Use of owner's week

[Wei339]

I had to cancel my owner's week in early June to Ko Olina that I had reserved for my niece. I cancelled the reservation outside of the two month period so I received my week back. The week was my 2020 week. Am I correct in thinking that it is too late to convert the week to destination points or to take Marriott Bonvoy Points since I declared using the owner's week? Secondly, I presume that I need to use up the week by the end of this year.
A second question that I have: Can I elect destination Points for my owner's week from 2022 and then use them to book a 2021 stay? Or can I simply use my 2022 week to book a 2021 stay? I already booked my 2021 week for March for my niece but I was thinking of going myself later in 2021. Thanks.

 

[Steve Fatula]

The deadline for electing for DC points is Sept or October of the PRIOR year. I am not sure the first date you can elect for DC points (looking in my account the link is active now for 2022), but, at some point, you can elect for points for your 2022 week, and then yes, you can use those points (they will call it borrowing) for 2021. If you ended up cancelling that reservation, they will go back to 2022 points.

You do not necessarily have to occupy your week this year. You could deposit it into II and then have 2 more years to use it, but you'll need a reservation first. Though you'll likely be trading down if you put it into II.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I had to cancel my owner's week in early June to Ko Olina that I had reserved for my niece. I cancelled the reservation outside of the two month period so I received my week back. The week was my 2020 week. Am I correct in thinking that it is too late to convert the week to destination points or to take Marriott Bonvoy Points since I declared using the owner's week? Secondly, I presume that I need to use up the week by the end of this year.
A second question that I have: Can I elect destination Points for my owner's week from 2022 and then use them to book a 2021 stay? Or can I simply use my 2022 week to book a 2021 stay? I already booked my 2021 week for March for my niece but I was thinking of going myself later in 2021. Thanks.

As an experienced II user I disagree with Steve’s statement that you will likely be trading down if you deposit your week into II.
If you deposit your week and make a request (as far in advance as possible) and search the available inventory on II manually too your chances of exchanging into Ko Olina or one of the Marriotts on Kauai are quite good- I have done both with my gold season premier rated Marriott Orlando, both times for mid/late June.
Your chances of getting just about any Marriott especially during non peak season or if you can plan far in advance or travel at less than 60days.
Marriott priority really helps exchange into Marriotts but there are many other great choices on II.
The thing you have to remember about exchanging is someone must deposit the week you want in order for you to exchange into it. No guarantees, the earlier you get started the better.
If you are making a new home week reservation to deposit into II ask MVC for the highest TDI week they have available. Your will will be good for 2 years in II.

 

[Steve Fatula]

What I mean by down is lower MF week or lower quality. It depends on whether his schedule is a school schedule or not. I have 20+ years of experience myself trading on II. All my trades are up. But when you own at a resort that is near the top, not too many places to go that are up. For me, a trade into Kauai would be down. I love Ko Olina. But I guess it depends what you think of it. I certainly did not mean he'd be staying in dumpsters, lol.

For me, trading from Ko Olina to virtually any Marriott other than Ko Olina is a trade down. But yes, he could trade back into his home resort and that most certainly would not be a trade down even by my criteria.

 

[Wei339]

Thank you both for your advice. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my query and I realize your intentions are always to be helpful.

 

[Pamplemousse]

What I mean by down is lower MF week or lower quality. It depends on whether his schedule is a school schedule or not. I have 20+ years of experience myself trading on II. All my trades are up. But when you own at a resort that is near the top, not too many places to go that are up. For me, a trade into Kauai would be down. I love Ko Olina. But I guess it depends what you think of it. I certainly did not mean he'd be staying in dumpsters, lol.

For me, trading from Ko Olina to virtually any Marriott other than Ko Olina is a trade down. But yes, he could trade back into his home resort and that most certainly would not be a trade down even by my criteria.

I respect your opinion on resorts and of course your right to offer your opinion but I feel it is misleading to make the “trade down” statement.
One could exchange to a higher season, larger unit at Ko Olina which I don’t belive you would call a trade down or to many other resorts that an individual might not feel was a trade down- marriott or other.
People shouldn’t accept trades that they feel are down- no reason to with a highly valued week if one takes the time to learn to exchange.
There is so much misunderstanding and bashing of II that I hate to see a statement like that made so I needed to comment. No offense intended.
PS-can’t believe you like Oahu better than Kauai!

 

[Steve Fatula]

I could tell you were taking it as an II bash. It was not meant that way. I LOVE II. It's the greatest feature of weeks (yes, better than occupy). I am not an II basher. All of my great trips overseas were done with II and cheaply via lockoffs.

Many people (but certainly not all) that own in Hawaii don't like II as they feel they always lose on trades, especially when they have a premium view say ocean front at MOC. I've seen those comments over and over on TUG, and I probably would feel the same way. I agree with you mostly. Never accept a trade if you don't like it. It's obviously up to the owner to decide what is a level or trade up, or trade down.

But, the important thing for you to understand is never think I am an II basher. Never ever. I do agree with you there is too much of it on TUG.

 

[Dean]

I respect your opinion on resorts and of course your right to offer your opinion but I feel it is misleading to make the “trade down” statement.
One could exchange to a higher season, larger unit at Ko Olina which I don’t belive you would call a trade down or to many other resorts that an individual might not feel was a trade down- marriott or other.
People shouldn’t accept trades that they feel are down- no reason to with a highly valued week if one takes the time to learn to exchange.
There is so much misunderstanding and bashing of II that I hate to see a statement like that made so I needed to comment. No offense intended.
PS-can’t believe you like Oahu better than Kauai!

