Help! what is best way to pay for DVC membership as a Canadian?

[Beachgirl0623]

Hello,
Was hoping to get thoughts from fellow Canadians on cheapest way to pay off DVC membership...I assume paying with your credit card is worse way given foreign transaction fees? are you better off writing a check from a US bank? (that is if they will take a personal check) or doing a money order?
Thanks very much for your help!

 

[von Monster]

Are you buying resale or direct? Do you have USD already or need to convert?

 

[Beachgirl0623]

Hey there!
thanks for writing me back. I don't have USD yet. I still need to convert.

 

[Beachgirl0623]

Hey there!
thanks for writing me back. I don't have USD yet. I still need to convert.

Are you buying resale or direct? Do you have USD already or need to convert?

Oops sorry- forgot to answer your other question-I'm buying direct though Disney. But would be interested in your answer for both buying direct and resale. Thanks!

 

[Madame]

Oops sorry- forgot to answer your other question-I'm buying direct though Disney. But would be interested in your answer for both buying direct and resale. Thanks!

We bought resale in Jan. Converted the money to USD & wired it from our USD acct to the title company. No idea how to go about it for a direct purchase.

 

[von Monster]

If you're buying direct using a no Forex credit card is your best option. I believe the Amazon.ca (1% cash back) and Marriott rewards visas are the only ones left

Resales won't accept a CC so in that case your best option would be to convert CAD to USD via VBCE or EverForex (or your local broker after you let them know you're willing to shop elsewhere) and then either send a draught or wire the funds.

 

[SaraMc]

Check with TD, they are in the US as a bank now too.

 

[mort1331]

We have purchased all of ours resale. We have a RBC account and I wired the funds down there. There is no forex fees, just the exchange rate. This could be done the same as direct. Just ask Disney to what account number the wire goes to, your bank should be able to help.
Next would be how you set up your maintenance fees. We prefer the monthly withdrawls, but you need a US bank account in the states for this, not just a US$ account.
Again we set this all up with RBC as they have a bank in Georgia. I believe TD also can do this. We just make sure we transfer down enough funds to cover for the month. I actually send down about 6 months at a time. This way I can keep an eye on the rates and convert when I think is best. Or when I have rented out points use Paypal and keep the funds in US$ and leave in that account.

 

[bankr63]

We use our Amazon Visa for our timeshare maintenance fees (Sheraton). No forex fees (you pay less than for US cash at the bank), plus 1% cash back. Really a good deal.

 

[Nahanni]

I'm now using Rogers MasterCard. Although it will be charging the 2.5% foreign transaction fee soon, it pays 4% "cash back" on foreign transactions (1.75% on domestic) so the net is 1.5%.

The "cash back" is for Rogers services and the $29 annual fee is waived if you setup auto payment of a Rogers bill.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

As part of my banking package with the RBC, I have both a USD account and a USD Visa. Back when I purchased DVC direct, I was able to charge the whole thing on my Visa card.

I transfer money every paycheque from my Cdn account into my USD account in order to ride out the bumps in the dollar, and to have money set aside for annual dues/vacations down south (everything gets charged to my USD Visa and then paid off with the cash sitting in that account).