Using DVC to travel the world? RCI Questions!

[123Disney]

I'm interested in how the trade works out. Let us know. Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[rentayenta]

I'm trying to figure out what the whole thing means -- I still can't see if we're trying to show that it's a good deal or it's a bad deal, LOL.

I'm interested in how the trade works out. Let us know. Have a wonderful trip!!

I have been giving this a lot of thought obviously by the amount of posting and for me, what it boils down to is this: the definition of the word valuable and in turn what is defined as valuable is highly subjective. For example and on a much smaller scale I would rather make dinner than go out to dinner. For far more enjoyment and less money I can cook a better tasting and healthier meal, drink wine, and stay comfy. The journey (prepping the food, cooking, chatting) is as important to me as the destination (eating the food). Now just apply on a larger scale.

 

[mbw12]

OP-----please add me to the list of people that would like to know how the trip and resort is when you get back! I always love hearing about DVC trades from others! We havent done it yet...but we plan on it for the future!

 

[Dean]

What does all this mean?

It means you can rent the week for less than $1000 for a 1 BR for the time listed.

I visited the website for the Cabo resort and noticed the rack rates around $350/night (if memory serves). I am still still trying to figure out why this is a bad trade "value" wise?

I bought into DVC because 1. I love Disney 2. Our family is needing a little bit bigger rooms outside of 2 beds and a bathroom...in one room 3. the kitchen (although I love Disney food....it gets old after a few days)

We will be using a majority of our points for Disney, but occasionally trade out. That resort in Cabo is sounding pretty good right now.

For someone who will only trade once or twice in the lifetime of a DVC membership, it likely doesn't make sense to worry about anything else as the dollars lost may not be made up by using another option and certainly the extra effort and time spent isn't worth it. However, anyone going in to a DVC ownership talking about trade options is far more likely to consider trading periodically and therefore would be foolish to not consider the cost of such trades and the other non DVC alternatives available then make the best choice.

Let me give you a real world scenario that is directly comparable and a little homework assignment if you chose to take it. I have 3 units booked for next Jan/Feb. These are a 1 BR then a 2 BR at the Grand Mayan and a 3 BR at Hacienda Del Mar. The GM is only available to DVC through RCI's Signature Collection. Using DVC points, these would have been roughly 1850 DVC points, at rental rates that would be around $20K. Total cost to me including exchange fees and underlying timeshare costs under $1K for all 3 combined. Of course MX is an extreme example because it is easy to trade to as a rule and 2 of these weeks are signature collection resorts for RCI points but regular members of RCI weeks. Go look at the websites for the 3 resorts in question and compare and consider what you can do for yourself if you position yourself correctly and learn how the system works.

 

[arthur06]

It means you can rent the week for less than $1000 for a 1 BR for the time listed.

For someone who will only trade once or twice in the lifetime of a DVC membership, it likely doesn't make sense to worry about anything else as the dollars lost may not be made up by using another option and certainly the extra effort and time spent isn't worth it. However, anyone going in to a DVC ownership talking about trade options is far more likely to consider trading periodically and therefore would be foolish to not consider the cost of such trades and the other non DVC alternatives available then make the best choice.

Let me give you a real world scenario that is directly comparable and a little homework assignment if you chose to take it. I have 3 units booked for next Jan/Feb. These are a 1 BR then a 2 BR at the Grand Mayan and a 3 BR at Hacienda Del Mar. The GM is only available to DVC through RCI's Signature Collection. Using DVC points, these would have been roughly 1850 DVC points, at rental rates that would be around $20K. Total cost to me including exchange fees and underlying timeshare costs under $1K for all 3 combined. Of course MX is an extreme example because it is easy to trade to as a rule and 2 of these weeks are signature collection resorts for RCI points but regular members of RCI weeks. Go look at the websites for the 3 resorts in question and compare and consider what you can do for yourself if you position yourself correctly and learn how the system works.

Dean,

I just bought into DVC this month, we really love Disney! But, when the times comes that I am read to buy a TS to exchange, I know who I will be calling!

 

[Anal Annie]

I TOO AM WAITING FOR DVC OAHU....
2010 IS AKV
2011 IS VERO
2012 RCI TRADE OR BACK TO WDW...have not decided.

Am I the only crazy person who plans this far ahead. Probably!!!

We usually go to Hawaii once every 5 yrs. (next in 2011) and like to cruise once every 3-4 yrs (prob. 2012)....then of course there are beach trips, ski trips and Disney trips inbetween....I HAVE to plan things out like that!!!! ALTHOUGH we do not have next year planned! Only 2011 & 2012!! DH's Dad moved to AZ last year so I am thinking a SW trip might be in order sometime soon...Hummmm....

