II Short Stays online booking

[Dean]

Right, I understand. But most DVC members don't own another timeshare and a lot of people who own timeshares don't even know what a bonus week is. My family used to get them through II and they would let them expire because they didn't know what they were (laughter). I'm just saying that if a DVC member who doesn't own another timeshare has some leftover points, that it's nice to have another option to use those points if they are past their banking windows and don't want to go to the trouble to rent out their extra points - probably most DVC members wouldn't even know you could rent your points on these boards or other places.

That's part of my point, that they need to know about it and that for many, buying another timeshare IS the best approach or partnering with someone who does. There are also places where one can rent excess inventory without belonging to II or RCI and likely still have more choices and far better "prices" than using points. Certainly if you've got points that will expire or in holding account, it's good to have options..

 

[Dean]

where is the $200?

Pat the $199, 249 & 299 prices are for using a bonus week, easy to get with planning. But at $399 plus tax, the same principles apply. For RCI for these type locations and 30 days out, it's actually quite easy to get a 1 or 2 BR for $199 directly for cash. And if you position yourself right with some of the cheaper points systems, one can get these type of rooms/locations as regular exchanges for the exchange fee plus an exchange often with a cost of $50-150. My 2 BR at the Hilton on I drive this fall cost me 3000 BG points wiht a value of $150 (could likely have used a 2000 pt deposit as well) plus the $154 exchange fee.

One of the problems I have with the DVC II exchange system is that they're charging DVC members full price for things they routinely discount heavily for almost all other members in one way or another (bonus weeks, lower points, reduced trade power/resort quality limitations).

 

[Dean]

I had another thought. Is it possible that the points exchanged for this are not going into II inventory? I can imagine that DVC is paying II for the weeks at (or possibly below) the getaway rates, and funding those payments with cash rentals via CRO out of exchanged inventory. That leaves a substantial skim for the Mouse.

I would imagine it is possible to determine whether II is getting cash or points from the various filings required of DVC. Anyone know for sure?

While I haven't seen the II contract, extrapolating from the current system that's been in place a while would suggest they separate these events and use a pool of points to reserve rooms over time to give to II. Since no other II member can do short notice exchanges, I doubt they get partial weeks. Legally I don't think they could do it as you suggest as an option (cash to pay for the exchanges) plus with CRO taking 50%, I doubt it'd be workable anyway. My bet is II is more than happy to take one 1 BR at a DVC resort effectively in exchange for two units that likely would have gone unused anyway.

 

[Dean]

I think the points required needs to be lower. Too bad they didn't make it like 8 to 10 points for an efficiency (more in line with a DVC studio at OKW). I'm just saying that it is nice to have other choices. I know people who actually let their DVC points expire because they can't make it back to Orlando. I have a sister-in-law who is a beautician and she has an older customer who lets her DVC points expire every year. I'm not kidding.

II already has a system in place whereby certain points systems that work with II AS a points system, have reduced points costs within the 60 day window. Some OTHER point systems actually interact with the II much like a fixed week resort would do. Given one can get a week exchange and only use part of it, this would have been a much better deal for DVC members and really is the same from II's standpoint. You'd have a new points chart for inside the 2 month window of say 50/75/120 instead of 134/160/270 or to be more consistent with some of the other systems within II, a single points list of about 75-100 points for any unit inside the 60 day window. Other enhancements that DVC & II could add include the option of bonus weeks for deposit first, the possibility of trading up in unit size (esp for deposit first exchanges) and direct access to II allowing more member oriented searches and access to getaways.

It would have been interesting to hear the discussions between II and DVC. My bet is DVC had to convince II to do it this way and that II actually offered something more along the lines of my suggestion above (reduced points exchanges for a full week inside 60 days).

 

[Brian Noble]

Here's another question I'm left with. These look to be full-week getaways/distressed inventory out of II, which is just fundamentally a weeks system. Many will be at resorts with fixed check-in days, and no infrastructure to be able to change the occupants mid-week. Would it be possible for a DVC member to do a "partial week exchange" but end up obtaining the entire week de facto?

 

[Dean]

Here's another question I'm left with. These look to be full-week getaways/distressed inventory out of II, which is just fundamentally a weeks system. Many will be at resorts with fixed check-in days, and no infrastructure to be able to change the occupants mid-week. Would it be possible for a DVC member to do a "partial week exchange" but end up obtaining the entire week de facto?

I thought about that, my guess is yes but it may vary resort to resort. I still think DVC's best approach is to bypass II and partner with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood and the like directly. They already have the infrastructure in place to a degree to do so. Maybe someone who utilizes this can give us the wording on the confirmation.