Help - have you had any luck trading to Hawaii?

[JLS]

We are planning for a Thanksgiving 2005 trip to Hawaii. We will need a 2 bedroom and would ideally like one the Maui resorts available for DVC / II trade. I made the request through DVC MS for Thanksgiving week (nothing immediately available) and paid the $75 for an ongoing search. I am just curious what you think my chances are of getting this request matched. I don't mind waiting for awhile, but if this exchange is "low probability", I would like to get more proactive in the meantime by searching sites to rent someone's week or posting an ad on Tug or something.

Also, if you have exchanged to Hawaii, which resorts did you like?

Thanks for your input.

-Jenn

 

[Dean]

For the Marriott or Westin, close to zero and almost as bed for the Embassy. For some of the others, you have a minimal chance of success increased somewhat if you list ALL resorts AND can wait until 2-4 months before check in to finalize your plans. Don't forget about direct exchanges and independent exchange companies.

If you list Papakea, SOK, and the Schooner, expect to get one of them. It's unlikely you'd get anything before the first of the year even in the best case scenario. The best availability is within 2 weeks of travel but most people can't take advantage of that timing.

 

[JLS]

Thanks, Dean - I always enjoy your timeshare advice posts. You are full of great information.

Question: My understanding is that DVC is a good "trader" due to demand. Is there any time of year when you think there is a good chance of success of getting one of those "prime" Maui properties (like the Westin or Ocean Club)? Thanks.

-Jenn

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by JLS
Thanks, Dean - I always enjoy your timeshare advice posts. You are full of great information.

Question: My understanding is that DVC is a good "trader" due to demand. Is there any time of year when you think there is a good chance of success of getting one of those "prime" Maui properties (like the Westin or Ocean Club)? Thanks.

-Jenn

May, Sept and October. IMO, II has missed the boat so far on exchanges. They need to find a way to STRONGLY encourage deposits 18-24 months out. This way people can lock in their travel then get air lined up including using FF miles. They have made strides by giving higher trade power for units deposited earlier but haven't gone far enough. But I continue to feel that direct exchanges are the best option though to protect yourself, you need to make sure you are the first one to travel rather than the other party. IMO, one of the best options for many (DVC or otherwise) is to book the air and a cancelable hotel or condo reservation. That way you have up until your cancellation period to look for an exchange. You can always rent out the points to pay for the trip.

As for DVC being a good trader, it is. But don't be fooled into thinking it's the only one or even the strongest one. Too often I think DVC members have the idea that II is sitting there waiting on their exchange attempt and will find them whatever they want. The problem is that there are many non DVC II members who have the same expectation and something just as good as DVC to offer. The big advantage to the DVC exchange option is the request first feature. Something that no one else in the II system can do to the extent DVC members can. This makes DVC a great too to trade if you target the top resorts during peak times. Anything else is a waste of DVC, IMO

As a matter of fact, I own two properties that will far out trade DVC (as the system is currently set up). Now if DVC members were allowed to join II directly AND chose the resort and week to offer, things would be different. Remember that DVC isn't giving II a prime Easter or Xmas week, they're giving them secondary or even tertiary weeks mostly. And in the timeshare industry, the demand of the week in question is usually far more important than the resort itself.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Dean is the timeshare advice guru, and I would believe anything he says on this subject!

I would say flexibility it is the key to a Hawaii exchange. Requesting a specific resort AND a specific week gives you far less chances than being completely open. It's a bit like requesting a specific room at a DVC resort.

 

[JLS]

Thanks for the replies. I think it is too bad that the system is set up so that the trading power of DVC is somewhat diminished over what it should be (as Dean pointed out, you cannot choose the week that is deposited for your points exchange, therefore you will never get the opportunity/power to exchange a Thanksgiving week for a Thanksgiving week, for example). I will stay optimistic about the II exchange, but I am going to hunt down rental possibilities where we want to stay and if I find something within the $2500 to 3000 price range I will probably just rent the 270 points the exchange would have cost me in order to cover the cost. More complicated, but then I will have more control over th process.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by JLS
Thanks for the replies. I think it is too bad that the system is set up so that the trading power of DVC is somewhat diminished over what it should be (as Dean pointed out, you cannot choose the week that is deposited for your points exchange, therefore you will never get the opportunity/power to exchange a Thanksgiving week for a Thanksgiving week, for example). I will stay optimistic about the II exchange, but I am going to hunt down rental possibilities where we want to stay and if I find something within the $2500 to 3000 price range I will probably just rent the 270 points the exchange would have cost me in order to cover the cost. More complicated, but then I will have more control over th process.

You should be able to find something very nice for much less than the amounts you quote. $1000-1500 for a 2 BR is not out of the realm of possibility though it might be a little more at the top properties. What doing cash does for you is it allows you to include a number of good properties. Where trading 270 DVC points for SOK may not be reasonable, renting a 2 BR for $1000 for a week might be a very good deal. The same is true for direct and independent exchanges.

As for dianeschlicht, I am flattered. But I'd suggest anyone find out as much as possible from as many sources as possible about any exchange scenario they are considering. Don't simply take my word for it. I just want the members to have as much info as possible, what they do after that is up to them and their business. Personally, I'd like for DVC to expand the BVTC and allow members to become regular II members.