posted 04-12-2005 07:12               

Sometimes "good enough", while maybe not the absolute best deal, is good enough. What in particular are you thinking of?

posted 04-12-2005 07:56               

Patty

posted 04-12-2005 16:55               

quote:

---

Originally posted by PA:
What in particular are you thinking of?

Philip

---

The thing is, the wife and I, have taken a liken to 17 & 18 day vacations (5 weeks in two trips). We do 10 or 11 days in one resort & 7 days at another resort within driving distance. As you know every time we vacation, we fly a long distance so the extended stays make the distance worth while.

I was just wondering if it would be better to book 2+1 weeks and leave early or should I just use points. To use a combination of weeks & points you have to wait untill 9 months out and by then you could be passing up all the good stuff.

Another thing is I have gotten so used to booking 2 years out that here it is we're in April & I haven't done anything for 2006.

posted 04-12-2005 17:26               

We also like those longer trips. Due to my husbands job, we have to book early so he can reserve his time at work. Sometimes it can be hard to get 17-18 days straight in the points system. So I have started to book a week in the weeks system very early, then wait till the 10 month window and book another 10 days or so in points. I make sure that they overlap by one day so we have an easy move between units. Sure it costs the extra points for one night, but it is worth it to me to not have to figure out what to do between 10am - 4pm.

Patty

posted 04-12-2005 18:23               

That's exactly what we did the last two times and it worked out pretty good but it's a little bit discomforting searching for a specific date.

posted 04-12-2005 19:03               

quote:

---

Originally posted by boyblue:
I don't think I could book 3 weeks and leave early. There would really be no need to leave early. The only additional expense would be the car rental and that might even be the same because it would be a 3 week rate instead of 2 weeks and 3 or 4 days. ummmmmm?

---

Sounds to me like you've got some serious problems that many people on the planet would sympathize with. Poor guy.

Let's see if I got this right, Wayde. You like to take 2 vacations per year of 2 1/2 weeks each. BUT, if you book 3 weeks because they cost fewer points, you see no reason to leave early, might as well use the 3 weeks each time. Hmmm.

The bottom line is, if you can get the 3 weeks in the "weeks" system, you're not likely to pay more than if you got 2 1/2 weeks in the points sytem. True, the points system would cap out at $79 exchange fee, but as we discussed, oft times the points required are lower. Anyway, if you are dead set on a specific itenerary, I wouldn't wait til the 10 month window and HOPE that 2 1/2 weeks in a row came available where I wanted. Remember, in order to cap at $79 exchange fee, it would have to be in 1 resort, all made at the same time. If you added a week later as it became available, you would have a separate exchange fee. So just take what you can get, as you can get it, whether it be in weeks or points, would be my advice.

Another thing I might be inclined to do, in your situation, is book airfare and play it by ear, take last minute 9000 point reservations whereever you can get them. Especially since you only need 1 bedroom, don't have kids to worry about, and don't mind travelling in blue season. You can get some great vacations last minute for 9000 points if you're willing to travel blue season and only need 1 bedroom. Just pick an airport, get a ticket, and go. That strategy will force you into some areas you may not otherwise have seen, and you may enjoy it. There was a thread (or maybe it was a newspaper article) where they polled travel editors for the top 10 beautiful places in america, and with the exception of Golden Gate bridge and Sedona, I hadn't even HEARD of any of them.

posted 04-13-2005 06:54               

quote:

---

Originally posted by PA:
Another thing I might be inclined to do, in your situation, is book airfare and play it by ear, take last minute 9000 point reservations whereever you can get them.

---

Man PA you're complicating my life. Don't you know that it is wrong to expose a bargain hunter like me to ideas like that.

But of course you're right. I did a specific comparison and although I would have to pay 3 weeks' fees (447.00) instead of 2 points fees (158.88) the weeks' cost (trade fees plus cash value of points) was less than the points cost; and as you sort of said earlier even if it hadn't been a better deal it would still be a good deal.

Because "you cannot book 2 consecutive weeks in the same unit through RCI" we decided to do three different resorts (two close by and the other less than a days drive away).

I just reserved 3 weeks in March 2006. Taking Patty's advice, I let week 1 & 2 overlap. I would have let week 2 & 3 overlap but it would have been a Friday checkout. Normally I wouldn't mind but we will be leaving out of Ohare and I figure Saturday would be a lot less traffic.

It seems like the only way to get three overlapping weeks is for the first check in to be on a Sunday, the second Saturday, and the third a Friday. Right?

------------------
A Toast: Champagne to our real friends & real pain to our sham friends.

posted 04-13-2005 20:28            

Is this a points rule? You certainly can book consecutive weeks using weeks, but I am studying up on points to decide if it would be a good way for us to go. I like to stay at the same resort, though, instead of wasting time packing up and moving.