Depositing Craig Lodges and other HGVC weeks into DEX

[HuskerATL]

Where’s the dex guide posted? Never mind.

three posts above this one...

 

[mountainboy]

I am mystified why HGVC developer owned weeks end up in RCI or DEX : What does HGVC/HVC get out of trading the weeks they own for other weeks in RCI or DEX ? Wouldn't HGVC/HVC be better off just renting the weeks they own on Hilton.com (which they also do, BTW) ?

They need fresh bodies for sales to work on too, you know...

 

[alexb]

do i pay hgvc fees to deposit into dex craigendarroch lodge owner

 

[yodaDaenerys]

do i pay hgvc fees to deposit into dex craigendarroch lodge owner

no, but there is a booking fee when you book an exchange week.

 

[HuskerATL]

Free to enroll and free to deposit but there is a fee to exchange, upgrade, and cancel. Look at the rules guide in the rules guide sticky for the fees.

 

[GTKirk]

@HuskerATL
Do you still recommend DEX over RCI after using it now for a while? This is all new for me as I'm researching the different resale timeshare clubs so I have no experience with any of this.

You can send me a DM so I don't hijack this thread with unrelated questions. Doesn't look like I have enough posts yet to initiate a DM to anyone.

 

[GT75]

Doesn't look like I have enough posts yet to initiate a DM to anyone.

You should be able to with one more post.

Do you still recommend DEX over RCI after using it now for a while?

For me, it certainly is. I have never used RCI. I looked at it a little but with DEX I have booked 6 reservations.

 

[HuskerATL]

@HuskerATL
Do you still recommend DEX over RCI after using it now for a while? This is all new for me as I'm researching the different resale timeshare clubs so I have no experience with any of this.

You can send me a DM so I don't hijack this thread with unrelated questions. Doesn't look like I have enough posts yet to initiate a DM to anyone.

Do you think this group cares if a discussion is hijacked? We meander off the path all the time...

For us, yes. I much prefer DEX. I will say though, RCI does have certain places that are good to our, like booking the Hilton Club properties further out and often with less points but the dates are hit or miss. So, far, I am impressed with the availability and options in DEX EU.... Plus, being able to book 2 years out with some properties is good. Feel free to DM me with questions.

 

[iftravel]

Do you think this group cares if a discussion is hijacked? We meander off the path all the time...

For us, yes. I much prefer DEX. I will say though, RCI does have certain places that are good to our, like booking the Hilton Club properties further out and often with less points but the dates are hit or miss. So, far, I am impressed with the availability and options in DEX EU.... Plus, being able to book 2 years out with some properties is good. Feel free to DM me with questions.

Do DEX EU and DEX US share inventory? Anyone compared two? So far I prefer a Craig 1-bed to unlock DEX EU (and I also get HGVC points) than a Polo Tower 1-bed to get access to DEX US (no HVC or HGVC points), but if the inventory is different, need to think more about it.

 

[chosshaul]

The Craig debate: whether to get a 1 bed or a 2 or even a 3. I kept with 2 bed in premium season because it gives me the least cost for a tier 6 exchange in DEX. I felt like a 3 bedroom wouldn’t be worth it if it costs more but still only gets me the same exchange in DEX.


One thing I’m running into now is that many of the properties in DEX look good but I wouldn’t want to stay in them for a week, maybe 3 days max. not sure what the solution is for that other than destination xtras. Not sure what the cost of MAX upgrade is, but that’s probably the only other solution and probably not worth it for the cost.

 

[HuskerATL]

Depends on the need. If you, primarily, want points in HGVC, then the 3 bed plat is the best. Most points for a week and the best MF/pt but the most expensive to buy

If you want a tier 6 trader then the 2 bed plat week is the best

If you want the cheapest route to buy and a tier 4 trader but the worst of the three for mf/pt, then a 1 bed plat.

Ideally, for DEX EU purposes, you own both a 1 and 2 bed plat but you can use a tier 4 to get a tier 6 but you need to pay the upgrade fee. However, if you compare the MFs for a 2 bed with the MFs for a 1 bed + the upgrade fee, it isn't that different so, in some ways, the 1 bed is the best trader. If you frequent Europe often then most are tier 4 or lower... Some tier 5 but no tier 6. You don't want to trade a tier 6 for a tier 4. But, if you go to Hawaii and Cabo the most, then you need a tier 6 or pay the upgrade fee.

So, just depends on how you use it.

