Looking to trade into Kolina

[deniseh]

We are planning a trip to Hawaii in April 2019. I do have DP I could use but also have 2019 reservation with a 1 BR platinum Grand Chateau week that I am thinking I would try to use to see if I can get a trade. Plans are still up in the air but we are looking to stay at least a week at Kolina. Do you think that is possible? Should I do an ongoing search or just check frequently to see if something becomes available? At this time I do not have set dates-just something in the March/April time frame.

 

[Fasttr]

Could always book a week using DC points as a backup in case your trade request does not come through. Easy to cancel later if/when your trade comes through.

 

[deniseh]

Could always book a week using DC points as a backup in case your trade request does not come through. Easy to cancel later if/when your trade comes through.

Yes, thanks for the reminder. I had considered that option and once I have the dates more specific I think I will do that.

 

[TXTortoise]

Do both. Start OGS in your date range. You might get the dates you want, if not cancel and fine tune your search window and start another as you refine your plans.

Hoping you can find it manually is low probability against anyone’s OGS.

 

[dioxide45]

Definitely don't rely on checking instant exchange inventory. What is seen online is all the leftovers after the OGS are fulfilled. Place an OGS.

 

[NiteMaire]

Definitely don't rely on checking instant exchange inventory. What is seen online is all the leftovers after the OGS are fulfilled. Place an OGS.

While I agree you shouldn't rely on it, we're going to MKO (2BR) this month on an instant exchange.

For the OP, I exchanged my MGC 2BR for the MKO 2BR. I previously snagged an MKO studio with a Gold non-Marriott so I presume the MGC 1BR will pull MKO.

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[Thunder Up]

I would recommend an ongoing search. We traded a one bedroom Grand Chateau that we deposited in interval in December 2017 for a Kolina that we could match up with our Maui reservation, either before or after the Maui trip. So we were pretty specific on the days, only searched for 2 weeks. Our OGS search was filed with a one bedroom Kolina on February 26, 2018. Could not believe it.

I hope you have similar luck.

Thunder Up

 

[deniseh]

I have traded with Interval but have never done the ongoing search, only the instant exchange. Can someone briefly review what happens when/if there is a match? I understand that there is some kind of limited time period from the time there is a match to accept.

 

[dioxide45]

I have traded with Interval but have never done the ongoing search, only the instant exchange. Can someone briefly review what happens when/if there is a match? I understand that there is some kind of limited time period from the time there is a match to accept.

Accepting a match is automatic. If they find a match, they are supposed to send an email. Sometimes their system is broken and the emails don't go out, or they go to your junk. So be sure to check II daily if you place a resort or week in your request you are not 100% sure you want. When you get a match, you have 24 hours to call them and cancel that match and either reinstate your search or cancel it. If you don't cancel it within the 24 hours, the exchange is yours.

 

[deniseh]

Accepting a match is automatic. If they find a match, they are supposed to send an email. Sometimes their system is broken and the emails don't go out, or they go to your junk. So be sure to check II daily if you place a resort or week in your request you are not 100% sure you want. When you get a match, you have 24 hours to call them and cancel that match and either reinstate your search or cancel it. If you don't cancel it within the 24 hours, the exchange is yours.

If a there is a match that i accept can i later retrade if something else comes along or i change plans? We are enrolled with Marriott so my exchanges/retrades do not carry fees.

 

[dioxide45]

If a there is a match that i accept can i later retrade if something else comes along or i change plans? We are enrolled with Marriott so my exchanges/retrades do not carry fees.

Yes, it is no different than an online instant exchange except for how you get the trade the first time.

 

[icydog]

I was able to do an OGS for Maui in the Lahaina building a two bedroom, and it came in for the exact dates I had DP booked. I couldn't believe it.

 

[deniseh]

I have put in a request in Interval as well as making a reservation with DP. We will see if Interval comes through but either way I know we have a reservation. Can anyone give me information about the mountain view penthouse villa? It was available for the week we are going and DP was the same so I went with it.

 

[dioxide45]

I have put in a request in Interval as well as making a reservation with DP. We will see if Interval comes through but either way I know we have a reservation. Can anyone give me information about the mountain view penthouse villa? It was available for the week we are going and DP was the same so I went with it.

Only difference is that the penthouse units are top floor with vaulted ceilings. At least guaranteed to be above the trees but I think some of the penthouse units start as low as the seventh floor because of how the buildings are configured.

 

[TravelTime]

Assuming the OP is looking for a 1 BR Ko Olina in April 2019, I am wondering what would be the cost savings between booking Ko Olina with the OP's Destination Points compared to trading through Interval and the fees. Just wondering if the cost savings are worth the time and stress of waiting and checking. I am also assuming the most likely outcome of trading in Interval is the OP may get a Ko Olina studio, not a 1 bedroom (since a 1 br at Ko Olina is superior to a 1 br at Grand Chateau) so perhaps this analysis should compare the cost of a Ko Olina studio using DPs vs trading a 1 br Grand Chateau on Interval for a studio at Ko Olina.

 

[Quadmaniac]

Assuming the OP is looking for a 1 BR Ko Olina in April 2019, I am wondering what would be the cost savings between booking Ko Olina with the OP's Destination Points compared to trading through Interval and the fees. Just wondering if the cost savings are worth the time and stress of waiting and checking. I am also assuming the most likely outcome of trading in Interval is the OP may get a Ko Olina studio, not a 1 bedroom (since a 1 br at Ko Olina is superior to a 1 br at Grand Chateau) so perhaps this analysis should compare the cost of a Ko Olina studio using DPs vs trading a 1 br Grand Chateau on Interval for a studio at Ko Olina.

