In need of an intro to Interval

[LoveBugs]

This is my first time looking at using our points through Interval and I'm a bit lost. I think I understand the basics of it (choose my dates and resorts, pay the fee, they let me know if they have something that works?) but what are the things I might be missing? For reference, we're hoping for a Cancun all-inclusive at Christmas.

Are there penalties or drawbacks to booking Interval? Anything I should know about as far as losing points or cancelling if something comes up?
How likely is it that I'll be able to book what we're looking for?
What additional costs (like all-inclusive fees) might I not be expecting?
It all seems complicated. Would I be better off renting out my 340 DVC points and just paying cash for the resort on my own?

Thank you!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was so hoping that someone would respond to you. That's because I have no idea how it works either. I THINK I figured that you have to "deposit" some points into Interval before you can even get very far into the process. We were going to look into using points to stay on Cape Cod next June, but can't figure much out. I'd love to hear from anyone who's used Interval.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You will be shocked at what the all inclusive fee is to stay in Cancun. For one week this is the fee for Christmas

 

[dwg]

I tried researching using points at hotels though Interval and just gave up. Couldn't figure it out as it looked like you still needed to put up cash in addition to the points and that didn't make any sense to me.

 

[dioxide45]

All inclusive exchanges through Interval International are a rip-off. I don't own DVC but own other Interval International affiliated timeshares. The amount you pay for your points and the cost of the all inclusive fee, you would be better to probably rent out your points for cash then take the cash and make a reservation at an all inclusive. Of course, you are trying to go during the most expensive time of the year. That will be when the cash costs are highest as well as when the mandatory AI fee for the resort you exchange into is at its highest.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I tried researching using points at hotels though Interval and just gave up. Couldn't figure it out as it looked like you still needed to put up cash in addition to the points and that didn't make any sense to me.

Yes for all inclusive its points plus the $8k in fee's. All II rentals have fee's you have to pay. Fee's for checking you in, cleaning fee;s, resort fee's and parking fees. All inclusive means all meals have to be paid as well. Make sure you are clicking Exchange not Getaways

 

[Monykalyn]

There’s a very helpful group on the book of faces. One of the members does free “seminars” as well. Also join TUG (time share users group) as the members there are also very well versed in exchanging.

But yeah- most all inclusive on Interval are more than booking direct. There’s occasional gems to be found but they are rare and not at peak holiday time.

 

[AnnaS]

I have only traded once (23 years as a DVC member) many, many years ago. We got into The Royal Sands in Cancun (month/July). We loved it and was well worth it. Very easy to do. Put in a search with MS. I did not deposit my points until the search was found. (Loved it/their sales pitch was very aggressive/long story/I went because of DH).

DVC then switched to RCI and now back to Interval.

I would love to read if anyone has traded recently. I have done quick searches for places in Florida during the month of February or March and nothing is ever available. It was more out of curiosity. Summer/low season for places one searches is probably easier to find something.

Going back to AI - (Royals Sands went to AI not long after our stay) - they are never worth the $$$.

Come back and let us know if you exchange to any place and tell us your experience.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I have only traded once (23 years as a DVC member) many, many years ago. We got into The Royal Sands in Cancun (month/July). We loved it and was well worth it. Very easy to do. Put in a search with MS. I did not deposit my points until the search was found. (Loved it/their sales pitch was very aggressive/long story/I went because of DH).

DVC then switched to RCI and now back to Interval.

I would love to read if anyone has traded recently. I have done quick searches for places in Florida during the month of February or March and nothing is ever available. It was more out of curiosity. Summer/low season for places one searches is probably easier to find something.

Going back to AI - (Royals Sands went to AI not long after our stay) - they are never worth the $$$.

Come back and let us know if you exchange to any place and tell us your experience.

But this was with the old system, right? Honestly the new system is crap to me. Their offerings are crap. It’s a real downgrade.

 

[CarolynFH]

@LoveBugs , other posters above are correct. Using a timeshare exchange to book an AI resort is almost never cost effective. You’ll do much better renting your DVC points and paying cash.

 

[dioxide45]

There’s a very helpful group on the book of faces. One of the members does free “seminars” as well.

No more seminars, it is now a monthly subscription club/course.

 

[LoveBugs]

Thank you so much for the replies!!

 

[lilsonicfan]

There's a helpful video that @cbyrne1174 (I think) put on youtube about how to use the DVC Interval International membership to buy Getaways... it sounds like using DVC to exchange into II is not a terribly good deal. There are various youtube videos out there about an exchange in the other direction, which was interesting.

From the poking around I've done, it does seem like one possible advantage is that you can potentially not lose points because II allows 2 years of usage. But not entirely sure that actually is of real benefit.

