Interval International for Dummies

[Scotch]

Dean, I recently used up our last II banked week as we sold our last Marriott a year ago. I'm not sure whether I want to buy another II week for use/exchange right now, and that is the only reason I am looking at DVC-II options just to see if I might want to utilize that at some point. But when I calculate the cost of using our DVC points -- ouch! I seem to remember a long while ago when I read one of these DVC II threads that you mentioned in your opinion there are only a few resorts in the II system that is worth using DVC for exchange but I cannot recall what you listed. Could you state those resorts again? (Of course I could have faulty memory and maybe you never made such comments!)

 

[Dean]

Dean, I recently used up our last II banked week as we sold our last Marriott a year ago. I'm not sure whether I want to buy another II week for use/exchange right now, and that is the only reason I am looking at DVC-II options just to see if I might want to utilize that at some point. But when I calculate the cost of using our DVC points -- ouch! I seem to remember a long while ago when I read one of these DVC II threads that you mentioned in your opinion there are only a few resorts in the II system that is worth using DVC for exchange but I cannot recall what you listed. Could you state those resorts again? (Of course I could have faulty memory and maybe you never made such comments!)

If you still have your II account, you may still be able to do getaways. As someone who already has some experience with the other side, you are in the perfect situation to evaluate all the options. I guess it depends on how much and what type of trading you want to do, a host of your personal vacation options and preferences, and we all know that the info on both sides could change down the line though DVC trading is likely to change more than II going forward.

IMO, the only options worth trading to using DVC points are high demand resorts during peak times. Things like ski areas, Caribbean, MX, HI all in winer and beaches in summer. I've never listed an inclusive list but rather examples which were often inclusive for a given area. For HI, it's the former Embassy's, all Marriott's and Westin. For Cancun it's the Royals week 51-16 only. I simply don't feel that giving up 270 points for most exchanges is reasonable when you could easily rent them out for $3000 and use that cash for other options such as renting a condo or timeshare, having a lot more options and choices and have money left over. I see a lot of people who go to a great resort during a lower season that they could have rented 2 or 3 times for the same value, had a good time and think they got a great deal.

There are a lot more restrictions and negatives trading DVC than most other II timeshares. Same cost during flextime (all other points systems have lower points), no bonus weeks, essentially no chance to uptrade in unit size or season, limited choice of resorts to trade to and no getaway availability. Now if DVC would change all this my opinion would change greatly, though I generally think it’s a bad idea to own a top end timeshare for exchanging, it’d be perfect for an occasional exchange. Only you can decide what’s best for you but to me owning less DVC points and then having something else that complements to use and trade seems perfect. For Marriott there are using and then there are trading locations and not that much overlap. If you can find some overlap with something that you would use but was also reasonable to trade, that might be perfect for someone in your situation. Another Marriott option would be to look at with a lockoff and possibly EOY. Branson Horizons is a great choice for trading and fits all the trading criteria. Ocean Point (not sure about the new Oceana Palms) and Williamsburg have lockoff’s, trade well and are reasonably priced as a rule. Other great choices as a complement to DVC are some of the other points systems including Bluegreen, Wyndham, RCI points, Sunterra, Hyatt, Hilton and the like. Some have EOY options and some are very reasonable to inexpensive. Bluegreen is the one I am intimately familiar with and one could buy 8000 or so points EOY for probably $2000-2500, have RCI included and also join II if you wanted. Those like myself who can do with a 1 BR at DVC and don’t go peak times might also consider simply owning outside DVC and trading in, just don’t look at other Orlando options for that approach.

 

[Scotch]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Dean.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Dean.

My pleasure, I hope it's helpful. Let us know what you decide.

 

[Scotch]

My pleasure, I hope it's helpful. Let us know what you decide.

I will! I do miss having an II week in the bank; I have one non-DVC timeshare left -- a small S.CA trader in RCI. But RCI doesn't have lots of the nicer "high end" resorts available in II. The pace of increase in m/fs of the Marriotts made me wary about keeping any long term when we can't seem to settle on one that we definitely love to use (unlike DVC, which we love and use regularly during prime seasons). But I haven't ruled out buying another Marriott for trading purposes only because of the recent discussion on TUG re possible upcoming changes to treatment of resale vs. direct buyers.

It would be so helpful if DVC-II could publish a directory of resorts with a notation next to each resort exactly which weeks fall under the DVC-II exchange low, medium and high seasons if they do not correspond to II's color seasons. For planning and valuation purposes, such information would be very useful. Has DVC ever done that for II exchanges?

 

[Dean]

It would be so helpful if DVC-II could publish a directory of resorts with a notation next to each resort exactly which weeks fall under the DVC-II exchange low, medium and high seasons if they do not correspond to II's color seasons. For planning and valuation purposes, such information would be very useful. Has DVC ever done that for II exchanges?

No they have not but honestly I don't think they could, the determination is made by each resort individually. But I think it's easy to get an idea for those that have a feel for prime time at certain areas and have access to the kind of info we've discussed in this thread. I could guess with at least 90-95% accuracy and for those few times i was wrong, I would not be off by more than 1 level.

 

[sanbornangel]

Does any one know what Playa Linda is like in Aruba? We are going for a week next November. It was 124 points for the week. We really wanted to go to Atlantis in the Bahamas but were told by II that it is impossible to get. We were wondering why it is listed if no one gives up their week.

 

[Dean]

Does any one know what Playa Linda is like in Aruba? We are going for a week next November. It was 124 points for the week. We really wanted to go to Atlantis in the Bahamas but were told by II that it is impossible to get. We were wondering why it is listed if no one gives up their week.

I don't have the info for Playa Linda. A couple of years ago Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club was High = 1-16, 51-52. Mid = 17-50. It's likely PL and Costa Linda are the same though given their lower resort rating compared to the Marriott's, it's possible you'll see some fall time in the low season like you do places like the Cayman's, esp Sept and weeks 49 & 50.

Atlantis is tough but not impossible. Give it a try, no harm done.

 

[smep013]

This whole process is very confusing to me.
If I request a search for summer 2009, and they find an exchange, what points will they use?
I have an August Use Year.
Will they take from use year 2008?

 

[Dean]

This whole process is very confusing to me.
If I request a search for summer 2009, and they find an exchange, what points will they use?
I have an August Use Year.
Will they take from use year 2008?

I'm told the rule is they take points from the UY where the trip occurs just like they would for a DVC stay. The exception would be if the trip occurs in the UY two years ahead, say a June 09 trip for a June UY done now, where they'd give you the choice of the current UY or the next. This isn't an issue that will happen very much with exchanges but is more likely an issue with DCL. Maybe someone who's reserved with points for DCL far out once they changed the system can give their experience in this regard. My guess is they'll make it work if you have the points at all accessible. In your case they'd use 2008 points for travel before August 09. For August 09 or after for travel you'd have your choice of 07 or 08, until 1 Aug, 08 comes around and then it'd have to be 09 points but could include points banked or borrowed to 09. Given that most resorts don't deposit more than 12 months out there are not many times when this will apply to exchanges. There are a few that deposit 18 months out and a few that are 2 years out. The ones talked about here that are up to 2 years out that I am aware of include the Royal's in Cancun and Kona Coast on the Big Island. Floating Marriott's can be as early as about 13.5-14 months out but only for very few units, most till be 12 months or less. Fixed week Marriott's can be 18 months out and this includes some, but not all, of the HI Marriott units.