Trading into II

[5infam]

OK - I have been looking at purchasing another time share elsewhere (Hawaii) but I am also looking at buying 100 more DVC points instead and taking my total up to 300. We really only want to go to WDW every other year, so this will work great for us as we can use the points in off years for trading into II or other things. Now my trading question: when you trade in your points, do they have to be current use year points? In other words, can I trade in banked or borrowed points to make the required amount of points for the trade? My scenario is this - for my 2005 trip, using my current 200 points, I will be using all of my banked 04 points, all of my 05 points and 82 borrowed 06 points (I am bringing a lot of family so I am getting 3 rooms, thus all the points). If I buy 100 more points for my April 05 UY, I could then bank those into 06, plus I would get 100 more in April 06, thus giving me a total of 318 available in 06 (without borrowing from 07). Again, assuming I buy the add on, could I deposit 270 of those points now into II, and put in for a 2BDR week in Hawaii for summer 06? Sorry to run you through a bunch of math on this fine weekend (we are having great weather her in CA right now), but I know you DVC masters out there will have the answers. TIA!!!!

 

[Dean]

Under the old system you had to have the points to actually make a reservation for DVC to give to II. Home resort priority, banking and borrowing came into effect. Under the new system I'd assume the same is true but not certain. A good question to ask MS. I do know that if you do a request first, you will end up with a specific date of a deposit to work from. But I'm sure DVC will make it work if you have the points available at all.

 

[5infam]

I will check it out with MS on Monday then, since I have to call anyway to finish out my December ressie, day-by-day calling. I was concerned that this may not be possible, so if it doesn't work, I could still rent out the points I guess and get a cash ressie directly. Thanks though for the attempt to help, I will report back for sure after speaking with MS.

 

[Cruelladeville]

WHY do you want to trade points thru II? That's such an expensive way to take a trip! You are trading 270 points out, which is worth $2700 if you rented them on the rent/trade board. You can get $2700 in cash, and then rent the week you want for any location. They are posted on the TUG board in the classified ads section, which is a free area on that website. You will come out $$ ahead doing things this way, and will have some cash to pay for your airline tickets.

 

[5infam]

Hi Cruella,

I did check that out, but for the resort in Oahu, it ranged from 2200 to 2800 depending on the week, ocean view versus mountain view etc. My thinking was that if it was going to be the same price either way (expecting a higher rate since I would be looking for an ocean view room during summer or spring break) whether I paid cash or with the points conversion, I may be better off trading it in, and saving myself the hassle of going through 2 rentals (one to rent my DVC plus one to rent what I want). My time is worth something so if the trade thing is easier, I wouldn't even mind say a $200 to $300 difference so I wouldn't have the worry of the renting thing (more concerned about a renter flaking on me and my DVC points getting lost somehow). I know there are ways to protect yourself in a rental, and I am sure I will rent sooner than later, but for now it feels like there is a break even dollar point that I am willing to pay someone else for the hassle and some better guarantees. Again, assuming trading means better guarantees - which I have never traded - so I need the advice of the expert traders on this board.

 

[CarolMN]

I've read that many of the resorts give the "worst" rooms/views to exchangers. Something to keep in mind.

Best wishes -

 

[Dean]

For the nicer resorts in HI excluding the Big Island, it is likely a good value to trade if you're going high season. Summer, Xmas to Easter especially. For resorts like the Westin and Marriott, it might be a good value year round as long as you don't want a studio. But renting your points does give you more options than trading. Of course one could start with both as a thought and see what happens then narrow the choices from there.

 

[carlos1117]

I's like to add an example. I could trade 140 points for a 1 bedroon villa at the Mariott Aruba Surf club. That seems to me to be a pretty good deal. Sure it's in low season, but that's when I travel anyway. Even at 10 dollars a point, it'll cost me 1400 to stay in Aruba, that's only 200 per night for a 1 bedroon villa. Not too bad amd no hassle.

