Trying for Maui March 2005

[rsschneck]

I called MS today to get started on a March 2005 trade. We gave them 4 resorts to try for and MS said I could add more places to search for at anytime. She also said we could trade through the Concierge collection at any time. She said you usually hear back within 2 days with the Conciege Collection. I am not opposed to using the extra points for Conciege, but I would like to use less points if possible.

How many others have traded into Hawaii?
How long did it take to hear back from MS about the trade?
How were the accomidations?

Thanks

 

[rocketriter]

We have successfully traded for Hawaii in March 2005. We gave MS several choices, but postings on this board suggested that the very large Kona Coast resort on the Big Island was most likely to score, and it did. We thought about turning it down and taking a chance waiting for a Marriott. But posters here and on the TUG board seem to feel that the Kona Coast is very good, we didn't want to risk the whole thing falling through, and we did want to see the volcanoes, so we happily accepted. We listed in December, and scored less than a month later.

 

[Dean]

I'm willing to be you won't hear back for Maui through II within 2 days. If it happens, repeat if, if will likely be at less t han 6 months. You should look for a direct exchange or contact smaller exchanges companies like San Francisco Exchange, Donita's, Platinum Interchange and Trading Places. Look on the Timeshare Users Group (TUG) for direct exchange possibilities.

I'm guess you listed all but the Schooner, I would definitely leave out the Schooner when trading DVC. One Napili is nice but a bit away and not very suitable for kids that like a more hotel environment. DVC is also considering adding the Westin and Embassy, if they do, you should add them to your list. You should be able to get an Embassy one BR through SFX fairly easily if you work now.

 

[wdwstar]

we were on the waitlist for maui, i made ressies feb. 2003 for april 2004, never heard i word about the waitlist, i finally went ahead and made back up plans for vero & bcv. im still waiting for the waitlist to come thru, we are down to 63 days if we were to go. i am so glad i made back up plans, we leave for vero in 61 days, i guess maui will have to wait until we trade direct with someone or pay cash.

 

[rsschneck]

rocketriter - We have already stayed at the Kona Coast Resort ( not a DVC trade, different reasons). The resort is nice, but not on the beach. The Big Island is not my FAVORITE so I decided if I needed to add the KCR later I would probably be okay!

Dean - Our favorite Island is Maui and love Kaanapali area. DVC has added the Westin and Embassy Suites to the Maui trades. I was very pleased to hear that! The resorts we put on the trade list right now are Maui - Marriott, Westin, Embassy and Kauai - Marriott. We have seen ALL of these properties and they are nice. Good beach front locations. We will wait a few months before adding other options. What others would be the best to add besides the KCR? Thanks Dean I am glad you read my post!

WDWstar - If the trade does not go through before the 7 month window then we will start making alternate plans. We will either use more points for the Concierge collection or try a DVC we haven't tried before (like Vero).

Any other Hawaii trade advise would be greatly appreciated!

 

[wdwstar]

rsschneck

i should have added that the resort we were trying for was the marriott maui ocean.

but now since they have added westin and embassy, that might open things up alittle.

im glad they finally added two more resorts, i may look into the maui again but this time 2 years out and i still wont get my hopes up, and i will still make a back up plan.

i want to say ms holds the waitlist 30 days to arrival, but im sure DEAN could tell us because like i said i booked a 14 months in advance and i dont remember what ms told me. i put maui on the back burning and im getting things ready for vero & bcv.

good luck and post back if your trip comes thru, it would be great news to hear !

 

[Dean]

A week and a half to two weeks ago Scott Lish told me they were considering adding both Embassy's and the Westin as well as both new Marriotts though I thought they'd already added the one on Oahu. I encouraged him to do so as I've stayed at both Embassy's and would consider them top choices and you can't go wrong with a new Marriott or Westin. Hopefully my input helped with this. Many of the others would be great to stay at but not necessarily a fair exchange using DVC. Only you can decide for certain though. SFX gets a lot of Embassy deposits, you should talk to them as well. Trading Places gets a lot of the Schooner I think and one (I think it's Platinum Intercange) gets Maui Hill a lot. I think it's TP that also gets a lot of One Napili way. A group wanting to relax more should consider ONW with the 3 BR options and the homey feel.

 

[Boo]

A few years ago, we requested Kauai in January for anytime in June and had a hit in a week. We turned down the first match- Palio I think, and waited for another. About three days later, we got Bali Hai in Princeville- North Shore, Kauai. It was outstanding. My personal preference is Kauai over Maui. When I picture Hawaii in my mind or the Hawaii of movies, it's Kauai that I see.
I want to put in a search for the Big Island, but I'll probably wait until we get back from WDW in May. Otherwise, DH just rolls his eyes and says can't you wait until we're back from one trip until you start planning the next? Of course not! What fun would DVC be????!!!!!

 

[rsschneck]

Happy to hear you got Kauai. I must tell you if Kauai is your idea of Hawaii then the Big Island will be very different for you. The BI is quiet, but not too much sandy beaches around.

Pixie dust to you! I have been pixie dusting myself already! LOVE HAWAII!!

 

[Califgirl]

I'm glad to hear that DVC has added the new Westin on Maui, but I would be a bit surprised if it were to become available to non-starwood internal trades for awhile. As it is brand new, it is a fairly hot ticket and many owners are trying to get in at the moment.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Califgirl
I'm glad to hear that DVC has added the new Westin on Maui, but I would be a bit surprised if it were to become available to non-starwood internal trades for awhile. As it is brand new, it is a fairly hot ticket and many owners are trying to get in at the moment.

