Koala Experiences as a Guest

[Arimaas]

My best friend is taking his family to Disney next August and was asking about Bonnet Creek. I don't have enough points to help him out, but he found the Koala website and was happy to get the dates he needed. I did a quick search here, so I know people use it. I worry however, that he gets to Bonnet Creek and there is no reservation. What is the thoguths of the group here on the platform? Both as a guest and "host"?

I wish I could help him out with a reservation, but i for sure don't have enough points during high season for him.

Thanks!

 

[josegm888]

As a host, my experience with Koala has been great. They require the host to provide confirmation number and proof of guest certificates once submitted to resort. This makes koala a reliable platform to book vacations. That being said, Wyndham is very particular about guest certificates for certain resorts during high season. Based on the assumption reservations in koala were booked by timeshare owners with points, I would avoid booking Bonnet Creek during dates provided below.

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[chapjim]

Wyndham could remove "made after December 15, 2022." It's irrelevant now.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Koala is great. Our daughter actually works for Koala. Honesty is always best. I do push Koala but mostly because I am fed up with Redweek. She also used to work for Redweek. I get very few rentals via either one lately. I am thrilled with some rentals on DVC Rental Store.

At least I don't have to pay to get no interest on Koala. There's that. Redweek, I have lost about $300 in verify/ protect fees, lowest prices for the resorts, no interest at all from Redweek customers. I am about done with RW.

 

[dioxide45]

I've rented through Koala, though it has been a few years and it was before the Wyndham Owner Priority Dates policy. It worked out fine. It would be no different renting from another owner or an outfit like Vacation Strategy. There is always a risk an owner can get sent a certified letter from Wyndham and the reservation could get cancelled. With Koala, they hold the funds until after checkin. That doesn't mean that a guest couldn't show up and not have a reservation.

 

[Arimaas]

As a host, my experience with Koala has been great. They require the host to provide confirmation number and proof of guest certificates once submitted to resort. This makes koala a reliable platform to book vacations. That being said, Wyndham is very particular about guest certificates for certain resorts during high season. Based on the assumption reservations in koala where booked by timeshare owners with points, I would avoid booking Bonnet Creek during dates provided below. View attachment 99363


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Thanks. What does Wyndham do,l

As a host, my experience with Koala has been great. They require the host to provide confirmation number and proof of guest certificates once submitted to resort. This makes koala a reliable platform to book vacations. That being said, Wyndham is very particular about guest certificates for certain resorts during high season. Based on the assumption reservations in koala were booked by timeshare owners with points, I would avoid booking Bonnet Creek during dates provided below. View attachment 99363


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Thanks. Just curious, how does Wyndham control no guests during those dates? Refuses to add a GC?

 

[josegm888]

Thanks. What does Wyndham do,l

Thanks. Just curious, how does Wyndham control no guests during those dates? Refuses to add a GC?

They allow guests, they just limit the amount of guest certificates owners are allowed to use. I’m not saying that a reservation on those dates isn’t possible, you’re just taking a higher chance of reservation possibly being cancelled by Wyndham if owner used too many of their guests certificates for those dates. I’m not 100% if they’ve added a function in their website that limits booking on those dates based on amount of guest certificates used. My recommendation would be to call or email Wyndham and confirm reservation.


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[Arimaas]

They allow guests, they just limit the amount of guest certificates owners are allowed to use. I’m not saying that a reservation on those dates isn’t possible, you’re just taking a higher chance of reservation possibly being cancelled by Wyndham, if owner used too many of their guests certificates for those dates. I’m not 100% if they’ve added a function in their website that limits booking on those dates based on amount of guest certificates used. My recommendation would be to call or email Wyndham and confirm reservation.


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Thanks. He’s going the week of August 8th so it’s moot based on that chart, the question was more for my edification than anything. Thanks again!

 

[bnoble]

you’re just taking a higher chance of reservation possibly being cancelled by Wyndham if owner used too many of their guests certificates for those dates.

This is no longer as much of a problem because...

I’m not 100% if they’ve added a function in their website that limits booking on those dates based on amount of guest certificates used

...they added this a while back.

 

[josegm888]

This is no longer as much of a problem because...

...they added this a while back.

That’s good to know, thanks!


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[Arimaas]

Does this count as “commercial activity” or can I rent my points out with Koala?

 

[bnoble]

Commercial activity is in the eye of the beholder, the beholder is Wyndham, and they aren't going to tell you in advance yes or no.

Using it infrequently, and with a smallish part of your annual holdings, might keep you below the radar. If it were me, I'd tread carefully.

 

[Arimaas]

Commercial activity is in the eye of the beholder, the beholder is Wyndham, and they aren't going to tell you in advance yes or no.

Using it infrequently, and with a smallish part of your annual holdings, might keep you below the radar. If it were me, I'd tread carefully.