 

[Lost in Neverland]

OP,Iam also very interested in how this works out. We are looking at a trade for Mexico in 2011. We bought into DVC with the idea that ocassionally we would trade and go somewhere else in the world. Now I am rethinking our decision to trade and just rent the points to cover the trip and use the cash. I am still confused though because if I rent my points out I am still losing th epoints and paying cash value for the trip. Is that not basically the same as trading? I was just a little confused before now I am way lost

 

[keishashadow]

i've only rented a handful of times (just once to non-family/friends and the renter was a DVC member who was a sweetheart to deal with).

found it more cost effecient to pay AAA rate for DLH last year & found great deals on same trip in Vegas, both covered by one rental

again, this year rented points to help fund alaskan cruise last month

only problem is, despite such nice new travel experiences, i found myself really missing Orlandoand am sneaking down for a few nights end of month...doesn't do much for my cost effective rationale yet im enjoying it and isn't that what DVC is all about?

life is too short, enjoy the magic!

 

[Mich Mouse]

Interesting thread...

What I am now interested in is information about people who made exchanges and were very happy with their trade, use of points and accomodations.

Do we have any threads here with these types of details? This information would be very useful for those planning trips.

 

[rentayenta]

OP-----please add me to the list of people that would like to know how the trip and resort is when you get back! I always love hearing about DVC trades from others! We havent done it yet...but we plan on it for the future!

I think this is meant for me although I am not the OP. Will do!

It means you can rent the week for less than $1000 for a 1 BR for the time listed.

Gotcha! I don't see my week listed but will assume it's near the same.




I would also like to hear from those that have exchanged their DVC for non-Disney destinations. Not super focused on the money aspect but the resort/vacation/trade experience. Did the resort and destination live up to the photos/reviews? Dining?

 

[Dean]

OP,Iam also very interested in how this works out. We are looking at a trade for Mexico in 2011. We bought into DVC with the idea that ocassionally we would trade and go somewhere else in the world. Now I am rethinking our decision to trade and just rent the points to cover the trip and use the cash. I am still confused though because if I rent my points out I am still losing th epoints and paying cash value for the trip. Is that not basically the same as trading? I was just a little confused before now I am way lost

I think you should look at each option on it's own merit. You might be able to get some options for the equivalent of $2-4 per point compared to exchanging while others may be a much better return of value. MX tends to be one you can get good things cheaply either by exchanging or using $$$ so it does tend to give extreme examples. HI OTOH can be a very good return if you get the better options, unfortunately there are far less with RCI than II for HI.

 

[Dean]

Gotcha! I don't see my week listed but will assume it's near the same.

Even though Mx is fairly easy overall, Xmas to Easter in general and especially Xmas and March to mid April tends to be the most in demand times for MX. Thus it's reasonable to expect less availability and higher prices for that time compared to late summer and early Fall. The times listed are the lowest in demand and the highest in availability for the region. There are also other factors such as Mandatory all inclusive options, resort rating/demand and the population eligible such as may be determined by any RCI restrictions such as the 1 in 4 type rules. The later is definitely true for the Grand Mayan resorts since they block you from returning for now 5 years to any of their resorts if you're exchanged to any of their resorts during that time. Max of 1 trip (up to 2 concurrent/consecutive weeks) to their resorts as a group every 5 years. There are ways around it but they're not applicable for those only using DVC or any other single exchange system option.

 

[arthur06]

What is MX?

 

[rentayenta]

What is MX?

Mexico.

 

[rentayenta]

Even though Mx is fairly easy overall, Xmas to Easter in general and especially Xmas and March to mid April tends to be the most in demand times for MX. Thus it's reasonable to expect less availability and higher prices for that time compared to late summer and early Fall. The times listed are the lowest in demand and the highest in availability for the region. There are also other factors such as Mandatory all inclusive options, resort rating/demand and the population eligible such as may be determined by any RCI restrictions such as the 1 in 4 type rules. The later is definitely true for the Grand Mayan resorts since they block you from returning for now 5 years to any of their resorts if you're exchanged to any of their resorts during that time. Max of 1 trip (up to 2 concurrent/consecutive weeks) to their resorts as a group every 5 years. There are ways around it but they're not applicable for those only using DVC or any other single exchange system option.

I mean seriously, where do you get all this info? We will see how this exchange goes but really, owning DVC insures I get a good vacation every year and to me that's priceless. If this trade goes well, I could see us trading out again.

