Interval International Trade to DVC?

[1princessesmom]

My brother is on vacation in Mexico and is considering purchasing a timeshare while down there. He called and asked if is is ever possible to trade a week from another timeshare program to stay at a DVC resort through Interval International. I told him I did not know, but knew where to find out. If this is possible, is it difficult to get reservations? THanks!

 

[Par8hed]

I think you nailed it. Possible-yes. Difficult-yes.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by 1princessesmom
My brother is on vacation in Mexico and is considering purchasing a timeshare while down there. He called and asked if is is ever possible to trade a week from another timeshare program to stay at a DVC resort through Interval International. I told him I did not know, but knew where to find out. If this is possible, is it difficult to get reservations? THanks!

The biggest piece of advice to give him is tell him not to purchase while he is down there. Rather than buy while he is down there tell him to wait until he gets home and buy something on the re-sale market. He will save thousands and thousands of dollars. Have him check out TUG for Mexican resales.

HBC

 

[all4fun]

Both pp's are correct. Resale is always a much better deal and you usually get the exact same thing you would have bought on site. Also, we own DVC but our list trip we had to use II points and when we called to make ressies at the II resort, we asked about trading for onsite Disney property and we were basically laughed at. This was probably 6-7 mos prior to our trip. We were told we would have to make ressies for an exchange w/DVC at least 1 year out.

HTH!

 

[Dean]

Mexican resorts are traditionally poor value for trading and also for using at times. I'd agree with resale, even if he's set with the resort. Which resort is he looking at? He should spend 6 months or more investigating.

 

[1princessesmom]

Originally posted by Dean
Mexican resorts are traditionally poor value for trading and also for using at times. I'd agree with resale, even if he's set with the resort. Which resort is he looking at? He should spend 6 months or more investigating.

He is looking at El Moro Tower El Cid at Mazatlán.
I think he should buy DVC, but he only plans to go to WDW once every 5-7 years.

 

[tiffany123]

Please, please talk him out of buying direct from the resort. If he is indeed looking at El Cid, he can buy the same resort or any other Fairfield resort property for thousands maybe even tens of thousands less via resale. Don't let him be pressured by the sales person or persons. They tend to be very high pressure and don't always tell the exact or complete truth. By the way is he aware that El Cid is a right to use contract with about 20 years of use? He needs to do much research before buying any timeshare.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by 1princessesmom
He is looking at El Moro Tower El Cid at Mazatlán.
I think he should buy DVC, but he only plans to go to WDW once every 5-7 years.

I would never buy DVC for a trip every 5-7 years. And I wouldn't buy at MOST MX places unless I planned to stay there most trips. Without researching, I'd guess it'd be pretty easy to get a 2 BR there for less than $3K, likely much less, and smaller units for even less. Even the high season weeks will not trade all that well from what I'm told. Save your friend some money and headaches.

If he's set on MX, have him look at places like Paradise Village in Neuvo Vallarta and the Royals in Cancun. I'd also stay away from the Mayan Palace and related resorts, at least until he's a seasoned timeshare person. Spending the 6 months or more I recommended could really save him a lot of money and enhance his enjoyment of timeshares. Make sure he doesn't buy from the developer NO MATTER WHAT THEY TELL HIM. And if he's bought already, have him rescind. Even if they had him sign that he waived his right to rescend, he can.

 

[1princessesmom]

Thanks for all your advice. I have been sharing your replies with my brother.

 

[jbthi]

I have been very lucky getting DVC trades lately. I own at BWV and BCV but I usually have all my points used and borrowed to the max.

We like off season and I have got all my trades online. We have a 2 BR at VB in Nov. We also have back to back studio at BCV and 1 BR at OKW this January.

 

[Lisa P.]

Fairfield resales are out there for El Moro Tower El Cid at Mazatlán - for 50% to 90% less than developer prices. He'd have to check on the number of years left on the contract since that's a "RTU" (Right To Use) ownership unless your brother is a Mexican citizen.

Also, a Fairfield points (resale) ownership at any other Fairfield property may be used to reserve vacations there... at a fraction of the cost with full ownership (not RTU). Your brother would learn a lot about timeshare at TUG. There's also a Yahoo! group for Fairfield owners with quite a few El Cid owners on it. One nice benefit to owning with El Cid as the home resort is that it's the only Fairfield resort which may be traded via both II and RCI - much more flexibility than most. Also, with Fairfield, the location of one's home resort does not affect trade power. He would be trading with the averaged trade power for all Fairfield units of similar size and season within the exchange company's system. Fairfield is a pretty good trader... not top tier and not at the bottom either.

Unless your brother is able to plan his rare DVC vacation fairly last minute during quieter travel times, with plenty of flexibility for date and room size, he would likely have difficulty trading to DVC. I have known of Fairfield owners who have traded in via II but it's not an easy trade.

Again, visit TUG and Yahoo! HTH!

 

[DGMLuvDis]

Hello everyone - I'm a newbie to this board, and just returned from a week at OKW - Had a great time! We purchased a timeshare thru Sunterra 5 years ago which deals with II, and let me tell you, I tried and tried to get a DVC resort and could'nt!
I could kick myself for not buying at Disney to begin with, but luckily, I have a buyer for my timeshare, and then, I will BUY FROM DISNEY.....LOVE DISNEY, LOVED OKW, and toured SSR, that was pretty amazing..... Really enjoy this forum!!!