World Passport Collection 101

[Showe]

Has anyone here ever used DVC points to go anywhere else - somewhere included in the world passport collection ?

My DH really wants to go to Mexico or Cancun or Puerto Rico for Christmas. How exactly does this work with DVC?

Lets say I have 250 points. So I call MS and tell them where I want to go - lets say Peurto Rico. A one week stay is 160 pts for the high season. so does this work just like booking at a DVC resort? They try and find availability and if they find it then we're booked....? I have been reading this "interval internation" exchange bit in our member book and it talks about exchanges....so we basically are getting someones timeshare that they wouldnt' be using - right ? It states the DVC resort acccommodations that have been depostited into the Interval International system cannot be withdrawn. so what exactly does that mean?

If there is anyone who has any insight into this I would love to hear about it. Also curious if anyone has gone to Mexico etc and would you recommend an 11-yo boy and 8-yo girl? Well, that's a different thread....

 

[Bichon Barb]

Great question! I'm really curious about this too. I just got off the phone with DVC an hour ago, and I asked about the same thing. I did take this information with me--

Intrawest resorts - you can book a few nights as you'd like

II - you have to book a week

Are the II points as high as the "Collection" resorts?

 

[VWL2001]

We did an II exchange in June. We went to Hawaii (Maui). We traded 160 points for a 1 bedroom at the Embassy Vacation Resort Kaanapali. We actually requested it about 10 months out, with a series of dates and several resort choices. We got a call on our exchange in January. They will call you and ask you if you accept the exchange. You have 2 or 3 days to decide. If you want to do this, I'd check out something like TUG (Timeshare Users Group). If you don't specify resorts, you may not (probably will not) get the resort quality you are expecting. We narrowed down our choices to 3 on Maui. It pays to be choosy! You can PM me if you have other specific questions.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

I booked one trip through the Interval Exchange. The trip was to Aruba for a week at the Marriott Beach Club Villas. We needed a one bedroom and when I called MS didn't show availability, but told me I could pay the $75 up front, and as soon as they found theye exchange they would call and book it for me. It took less than a week and a one bedroom became available and I took it. It used up a total of 144 points for the week.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Wow! Those points are a lot lower than I would have expected. So a week in Aspen isn't out of the question, huh?

 

[shantay1008]

If there is anyone who has any insight into this I would love to hear about it. Also curious if anyone has gone to Mexico etc and would you recommend an 11-yo boy and 8-yo girl? Well, that's a different thread....

We're hoping to use the World Passport collection sometime, too, so it's good to hear some success stories.

You asked about bringing your kids to Mexico. We're planning to bring our kids (who will be 2, 4, 6, and 8 at the time) to Puerto Penasco, which is about four hours from our relatives in Phoenix, next winter. I've never been there, but I think it's pretty touristy so probably not the riskiest place in the world. But we brought the oldest three to China with us last fall to pick up their little sister. I was worried about the water, etc., but we had no problems at all. I'm so glad we brought them...they are amazing little travelers because we've dragged them all over the place since they were babies.

I know it's just my opinion, but I think it's so great for kids to see the world and meet people from different places. It really changes how you see the world. We're starting to learn some Spanish so we can practice while we're down there. Do your kids speak any Spanish?

Good luck with your planning!
Shannon

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Bichon Barb - I was surprised too at the amount of points being so low!

I keep all my confirmation letters from DVC and pulled it out to just double check and it was 1440 points. We did jo the first week of June in 2004, so I don't know if it's different now.

The one thing I can say is that I loved the Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba. I want to go back there someday, but it's hard to get a good deal on airfare.

I want to try to exchange out to Europe one these days!

 

[Bichon Barb]

Bichon Barb - I was surprised too at the amount of points being so low!

I keep all my confirmation letters from DVC and pulled it out to just double check and it was 1440 points. We did jo the first week of June in 2004, so I don't know if it's different now.

The one thing I can say is that I loved the Marriott Ocean Club in Aruba. I want to go back there someday, but it's hard to get a good deal on airfare.

I want to try to exchange out to Europe one these days!

Wait a minute! Was that 144 pts or 1440 pts?

 

[Showe]

I know it's just my opinion, but I think it's so great for kids to see the world and meet people from different places. It really changes how you see the world. We're starting to learn some Spanish so we can practice while we're down there. Do your kids speak any Spanish?

