Trading outside DVC
- Thread starter Emolly
- Start date
brittsmamabwv
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2001
- Messages
- 145
We are trading at the Marriot in Ft. Lauderdale in November (I'm aware that is not an area you requested.) I will tell you it is costing us 98 pts (studio w/ same amenities as studio @ villas) for the trade plus 75.00 to go thru II. Our home is BWV but the week that DVC traded was a week in a studio at OKW in August. Good Luck, PS...I was able to "surf" alot of these resorts including the Marriot thru the web.
When you wish upon a star...DVC will take you far...anything your heart desires....will come your way
[This message was edited by brittsmum1998 on 02-23-01 at 03:08 PM.]
When you wish upon a star...DVC will take you far...anything your heart desires....will come your way
[This message was edited by brittsmum1998 on 02-23-01 at 03:08 PM.]
dianeschlicht
<font color=blue>DVC-Trivia Contest, Apr-2006: Hon
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2000
- Messages
- 36,449
A
Anita Williams
Guest
I traded for the Four Seasons in Carlsbad CA last
year. It was a great place. Located between LA
and San Diego (closer to San Diego), it was near
almost all the things you would want to do. The
resort is attached to a Four Seasons Hotel, and
you can use all the facilities of both. I had
a studio for 55 points for the week. The room was
so big, the whole OKW studio could have fit in
the bathroom. We loved it, and the points were
very reasonable. Anita.
year. It was a great place. Located between LA
and San Diego (closer to San Diego), it was near
almost all the things you would want to do. The
resort is attached to a Four Seasons Hotel, and
you can use all the facilities of both. I had
a studio for 55 points for the week. The room was
so big, the whole OKW studio could have fit in
the bathroom. We loved it, and the points were
very reasonable. Anita.
Thanks!!!Do you have any idea about where in each state you would want to visit? There are many options for timeshares in each. TUG is a great place to check out the reviews, provided you are a member (believe me, it would be the BEST $10 you would spend to become a member. The info/reviews about resorts are great, and the Bulletin Board to ask questions is wonderful.)
Do you want a studio? 1 bedroom? 2 bedroom? These are all factors in where you want to stay. It can be difficult to find a 2 bedroom sometimes, since owners mostly use them.
Good luck!
Barbara
Do you want a studio? 1 bedroom? 2 bedroom? These are all factors in where you want to stay. It can be difficult to find a 2 bedroom sometimes, since owners mostly use them.
Good luck!
Barbara
Dean
DIS Veteran<br><a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 39,228
There's no way to truly answer your question in the way it is asked. I will instead try to give you an overview and some limited specifics. DVC usually trade through II but there is also the possiblity of one of the smaller independent exchange companies as well as direct owner to owner exchanges. With II, DVC controls which resort you have access; with all of the other choices you can trade to anything that's available including all of the II choices (not just the 180 or so that DVC says) and to all of the RCI choices as well (at least potentially). That means you may be able to get some top choices that are not on the DVC-II exchange list.
Some of the top choices on the DVC exchanges list would include many of the Marriott's, Royal Resorts (Cancun, Grand Cayman), Paradise Village (Nuevo Vallarta), the 2 Four Seasons (CA & AZ), St. James Place in CO, and Hyatt Sunset Harbour (Key West). Throw in Lawrence Welk, Playa Linda and Kona Coast and you have a pretty good wish list. BTW, I've just come to an agreement to buy at Paradise Village which operates on a points schedule much like that of DVC and I'm excited to ad that to my possibilities. Marriott's top domestic places are CO ski, Utah, HH, FL including coast, Desert Springs, Williamsburg and HI.
Some people are resort specific for exchanges and others are location specific. I suspect that most of us are a balance between the two. So if you tell us what you want more specifically, we can make other suggestions or supply additional information. Good luck.