One thing that I like about the tier 4 are that get are cheap to buy and, when the time comes to offload, I would not be afraid to just give them away... If needed

I think the DEX inventory is the same or very similar across DEX systems. Just that DEX EU is weekly exchanges only or cash stays for less than a week through DEX Xtras

 

[cd5]

I think the DEX inventory is the same or very similar across DEX systems. Just that DEX EU is weekly exchanges only or cash stays for less than a week through DEX Xtras

Embarc DEX is the same...although our own club uses points and we can book for less than a week, DEX is mandatory week-long stays except for Xtras.

 

[GT75]

DEX is mandatory week-long stays except for Xtras.

From your statement, I would think that DEX is the same then for US point owners also (i.e.. it is a week-long stay for everyone except for Xtras).

 

[mountainboy]

The Craig debate: whether to get a 1 bed or a 2 or even a 3.

@HuskerATL gave excellent advice, as always!
I feel 2 BR CL Plat gives the the best long-term value & DeX Tier 6 traders, which I trade into but many do pay the upgrade fee (from a Tier 4 trader into a Tier 6, so all good)...
Currently prices for 2 BR CL are also very competitive, so makes one lean even more that way but whatever makes most sense for you is good
Both are amazingly cheap ways to get legacy HGVC Elite status, points at reasonable MFs (until USD gets pounded) & DeX access!
Love our CL HGVC journey & Grateful to all the amazing folks here for sharing their knowledge!

 

[dioxide45]

From your statement, I would think that DEX is the same then for US point owners also (i.e.. it is a week-long stay for everyone except for Xtras).

That's what I was thinking/wondering myself. If you own Embarc or Collection Points, you trade using points but have to book week long stays. Xtras are cash based transactions to use up exceess inventory and thus don't have the week long requirement. But actual trades in DEX, regardless if you are using EU or US weeks or Embarc or Club points, they are weeks.

That said, the DEX Club Points guide does indicate this. Did they ever implement it?

Short Xchange (Coming Soon)
Short stay vacations (2- to 6-nights long) booked withPoints within 30 days of travel.


The 2024 Embarc guide has this too. They also indicate "coming soon".

Short Xchange (Coming Soon)
Short stay vacations (two to six nights long) booked with Resort Points within 30 days of travel.

Express Xcapes (Coming Soon)
Last-minute, 7-night vacations booked with ResortPoints within 30 days of travel for up to 50% off point values.

Destination Xtras (Coming Soon)
Enjoy vacations at highly discounted cash rates (no
points required) starting at $299 for seven nights.

 

[mountainboy]

Destination Xtras (Coming Soon)
Enjoy vacations at highly discounted cash rates (no
points required) starting at $299 for seven nights.

*Eagerly awaiting if/when they implement this....
At DeX speed, who knows if/when this will happen... Hopefully very soon..

 

[cd5]

*Eagerly awaiting if/when they implement this....
At DeX speed, who knows if/when this will happen... Hopefully very soon..

They are available for Embarc. This is an example...(Xtras) Price is per night.

 

[cd5]

They are available for Embarc. This is an example...(Xtras) Price is per night.
View attachment 118020

I don't see anything at a great price though. It appears to just be the same as the Hilton rental prices.

 

[dioxide45]

Does anyone know if there is a 2025 Embarc DEX guide? The latest version I could find is 2024 yet all the others are in their 2025 iteration.

 

[cd5]

@HuskerATL gave excellent advice, as always!
I feel 2 BR CL Plat gives the the best long-term value & DeX Tier 6 traders, which I trade into but many do pay the upgrade fee (from a Tier 4 trader into a Tier 6, so all good)...
Currently prices for 2 BR CL are also very competitive, so makes one lean even more that way but whatever makes most sense for you is good
Both are amazingly cheap ways to get legacy HGVC Elite status, points at reasonable MFs (until USD gets pounded) & DeX access!
Love our CL HGVC journey & Grateful to all the amazing folks here for sharing their knowledge!

Note that if you are upgrading 2 tiers, you will be charged 2 upgrade fees... Gets pretty pricey. If you "downgrade" you lose the points. Which is why a point ownership is interesting because you can search without pre-depositing and only have the points taken once you pick the location. No need to ever upgrade or downgrade.

 

[cd5]

Does anyone know if there is a 2025 Embarc DEX guide? The latest version I could find is 2024 yet all the others are in their 2025 iteration.

I have a copy in my One-Drive here: https://1drv.ms/b/c/c59a40f0f6bc231b/ERsjvPbwQJoggMUNVQIAAAABsMdHzxTwuwDxoVOvLdFGOA
2026 should be out in a month or so.

