Same Use Month Advantages - Multi Resorts

[gilmoujr]

I notice that a lot of folks on here have multiple resorts. I would imagine that you'd want the same use month so that you could potentially combine points if need be to take a longer or more "high class" vacation. What are the pro's and cons of having the same use month versus having different?We are thinking about buying a couple more smaller (around 100 pts) at a couple other resorts to take advantage of the 11-month booking rule but only use every third year (combine points for three years and use). What are others doing? If my use month is already March, then would it be in my best interest to get all of them on March or does it even matter? It is much harder to get exactly what I want if I am limited to 1/12th of the options.

[TimK]

First, let's assume that you have multiple contracts with the SAME Use Year. The contracts will both (all) be linked together under a single Master ID number. If the points are for the same resort, you can freely combine them at 11 months for Home resort bookings. You can pull 100 points from one contract and 50 points from the other to book a stay that costs 150 points. Even if they aren't the same Home resort, you can combine in this manner at 7 months.

If you have DIFFERENT Use Years, they cannot be combined under a single master ID. Technically the only way to ever combine those points is by doing a TRANSFER between master contracts. Members are limited to just one transfer per year so you need to be thinking long-term when you make those decisions. Not much margin for error or ability to change your plans.

I understand that DVC does have an informal policy of allowing more transfers when the contracts have identical ownership but that could change at any time. And its a process which will undoubtedly require telephone calls to Member Services rather than easy on-line bookings.

Unless you're in a hurry to buy, I think it makes sense to hold out for something that matches your current Use Year. Rushing into multiple Use Years potentially means 30-50 years of extra point management, workarounds and phone calls. Even if you miss out on a great deal, paying a couple extra dollars per point for a matching UY seems preferable to decades of headaches.

One other comment: be careful with the every-three-years plan. It's rare that the numbers work out exactly and it could leave you with straggler points to manage. Let's assume you buy a 100 point contract. Every 3 years you have 300 points. Your first reservation is 275 points. That leaves you 25 points in that contract. You won't be booking under that contract again for 3 more years, at which time the 25 extra points are no longer valid.

This is the situation where identical Use Years helps. If nothing else, you can bundle those 25 points with points from your other contract to book something at 7 months. With the same Use Year, it's a seamless process. With different Use Years you get into transfers and Member Services involvement, not to mention the added banking deadlines you need to remember.

Hope that all makes sense. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

[akvhutch]

Thanks for the commentary. We are looking at adding some more points & were wondering about the use year issue too. I agree 100% about the pain factor of trying to ensure the transfers and other point management requirements. Seems like managing points would start removing some of the fun from the whole process.

Thanks again, I found it very helpful.

[MaryPA]

[QUOTE=TimK;130118]First, let's assume that you have multiple contracts with the SAME Use Year. The contracts will both (all) be linked together under a single Master ID number. If the points are for the same resort, you can freely combine them at 11 months for Home resort bookings. You can pull 100 points from one contract and 50 points from the other to book a stay that costs 150 points. Even if they aren't the same Home resort, you can combine in this manner at 7 months.

Does the above work with 2 contracts same use year same resort - IF SECOND CONTRACT IS A RESALE? Do they get combined then? Or only if bought direct?

Thanks for letting me jump in and ask!

[TimK]

Does the above work with 2 contracts same use year same resort - IF SECOND CONTRACT IS A RESALE? Do they get combined then? Or only if bought direct?

Thanks for letting me jump in and ask!

Yes, you can combine direct and resale contracts under the same master member ID. HOWEVER, both contracts must be titled exactly the same. The same owners must be listed on both.

Additionally, make sure that you instruct the resale broker to mention the previous ownership when the paperwork is being prepared. In other words, tell your broker "I already have another contract and want the two linked together." If you're working with an experienced DVC seller like The Timeshare Store, they will know exactly what to do.

[drcoulsey]

I have 2 contracts with a June UY. I have another smaller contract with an Oct. UY. All 3 are for the same resort. Should I try to change the Oct. UY contract to my other June UY contracts or is that even possible?

[denlo]

I have 2 contracts with a June UY. I have another smaller contract with an Oct. UY. All 3 are for the same resort. Should I try to change the Oct. UY contract to my other June UY contracts or is that even possible?

You would have to sell your October UY contract. You cannot change it. Since they are all three the same resort, you could transfer your points from the October UY to your original contract each year and then use your points in that manner. The points could be used at the 11 month mark for one reservation with a transfer.

The only difference is the contracts that the points have to banked by a different month and the points expire based on their UY. Just a reminder that banked points cannot be transferred (but you can bank transferred points).