Dean
Some of the top choices on the DVC exchanges list would include many of the Marriott's, Royal Resorts (Cancun, Grand Cayman), Paradise Village (Nuevo Vallarta), the 2 Four Seasons (CA & AZ), St. James Place in CO, and Hyatt Sunset Harbour (Key West). Throw in Lawrence Welk, Playa Linda and Kona Coast and you have a pretty good wish list. BTW, I've just come to an agreement to buy at Paradise Village which operates on a points schedule much like that of DVC and I'm excited to ad that to my possibilities. Marriott's top domestic places are CO ski, Utah, HH, FL including coast, Desert Springs, Williamsburg and HI.
Some people are resort specific for exchanges and others are location specific. I suspect that most of us are a balance between the two. So if you tell us what you want more specifically, we can make other suggestions or supply additional information. Good luck.
Dean
Dean
DIS Veteran<br><a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 39,228
Tried to send a direct email with the link but it was returned, check your email connection. The link www.tug2.net Tell them I or one of the other members sent you, I think we
get a free ad or something.
Dean Dalrymple
deandal@bigfoot.com
Dean
get a free ad or something.
Dean Dalrymple
deandal@bigfoot.com
Dean
sorry, in my previous post I said TUG stood for timeshare users guide. Guess I'm getting old and memory is going.TUG stand for Timeshare Users Group. There are to sections to look at for reviews of time shares.One is the Reviews and the other is the BBS. I use to just but timeshare users group in the search and get it that way.
Dean
DIS Veteran<br><a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 39,228
I'm not sure I can do anything quickly especially when it involves explaining something. I'll post info from an email that I just did (actually this morning) and that with a search for my name where the thread title looks promising should get you started. Maybe I can fill in any questions or details later. I think I've removed any personal info but I didn't edit for the answers for specific questions that were asked.<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> There are so many variables and nuances to what you are asking but I'll try. I'll warn you, this may be long. For top notch trades, direct exchanges are almost always the best option, even if it costs you more points. For easy trades, they are only the best option if you can trade up. By that I mean trade a studio for a 2 BR or 5 days (S-F in a 1 BR) or whatever variation you can work out.
First, DVC is very expensive for trading, you already know that. I think you're success depends on what you want, when and when you can go as well as being as flexible as you possibly can be and planning AT LEAST A YEAR IN ADVANCE. Remember that someone else must give up a week in order for a trade to happen. If there are 30 people in line for that week, you might be number 5. If someone else gets in the line, they might get in it ahead of you so that when 4 other weeks come down, you still may not get anything. Now DVC will have very good trade power but it's not the only place, remember there are top Marriott's, etc and a lot of other high demand places (at least part of the year) besides WDW. There's also a rule where owners at the same resort will have priority in many cases.
Now if you can go when others can't, you're way ahead of the game. Say you want to go to Aruba in Jan, tough trade but still likely to happen IF YOU ASK FOR THE RIGHT THINGS FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE. The caribbean is mostly studios and 1 BR so asking for a 2 BR will significantly hinder your chances. Late Spring, Summer and Fall are much easier to get in the Caribbean and MX, really most any warm climate including HI. Cancun on the other hand is mostly 2 BR but there are studios (really hotel units with no kitchen at all mostly).
How short notice can you travel, but you said you needed reasonable air fare also which doesn't work well usually with short term exchanges. Most exchanges come in at far less than a year, I'd say most are 4-6 months out, especially for the good ones during high seasons. You need to decide what variable you're willing to bank on and how flexible you can be. Sure with the DVC search first, you get a day or 2 to check on air fare, time off and the like but there are many trades you can just count on high air fare (like Aruba, Hi) though they will still be higher for some specials than others.
Decide what size unit you can live with and what size unit the location you want has. DVC won't let you search for a unit that's smaller than what X resort has. That means if you only need a studio but a certain resort only has 2 BR, they won't let you search for less than a 2 BR. On the other hand, if the resort has smaller units, you will frequently be offered a larger unit FOR AN ONGOING SEARCH but NOT for an instant match, must give up points for the same size unit for instant matches.
