Want to try something different - Non-Disney vacation

[Dean]

We did Hershey. We were put on a waitlist but we weren't on it that long and we got a prime week too...The week of July 4. We had a lot of fun and the kids would love to go back.

Nothing is impossible, one exchange doesn't give a trend. Still, it's not something one should count on. The best time to be looking are to be on the Wait List before anyone else and before units begin to be deposited, usually at least 12 months out. The other time for II is 60 days out and for RCI, 45 days out though that's changing somewhat.

 

[jennypenny]

Would you consider Whistler, even though it's in Canada? That would be great in the summer.

We go to Hershey almost every year, but I can't imagine finding something to do for a week. It is NOT disney in that way. We do two days/one night.

If you wanted a week, would you consider Pigeon Forge? I think you'd find more to do in the immediate area.

 

[limace]

Whistler IS gorgeous in the summer. However, if I was in your shoes I'd probably rent the points out and use the cash to go anywhere I wanted. Happy to stay in timeshares at Disney but not a huge fan elsewhere-I'd be tempted to think where I wanted to go the most, and then start scouring sites like VRBO and Travelzoo to see the best deal. That way, you aren't choosing where to go just based on what happens to have a week available to trade (and it's probably a better value this way).

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Bank your points and to to a National Park and pay cash.

Excellent idea!!!

 

[mjc2003]

I am not sure if you can book their villa's through a DVC exchange, but we recently went to South Seas Resort on Captiva Island and LOVED it. Fantastic place for families. You could always rent the points and use the cash...but be warned, it's not cheap!

I was told a small part of the resort is an RCI timeshare, but not sure if it's one of the ones you can trade to with DVC.

We cannot wait to go back.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Bank your points and to to a National Park and pay cash.

Ah, yes! We went to Yellowstone 3 years in a row and loved it. This week, one of DH's coworkers was asking him questions about it because he's planning on going next year, and we're thinking fondly of going again.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Excellent idea!!!

Unless the government shuts down on Aug 2 and they close the parks. Then I am in a pickle unless they reopen them later in the month.

 

[bbluvsdis]

We used our points through the Concierge collection to go to the Fairmont in San Francisco and we loved it. We were looking for something different for our anniversary and we had never been to the west coast. This hotel is first class and I think the Concierge collection is easier to book than RCI. It isn't a "trade" so it is easier to get what you want. SF is a great city with lots to do. If you haven't been there it is a great option.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Nothing is impossible, one exchange doesn't give a trend. Still, it's not something one should count on. The best time to be looking are to be on the Wait List before anyone else and before units begin to be deposited, usually at least 12 months out. The other time for II is 60 days out and for RCI, 45 days out though that's changing somewhat.

No it isn't a trend, but I was also told on here it was almost "impossible" to get the week too. I'm saying to people that want to go there it isn't impossible. You may have to wait a little bit, but it will come through for you.

Anyhoo, I see that you stayed for a week. Did you feel there was enough to do to stay for a full week, or do you think it would be better to stay for a partial week? Do you know if they had different sized units (studios, 1 BR, 2 BR) or were they all one size (i.e. only 2 BR's)? Were the units and grounds as nice as DVC?

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions, but I've been dying to know!

We stayed all week in a two bedroom unit because there was five of us. We did hershey park one day and took a tour around hershey another day and had some pool time. We went to Amish country. We took a day tour to New York City as well as another day tour to Washington D.C. We made good use of our entire week there. As far as the units, they were nice in my expectation. It had a small pool area that kids like to play in. It was *not dvc, but I wasn't expecting dvc either.

 

[Boomboom27]

Our friends brought us to Hilton Head Island Resort last year and it was a great resort. As soon as we got home we bought into DVC, can't wait to go back to HHI in 2012

 

[Dean]

No it isn't a trend, but I was also told on here it was almost "impossible" to get the week too. I'm saying to people that want to go there it isn't impossible. You may have to wait a little bit, but it will come through for you.

