Depositing MVC Points into II [MERGED]

[Dean]

Nothing to do with Covid

Thanks.

 

[Dean]

Out of curiosity I've done some additional investigation including a call to MVC and reviewing the latest exchange guid I have in my possession from MVC for II, the 2018 version. Several sections caught my eye but pertaining to this question, this one specifically.

Use of the Deposit First method, as explained in more detail in Week- Based Exchange Method, Paragraph 3, is not available to Club Program Members relinquishing Points, as II does not currently accept the deposit of Points.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Out of curiosity I've done some additional investigation including a call to MVC and reviewing the latest exchange guid I have in my possession from MVC for II, the 2018 version. Several sections caught my eye but pertaining to this question, this one specifically.

Exactly- you do not deposit DC points into II.
MVC converts points to a week and deposits that.
Or you can use your points account as it sits under “my units” on II to search inventory manually or place a request. When a match is made II needs to contact MVC as the systems are not linked to confirm the points are available and then the
exchange is confirmed.
In this case I don’t know how II is compensated for the week it just gave the MVC points holder.

The title of this thread does not exist.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I have 2 deposits now, will be interesting to see what I can trade into. Targets are Vistana resorts. I have a low and a medium season.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Good luck- Let us know how it goes.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Good luck- Let us know how it goes.

I will, though it will be a while most likely. It's an experiment, if I don't get good value I don't, no big deal. Want to check what I see at different deposit seasons. I am suspecting for years when I want to go non Marriott on some trip somewhere outside the US, that I can use a week I own differently. I have a week worth 2750 points, but, it can't be locked off. So, points for that week generally makes more sense depending on where I am going since otherwies, I get only 1 week. However, if I can get (almost) 3 weeks by electing for points and then doing (almost) 3 deposits, and I can get what I want for those deposits for this somewhere on earth trip, that may make more sense. The MF is lower than points MF as well, so, it may turn out to be well worth it. Worth an experiment.

My experience in Australia years ago was that trades to there were vastly cheaper (like 1/3rd) than cash stays to where we were going, it's expensive in many places there. I am sure it's not the only place where that holds true. I will likely go back there again. Will be fun to see what I can squeeze out of it.

 

[jpa2825]

Interesting discussion. I have some points expiring JUL 31 2021 and may look at this rather than resort credit, airline miles, rental car credit, etc.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I currently have a studio low and medium season week deposited in II via points. It took 6 weeks to get them into II, MVCI is backed up. Once they are there, I have yet to find a single difference between low and medium season, I've compared around 20 resorts matches, they are identical. Best match thus far is platinum season Westin Lagunamar. Which wouldn't be shabby for 1000 points for a week and no exchange fee. I'm going to look for trade for 3-6 months and see what sort of results I get. I might use it every year if it turns out good.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Ok, will update my last post. Thanks to @Pamplemousse I have found one specific place where it did make a difference on an instant exchange. So, it would appear it can make a difference at least sometimes. I have so many cases where it does not make a difference though. So, not sure how common that is. Low Season Studio vs Medium Season Studio vs 1BR DSV2 high season, all had different results on instant exchange. Even though I have a few dozen resorts I search for daily, which all have always been identical.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Interesting discussion. I have some points expiring JUL 31 2021 and may look at this rather than resort credit, airline miles, rental car credit, etc.

IMHO, depositing is a far better option than the uses you mentioned. That is, if you don't mind trading. Just remember, you can't trade into MVCI. Sheraton, Westin will be free exchange, anything else external exchange fee applies. And no free retrades.

 

[Dean]

I currently have a studio low and medium season week deposited in II via points. It took 6 weeks to get them into II, MVCI is backed up. Once they are there, I have yet to find a single difference between low and medium season, I've compared around 20 resorts matches, they are identical. Best match thus far is platinum season Westin Lagunamar. Which wouldn't be shabby for 1000 points for a week and no exchange fee. I'm going to look for trade for 3-6 months and see what sort of results I get. I might use it every year if it turns out good.