I'd agree to a certain extent, the same is true for the Marriott's in general and to a slightly lessor extent, all of HI. Still, with it being so far and the air fare costs, there is usually some avaiability no matter how desireable the resort is. Does Westin control what units are given up and when? Also, if a Westin member trades out to II, a unit would have to go to II no matter how many Westin members wanted it.

 

[rsschneck]

Sounds like a trade is gonna be tough. We will wait for awhile just to see. Are the Concierge Collection trades easier? I know it is more points, but are the resorts worth it? We will have the points to use if we have to, it will just mean one less trip to WDW for the 2005 season. I just want to know if it would be worth the extra points. Any experience with the Concierge Trades?

Dean-Thanks again for your expertise

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by rsschneck
Sounds like a trade is gonna be tough. We will wait for awhile just to see. Are the Concierge Collection trades easier? I know it is more points, but are the resorts worth it? We will have the points to use if we have to, it will just mean one less trip to WDW for the 2005 season. I just want to know if it would be worth the extra points. Any experience with the Concierge Trades?

Dean-Thanks again for your expertise

HI is always tough but not impossible if you beat the bushes. Look at ALL possible avenues to find what you need including a direct exchange, rentals, DVC-II and the independent exhange companies. If you want the Embassy, talk to San Francisco Exchange. If you can do with a 1 BR or less, your changes improve dramatically. remember that SOK dosn't have AC and that the Embassy on Maui and the two older Marriott's only have a mini kitchens but somewhat better than DVC studios. I'd look for the easy options but still suspect renting your points will be your best option then getting a rental of some sort. When we went in 2002 we traded two Aruba units to get two one BR units at the Embassy through SFX and got a 2 BR at the Embassy on Kauai for the other week by rental then rented out points to pay for it.

 

[ZachnElli]

How do we know that Westin and Embassy were really added? Are they on the website or just by calling MS? We are looking to do Maui in 2005 and thought I would just rent points (actually, I just want to pay cash and bank our points, but I don't know that we can do that yet! ) But I want to look into these 2 new resorts. Thanks!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by ZachnElli
How do we know that Westin and Embassy were really added? Are they on the website or just by calling MS? We are looking to do Maui in 2005 and thought I would just rent points (actually, I just want to pay cash and bank our points, but I don't know that we can do that yet! ) But I want to look into these 2 new resorts. Thanks!

Other than someone saying MS told them, I don't. When I contacted MS a couple of weeks ago Scott Lisch said they were comtemplating adding them. Someone else said MS told them they were added and that doesn't surprise me after Scott and I communicated about this issue. The Marriott for Maui is still the top choice. The Embassy is pretty decent and I'd call it a comparable trade but not quite as nice as DVC. It's a hotel type option and exchangers get views that are not the best. You can upgrade for a fee.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by Boo
A few years ago, we requested Kauai in January for anytime in June and had a hit in a week. We turned down the first match- Palio I think, and waited for another. About three days later, we got Bali Hai in Princeville- North Shore, Kauai. It was outstanding. My personal preference is Kauai over Maui. When I picture Hawaii in my mind or the Hawaii of movies, it's Kauai that I see.
I want to put in a search for the Big Island, but I'll probably wait until we get back from WDW in May. Otherwise, DH just rolls his eyes and says can't you wait until we're back from one trip until you start planning the next? Of course not! What fun would DVC be????!!!!!

I must agree that I prefer the Princeville area of Kauai too. We also stayed at Bali Hai (which is one of the many Puhio resorts in the area), and I didn't care for it. I thought their materials were substandard (linoleum instead of tile, no jacuzzi etc)and We didn't like the arangement of the small bathroom. Like the eat at bar in the kitchen and the great views from the deck though! We also liked the proximity of this area to everything we like to do. VERY RELAXING! We stayed here on an exchange from some friends of ours who traded a gold crown RCI exchange for it. I didn't think it was a good quality for quality exchange with DVC, and the only Puhio resort in Princeville are I thought WAS a good trade into was Shear water.

 

[rsschneck]

I called MS on Thursday or Friday to trade for the March 2005 date. There was no immediate match, so I paid my $75.00 fee to get on the list to see if I can get a one bedroom for March 2005.

Candace at MS was reading all the trade options, I had my book opened and when she got to the Westin and the Embassy I told her those were not listed in my Vacation Planner. Candace told me they must have been added since we received the planner. She mentioned a resort trade for Oahu as well, but I was not interested in Oahu. We have been to Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island. Maui is our Island of choice, but everyone is different. I am curious to see how difficult it is to actually trade, since that was a selling factor for us in purchasing DVC.

I will definately let everyone know if we get a trade match and how long a process it is.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We plan to do another Hawaii trade as well, and I am glad to see they are opening up other resort options. I think being flexible is the watchword to trading into Hawaii. We gave a 6 month window, any island. We got Kona Coast in 5 days. Next time I will do the same but rule out Kona Coast resort and try for a second week once I get the first week trade. That way, I hope to get 2 weeks in trades for teh same trip.

 

[Dean]

Someone recently posted that the Marriott on Oahu had been added.