Who has traded DVC through II? Where was it and how did you enjoy the experience?

[icydog]

I just replied to a thread about a beach vacation and II. I am curious what trades others have gotten using their DVC points. I mean through II not for personal trades like I did with a Sanibel Cottages owner. I want to know where you have gone yourself, how many points it took, how you enjoyed your vacation and do you think it was a good use of your points?.

 

[travelbug]

Well, I'm using DVC points for a week at the Grand Caymanian in April (Easter week, actually). 160 points for a 1BR. I'll report back here after the trip and let you guys know how it was.

 

[pouncingpluto]

We're going to the Royal Caribbean in November (mid-season). 144 points for a 2-bedroom (had requested a one-bedroom, so they only charged us the points for a one-bedroom). Will report back, definitely!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We exchanged for a week in Hawaii in a 1 bedroom plus for 160 points. It was a great change, as far as I'm concerned, because I used it in conjunction with another timeshare exchange and a few nights in hotels to get nearly a 3 week vacation. The great part is that I still had enough points to still take my WDW trip that year too.

I don't consider trading on a regular basis to be worth the cost of DVC dues, but for an occational exchange, I think it's great. FYI, II exchanges can NOT be rented out.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

In Concierge, we have exchanged for the Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson and the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Both met the high DVC standards in facilities and service. The Tanque Verde ranch in particular (all inclusive) seemed to be a really good value for the points. The price has gone up over the last couple years, but we would like to go back in the not to distant future.

 

[HarrietSLP]

I have exchanged through II once and will be doing it again in May 2008.

The first time was for a 2 BR at Fairmont Vacation Villas at Riverside in Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia about 6 years ago. It was 232 pts at that time and we went during July. We were pleased with the accomodations although I recall the drive being lengthy to Banff and Jasper NPs which we visited during our stay.

We currently have a reservation for a 1 BR, 2 bath in May 2008 for 160 pts at The Kona Coast Resort II in Hawaii.
We previously had one in Kauai at the Hanalei Bay Resort in 2007 but cancelled and are using our Marriott reward pts instead for accomodations since the reviews here and elsewhere weren't very good for Hanalei Bay. I was able to immediately get Kona Coast Resort II when I cancelled Hanalei Bay although it wasn't till 2008. This resort isn't ocean front but that isn't that big a deal for us on this particular trip. The only negative to cancelling is that you lose the exchange fee (75$)and have to pay it again.

I've also made a couple of exchanges through the Concierge Collection.. The first time was for The Jefferson in Washington D.C. and the second was the The Kapalua Bay Hotel in Maui. Both are no longer available but I must say they were excellent accomodations and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at both. I think the Kapalua Bay is now a Renaissance Hotel and The Grand Wailea was added to the CC in it's place.

We have been DVC members since 1996 and in May 2008 will have only made outside exchanges 4 times. We mostly like using our pts for Disney stays and paying or using Marriott reward pts elsewhere.

 

[Princess Tink]

We exchanged for a 1BR at the Royal Caribbean in Cancun this past July. 160 points. It was a great experience....worth every point spent. The Royal Resorts really are amazing. If I had an stack of cash sitting around, I'd be tempted to buy there.

 

[AnnaS]

We exchanged for a 1BR at the Royal Caribbean in Cancun this past July. 160 points. It was a great experience....worth every point spent. The Royal Resorts really are amazing. If I had an stack of cash sitting around, I'd be tempted to buy there.

Do you remember when you put this request in? We are in the processing of thinking/discussing this for 8/08 (one of the Royals in Cancun).

We are going on the med cruise next year so that is out. We do know that my brother and my friend (both DVC members) recently tried for a trade next year (a few different places) and nothing was available.

thank you.

 

[icydog]

Keep them coming--- I am really beginning to dream of exotic places--- and for 160 points they may be a steal.

I don't think I would want the Kona Coast, only because it isn't on the beach. We just got back from our first, and probably only, Hawaiian trip. We stayed at the Embassy Vacation Resorts' Kauai location. It was pretty and all, but no beach. We spent a day at the new Marriott on the beach in Poipu and loved it. I too am a Marriott owner, but I want to try other places. Plus, there are some Marriotts that my weeks will not allow me to exchange into, like Marbella in the summer or the Hyatts in the winter..

 

[Princess Tink]

Do you remember when you put this request in? We are in the processing of thinking/discussing this for 8/08 (one of the Royals in Cancun).

We are going on the med cruise next year so that is out. We do know that my brother and my friend (both DVC members) recently tried for a trade next year (a few different places) and nothing was available.

thank you.

