Trouble with Interval International

[Hannah's mom]

I have never used hotel exchange but have been a DVC member for over 10 years. I am trying to use points to stay more cheaply at a hotel in DC. I have tried to call DVC several times to get assistance with a few questions but when I select the option to speak with someone about hotel exchange, no one ever comes to the line. I have been told the wait time will be 15-30 minutes depending on the day but have waited for more than an hour each time with no one answering. Is this normal? I really want to check a couple of things before I book. Any suggestions?

 

[abdgeek]

I have never used hotel exchange but have been a DVC member for over 10 years. I am trying to use points to stay more cheaply at a hotel in DC. I have tried to call DVC several times to get assistance with a few questions but when I select the option to speak with someone about hotel exchange, no one ever comes to the line. I have been told the wait time will be 15-30 minutes depending on the day but have waited for more than an hour each time with no one answering. Is this normal? I really want to check a couple of things before I book. Any suggestions?

Not sure why you’re unable to speak with someone at DVC. However, Member Services is closed today for the holiday. I forget which option you need, but it is the one for Interval International.

I have booked several hotel exchanges online with DVC. Below are some tips that may help you:

• When searching for II hotel exchanges, you need to search for the specific dates you want to stay in the hotel. The website shows availability for different hotels that are available for that date range and the number of points needed for each type of room. You can search by hotel name or location. Not all hotel brands are available for exchange.
• You have to use a minimum of 20 points for a hotel exchange. Once the hotel list has populated for the dates you want, change the number of points you plan to use for the hotel exchange to see updated rates and if you will also need to pay an additional cost for the room.
• Check the hotel website for whichever hotel you want beforehand and read the reviews so that you know what the OOP cost is. Unlike the previous Concierge Collection where DVC negotiated the number of points needed per night, they have not done that with II. It is possible that you will book your hotel using points and then find it later available for a lower number of points. That happened to me when I booked Atlantis. While I wasn’t happy that I could have saved points if I had waited to book, I also knew that it wasn’t guaranteed to still be available if I waited.
• Read the fine print. Some of the rooms are non-refundable and it is difficult to tell which ones include breakfast, even if it says it does on the hotel website.
• You can click on the book button several times to see more information before you actually have to book.
• The hotel exchange website is finicky. You cannot easily edit a search. However, I have found if I click on vacation exchange and then go back to hotel exchange that I can search again. If you are searching for a particular hotel name and it doesn’t come up, it may not be an option for a hotel exchange.

Good luck.

 

[Hannah's mom]

Not sure why you’re unable to speak with someone at DVC. However, Member Services is closed today for the holiday. I forget which option you need, but it is the one for Interval International.

I have booked several hotel exchanges online with DVC. Below are some tips that may help you:

• When searching for II hotel exchanges, you need to search for the specific dates you want to stay in the hotel. The website shows availability for different hotels that are available for that date range and the number of points needed for each type of room. You can search by hotel name or location. Not all hotel brands are available for exchange.
• You have to use a minimum of 20 points for a hotel exchange. Once the hotel list has populated for the dates you want, change the number of points you plan to use for the hotel exchange to see updated rates and if you will also need to pay an additional cost for the room.
• Check the hotel website for whichever hotel you want beforehand and read the reviews so that you know what the OOP cost is. Unlike the previous Concierge Collection where DVC negotiated the number of points needed per night, they have not done that with II. It is possible that you will book your hotel using points and then find it later available for a lower number of points. That happened to me when I booked Atlantis. While I wasn’t happy that I could have saved points if I had waited to book, I also knew that it wasn’t guaranteed to still be available if I waited.
• Read the fine print. Some of the rooms are non-refundable and it is difficult to tell which ones include breakfast, even if it says it does on the hotel website.
• You can click on the book button several times to see more information before you actually have to book.
• The hotel exchange website is finicky. You cannot easily edit a search. However, I have found if I click on vacation exchange and then go back to hotel exchange that I can search again. If you are searching for a particular hotel name and it doesn’t come up, it may not be an option for a hotel exchange.

Good luck.

This is super helpful! I find the FAQs are sometimes not useful, but this really clarified a LOT for me! Thanks so much!!

 

[Brian Noble]

I am trying to use points to stay more cheaply at a hotel in DC.

Unless your points are in distress and you don't have any other use for them, this is unlikely to save you much. The hotel exchange rate is usually disadvantageous.

The exception might be if the Marriott Vacation Club in DC has inventory as a timeshare exchange, but even then it is iffy.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Unless your points are in distress and you don't have any other use for them, this is unlikely to save you much. The hotel exchange rate is usually disadvantageous.

The exception might be if the Marriott Vacation Club in DC has inventory as a timeshare exchange, but even then it is iffy.

I used expiring DVC points to stay here when DVC was hooked up with RCI. Nice place and good free breakfast!