We sold our week 26 Harbour Point last year. We owned HPT for 20 years and used it exclusively for exchanging through II and was always able to get high demand weeks at pretty much any of the MVC resorts we were interested in visiting. Using HPT we could exchange into any 2 BR, if it was available. For example, our last trade using our HPT was a 2 BR week at Crystal Shores the first week of February in 2019, especially in comparison to weeks exchange. If I use the chart above, it would have taken 4500 points to get the same exchange, which is not much different than reserving directly through MVC. I know this should be expected, but it seems like exchanging through II using DC points is not a good deal. Am I missing something?
I'm also curious, if you can exchange in the same way you could when exchanging weeks. Can you see what is available before actually depositing points? Can you deposit points and use them for exchange after they expire similar to weeks? Can you do a "request first" type exchange like you can with weeks?
Two ways for DC points owners to exchange on II.
In both cases you can not exchange into an MVC property via II.
DC points owners must use the points exchange on MVC for MVC resorts.
I think many people agree that exchanging weeks on II is a better “value” financially ,although there is added flexibility with points which may have more value to some.
The first way to exchange DC points on II is you retain your DC points in your MVC account until you actually confirm an exchange. You can click on the points ownership in your II account and search inventory or place a request first. The points retain their original expiration date and you need to complete travel before they expire either using them on II or MVC.
I have been told that the II and MVC computer systems are not linked so II doesn’t know how many points you may have available and this needs to be confirmed before the exchange is completely confirmed and the DC points are deducted for the exchange. You can’t exchange into MVC properties, you can exchange into Vistana/ Sheraton/Westin with no exchange fee from your corporate II account, all other resorts require an exchange fee of 209.
The other choice is what vacationforever shows above- you call MVC and have your points converted into a week according to the size/season chart. The week deposited into II is good for 2 years and you can upsize for the standard fee or exchange into another season if available. This is a good method to use with points that will be expiring before you can use them. Still can’t exchange into MVC, also no exchange fee for V/S/W, 209 for other resorts. I have had a week in my account for a year from leftover points. I chose a smaller unit at a higher season and when I search with have have always seen plenty of highly rated resorts with up sizes available.