 

[mountainboy]

They are available for Embarc. This is an example...(Xtras) Price is per night.
View attachment 118020

We have similar access via DeX EU but not the 299/week style weekly cash rates...

We have a similar daily type Destination Xtras rate but nothing nice or special (like RCI offloads many weeks at the 299/329/349 price point, which are a steal... Have seen many Sedona HVC resorts come up there but the daily $25 resort fee adds 175 for the week, so the 349 becomes >500/week, still cheaper than staying just a weekend in a hotel room in Sedona but would be nice if we had them sell similar access via DeX withOUT the resort fees (which we, as DeX EU qualifying owners don't pay)...

 

[HuskerATL]

Note that if you are upgrading 2 tiers, you will be charged 2 upgrade fees... Gets pretty pricey. If you "downgrade" you lose the points. Which is why a point ownership is interesting because you can search without pre-depositing and only have the points taken once you pick the location. No need to ever upgrade or downgrade.

But you really need to do the math. For example, in DEX EU and if you own a Tier 4 and upgrade to a Tier 6 the cost is 350 pounds.

The MF for a 1 bed in 2025 is 682 pounds and the cost for a 2 bed is 913 so the difference is 231 so really you are only paying 119 pounds to use a Tier 6 but the Tier 4 gives you much more flexibility because you don't want to exchange a Tier 6 for a Tier 4 or 5. Now if you know that you will always use a Tier 6 or mostly, then it makes sense but if you will be using a mix, then a Tier 4 may make more sense. For example, in Europe most properties are Tier 4 or lower with a few Tier 5, not many Tier 6. If you want a 1 bed at Sandestin, it is a Tier 5 but the 2 bed is Tier 6...so it just depends on the need.

 

[cd5]

But you really need to do the math. For example, in DEX EU and if you own a Tier 4 and upgrade to a Tier 6 the cost is 350 pounds.

The MF for a 1 bed in 2025 is 682 pounds and the cost for a 2 bed is 913 so the difference is 231 so really you are only paying 119 pounds to use a Tier 6 but the Tier 4 gives you much more flexibility because you don't want to exchange a Tier 6 for a Tier 4 or 5. Now if you know that you will always use a Tier 6 or mostly, then it makes sense but if you will be using a mix, then a Tier 4 may make more sense. For example, in Europe most properties are Tier 4 or lower with a few Tier 5, not many Tier 6. If you want a 1 bed at Sandestin, it is a Tier 5 but the 2 bed is Tier 6...so it just depends on the need.

View attachment 118025

I agree that it can be *figured out" but it is nowhere as simple as just booking directly with points and using just (no more, no less) what is needed in all circumstances. I believe that the whole strategy behind the way DEX was set up was to make it as complicated as possible so that extra fees were likely to be collected and points got left on the table (to the developer's benefit). Not everyone spends as much time analyzing room sizes/tiers/what to buy in the first place, in advance of buying a timeshare or making a deposit. That is likely why they are making access free to more resorts - the money is in the trading process, not the "entry" fee. TUG members are not reflective of the average timeshare owner. Many, probably the majority, (outside of TUG) have owned their timeshare for years and are still relatively uninformed about how to use it effectively. Developers encourage this lack of knowledge and make communication between owners/members virtually impossible within the timeshare club itself. The one way around this is if one discovers TUG or a good FB group to obtain knowledge.

 

[HuskerATL]

I agree that it can be *figured out" but it is nowhere as simple as just booking directly with points and using just (no more, no less) what is needed in all circumstances. I believe that the whole strategy behind the way DEX was set up was to make it as complicated as possible so that extra fees were likely to be collected and points got left on the table (to the developer's benefit). Not everyone spends as much time analyzing room sizes/tiers/what to buy in the first place, in advance of buying a timeshare or making a deposit. That is likely why they are making access free to more resorts - the money is in the trading process, not the "entry" fee. TUG members are not reflective of the average timeshare owner. Many, probably the majority, (outside of TUG) have owned their timeshare for years and are still relatively uninformed about how to use it effectively. Developers encourage this lack of knowledge and make communication between owners/members virtually impossible within the timeshare club itself. The one way around this is if one discovers TUG or a good FB group to obtain knowledge.

True. We don't use points in DEX EU, since it is a weekly exchange. That is good and bad but, so far other than the crappy system and staff that don't know the program who are supporting it and us, it works pretty well and easy to book once your week is deposited.