Nooby question on how to best use saved and annual points

[D_Utley Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close D_Utley]

Hi,
First time post on this site. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Here is my situation. Just took over a timeshare from a friend (at no cost ). The transfer is complete and I see my account has the following:
13,000 saved points (expiring March 31, 2012)
13,000 annual points (changing to saved points March 2011) (new annual points will also be deposited on March 31 2012).
So basically I have 26k in points - 13k of them are saved.

We are not planning on going on any vacations before March 31st. However we are planning on going to Anaheim in June of 2012.

In regards to the saved points, which are expiring. What should I do with these? Should I reserve a unit somewhere and rent it out on ebay, or another site? If so, what resort would bring the most value? Or are there any other reccomendations in regards to these points. (I realize saved points can only be used for red weeks and below).

In regards to the trip to Anaheim, I was thinking I could use my current annual points and trade through RCI. I looked at RCI and see three resorts, but do not see any availability for the week I need . Any advice on this?

Please let me know if that is the best use of these points, or if there are any better ideas to fit my situation.

Thanks again,
Darrin

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

Should I reserve a unit somewhere and rent it out on ebay, or another site? If so, what resort would bring the most value?

Rentals do best in the summer or over holiday weekends or when there's a highly attended local event. Your points are going to expire before the summer, most holiday weekends take more than red points, and you'd have to track down the highly attended local events. Plus, reserving to rent works best if you're reserving the most desired weeks, which are usually long gone by now.

My first step would be to talk to friends and family and see if anyone wants to use the points -- suggest specific possibilities based on availability and what you know of their interests ("a week at where ever for however much)". If you are within a day's drive of one of the resorts, try offering that locally, putting the ad in the local paper (if it's cheap enough) or just putting up cards with tear strips at groceries and community centers and the like. List the points for rent here and at TUG (free to list here, cheap at TUG). Your odds of renting aren't great, and the points were essentially free, so don't spend too much trying to rent them out, would be my advice.

In regards to the trip to Anaheim, I was thinking I could use my current annual points and trade through RCI. I looked at RCI and see three resorts, but do not see any availability for the week I need . Any advice on this?

I would post to the RCI or California sub-boards. People there may know more about what resorts will likely be available, what your odds are of getting them, etc. If someone else has been watching them they may know how often that resort is deposited and how far out is common, which can vary considerable from resort to resort.