Am i doing something wrong?

[talanjs Member Find all posts View Profile Close talanjs]

I was an Epic Resorts owner then got moved into SunTerra and now a 9000 point DI owner.

I have had nothing but trouble trying to book the places i want during the time periods i need. I always try book a year or so in advance but still no availability. I'm sure I'm trying to go to the more popular destinations during the more popular time, and now I'm limited to where i can easily drive to, i live in NJ. but it is just ridiculous. I have been a member for over 9 years and have only been able to book 4 vacations. Plus it seems like the places I am able to get into are not, on a per night cost, worth the value of the annual fees.

I do like the idea of a timeshare and want to make it work better.

So am i doing something wrong or is the timeshare just not right for me?

Thanks

Jon

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

Whether you did anything wrong depends on:

1. your knowledge of the system: location, points required and availability. If you spend time searching availability in DRI web site, it doesn't take you too much time to figure out the inventories during different seasons.

2. flexibility. If you must travel for example during July 4 week to a hot destination, forget it. If you must travel to resorts within easy drive from NJ, the only option may be Williamsburg, which always has tons of units available.

Did you ever try II? I am surprised if you can't find anything there.

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

Give us an example of resorts and dates that you have been looking for. I am pretty new to DRI, not even a year yet, but I always find places available if you are flexible with your dates.

[talanjs Member Find all posts View Profile Close talanjs]

Give us an example of resorts and dates that you have been looking for. I am pretty new to DRI, not even a year yet, but I always find places available if you are flexible with your dates.

With school we can't really be as flexiable with dates as i'd like.
Right now I am looking for something the from Aug 29th to Sept 5th. We did Willamsburg this year so i'd like not to go there next. Since i have two young children there needs to be "stuff" to keep them busy fairly close. I have checked all the DRI at CapCode and they are book. I have checked II and they seem booked for anything in my area too.

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

With school we can't really be as flexiable with dates as i'd like.
Right now I am looking for something the from Aug 29th to Sept 5th. We did Willamsburg this year so i'd like not to go there next. Since i have two young children there needs to be "stuff" to keep them busy fairly close. I have checked all the DRI at CapCode and they are book. I have checked II and they seem booked for anything in my area too.

Your expectations are too high. East Coast availability for Diamond/Sunterra is very little except for Williamsburg. We go there at least twice a year and love it! The Cape Cod resorts in the system have little to no availability and certainly NEVER in the extremely high prime Summer months.

Your only other option in Diamond is Branson, MO. If you don't want MO or VA, you need to put requests into II a year in advance and give them several options for weeks.

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

East Coast Resorts book 10 months out, not 13

Right now I am looking for something the from Aug 29th to Sept 5th.

I believe your problem is the east coast properties are affiliates that are only available 10 months out. On Oct 29th, you should be able to search for Aug. 29th, 2009.

10 months from now, there's a 4th of July 1 bedrm at Riverview in Mass. (at an ouch point fee!). There's also late June, early July availability in New Hampshire. So you just need to be on your computer at midnight on Oct. 29th.
Good luck!

[talanjs Member Find all posts View Profile Close talanjs]

I believe your problem is the east coast properties are affiliates that are only available 10 months out. On Oct 29th, you should be able to search for Aug. 29th, 2009.

10 months from now, there's a 4th of July 1 bedrm at Riverview in Mass. (at an ouch point fee!). There's also late June, early July availability in New Hampshire. So you just need to be on your computer at midnight on Oct. 29th.
Good luck!

I did not realize that. I might have to try the midnight Oct 29th option.

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

I did not realize that. I might have to try the midnight Oct 29th option.

Just to be clear, there are several East Coast resorts that are bookable by Trust owners 13months out or deeded owners 12months out but the Cape Cod resorts are affiliates with not many owners or inventory to date and they aren't part of the Trust, chances are you're not an owner there.

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

I have seen Cape Cod a few times this summer, and was going to rent out a unit there. I saw it at about noon, and it was gone by 3. You will need to keep an on going search if you want to book it through DRI

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

One 'nuisance' about DRI is one cannot request a resort/dates - like a waiting list. I guess this is one feature about II we like and am spoiled by. People's plans change all the time, so a waiting list concept would be useful.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

sounds more like #2 to me

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

sounds more like #2 to me

bing what are you saying/referring to???

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

bing what are you saying/referring to???

It's just another worthless bingism, ignore.

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

It's just another worthless bingism, ignore.

come one, we are one big happy family, Spence. Everyone has a right to provide input. Let's hear what bing'er has to say before we jump to conclusion that the point(s) is "worthless"

[talanjs Member Find all posts View Profile Close talanjs]

Just to be clear, there are several East Coast resorts that are bookable by Trust owners 13months out or deeded owners 12months out but the Cape Cod resorts are affiliates with not many owners or inventory to date and they aren't part of the Trust, chances are you're not an owner there.

I am a Trust owner but i own in Daytona