Another simple Weeks vs Points test.

[dougp26364]

Since we just returned from Palm Desert and plan on going back, perhaps as early as 2014 (2013 vacations are already planned), I thought I'd look at availablilty of online reservations with DC Points vs an online I.I. weeks search, keeping in mind that online searches are what's gone through the pending/matched requests ie: leftovers.

For me, the results were somewhat disappointing. I had hoped that it would be easy to make a reservation using points but, there was no availablity for any size unit in points. However, using the weeks exchange system looking with both a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom Vegas mid-March week (both weeks saw the same inventory), there was one 1 bedroom Feb. week and one 1 bedroom March week available as well as studio weeks pretty much anytime throughout Feb and March.

So for the time being, it appears that in this one instance weeks (assuming you want to stay a full week) out preformed the DC.

Lessons taken:

1. Keep you options open until you must make a decision of points vs weeks.

2. The online points reservation system is cumbersome requiring you look for each week individually, each unit size individually and each resort indivicually (VERY time consuming).

3. Despite what the salesmen might try to shovel, at this point in time there are still instances where the traditional I.I. weeks exchange outpreforms the new Marriott DC. (online instant exchanges in this case)

I had seriously thought about converting our 2014 week into points but, I'm going to have to continue watching the program to see if DC availability for resorts we're interested in starts to become a little looser.

What this test has not taken into consideration is that many matches are made before anything ever hits the online system, both with Interval and with the Marriott DC. I'm relatively certain that any pending requests with the DC for a week will get matched before the same match is visable online, much like with Interval. So take this all with a grain of salt. It's just an observation made on one day for one destination. All I've proven is that in this one instance, online availablity with I.I. was better than online availablity with the DC.

 

[wvacations]

It is too early to look for 2014 weeks yet as no one has been able to book them yet. Perhaps you were just experimenting and looking what was available on 2013 for comparison.

Also remember that if you do not currently have enough DC points in your account, you will not see availabilty with the online DC system. The message that us displayed when you look online is "there is no availabilty for your dates OR you do not have enough points. "

 

[jimf41]

The latest date that can be checked by a Premiere Plus DC member is April 30, 2013. The only thing you've proved is that it's not possible to reserve in 2014 with DC points.

Using II I don't see much of a possibility of reserving that far out either but I suppose it's possible. Like you my 2013 plans are set, partially anyway, at least as far as April 2013. Planning one year out is tough enough, I don't need to be concerned about two years out.

 

[SueDonJ]

I agree with the others - it's far too soon to see 2014 availability in the DC regardless of whether you're looking online or calling in to a VOA. Just like with Weeks reservations, you can't check availability for anything beyond your open Reservation Windows. (Plus, as wvacations correctly points out, you can't search DC availability online unless you have a sufficient number of points to cover the reservation.)

 

[dioxide45]

The question I have is, how was Doug able to see any 2014 weeks in II? People can't even reserve that stuff untile a next year. Did he type the years wrong?

 

[Superchief]

I think Doug meant that he was looking at 2013 weeks as a test to help him plan for 2014. No 2014 weeks would be available in either.

 

[dioxide45]

I think Doug meant that he was looking at 2013 weeks as a test to help him plan for 2014. No 2014 weeks would be available in either.

If this is the case, I would expect that if one were to waitlist for the reservation that MVCI may make an exchange between the DC Exchange Company and II to fill that request. Though they may hold out to see if any legacy owners deposit their weeks for points and fill it that way.

 

[dougp26364]

Sorry I wasn't clear. I was searching Feb/March of 2013, even though I'm planning for 2014.

I'll look at availability now to decide if I want to go with a weeks deposit/exchange vs converting to points for 2014. As it stands now, I think we'll be sticking with weeks.

 

[dougp26364]

If this is the case, I would expect that if one were to waitlist for the reservation that MVCI may make an exchange between the DC Exchange Company and II to fill that request. Though they may hold out to see if any legacy owners deposit their weeks for points and fill it that way.

I'm sure that I could waitlist with either I.I. for a specific week or even a two bedroom unit or waitlist using the DC. I'd expect to be successful either way.