Suites at Hershey is a small resort, I think it's only 74 units or so IIRC. On top of that it's actually mixed ownership with owned units from before Bluegreen and points units after BG took over. It's also dually affiliated with both II and RCI which means it could end up in II, RCI week or RCI points IF a top week gets deposited. BG has also just changed their deposit system such they they, not the owner, gets to pick the week deposited, at least with RCI. Add to that summer being high demand time, it only has 2 BR units and that DVC members don't have direct access to RCI, chances are VERY slim going forward. It might happen again but it should not be counted on. No reason not to try, just something one should make alternate plans going forward.

 

[Mjkre]

I just returned from a fabulous trip to see various national parks and some of the most amazing sites ever in Oregon, Washington and California. Within a matter of days, we traveled to Mt. St. Helens(volcanic destruction meets rebirth), Mt. Hood (think skiing in summer in shorts), the Columbia River Gorge (holy waterfalls!), Crater Lake National Park (perhaps the most amazing site to behold), rode sand buggies on gigantic sand dunes, sand boarded (snow boarding on sand), rafted on rivers and hiked through the Giant Redwoods.

Now we also changed hotels a bunch of times during our journey, but any one of these sites would provide a fantastic non-disney vacation alternative. And if you could trade your points in, I know there are several RCI resorts out there (although we did not stay in any of them). World Mark has a bunch, I think.

Happy Planning!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just returned from a fabulous trip to see various national parks and some of the most amazing sites ever in Oregon, Washington and California. Within a matter of days, we traveled to Mt. St. Helens(volcanic destruction meets rebirth), Mt. Hood (think skiing in summer in shorts), the Columbia River Gorge (holy waterfalls!), Crater Lake National Park (perhaps the most amazing site to behold), rode sand buggies on gigantic sand dunes, sand boarded (snow boarding on sand), rafted on rivers and hiked through the Giant Redwoods.

Now we also changed hotels a bunch of times during our journey, but any one of these sites would provide a fantastic non-disney vacation alternative. And if you could trade your points in, I know there are several RCI resorts out there (although we did not stay in any of them). World Mark has a bunch, I think.

Happy Planning!

We drove through Washington and Oregon last summer on a college road trip. Mount Hood was so neat. I loved the dams along the Columbia River. The Pacific Ocean at Newport was gorgeous - cold, but breathtaking. The Palouse in Washington was beautiful - rolling hills of golden grain. Portland was a beautiful city. Western Oregon and Washington was miles and miles of miles and miles. Not even telephone poles or fences.

Then we headed into Montana from Spokane and drove through mountain passes, past Flathead Lake, into Glacier National Park (for only two hours) and onto Missoula and Helena. 2200 miles in ten days.

 

[dvcbrad]

I am not sure if you can book their villa's through a DVC exchange, but we recently went to South Seas Resort on Captiva Island and LOVED it. Fantastic place for families. You could always rent the points and use the cash...but be warned, it's not cheap!

I was told a small part of the resort is an RCI timeshare, but not sure if it's one of the ones you can trade to with DVC.

We cannot wait to go back.

We stayed there for spring break 2010. Rented out our DVC points and used the money to rent a week in a 2BR right on the gulf. Beautiful view, nice corner unit, next to a small pool and walking distance to the main resort area or could take the internal shuttle that had a stop right across the street from us. These were Hilton Vacation Club properties. Good luck with a trying to make an RCI exchange, but we've never had any luck trying to do one through DVC - with either Interval International before or RCI now.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Another great place to go is Marco Island, FL. We rented off of Redweek and had a nice stay at The Regency Club. There are a lot of nice timeshares there as well, some on RCI. Gulf Coast warm water. Large expansive beach with long way out. And not too far from the Everglades.

 

[Dean]

Another great place to go is Marco Island, FL. We rented off of Redweek and had a nice stay at The Regency Club. There are a lot of nice timeshares there as well, some on RCI. Gulf Coast warm water. Large expansive beach with long way out. And not too far from the Everglades.

There are some on Marco Is and some in Naples. Of the 16 total in RCI between the 2, DVC has only 5 but they are the ones I'd look at, 4 on MI. II has 14 but there is some overlap. The best 2 resorts are likely the Marriott and Hyatt (slightly north of Naples) both in II. The ones on DVC's RCI list are the ones I'd consider anyway.