Trading for Hawaii?

[ducklite]

If you've traded for Hawaii, please tell me about where you stayed. Did you like the resort? Would you trade for taht resort again? How many points did it cost you? I'd like to hear good and bad.

Anne

 

[dianeschlicht]

We got a week at the Kona Coast II a few years ago. We started our search process about 2 years ahead, and gave very wide perameters of anyting from January through May on Kauai, Hawaii, or Maui. The first thing that came up was the Kona coast (a 1 bedroom with 2 baths for 160 points), so we took it. We LOVE teh Big Island anyway, so we were very pleased with that option. We also traded a different timeshare for Bali Hai resort Princeville, Kauai, and since that is our second favorite island, it all worked out great!

Hawaii is considered high season year round, so that's why the 160 points for a week in the 1 bedroom. I liked the idea that it had two baths, and it worked out well. Location and the resort were very nice, and there were a lot of concierge activities to choose from. We did a circle island small plane tour over the volcanos, and a Waippio Valley horse drawn wagon tour on the north side of the island. The rest of the touring we did on our own. We had been to the Big Island before, and knew what things we wanted to do.

 

[ducklite]

Thanks for the response. Our plan is to spend a week in a timeshare trade, then hop to one of the other islands for three days before flying home.

We've got a lot ot reasearch. We're looking at pretty much anytime in 2009--we're wide-open and flexible, and would rather go during the least popular times.

We're using FF tickets for the airfare, but will have enough miles for unrestricted/no capacity control tickets, so as long as seats are available we'll be good.

How would you compare the places you stayed at in HI to the DVC resorts?

Anne

 

[littlestar]

If you don't already have any, pick up some copies of the "Revealed" books. Our local library carries them, but I liked them so much that I bought them (around $15.00 each). I have Maui Revealed, Kauai Revealed, and Oahu Revealed and they are simply the best guidebooks on Hawaii I have ever read. They have a website, too:

www.wizardpub.com

From the website above, you can see aerial photos of resorts you are thinking of staying at (to see how close they are to the ocean). I think you have to have a password from one of the books to read the in depth reviews, though.

Have fun planning your trip to the islands.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the response. Our plan is to spend a week in a timeshare trade, then hop to one of the other islands for three days before flying home.

We've got a lot ot reasearch. We're looking at pretty much anytime in 2009--we're wide-open and flexible, and would rather go during the least popular times.

We're using FF tickets for the airfare, but will have enough miles for unrestricted/no capacity control tickets, so as long as seats are available we'll be good.

How would you compare the places you stayed at in HI to the DVC resorts?

Anne

If you plan enough in advance you can get first class tickets for about the same miles as unrestricted coach. But you'll have to plan 330 days out from the return date. 10 days is a short trip from FL, I wouldn't make the trip for less than 2 weeks. Plus a 10 day trip suggests you're trying to just take off a week and do two weekends, it likely won't work well either from a timeshare standpoint or from a tiredness standpoint as you'll arrive home mid day or later the day after you leave HI. Most timeshares are Sat to Sat with some having other start days mostly Fri or Sun. So if you try to limit the start date of your timeshare exchange, you will be reducing your chances to MUCH less than if you give them the entire weekend as a choice.

The options on par with DVC are the Marriott's and Westin. KCR on the big island is also a good choice but very easy to get so I wouldn't trade DVC for it. Plus if you don't have a lot of HI experience, the Big Island might not be the best option for you. However, the more options, resorts, weeks you can give II, the better your chances. Also if you can go Sept, early Dec or the like; you have a much better chance as well. The other road block that comes up is if one needs a 2 BR as they are infinitely harder to get than the rest.

 

[WDWLVR]

We stayed at Mariott's Ko Olina Beach Club on the west side of Oahu and loved it. The resort has so much to offer with activities going on every day. There are 4 man-made lagoons on the property that offer some nice snorkeling. A 1/2 hour drive (not in rush hour) will get you into Honolulu and Waikiki. We toured the Arizona, the Missouri, and the Polynesian Cultural Center.