If you take a place like Caribbean an MX in summer, there are a ton of units deposited and many of the studios are almost the same as a 1 BR, just less privacy. Lets say you decided to go to Aruba in Summer. You decide the MINIMUM unit you can handle and when you wanted to go, then you call MS and see if they have anything in the computer at that time. If yes, and it works, check air fare and accept it if all falls into place. Lets assume you really prefer a 1 BR and nothing just sitting in II when you call. There are a ton of studio and 1 BR units deposited so you place an ongoing search for a studio but are hoping you get a 1 BR. You can try to tell MS that 4 will be going but I don't know if they'll allow that for a studio FOR EXCHANGES (I can explain this one if it's important). You start searching for air fare deals and find that anything less than $600 pp is a good deal (ouch but reality). You have FF miles that you can use but if you don't book at the 330 day window, you will be out of luck. In this scenario, I'd go ahead and book the air fare when you find the right deal, then change your request for an exchange to meet your dates. REMBEMBER TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN AND CAN'T TRAVEL because to II, saying you want Sat really means you will accept Thursday to Sunday unless you absolutely state to them otherwise. Now you're locked in to dates so you start looking even harder for a direct exchange and go ahead and make backup rental options that you can cancel when the trade comes through, which in this scenario it will if you started a full year out or more. It's very possibly you'll get offered at 1 BR at places like Marriott, La Cabana or Playa Linda; all very nice resorts but only the Marriott is truly comparable to DVC. Actually at La Cabana it's very likely you'd get offered a 1 BR for a studio search as they have twice as many 1 BR units than studios.
As a comparison, Cancun has a lot of 2 BR units though some are lockoff's with just a hotel room and NO kitchen. In this scenario, I'd search for a 1 BR or even a 2 BR, expecially if they won't let you list the places that don't have a "studio" or 1 BR with a 1 BR search. You need to learn to evaluate the nuances and hidden information to resorts you are looking at. Places like Cliff's Club and Lawai Beach in HI where exchangers tend to get a raw deal because of unit assignements. The fact that all 5* resorts are not great and that there are many great options not on the DVC list and not even 5*, will play a role. You find out that you want the beach but X resort is across the road with a blocked view or that the beach is not very good. You get extra fees (DVC is one of the worst) or a resort is remote and you need a car. You need a 2 BR and x resorts only has a few.
I've found MS not very knowledgeable about exchanges in general and that's why I sought outside resources. I may never actually trade my DVC, I have other far less expensive options that give me far more choices. We haven't even talked about deposit first which is far more complicated and requires a more knowledgeable person, can be much less points and give you options. Last year I traded a Aruba 1 BR for a 2 BR in Cancun (II not DVC). This year I traded Aruba 1 BR for a 2 BR Mountain Loft in Gatlinburg during the 3 weeks of fall colours. My two weeks at Aruba cost me far less than DVC and give me many more trade optins with fees about half DVC. With buying the Paradise Village points, I'll likely sell one of my Aruba weeks, so if you're interested in getting into real timesharing, let me know.
With the search first options you can request up to 2 years out, you can ask for the moon and if it doesn't happen no big deal. You can also have more than one search going. Say you really only need a 1 BR but some of the resorts only have 2 BR units. Place 2 searches, one for the 2 BR (only the very top resorts and don't list resorts on your 1 BR list) and the other for 1 BR at the resorts that have that size. If the 2 BR comes up first, you can always decline and wait on the 1 BR if you feel you still have plenty of time.
Then there are the independent exchange companies like San Francisco exchange, Donita's, Trading Places, Platinum Interchange, DialanExchange (great for Europe and Australia). The first 4 are mostly for west Coast, MX, HI and Canada. Their stengths and weakness vary so you may want to talk them if you're thinking about using them. Donita's isn't much on requesting specific resort, just areas. SFX is very selective in what resorts they take but give out a bonus week many times that trades just like a regular deposit. Most of them will let you do search first as well.
Well, I'm going to shut up now, I'm sure I've left out a ton of informaiton so fire away with questions and I'll do what I can. Good luck.
