Need Hawaii Help-Dean?

[deerh]

My wife and I and kids want to go to Hawaii next June/July 05.
I have several questions to ask, maybe Dean can chime in..

1. Am VERY flexible, will/can go from June 3-July22. (hey, the perks
of a teacher!)
2. Want to use Disney points for a 2 bedroom there.
3. Want to use a condo instead of hotels/concierge collection.
4. Want a Beach on site, NOT a walk to the beach.

So, what do I tell MS? Anything in Hawaii (esp. Maui I think the options/more properties there.) for June 3-July22?
Also, when would I expect to hear from MS- 6 mos out, 3 mos out or what?
Or am I too late?
Any properties you highly recommend equivalent to DVC properties?

Here are my views:
1. Maui seems to be the best beach
2. Marriott, Westin and Embassy suite seems the best
3. Kona is nice, but I don't think there is a beach there.

Any help appreciated.
Also, do I pay the 75 dollar fee upfront or after a match?
Also, are my points "frozen in time" until a match?
And, if I decline a property am I stuck with the loss of $75 or what?
Sorry so many questions,
Just want to know my options/views/opinions of the experts here on the DIS!!
THANKS!
deerh

 

[Dean]

For your plans I'd ask for all Marriott's, the Westin and the Embassy Maui. Maybe also for Hanelei Bay on Kauai. You should also consider places like the Whaler in Maui or Hilton on Oahu. which you cannot get through DVC. IMO, you lose a lot of great choices if you restrict yourself to beaches. You may be better just renting a Condo. You should contract independ exchange companies like San Francisco Exchange and trading places as well as look at places like TUG for direct exchanges. Your chances of getting a 2 BR for that time at any of these properties thorugh II are VERY slim. IF you match, it may be at 60 days or less.

Sorry,

Am VERY flexible, will/can go from June 3-July22.

As this would be far from my definition of flexible, much less VERY flexible. IMO, you should open it up to any 2 BR at a decent place, you can always get to a beach. Or you should look at a rental. Regardless, here's what I'd do. Ask for any 2 BR for the resorts you're comfortable with (join TUG so you know which ones those truly are). Then if you haven't matched by the time you find your air, book a cancellable hotel or condo and the air fare then change your request to what fits. If you're planning on using FF miles, expect to need to book the air at the first day from your departure, usually 330 days out. You may also want to get a timeshare rental then rent out your points.

 

[deerh]

Thanks Dean for your quick response.
Sorry for the "flexible" comment. I thought in the timeshare world,
that any week for 7/8 weeks would be "flexible", I guess not.

Anyway, good ideas, but I always read on this board that DVC is a " requested" place, so I am at a loss as to why DVC is a tough trade to Hawaii. I thought DVC was a "desired" resort, just wanted to try to figure this out, if I put DVC on the plate at TUG, would I get a lot of nibbles?

I guess I do compete with other resort owners wanting to go to Hawaii as well.

Will look into your options...
THANKS!
DeerH

 

[jel0511]

I just wanted to note if you're truly looking for a beach righ ton property, stay away from Hanalei Bay. It is a BEAUTIFUL resort, but the beach is down a VERY steep hill. It's about a 15 minute walk down, and probably takes forever going up. They will pick you up if you call and take you back up the hill. Hanalei Bay shares the beach with the Princeville next door, but if I remember correctly the beach chairs on the beach are for Princeville guests only. The beach is located on Kauai's north shore, so it is VERY rough and really not intended for swimming. We stayed at Hanalei Bay for one night, when we got bumped from the Princeville, but we checked out the next morning and were able to get a room at the Princeville.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by deerh
Thanks Dean for your quick response.
Sorry for the "flexible" comment. I thought in the timeshare world,
that any week for 7/8 weeks would be "flexible", I guess not.

Anyway, good ideas, but I always read on this board that DVC is a " requested" place, so I am at a loss as to why DVC is a tough trade to Hawaii. I thought DVC was a "desired" resort, just wanted to try to figure this out, if I put DVC on the plate at TUG, would I get a lot of nibbles?

I guess I do compete with other resort owners wanting to go to Hawaii as well.

Will look into your options...
THANKS!
DeerH

DVC is by no means the only Top trading timeshare. Most timeshares in HI at the places you want either have very few 2 BR and/or are lockoff's and deposited as such. Remember that the owner must give it up for you to get it and that doesn't happen for the places you want very ofter. Like DVC members they usually use them or rent them privately. And if they deposit, it's usually the smaller units. IMO, flexible would be the entire summer for ANY resort on the list. And even then, not much hope. Now if you could go while school was in like May or Sept-Oct; different story.