We put in for the trade May 2005, and got called back 2 weeks later (the first week of June 2005), for out July 2006 trip.

From what I was able to gather from several people, the DisBoards and Tugg, the trade is not always there when you call. It's best to put in your request as soon as you make a decision, then they will call you if your trade comes through. When I put in my request, I was limited on dates (first week of July)but was willing to stay at R. Sands, R. Caribbean, and R. Islander. At the time of the request, I had to give a CC number for the $75 trade fee. If the trade didn't come through I wouldn't be charged, if it came through and I turned it down I'd still be charged. So, be sure you only list what you are willing to accept. We were quite impressed with the Royal Resorts, definately worth the trade if you ask me. The resorts are all on the beach and had quite the list of activities. The had daily activities for children and adults (water volleyball, sand volleyball, water aerobics, kareoke, bingo, and many things for children that we didn't do ). We spent a lot of time at the beach, pool, and enjoying the resorts altogether.

We went for our 10th Anniversary, so we left the kid at home. But I decided while we were down, next time I'm taking DS(8) with us...he'd have just as much fun as we had.

 

[RLevy29]

So far we have exchanged to Stein Erikson in Park City, Utah, The Shelburne-Murray Hill in NYC, and the Sands of Kahana in Maui. We were happy with all of our exchanges.

 

[icydog]

Would you mind giving the details of your Interval International DVC trades. I think it would be helpful to know:

• the number of points used for the trade
• the size of the unit you got for the trade
• the date of the trade
• how long you waited for the trade
• was the II trade paid in advance or did you get the resort you wanted right away on the first try
• what did you like/dislike about your experience

We are all living vicariously and enjoying the feedback. Thanks so much!

 

[icydog]

If you don't mind, will you pls confine this to Interval International, II, trades and not the Disney Collection, the cruises, the Adventure Collection, the Concierge Collection or any other type of situation where you trade points for vacations.

I think there are some real values in the DVC II collection. Some of the resorts in there are expensive to buy into and the maintenance fees very high (even higher than DVC, if you can you believe that!). Also some of us have taken vacations using the DVC version of II that bring us to places far away, that are a brand new experience or are truly exotic. My inquiring mind needs to know!!!

Thanks again,
Marylyn

 

[jpeka65844]

AFter reading this post, I got curious and started snooping through the II website! WOW!!! Was I impressed! Some people are saying that some of those resorts are 140-160 pts for a whole week? That is definitely a steal!

I'll start to drop hints to DH for our 10th anniversary (6 1/2 yrs away.....)




Denice T.
Olathe, KS

 

[Dean]

Do you remember when you put this request in? We are in the processing of thinking/discussing this for 8/08 (one of the Royals in Cancun).

We are going on the med cruise next year so that is out. We do know that my brother and my friend (both DVC members) recently tried for a trade next year (a few different places) and nothing was available.

thank you.

As a rule you want to be searching prior to the time the resort owners can start depositing. Anything less significantly decreases your chances of success. For the Royals, it's actually 2 years out though anything a year or more should give you a pretty good chance as long as you're not looking for Xmas, Feb or March.

AFter reading this post, I got curious and started snooping through the II website! WOW!!! Was I impressed! Some people are saying that some of those resorts are 140-160 pts for a whole week? That is definitely a steal!

As a rule the steal is the one who exchanges in to DVC, not the exchange out. While there are a few good values (prime resort at peak times), there are few steals and fewer of those will actually be available no matter how flexible you are or how far you plan in advance. I think many DVC members are like people who are accustomed to high housing markets who move to areas with lower costs. Say one sells a home in San Fran and move to the rural south. A house worth $75K might still seem like a bargain at $125K

 

[AnnaS]

Another question - while we are on this subject and le't see if I make sense - sorry,

Again, this is all in the thinking/planning ahead/possibility scenario.

Can I request two units when looking for a trade - say 1 BDR for me and 1 BDR - either for my son and a friend/s or my friend or my sister, etc.

Also - my brother is also a dvc member and another good friend is also a dvc member - is it safe to say, we have no chance of all of us requesting our units same week so we could vacation together? I think I know the answer (not peak times).

Due to limited vacation time on my dh's part - he says to just book a non dvc/wdw vacation for 08. Bank 08 points into -09 and just plan something for then with family/friends.

I am sharing my thoughts out loud so bear with me

 

[Dean]

Another question - while we are on this subject and le't see if I make sense - sorry,

Again, this is all in the thinking/planning ahead/possibility scenario.

Can I request two units when looking for a trade - say 1 BDR for me and 1 BDR - either for my son and a friend/s or my friend or my sister, etc.

