Trading with II, Marriott in particular

[moodv001]

We are considering purchasing DVC, but would like to trade with the II network, specifically Marriotts in Hawaii (Maui, Kauai) or really any property in the Hawaiian islands. Has anyone had any success trading with the Marriotts or any II hotel in Hawaii? If so, how did you go about it? How much additional money/fees did it cost? Hawaii is 270 pts for a week long stay in a 2 BR for anytime during the year ... sounds like a great deal (compared to some of the DVC properties at WDW for 2 BR in the high season - over 300 pts). I've read a lot of the postings on this website, but no one really talks about buying DVC to trade with II. Any thoughts/feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[WaltEeyoreWorld]

If HI is where you would like to stay most, then I would buy a Plat Marriott and then use it to trade into HI. To buy Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club it is like $36K to $40K. But you can get 2 Marriott Manor clubs (Williamsburg) resale for under $20K and then have 13 month priority trading into any other Marriott so you would be able (for the most part) to go 2 weeks a year to HI Marriott resorts for half the price of one week. Also less expensive than DVC. However, note that using a Marriott to trade into DVC usually yields a 1 BR for the most part rather than 2 BRs and usually the big resorts of OKW or SSR. However, many Marriott good traders have II giving ACs which gives you an extra week to use for usually around $250. We have used many of them to trade into DVC rather than our actual weeks.

You really need to think if you want to stay at DVC resorts or do you want to stay at II exchange resorts and a different home resort. We ended up getting both. Marriott's to explore the world and DVC to explore the magic. Good luck.

 

[Brian Noble]

Trading into prime marriot destinations at prime times is tricky, because marriott has negotiated a preference period with II. 60 days or more from check-in Marriott owners have a 24-day preference period before any non-Marriott owners can exchange for the week.

 

[Dean]

I agree, buying DVC to trade for Marriott makes NO sense. Even a silver or Gold Marriott unit will trade better to HI than would DVC partly because of the internal trading preference and partly because DVC really doesn't have that great of trade power. There are many other benefits to using Marriott to trade partly because of the direct access to II.

 

[BuzzLightYear3]

I agree with the other posters on that if your primary objective is to trade for Marriott Hawaii, DVC isn't the way to do it.

That said, we just got back from a wonderful 3 week vacation in Hawaii, and were able to get two of those weeks via a DVC trade:
1) Marriott Ko Olina 2BR on Oahu
2) Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas 2BR on Maui

I found people to trade with via the TUG boards (and later also found out they are on the DVC boards as well.) It did feel risky.....I transferred my points to them almost immediately and then had to hope they didn't cancel the reservations they made for me. I did my best to check them out via various avenues. Good news is that it all worked out great!

Between the DVC trade and using frequent flyer miles for first class Delta tickets (acquired before all of the mileage requirement increases!), we saved a bundle and stayed at exceptionally nice locations.

It's not approach I'd want to rely on regularly....I subscribe to the "buy where you want to stay" motto ... but if you mostly want to go to Disney and occasionally stay elsewhere, it is possible!