 

[snowbunny]

If I only own a small number of points at a DVC resort (that's my goal for this year), can I rent member points from any other DVC resort owner and then trade them for II? Does that even make sense?

 

[Dean]

I's like to add an example. I could trade 140 points for a 1 bedroon villa at the Mariott Aruba Surf club. That seems to me to be a pretty good deal. Sure it's in low season, but that's when I travel anyway. Even at 10 dollars a point, it'll cost me 1400 to stay in Aruba, that's only 200 per night for a 1 bedroon villa. Not too bad amd no hassle.

You could trade 144 points, plus the exchange fee for a week you could get for cash for $700-1000 or with a non DVC timeshare costing yearly fees of $300 plus the exchange fee. Plus you give up the option of a package deal, something places like Aruba and Cancun are known for and usually saves you a significant amount of money. As for the hassle, it depends. What if you have to change your plans or cancel, big hassle.

 

[carlos1117]

You could trade 144 points, plus the exchange fee for a week you could get for cash for $700-1000 or with a non DVC timeshare costing yearly fees of $300 plus the exchange fee. Plus you give up the option of a package deal, something places like Aruba and Cancun are known for and usually saves you a significant amount of money. As for the hassle, it depends. What if you have to change your plans or cancel, big hassle.

I'd like to see you get a 1 br villa at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club for 700 per week!

 

[Dean]

I'd like to see you get a 1 br villa at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club for 700 per week!

I've seen them that low a number of times. I've also seen them on II for exchange for a week that costs me about $200-300 per week. But it does depend on the situation, how far out you are and the like. For May, Sept, Oct and early Nov; that price would be fairly simple to find. For mid summer or winter, it would tend to be more expensive. Just don't over value what you are hoping to get in return. And while the specific resort you may want may not be available for the price range you have in mind, a number of other nice ones may be. And just because you see ads for certain prices doesn't mean they won't take less, many times a lot less.

I went to HI in 2002 for 2 weeks (4 people) and spent around $2500 total including air. That was for two 1 BR units at the Embassy on Maui and a 2 BR at the Embassy on Kauia (rental $900 for summer), I recently posted a more detailed breakdown. And I went to MX in 2003 with 9 days in an ocean front 3 BR units and total costs around $1000 including air (also 4 people). OF course I used FF miles in both cases but they didn't cost me anything to generate. I just rented out my 4th of July three BR double lockoff on Aruba for $1800 for this summer. This is at an II 5* resort and was a fair deal for both parties.

 

[carlos1117]

Dean,

Where do I look? You said to look on II. Is there a website that list rentals?

 

[5infam]

Dean,

You mentioned a few times now (and maybe I am now starting to understand it) that you traded in a lesser value resort with maintenance fees of a few hundred for the year. Are you saying that you own somewhere that you probably don't go (say South Africa) just to get into II trades or rentals, and pay a really cheap buy in and really low maintenance, again, just for trading somewhere you want to go? If I have this right, this makes tons of sense to me. My thinking was that you could only trade like for like properties and seasons, but maybe I still don't get it. Ok, I think I am really confused now!!

 

[Dean]

Dean,

Where do I look? You said to look on II. Is there a website that list rentals?

II has trades and rentals but you must be a member. I tend to look at TUG, the independent exchange companies, redweeks, monstertimeshares, ebay, bidshares and myresortsnetework. I know many use skyauctions and several others. The sites are mentioned on TUG from time to time.

 

[Dean]

Dean,

You mentioned a few times now (and maybe I am now starting to understand it) that you traded in a lesser value resort with maintenance fees of a few hundred for the year. Are you saying that you own somewhere that you probably don't go (say South Africa) just to get into II trades or rentals, and pay a really cheap buy in and really low maintenance, again, just for trading somewhere you want to go? If I have this right, this makes tons of sense to me. My thinking was that you could only trade like for like properties and seasons, but maybe I still don't get it. Ok, I think I am really confused now!!