I know we will be going during peak time although I didn't even think about it being Spring Break. Guess there will be lots of and crowds but fun none the less.

 

[redboxcar]

Sigh, I suppose I still don't get it. Spending 160 points on a weeklong vacation to a four or five star resort still seems reasonable to me. Am I crazy? Do I not understand the value of points? You guys are saying it'd be a better value to rent the points and use the cash.

According to an example I posted in this thread earlier, renting points at $10/point would yield me $1600 for those 160 points. For the same resort that I might spend 160 points at, a studio costs nearly $300/night. At 7 nights, that's $2100. How is renting the points and using the cash a better deal?

 

[jamstew]

Sigh, I suppose I still don't get it. Spending 160 points on a weeklong vacation to a four or five star resort still seems reasonable to me. Am I crazy? Do I not understand the value of points? You guys are saying it'd be a better value to rent the points and use the cash.

According to an example I posted in this thread earlier, renting points at $10/point would yield me $1600 for those 160 points. For the same resort that I might spend 160 points at, a studio costs nearly $300/night. At 7 nights, that's $2100. How is renting the points and using the cash a better deal?

Here are my real world examples of why trading my DVC points in RCI is not a good deal for me.

1) I own a fixed week timeshare in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The maintenance fee is $395 a year, and I've used it to trade into very nice places on the beach in Mexico multiple times. The exchange fee is $164, and RCI membership is about $89 a year (less if you pay for multiple years). So I can trade into Mexico for $648 and still have my DVC points.

2) I also own a 2BR fixed week on the Texas coast that I bought on eBay for $50. Maintenance fees there are $450 a year. I don't trade it because I like it there and it's an easy drive from home. By virtue of my RCI membership, I can rent a great condo on the beach in Mexico through their Extra Vacations for less than $1000, and, again, I still have my DVC points.

So, if I want to, I can take four trips a year for around $2000 total:

1. Trading out of Hot Springs to somewhere else
2. Using my Texas beach week
3. Renting a week through RCI's Extra Vacations
4. A week at DVC

 

[TINKERIFIC]

The only TS I own (and plan to own) is DVC. I am interested in a certain resort through RCI - Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar (#6311) 1 bedroom for summer 2012 - which would cost me 160 points.

I did a quick and dirty search on certain timeshare rental sites to get an idea of how much I would pay cash for a week (rough estimate in current dollars). It averaged about $104/day, which is $728/week. I am not sure on any other fees involved though. I would identify website, but I am not sure if I can post that here.

Basically, I could rent those 160 points out to yield around $1,600 and use that towards my vacation vs. exchanging? Am I understanding this correctly? So, in this case it would be "bad" to trade out?

Someone please make me understand.

 

[jamstew]

The only TS I own (and plan to own) is DVC. I am interested in a certain resort through RCI - Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar (#6311) 1 bedroom for summer 2012 - which would cost me 160 points.

I did a quick and dirty search on certain timeshare rental sites to get an idea of how much I would pay cash for a week (rough estimate in current dollars). It averaged about $104/day, which is $728/week. I am not sure on any other fees involved though. I would identify website, but I am not sure if I can post that here.

Basically, I could rent those 160 points out to yield around $1,600 and use that towards my vacation vs. exchanging? Am I understanding this correctly? So, in this case it would be "bad" to trade out?

Someone please make me understand.

You got it You come out over $800 to the good by renting your points and paying cash for your rental.

 

[Lisa P.]

The only TS I own (and plan to own) is DVC. I am interested in a certain resort through RCI - Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar (#6311) 1 bedroom for summer 2012 - which would cost me 160 points..... in this case it would be "bad" to trade out?

Not only would you save a little money by renting out your points and then renting your stay from a Bluegreen owner, but it may actually be the only way you're likely to get this stay.

You see, Bluegreen (and most points-based timeshare companies) will rarely deposit their most prime weeks from their flagship resorts with RCI. After frequenting timeshare forums for years, I've never read of anyone trading into anything larger than a studio unit at WC @ Big Cedar during the prime summer weeks. Maybe at the very beginning or very end of summer, when many schools are still in session. You don't see summer weeks deposited from DVC's HHI resort either. This is part of the difficulty in seeking prime time external exchanges - with either II or RCI.

Another option is to look for a BG owner on one of the timeshare forums, like TUG or TS4Ms. Find the Direct Exchange listings, For Rent listings or place your own want ad. See if one of them wants to rent a reservation to you or do a direct exchange for a DVC vacation (no fees).