DVC members need to lose the idea that they are at the head of the line when exchanging, it just isn't true.

 

[barb45]

I think that the whole summer - any resort would be very flexible. We waited 8 months to get a match but that is because we started sooo early. We got a match in March for November and member services put our search in for any 2 bedroom on the beach in Maui or Kaua'i. We wanted Marriott (but they don't have kitchens) and the CM said they are hard to get so we settled for the Sands of Kahana (I hope it is nice). Has anyone stayed there?

 

[Disney-Kim]

I have been reading the Hawaii threads these last few months and it does not seem easy to get a trade there.
I called and there was nothing for 2004-05 at that time but I could pay the fee and wait.
I have not done this because I can't wait to find out, I need to know sooner since I am using freq flier miles.
so good luck !!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Disney-Kim
I have been reading the Hawaii threads these last few months and it does not seem easy to get a trade there.
I called and there was nothing for 2004-05 at that time but I could pay the fee and wait.
I have not done this because I can't wait to find out, I need to know sooner since I am using freq flier miles.
so good luck !!

Try this exchange thread especially the last post as it contains info directly applicable to the options related to FF miles and related issues.

 

[deerh]

Well, I called MS today, and they said, that 74% of the exchanges go thru. Now, he did say that is less for Hawaii.

I am like one of the posters, I would like to know WAY ahead of time, (I guess the 11 mo window has trained me well!!), so how is the: Mauna Lani Bay and Bugalows Hotel (they do have 2-3 bedroom units, can you get those thru II?) and #2: How is the Kanapali Bay hotel in Maui?
Are these easier to get than waiting and waiting and waiting for a condo to come thru??
That is some questions I would like to know.
The other question is what is the % of exchanges getting to Hawaii? I know summer is tougher, just wondered if anyone knew this info....
THanks for the responses so far...
DeerH

 

[nitsirk987]

OK, NOW YOU GUYS ARE MAKING VERY VERY NERVOUS ABOUT OUR HAWAII TRIP... I WANT TO GO OCT OF 2005. SHOULD I BOOK NOW??? I HAVE BEEN PLANNING ON THIS TRIP FOR ABOUT A YEAR, WE BETTER BE ABLE TO GO!!!!!

I FEEL MY STOMACH GETTING IN KNOTS NOW!!!
WHY DON'T THEY TELL US THIS WHEN WE PURCHASE THE TIMESHARE?? THEY NEVER SAID THAT IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. I THOUGHT ALL WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS CALL AND GET A ROOM!!! AS LONG AS IT WAS FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE

 

[deerh]

OK, NOW YOU GUYS ARE MAKING VERY VERY NERVOUS ABOUT OUR HAWAII TRIP... I WANT TO GO OCT OF 2005. SHOULD I BOOK NOW??? I HAVE BEEN PLANNING ON THIS TRIP FOR ABOUT A YEAR, WE BETTER BE ABLE TO GO!!!!!

Well, I am NO expert, but Dean knows a LOT about exchanges.
I too, was under a SLIGHT impression that DVC would be easier than say a Daytona Beach timeshare to get Hawaii. I still say that!

I was under the impression that "given enough time (say 4-8 week timeframe or MORE, AND flexible, picking 4 or MORE resorts, I TOO, thought it might be good. Needless to say, I thought I was very flexible with my dates (a 8 week timeframe) and resorts galore, I am a little disolutioned (sp?) with DVC.

Murphy's Law- Wouldn't you know, the ONE time I want to exchange in 5 or more years, it is impossible to get! BUMMER!!

We will go to Hawaii by package deal or other means.

I am not a "dvc renter of points' per say.. Too much hassle, but you never know, I might, but as you say, I thought one phone call with the above criteria would at least get you to Hawaii.....

Deer H

 

[nitsirk987]

HI DEERH,

WHAT MONTHS DID YOU TRY TO GET?

 

[deerh]

Trying for Maui, June 3-July 23 of 2005. Need a 2 bedroom however. I think that is part of the prob, but still, I think I am MORE than giving a lot of leeway.

God forbid if I was in private industry with a set week off, say July 21-28, what in the world would you do then??????????

Thank goodness I am a teacher and am very flexible. I guess if you have 1 week a year, you are screwed! I guess those people don't own a timeshare?!

