Latest Points manuever

[puckmanfl]

good afternoon...

let's try this one on for size. Decided that HHI in August wasn't what we were looking for!!! Decided to be bold and try Frenchman's Cove in June. Snagged 5 nites in 3 bedroom 6/3-6/8 check out, followed by 2 nites in 2 bedroom 6/8-6/9 with 6/10 check out. There were no 3 bedrooms open on either end of the 5 day stay!!! There was 7 day consecutive availability in a 2 bedroom, but the 3 bedrooms have so much appeal. The combined total for the 5+2 plan was 3725 points. This is the allotment for my GV plat 3 bedroom. I cancelled August 2012 HHI and moved the points over.... There was a 6 or 7 nite in 3 bedroom late july ,early August but did not want to mess with Hurricane Season...

At the end of the day, even counting the "skim" I traded a 7 nite 3 bedroom in Orlando for 5 nites in a 3 bedroom + 2 nites in a 2 bedroom. 21 bedroom nites in Orlando for 19 at MFC. Even with the move after the 5th nite, I believe I am a winner here!!!!

I don't think a summer 3 bedroom at MFC was in the cards with II....

thoughts/opinions please!!!!

 

[jont]

Seems there is plenty of availabilty for 2br units this summer.I see you were able to get the 3br for less points during the weekdays and avoiding the marriott weekend surcharge. Are you goint to waitlist your 2br for a 3br? Was this done online or thru a VOA? Enjoy, I'll be there a few weeks after you.

 

[GregT]

good afternoon...

let's try this one on for size. Decided that HHI in August wasn't what we were looking for!!! Decided to be bold and try Frenchman's Cove in June. Snagged 5 nites in 3 bedroom 6/3-6/8 check out, followed by 2 nites in 2 bedroom 6/8-6/9 with 6/10 check out. There were no 3 bedrooms open on either end of the 5 day stay!!! There was 7 day consecutive availability in a 2 bedroom, but the 3 bedrooms have so much appeal. The combined total for the 5+2 plan was 3725 points. This is the allotment for my GV plat 3 bedroom. I cancelled August 2012 HHI and moved the points over.... There was a 6 or 7 nite in 3 bedroom late july ,early August but did not want to mess with Hurricane Season...

At the end of the day, even counting the "skim" I traded a 7 nite 3 bedroom in Orlando for 5 nites in a 3 bedroom + 2 nites in a 2 bedroom. 21 bedroom nites in Orlando for 19 at MFC. Even with the move after the 5th nite, I believe I am a winner here!!!!

I don't think a summer 3 bedroom at MFC was in the cards with II....

thoughts/opinions please!!!!

Puck,

Nicely done -- the key here is I think it would be virtually impossible to get that 3BR trade through II. Marriott has figured out a way to get the inventory and make it available to you.

Another way to think about it is that if you went out and rented 3,725 points to make this ressie, it would cost you approx $1,900 -- which can't be that different from the MFs for the 3BR.

Also, all 3BRs are on the top floors so you should have a beautiful view.

Enjoy it!

Best,

Greg

 

[puckmanfl]

good afternoon

only had 525 pts. available, so I had to use the puck trick of checking availability on line using the one night flexible plan. Once I confirmed the availability of both ressies, I called the VOA as I needed a hold on both BEFORE I canceled HHI. I could have canceled HHI first on line but ran risk of losing both.

Take home point...Sometimes, you just need to speak with a human!!! They answered in 3 minutes!!!!

Really did not want to mess with USVI in Hurricane Season....so I opted for early June. Hopefully, it will be a smidge more pleasant (less hot) than July august)

Jet Blue has $274 fare from Tampa, stop in San Juan...

 

[thinze3]

Slightly off topic - How about Newport Coast?

How was/is early summer 2012 availability at NCV using DC points. Still trying to put my 2013 trip together in my head.

My latest thought.
Airfare to and from Hawaii using FF miles with a 4-5 day layover in LA. Spend those nights (weeknights of course) at NCV. Thinking late June. Most of the discounted FF flights connect on the west coast.

It's either that or two resorts in Hawaii.

 

[jont]

How was/is early summer 2012 availability at NCV using DC points. Still trying to put my 2013 trip together in my head.

My latest thought.
Airfare to and from Hawaii using FF miles with a 4-5 day layover in LA. Spend those nights (weeknights of course) at NCV. Thinking late June. Most of the discounted FF flights connect on the west coast.