Thanks. So ridiculous honestly. I should be able to rent out my extra points, like you said, infrequently and as a small part. I usually give my extra points away to my family who use it, but renting it when I can't use it is a nice option. Life isn't always so cut and dry and maybe one year we can't use it, there should be options (other than ridiculous Extra Holidays) for owners., but I know I'm preaching to the choir here.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Thanks. So ridiculous honestly. I should be able to rent out my extra points, like you said, infrequently and as a small part. I usually give my extra points away to my family who use it, but renting it when I can't use it is a nice option. Life isn't always so cut and dry and maybe one year we can't use it, there should be options (other than ridiculous Extra Holidays) for owners., but I know I'm preaching to the choir here.

Any guest you add could cause scrutiny. Even if it's a family member, Wyndham is sure you are making big money on any rental, and that is a big no-no. It's not just advertising reservations, it's any guest added to a reservation.

 

[Arimaas]

Any guest you add could cause scrutiny. Even if it's a family member, Wyndham is sure you are making big money on any rental, and that is a big no-no. It's not just advertising reservations, it's any guest added to a reservation.

And the only people that should be making hand over fist is Wyndham?

 

[rickandcindy23]

And the only people that should be making hand over fist is Wyndham?

Yep

 

[HitchHiker71]

They allow guests, they just limit the amount of guest certificates owners are allowed to use. I’m not saying that a reservation on those dates isn’t possible, you’re just taking a higher chance of reservation possibly being cancelled by Wyndham if owner used too many of their guests certificates for those dates. I’m not 100% if they’ve added a function in their website that limits booking on those dates based on amount of guest certificates used. My recommendation would be to call or email Wyndham and confirm reservation.


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Technically if you're making a non-owner reservation within a blackout date - it's called a Guest Allowance or what is now referred to as a Timeshare Owner Priority Reservation - and each owner only receives two of these annually - and it's tracked explicitly in your Owner Benefits Summary area - screenshot below for reference:

Guest Confirmation rules/regs are documented here for reference: https://clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com/us/en/owner-guide/resources/guest-confirmations

 

[renter22]

I have a follow up question that I'm hoping people here can help with. I am planning a Disney vacation in April, and just got a stay for a week at Bonnet Creek (week after Easter) through VRBO. The person has good reviews there so that's not the concern - my concern is after booking this last night I went down the internet rabbit hole of owners not being allowed to rent out their time shares (first saw that over on Disboards and then followed up by looking through a few different threads here). I'm really considering just canceling this since I'm within 24 hours (I actually have to February per the posting but I'd do it now if I'm going to back out). On the one hand I feel bad for owners trying to rent out portions of their timeshare and on the other hand I don't want to be homeless at the start of a Disney vacation.

I guess my question is, exactly how risky is this and should I just move to the Marriott or Disney property? I really can't tell if this is cracking down on people who were building a true business and how to tell if the owner I'm dealing with falls into whichever category is an issue. TIA

 

[bnoble]

The cancellations in the past have happened for one of two reasons:

1. An owner used more than their two allowed exceptions to the Owner Priority policy, and the additional one(s) were cancelled.
2. An owner who got a nastygram continued to behave in ways Wyndham considered "badly", and had reservations cancelled.

#1 was much more common than #2, as far as I know. However, the web site now tracks the "allowed exceptions" and prevents an owner from booking more than two--so there should be no reason to cancel them after the fact.

I would ask the owner in question why this booking is allowed under the Owner Priority policy. If they know what you are talking about and have a plausible answer, then it is probably fine and I personally would roll the dice. If you'd rather not deal with it, just cancel. It is all based on your personal risk tolerance.

 

[renter22]

The cancellations in the past have happened for one of two reasons:

1. An owner used more than their two allowed exceptions to the Owner Priority policy, and the additional one(s) were cancelled.
2. An owner who got a nastygram continued to behave in ways Wyndham considered "badly", and had reservations cancelled.

#1 was much more common than #2, as far as I know. However, the web site now tracks the "allowed exceptions" and prevents an owner from booking more than two--so there should be no reason to cancel them after the fact.

I would ask the owner in question why this booking is allowed under the Owner Priority policy. If they know what you are talking about and have a plausible answer, then it is probably fine and I personally would roll the dice. If you'd rather not deal with it, just cancel. It is all based on your personal risk tolerance.

Thank you for the response. I will reach out to the owner and ask.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I think renting on VRBO during an owner priority period in the current climate is inherently risky.

 

[dioxide45]

I think renting on VRBO during an owner priority period in the current climate is inherently risky.

I could have misunderstood this, but I believe Koala pushes all their listings to Vrbo. Though perhaps it is only for owners who are also in their VIP program.

 

[bnoble]

Thank you for the response. I will reach out to the owner and ask.

I will add that if what you want is a guarantee, you won’t get one. Private rentals always come with some risk, whether Wyndham or any other.