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Yes, I actually did this past June. Booked a really nice two bedroom for five in Cancun for 4000. Could never touch anything like that with DRI.
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Have a little patience
Roadster,Originally posted by Roadster View Post
I don't understand this post. You say you booked a 2bdrm in Cancun, but you couldnt touch anything like that with DRI. If you used your DRI points then you were able to touch it. If you did not did you try.
I must share with you that the best use of your points to get the most value is by using them for accommodations. Many people just don't know how to use them or don't have flexibility. We can make reservations 13 weeks in advance for properties in our collection. This is usually a great advantage and you can get what you desire. You can maximize your points by making reservations in less than 2 months and only use half the points. Do you know what Club Select is? If you take advantage of that, you will find several resorts of a high caliber available to DRI members. Interval International has served me extremely well. I just returned from Marriott's Beach Place Towers in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The weather was great. It was right across from the beach and the accommodations were perfect for my wife and me. I used DRI points to get this.
I am sorry that you are having difficulty. Yes, you may have to do some work but you can get the types of things you want.Comment
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I have been a happy DRI club member for 12-13 years. I own a deeded week in Sedona which is converted to 10,000 points. Can't remember it exactly but the fee is about 1 to 1.1K per year.
I have access to 100+ resorts in DRI system and exchange via II. With good planning traveling off season (that's what I need) booked within 59 days, my two bedroom for a week means 4 to 5 vacations a year in a one bedroom. Now, I use II almost exclusively, and have been in various places in North America, Europe, Africa, Mexico and Asia.
I have no complaint, but DRI is not for everyone. You will need knowledge, flexibility and good planning to maximize your benefits.Comment
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Hey Pat, well said. Lemonade out of lemons...Another idea: how about asking around to friends and family and finding out where they would like to go. Book a trip using your points and then rent it to them for a fair price. You won't have to spend any money on vaca and you can make back some of your MF or all of it.
But if it were me, I'd go on the vacation. You'll never look back and wish you would have rented away more of your vacations rather than take them....Comment
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Well said... We just came back from some snow at South Lake Tahoe (long three day weekend) with three other families (kids' classmates)...and am now feverishly planning for our April Sedona/Grand Canyon getaway (first time there)! We are also planning for our Williamsburg/WashingtonDC (first time also) Jul4th (2010) trip. Just a little planning is all it takes to make this TS thing work.Originally posted by SoCal View PostEMAIL me if you wish, do NOT PMComment
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We love Williamsburg and spend every summer there. Last year, we went over the July 4th holiday. I was afraid the crowds would be awful, especially with the holiday being on a weekend. To our surprise - it was much less crowded than usual for summer tourist season. We didn't do to Busch Gardens because someone else on this forum mentioned the crowds there are terrible during the holiday. Hopefully, the crowds will be light for you also. Don't know where you are staying, but we stay at Powhattan - it was too far away to see any of the many fireworks displays.Originally posted by winger View PostComment
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It's a shame there are no "educational" seminars on how to make the best use of TS for new owners. For the first few years that we owned, we didn't use ours either. We weren't exactly sure how to access a week (we bought points for flexibility rather than a fixed week) and felt overwhelmed and intimidated by the whole system. In fact, our first use was an exchange through II. After that, I was determined to use the TS. It took some time and a lot of frustration until I got the hang of it and learned to book early for popular sites. I still don't consider myself an expert and feel I could still learn some new things, but I am very comfortable and happy with what I own (DRI, The Club, points system). I wish I had found this forum many years ago because it would have saved me a lot of time and frustration. To all other newbies - DON'T GIVE UP! Ask questions from those of us who regularly post here. Once you learn how to use your TS, you will most likely be glad you took the plunge. If you find you can't use it one year, bank your weeks or points or offer them to a friend or relative.Comment
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We are staying at Marriott's Manor Club for the first 7 days then Powhatan for the 2nd 7 days.Originally posted by longtimer View Post
We are slowing planning this trip now - we are debating what to pay for since we are on a shoestring budget (AGAIN) this year, especially with plans to purchase annual Disneyland tickets for the entire family starting in November!EMAIL me if you wish, do NOT PMComment
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AGREE AGREE AGREE !Originally posted by longtimer
LOL, DW and I were having a conversation on the drive back home this past Monday from a long weekend in the snow...one of us actually said (paraphrasing) "wow, how would we travel without our timeshares???" . We been exchanging for a little over a decade now for almost all of our trips and it is just 'part of us' now...EMAIL me if you wish, do NOT PMComment
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A little off topic for this forum (SORRY) Here's a hint - park in the visitor's lot at Williamsburg - it's free and only a short walk to the historic area. (Go early though because the lot fills up fast in the summer.) Most of the colonial area is free. You only need a paid pass to get into selected buildings.Originally posted by wingerComment
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Sorry...a little more off topic -Originally posted by longtimer View Post
101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185
would you mind confirming this is W. visitor center to Colonial Williamsburg (I assume that is the "historic area" you are referring to) ?
There is no time limit to parking there?
Mucho thanks!EMAIL me if you wish, do NOT PMComment
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That's it. As long as you're not staying overnight there is no time limit. Get a good local map and directions from the places you are staying. Some of the roads are a little confusing. We still turn the wrong direction occasionally!Originally posted by winger
Here's a website with some info on attractions and tickets (if you are looking to do several things, one of the multiplan tickets may be cheaper):
Go Williamsburg - Hotels, Tickets and Things to Do in Williamsburg, VAComment
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My wife and I have been mostly happy Sunterra/Diamond owners for 6-8 years now and have found that, with a good bit of study, you can learn to use the system to take some really nice vacations. For sure, we have been to places we would have never otherwise considered. Places like Sedona, Hawaii, Branson, and Las Vegas at least once a year (sometimes staying at the Mariott booked through II). In fact, I am currently adding a couple of week purchased at low cost and will then be at Platinum level. (sorry, I don't need any more). Based on what I am seeing, Diamond is also improving the ways you can use th epoint for other than resort stays, especially at the eElite levels. Long story about this in general, but you can find some really expert help here as well as on the TUG forum. Timeshare Users Group - The first and largest online community of timeshare owners providing timeshare resort reviews, timeshare ratings, FREE timeshare advice and FREE Timeshare Classified ads! In addition, if any questions, there will always be someone here to answer.
P.S. - forget what any salesman told you and learn from those who use the system
Frank & Debbie Newman
Dublin, GAComment
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RE: Here's a website with some info on attractions and tickets (if you are looking to do several things, one of the multiplan tickets may be cheaper):
[url=http://www.gowilliamsburg.com/]
Sorry, the above link is old. Try this one:
http://www.buschgardens.com
If you are planning to visit Busch Gardens and Water Country (recommended if you gave kids), go for the Bounce Ticket. It's really a good deal. If you have any specific questions, let me know. We will be at Powhatan from June 20 - 28. Don't know if our paths will cross. Enjoy your stay!Comment
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We took a shuttle bus (they run every few minutes) from the Visitors' Center to the historic area. We were just there in December, so it was cold out and we took the bus to stay warm, but it seemed like it was far enough to be a hike to the historic area.Originally posted by winger
The shuttle buses are supposed to be free only with certain CW passes, but the drivers didn't ask anyone for fares. Most people did have their CW passes clipped on.Comment
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