We stayed in an efficiency which is much like a DVC studio. Small fridge and microwave.

We didn't pay any points as we won the trade on the 2006 DVC Member Cruise. I would definately go back and we might look into a trade in there in a couple of years.

 

[Snookies]

...We did a circle island small plane tour over the volcanos, and a Waippio Valley horse drawn wagon tour on the north side of the island. The rest of the touring we did on our own. We had been to the Big Island before, and knew what things we wanted to do.

Wow. Deja Vu. This sounds like a description of our trip in late May/early June.

 

[ducklite]

If you plan enough in advance you can get first class tickets for about the same miles as unrestricted coach. But you'll have to plan 330 days out from the return date. 10 days is a short trip from FL, I wouldn't make the trip for less than 2 weeks.

Unfortunately with work I don't have a choice. I work for a small company and am the only person who does my job--plus it's a company policy that you can't take more than five days in a row off. I'll be pushing it and need to get special permission as it is. We were going to fly in on a Friday, staying in a hotel for a night if we need to. Check in to the condo on Saturday for a week. Hop to the other island and pay for three nights in a hotel. We didn't plan on using points for the entire ten nights. We'd fly back to FL on Tuesday so I could be back to work Thursday morning.

The options on par with DVC are the Marriott's and Westin. KCR on the big island is also a good choice but very easy to get so I wouldn't trade DVC for it. Plus if you don't have a lot of HI experience, the Big Island might not be the best option for you. However, the more options, resorts, weeks you can give II, the better your chances. Also if you can go Sept, early Dec or the like; you have a much better chance as well. The other road block that comes up is if one needs a 2 BR as they are infinitely harder to get than the rest.

We were thinking that Maui and Oahu, but we're not stuck on those two. We only need a 1BR, it will just be DH and I. We have no problem going in early September or December, in fact early December would be terrific. Westins aren't good for us because I'm allergic to down and feathers. We will look at Marriotts.

Thanks for your info!

Anne

 

[Dean]

Unfortunately with work I don't have a choice. I work for a small company and am the only person who does my job--plus it's a company policy that you can't take more than five days in a row off. I'll be pushing it and need to get special permission as it is. We were going to fly in on a Friday, staying in a hotel for a night if we need to. Check in to the condo on Saturday for a week. Hop to the other island and pay for three nights in a hotel. We didn't plan on using points for the entire ten nights. We'd fly back to FL on Tuesday so I could be back to work Thursday morning.


We were thinking that Maui and Oahu, but we're not stuck on those two. We only need a 1BR, it will just be DH and I. We have no problem going in early September or December, in fact early December would be terrific. Westins aren't good for us because I'm allergic to down and feathers. We will look at Marriotts.

Thanks for your info!

Anne

I was afraid of that situation. You'd be pushing it but given those specifics, here's what I'd do. The first half of Dec is EASY to get for HI comparatively, esp for a studio or 1 BR. I'd set up my air for a set week leaving and arriving to Oahu on Friday. I'd set my return flight on Tuesday (if I read your intent correctly), that will put you back home somewhere between noon and 11 PM on Wed. Flying in AND out of Oahu. But unless you can sleep on the plane, you'd have been up a day and a half at that point. I'd do a request for the Marriott and Westin for Fri, Sat or Sun for Marriott or Sat or Sun for the Westin (no Fri starts there). You could also add the Sunterra Resort if you wanted but it's likely that's the one you'd get if you did so thus I'd wait.

Once you have your plans, dates and air set; get a cancelable condo or timeshare type rental for Maui starting the Fri or Sat depending on your arrival time. You can always get a hotel later to fill in the needed days. Put in the request for an exchange but keep your eyes open for a rental that might be a better deal for you than using 160 DVC points. Depending on the start day of your exchange, you might need to do Oahu in 2 segments but that's no big deal.