 

[Brian Noble]

Couldn't figure it out as it looked like you still needed to put up cash in addition to the points and that didn't make any sense to me.

If you were booking a DVC stay with your points, it would not include food, drinks, or entertainment. Why would you expect that at any other timeshare?

 

[cbyrne1174]

This is my first time looking at using our points through Interval and I'm a bit lost. I think I understand the basics of it (choose my dates and resorts, pay the fee, they let me know if they have something that works?) but what are the things I might be missing? For reference, we're hoping for a Cancun all-inclusive at Christmas.

Are there penalties or drawbacks to booking Interval? Anything I should know about as far as losing points or cancelling if something comes up?
How likely is it that I'll be able to book what we're looking for?
What additional costs (like all-inclusive fees) might I not be expecting?
It all seems complicated. Would I be better off renting out my 340 DVC points and just paying cash for the resort on my own?

Thank you!

Using DVC points for Interval is a terribly inefficient use of your money. Also, most II locations have owner priority before inventory is dumped into II. You probably won't find anything Christmas week at anywhere decent. You're best off renting out your points and paying cash.

Using other systems and trading INTO DVC is where it's a good deal. It's a great alternative to buying more DVC points if you can use a 7 night stay. It's usually about half the price of using DVC points at SSR and OKW.

 

[Upatnoon]

There are some great properties in Interval International, including Marriott, Hyatt and Four Seasons resorts.

Generally, the best value for DVC ownership is using it only for Disney stays or renting the points.

However, learning how to take full advantage of exchanging and using Interval could uncover some gems and there may be some value there.

 

[rmclain73]

Using DVC points for Interval is a terribly inefficient use of your money. Also, most II locations have owner priority before inventory is dumped into II. You probably won't find anything Christmas week at anywhere decent. You're best off renting out your points and paying cash.

Using other systems and trading INTO DVC is where it's a good deal. It's a great alternative to buying more DVC points if you can use a 7 night stay. It's usually about half the price of using DVC points at SSR and OKW.

Sounds like you are not really understanding how interval works. Nothing is "dumped" into interval. Owners who have reservations then deposit their weeks to exchange for weeks elsewhere. There is a lot of great resorts that get deposited into interval. Depending on what location, and what week you deposit, depends on what resorts you have access to book. It really all comes down to the TDI score your week has on Interval, and how far out you deposit.

 

[rmclain73]

I was so hoping that someone would respond to you. That's because I have no idea how it works either. I THINK I figured that you have to "deposit" some points into Interval before you can even get very far into the process. We were going to look into using points to stay on Cape Cod next June, but can't figure much out. I'd love to hear from anyone who's used Interval.

There are 2 options. There is a deposit first and request first. With deposit first you would first have to book your stay, or your points with interval first. You would then put in a on going search for a resort you would like to exchange. The more flexible your dates are, and the more resorts you are open to the better. Once you make the deposit you loose your reservation or points. You do have 2 years to use them with Interval. A request first allows you to hold on to your reservation or points until you get a match. Once you get a match you then forfeit them.

 

[dioxide45]

Sounds like you are not really understanding how interval works. Nothing is "dumped" into interval. Owners who have reservations then deposit their weeks to exchange for weeks elsewhere. There is a lot of great resorts that get deposited into interval. Depending on what location, and what week you deposit, depends on what resorts you have access to book. It really all comes down to the TDI score your week has on Interval, and how far out you deposit.

I suspect "dumps" was used as a term for deposit. That said, dumps do indeed happen with several timeshare systems. Some systems do bulk banking where they deposit a whole bunch of inventory at one time. DVC is like this. DVC controls what gets deposited. If you own BCV and want to do an II exchange, DVC may deposit SSR instead. These usually happen in blocks and not onesie twosie. Vistana (Westin & Sheraton) are the same way. Vistana controls what is deposited and most weeks get bulk banked based on anticipated II deposits. Marriott may also bulk bank their own inventory or inventory that comes from points deposits as mulk banking, but owners do control what they can deposit and make a reservation and deposit those in as they choose. So owner deposits will just show up.

Marriott and Vistana owners also have a priority period where when a week is deposited, only other Marriott and Vistana owners can exchange into it. This causes a lot of those Marriott, Westin and Sheraton deposits to get confirmed for Marriott and Vistana owners before DVC and other owners can exchange into them. This can deverly limit the number of prime resorts that are available for exchange.

 

[Ronaldo17]

I tried to make sense of it for a trip to a Marriott in Andalusia, Spain but gave up. It seemed a bit expensive for a timeshare in Spain.