Good luck with your planning!
Shannon

I agree. My kids are great travellers and they are in a good age to start subjecting them ot other cultures etc. no, they don't speak spanish but that would be a wonderful family project wouldn't it. thanks for the insight.

 

[Dean]

144 is the current cost for a 1 BR mid season and 160 for a High season exchange. IMO, the 1 BR is the best deal in exchanging under the current system. Remember you're looking for a timeshare exchange, this is not simply a reservation.

But here's how the system works. You call DVC and give them a request. They will look online and book it for you if it's there. If it's not there, they can put in an ongoing search. Either way you'll pay the $75 exchange fee at that time. It will be refunded if you don't match or cancel without a match. Once they find you a match, certainly not guaranteed, they will call you and offer it at which time you say yes or no. II rarely has high demand weeks sitting there other than occasionally very short notice. One should plan and request at least a year out and realize that the chances of success for MX and the Caribbean for Xmas week are very low. BTW, Cancun is in MX, LOL.

 

[Showe]

I booked one trip through the Interval Exchange. The trip was to Aruba for a week at the Marriott Beach Club Villas. We needed a one bedroom and when I called MS didn't show availability, but told me I could pay the $75 up front, and as soon as they found theye exchange they would call and book it for me. It took less than a week and a one bedroom became available and I took it. It used up a total of 144 points for the week.

Ok. so this is totally do-able. I knew all along we could go other places but we never really looked into it. So I guess my only problem is going to be timing. we were hoping to go for at least one week at Christmas....

thanks everyone for the information.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Yes. Thanks for all this information! Is there an II website which lists choices?

 

[Dean]

Yes. Thanks for all this information! Is there an II website which lists choices?

Try this II site

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Bichon Barb - My bad, I was typing too fast. It was 144 points, not 1440, somehow I hit the "0" and didn't realize it!

 

[shantay1008]

Hi, everyone,
Do DVC members have access to Intrawest? It doesn't sound familiar, but maybe I haven't looked in the right place. I like the idea of being able to book just a few nights somewhere instead of a week. Well, I know we can do that with the Concierge Collection, but that's a pretty short list of hotels.
Thanks!

 

[Dean]

Hi, everyone,
Do DVC members have access to Intrawest? It doesn't sound familiar, but maybe I haven't looked in the right place. I like the idea of being able to book just a few nights somewhere instead of a week. Well, I know we can do that with the Concierge Collection, but that's a pretty short list of hotels.
Thanks!

DVC does have access to CI. There is access to a couple of resorts through II and I believe all through the BVTC portion of DVC. But don't count on getting Whistler at Xmas as the owners there can't even get it.

 

[ACDSNY]

Any recommendations for II resorts for Maui or Kauai? We typically travel between Sept - Jan, but are very flexible on dates within those months.

 

[Dean]

Any recommendations for II resorts for Maui or Kauai? We typically travel between Sept - Jan, but are very flexible on dates within those months.

For a DVC trade, only 3 words. Marriott, Westin and Embassy. There are other places worth staying at but not any others I can think of that would be a good trade value using DVC points and come up to DVC standards. But in part it depends on exactly when you travel. IF you can do the time you mentioned above excluding the couple of weeks around Xmas and New Years, you're chances are excellent for a 1 BR and not bad for a 2 BR.

 

[beachblanket]

One should plan and request at least a year out and realize that the chances of success for MX and the Caribbean for Xmas week are very low. BTW, Cancun is in MX, LOL.

Excellent points. Does the same general "rule" also exist for President's Day week in February? That's a time I'd love to make a exchange, but I'm concerned that little if nothing in MX or the Caribbean opens up during that period.

 

[flechette]

For a DVC trade, only 3 words. Marriott, Westin and Embassy. There are other places worth staying at but not any others I can think of that would be a good trade value using DVC points and come up to DVC standards. But in part it depends on exactly when you travel. IF you can do the time you mentioned above excluding the couple of weeks around Xmas and New Years, you're chances are excellent for a 1 BR and not bad for a 2 BR.

Thank you Dean for more ammunition in convincing DH this is a good idea!--- He's reluctantly agreed to buy but isn't too happy with said agreement- says he doesn't want to go to Disney every year for vacation

I knew about II but then he hit me up with equal quality rooms so now I have my response!

thanks again!

M