World Passport questions

[LisaR]

We moved to FL 18 months ago and I am now officially tired of going to Disney. We haven't seen any other parts of FL so we would like to venture out a little especially since we will probably only be here a few more years.

It seems like most people think it is a better idea to rent out points and then book accommodations separately. How easy is it to rent points? If we decide not to rent points, how difficult is it to book with the World Passport Collection? Is it something we need to plan for weeks, months or years in advance? Thanks for any insight you can provide.

Lisa

 

[rocketriter]

The easiest way to book with World Passport is to check your member mailings and ask for something that they already have in stock. We did an "instant" trade to a Marriott in Williamsburg last summer and were very happy with it (144 pts/2-bedroom/week). To trade to Hawaii, you can often score in just a few months if you ask for the Kona Coast on the Big Island, but other trades take longer and might not click. Past these easy trades, you might consider renting or exchanging points instead, both for the value and for the certainty. And always check reviews on a property (the TUG board is good) before closing the deal, since some trades are a step down in quality from DVC.

 

[spiceycat]

if you intend to trade your DVC - then be aware.

DVC is one of the best timeshare out there. the others (with a few exceptions) aren't going to be anything like DVC.

so definitely go join

www.tug2.net - it will be the best $15 you can spend.

you can also read reviews here
www.tripadvisior.com

do a search on the resort you are looking at with tripadvisior.

with tug don't go by the rating - read the reviews. Some people only want the best and nothing else will do. So they downgrade a resort because the filters on the air conditioning haven't been changed. or a couple of lights didn't work. Little things don't bother me. Big things - an uncleaned room, mold (I am allergic) - do.

 

[Dean]

Plus the things just sitting in the bank are less likely to be what you truly want in terms of high season and quality resorts. Short notice can be an exception. IMO, the best way to trade DVC is to start 2 years out and look for resorts that are of high quality and demand. Also private exchanges can work well for many. Certainly renting and paying cash for the other options is a great way for many choices as well.

My favorite ways it to look at all angles when possible. No reason not to be looking for a DVC exchange, private exchange and offering points for rent at the same time. Then once the points are gone in one way or another, take the other options off the table. One needs to look at each need and react accordingly and evaluate each possible resort personally. Anyone that assumes a specific choice will be fine because it's on DVC's list will deserve what they get.