It's either that or two resorts in Hawaii.

Terry

Using the "drop the puck" trick I see 1 night availability for 6-24-2012 thru 6-28-2012.
Hope this helps.

 

[puckmanfl]

Good afternoon...

Greg...

MF's on my 3 bedroom at GV $1250...

Jont...

Can't wait list for the 3 bedroom with the 2 bedroom ressie.. You need to have points (not a reservation sitting in the bank to "wait list"

I am thrilled with this trade..HHI in August is no different than Tampa. MFC provides a new exotic local to explore!!!!

I am honored to have some manuevers named after me

"drop the puck" use a 1 night search with flex option to search for 7 nites (3+ and 3-) when you don't have enuf points for a full search

"puck trick" cancel and rebook within 14 days to try and get the 20% for premium plus...

my guru wants me to do an owners seminar!!!!

 

[CashEddie]

Good afternoon...

Greg...

MF's on my 3 bedroom at GV $1250...

Jont...

Can't wait list for the 3 bedroom with the 2 bedroom ressie.. You need to have points (not a reservation sitting in the bank to "wait list"

I am thrilled with this trade..HHI in August is no different than Tampa. MFC provides a new exotic local to explore!!!!

I am honored to have some manuevers named after me

"drop the puck" use a 1 night search with flex option to search for 7 nites (3+ and 3-) when you don't have enuf points for a full search

"puck trick" cancel and rebook within 14 days to try and get the 20% for premium plus...

my guru wants me to do an owners seminar!!!!

Puck,

I want to get some clarification on the "drop the puck" technique: Do I need to have some points in my account in order to do this? I haven't elected to convert to points as yet and most likely won't convert for 2013. When you say "3+ and 3-" are you refering to looking at the prior 3 nights and the following 3 nights that are on both sides of your single night you can look at? Also when you say "flex option" is that a reference to flex exchange time similar to II where you are within 59 days of booking a reservation? Thanks.

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning...

"drop the puck" is a way of searching for a 7 nite stay when you only have enuf for one in your account. In order to do this,you do need to have converted at least one unit for points. MVCD will let you see availabilty if you are enrolled but have not converted a unit to DC points. You have to call a VOA to do this. If you see a ressie you like, they will put it on hold and convert your unit to DC points. You cannot "wait list" this way however...

In summary. let say you have 500 pts in the account... one night costs 300, weekends 500. Set up your search for the 4th day of the 7 day interval. Choose 1 nite and use the flexible option... this will give x-3, x=3 in other words a 7 day sweep....

The "puck trick" is to take advantange of points flexchange..Premier Plus gets 20% off within 14 days..Premier within 7 gets 20% Make a ressie the old fashioned way...Within 14 days see if there is availability, they will hold the new, cancel the old and you save 20%. Did this with 3 Park City ressies last week. They will not just change your ressie to the new rate, there has to be new availability in addition to the old one!!

Hope this helps...

if you are not planning to use DC points, none of this matters...

 

[CashEddie]

good morning...

"drop the puck" is a way of searching for a 7 nite stay when you only have enuf for one in your account. In order to do this,you do need to have converted at least one unit for points. MVCD will let you see availabilty if you are enrolled but have not converted a unit to DC points. You have to call a VOA to do this. If you see a ressie you like, they will put it on hold and convert your unit to DC points. You cannot "wait list" this way however...

In summary. let say you have 500 pts in the account... one night costs 300, weekends 500. Set up your search for the 4th day of the 7 day interval. Choose 1 nite and use the flexible option... this will give x-3, x=3 in other words a 7 day sweep....

The "puck trick" is to take advantange of points flexchange..Premier Plus gets 20% off within 14 days..Premier within 7 gets 20% Make a ressie the old fashioned way...Within 14 days see if there is availability, they will hold the new, cancel the old and you save 20%. Did this with 3 Park City ressies last week. They will not just change your ressie to the new rate, there has to be new availability in addition to the old one!!

Hope this helps...

if you are not planning to use DC points, none of this matters...

Awesome, thanks for the explaination. I was able to get a VOA to do a search for me on availability when I called in a few days ago to get an idea of how much some ressies would cost using points.

 

[jdunn1]

Okay. Jealous about getting Frenchman's cove. I want to go there -- but not till next year at the earliest. Please post how your trip was, and if there is anything special about the 3 bedrooms.

