how would they pay us?

[Liljam]

If I understand correctly - your guests invited YOU on a vacation and then you suggested using DVC points because you have them.

1. Where were the "guests" planning on staying when they invited you on their vacation?

2. Did they ask about paying you after you suggested using your points?

I would charge them slightly less than what the cost of their room would have been had they booked where they "planned" to stay.
If you didn't talk about compensation for your generous offer, then I would think it'd be hard to go back and ask for it now.

I banked and borrowed to get a GV this year for my family and I expect nothing from them because I want them all to be with us. I do know my family will offer to pay for something along the way but we don't expect it. Now if we decide to take another couple or friends a year from now, we may ask for 500 or so to offset costs for us a little bit. Most people would pay 500 for a week in WDW without a problem!

Good luck with your situation.

 

[Princess-in-Training]

Wow, thanks, everyone, for all these replies!

Yes, our friends invited us. We're not actually all that close to this family yet -- well, DH is great friends with the other dad -- and our boys are great buddies - but I don't even know the other mom all that well yet (I suppose I'm about to!) We really like them, so we're looking forward to hanging out and getting to know each other.

Honestly, I'm not sure exactly what DH said to his friend. I'm the vacation planner, so I'm gathering data more than anything, to provide options. Knowing my DH, I'm assuming it was a "let's do this, and work out the details later" type of thing. Besides that, I do know that they would feel weird not compensating us in some way. What we're looking for, I think, is something that will give them a great deal (ie, better than staying at a value) and for us (we used our banked points and much of this years as well)

Thank you, everyone for all these options! DH is pretty technical, so he's looking for some kind of "formula" (lol). I've presented him with all these options. I think he wants to present these options to his friend, so they can decide together what is fair to all of us. They are both open to talking about money, so it won't be an uncomfortable conversation for them (I know some people don't like talking about money). They'll probably both plug everything in Excel and finalize with PowerPoint.

 

[JimMIA]

DH is pretty technical, so he's looking for some kind of "formula" (lol).

(248/2) X $6 = $744.

They'll probably both plug everything in Excel and finalize with PowerPoint.

Well, of course they will! Is there any other way?

 

[MarieA]

We invited friends to join us at the BCV last year and because they were our guests we were not going to charge them. Our friends decided they wanted to compensate us for using our DVC points. They told us they would pay for our airfare. I told them it wasn't necessary, that they were our guests but they insisted.

 

[global_mom]

Thanks everyone, for your replies! we just want to make it so they get a good deal in terms of hotel, and that this surprise trip for us becomes more affordable.

Dont feel bad at all about "charging" your friend. We have a similar trip coming up. We were planning to go to DL in March but one of my closest friends was hoping that we were going to WDW as she desperately wanted to take her DS12 but her husband could not join them. She asked if we would consider going to WDW instead of DL and we were perfectly OK with that b/c we have DVC and annual passes. We moved our DL trip to summertime as we had not booked anything yet.

Anyway, we needed to get a 2 bedroom to accomodate all of us whereas our family would normally only need a 1 bedroom. I booked a lock-off at OKW so that she could have the studio portion and we could have the one bedroom portion.

She insisted on paying us something, and since this was not a trip that we had origianlly planned, we agreed that she would pay us $500. DH and I felt akward at first in excepting the money but she insisted since the trip had not been part of our original plans. $500 is still less than she could have booked for 6 nights at Pop during spring break season. She is happy b/c she gets to see WDW for the first time with her son, and we are happy b/c we will have a little extra cash to offset the associated costs.

Anyway, we did not do a price per point cost analysis, we just wanted her to spend less than she would have spent elsewhere. Do it anyway that works for you guys!

Have a great trip!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

(248/2) X $6 = $744. Well, of course they will! Is there any other way?

You have a error in that, Jim, if you are doing it in Excel.
(248/2)*$6=$744

 

[FARBRI]

I Would Just Ask Them To Pay For The Park Passes, Besides The Room That Is The Next Biggest Expense

 

[keys2kingdom]

I would charge them my per point cost for the current year. In my case that would be $7.35. I'd base it on the points difference between a 1 bdrm and a 2 bdrm. I think that would still give them a very good deal and cover my costs at the same time. JMHO

 

[Dean]

Wow, thanks, everyone, for all these replies!

Yes, our friends invited us. We're not actually all that close to this family yet -- well, DH is great friends with the other dad -- and our boys are great buddies - but I don't even know the other mom all that well yet (I suppose I'm about to!) We really like them, so we're looking forward to hanging out and getting to know each other.

Honestly, I'm not sure exactly what DH said to his friend. I'm the vacation planner, so I'm gathering data more than anything, to provide options. Knowing my DH, I'm assuming it was a "let's do this, and work out the details later" type of thing. Besides that, I do know that they would feel weird not compensating us in some way. What we're looking for, I think, is something that will give them a great deal (ie, better than staying at a value) and for us (we used our banked points and much of this years as well)

Thank you, everyone for all these options! DH is pretty technical, so he's looking for some kind of "formula" (lol). I've presented him with all these options. I think he wants to present these options to his friend, so they can decide together what is fair to all of us. They are both open to talking about money, so it won't be an uncomfortable conversation for them (I know some people don't like talking about money). They'll probably both plug everything in Excel and finalize with PowerPoint.

Just be careful is the main advice I can give. Many people view a timeshare as free once you own it and therefor they feel if you charge them at all you are trying to take advantage of them. We all know differently but this is a common concept in the uninformed. Also their means and usual approach to vacations will come into play. If they're the type that rent a cheap room or suite off site for a week and eat most meals in, they will react differently than one who usually stays at the GF and eats sit down 3 meals a day. Regardless, I think it's important to MAKE SURE you are on the same page and not make any assumptions in this area. Many have been blind sided by similar situations as yours.

 

[Jaaron2]

We actually bought in to DVC with the idea we could get larger accomodations and take people with us who might not normally be able to afford to go. That being said I dont think there is anything wrong with what you ask either. I would say use the going rate that is on the rent / trade board at the time of your trip.

 

[kathyseb]

This April will be the third time we have taken friedns/family down with us. We have never charged anyone a dime. Not even for gas.

But that is us.

 

[extremesoccermom]

My sister invited us to go with her in a couple of years. At that time there will be 5 of them so they will either need 2 rooms or POR. So I suggested that we find the cost of the 1 room at POR and she give me that instead of to disney and I would in turn get us a 2 bedroom for the 7 of us. She felt that was fair so now we are just waiting until we can get reservations and cost.

 

[keys2kingdom]

This April will be the third time we have taken friedns/family down with us. We have never charged anyone a dime. Not even for gas.

But that is us.

That's admirable but not everyone can afford to do that especially for this situation where the moms aren't even well aquainted. Family and close friends are one thing but this is someone the OP barely knows. She asked what not if they should charge them and she was looking for a fair estimate.

 

[bluenosemickey]

I have a similar situation. I would like to invite my brother and his family to join us in a 2br sometime. But with my family of 5 and only 225 annually, I hate to borrow or use up any of these valuable points. I don't think they would expect us to just give them a free room.
I thought that I would arrange for a transfer of the 60 or so points required for the the upsize to the 2bdr. I would imagine that it could be done for the $10-12 per point ($600-720) for my brother to pay. I don't think I could ask him to split the points for the total stay. I would be spending the points on the 1bdr anyway.
This way, they get a really great stay with us in a premier resort (that he could not get for the $). We all have access to the full kitchen, laundry and all the resorts have to offer. This saves $ on food etc.

Does this sound reasonable? I'm also thinking this is a better arrangement than if they tried to rent points on their own aswell.