I want to go to Hawaii or Cabo, so........

[keggero]

I've been reading many a post saying that it's a bad idea to trade DVC points for other timeshares. The problem is that we really want to go to Hawaii or Cabo and there are a couple of places I've researched (Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas & Villa del Palmar) that are appealing to me. Why is it such a bad idea to trade? Is II a bad thing? Can I trade with another TS company? I know from reading that DVC points are very desirable, so I would think a lot of people would be willing to trade for them. Should I just try to rent them on the rent/trade section of this forum and use the money to buy a week from somebody? Or should I see what I can get from someone in a trade? What are some websites that I can check out and see if someone's willing to trade? Thanks!!

 

[bwvBound]

Personally, I like to get the "best bang for the buck." My plays include using DVC points to pay for DVC Resort stays ... and using the least expensive timeshare possible for "trading" options. Most of my trades are fairly easy ... and I can book them using timeshare having low buy-in and/or low dues. Some trades are more difficult -- requiring a higher end tool.

DVC is a high-end tool - both expensive to purchase and expensive to maintain (annual costs). Trading it for anything less then "the very best" would be a poor choice. The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort would be a good trade using DVC ... but I can pull the Villa del Palmar using less expensive tools.

The key is to know the difference (easy/difficult) and to choose the right tool for the job.

Edited to add: The Timeshare User's Group (TUG) would be a great place to research exchanging in general and to post/read ads for direct exchange with owners of other timeshares.

 

[keggero]

So would I do best by renting say 100 DVC points and then using the money I get for the sale and purchase a week on a website like Timeshare Users Group (TUG)?

 

[tomandrobin]

In general, using DVC for II trades is a bad value/use of your points. If you are only to trade once every 5 years or so, then it probably would not matter. A top notch/hard to get resort like Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Aruba Surf Club or Harborside Resort at Atlantis the trade would be worth making.

There are many timeshares on Redweek or Tug (as examples) that you could rent directly and cheaper then using your points.

There are lots of quality, in expensive timeshares you can buy, with less MFs, that would be better for making II trades.

 

[bwvBound]

What are some websites that I can check out and see if someone's willing to trade?

The link I posted above to TUG's Direct Exchange page provides a place to explore direct Owner to Owner exchanges. Search it first to see if someone is already offering the Westin or Villa del Palmar seeking DVC. If not, you might post your desire for those destinations against your DVC. Communication is usually made via email and the transaction conducted privately between the two owners.

So would I do best by renting say 100 DVC points and then using the money I get for the sale and purchase a week on a website like Timeshare Users Group (TUG)?

Different question altogether ... but certainly a reasonable avenue. You could rent out your DVC points and then rent a week from another timeshare owner.

Renting and direct exchanges both involve a certain amount risk and hassle. Exchanging through DVC's World Passport Collection (II) eases both -- but isn't guaranteed and may not be the most cost-effective option.

 

[Dean]

I've been reading many a post saying that it's a bad idea to trade DVC points for other timeshares. The problem is that we really want to go to Hawaii or Cabo and there are a couple of places I've researched (Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas & Villa del Palmar) that are appealing to me. Why is it such a bad idea to trade? Is II a bad thing? Can I trade with another TS company? I know from reading that DVC points are very desirable, so I would think a lot of people would be willing to trade for them. Should I just try to rent them on the rent/trade section of this forum and use the money to buy a week from somebody? Or should I see what I can get from someone in a trade? What are some websites that I can check out and see if someone's willing to trade? Thanks!!

There are many negatives to trading, esp when you're trading a high value option like DVC. But if you can get the right resort during the right time, it may be a good value for that specific situation. My issue comes in to those buying with the idea of trading, stupid ideal plain and simple. If you own, pick your spots and trade for the right options, it can work out well. The problem is those top resorts during peak times are rarely available.

As for DVC points being desirable, that's true, however one is not trading DVC points with II, but a DVC reservation. That reservation may not be at WDW but may be at HH or VB and it may be a studio or 1 BR and not a 2 BR that II gets. Orlando in general does not have high trading power and II doesn't know what they will get from DVC. In short, DVC has good but not great trading power with II, many other top resorts and many midlevel resorts will actually trade better than DVC. Still with the request first up to 2 years out, it never hurts to try.

HI is tough, esp for Xmas to Easter and mid summer. Only a handful of resorts are somewhat comparable. For Cabo it's ever worse in that there really aren't much for top resorts in II there (RCI is better represented) though they are relatively easy to trade for. VDC is not that highly rated even though it's rated as a "premier" resort in II, same for WorldMark and Club Cascasdas. The Dorado Spa and Golf is likely the best II resort. I think the Hacienda resort is newer but I don't have much info on it, I'm not even sure if it's truly open yet. One might consider trying to buy a sell off week from one of the exchange companies or do a preview tour which is listed on their website.

You can trade with II but not RCI. You can trade with any of the smaller independent exchange companies such as SFX (San Francisco exchange), TPI (Trading Places Intl), Dial n Exchange, PI (Platinum Interchange) or any of the others that will take DVC. For HI (HI Timeshare Exch and Trading Places Maui) are two additional choices to consider. Given that DVC will no longer confirm the exchange to a third party, I don't know how willing they'd be to proceed and I haven't talked to them about this since DVC stopped talking to third parties. Most will allow a one unit upgrade (often for a fee) and some will give a bonus week to use, esp to use for MX. You should talk to all of them for MX and HI. PI will allow request first without paying a fee up front or being a paying member, SFX will only allow request first if you are a Platinum Member.

 

[ZekeKelso]

So would I do best by renting say 100 DVC points and then using the money I get for the sale and purchase a week on a website like Timeshare Users Group (TUG)?

But you need to factor in the time, hassle and risk of those two transactions when figuring out what is "best".

If you are able to get a good trade, the value you get from II isn't great, but isn't horrible. It's the Disney and Concierge collections that really have some horrible values.

Using DVC as on occasional trade isn't necessarily a bad idea. Just that, if you are going to do it frequently, there are better ways and better timeshares to own.

 

[wendyinoc]

I would go Cabo over Hawaii. Since ATA and Aloha went out of business air is now high and hard to get.

 

[Dean]

I would go Cabo over Hawaii. Since ATA and Aloha went out of business air is now high and hard to get.

Since I've scheduled exchanges to Cabo through RCI for 2010, I've been looking at air for 2009 as a representation. It's not really much cheaper from the East than HI would be, Delta is over $700 for the direct flight out of Atlanta, $925 or so from the local airport. From CA getting specials to either are more likely. And it appears to be much hard to use FF miles.

 

[Chuck S]

I really don't see an occasional trade using II to a location you really want to visit as a waste of points...if your desired dates are available. The key word here is occasional.

II is a better value (IMO) than the Disney Collection, but like all timeshares, the best value is to use it at your home resort, or internal resort system.

 

[Dean]

but like all timeshares, the best value is to use it at your home resort, or internal resort system.

Chuck, that's one of the questions isn't it. I strive for every trade I make to be a fairly large uptrade, often in season, resort quality, $$$ value and unit size all. I think I can safely say that every trade I've made so far has met those criteria in at least 2 or 3 of the areas and many in all 4 areas. I've had one exception, a lateral trade at HH to get all our weeks at one resort for a group trip (Grande Ocean to Surfwatch, a lateral move).