Since I bought my weeks post 6/20 I can't join the DC. No big deal regarding my Willowridge Platinum week, but the points for my OceanWatch unit might be nice on occassion.

Here is what I did through II with my Willowridge week, just to compare what you did throught the DC. Reserved Memorial Day week with my 2011 Willowridge unit. Locked it off and used the studio to get a 2 bedroom at Planet Hollywood for May of 2011 via an instant exchange. Used the one bedroom part of 2011 Willowridge week to get Easter week at SurfWatch for 2012. Can't wait as this will be my first Marriott exchange.

Reserved 4th of July week with my 2012 Willowridge week, locked it off and got both a 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom at OceanPointe for 4th of July week, 2012.

I then attached an XYZ to my Easter SurfWatch exchange and got the last week of March 2012 at Grande Vista in a 2 bedroom.

Just attached and XYZ to one of my 4th of July trades and booked a full one bedroom at Sheraton Desert Oasis for this June.

I still have one XYZ exchange left but do not know if I will use it.

Just to compare DC verses II. I plan to use my OceanWatch week for something next year but I will be renting and in return renting from someone else and bypassing the DC and II all together. While I can't join the DC, I think I will get plenty of rental income to get just about anything I wanton the rental market, especially those 3 bedroom prime weeks that just arent there in II.

I get how awesome it must be to call Marriott and using DC points get just about anything you want, provided you have the points. What a change from II where they never have the good stuff and if you do get a good week, it's after months and months of waiting. But, since I can't join and may never have the ability to call Marriott and get whatever my heart desires via the DC, I think for those Marriott owners lucky enough to have something that can be rented -- you have the same advantage as the DC, just via the rental market. Would be so nice not to have to rent and deal with money and trust issues, though.

Have fun at Frenchman's Cove. I'm already daydreaming about all the island hopping I would be doing. Fun!!!

good afternoon...

let's try this one on for size. Decided that HHI in August wasn't what we were looking for!!! Decided to be bold and try Frenchman's Cove in June. Snagged 5 nites in 3 bedroom 6/3-6/8 check out, followed by 2 nites in 2 bedroom 6/8-6/9 with 6/10 check out. There were no 3 bedrooms open on either end of the 5 day stay!!! There was 7 day consecutive availability in a 2 bedroom, but the 3 bedrooms have so much appeal. The combined total for the 5+2 plan was 3725 points. This is the allotment for my GV plat 3 bedroom. I cancelled August 2012 HHI and moved the points over.... There was a 6 or 7 nite in 3 bedroom late july ,early August but did not want to mess with Hurricane Season...

At the end of the day, even counting the "skim" I traded a 7 nite 3 bedroom in Orlando for 5 nites in a 3 bedroom + 2 nites in a 2 bedroom. 21 bedroom nites in Orlando for 19 at MFC. Even with the move after the 5th nite, I believe I am a winner here!!!!

I don't think a summer 3 bedroom at MFC was in the cards with II....

thoughts/opinions please!!!!

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening...

jdunn...

well done. This is the great thing about legacy weeks eligible for DC. They can be used in different ways. Using DC points, I could have never snagged a 2 bedroom and1 bedroom 7/4 at OP. However, using II I could never get 3 5 nite stays at Mountainside plat ski weeks!!!! Doubt, I could have snagged 3 bedroom at MFC. This is the beauty of the new system for legacy owners. We can do it all!!!

One isn't better than the other, both are excellent options!!!

You are happy, I am happy..isn't that what timesharing is about!!!

 

[jdunn1]

Hi Puckman. Yep, I am pretty happy with II right now. Last year, not so much because I couldn't trade into the Carolina properties and it seemed like anyone using DC points could. The same is probably true, now, but things are getting a little better for us post 6/20 owners in II. The XYZ exchanges have really added to II, but the rules for those bonus exchanges keep changing.

Definately could not get a prime ski week or Frenchmans Cove in II outside of flex. All of that prime inventory is now in the DC. For those of us not in the DC, we have to wait and wait and wait -- and probably be disapointed in II or we need to use the rental market.

Please do post about your Frenchmans Cove stay. I definatley want to stay there but it's a tough trade and the airfare from Ohio is pretty much a deal killer for now.

I hope you have lots of fun!!!

 

[Janette]

Headed to FC Friday with II trades. Very happy!

 

[jdunn1]

Cool. Did you get more than one unit for the same week? Are you staying more than one week? Please share what you traded in with and if it was an ongoing request -- if you do not mind. Have fun!

