Lots of Questions from a Newbie

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

My wife and I are new owners of 6000 points in the Diamond Resorts International (DRI) system. We bought 3000 and were given 3000 because we gave them several referrals. We have rolled these over to next year but need to somehow acquire additional points for a vacation with our extended family. Being new to the whole thing, I have many questions:

1) Is it possible to purchase additional points from other owners without going through DRI? If so, where and how?
2) Can I also go through DRI? Are there pros & cons either way?
3) Can we buy these points only for the year we intend to use them or do we have to acquire them permanently?
4) If I read the paperwork they gave me correctly, I believe DRI has to approve any transaction of this type. Is that correct? Can they block the transaction and/or assess a fee?
5) Would I be better off working through II for the whole thing?

I thank you in advance for any and all advice you can give a 'newbie'. And I'm sure your advice will trigger additional questions.

ronu

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

lots of answers

My wife and I are new owners of 6000 points in the Diamond Resorts International (DRI) system. We bought 3000 and were given 3000 because we gave them several referrals. We have rolled these over to next year but need to somehow acquire additional points for a vacation with our extended family. Being new to the whole thing, I have many questions:

So what is it you own, it's not clear, from what you have said I would assume that you own only 3000 points and were given a onetime allotment of 3000 for your first year. If you own 6000 then you 'bought' 6000, they don't 'give' away permanent points.

1) Is it possible to purchase additional points from other owners without going through DRI? If so, where and how?

You can certainly get in contact with owners here or elsewhere to purchase more points. Your 'new' points would not be in THE Club. You need to spend an afternoon/evening reading every post in this forum, twice.

If you're talking about 'renting' points, you can certainly find owners that will make a reservation for you in their account.

2) Can I also go through DRI? Are there pros & cons either way?

Absolutely, they would love to sell you more, pro - they're in THE Club with no finagling, con - $$$$$.

If you're talking about renting points, they don't do that (yet).

3) Can we buy these points only for the year we intend to use them or do we have to acquire them permanently?

See above questions.

4) If I read the paperwork they gave me correctly, I believe DRI has to approve any transaction of this type. Is that correct? Can they block the transaction and/or assess a fee?

Don't know what 'this type' refers to. They can always tack on extra fees, they've been known to do that with no warning.

5) Would I be better off working through II for the whole thing?

What does II have to do with anything you've discussed above? Answer - nothing.

I thank you in advance for any and all advice you can give a 'newbie'. And I'm sure your advice will trigger additional questions.

OK - Welcome to TS4Ms where you get the best answers to your DRI questions even if they all aren't correct or according to the regs.

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

Where/when do you want to vacation w/extended family?

We have rolled these over to next year but need to somehow acquire additional points for a vacation with our extended family.
ronu

Where do you want to vacation with your extended family? If you can specify region, country, state and possible specific resort it will be easier for people to advise you on choices on how to proceed.

Also please let us know the TIME. If you wanted a high demand week in a high demand location because this is the ONLY time everyone can get together.

Generally, but not always Christmas week can be easier to book than New Year's week because many people stay home for Christmas and vacation during New Years. Both of those weeks, Easter and the week before Easter are often not included in some contracts.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Generally, but not always Christmas week can be easier to book than New Year's week because many people stay home for Christmas and vacation during New Years. Both of those weeks, Easter and the week before Easter are often not included in some contracts.

I'm pretty sure the OP's question was about DRI and there are no holiday exclusions unless you're excluded because you can't afford the exhorbitant points required.

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

So what is it you own, it's not clear, from what you have said I would assume that you own only 3000 points and were given a onetime allotment of 3000 for your first year. If you own 6000 then you 'bought' 6000, they don't 'give' away permanent points.

Yes, you're correct, we actually own 3000 points. As an incentive, they gave us 3000 points that must be used in the next 18 months. In addition, we have the option to buy 3000 more points at $8000. We do not intend to buy the extra points and intend instead to supplement what we have by buying points from someone who already owns them.

You can certainly get in contact with owners here or elsewhere to purchase more points. Your 'new' points would not be in THE Club. You need to spend an afternoon/evening reading every post in this forum, twice.

I have been reading until my small brain hurts but I think I understand what you are saying. I can buy the points but to get them into the Club so that I can use them in the same way as the points I currently own, I will have to pay DRI for the privilege (~$3000). Correct?

If you're talking about 'renting' points, you can certainly find owners that will make a reservation for you in their account.

So if I understand correctly, the only way to make this work without buying more points is to 'rent' points from someone who has points that they won't be using in 2009. I make a reservation with my points and they make a contiguous reservation with their points and I pay them for the 'rent' of their points. Is that the way it works?

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

I think you pretty much got it!

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

Where do you want to vacation with your extended family? If you can specify region, country, state and possible specific resort it will be easier for people to advise you on choices on how to proceed.

Also please let us know the TIME. If you wanted a high demand week in a high demand location because this is the ONLY time everyone can get together.

Generally, but not always Christmas week can be easier to book than New Year's week because many people stay home for Christmas and vacation during New Years. Both of those weeks, Easter and the week before Easter are often not included in some contracts.

Thanks for your willingness to help. What we would like to do is take our extended family (5 adults & 2 children under 3) to Sedona Summit for the week of Memorial Day, 2009 (May 24-30, 2009, arriving either Saturday or Sunday and departing the following weekend. We have 9,000 points of our own (3000 this year rolled over to 2009, 3000 'Stay for Free on Me' points, and 3000 from 2009). For the 2 bedroom accommodations we want, the DRI directory says it takes 10,500 or 12,500 points. What I'm trying to figure out is how to make up the difference.

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

I searched that week and nothing came up available. Have you already made a reservation?

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Thanks for your willingness to help. What we would like to do is take our extended family (5 adults & 2 children under 3) to Sedona Summit for the week of Memorial Day, 2009 (May 24-30, 2009, arriving either Saturday or Sunday and departing the following weekend. We have 9,000 points of our own (3000 this year rolled over to 2009, 3000 'Stay for Free on Me' points, and 3000 from 2009). For the 2 bedroom accommodations we want, the DRI directory says it takes 10,500 or 12,500 points. What I'm trying to figure out is how to make up the difference.

I searched that week and nothing came up available. Have you already made a reservation?

What's your home resort or home club priority? Still outside Club 10 month window.

I see plenty.

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

Please don't take this as any guarantee....but for May 2008, there was plenty of inventory 59 days out available at Sedona Summit at 50% off the points required.

Of course by waiting, you are taking the chance of not securing the vacation you want.