Need an Answer Please

[kristenrice]

I posted this question in one of my other threads and I think it got buried. Now, I actually need an answer so I decided to re-post...

Quick facts...

...booking a trip to HHI from March 30-April 5, 2013 in a 2BR...
...have enough HHI points to book only 4 nights at 11-months...
...will be able to add one night on points at 7-month mark using AKV and 1-time use points

Here's my plan...Does this sound right?

April 30 (Sunday)...book March 30-April 2 (4 nights) on points AND book a "duplicate" CASH reservation on points for March 30 and 31 only...

May 2 (Tuesday)...CANCEL March 30 and 31 POINTS reservation and ADD April 3 and 4 which should leave us with March 30-31 on cash and April 1-5 on points (6 nights total)

At the 7 month mark (from March 31...whatever that day is), I'd like to book the 31st on POINTS and CANCEL just that night off of the cash reservation. That should leave us with our first night on cash and the remaining 5 nights on points.

Does this sound right? Will the ending reservation end up "linked" so that we won't have to move? Or will I have to call and have MS do that for me?

The nights of March 30 and 31 are considerably cheaper since the higher season starts on April 1. So, if we have to pay cash for part of our trip, we definitely want it to be at the beginning, not the end.

THANKS!

 

[RobDoc]

Your plan could work but there are some potential snags. First, cash reservations are not always available at 11 months (especially with a member discount). Your best bet for the cash nights will be weekend nights (Fri/Sat). Anything is possible, but you may have a problem with 3/31 since that is a Sunday - a popular day for arrival with point reservations.

The other possible issue will be availability at 7 months for point reservations for the weekend night you still want.

It can't hurt to try.

Good luck!

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks for the response.

We're prepared to pay full price, if needed, for the Saturday and Sunday nights. Best case scenario is that a) we get the member discount and b) we can switch to points for Sunday at the 7-month window.