Make sure you get a mostly direct flight so as to minimize your lost time and get a good return time. Delta has a direct out of ATL, don't know about Orlando, Tampa or Miami for other companies. If you have Marriott points you could also get a hotel sampler where you stay part on one island and the rest on another. You could also reverse the plan by staying a week on Oahu and a few days on Maui but if it were I, I'd do the Maui as the full week. Or you could forego the timeshare issue and do 5 days or so each (or 4/6) which would likely work better for many anyway.

I'm pretty sure that Westin will featherproof a room for you if needed. I can put you in touch with the concierge there if you need to find out for sure, just email me directly.

There are currently units sitting in II for Oahu and Kauai for that time frame in 1 BR and 2 BR units depending on location, nothing for Maui at present. But most units are gotten with an ongoing search. II does hold units for Marriott owners for 24 days so hard to know if they would be open to you currently but it's worth a try.

 

[ducklite]

I was afraid of that situation. You'd be pushing it but given those specifics, here's what I'd do. The first half of Dec is EASY to get for HI comparatively, esp for a studio or 1 BR. I'd set up my air for a set week leaving and arriving to Oahu on Friday. I'd set my return flight on Tuesday (if I read your intent correctly), that will put you back home somewhere between noon and 11 PM on Wed. Flying in AND out of Oahu.

We can book an open jaw to fly into Oahu and out of Maui. That will save on time and money as far as an inter-island ticket goes. I can by O/W tickets between the islands for $120 each, it's almost double for R/T, not to mention 3-4 hours of vacation time. It will put us back home around 4:00 pm on Wednesday, and I'll have to stagger into work on Thursday for at least half a day. I will sleep on the plane though--it leaves at 11:00 pm, and I fully expect that I'll be able to sleep a good 5-6 hours before we have to change in PHX, and then snooze a bit during the rest of the trip as well.

But unless you can sleep on the plane, you'd have been up a day and a half at that point.

One of the reasons we'll be flying first class is to facilitate this. It's not a perfect situation, but we'll be able to get six hours or so on the plane.

I'd do a request for the Marriott and Westin for Fri, Sat or Sun for Marriott or Sat or Sun for the Westin (no Fri starts there). You could also add the Sunterra Resort if you wanted but it's likely that's the one you'd get if you did so thus I'd wait.

The Marriott with a Friday check-in would work--or Saturday, we have no problem paying for a room the first night. We'll hypothetically check in on Friday and check-out the following Friday, and fly to Maui that day. In Maui we'll be paying out of pocket for the hotel, or possibly using Rewards Points if we've got enough and there is avialability.

Once you have your plans, dates and air set; get a cancelable condo or timeshare type rental for Maui starting the Fri or Sat depending on your arrival time. You can always get a hotel later to fill in the needed days. Put in the request for an exchange but keep your eyes open for a rental that might be a better deal for you than using 160 DVC points.

We don't want to pay for the entire week in cash, which is why we are using DVC points.

Depending on the start day of your exchange, you might need to do Oahu in 2 segments but that's no big deal.

Well, for us it is. We would need a Friday or Saturday start date.

Make sure you get a mostly direct flight so as to minimize your lost time and get a good return time. Delta has a direct out of ATL, don't know about Orlando, Tampa or Miami for other companies.

That's not an option either. As I said, we are using FF points, and they are with US AIrways/America West. We will only go if we can get FC tickets, and we're not willing to fork out $5000 for those. ALso DH might be coming from PHL and me from MCO, so getting a flight that we both connect in CLT makes a lot of sense.

If you have Marriott points you could also get a hotel sampler where you stay part on one island and the rest on another. You could also reverse the plan by staying a week on Oahu and a few days on Maui but if it were I, I'd do the Maui as the full week. Or you could forego the timeshare issue and do 5 days or so each (or 4/6) which would likely work better for many anyway.

Which again ends up costing a lot more cash out of pocket. We really want a 1BR so we can eat some of our meals in the villa and have a washer and dryer to pack much lighter. We plan on going back to HI in the future and going all out. For this trip we want to minimize cash outlay, and figure we can do it by using FF and DVC points. We are budgeting no more than $4000 for this trip.

