TUG is only $15 for a year and you get a free ad at that. Besides the BBS and advice section (free) they have direct exchange listings, classifieds and great ratings (with rankings) AND reviews with pictures and the like. Timesharing Today has better ratings but no pictures or free text reviews. Redweeks.com along with several similar sites has reviews of many timeshares. Tripadvisors also has reviews more from a hotel perspective for many timeshares. Just asking on sites like here and TUG about specific choices can be the best of all once you have an idea what you want to know about.
Of course everyone's situation is different but as a rule
DVC is only only reasonable to exchange when you meet two criteria, that of both a high quality, high demand resort and also during peak season. Further, the 1 BR is the best exchange value and currently the studio is the worst. Exchanging takes knowledge, planning and flexibility. As a rule, when people post on this forum about this topic and say they're flexible, they usually are not. Flexible is most all resorts in an area for a 6-10 week period, not 3 resorts for a 3 week period. Even then if it's truly peak season, it may take more flexibility to be successful.
You hit on a major issue, they do look nice in most cases and the amount of info provided even with the resources above is limited. Plus what's perfect for me might be wrong for you. Do not assume DVC will steer you right. Do your research and make sure what works for you and your family. There are many 5* II resorts (or Gold Crown RCI ones) I'd never consider staying at much less giving up DVC points worth $2000 or more, esp when I could rent the same or similar for half that in almost all cases.
