One other nice thing to say about the DC

[dougp26364]

Whie it's probably well known that I can be critical of the DC, I do notice the positive aspects of the program. One advantage I hadn't given much thought to became apparent while the frustration of being able to actually book the 2013 vacations I'm planing.

That advantage is being able to book at the 12 months mark (13 months if you're in the premier catagory) rather than 9 to 10 months in advance. The two other points based reseravtions systems we own have a home resort booking window that causes a delay in my ability to book in network resorts other than where we own our deeds or, in the case of DRI and if we were trust based owners, in the group of resorts in the particular trust we might own in.

It occurs to me that most, if not all, points based systems have a delay for booking due to a home resort advantage. In the begining, I was thinking not having a home resort might be a big disadvantage. Now, as we've made plans and must wait for reservations windows to open, I feel it's more of an advantage to be able to book wherever, whatever and whichever resort or destination that fits our needs.

Unfotrunately, I still have to wait a few more months to book our planned summer vacation using our legacy DC points.

 

[dioxide45]

I was thinking not having a home resort might be a big disadvantage. Now, as we've made plans and must wait for reservations windows to open, I feel it's more of an advantage to be able to book wherever, whatever and whichever resort or destination that fits our needs.

I think the lack of home resort advantage is only a disadvantage to those buying trust points. For us legacy owners, we still have a home resort advantage where we can book our week or opt for points. We get the benefit from no home resort advantage when we convert to points and book in DC at 12 months.

 

[dougp26364]

I think the lack of home resort advantage is only a disadvantage to those buying trust points. For us legacy owners, we still have a home resort advantage where we can book our week or opt for points. We get the benefit from no home resort advantage when we convert to points and book in DC at 12 months.

I don't even think it's a detriment to trust point owners. The trust is set up so that they can book anywhere, anytime. While I like my home resorts, if I were a trust points owner, I could book my favorite resort and my favorite view anytime I wanted, regardless of season, so long as I had the points to do it.

Plus, let's think about a young family who's favorite resort might be in Orlando during the summer months. Later on, the kids grow up and now the parents favorite resort might be in Hawaii with an ocean view, a plane ticket they might not have been able to afford for the entire family when the kids were younger. Not being tied to a home resort can be a good thing as life changes. It'd certainly be easier to just make the reservation with points rather than deposit an Orlando week and attempt to exchange for the desired Hawaii week.

Of course, this assumes you have enough points to reserve what you want and, that the DC will actually have the inventory to make the reservation. As pointed out in the past, sales staff will be selling the high value, most popular weeks as the idea of what you can do with the DC, which could in turn put strain on that inventory if everyone is attempting to book it. I've seen this with Hilton as the salesmen sell Vegas and Orlando with the idea everyone can easily book Hawaii. Over the years it's become tough to book Hawaii since so many buy Vegas an Orlando but try to go to Hawaii.

 

[slum808]

Of course, this assumes you have enough points to reserve what you want and, that the DC will actually have the inventory to make the reservation. As pointed out in the past, sales staff will be selling the high value, most popular weeks as the idea of what you can do with the DC, which could in turn put strain on that inventory if everyone is attempting to book it. I've seen this with Hilton as the salesmen sell Vegas and Orlando with the idea everyone can easily book Hawaii. Over the years it's become tough to book Hawaii since so many buy Vegas an Orlando but try to go to Hawaii.

Doug,

I don't think this will be as much of a problem on the trust side. Unlike HGVC there's no cheap way in to the trust. Even a "cheap" Ko Olina 2 bedroom Ko Olina MV is 4700 pts. The prime week, prime MOC 6-7K with holidays even more. I don't see a lot of trust buyers making that kind of investment right away. It will be the Legacy point users who have enough points to take all the prime weeks.

I'm not sure if this was a smart move or not. It will maximize the profit per point, but it may limit sales as well. Both HGVC and DVC use the "Jewel" properties to attract buyers, then finish the sale on the "value" resort with the point is a point theory.