World Passport collection.....

[Debs Hill]

I would love to hear the experiences of anyone who has exchanged their points for somewhere in the World Passport Collection. Where did you go? Did it meet your expectations? How did the accommodation compare to Disney? How long did you have to wait to get what you wanted?
Many thanks! Look forward to hearing from you

 

[sloneta]

We have traded to go to the Club Intrawest - Blackcomb (Whistler, Briticsh Columbia) for this October. We chose to do an II exchange for a full week instead of a trade through Buena Vista trading. We were able to get a one bedroom in mid-October. Our dates were somewhat flexible (we just wanted sometime in October), but this was the only week with availability when we called (about a month ago). This is low-season for the resort, so the one week stay will only cost us 124 points. I will post a report about the actual resort when we get back.

 

[Werner Weiss]

We've stayed at several places on the World Passport Collection list: Marriott's Newport Coast Villas (where we are owners), Marriott's Custom House (Boston), Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony (Willamsburg), Marriott's Maui Ocean Club (Kaanapali), Marriott's Kauai Beach Club and Marriott's Villas at Doral (Miami).

We didn't go through DVC for for any of these stays, but they're on DVC's list. As a DVC owner who has stayed at OKW and BWV (and who has toured VWL and BCV), I would certainly rank the accommodations at these Marriott Vacation Club resorts in the same class as Disney Vacation Club. They're different. Marriott has fewer "fun touches" such as DVC's Fiestaware dishes or OKW's decorative milk botttles, but the furnishings, decor, quality, cleanliness, facilities, and landscaping are excellent.

It really comes down to how you want to use your DVC points. If you decide to visit the locations such as those I've listed, you can stay in terrific 1BR and/or 2BR condos using the DVC points that you've paid for anyway, plus a $75 fee. That's a good deal, especially if you're not going to one of the DVC resorts that year.

At Marriott's Desert Springs Villas in Palm Desert California, the nightly rate in March is $500 per night (or $450 AAA rate) for a 2BR condo. We haven't stayed there yet, but we plan to. By the time you add taxes, a 1-week stay would be around $3,500, even if you pay the AAA rate. That makes a DVC exchange a good value.

 

[mickeyc]

I am new at trading outside DVC resorts. How do they determine the point value? We used our points for the Disney Cruise in Jan. I was not sure it was a good deal because of the steep discounts offered for cash.

How many points would it take to stay at Marriot Dessert Springs?

We also own Marriot Cyphress Harbour not sure which timeshare to use for trading. Any comments welcomed!

 

[Dean]

Like Werner, we've stayed at, own at or have visited a large number of the resorts on the DVC-II list, I'd guess I have experience with over 50-60. I too have not done any of this using DVC points and wouldn't find too many of the II resorts worthy of my DVC points (maybe 40-50 at most). Do realize one difference for many of us is that we have the choice of using other timeshare to get what we want and if we can get something otherwise through II without using DVC, we come out ahead. I'd personally buy less points rather than planning on trading DVC much or at all if that were the choice.

mickeyc DVC determines the point value in conjuction with II. They just changed the program somewhat but the principles are still basically the same. DVC has set up a low, mid and high season for each resort and local. Bascially anywhere you want to go when everyone else wants to go also will be high season. If you use the II color codes it's prime season = DVC high season, II red time that is not prime - mid season and II red and green will = low season. If you ask a specific example, it might make it more clear to you.

 

[Werner Weiss]

In my earlier post in this thread, I should have added that Marriott's Maui Ocean Club (Kaanapali) and Marriott's Kauai Beach Club (Lihue) do not have full kitchens. But they're both right on the beach; they have excellent restaurants, and they're right on the beach. If you're lucky, you can get a great view, but there's no guarantee when you're exchanging in.

Also, II gives Marriott owners a priority when exchanging to other Marriott resorts. Although Marriott owners are much more likely to deposit a week with II than DVC owners, many of the most desirable deposits are grabbed by other Marriott owners and never become available to DVC owners.

 

[mickeyc]

Dean & Werner thanks for the information. Dean, I agree I am not to anixous to give up my DVC points- - just like to keep the options open.

Again, thanks for the info.