Interval International ?

[luna99]

So I was looking through the DVC Dream Book and was just watching the DVC DVD on my lunch break (yeah, I want DVC THAT bad) and I noticed that "Interval International" was referenced as to the resorts around the world that you can vacation at.

So.... silly ole me went to the website for II and started looking at all the resort locations.

Am I right to assume that any location listed on the II site is a place I could use my DVC points at?

Now, before I get a lecture (lol) I do know that a lot of people think that using DVC points to vacation anywhere else besides Disney is foolish and not a good value... but I am a travel addict and plan on seeing much of this world before my time is up ... and I think DVC might help me do that (eventually. Down the road. Certainly not anytime soon with the small resale I plan on buying.)

anyway.. my question though is about II. Is that the company that DVC owners go through in order to vacation outside of disney? thanks!

 

[Kathi OD]

DH and I sometimes use our DVC for trading out to other locations through II. Yes, we know it isn't the best use of our points, but like you, feel that DVC will help us to see some other places that we won't necessarily get to see if we're paying cash for ressies. Sooo....no yelling here!

Now to your real question....sadly, the answer is NO, not all of II's resorts are included for us DVCers to trade out to. The resorts that are available are listed on the DVC member website and in our yearly planner.

 

[Tiggerlover48]

All of the locations that II owes are not available to DVC members. Because DVC and WDW have extremely high standards some of the "lower" level properties are not available.

I won't lecture you about using your DVC for other vacations!!! I plan on doing the samething. I figure it's already paid for and I can't afford to spend more money on a place to stay.

 

[DVC Mater]

the link to the II avail thru DVC is down right now because their updating for short stay trades.

 

[bwvBound]

Link to the special II page for DVC members ... [link]. This site lists the hand-picked II destinations approved by DVC.

 

[eva]

Actually, I don't feel that II trades are that bad of a deal. The most you will spend for a 1-bedroom is 160 points for the week. Doesn't sound too bad to me.

 

[tomandrobin]

So I was looking through the DVC Dream Book and was just watching the DVC DVD on my lunch break (yeah, I want DVC THAT bad)

If you can afford it and you love to visit Disney often, it will a decision you won't regret.

Am I right to assume that any location listed on the II site is a place I could use my DVC points at?

Currently DVC only trade into a little over 500 of the II resorts.

Now, before I get a lecture (lol) I do know that a lot of people think that using DVC points to vacation anywhere else besides Disney is foolish and not a good value... but I am a travel addict and plan on seeing much of this world before my time is up ... and I think DVC might help me do that (eventually. Down the road. Certainly not anytime soon with the small resale I plan on buying.)

In alot of cases, it might be better to rent the points and rent your room. However there are plenty of places that doing a II trade is worth while.

anyway.. my question though is about II. Is that the company that DVC owners go through in order to vacation outside of disney? thanks!

Yes, Interval international is the trading company. Actually they also trade with Club Intrawest Resorts and Club Cordial.

 

[Dean]

Now, before I get a lecture (lol) I do know that a lot of people think that using DVC points to vacation anywhere else besides Disney is foolish and not a good value... but I am a travel addict and plan on seeing much of this world before my time is up ... and I think DVC might help me do that (eventually. Down the road. Certainly not anytime soon with the small resale I plan on buying.)

anyway.. my question though is about II. Is that the company that DVC owners go through in order to vacation outside of disney? thanks!

There are some good potential values but not many. If you're not an owner already, buying DVC points to exchange through II makes no sense. One would be much better off and come out far cheaper by buying enough DVC points for DVC resorts and looking at other options for those non DVC trips.

 

[luna99]

Link to the special II page for DVC members ... [link]. This site lists the hand-picked II destinations approved by DVC.

wow, thanks for that link. It's fun to look through there and just dream.


and I'm not thinking of purchasing DVC mostly for travelling other places.. I actually would probably be using it mostly for disney vacations, I just like the option of going elsewhere as well once in a while!

 

[bounceliketigger]

wow, thanks for that link. It's fun to look through there and just dream.


and I'm not thinking of purchasing DVC mostly for travelling other places.. I actually would probably be using it mostly for disney vacations, I just like the option of going elsewhere as well once in a while!

First let me say that we own DVC and LOVE it! However, here's a point to ponder: We also own OTHER timeshares for much less money than DVC that also trade through Interval International. Not only do we have access to every Interval resort, but we have also traded our other timeshares into DVC for ourselves, our family & friends. I have considered selling off my DVC, but I just can't bring myself to do it! I love the flexibility and greater availability. When trading into DVC through Interval, it's best to be flexible. But if cost is a consideration, you might scan E-bay for some other timeshares.

Either way, good luck and enjoy your DVC if you decide to take the plunge!