[/quote]
Dean
First, DVC is very expensive for trading, you already know that. I think you're success depends on what you want, when and when you can go as well as being as flexible as you possibly can be and planning AT LEAST A YEAR IN ADVANCE. Remember that someone else must give up a week in order for a trade to happen. If there are 30 people in line for that week, you might be number 5. If someone else gets in the line, they might get in it ahead of you so that when 4 other weeks come down, you still may not get anything. Now DVC will have very good trade power but it's not the only place, remember there are top Marriott's, etc and a lot of other high demand places (at least part of the year) besides WDW. There's also a rule where owners at the same resort will have priority in many cases.
Now if you can go when others can't, you're way ahead of the game. Say you want to go to Aruba in Jan, tough trade but still likely to happen IF YOU ASK FOR THE RIGHT THINGS FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE. The caribbean is mostly studios and 1 BR so asking for a 2 BR will significantly hinder your chances. Late Spring, Summer and Fall are much easier to get in the Caribbean and MX, really most any warm climate including HI. Cancun on the other hand is mostly 2 BR but there are studios (really hotel units with no kitchen at all mostly).
How short notice can you travel, but you said you needed reasonable air fare also which doesn't work well usually with short term exchanges. Most exchanges come in at far less than a year, I'd say most are 4-6 months out, especially for the good ones during high seasons. You need to decide what variable you're willing to bank on and how flexible you can be. Sure with the DVC search first, you get a day or 2 to check on air fare, time off and the like but there are many trades you can just count on high air fare (like Aruba, Hi) though they will still be higher for some specials than others.
Decide what size unit you can live with and what size unit the location you want has. DVC won't let you search for a unit that's smaller than what X resort has. That means if you only need a studio but a certain resort only has 2 BR, they won't let you search for less than a 2 BR. On the other hand, if the resort has smaller units, you will frequently be offered a larger unit FOR AN ONGOING SEARCH but NOT for an instant match, must give up points for the same size unit for instant matches.
If you take a place like Caribbean an MX in summer, there are a ton of units deposited and many of the studios are almost the same as a 1 BR, just less privacy. Lets say you decided to go to Aruba in Summer. You decide the MINIMUM unit you can handle and when you wanted to go, then you call MS and see if they have anything in the computer at that time. If yes, and it works, check air fare and accept it if all falls into place. Lets assume you really prefer a 1 BR and nothing just sitting in II when you call. There are a ton of studio and 1 BR units deposited so you place an ongoing search for a studio but are hoping you get a 1 BR. You can try to tell MS that 4 will be going but I don't know if they'll allow that for a studio FOR EXCHANGES (I can explain this one if it's important). You start searching for air fare deals and find that anything less than $600 pp is a good deal (ouch but reality). You have FF miles that you can use but if you don't book at the 330 day window, you will be out of luck. In this scenario, I'd go ahead and book the air fare when you find the right deal, then change your request for an exchange to meet your dates. REMBEMBER TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN AND CAN'T TRAVEL because to II, saying you want Sat really means you will accept Thursday to Sunday unless you absolutely state to them otherwise. Now you're locked in to dates so you start looking even harder for a direct exchange and go ahead and make backup rental options that you can cancel when the trade comes through, which in this scenario it will if you started a full year out or more. It's very possibly you'll get offered at 1 BR at places like Marriott, La Cabana or Playa Linda; all very nice resorts but only the Marriott is truly comparable to DVC. Actually at La Cabana it's very likely you'd get offered a 1 BR for a studio search as they have twice as many 1 BR units than studios.
