Best use of points outside of Disney?

[jiggerj]

Where else have you used your points outside of WDW or DL? We have thought of using them for either Vermont or up in Lake George. I would someday love to use them at Vero Beach (a beach cottage sounds like it would be FANTASTIC!). I am just being point stingy at this point for future planning as it seems I wont go any where else but WDW!

[Colorado Belle]

This is just my opinion JJ, but it seems that if you rent your points, that the resultant money is higher than using the same number of points for a rental at a non-DVC resort or a cruise.

Especially when you just transfer the rented points to another member, the process is pretty painless for renting!

[tjkraz]

If you're looking for the best "deal", it probably entails finding just the right Interval exchange. I don't know much at all about II, but you get a whole lot more trading power going through them than using one of DVC's "Collections."

[UsedtobeSmith]

You mentioned Vero... We happen to LOVE Disney's Hilton Head Island resort. LOVE IT!!

Outside of Disney and DVC we used out points at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. A splurge for sure, but DH would never pay 500 plus a night for a hotel room, so points (55 for a deluxe at the time) were a softer blow.

But you asked what is the best use of points outside Disney... I say whatever trips your trigger....

[ripleysmom]

I also like using points at HHI.

[dianeschlicht]

For II exchanges, I think Hawaii or some exotic hard to exchange into location is the best value. I have thought a direct trade might actually be best, since there is no involvement of waiting for II, and you know you will be getting an owners ressie instead of a trade ressie, which is often inferior at many timeshares.

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We have stayed at a few of the concierge collection hotels but only used points once and that was at the Sagamore. We used points because the cash price of the room was $299.00 per night (at Thanksgiving) and we were able to pay 23 (I think or 24) points per night. At $10.00 per point, that made the cost less by using points than if I rented the points and paid cash.

HBC

[Colorado Belle]

So I guess that the best answer is:
decide where you'd like to go outside of DVC.
check internet for the very best price for the room/unit
then find out how many points you'd have to trade for it instead of cash
and see if you can tolerate losing the points easier than paying cash!

And when you find something that works out better than points like HB Cat, post it here for the rest of us!!!!! :doublekis

[JimC]

Only at VB. While there are some nice exchange options with II, it seems like we are trading down. We bought our points to use at Disney. Even there we are careful about exchanging to WDW/DL resorts -- our cost must be less that the best deal available or an implied AP discount of 25%. We do not use points for the DCL as we believe the terms and deals for cash are better than DVC negotiates.

[Happy]

For II exchanges, I think Hawaii or some exotic hard to exchange into location is the best value. I have thought a direct trade might actually be best, since there is no involvement of waiting for II, and you know you will be getting an owners ressie instead of a trade ressie, which is often inferior at many timeshares.

How do you fine a direct trade?

Cheers! :yo-yo:

[withdisneyspirit]

How do you fine a direct trade?

Cheers! :yo-yo:

I would like to know this too. Is the best place that TUG site?

[jnrrt]

Yep, I'd like to know that too.

[dianeschlicht]

There are direct trade ads on the TUG site if you are a member there. THe membership is minimal, and I do it just to see what's out there. Right now there are several DVC folks looking for trades, and most of them want Hawaii. There is currently only one Hawaii trade looking for DVC.