Embarc questions

[Tahiya]

I'm considering buying some Embarc Points second hand, and have a couple questions, mostly about trading in Interval.

We already have a personal Interval account, under which our WorldMark and several independent weeks resorts are registered.

1. Is there a chart that shows how many Embarc points are required for different seasons and sizes of units in Interval?

2. If we add Embarc to our Interval portfolio, will that preclude exchanges into Embarc resorts using the other timeshares we own that would be on the same Interval account?

3. If you also own Marriott or WorldMark, how would you compare the trading power with Embarc? (I've been told that most Marriotts have about the same trading power in Interval as WorldMark does.)

Your responses to these questions are most appreciated!

 

[dayooper]

I'm considering buying some Embarc Points second hand, and have a couple questions, mostly about trading in Interval.

We already have a personal Interval account, under which our WorldMark and several independent weeks resorts are registered.

1. Is there a chart that shows how many Embarc points are required for different seasons and sizes of units in Interval?

2. If we add Embarc to our Interval portfolio, will that preclude exchanges into Embarc resorts using the other timeshares we own that would be on the same Interval account?

3. If you also own Marriott or WorldMark, how would you compare the trading power with Embarc? (I've been told that most Marriotts have about the same trading power in Interval as WorldMark does.)

Your responses to these questions are most appreciated!

@cd5 can you help with this?

 

[echino]

Buying Embarc points to trade in Interval is not a good idea. When I researched it, to trade in Interval, you need to reserve a week and then deposit it, making it uneconomical. Maybe something has changed.

 

[cd5]

Yes I can help.
Echino, Embarc members have been using points for trades in Interval for well over a decade. Only old legacy accounts from the early 2000's when Intrawest moved to RCI use a deposit. Embarc has been using Interval for over 15 years now, with points not a booking deposit - no week reservation required.
You can trade into Embarc with your other timeshares (I have done this using SFX with another timeshare and with bonus weeks too).
Yes, there is a chart which I'll try to add to my response.
I trade into Marriott regularly using Interval and SFX Resorts. In mid October I have a Marriott Desert Springs 2 bedroom for 7000 points reserved with II. I haven't traded in the other direction so its hard to say but it seems pretty equivalent for Marriott anyways. Both resorts are considered "Premium" on the chart.
Interval adjusted points costs upwards for all seasons except low season (it went down), for all resorts (not just Embarc) in January so the chart attached is the new one.
SFX is a good choice for trading Embarc if you don't mind that it's more limited than Interval. I have both. A 1bdrm October low season "week" deposit from Whistler costs 3250 points and will get you (example, my daughter just got this) a Hilton Grand Waikikian 2 bedroom in February. I get Grand Luxxe, Grand Bliss 1 bedroom in Nuevo Vallarta regularly for myself or a guest, Jan-Mar, for the same deposit (3250 points value room, from Whistler fall or spring "low" season). The Vidanta resort fees are generally lower than with II and RCI as well. Last stay in Jan had none for myself, friends staying in December will cost $150.

 

[Tahiya]

Wow! Thank-you for the detailed response! The chart is helpful. I'm not sure I understand all the various categories: Do they all refer to date ranges, or do the subcategories relate to the quality of the resort you exchange into?

Interval's TDI charts don't have nearly the level of detail this chart may imply.

 

[echino]

Interval adjusted points costs upwards for all seasons except low season (it went down), for all resorts (not just Embarc) in January so the chart attached is the new one.

Thanks, that's very helpful! I am trying to figure out current costs to trade into a 2br Marriott in peak season, as an example. How much are maintenance fees for 11,000 points? Looks like over $2,000? Plus Interval fees? If so, it's not a good use of Embarc points to trade - no gaming the system to get an outsize value.

 

[GT75]

How much are maintenance fees for 11,000 points?

Embarc MFs are 15¢/pts (USD) so 11,000 pts would put that at $1650 (USD). It looks like you are located in Vancouver (I assume BC and not WA) so ~$2200 (CAD)

 

[cd5]

Thanks, that's very helpful! I am trying to figure out current costs to trade into a 2br Marriott in peak season, as an example. How much are maintenance fees for 11,000 points? Looks like over $2,000? Plus Interval fees? If so, it's not a good use of Embarc points to trade - no gaming the system to get an outsize value.

Fees are 20¢ cad per point, 15¢ USD per point. That's $1650usd.
It used to be a great deal on Interval up till January. They increased point costs by about 30-40%. That 7000 point Marriott booking I made for October would have cost me 5000 before January.
Members are very unhappy but can't do much about it. Note that II points costs went up substantially for everyone at the same time so its not just Embarc that wouldn't be a good use to "game" the system (however that is done...)

 

[cd5]

Wow! Thank-you for the detailed response! The chart is helpful. I'm not sure I understand all the various categories: Do they all refer to date ranges, or do the subcategories relate to the quality of the resort you exchange into?

Interval's TDI charts don't have nearly the level of detail this chart may imply.

Premium is the quality of the resort as an example. Marriott & Embarc are both premium. The other levels are seasons low, peak, high etc. and vary dates by resort location. Summer in Palm Desert isn't high season while it is for Whistler & Tremblant for example. I believe GT75 has posted our points charts in the pinned info if you want to see what season a specific location is at a specific time.

 

[Tahiya]

Thanks for the explanation! I'll check out the pinned chart.

 

[youppi]

The II charts posted by cd5 for HGVC (Embarc) look the same as the II chart for HVC (DRI).
So, the seasons (low,mid,high peak) and categories (Premium, moderate, economy) should be also the same if II didn't change the TDI range assigned to each seasons and the category they assigned to each resorts (see the note under each chart bellow)

HGVC (Embarc)

HVC (DRI)

 

[cd5]

Yes, they've given the same point value to book for our Embarc (Premium) resorts as DRI members of moderate resorts. In theory (and previous to January) Embarc required less points (as a premium) to book another premium. The points were all treated "equally" when Interval implemented the change. "It was easier that way" I was told by the person at Hilton who was involved with discussing terms with Interval. "Easier" (this was a Hilton person not familiar with Interval) - but not equitable for our members.