The week that is in question is a HGVC Club Points. I can't use it this year nor next year (2010). Even though the points that I was using for this exchange were rescued from 2010, can i use them for a week in 2011??
If the points are from 2010, they were "borrowed" (not "rescued") and yes, they will be deposited back into your 2010 year points when the reservation is cancelled (your account shows online as a three-year window of points divided into current year, next year, and the year after next).
Yes, if a reservation is available in 2010, points may be "borrowed" from 2011 to book--however, this only applies if no points from 2010 are still available. The current year (current to the date of the reservation) points are used first, then borrowed from ahead if necessary (unless there are "rescued" points still available from the year before). So, you can't borrow ahead from 2011 points if 2010 remain available.
My question is, if I cancel before 31 days of the check in date, do i get my points back? Can I put in a request for 1 or 2 years out? (ie:to use in 2010 or 2011) or do I have to use the points this year? FYI, I would be requesting for a week at another HGVC resort and not my home resort.
First, you will not lose your points (they are redeposited), but you will lose your $49 booking fee if a reservation is cancelled (more than 31 days out). You can only book 9 months in advance for what you're looking for, so we're just peeking into 2010 right now with the booking window. You cannot put in a "request" or start an "ongoing search" with HGVC points... it's either available or not when you look (online or over the phone), if it's within the 9 month Club Reservation window. If it's not available, you just have to keep trying (one thing about HGVC that I wish were different!).
TIP: Was this reservaton made online? I
HIGHLY recommend making reservations online! Why? They are also
changeable online. If made over the phone, there is an extra $20 fee ($69 vs $49) to make them changeable.
The ability to change reservations online is one of the best features of HGVC. It makes for great flexibility. You can even change 1 day ahead of your check-in date! This virtually eliminates the cancellation penalty. Note: if within 30 days of check-in, the new reservation must be for at least the same amount of points or more. But this means that you can simply "move your week" ahead a couple months if your plans change or for some reason the reservation cannot be used. Then... guess what... you can change it again to suit what you need. The amount of changes allowed is limited only by availability. And you will
not lose your $49 booking fee!