I have owned several timeshare over the years just to trade or MOSTLY to trade. I sold my Marriott trader. I currently use the La Cabana weeks with fees of $360-389 per week or the Paradise Village where I can get almost two deposits a year with fees just over $300 for the year. There are many other strategies that will work but it is not a method for a novice, IMO.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Dean,

You mentioned a few times now (and maybe I am now starting to understand it) that you traded in a lesser value resort with maintenance fees of a few hundred for the year. Are you saying that you own somewhere that you probably don't go (say South Africa) just to get into II trades or rentals, and pay a really cheap buy in and really low maintenance, again, just for trading somewhere you want to go? If I have this right, this makes tons of sense to me. My thinking was that you could only trade like for like properties and seasons, but maybe I still don't get it. Ok, I think I am really confused now!!

Have you considered buying into a different points based system that has properties in Hawaii, plus also properties close to where you live? I do this with WorldMark and it works out really great for us.

I bought DVC because it is too hard to trade into reliably... but for my non-disney vacations, I book WM resorts, or trade via II or RCI. You can even combine the two... book WM in Hawaii to guarantee a place to stay... but then start an II trade request for Hawaii at the same time. If you trade gets filled, then you can cancel WM without penalty as long as it is over 30 days in advance.

/Jim

 

[5infam]

Ok, finished booking my 3 rooms at BWV for December this morning, and in the process, I checked about trading into II with banked and/or borrowed points. The rep said that both banked and borrowed points are allowed to be deposited into II. However, she did say that if it was up to her, she would not bank points with II straight away. She suggested that I call and see what they find first. If they don't have what I want, then I can keep calling back until I get it (big hassle). Second, I can put in my request and they will keep searching until a match shows up. When it does, they will call me and if I still want it, then I can give them my points. She then said that she would never deposit points unless there was a confirmed match or unless you have banked points that you simply can not use and they would expire anyway. Then bank them with II so you don't loose them outright. I am sure many of you that have posted on this thread know about this already, but I thought I would post it for others that may be reading it.

Dean, thanks for the list of places to view on the web (goodie - more research hours coming my way!!). I believe you are right about not messing with a trade only purchase until you have some more experience. I have a lot more looking to do before I pull the trigger on something. As always though, there are a few nice resales that I would like to grab one, but I am just not certain it they make the most sense. I will keep at it though. Thanks to everyone for your help!!!

 

[Dean]

Ok, finished booking my 3 rooms at BWV for December this morning, and in the process, I checked about trading into II with banked and/or borrowed points. The rep said that both banked and borrowed points are allowed to be deposited into II. However, she did say that if it was up to her, she would not bank points with II straight away. She suggested that I call and see what they find first. If they don't have what I want, then I can keep calling back until I get it (big hassle). Second, I can put in my request and they will keep searching until a match shows up. When it does, they will call me and if I still want it, then I can give them my points. She then said that she would never deposit points unless there was a confirmed match or unless you have banked points that you simply can not use and they would expire anyway. Then bank them with II so you don't loose them outright. I am sure many of you that have posted on this thread know about this already, but I thought I would post it for others that may be reading it.

Dean, thanks for the list of places to view on the web (goodie - more research hours coming my way!!). I believe you are right about not messing with a trade only purchase until you have some more experience. I have a lot more looking to do before I pull the trigger on something. As always though, there are a few nice resales that I would like to grab one, but I am just not certain it they make the most sense. I will keep at it though. Thanks to everyone for your help!!!

I would agree that the only time I'd deposit time with II without a confirmed exchange would be if I wanted to extend the life of points that were going to expire. Otherwise the ongoing search is the way to go.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I have to say, everytime I see one of these type threads and start reading I get so totally confused. It all seems so complicated when you start renting points and comparing the different options. That is why I've always liked DVC, it is so much simpler than other timeshares. Frankly, I have no interest in renting points. But I do plan on doing exchanges in the future, especially after I retire next year and we have the flexibility of traveling whenever we wish.

As far as our first/next non-DVC use of points, we're hoping to do the Holland American Alaska cruise in Summer, 2007.