I'm pretty sure that Westin will featherproof a room for you if needed. I can put you in touch with the concierge there if you need to find out for sure, just email me directly.

Thanks, I'll let you know.

There are currently units sitting in II for Oahu and Kauai for that time frame in 1 BR and 2 BR units depending on location, nothing for Maui at present. But most units are gotten with an ongoing search. II does hold units for Marriott owners for 24 days so hard to know if they would be open to you currently but it's worth a try.

Thanks for looking!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

After doing some research, it looks like the Westin is far nicer than the Marriott in the Kaanapali/West shore area. Has anyone had luck trading DVC for an Ocean View at the Westin?

We'd need one night cash, as we'lla rrive on Friday night, but it doesn't have to be at the Westin, we want to arrive, gather our bags, get the rental, drive to the hotel for the first night grabbing something fast on the way, and crash.

It has to be at least AAA 3 diamond--preferably 4 diamond, or Mobil 3-4 star. Any suggestions? Closer to the airport is probably better, although it looks like most of the hotels near the airport leave much to be desired.

At least we can go check-in to the Westin early on Saturday and give them plenty of time that day to de-feather if need be.

Anne

 

[Dean]

After doing some research, it looks like the Westin is far nicer than the Marriott in the Kaanapali/West shore area. Has anyone had luck trading DVC for an Ocean View at the Westin?

Each have their strong points and both are top notch overall. The trouble with trading in is they assign units based on priority. My unit for this Jan is an oceanside one but I'll likely not get that one and end up with a mountain view instead.. The only way to move up this ladder for unit assignment is to to a direct exchange with an owner.

We'd need one night cash, as we'lla rrive on Friday night, but it doesn't have to be at the Westin, we want to arrive, gather our bags, get the rental, drive to the hotel for the first night grabbing something fast on the way, and crash.

It has to be at least AAA 3 diamond--preferably 4 diamond, or Mobil 3-4 star. Any suggestions? Closer to the airport is probably better, although it looks like most of the hotels near the airport leave much to be desired.

Last time I was there and when we lived there, not much close to the airport. There's one main hotel, last I knew it was a Best Western but seemed to be a free agent every few years changing names.

At least we can go check-in to the Westin early on Saturday and give them plenty of time that day to de-feather if need be.

Anne

Make sure before you accept a unit there. And let them know a full 2 weeks prior to arrival.

I just get the sense you're setting yourself up for failure for this trip, I hope I'm wrong. Interisland should be less than $100 for two each way, usually much less. I still feel the air is the most important issue. You may find you have a lot more choices on flights if you do in and out of Oahu. When we went in 2002 we flew into Maui and out of HNL for 4 people on FF miles. This time we're doing all through HNL to get the best flights. It's worth the extra interisland to us with the air options that were present 330 days out on Delta, can't say for US air.

Don't forget priceline, esp for Waikiki.

 

[ducklite]

Each have their strong points and both are top notch overall. The trouble with trading in is they assign units based on priority. My unit for this Jan is an oceanside one but I'll likely not get that one and end up with a mountain view instead.. The only way to move up this ladder for unit assignment is to to a direct exchange with an owner.

I was on TUG looking around, and that might be a possibility as well. I guess have DVC is a good bargaining chip.

Make sure before you accept a unit there. And let them know a full 2 weeks prior to arrival.

I'll definitely call when we get closer to booking.

I just get the sense you're setting yourself up for failure for this trip, I hope I'm wrong.

Why would you say that?

Interisland should be less than $100 for two each way, usually much less. I still feel the air is the most important issue. You may find you have a lot more choices on flights if you do in and out of Oahu. When we went in 2002 we flew into Maui and out of HNL for 4 people on FF miles. This time we're doing all through HNL to get the best flights. It's worth the extra interisland to us with the air options that were present 330 days out on Delta, can't say for US air.

HNL does offer a few more options. Maybe we'll fly into HNL on Friday, and crash by an airport hotel there--any suggestions? Then fly to Maui Saturday morning, and back to HNL the following Saturday. It just seems that we'd be spending so much extra time in airport with the added flights...

