Why is Trading so bad?

[Alic]

I've heard people say that trading your points through II is not a good idea. Why is that? Would 150 points at OKW give me a full week at another timeshare when traded? How does that work with II?

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Alic
Would 150 points at OKW give me a full week at another timeshare when traded? How does that work with II?

Not exactly 150 points...

The World Passport Collection chart is for II exchanges:

Low Season, one bedroom: 124 points
Low Season, two bedroom: 207 points
Mid Season, one bedroom: 144 points
Mid Season, two bedroom: 252 points
High Season, one bedroom: 160 points
High Season, two bedroom: 270 points

The chart does not indicate dates for the seasons. The dates vary, depending on your destination resort. You have to ask Member Services.

It can be a very good deal. For example, a week in a 1BR for just 124-160 points is great, if you get into a top timeshare resort. But trades into the best resorts during high-demand seasons can be difficult. It takes research, advance planning, and some luck. And then you run into things like the Marriott priority, where Marriott owners tend to get most of the high-demand Marriott exchanges.

It can be a bad deal. Even though DVC only selects the top tier of II resorts, the quality is still often less than DVC. And the same resorts may be available as reasonably priced rentals.

I still think that World Passport Collection exchanges are a good use for DVC points, if you you enjoy DVC-like condo accomodations. You can go someplace other than a DVC resort every once in a while, without digging into your pocket for thousands of additional dollars.

I would not buy DVC points just to trade. There are better options if that's your goal.

 

[Dean]

I would echo Werner's sentiments though I would shift the curve saying that only a small percentage of trades within II using DVC are a good deal. If you get a top resort during peak time, absolutely. You may even be trading up to a better situaion than DVC. OTOH, even a top resosrt during a lower season is usually not a good deal. Is it a bad deal, only you can decide for certain.

Lets take the chart Werner provided. Lets assume you are trading 144 points for Aruba for a 1 BR in summer at La Cabana Beach and Racket Club. That's a unit you could have rented from an owner for $500-700 with no exchange fee and you would have knowledge of your unit location. Exchangers usually get the worse units at most resorts. And the resort does not at all measure up to DVC. You could have rented those points for $1400 or so and had spending money for the trip.

So you should investigate your options and make the choice that's best for you. Just remember that in II red time does not necessarily mean peak time.

Here are a few sitatuions I'd usually consider good trades for TOP resorts.

• HI - most of the year other than Sept and October. Even then not bad. Marriott's, Embassy's, Kona Coast (maybe) and Hanelei Bay will be the top ones.
• Aruba - during Xmas to Easter but only for Marriott's and possibly Playa Linda and Aruba Beach Club.
• Cayman's for Royals and Grand Caymanian
• Cancun for Royals and Omni.
• Puerto Vallarta for Paradise Village mostly for Xmas to Easter.
• Rocky's for Ski time.
• CA for summer.
• HH for mid June to lat August ending before the holiday weekend.

Just as some examples as the times outside these would not be as good of a deal though some worse than others. Remember there are other options like trading directly with other owners where you may get by with less points.

Just to add, here are the points costs for the studio and 3 BR.

Studio

• low - 106
• mid - 123
• high - 134

3 Bedroom

• low - 276
• mid - 317
• high - 349

 

[spiceycat]

In my opinon a 1-bedroom can be a good deal - just depends upon when and where you want to go.

I am a member of II and lots of their getaways can be had for $199 to $699 depending upon time, place and size.

I would never use my DVC for one of their getaways.

I would stay in a studio for twice at OKW - 80 points than trade it - doesn't mean I won't - it would have to be pretty great to tempt me.

Most of the time selling your points at $10 a point and then buying your other vacation is generally a better deal.

 

[Connears]

We have been members since 1994 and used all of our points to stay at DVC since we joined. This summer we used 160 points for 7 nights at Marriott Ford's Colony in Williamsburg VA. We have a one bedroom and visited their web-site and they look gorgeous(much more formal than dvc at OKW or others) they have great amenities and we are gong to do Williamsburg and VA beach that week. I am looking forward to telling you about it when we return. When I booked this last week, CM at MS told me she was going the week before us to the same resort. Hope that's a good sign. I think it will be well worth the 160 points for 7 nights.
Connears

 

[mikeymars]

Let's not forget the Concierge collection.

We did the Sagamore at Lake George in New York over the Columbus Day weekend last year (four nights) for a little over 70 points (for a suite which which would have run over $1,000 purchased directly).

In other words, it was well worth it; the quality of that property rivals anything Disney has ever built, and the lakefront one bedroom we had -- while not quite as polished as a DVC suite -- was just as cozy, and came with a working fireplace to boot.

Moral: if you visit some of the Concierge properties at "off-season" times you can get a deal.

 

[Jimbo]

And let's also not forget the Adventurers Collection.

At one point we sort of considered the African safari. I independently had a travel agent look into booking the same safari. When I checked her, I found that DVC was giving us almost exactly $10 per point in value.

We didn't choose to take the trip, but if we had I would have used points to do it. Of course, it was a LOT of points, but we had them.