World Passport - How Long Typical For Match

[doodah]

Just curious to hear how often people get an instant match when booking a world passport location. This will be the first year that we try booking somewhere other then WDW. We have some friends with a place on Grand Cayman in the Carribean and we were hoping to spend a week there this summer on points. We submitted our request about 1 month ago but no matches yet. I figure it's still early in the process so I am keeping my fingers crossed that something comes up in the next few months to allow us to plan ahead. Do people find they generally have good luck getting the location they want? We were looking anytime in the month of July.

Any info regarding peoples experiences booking world passport vacations would be appreciated. Just want to make sure I am setting expectations appropriately.

 

[Dean]

Just curious to hear how often people get an instant match when booking a world passport location. This will be the first year that we try booking somewhere other then WDW. We have some friends with a place on Grand Cayman in the Carribean and we were hoping to spend a week there this summer on points. We submitted our request about 1 month ago but no matches yet. I figure it's still early in the process so I am keeping my fingers crossed that something comes up in the next few months to allow us to plan ahead. Do people find they generally have good luck getting the location they want? We were looking anytime in the month of July.

Any info regarding peoples experiences booking world passport vacations would be appreciated. Just want to make sure I am setting expectations appropriately.

Summer is low season for the Caribbean but you started late. Most matches occur either very late, around the time a given resort can deposit or when maint fees are due. Most resorts can be deposited up to 12 months out but some are 18 months and some 24 months. There are a few variations in that floating week Marriott's can be 12-14 months. The ones that are deposited around the time fees are due are the ones that can't deposit until you pay fees, that's a resort decision. Marriott allows deposits without paying the fees ahead, other resorts do not. Given there are only 3 resorts on the DVC list, the Reef is the least likely to come through but likely the best resort even if away from the action. On average most resorts are confirmed at 6 months out but this includes those that are booked at or under the 60 day window. If it's the Reef let me know and I can put you in touch with the Manager there, he may be able to give you a little more info.

 

[doodah]

Thanks for the information. I wish we had known about the Cayman trip earlier so we could have tried booking this months back. It is the Reef Resort that we are trying to get but we may need to switch and also try Grand Caymanian if this doesn't look like it will go through. Any contact info you could provide for the manager at the reef would be appreciated...I'd definately like to try and get some more information.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[AnnaS]

We put in a search for a week in July in any of the Royal resorts in Cancun. If I remember correctly, it was end of August 07. We will wait til summer/end of summer and if no match - might consider cancelling search and make other plans.

Good Luck with your search and keep us updated.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the information. I wish we had known about the Cayman trip earlier so we could have tried booking this months back. It is the Reef Resort that we are trying to get but we may need to switch and also try Grand Caymanian if this doesn't look like it will go through. Any contact info you could provide for the manager at the reef would be appreciated...I'd definately like to try and get some more information.

Thanks,
Bob

I was afraid of that. I hope your not further compounding your chances by looking for a 1 BR as most units are 2 BR. Try this POST as Tom is actually a member here though not active. Email, don't PM him. If you don't hear back, let me know and I'll try to dig up his email when I get home from Maui. I don't think those two resorts are very close together, I'm thinking maybe a hour apart driving time. I know TOM has offered a direct exchange in the past so he may or may not be able to offer suggestions to help but it can't hurt. He should be able to give you an idea of what units have already been spoken for and your chance of success going forward. Renting your points and paying cash might be your best option.

 

[doodah]

I tried emailing Tom but it appears the email link is broken. We put in for either a 1 or 2 bedroom...whichever became availble 1st so I might just have to keep my fingers crossed. Funny thing is that our friends own a home on Rum Point and visit the reef quite often in July and said they have found it to be pretty empty when they have gone over there at that time of year. Hopefully something will become available. Thanks for the assistance.

Bob

 

[Dean]

Go over to TUG at www.tug2.net and click on their member list and search for his name, same name there I believe. Try emailing him from there. I can't really do it right now given my computer setup on vacation. If that doesn't work go to their website and email the "resort manager" and tell them you're trying to get in touch with Tom to ask a question about an exchange in. I haven't interacted in a while but hadn't seen anything to suggest he's moved on. You could also look for a direct exchange through redweeks or TUG.

 

[Dean]

I tried emailing Tom but it appears the email link is broken. We put in for either a 1 or 2 bedroom...whichever became availble 1st so I might just have to keep my fingers crossed. Funny thing is that our friends own a home on Rum Point and visit the reef quite often in July and said they have found it to be pretty empty when they have gone over there at that time of year. Hopefully something will become available. Thanks for the assistance.

Bob

To touch on the availability. I'm not home but I do have the DVC seasons for this resort. I'll be home in a week and can check. I'm thinking summer is MID season, not high season but it's such a small resort, maybe 50-60 units total.