Also - my brother is also a dvc member and another good friend is also a dvc member - is it safe to say, we have no chance of all of us requesting our units same week so we could vacation together? I think I know the answer (not peak times).

Due to limited vacation time on my dh's part - he says to just book a non dvc/wdw vacation for 08. Bank 08 points into -09 and just plan something for then with family/friends.

I am sharing my thoughts out loud so bear with me

Things like multiple units, FF miles and the like make exchanging much like going to Vegas. II will allow you to do it in most cases but it's almost a crap shoot in many ways. A single member can request 2 units at the same time but your chance of success decreases dramatically, I'd guess to about one hundredth or less the chance of getting one unit now and another later. If it's this important, go for a larger unit, take one unit and hope for the second or just look at cash. In man situations, you will be successful if you know how to do this, plan enough in advance and are willing to ride along until at least a couple of months prior to the travel. For FF miles to high demand areas (HI) I'd say booking the air is far more important than anything else. A great trick is to book a cancelable hotel or condo then cancel it if you're successful otherwise. Or check into packages which are many times about the same as the components would be without the hotel.

 

[icydog]

Dean or anyone else,


What is a good formula for getting a good II trade

Deposit early is one I know.

Be flexible is another

What else comes to mind to get a good resort. Also there are folks here who deposited the points for a one bdrm and got a two bdrm. How do you do that?

Then my final question is How do you know when resort owners have to deposit there weeks. I know with the Marriotts if you own one week it it a year before time or 13 months if you own two. But how do you figure it out if you want say.. a Hyatt or Atlantis (which I know will never happen).

 

[3DisneyKids]

Just subbing....

 

[Dean]

Dean or anyone else,


What is a good formula for getting a good II trade

Deposit early is one I know.

Be flexible is another

What else comes to mind to get a good resort. Also there are folks here who deposited the points for a one bdrm and got a two bdrm. How do you do that?

Then my final question is How do you know when resort owners have to deposit there weeks. I know with the Marriotts if you own one week it it a year before time or 13 months if you own two. But how do you figure it out if you want say.. a Hyatt or Atlantis (which I know will never happen).

My expectations seem to be more demanding than most. The deposit first doesn't matter since DVC is mostly request first. Here are the conditions I think most people should strive to meet using DVC for an II exchange.

1. Research ahead to make sure the resorts you ask for are of sufficient qualify and will otherwise meet your needs.
2. Check to see what you could rent the time for. And I don't just mean the rack rate or rate through the resort itself. I'm talking ebay, redweeks, myresortnetwork, bidshares, TUG and various rentals sites that II and RCI uses.
3. Be certain the resort can handle your party size. For example, even though DVC 2 BR units can handle 8, many other resorts cannot.
4. Find out how early the members where you want can deposit and make sure you're searching before that time. This is usually 12, 18 or 24 months though many of the floating Marriott's actually come on line at 13 months out.
5. Be certain of your dates, once scheduled, it's downhill business to cancel.
6. If using FF miles and have not matched by the cutoff date for that airline, go ahead and book your trip with miles and narrow your search accordingly. Maybe getting in on Friday and leaving on Sunday to give more options and flexibility. If you have to pay for 2 nights on cash, not a big deal usually.
7. Don't exchange for studios unless VERY high demand like Maui Xmas or the like.
8. Truly be flexible. 10 resorts on Maui for Xmas or Easter is still not flexible enough. I know this is somewhat contradictory to the idea of making sure you get top resorts during peak times. One must decide exactly what balance they can stomach.
9. Don't give up too early. Ride the request until at least 45-60 days prior if at all possible. At least give it until 6 months as a minimum. I think this is an area where DVC members do a poor job overall but I understand why.
10. anyone planning to exchange periodically should compile a list of resorts/times they want to visit say over a 10 year period. Then put in a number of requests and run them ongoing until you get everything you want over time. Maybe you get HI next year and Aruba the year after and Cancun still the next year then a top ski week. Or maybe you get them in a different order or you don't get anything that matches for a couple of years.
11. Every situation is a little different. Become informed and decide what's best for YOUR situation. Another area many DVC members seem to have a problem with. It amazes me how one can learn everything about DVC and WDW but make many inappropriate assumptions about exchanges. I've even seen people post that they just count on DVC to give them something good. What's good for me might not be for you.

There's really no way to improve your chances of getting a 2 BR for a 1 BR exchange, it's just the luck of the draw. It might happen more often on off time and at certain resorts like the Royals but there isn't any way I can think of to improve your chances.