World Passport... trading

[Cooltrainer]

I've just put in a request for a trade using the world passport collection. Has anyone ever done this? How successful is it? I'm looking in either Aruba or Mexico? Thanks!

 

[FLYNZ4]

I have not done it... but it looks expensive to me. Have you considered trying to find someone to do a direct exchange... escpecially into a point based club (similar to DVC)? I think there would be three potential advantages for you: 1) you would probably have access to more inventory (the member of the other club could book anything available in inventory, rather than just something that has been traded. 2) It should cost you a bunch less points (less than 1/2). 3) No exchange fees.

For example: Lets say you were interested in one of the WorldMark properties (I use that as an example because I own there). If you wanted a 2BR unit in high season... it would cost you 270 DVC points... and you would have to wait for availability if the week you booked happened to be deposited. Plus you would pay an exchange fee.

By contrast... if you and I decided to do a direct exchange, then I would book the unit for you under your name... and you would transfer DVC points to me. It would probably be around 100-120 DVC points to make things fair... and you would save 150-170 DVC points in the process.. plus you would not pay any exchange fees.

Of course the challenge will be to find a suitable person to do a direct exchange with... but it seems to me like DVC is way too expensive to use for II trades.

/Jim

 

[FLYNZ4]

Another method (probably simpler) is to rent out your DVC points, take the cash, and spend it on your vacation.

/Jim

 

[dianeschlicht]

We did an exchange to Hawaii. I know it is considered expensive to use DVC for exchanges, but exchanging to destinations like Hawaii, I think it is fine. It cost us 160 points for a week in a 1 bedroom 2 bath on the Big Island.

Now for Mexico, yes, I think there are much cheaper ways to go than using a DVC exchange.

 

[BarbOKW]

I've been exploring trading for next spring break and I'm finding that the accomodations don't seem to match in size. For example we were looking at Big Sky but they only trade for one bedrooms. That's not big enough for my family of six. I also looked at southern Florida and although they have 2 bedrooms the second bedroom always seems to have 2 twins and they expect 2 to sleep on the sleeper sofa in the living room. That doesn't work for me either my kids are getting older and at 6'1" two of them won't fit.

I think I may just rent my points and get my own accomadations. We don't want to go to Disney this spring break because with Easter being so early our spring break is at the same time as Easter so Disney will be way to crowded for us.

I'm getting a little frustrated with the exchanging concept.

 

[rocketriter]

Give MS some choices (it sounds like you have), and research the resorts that they offer you. One way is to join www.tug2.com (very inexpensive) and look up their very large database of reviews of many, many timeshare locations.

Meanwhile, if the trade works for you, go ahead and do it. Don't be put off by people who would do it differently. There are some very good trades to be made within the DVC/II system. We've got a 1-bedroom in Hawaii for next spring break for 144 points. If I had the time and energy to engineer a private rental I might have saved a bit of money. But at one time we tried to plan a similar trip staying in deluxe hotels and the cost was 3 times as much!

Later, when you're more experienced with timeshares, you can look into options like owning 2 or more timeshares for trading, renting DVC points and staying at timeshares with the cash, and so forth. You often can save a bit of money with these techniques, but in my opinion they're not for beginners.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Cooltrainer
I've just put in a request for a trade using the world passport collection. Has anyone ever done this? How successful is it? I'm looking in either Aruba or Mexico? Thanks!

What resorts, time of year and unit size are you hoping for. Are you planning to use FF miles for air? You know that Aruba is very expensive for air, like $600 as a routine discounted. Sometimes there are specials but not that much less though lately there have been some in the $350-400 range. If you need a 2 BR, don't count on Aruba as an exchange, MX will be easier. Also, make sure you are starting to search at least a full year out for the best chances of success.

 

[Cooltrainer]

Thank you everyone for your responses... you all brought up excellent points that I had not considered. After some pondering, I think I'm going to look into "plan B"...... Paying for a vacation somewhere for springbreak... using FF miles for airfare.... and taking another vacation either in the summer or over the holidays next year.

Thanks again to everyone- YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

 

[rocketriter]

Well, if you pay for a vacation in the Caribbean and use points for a stay at a DVC resort, then you're experiencing the best of both worlds! Have a great time.