 

[kapeman]

Actually, I don't feel that II trades are that bad of a deal. The most you will spend for a 1-bedroom is 160 points for the week. Doesn't sound too bad to me.

We just got our planner and I was saying the same thing to the Mrs.

At 160 pts per week I don't see where the big waste of points is and I am using OKW December point charts for reference!

 

[Dean]

At 160 pts per week I don't see where the big waste of points is and I am using OKW December point charts for reference!

But what if you could buy a timeshare for $500-1000 with yearly fees of $400-500, get direct access to II (less than $100 a year to belong) with all the other benefits and get a second week to trade for a fairly small fee in addition. Plus actually have better trade power than DVC, more trade options and the ability to trade up in unit size and season (even if you only were trading a studio). And how would you feel about giving up $2000 worth of DVC points for the same trade as an alternative. There are certainly a handful of resorts that are worth trading DVC during peak times certainly but more often than not I see someone who gets a great resort but during non peak times or at a resort one can easily get otherwise and feel they got a great deal. There is only one way to make trading DVC a good deal and that's to seek keep high end options during peak times with planning far out into the future of at least a year. And even that isn't a reasonable reason to buy in, only if you own anyway.

 

[bounceliketigger]

But what if you could buy a timeshare for $500-1000 with yearly fees of $400-500, get direct access to II (less than $100 a year to belong) with all the other benefits and get a second week to trade for a fairly small fee in addition. Plus actually have better trade power than DVC, more trade options and the ability to trade up in unit size and season (even if you only were trading a studio). And how would you feel about giving up $2000 worth of DVC points for the same trade as an alternative. There are certainly a handful of resorts that are worth trading DVC during peak times certainly but more often than not I see someone who gets a great resort but during non peak times or at a resort one can easily get otherwise and feel they got a great deal. There is only one way to make trading DVC a good deal and that's to seek keep high end options during peak times with planning far out into the future of at least a year. And even that isn't a reasonable reason to buy in, only if you own anyway.

Agreed. We've paid on average $500 or less for the deed, around the same for the annual fees. When you trade into DVC through II, you have to pay an extra $95 on top of the exchange fee, but it's well worth it. We haven't traded our DVC points through II. We prefer to keep those for short jaunts, extra days tacked onto an II week, or for peak times that we want to go to DVC.

 

[eva]

But what if you could buy a timeshare for $500-1000 with yearly fees of $400-500, get direct access to II (less than $100 a year to belong) with all the other benefits and get a second week to trade for a fairly small fee in addition. Plus actually have better trade power than DVC, more trade options and the ability to trade up in unit size and season (even if you only were trading a studio). And how would you feel about giving up $2000 worth of DVC points for the same trade as an alternative. There are certainly a handful of resorts that are worth trading DVC during peak times certainly but more often than not I see someone who gets a great resort but during non peak times or at a resort one can easily get otherwise and feel they got a great deal. There is only one way to make trading DVC a good deal and that's to seek keep high end options during peak times with planning far out into the future of at least a year. And even that isn't a reasonable reason to buy in, only if you own anyway.

Dean, that is true if you are buying a timeshare mainly to trade. I do wonder what type of trade you get if you only spend $500 for a week and $400 a year for maintenance. But I don't see where a DVC member is out anything by trading occasionally into II. People keep saying it is a poor trade. If you don't ever plan on buying another timeshare and will only trade every once in awhile, I believe it can be a good use of points. Just my opinion.

 

[Dean]

Dean, that is true if you are buying a timeshare mainly to trade. I do wonder what type of trade you get if you only spend $500 for a week and $400 a year for maintenance. But I don't see where a DVC member is out anything by trading occasionally into II. People keep saying it is a poor trade. If you don't ever plan on buying another timeshare and will only trade every once in awhile, I believe it can be a good use of points. Just my opinion.

It can be a good use of points if you make good choices, the trouble is many people don't. Plus the good choices are very difficult to get. Frankly, I don't care if people get a good value or not as long as they know what they're doing and have the info up front, after that it's their choice. As a rule, this comes up when someone is looking to buy in or add on, unique opportunities to make choices that most people don't have and a more important time to give them the unabashed truth. Buying in with the plans to trade part of the time means one will likely trade enough to make it not worthwhile doing so and one would almost always be better off buying less points and also buying something non DVC. Obviously one who will trade once or twice in their lifetime will not see the benefits of other options though I'd argue that often they'd be better off paying cash (or a private trade) than using DVC points but it depends on other variables such as their points availability and restrictions.