As a comparison, Cancun has a lot of 2 BR units though some are lockoff's with just a hotel room and NO kitchen. In this scenario, I'd search for a 1 BR or even a 2 BR, expecially if they won't let you list the places that don't have a "studio" or 1 BR with a 1 BR search. You need to learn to evaluate the nuances and hidden information to resorts you are looking at. Places like Cliff's Club and Lawai Beach in HI where exchangers tend to get a raw deal because of unit assignements. The fact that all 5* resorts are not great and that there are many great options not on the DVC list and not even 5*, will play a role. You find out that you want the beach but X resort is across the road with a blocked view or that the beach is not very good. You get extra fees (DVC is one of the worst) or a resort is remote and you need a car. You need a 2 BR and x resorts only has a few.
I've found MS not very knowledgeable about exchanges in general and that's why I sought outside resources. I may never actually trade my DVC, I have other far less expensive options that give me far more choices. We haven't even talked about deposit first which is far more complicated and requires a more knowledgeable person, can be much less points and give you options. Last year I traded a Aruba 1 BR for a 2 BR in Cancun (II not DVC). This year I traded Aruba 1 BR for a 2 BR Mountain Loft in Gatlinburg during the 3 weeks of fall colours. My two weeks at Aruba cost me far less than DVC and give me many more trade optins with fees about half DVC. With buying the Paradise Village points, I'll likely sell one of my Aruba weeks, so if you're interested in getting into real timesharing, let me know.
With the search first options you can request up to 2 years out, you can ask for the moon and if it doesn't happen no big deal. You can also have more than one search going. Say you really only need a 1 BR but some of the resorts only have 2 BR units. Place 2 searches, one for the 2 BR (only the very top resorts and don't list resorts on your 1 BR list) and the other for 1 BR at the resorts that have that size. If the 2 BR comes up first, you can always decline and wait on the 1 BR if you feel you still have plenty of time.
Then there are the independent exchange companies like San Francisco exchange, Donita's, Trading Places, Platinum Interchange, DialanExchange (great for Europe and Australia). The first 4 are mostly for west Coast, MX, HI and Canada. Their stengths and weakness vary so you may want to talk them if you're thinking about using them. Donita's isn't much on requesting specific resort, just areas. SFX is very selective in what resorts they take but give out a bonus week many times that trades just like a regular deposit. Most of them will let you do search first as well.
Well, I'm going to shut up now, I'm sure I've left out a ton of informaiton so fire away with questions and I'll do what I can. Good luck.
[/quote]
Dean
Dean
DIS Veteran<br><a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 39,228
I wanted to list separately about using independent or direct exchanges. All you need to do is secure a week with DVC that you want to use to "trade". The exchanger will be listed as your guest once all is said and done. The specifics will vary with each exchange company but most things will work the same. The largest difference is whether to do search first or deposit first. Good luck and I'll be happy to try to answer any specific questions.
Dean
Dean
Have you taken a look at the Concierge Collection choices for CA & CO. We stayed at the Keystone Resort this past winter for skiing. It also looks like a really nice place to go in the summer. When you use the Concierge Collection resorts you use your points just like you would at a DVC resort. We always check the Concierge Collections locations first before we consider a trade and we've always found one that fit our needs without having to use the Interval locations.
thank- you so much dean for taking the time to respond to my questions. I know that dvc isn't the best for exchanges outside their own resorts.But I was hoping to be able to take non-Disney vacations too.(hope this admission isn't a punishable crime)I haven't been sucessful in getting any exchanges I have requested.With your info the exchanging should be less complicated and more sucessful. Thanks again for taking the time to help a "newbie" .
Dean
DIS Veteran<br><a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis
- Joined
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No punishment needed or intended. I just want the members, especially those that haven't been told before, to be informed. I don't harp on this to try to beat it into those that have heard the gospel previously. I think DVC can be ideal for exchanging in some situations. Being able to request 2 years in advance, do request first, look for high end exchanges plus less fees; makes DVC ideal for certain exchanges and exchangers. Searching for different size units and knowing for sure you have what you want when you give up your DVC time is definitely worth something. It also gives you the chance to extend the life of points that might expire by doing deposit first when needed.
Sounds like I've accomplished my mission this time. Good luck.
Dean
Sounds like I've accomplished my mission this time. Good luck.
Dean
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