simply match you automatically if it's an exact match.

Related to the above, II requires 3 choices (3 resorts or 3 weeks) usually.

 

[sue]

We tried last week to make a reservation for Hawaii next year. We told them we would like either Maui or the big island. We gave them basically the entire summer as a time we could go. We also had the possibility of going a week in Oct, Nov and 2 weeks in Dec. They found NOTHING!!! They said we could be on a wait list. BUT.... the thing that bothered me about that whole thing, was they said if they made a match, it would be automatically BOOKED! Which could be terrible from the stand point that, if they book it, you may have to say, leave on your vacation in 2 weeks and now, you would have to make airline reservations, car rental ressies etc.... Things could be VERY expensive doing it that way. You typically have to pay top dollar for airline tickets, if bought a few weeks in advance, not to mention the fact that they may be totally booked up.

We chose to book Hawaii through the conceirge collection. We made a reservation for 7 nights at the big island in August at the Mauna Lani Resort. By doing things this way, we know that we have a reservation and can book everything else when we want.

We got a great deal too. They have the O'hana deal at the hotel, which gives you 2 connecting rooms per night for around 94 points per night( for both rooms) I thought getting 2 rooms for a total of 94 points per night was a very good deal. The first room has a king bed and the second room has 2 queen beds. Along with that we have 2 lanai's 2 bathrooms to use etc.
We are very happy with our choice!

 

[Dean]

We tried last week to make a reservation for Hawaii next year. We told them we would like either Maui or the big island. We gave them basically the entire summer as a time we could go. We also had the possibility of going a week in Oct, Nov and 2 weeks in Dec. They found NOTHING!!! They said we could be on a wait list. BUT.... the thing that bothered me about that whole thing, was they said if they made a match, it would be automatically BOOKED! Which could be terrible from the stand point that, if they book it, you may have to say, leave on your vacation in 2 weeks and now, you would have to make airline reservations, car rental ressies etc.... Things could be VERY expensive doing it that way. You typically have to pay top dollar for airline tickets, if bought a few weeks in advance, not to mention the fact that they may be totally booked up.

We chose to book Hawaii through the conceirge collection. We made a reservation for 7 nights at the big island in August at the Mauna Lani Resort. By doing things this way, we know that we have a reservation and can book everything else when we want.

We got a great deal too. They have the O'hana deal at the hotel, which gives you 2 connecting rooms per night for around 94 points per night( for both rooms) I thought getting 2 rooms for a total of 94 points per night was a very good deal. The first room has a king bed and the second room has 2 queen beds. Along with that we have 2 lanai's 2 bathrooms to use etc.
We are very happy with our choice!

This is the way the system works. Rarely are the good options available when you call. Realize you could put in a search at say 2 years out and change or cancel at any point. You are not commited for the duration. The times you were looking at would have likely been workable for 2008 if you didn't need a 2 BR.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Whoa, am I reading you right here. That when they call with a match, if I decide not to accept the exchange they put the points in holding? I don't think that is correct, if I am reading you right.

NO, not correct. You do not have points taken out until you agree to a match. When we did a Hawaii exchange through II, we gave a 6 month window and ANY island and ANY resort available. They called us with one match, and we could accept or regect it. We did accept it, and they then told us when and how many points would be taken from our account. The fee was paid when we started the search.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

NO, not correct. You do not have points taken out until you agree to a match. When we did a Hawaii exchange through II, we gave a 6 month window and ANY island and ANY resort available. They called us with one match, and we could accept or regect it. We did accept it, and they then told us when and how many points would be taken from our account. The fee was paid when we started the search.

But its different now, just as Dean said. The rules changed so that what you request for, if a match is found it is instant, meaning not saying yes or no. You have to take it. If you put a search on, and they find a match, no contacting you if you want it or not. They go ahead and book it. So then if you don't want the instant match, you must cancel the ressie, and have 1 year to make new ressie in the Passport collection....not WDW resorts.

 

[WolfpackFan]

But its different now, just as Dean said. The rules changed so that what you request for, if a match is found it is instant, meaning not saying yes or no. You have to take it. If you put a search on, and they find a match, no contacting you if you want it or not. They go ahead and book it. So then if you don't want the instant match, you must cancel the ressie, and have 1 year to make new ressie in the Passport collection....not WDW resorts.

Whoa, I had no idea this was the way it works. So basically, if I get a match and it isn't a good date for us - then we can't just say no. It's done automatically. I really had no idea it worked like that.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Whoa, I had no idea this was the way it works. So basically, if I get a match and it isn't a good date for us - then we can't just say no. It's done automatically. I really had no idea it worked like that.

Yes these rules changed in July. So thats why you need to be very sure about your dates and resorts. I only have two resorts in, though they say you must choose three. Initally I did that, then removed a resort and MS didn't say anything. I know you have better chances with the more time you put our there for your search, but mine is very limited to just end of May through first 2 wks of August. So with all of that, I guess my chances might be slim. But at least I will get what I want IF an instant match occurs. If I don't here something within 9 mos. of my lastest date, then I am going to cancel. Otherwise, it does put pressure on one to make airline ressies, etc.

 

[Dean]

Whoa, I had no idea this was the way it works. So basically, if I get a match and it isn't a good date for us - then we can't just say no. It's done automatically. I really had no idea it worked like that.

Just make sure you only ask for what will work and if your situation changes, change the request accordingly. It's interesting this used to be an area where DVC was more flexible, now it's the reverse. IF you are a regular II member, you can cancel within 24 hours and not have any risk.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Wow, I don't think I like the new rule changes!

 

[Dean]

Wow, I don't think I like the new rule changes!

It's the way things have worked with II forever. The minimal flexibility with II that I mentioned above is actually only 2-3 years old. DVC had a lot of people changing their mind after the fact.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, I can understand that then! I just would think you would have a better chance of getting something if you could have a very open search. It looks less and less like exchanging DVC is worth the hassle.

 

[Dean]

Well, I can understand that then! I just would think you would have a better chance of getting something if you could have a very open search. It looks less and less like exchanging DVC is worth the hassle.

For all but the pie in the sky options, which are extremely hard to get, DVC has never been a good choice to exchange. Those that are a good choice are hard to plan for. The only way to exchange DVC with any reasonableness is to keep on ongoing search for the very top options during peak times. The other option that can be reasonable for some is as a deposit first to extend points that would expire otherwise. Your best chances of getting a match are to start early (AT LEAST 12-13 months out), be as flexible as possible and be prepared to let the search run for as long as possible, hopefully until about 30-45 days prior to your travel. Most of us can't do all of those consistently. So if you have to make some compromises, you have to be at the top of your game in the other areas. Things like FF miles for air, vacation scheduled and the like affect what a given member can and can't reasonably do. Just recall that any limitations are your own and not the system's responability, just like making day by day 11 mo reservations. Given the type of places DVC members tend to migrate to on other vacations, making cancelable hotel or condo reservations as a back up is a great option for many. Each person needs to decide for themselves what they want to do, I'd just like to make sure they have enough info to make an truly informed decision.