You reference a point I've made many times, that there are timeshares to use and timeshares to trade and not that much overlap for most folks. Anything to do both is usually a compromise with higher costs and possibly lower quality or season, etc. Still, even the most expensive choices for a "regular" timeshare to use for trading are better than DVC with some very limited exception such as those with costs AND yearly fees rivaling DVC including a few Marriott's, Hyatt's and Westin's. IMO, the best compromise to use and trade are the mid level points systems like Bluegreen, Wyndham and the like plus some of the in between Marriott's like Branson and Williamsburg with a few other similar options. The benefit to owning a Marriott and Westin is also the internal trading preference, look at how many of your top trade choices in II are Marriott's. If you combine Marriott, Westin, Hyatt and the Royals, there aren't a lot of top trade choices left in II.

There are many $500/$500 choices that will trade better than DVC and give you direct II options that DVC doesn't. If you feel it's a good deal to trade $2000-3000 worth of points at a time for an occasional trade, that's your choice and it's not my place to tell you what to do or not to do. At least now you know there are alternatives even if you choose not to explore them or take advantage of them and that is my goal.

As noted, one can also trade in to DVC from II and stretch your points for a much lower cost in many situations.

 

[Kendallkat2]

We will have some extra points for '08 this year. We have dreamed of going to Hawaii for years. I thought since we will have extra points I should just do it and plan our dream. I was thinking to go Winter or Fall of 09.

What are some of you experts suggestions?

I was thinking about staying in Oahu because we also want to do a 7 day Norweigan cruise around the Islands. The ship leaves from Honolulu. Has anyone stayed in the Marriott resort in Oahu? So it would be 7 days cruise, 7 days at a II resort.

Some advice would be deeply appreciated.

Beth

 

[kapeman]

But what if you could buy a timeshare for $500-1000 with yearly fees of $400-500, get direct access to II (less than $100 a year to belong) with all the other benefits and get a second week to trade for a fairly small fee in addition. Plus actually have better trade power than DVC, more trade options and the ability to trade up in unit size and season (even if you only were trading a studio). And how would you feel about giving up $2000 worth of DVC points for the same trade as an alternative. There are certainly a handful of resorts that are worth trading DVC during peak times certainly but more often than not I see someone who gets a great resort but during non peak times or at a resort one can easily get otherwise and feel they got a great deal. There is only one way to make trading DVC a good deal and that's to seek keep high end options during peak times with planning far out into the future of at least a year. And even that isn't a reasonable reason to buy in, only if you own anyway.

I was looking at the trade-ins to Atlantis for 160 a week as my baseline and that seemed like a good trade, but given the dollar-to-dollar comparison and the fact that it seems some of the resorts aren't as nice as DVC, then I definitely see your side of the argument.

I was looking at it from a perspective more like Eva's, primarily DVC stays with the occasional trade into II.

 

[Dean]

I was looking at the trade-ins to Atlantis for 160 a week as my baseline and that seemed like a good trade, but given the dollar-to-dollar comparison and the fact that it seems some of the resorts aren't as nice as DVC, then I definitely see your side of the argument.

I was looking at it from a perspective more like Eva's, primarily DVC stays with the occasional trade into II.

Hence my point that there are trades that are a good value, just not that many and the chances of getting those options are poor to non existent depending on your flexibility or lack of. But lets looks at two of the most commonly asked areas, Atlantis and HI. Owning Westin gives you the chance to book directly to some of those resorts, an inside advantage trading to the Starwood properties (St. John, Atlantis, Maui, Kaui, Kierland, etc) and could be much cheaper than DVC, it could also be more expensive depending on you choices. Owning Marriott would give you the II internal trading preference to other Marriott's including those toping the charts for HI, also to get more for less in many situations and would be cheaper in MOST cases, often for a fraction of the cost of DVC. Plus all of those and many more would give you HIGHER trade power than would DVC.

You lose most of the benefits of owning DVC when you exchange. You lose the flexibility inherent in the points system including cancellation benefits and you also lose the on property option, something we've all paid thousands of dollars specifically for. You also put yourself at the mercy of the resort you match, can we say dumpster view. But DVC does give you one very big benefit exchanging, that is the search first 2 years out without any real commitment. Thus as I've alluded to recently and spelled out in the past, those that shoot for the moon and are successful will do well exchanging with essentially no risk other than the risk inherent in an exchange itself such as unexpected cancellations when life happens otherwise the worst that happens is you don't get it. Thus I feel many of those that own enough DVC points would do well keeping exchanges on the books 1-2 years out for the big ticket items but those that want to trade routinely, even once every 3-4 years, would almost always be better off looking at other options than trading DVC.

 

[Dean]

I was looking at the trade-ins to Atlantis for 160 a week as my baseline and that seemed like a good trade, but given the dollar-to-dollar comparison and the fact that it seems some of the resorts aren't as nice as DVC, then I definitely see your side of the argument.

If Atlantis and DVC are your baseline, there aren't many resorts you'll be happy with, LOL.