My main point is that there is still good availability to make an instant exchange with I.I. while there is no availability using the DC to make an instant exchange (looking at Feb/March 2013).

Another thing to consider is there is likely a lack of trust inventory at DSV II, which would affect instant exchanges using the DC.

Like I said, this really doesn't mean a whole lot other than the show that, despite what the sales staff might say, I.I. remains a strong option for legacy week owners to obtain good value exchanges. I did not look to see what the points requirement would be vs lock-off and make a weeks exchange.

I'm assuming that I'd be better off value wise in the weeks program but, the flexablity of points reservations if often tempting. I would be nice to book maybe 3 or 4 nights at DSV and maybe 3 or 4 nights in either Vegas or Newport Coast. This past trip we had the week booked at DSV II but, I had extra points with DRI and we elected to book a short notice reservation for Vegas and drove over to Polo Towers for 2 nights. Booking multp. resort nights using points is an attractive option for us vs spending the entire week in one location. This option may be worth the "skim" for us when deciding points or weeks exchanges.

 

[Quilter]

Like you my 2013 plans are set, partially anyway, at least as far as April 2013. Planning one year out is tough enough, I don't need to be concerned about two years out.

Timesharing brings a new meaning to travel planning. Before it we were the type to see what was available a couple months out (except for business related travel). The notion of planning 12 and then 13 mos. in advance was daunting. Now it's second nature. While at OP we were discussing meeting with another couple for a European river cruise. It was easy for us both to say "well it will have to be in the fall of '13 because we've already got plans until then". Like St. Thomas in Jan. '13

 

[dougp26364]

At issue for us is the fact we own in 3 different systems that can be/are points based reservations and 4 other timeshares that remain weeks based for reservations. Add into the mix never being gone more than 7 nights and trying to take a full week off every other month and trying to find places cool in the summer, warm in the winter and within driving distance 30 to 50% of the time and it gets a little complicated. If I'm not thinking a couple of years in advance, it's easy to have issues with using all that we own. So really, the problem is we own to many timeshares.

Nothing about 2014 is certain yet but, we do have a rough draft of the places we'd like to go. To that end I have to think about how I want to manage what we own and what's best to get us where we want to go at the times we want to be there.

 

[curbysplace]

Lessons taken:

1. Keep you options open until you must make a decision of points vs weeks.

2. The online points reservation system is cumbersome requiring you look for each week individually, each unit size individually and each resort indivicually (VERY time consuming).

3. Despite what the salesmen might try to shovel, at this point in time there are still instances where the traditional I.I. weeks exchange outpreforms the new Marriott DC. (online instant exchanges in this case).

Bottom line is that OP is right on in his Lessons Taken and I believe the most important take-away is his first point: Keep the options open until you must make a decision of Weeks vs DC points and I'll add to that: and Rewards Points. All the rest is the "normal flow" in making the best for yourself from there.

 

[dougp26364]

Keep in mind that this tells us nothing about requesting an exchange. We still really don't have a firm grasp on if it's better to request via I.I. or the DC. I suspect there isn't much difference.

The only thing this shows is a snapshot of online availability for one specific period and, it shows there is instant exchange options with I.I. that don't presently exist with the DC. For those who are like me and prefer to make an instant confirmation when possible, I.I. is presently the better option.

This can change over time. Next year when I'm getting serious about where I want to go and when for 2014, I'll take another look rather than just assume things have remained the same.

I also suspect results will vary by resort and by when one does their searches. Inventory may show up later in the DC for legacy week point searches. I know some resorts, like Canyon Villa's and the two Park City resorts have always shown good availability in the DC when I've searched those locations. Branson has also shown good availability when searching the shoulder seasons of Spring/Fall but not so much when searching summer. Of course that's also held true for Branson when searching through I.I.

Really, my mini-search proves nothing other than sometimes I.I. is the better option. Salesmen will tell their stories but, facts are facts when you're doing searches comparing one against the other directly. Interval as an option for exchanges is very much alive and well at this time.