Don't forget priceline, esp for Waikiki.

It's possible that we'll have enough Hilton points to have a free room there. I'm not big on Priceline as I like to have more control over my accomodations--even if it means spending more cash. But we'll see.

Anne

 

[Dean]

Why would you say that?

Because this trip will be hard enough to book if you were more flexible on many of the issues but you were setting up too many restrictions to make it likely to be able to pull it together. Your last note does seem you might be a little more flexible than your previous post suggested however. Ultimately you need to decide what's the most important. Is it making the trip for a reasonable cost and good options or is it only making the trip if all your restrictions fall into place. Either is OK, just make your decisions and go after the one that fits your needs. If you're only going to go if all falls into place, do search first and only try to get air once DVC finds a match. If the air doesn't work out you've only lost the $75 search fee.

If you open yourself up to being willing to do Oahu in a split stay you give yourself a LOT more chance of success for both the exchange portion and the FF portion. As for priceline, it's not that difficult to know what your getting if you do a little research. And that's esp true for the Waikiki and Marina Area of HI.

Good luck, I hope it works out. We'll be staying at the Westin in Jan but sounds like you may be looking sooner. Here's a link to the resort website

 

[Snookies]

I have two general follow-up questions based on this and previous exchange discussions and personal experience. My experience with DVC II exchanges has been that notification of a successful match occurs long after the 330-day FF window opening, resulting in a slim chance of booking FF air travel, particularly to Hawaii. My sense of the matter is that a decision has to be made early regarding type of trip flexibility. Specifically, either (1) book FF air when the window opens, accepting a fair value exchange or trade if one becomes available for a search consistent with air travel dates or (2) accept a fair value exchange when it becomes available, but be prepared to pay cash for air. My questions are (1) Is this an appropriate way to generally structure thinking about exchanges? and (2) if so, is one of these alternatives always superior to the other?

 

[ducklite]

Because this trip will be hard enough to book if you were more flexible on many of the issues but you were setting up too many restrictions to make it likely to be able to pull it together. Your last note does seem you might be a little more flexible than your previous post suggested however. Ultimately you need to decide what's the most important. Is it making the trip for a reasonable cost and good options or is it only making the trip if all your restrictions fall into place. Either is OK, just make your decisions and go after the one that fits your needs. If you're only going to go if all falls into place, do search first and only try to get air once DVC finds a match. If the air doesn't work out you've only lost the $75 search fee.

If you open yourself up to being willing to do Oahu in a split stay you give yourself a LOT more chance of success for both the exchange portion and the FF portion. As for priceline, it's not that difficult to know what your getting if you do a little research. And that's esp true for the Waikiki and Marina Area of HI.

Good luck, I hope it works out. We'll be staying at the Westin in Jan but sounds like you may be looking sooner. Here's a link to the resort website

We're looking for 2009! Plenty of time to get things to fall into place. If we can't fly on FF miles and stay on our DVC points for most of the trip, we'll wait and go another time. We won't have the budget to do it any other way.

Like I said, we'll have enough FF miles for unrestricted r/t f/c airfare. No capacity controls, no blackout dates due to our elite status. So we don't have to be forced into getting the airfare at the 330 day mark. As long as there are seats available, we can take them on FF miles. That flexibility should make this pretty easy to accomplish.

Anne

 

[BCV23]

Have you considered using points at the Grand Wailea? We love that hotel and enjoy the Wailea more than Kaanapali as it is much more quiet.

Good luck with everything. My husband is an elite flyer too but still tries to book at 330 days. Even so, it can be tough to get first class. Last trip, at first he could only get two seats in 1st, then two more and eventually the last two. Of course, it should be easier for just two.

Happy planning!

 

[WolfpackFan]

I don't mean to jump into OP's original question, but I could also use some advice on Hawaii trades.

DW and I are thinking we would like to do an II exchange for 2009. We would like either the Marriott or Weston on Mauai and could go anytime in the March 2009 to November 2009 time frame. We are completely flexible on dates. We would want a 1BR. I plan to put my exchange request in April 1, 2008 (that's when I would have the points available to do the exchange).