Just for comparison I looked at a early Feb Branson 2 BR vs a 4th of July Branson 2 BR and saw a great deal of difference between what they pulled. For example, I get 36 Barony options using the higher week and only 3 using the lower week. And the Barony weeks are not high season being Dec through early March. There were many more differences as well just looking at HHI.

ETA, changing to a studio for the higher week dropped 9 of the 36 weeks giving me 27 weeks for possible exchange.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Just for comparison I looked at a early Feb Branson 2 BR vs a 4th of July Branson 2 BR and saw a great deal of difference between what they pulled. For example, I get 36 Barony options using the higher week and only 3 using the lower week. And the Barony weeks are not high season being Dec through early March. There were many more differences as well just looking at HHI.

ETA, changing to a studio for the higher week dropped 9 of the 36 weeks giving me 27 weeks for possible exchange.

None of which negates what I said, 20 resorts, all identical results. I do however agree there are differences sometimes. Just not for what I am looking for in whatever seasons, some of the searches are for a year even. Recall in my case, they are an invented deposit by Marriott, was not sure if they would behave the same as your weeks for example. Not certain if they would or wouldn't. I am sure they are backed by a real week, but most likely their system doesn't handle it perfectly, you know Marriott! But as noted, I did find a specific search where for once, got different results. Also, remember the MVCI deposits can't exchange into MVCI, so not Barony. That's some of why I wanted to experiment to gather a lot of data for potential future use.

 

[Dean]

None of which negates what I said, 20 resorts, all identical results. I do however agree there are differences sometimes. Just not for what I am looking for in whatever seasons, some of the searches are for a year even. Recall in my case, they are an invented deposit by Marriott, was not sure if they would behave the same as your weeks for example. Not certain if they would or wouldn't. I am sure they are backed by a real week, but most likely their system doesn't handle it perfectly, you know Marriott! But as noted, I did find a specific search where for once, got different results. Also, remember the MVCI deposits can't exchange into MVCI, so not Barony. That's some of why I wanted to experiment to gather a lot of data for potential future use.

Can you compare those 2 to other possibilities. It sounds like you have 2 lower season deposits (one lower than the other) that may also not have full trade power due to when they were deposited though as you say, we'll never know for sure. Do you have other options you can play with in II to see what differences you get. That's really the only way you'll really be able to tell. I suspect you're not seeing some options.

 

[jpa2825]

IMHO, depositing is a far better option than the uses you mentioned. That is, if you don't mind trading. Just remember, you can't trade into MVCI. Sheraton, Westin will be free exchange, anything else external exchange fee applies. And no free retrades.

As usual, TUG comes through again to maximize the value of our DC points.

With being Presidential, I somewhat see not being able to trade into MVCI as a plus. With COVID we have a backlog of points and trying to use them in the same places (HHI, Orlando, etc.) can get repetitive. Opening up to the II may give us both other places to visit and comparators of other amenities and furnishings against MVCI. Bottom line, if I can take a chunk of points that expire JUL 31, 2021 and turn them into some II weeks that don't expire until mid-2023, I'll see this as a win. For the next 2 years we can look at MVC locations and II locations to travel to.

Now I just have to put on my research and "math brain" to match up the best weeks (per Post #2, variables seem to be size and season) to get the best trading value for when we travel (empty nesters so not tied to school and holiday schedules).

 

[dioxide45]

Just for comparison I looked at a early Feb Branson 2 BR vs a 4th of July Branson 2 BR and saw a great deal of difference between what they pulled. For example, I get 36 Barony options using the higher week and only 3 using the lower week. And the Barony weeks are not high season being Dec through early March. There were many more differences as well just looking at HHI.

ETA, changing to a studio for the higher week dropped 9 of the 36 weeks giving me 27 weeks for possible exchange.

I have often found that II will return bunk results at random. Clicking the search button again will cause more results to be returned. Many searches we have done in II have resulted in only a few results, but there is actually more availability to be seen when clicking the Search button on the results page. Could that have happened here whwn you only got back 3 Barony weeks in that one search using low season Willow Ridge?

