A first time for everything

[dougp26364]

When MVC created the DC, I opted in to protect my choices and flexibility. At the time I wasn’t super excited about the program because of the skim. I envisioned us continuing to use weeks exchanges.

Toss in a few life changes and we began converting our Grand Chateau week to points for easier access to more difficult exchanges. We enjoy reserving a specific view instead of anticipating the very real possibility of a parking lot view in paradise.

However, after all this time, we have never exchanged our Ocean Pointe week for DC points. We have owned there since 2001 and have returned every year with the exception of one. Now, since CoVid disrupted our travel plans, we find ourselves with an abundance of banked points and bonus points that will expire at the end of 2022. Because of this, we very likely will convert this unit to points for the year 2022 and use those expiring points to reserve our traditional vacation at Ocean Pointe. In this way I can bank the points from our Ocean Pointe week and extend their usage into the year 2024, hopefully when things have returned to “normal”.

There is also a very real possibility that we could convert trust points we’ve purchased to BonVoy points. A move I never dreamed I’d make. It’s really looking like we won’t need those points and banking them could create such a surplus of banked points I might not be able to use them. On the plus side, in the past we’ve used BonVoy (Marriott Rewards) points for trips to Europe, and I’ve been wanting to get back there, perhaps Denmark, Paris or Edinburgh. It could also help get us those first class seats to Hawaii we covet when traveling that far.

We still have time to decide and I’ve learned not to jump until I’m 100% certain or I’m closer to the deadline. In the end, I’m glad we made the decision to protect our flexibility. It’s paying dividends right now.

 

[Big Matt]

If you use the Sunday through Thursday option with points you somewhat get rid of the skim. I've been able to lock off and trade for a week in II and then five nights with points to get 12 weeks using very little of my inventory (weeks and points).

 

[NboroGirl]

Can't you rent some of your vacation points? Or is there such a glut of canceled vacation points available for rent that you wouldn't be able to unload them?

 

[dougp26364]

The points are restricted since they’re banked points. Plus, I don’t want the hassle of renting. I know for some this is easy. I have limited time, don’t want to mess with contracts or complaints if something isn’t just right, goes wrong or they insist on a refund if they cancel last minute. Not to mention the market for renting points would seem to be rather week at this particular time.

 

[Mroze]

Are they restricted as in "120-Day Holding-Account" restricted?
If yes, they cannot be converted into Marriott-Bonvoy points.

BTW: Converting DC-Points to Bonvoy-Points is usually not good value unless its a last resort [Use-It-Or-Lose-It] option.

Here's a chart I put together to compare the value of converting to Bonvoy from multiple avenues.
Compared Vistana-Ownership weeks V Flex-Options V Retail-Purchase V Promos V DC-Points V Marriott-Weeks and converting Marriott-Weeks [including DC-Points] ends up as the worst value.
You can purchase Marriott-Bonvoy Points RETAIL [No-Promo] for less money [1.25¢/Point] while converting DC-Points costs more than 1.5¢/Point.
In my example below Westin-Lagunamar [due to the Low-MF] worked out to be the best value at 50% Off-Retail.

 

[dougp26364]

Our situation is considerably more complex than just one or two choices and involves banked points, elected points, trust points and enrolled weeks, plus, HGVC points, ownership with Breckenridge Grand Vacations (which has multiple election options) and a Spinnaker week which may, or may not, be eligible to deposit with II ( we still have a personal account with II but not with RCI). If that Spinnaker week isn’t eligible to deposit with II, I need to decide if we open a personal RCI account and deposit that week with RCI, use it or it in their rental pool option.

I’m fully aware that BonVoy points are not the best use of trust points, which are the points I’m considering trading for BonVoy points to because they are the best financial option for that choice. In fact, that’s the very reason for posting this thread. Things I NEVER thought I would do I find myself forced to consider in order to save some value for what we own.

 

[tiel]

That’s always been the basis for what we do with our points/weeks, and what we might consider a good value today, may not be tomorrow. It’s a very personal thing, and dependent on the situation you find yourself in. IMHO.