What do you think our chances will be to get an exchange? If we threw in Ko Olina on Oahu would that improve our chances? We would prefer Mauai, but would consider Ko Olina also. We really don't want to go back to the Big Island or Kauai at this point.

 

[Dean]

I have two general follow-up questions based on this and previous exchange discussions and personal experience. My experience with DVC II exchanges has been that notification of a successful match occurs long after the 330-day FF window opening, resulting in a slim chance of booking FF air travel, particularly to Hawaii. My sense of the matter is that a decision has to be made early regarding type of trip flexibility. Specifically, either (1) book FF air when the window opens, accepting a fair value exchange or trade if one becomes available for a search consistent with air travel dates or (2) accept a fair value exchange when it becomes available, but be prepared to pay cash for air. My questions are (1) Is this an appropriate way to generally structure thinking about exchanges? and (2) if so, is one of these alternatives always superior to the other?

This is true with exchanges in general for II as MOST deposits can't be done until 12 months or after. There are a few exceptions but relatively few. One generally wants to be searching prior to ANY weeks being deposited for the resorts you want. So if you are looking for a resort that can deposit 18 or 24 months in advance, you want to know that. And many Marriott weeks can be deposited 13 months or more in advance so one wants to be searching prior for those as well. I'd say there are 3 general peaks for matches. Those would be around 12 months out, around 6 months out and around 2 months out. That's one of the reasons I suggested getting the air set at 330 days out and conforming all else to that plan. Esp since air for a place like HI is a much larger expense.

As for what's best, you must look at the overall situation. How flexible can you be, what are your financial options and flexibility, what is your chance of success of each portion (FF air vs exchange) and how set are you on getting something vs only making the trip if the planets line up.

 

[Dean]

We're looking for 2009! Plenty of time to get things to fall into place. If we can't fly on FF miles and stay on our DVC points for most of the trip, we'll wait and go another time. We won't have the budget to do it any other way.

Like I said, we'll have enough FF miles for unrestricted r/t f/c airfare. No capacity controls, no blackout dates due to our elite status. So we don't have to be forced into getting the airfare at the 330 day mark. As long as there are seats available, we can take them on FF miles. That flexibility should make this pretty easy to accomplish.

Anne

Hopefully it'll work out but using easy, HI and timeshares in the same paragraph is illegal, LOL. Your chances for Sept and early Dec and for a 1 BR or smaller will certainly be better, as will looking a full 13 months or more out as you should be able to do for 2009. I'd put in the request now for a 1 BR at the 2 resorts discussed and see what happens. If you get to 330 days out from planned return, I'd personally book the air and narrow my search otherwise. I still think you should consider a cash rental back up as you can always rent out your DVC points and likely come out ahead anyway. Let us know how it works out.

I don't mean to jump into OP's original question, but I could also use some advice on Hawaii trades.

DW and I are thinking we would like to do an II exchange for 2009. We would like either the Marriott or Weston on Mauai and could go anytime in the March 2009 to November 2009 time frame. We are completely flexible on dates. We would want a 1BR. I plan to put my exchange request in April 1, 2008 (that's when I would have the points available to do the exchange).

What do you think our chances will be to get an exchange? If we threw in Ko Olina on Oahu would that improve our chances? We would prefer Mauai, but would consider Ko Olina also. We really don't want to go back to the Big Island or Kauai at this point.

Put the request in now as they won't take your points until you actually match which won't be for a while. If you wait until April, 2008, you will miss a number of possible units. DVC is generally very good at working with you for the points if need be. Certainly adding another resort will improve your chances but with those parameters, it's likely you'd get one of your preferred options. You can always open up your choices later if you need to.

You, or others, should likely consider talking to some of the smaller exchange companies like SFX, Trading Places Int, TP Maui, Platinum Interchange and HTSE to see what they have. You might be able to get access to other inventory, other resorts or a larger unit than you give up.