Depends on what's important to you. In many ways
DVC and GO are similar. Great property, great company with very good customer service. Also both are highly prized and therefore it takes a lot to get me to part with them. I either use, rent them out or would consider a very strategic exchange with either one of them. It would be very easy to exchange down using either as there are few worthy exchanges out there. Call me a timeshare snob if you must. Of course GO is a full week in a 2 BR and the only flexibility is either with scheduling within a season or exchanging. Prices are similar and values (resale) are similar.
As far as HH experience, GO is much nicer than DVC, IMO. Oceanfront, better amenities, more activities, deeded with no RTU, etc. That's not a knock on DVC-HH, just that GO is that good. I can't say much about Monarch but will be able to tell you in about 2 months. It has just been completely refurbished inside and out. Owners had a special assessment which has been paid by all members in good standing. I think there are advantages and disadvantages when you compare the two (DVC and GO). Much like comparing a BMC with a Mercedes, both are great cars and have their followers and some people own both.
If you want the beach and like the laid back nature of HH, GO can't be beat. Ocean Pointe and Newport Coast would be similar properties in many ways. Barony also but it will never be quite up to par with GO simply because of location. To me, one would buy DVC-HH because they like the resort, the DVC flexibility including different times of the year, unit size and the direct trading using points. I find it difficult to think that when comparing a 2 BR for a week at HH as the sole usage that one would chose DVC over GO but most DVC members don't vacation that way so I guess it's a moot point.
Now if you want to do some II exchanging, neither are very good values to do so. Sure they'd exchange well but what a price. I don't believe the MVCI points system is a fair deal at all, much like the CC to DVC. If you want to do much exchanging and are interested in the Marriott system, I'd look at Sunset Pointe, Harbour Pointe, SwallowTail, Spicebush, Saturday Villas, and Streamside at Vail. Ocean Pointe, Beachplace, Aruba, and some others have lockout units where you can trade two for one but are fairly expensive. The trade power drops off with the smaller unit but not all that much.
If you just want something to play with for exchanges, consider something cheap like South Africa where $1000 will get you a 1 BR red time along with 6 years RCI membership and closing. Yearly fees around $150 or so. I find having the 3 top tier resorts, one middle tier Marriott (week 35 (labor day) at Harbour Pointe) and two Aruba units for exchanging is a nice mix. I can decide up front what it will cost (which is the lowest unit I can hope to use) and go for the exchange I want. I'm working on HI for July 2002 right now and starting to plan summer 2003 which will likely be either Aruba or Key West or maybe even a combination.
There are a lot of deals out there so decide what's important to you and go get it. But be prepared and educated. Email me privately and I'd be happy to give you a couple of purchasing pointers and some more confidential info that might help out. Good luck.