DeerH

 

[deerh]

This is one of many reasons I got into DVC in the 1st place. Not that I want to exchange every year, but the 1 or 2 or 3 times in 40 years of ownership that I might want an exchange I thought it would be easier to get owning DVC rather than other timeshares. I researched and thought Mariott and DVC the "tops of timeshares", and therefore a lot of "clout" ala "I want to stay at your timeshare" and therfore very tradable IF the RARE time I wanted to. Now I have owned DVC 6 years, and want to go to a desribale place, and have a snowballs chance in ....! I guess I was "taken" by my guide! JK!!

I know, I know, (subject to availability), I just thought DVC was ahead of a Daytona Beach timeshare.......

DeerH

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by deerh
Well, I called MS today, and they said, that 74% of the exchanges go thru. Now, he did say that is less for Hawaii.

I am like one of the posters, I would like to know WAY ahead of time, (I guess the 11 mo window has trained me well!!), so how is the: Mauna Lani Bay and Bugalows Hotel (they do have 2-3 bedroom units, can you get those thru II?) and #2: How is the Kanapali Bay hotel in Maui?
Are these easier to get than waiting and waiting and waiting for a condo to come thru??
That is some questions I would like to know.
The other question is what is the % of exchanges getting to Hawaii? I know summer is tougher, just wondered if anyone knew this info....
THanks for the responses so far...
DeerH

74% of exchanges do go through but that is a VERY misleading statement. It means that 74% of the exchange requests that were allowed to go to completion matched for SOMETHING. It has nothing to do with what choice one got. Look at it another way, that 26% of people didn't match ANYTHING. And keep in mind that means many people settled for choices and that many likely cancelled when nothing happened within their alloted timeframe and would not have been counted in the totals though I'd count many of them in the "not matched" group. Also remember that HI is not Williamsburg or Branson and that a certain percent of requests/matches were for off season. My guess would be that fewer than 20% of appropriately placed DVC HI requests were filled through II and that less than 10% were truly for a high choice. The actual number will not be available to you and likely not even to DVC themselves. Keep in mind that many did get something by going other routes, esp direct exchanges.

OK, NOW YOU GUYS ARE MAKING VERY VERY NERVOUS ABOUT OUR HAWAII TRIP... I WANT TO GO OCT OF 2005. SHOULD I BOOK NOW??? I HAVE BEEN PLANNING ON THIS TRIP FOR ABOUT A YEAR, WE BETTER BE ABLE TO GO!!!!!

I FEEL MY STOMACH GETTING IN KNOTS NOW!!!
WHY DON'T THEY TELL US THIS WHEN WE PURCHASE THE TIMESHARE?? THEY NEVER SAID THAT IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. I THOUGHT ALL WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS CALL AND GET A ROOM!!! AS LONG AS IT WAS FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE

I'd say anyone counting on a HI exchange should be nevous though OCT is a relatively easy time to go. You should start at least 1 year ahead, a full 12 months. If you want Kona Coast, you should start even earlier as they deposit up to 2 years out. As for the timeshare sales staff making this clear, they are sales people. In the real world of timesharing, this would not even be misleading. Wait until you are frankly lied to many times, which is the norm for most timeshare sales pitches.

But it still doesn't hurt to try and I think it's a good situation to do so. If one plans ahead, investigates the choices and has a contigency plan; they should be OK.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by deerh
I know, I know, (subject to availability), I just thought DVC was ahead of a Daytona Beach timeshare.......

Likely not for certain weeks like Bike week, 4th of July and the race weeks.

 

[nitsirk987]

BOY, YOU SURE TELL IT AS IT IS....

I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD US THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT NOT BUYING, BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO GO TO OTHER PLACES...

I GUESS I WILL TRY CALLING TOMORROW AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

THANKS

 

[rocketriter]

Be sure to follow other postings on this board about trading outside of DVC. There are many different opinions about what works and what does not, and what is a good deal and what is not. And there are many stories from people who trade out successfully and are happy with the vacations that result.

 

[nitsirk987]

I JUST REALLY WANT TO GO WITH MY HUSBAND. IT WILL BE OUR 5TH ANNIVERSARY AND WE HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD 5 YEARS... I HAVE BEEN DIAG WITH CANCER TWICE, AND WE REALLY WANT TO DO THIS...

SO HOPEFULLY IT WORKS OUT.....

THANKS

 

[rocketriter]

Pixie Dust to you! Please let us know how things work out.