This is not a bash of II and I don't intend it as a bash on any person but it might be construed as a bash on certain choices or approaches to exchanging. IMO exchanging is mainly a method that works best when trading in the middle ground. I believe one needs to at least consider the value of what they're giving up and the value of what they're getting or hoping to get. Trading a top HI MVC week for an off season poorly rated studio is an easy to get area like Orlando, LV, Branson or Williamsburg is a poor plan (as an extreme example). The majority of high end resorts during peak times for high demand areas are not deposited statistically and are more likely to be used by the owner or rented out. IMO it's best to decide what one intends to exchange for prior to the deposit and how likely they are to be successful doing so. That establishes realistic expectations up front, prepares the exchanger to start looking early and helps them with decisions of whether to deposit and what/how/when to deposit. But I'll point out that for higher end options, even a lateral exchange is often a downgrade due to lack of view control, unit assignment priorities and possible fees. Obviously there are other factors such as we're seeing going on now, many had (and will have) far less choices than they would have under a more normal and planned scanario.

 

[Pamplemousse]

This is not a bash of II and I don't intend it as a bash on any person but it might be construed as a bash on certain choices or approaches to exchanging. IMO exchanging is mainly a method that works best when trading in the middle ground. I believe one needs to at least consider the value of what they're giving up and the value of what they're getting or hoping to get. Trading a top HI MVC week for an off season poorly rated studio is an easy to get area like Orlando, LV, Branson or Williamsburg is a poor plan (as an extreme example). The majority of high end resorts during peak times for high demand areas are not deposited statistically and are more likely to be used by the owner or rented out. IMO it's best to decide what one intends to exchange for prior to the deposit and how likely they are to be successful doing so. That establishes realistic expectations up front, prepares the exchanger to start looking early and helps them with decisions of whether to deposit and what/how/when to deposit. But I'll point out that for higher end options, even a lateral exchange is often a downgrade due to lack of view control, unit assignment priorities and possible fees. Obviously there are other factors such as we're seeing going on now, many had (and will have) far less choices than they would have under a more normal and planned scanario.

I agree with this if you are talking about monetary value.
In my mind vacation is an extravagance anyway so I’m not so worried about the balance sheet.
If that’s of prime importance your views make sense.
I have a TS and use it to take yearly vacations and we pick where and when we want to go without analyzing the numbers. So I guess I am the perfect candidate for exchanging.

 

[Dean]

I agree with this if you are talking about monetary value.
In my mind vacation is an extravagance anyway so I’m not so worried about the balance sheet.
If that’s of prime importance your views make sense.
I have a TS and use it to take yearly vacations and we pick where and when we want to go without analyzing the numbers. So I guess I am the perfect candidate for exchanging.

Monetary is part of it. On that subject I'd submit that if one isn't at least breaking even big picture, it's foolish to participate though I realize that there are winners and losers. That's not to say that every step is going to be perfect so one needs to look at the big picture. And sometimes it's about not losing too much rather than winning, current times certainly fall into that line of thinking.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Monetary is part of it. On that subject I'd submit that if one isn't at least breaking even big picture, it's foolish to participate though I realize that there are winners and losers. That's not to say that every step is going to be perfect so one needs to look at the big picture. And sometimes it's about not losing too much rather than winning, current times certainly fall into that line of thinking.

Again I see your point but really getting “equal value” could be an issue using points too it’s not just an exchange II consideration. And the only reason I commented here was because of the ’expect a downgrade on an II exchange‘ comment which I now I understand the context for
How about if my maintenance fees on my TS are less than what I could rent the place I stay for? Or factoring in cooking in a TS vs what I would pay in a hotel & restaurant. Or locking off and getting 2 weeks?
Many ways to look at it and I don’t think any of them are wrong- we just all need to be happy with our choices.

By the way, I am actually someone who proves YOUR point- I have a gold season, premiere resort Orlando lockoff and I believe I have traded up in some way for just about every exchange I’ve made- usually locking off and getting 2 stays. But I really never travel highest season- although we have done school breaks the most summer we travel is mid June since home is the best place in summer. I’ve never exchanged to Maui and got Marco island with points. But I have exchanged to Grande Ocean, Frenchman’s bay, Aruba beach club- all April school break for us and Paris Disney and Kauai Beach Club & Big Island non Marriott in June - plus many more. I’m a happy NOT camper!

 

[Dean]

Again I see your point but really getting “equal value” could be an issue using points too it’s not just an exchange II consideration. And the only reason I commented here was because of the ’expect a downgrade on an II exchange‘ comment which I now I understand the context for
How about if my maintenance fees on my TS are less than what I could rent the place I stay for? Or factoring in cooking in a TS vs what I would pay in a hotel & restaurant. Or locking off and getting 2 weeks?
Many ways to look at it and I don’t think any of them are wrong- we just all need to be happy with our choices.

By the way, I am actually someone who proves YOUR point- I have a gold season, premiere resort Orlando lockoff and I believe I have traded up in some way for just about every exchange I’ve made- usually locking off and getting 2 stays. But I really never travel highest season- although we have done school breaks the most summer we travel is mid June since home is the best place in summer. I’ve never exchanged to Maui and got Marco island with points. But I have exchanged to Grande Ocean, Frenchman’s bay, Aruba beach club- all April school break for us and Paris Disney and Kauai Beach Club & Big Island non Marriott in June - plus many more. I’m a happy NOT camper!

I would submit that it's actually more fundamental than weeks, points or exchanging. IMO it's key to participating in timeshares in general and starts with the acquisition. It's certainly not a zero-sum game but there is absolutely an element of winners and losers and probably overall far more losers than winners. Knowledge and planning are the keys.