Headed to FC Friday with II trades. Very happy!

 

[jont]

mow points

jim
I have found that mow is much more valuable as a trader or rental than a points play. I have found there is no need to convert it to points. I would rather rent points than convert mow. I converted once. never again.

 

[puckmanfl]

good evening....

probably true...If you could get $2500 for plat OW week..you could convert that into 5000 DC points thru Gregs website. More than MVCD will give you post "skim" . I could probably rent my Hawaii weeks. I believe I could get $2000 fora Pres week 3 bedroom at GV, but to be perfectly honest, I don't have the stomach for renting!!!!

I am going to continue playing in points. I am looking for a cheapplat 2 bedroom GV to use for 2 Flexchange chips every year. This would complete my Portfolio. Problem is, I would need to keep open the 2nd II account and pay fees as I could not put it my MVCD II acct.

 

[jdunn1]

If I am not a DC member, can I still rent points, just whomever I rent from would need to make the reservation for me? That might be a good way to go.

I'm post 6/20 so I can't make DC reservations but I guess I could still rent points, provided the renter makes the reservation for me.

...just listed my platinum plus week on redweek last night and got a response from someone already. They seem interested but are still just planning. It was encouraging at least. I still don't like the renting thing, but I guess the people who respond to redweek have probably done this before.

 

[jdunn1]

Puck, I must sound like a broken record to anyone who knows my posts, but if all you want is a trader, you should look into Willowridge. Platinum weeks are going for $200 or so on ebay, and there are new weeks to buy every week. I won't go on about it, just it might be a better deal than GV.

good evening....

probably true...If you could get $2500 for plat OW week..you could convert that into 5000 DC points thru Gregs website. More than MVCD will give you post "skim" . I could probably rent my Hawaii weeks. I believe I could get $2000 fora Pres week 3 bedroom at GV, but to be perfectly honest, I don't have the stomach for renting!!!!

I am going to continue playing in points. I am looking for a cheapplat 2 bedroom GV to use for 2 Flexchange chips every year. This would complete my Portfolio. Problem is, I would need to keep open the 2nd II account and pay fees as I could not put it my MVCD II acct.

 

[jont]

Jim
You would not be technically renting points, you would be renting a reservation made with points.,You could contact me, an enrolled member and ask about a certain reservation you would like, and I would have access to the dc club and see if your requested reservation is available. If available, I could make the reservation and then rent it back to you at an agreed upon price.

 

[Janette]

Three weeks, ongoing search, Hilton Head and Oceana Palms. These did not become available until about six weeks out. I would assume they are developer weeks. The resorts that aren't sold out and don't have point requests will still put weeks in II. With the points usage, you aren't seeing these on the sightings as much as in the past. We were also flexible with dates.

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning

jdunn...

You are probably correct about Willow Ridge as just trader...but GV is only 60 minutes from my home. Makes for as great little getaway just in case, within driving distance. Also in 10 years will make a nice place for my kids and hopefully grand kids to go tot the mouse house... and see grand pa... just usingthe crystal ball a bit...

 

[m61376]

Also in 10 years will make a nice place for my kids and hopefully grand kids to go tot the mouse house... and see grand pa... just usingthe crystal ball a bit...

Now that's what I call planning

Seriously, though, that's the kinda thought process that should go into a purchase- your needs today, in 5 years...in 10 years. Too often people only consider their travel needs now, rather than how they will change as family responsibilities change, esp. as related to school schedules, and even family size. For example, I know people who bought 2 bedroom units and regret not buying 3BR because the kids are grown and the family is increasing; my first purchase was a 2BR and I wish I was smart enough to buy a 3BR initially.

 

[RBERR1]

Had an idea and wonder if it would work

Is it possible to effectively upgrade an II reservation by using DC pts to either guarantee view or bigger size?

Think of this as a scenario. I have DC pts and II gets me lets say a 2 BR somewhere and lets say to get that through DC pts was 4000 pts. If DC has a 3 bedroom available for 5000 pts. Could you pay 1000 pts to upgrade the 2 BR to a 3 bedroom?

Would be a great trick if it could work. I have a feeling odds are slim on this one.

Rich

 

[thinze3]

Terry

Using the "drop the puck" trick I see 1 night availability for 6-24-2012 thru 6-28-2012.
Hope this helps.

Thanks.
I am sure then that we shouldn't have a problem doing a five 4-5 night stay at NCV next summer (2013) if planned properly.