 

[Dean]

I have often found that II will return bunk results at random. Clicking the search button again will cause more results to be returned. Many searches we have done in II have resulted in only a few results, but there is actually more availability to be seen when clicking the Search button on the results page. Could that have happened here whwn you only got back 3 Barony weeks in that one search using low season Willow Ridge?

No, it was reproducible. I don't see that issue as much as I once did and I also don't see the other similar issue like I once did where if you enter the codes for a resort you often get options you didn't get on a regional search.

ETA: If I change it to a studio for week 5, I lose those 3 Barony options and many more.

 

[Pamplemousse]

You won’t see a difference when you search with a low and medium week if your target is attainable with the strength of both your weeks, The difference will come when you are aiming higher. I was told by MVC that these weeks derived from points should trade quite well like a regular Marriott week- trading power should reflect premiere/elite resort. Season/TDI is just one component of trading power.
So if you have a possible target in mind let that influence the season you choose to deposit.

 

[NJDave]

Ok, will update my last post. Thanks to @Pamplemousse I have found one specific place where it did make a difference on an instant exchange. So, it would appear it can make a difference at least sometimes. I have so many cases where it does not make a difference though. So, not sure how common that is. Low Season Studio vs Medium Season Studio vs 1BR DSV2 high season, all had different results on instant exchange. Even though I have a few dozen resorts I search for daily, which all have always been identical.

Steve, I am interested in trading into Vistana Beach Club which only has 2 bedrooms. There are currently units available for next May. I can see them in Interaval with my one bedroom Platinum Vistana Villages (but with a $99 fee), see them using 3,000 points using Marriott Destination points and see them using a 2 bedroom Cyrpress Harbour. I can not see them with an offpeak Foxrun week or if I use less than 3,000 points. It would be interesting to see if the either of the studios would pull them. In addition, is Vistana Villages an easy trade with the studios?

 

[Steve Fatula]

Steve, I am interested in trading into Vistana Beach Club which only has 2 bedrooms. There are currently units available for next May. I can see them in Interaval with my one bedroom Platinum Vistana Villages (but with a $99 fee), see them using 3,000 points using Marriott Destination points and see them using a 2 bedroom Cyrpress Harbour. I can not see them with an offpeak Foxrun week or if I use less than 3,000 points. It would be interesting to see if the either of the studios would pull them. In addition, is Vistana Villages an easy trade with the studios?

No idea, trades change every day at times. Currently, can see Sheraton PGA Vacation resort, but not Vistana Beach Club.

 

[Dean]

Steve, I am interested in trading into Vistana Beach Club which only has 2 bedrooms. There are currently units available for next May. I can see them in Interaval with my one bedroom Platinum Vistana Villages (but with a $99 fee), see them using 3,000 points using Marriott Destination points and see them using a 2 bedroom Cyrpress Harbour. I can not see them with an offpeak Foxrun week or if I use less than 3,000 points. It would be interesting to see if the either of the studios would pull them. In addition, is Vistana Villages an easy trade with the studios?

I can see four 2BR units for over 7-14 May, nothing after. I can see this with my MVC Willow Ridge Studio and get the same results with a 2 BR at WR all top deposits for that resort deposited early.

 

[dioxide45]

Oddly, I can see them with my Vistana units but not any of my Marriott weeks. I would normally think these would be under Vistana preference, but @Dean seems to be able to see them with a Marriott studio.

 

[dioxide45]

It is possible that an overnight OGS with a studio would pick them up.

 

[NJDave]

No idea, trades change every day at times. Currently, can see Sheraton PGA Vacation resort, but not Vistana Beach Club.

Thanks for checking. I can still see Vistana Beach Club with the Marriott and Vistana units but not with Foxrun.

 

[Dean]

Only 3 showing now.

 

[youppi]

Oddly, I can see them with my Vistana units but not any of my Marriott weeks. I would normally think these would be under Vistana preference, but @Dean seems to be able to see them with a Marriott studio.

They are not under Vistana preference.
I see them with my DRI points