Non-DVC resort planning question...with points

[bangzoom6877]

DH and I want to buy somewhere between 6 and 8 months from now, a 150-pt. resale at BWV. Want to go every other year to WDW, staying on a one-bedroom standard view at BWV for 10 nights. This is 294 points. So, from what I have learned from these boards, it is better to borrow the extra points from the year after the trip than it is to bank them and then use them, because if I bank all 150, I will have 6 leftover to do nothing with. By borrowing instead, I would have 6 leftover the following year that I can bank, then go 2 years later, and so on. After 8 trips we would have 48 points banked from the previous year by doing this continuously, OR we could stay 10 nights one time, 11 nights the next, 10 nights the next, and so on. It sounds very complicated but DH and I sat down and did the math and this worked out well.

Now, that would mean that next year we would (possibly) have 150 points to use, if we get a contract that has all of 2009's available. In addition, I sometimes see resales with points banked as well from the previous year which could currently be used. So, if we get one of those resales and have the points for next summer...here is what I am thinking.....

We were originally going to go on a very small 2 or 3-night trip next summer, because of the large DVC purchase, to offset it a little bit. Is there any non-DVC short trip we would be able to take on 150 points? I know that non-DVC vacations are the WORST use of points to many people, but I would rather do this than lose them or bank them instead of doing the borrowing thing for our future WDW trips. So we would like to see if we could use the points next summer. I know that the Sagamore in Lake George is a hotel that is available with DVC points. I am also assuming that it costs many points per night to stay there, but how many is many? I have no clue as to how many points non-DVC trips are, but would really like to know for my planning for next year, if this is at all possible.

Jim McCoy told me on Wednesday that he is FedEx-ing the 35-page booklet that contains this information, but I have not gotten it yet. He thought it would arrive Friday but it didn't (not sure if FedEx delivers on weekends?). I am hoping to have it tomorrow, but I would really like to know!

Any good info or advice on how to use this? I will also mention we want to drive somewhere. We live in NYC. That's why Lake George would work. We also have 2 little kids, who will be 2 and 4 when we go on vacation next summer. We could travel in either July or August, but we NEVER travel the 4th of July. Thanks!

 

[CraftyMouse]

My advice would be to purchase 160 points rather than 150. With 160 you will be able to trade out for a week in other locations. This may not be something you'll want to do often, but it's a nice option to have.

As for your question, the locations in the Concierge Collection charge per night so you could always use your points at one of those. And remember there is always Vero Beach and Hilton Head. Both are fantastic resorts with very different atmosphere.

 

[bangzoom6877]

My advice would be to purchase 160 points rather than 150. With 160 you will be able to trade out for a week in other locations. This may not be something you'll want to do often, but it's a nice option to have.

As for your question, the locations in the Concierge Collection charge per night so you could always use your points at one of those. And remember there is always Vero Beach and Hilton Head. Both are fantastic resorts with very different atmosphere.

Yes, HHI is definitely something we would possibly want to do way in the future when the boys are older, but not next summer. We want to drive someplace closer to home. We live in NYC so Hilton Head is quite a drive from here!

160 points for a week at an exchange? Tell me more please!! What types of places? Are there any in the Poconos area? These are also timeshares right?

 

[bangzoom6877]

Okay, I looked on Interval Int'l's website and saw the places available. I did see that there were several in the Poconos, one in Hershey, PA, some in Vermont.

Are all of their properties 160 points for a week? Any of them less?

 

[CraftyMouse]

Okay, I looked on Interval Int'l's website and saw the places available. I did see that there were several in the Poconos, one in Hershey, PA, some in Vermont.

Are all of their properties 160 points for a week? Any of them less?

Not all of the II properties are available through DVC (I don't believe). We have a link on the Member website that shows us what is available. If you are getting the booklet/info directly from DVC the details should be in there. It depends on the season when you travel, but most weeks are 160 points. High season may run more. We exchanged for a 1BR in Sedona, AZ for 160 points and it was wonderful. There are resorts all over the US, in Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe and more. It's a wonderful option to have when you want to go somewhere other than Disney!

 

[shortypots]

To answer your question as to how many points it is for the Sagamore, it is 50 pts for Sun - Thurs for June -August, and Fri and Sat are 53 points for a Lakeview. For the Lodge Suite it is 57 pts Sun -Thurs, and 58 pts fri-sat. So you would have to borrow 6 pts from the next year to get 3 nts for a lakeview room.

Need to mention, that you pay your points, plus a $95 exchange fee to get that. That is standard whether you go with a 1bd through II, DCL, or any of the other trade options besides DVC.