Need Advice on Hawaii Timeshare - Sell, Keep, Exchange?

[littlestar]

I thought maybe I would post this here for my sister. Her and my brother-in-law bought my parents' Sands of Kahana timeshare on Maui. Recently my brother-in-law has developed heart problems and he can't fly long distances. A two hour flight he does okay on, but longer than that and he's in the hospital from it. My sister was telling me that she's thinking about selling this Hawaii timeshare. I told her I would ask some of you for advice.

All my sisters kids love to go to Disneyworld and stay on property. Do you think it's possible for her to be able to exchange into DVC (like OKW) with this Sands of Kahana timeshare? She's a newbie on timesharing and I don't know enough about regular timeshares to give her any good advice. I know basically about DVC and that's it.

Thanks for any help or ideas about whether she could use this timeshare to trade with and not have to sell it.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Anything is possible. But if you want to consistently visit every year without a problem with reservations I'd personally would buy direct from DVC. I do see trades to DVC happen. But most of the ones I've seen are during off season like January, September, etc.... Sometimes it is pretty stressful to wait for a trade to go through especially when you are trying to book an airfare as well. Also, if you trade through interval international for DVC you pay an extra $95 fee at the resort. Plus, your trade fee of $121. So, you are already paying $200 just for the trade. HTH. Good luck on their decision. I hope your BIL feels better soon!

 

[Dean]

I'd likely sell it or rent it every year. It doesn't make sense to hold to trade. Depending on how and when they bought it, they may be quite surprised and upset at what's it's worth. Still, the fees don't make sense to keep it if it's not going to be used fairly routinely by the family. Plus getting any trades could be tough, especially for DVC.

 

[Hieatt]

I have a follow-up, similar question... my mother-in-law bought a timeshare interest through what is now Sunterra. She bought it then never went and kept moving her points to the next year. She now has quite a few accumlated and many will expire at the end of 2005. She encouraged us to book a trip or two.

Our family loves Disney (just got back from NYE at the Dolphin for third year in a row), and I'm not finding any Sunterra properties that we are interested in available. I would love to trade into the Boardwalk or Beach Club Villas for a week - but it sounds like going through Interval you put in a request and just wait?? Does anyone know how it works? Is there any way of making this happen simply and quickly or should I just forget the idea?

 

[spiceycat]

how flexibility are you - there are some DVC resorts availability now - go look at tug

ww.tug2.net
you need to join to see this BBS board - there is a very nice lady that posts DVC sights - they are on the sightings,distress board - but you must be a member to see this board.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

DVC isn't the only timeshare in Orlando so I'd probably trade the Sunterra for whatever I could get in Orlando. The Sands of Kahana I'd probably rent & trade until I felt I got enough of my capital back to sell.

 

[disworldnum1]

My first question would be is who the Sands exchanges with( RCI or II ) Then go to there web sites and see who in Orlando they can exchange with.They have to have an exchange code to look it up. I know alot of resorts in Hawaii arent timeshares but some kind of purchase into a lease interest or something like that.But most trade with RCI. Then I would find out the value on the resale market and make my decision from there.

 

[Dean]

My first question would be is who the Sands exchanges with( RCI or II ) Then go to there web sites and see who in Orlando they can exchange with.They have to have an exchange code to look it up. I know alot of resorts in Hawaii arent timeshares but some kind of purchase into a lease interest or something like that.But most trade with RCI. Then I would find out the value on the resale market and make my decision from there.

the Sands actually exchanges with both II and RCI. Also, a fair number of members trade with Trading Places and I believe, San Francisco exchange company as well. You should be able to get most anything through RCI or II in Orlando if you plan ahead and give it enough time. Still, you could also buy a timeshare that costs $1000 or less and has fees less than $400 a year and do the same thing. In general it's best to use HI for most years or sell if you can get a decent price out of it. The fees are just too high to make it reasonable to keep mostly for exchanging. Of course one could start offering for sale and use the other strategies in the mean time.

 

[wininbid]

I too own a 1BR at Sands of Kahana, and in fact DID trade into Disney in 2001 at Old Key West. I have another trade in now for nexy June. Will have to wait and see if I have the same good fortune. Good luck.

Lester

 

[Uncle Buck]

Anything on Maui exchanges extremely well and the Sands is no exception. It's a reasonable distance away from the Ka'anapali resort area (we own at the Marriott), so not too much hustle and bustle around there. It's basically right on the beach, so an ocean view is simply that...nothing but ocean to see from the villa. You will never have trouble trading out of there...and won't be displeased in the least to visit there.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have a follow-up, similar question... my mother-in-law bought a timeshare interest through what is now Sunterra. She bought it then never went and kept moving her points to the next year. She now has quite a few accumlated and many will expire at the end of 2005. She encouraged us to book a trip or two.

Our family loves Disney (just got back from NYE at the Dolphin for third year in a row), and I'm not finding any Sunterra properties that we are interested in available. I would love to trade into the Boardwalk or Beach Club Villas for a week - but it sounds like going through Interval you put in a request and just wait?? Does anyone know how it works? Is there any way of making this happen simply and quickly or should I just forget the idea?

This really depends on WHICH Sunterra it was and if Disney trades driectly with them or not. If they are not on Disney's exchange list, then the only way to do it is a direct person to person exchange through something like TUG.

 

[cymomtx]

Go to www.tug2.net and there is lots of good information that will address this type of TS.

 

[Dean]

This really depends on WHICH Sunterra it was and if Disney trades driectly with them or not. If they are not on Disney's exchange list, then the only way to do it is a direct person to person exchange through something like TUG.

Diane, if I read you correctly, I think you have it backward. Disney controls what resorts DVC members can exchange into using DVC. They only resorts they restrict from trading in otherwise are those within the local area, I think it's a 45 mile radius. Of course trade value and resort quality come into play as they do with all II trades. So owners at resorts not on the DVC list can and do trade into DVC.

 

[della]

A few years ago we stayed at a friend's timeshare in Cypress Pointe II (before we had DVC). It was owned by Sunterra. It was right down the street from Crossroads Shopping Center/DTD (sorry don't remember the road, but coming out of DTD facing Crossroads you would make a left and it was down a bit on your right). It would have definitely been within the 45 mile radius, more like within a 5 mile radius.

 

[Dean]

A few years ago we stayed at a friend's timeshare in Cypress Pointe II (before we had DVC). It was owned by Sunterra. It was right down the street from Crossroads Shopping Center/DTD (sorry don't remember the road, but coming out of DTD facing Crossroads you would make a left and it was down a bit on your right). It would have definitely been within the 45 mile radius, more like within a 5 mile radius.

Disney restricts members who own at other resorts within the area FROM TRADING IN TO DVC, not from staying at the other resorts by other means.