How do I use my points for other vacations

[Broker]

My family wants to go to New York this year instead of Disney. I'm not versed at exchanging our points to be able to find a hotel in NYC. It seems to be a confusing enterprise. Is there any link or info that will help me? Thanks in advance.

We are trying to figure out what's the best way to vacation in NYC. Do we try to find a hotel there or do we rent our points out and just use the money for a hotel in NYC.

 

[supersnoop]

Easiest, and most cost effective, would be to rent out your points and use the money. You could also try an RCI exchange booking.

 

[disneynutz]

Using points usually are never at a discount, in fact it costs more plus to add insult to injury Disney decided to add on a $95 fee.

I agree, rent out your points and use the money for your vacation.

Bill

 

[MAO]

You can also go through the dvc member website and, from there, see if there are any RCI properties you could rent with your points (and, yes, I believe you'll also owe the $95 fee.) I don't think there are any NYC hotels you can stay in via the Concierge Collection. It's probably not the "best" use of your points, but if you're looking for a quick and easy way to use your points to stay in NYC, it is probably easier than figuring out how and to whom you should rent your points out to - assuming there actually *are* any RCI properties available to use your points on. It really depends on what the most important factor is - what's easiest and fastest, or what's more economical in the long run. It's up to you.

 

[CarolMN]

My family wants to go to New York this year instead of Disney. I'm not versed at exchanging our points to be able to find a hotel in NYC. It seems to be a confusing enterprise. Is there any link or info that will help me? Thanks in advance.
.....(snip)........

Go to the Members' Website and log in. Near the top of the page is a link called Destinations. Roll your mouse over that and click on Member Getaways Overview - you'll find several options to consider there. MS can help you with booking if you need it. Have fun!

 

[bwvBound]

We stayed in a 1BR unit at The Manhattan Club in 2013 booked through DVC's Concierge Collection. I thought making the reservation was easy (compared to trying to book the same through RCI) and the $95 fee 'reasonable.'

 

[MAO]

We stayed in a 1BR unit at The Manhattan Club in 2013 booked through DVC's Concierge Collection. I thought making the reservation was easy (compared to trying to book the same through RCI) and the $95 fee 'reasonable.'

I thought there was a NY hotel via the Concierge Collection! Wonder how long it lasted? It's definitely not available for 2015, though.

 

[bwvBound]

I thought there was a NY hotel via the Concierge Collection! Wonder how long it lasted? It's definitely not available for 2015, though.

OH, BUMMER. I was thrilled when TMC was added to CC and hoped to use it periodically. I'm extremely glad we made this trip when we did!

 

[MAO]

You know, if I'm reading this correctly, it looks like The Manhattan Club is available via the RCI/DVC trade program. I expect it would cost the $95 fee, plus the RCI website says it's a $30 fee per night, but it looks like you can stay a week at a time or night by night. There doesn't seem to be much availability, though.

OP - you might want to check out the DVC/RCI opportunities. Even if there's nothing in the city itself, you might find something close by that will work for you. You could also try calling Member Services to see if they have any ideas. But, honestly, I'd probably seriously consider renting out my points (probably via a broker) so that I could stay where I wanted. Good luck!

 

[florep1]

We also stayed at TMC last summer through the Concierge Collection and the $95 fee was worth it to me. I found it hard to book cause TMC didn't release room availability till 90 days prior, but MS warned me about that at 90 days, it was no problem booking, and we enjoyed our stay. I'd book it again in a NY minute.

 

[Broker]

Thanks all. I've done my homework and I think the easiest course is to just sell points and stay wherever as others have indicated. There just isn't much available in NYC.

 

[elgerber]

Thanks all. I've done my homework and I think the easiest course is to just sell points and stay wherever as others have indicated. There just isn't much available in NYC.

This is what we did. I rented them out through Davids, then booked a hotel on my own in NYC.

 

[Dean]

Thanks all. I've done my homework and I think the easiest course is to just sell points and stay wherever as others have indicated. There just isn't much available in NYC.

This is the second best option overall for most and the best for those who already own the points. The best is to buy only around what one needs for DVC only and pay cash or look at other option for non DVC trips. I'd suggest those that do own to actually look at the specifics of a possible "exchange" such as DCL, CC, ABD, etc and see what that exact trip situation looks like but as a rule, about the best one can do is between $6 & $7.50 per point. In some cases when the price of a cruise goes up DCL looks like a better deal but it's often because one has missed the cheaper options. I do recall that the first years for DCL to AK I checked a few options and it was $10 per point. Not a bad return but the other limitations are not very favorable either such as cancelation rules and cash portion when doing some cash and some points. RCI isn't a bad option but one needs to plan ahead (like 10-12 months min) and be able/willing to wait until a couple of months out.