Part week bookings

[hercules24 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hercules24]

Hi

There has been various comments on booking part weeks in EU since it's introduction about a year ago.

Some members claim that it gives them more flexibility and choice and enriches their holiday experience and facilitates cheaper flights to destinations as departures are not set on peak changeover dates at the destinations.

others claim that they are causing havoc with the ability to book full weeks, especially during peak and high demand seasons and often you can get only the odd nights at some resorts rather than a week during high and peak periods - even when booking around 10 months in advance. Others claim that it has lead consequently to a reduced number of latebreak weeks available.

With regards to my views I sit between the two camps, I like the idea of flexibilty and saving on flight costs, however, I would like to see the facility restrained to only low and mid season as I have found to my own cost that even trying to book really well in advance at some resorts in high and peak weeks that all the system offers you in return are part weeks and the idea of packing my suitcase and heading off to a resort for say 5 days and them moving onto another for 3 days and then another for 3 days and then yet another for 3 days tocomplete a 2 week vacation is not my idea of "Relaxation simplified".

I just wondered what the views and experiences of part week bookings were in the USA across their 3 collections ?

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

Hi

There has been various comments on booking part weeks in EU since it's introduction about a year ago.

Some members claim that it gives them more flexibility and choice and enriches their holiday experience and facilitates cheaper flights to destinations as departures are not set on peak changeover dates at the destinations.

others claim that they are causing havoc with the ability to book full weeks, especially during peak and high demand seasons and often you can get only the odd nights at some resorts rather than a week during high and peak periods - even when booking around 10 months in advance. Others claim that it has lead consequently to a reduced number of latebreak weeks available.

With regards to my views I sit between the two camps, I like the idea of flexibilty and saving on flight costs, however, I would like to see the facility restrained to only low and mid season as I have found to my own cost that even trying to book really well in advance at some resorts in high and peak weeks that all the system offers you in return are part weeks and the idea of packing my suitcase and heading off to a resort for say 5 days and them moving onto another for 3 days and then another for 3 days and then yet another for 3 days to complete a 2 week vacation is not my idea of "Relaxation simplified".

I just wondered what the views and experiences of part week bookings were in the USA across their 3 collections ?

We've had 'nightly' booking forever on the US side for most US resorts that are managed by the developer, many of the affiliates are only available weekly. The triple the price is a disincentive to booking weekends only but those who can't use time off from work will do that. There is evidence here that many, many people use the five weeknight model to stretch their points. While your points seem valid, maybe just the newness of being able to do it over there has made the bookings seem hard, maybe it'll smooth out some for you in time.

With regard to lack of availability in latebreaks, while latebreaks and 'specials' are a salesman's dream they are actually not that great for the overall health of the Club. It generally shows that the point value for off/shoulder season may have been set too high in the first place and it takes extra discounts to get people to travel to these locations in the seasons where latebreaks and specials occur regularly like Williamsburg or Cape Cod in February and Scottsdale in August.

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

The number of nights is really relative to how people vacation. If you go simply to relax, then one full week somewhere is great. If you like to sightsee, or are traveling to various locations, a few days here and there is great. It gives you some time to unwind and see the local sites and still have days left to use at other locations. This past summer, we spend two nights in Williamsburg, VA before traveling to Florida for 8 nights. The Williamsburg stop was a great way to break up the travel and we got our Williamsburg "fix" (we love it there!). I have already booked an 8-night stay for next summer, checking in on a Sunday and leaving on a Monday. It's not many more points than staying for a full week and we get an extra day.

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

The number of nights is really relative to how people vacation. If you go simply to relax, then one full week somewhere is great. If you like to sightsee, or are traveling to various locations, a few days here and there is great. It gives you some time to unwind and see the local sites and still have days left to use at other locations. This past summer, we spend two nights in Williamsburg, VA before traveling to Florida for 8 nights. The Williamsburg stop was a great way to break up the travel and we got our Williamsburg "fix" (we love it there!). I have already booked an 8-night stay for next summer, checking in on a Sunday and leaving on a Monday. It's not many more points than staying for a full week and we get an extra day.

As you say, it's all relative. For those without a lot of points paying an extra 10% can mount up. When you book a non-standard week (ex: Wed-Wed) or an eight night stay as you discussed, you pay the 'nightly' rate which amounts to an extra 10%. If you're booking 12nights starting on a Sunday it works out fine, if you're doing 12nights starting on a Friday, it's too much.

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

As you say, it's all relative. For those without a lot of points paying an extra 10% can mount up. When you book a non-standard week (ex: Wed-Wed) or an eight night stay as you discussed, you pay the 'nightly' rate which amounts to an extra 10%. If you're booking 12nights starting on a Sunday it works out fine, if you're doing 12nights starting on a Friday, it's too much.

I agree with you on the actual days of the reservations. When you have more than one weekend in the mix, it costs a lot more points. With DRIs new system, I was able to look at all the check-in options and choose one of them with the lowest point values. By checking in on a Sunday, I have most of the weekend to prepare for vacation and I get the most out of my vacation time. We always pack our days with activities and sightseeing. Having that extra TS day is really nice because I have one more day to relax before hitting the road for the long drive home.