There are a lot of variables to consider as there is a range for DPs and costs to trade with interval. In all of my trades into Ko Olina, rarely have I not traded into a 2 br, occasionally a 1 br and only the first time I went a studio before I had Marriotts to trade M to M.

To trade in the current market, you're looking at $144 plus any upgrades. If you're trading a 1 br MGC into a 2 br, you're looking at $99 standard or $59 if you have platinum II membership. As you're using 1br MGC, I am assuming you locked it off from a 2 br. the 2018 MF was $1233.46 plus $80 lock off fee so if split evenly it would be $656.78 for the 1 br and studio each.

Trade $144
MF $656.78

Total $800.78 add $59 or $99 for upgrade to 2 br

For DP after Apr 6 (using 2018 chart) a MV studio would be 1705 DP and OV 2070 @ $0.553/point. 1 br 2925-3575 and 2 br 4050-4925. Just from the numbers alone, a MV studio would be more than the cost in DPs than to trade into Ko Olina via II. It all depends if you are prepared to spend the time to trade or not and where you see the value. Some would rather just book it using their DPs regardless of the price for the convenience.

To each their own, but I've never had an issue trading with II into Ko Olina and its much cheaper but more work. It works for me but that is different for each person.

 

[deniseh]

There are a lot of variables to consider as there is a range for DPs and costs to trade with interval. In all of my trades into Ko Olina, rarely have I not traded into a 2 br, occasionally a 1 br and only the first time I went a studio before I had Marriotts to trade M to M.

To trade in the current market, you're looking at $144 plus any upgrades. If you're trading a 1 br MGC into a 2 br, you're looking at $99 standard or $59 if you have platinum II membership. As you're using 1br MGC, I am assuming you locked it off from a 2 br. the 2018 MF was $1233.46 plus $80 lock off fee so if split evenly it would be $656.78 for the 1 br and studio each.

Trade $144
MF $656.78

Total $800.78 add $59 or $99 for upgrade to 2 br

For DP after Apr 6 (using 2018 chart) a MV studio would be 1705 DP and OV 2070 @ $0.553/point. 1 br 2925-3575 and 2 br 4050-4925. Just from the numbers alone, a MV studio would be more than the cost in DPs than to trade into Ko Olina via II. It all depends if you are prepared to spend the time to trade or not and where you see the value. Some would rather just book it using their DPs regardless of the price for the convenience.

To each their own, but I've never had an issue trading with II into Ko Olina and its much cheaper but more work. It works for me but that is different for each person.

Appreciate your analysis. We are enrolled with our weeks so no lockoff or trade fees. I have booked a week with DP but also have pending request with interval. We will see how it all works out

 

[TravelTime]

There are a lot of variables to consider as there is a range for DPs and costs to trade with interval. In all of my trades into Ko Olina, rarely have I not traded into a 2 br, occasionally a 1 br and only the first time I went a studio before I had Marriotts to trade M to M.

To trade in the current market, you're looking at $144 plus any upgrades. If you're trading a 1 br MGC into a 2 br, you're looking at $99 standard or $59 if you have platinum II membership. As you're using 1br MGC, I am assuming you locked it off from a 2 br. the 2018 MF was $1233.46 plus $80 lock off fee so if split evenly it would be $656.78 for the 1 br and studio each.

Trade $144
MF $656.78

Total $800.78 add $59 or $99 for upgrade to 2 br

For DP after Apr 6 (using 2018 chart) a MV studio would be 1705 DP and OV 2070 @ $0.553/point. 1 br 2925-3575 and 2 br 4050-4925. Just from the numbers alone, a MV studio would be more than the cost in DPs than to trade into Ko Olina via II. It all depends if you are prepared to spend the time to trade or not and where you see the value. Some would rather just book it using their DPs regardless of the price for the convenience.

To each their own, but I've never had an issue trading with II into Ko Olina and its much cheaper but more work. It works for me but that is different for each person.

It looks like you own two Ko Olina week 51 and one week 52. Those are the cream of the crop. What do you use to trade into Ko Olina? Is it easy to trade into Ko Olina? I wonder if Interval gives you better trading power into Ko Olina because you already own 3 of the best weeks there.

 

[Quadmaniac]

It looks like you own two Ko Olina week 51 and one week 52. Those are the cream of the crop. What do you use to trade into Ko Olina? Is it easy to trade into Ko Olina? I wonder if Interval gives you better trading power into Ko Olina because you already own 3 of the best weeks there.

Yes I own weeks 51/52 to rent and use. I use Willow Ridge and Harbour Lake to trade into Ko Olina. I find it generally easy to trade into Ko Olina but I do have to admit it was much easier 3 years ago when they used to dump a whole year in there at a time. Nowadays, they seem to offer a couple months at a time. Overall I wouldn't say it is a difficult trade. What weeks I own at Ko Olina has no impact on what I see in Interval as they only consider the trading power of what you are using to trade.

Personally I think any Marriott can easily trade into Ko Olina. I've also traded into weeks 51/52 using my WR and HL in addition to MMO and MM1 weeks 13 and 51. It's all a matter being persistent in searching multiple times per day for the high demand weeks like 51/52 in Ko Olina and Kaanapali.

 

[frank808]

Only difference is that the penthouse units are top floor with vaulted ceilings. At least guaranteed to be above the trees but I think some of the penthouse units start as low as the seventh floor because of how the buildings are configured.

I describe penthouse as a vaulted ceiling unit with no room above you. Penthouse units are as low as the 6th floor in kona building.

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[TheTimeTraveler]

The advantage of any penthouse villa is there is no one above you (no noise issues from above) and whatever view you have may be superior because of the height.



.

 

[scpoidog]

Penthouse units can get warm as the heat below you rises and the AC sometimes struggles to keep up due to the vaulted ceilings.