Help!!!! Rookie mistake

[amandaC]

DH and I went on a Marriott presentation. We've own DVC since 2003 and LOVE it. But dh is a little sick of Disney So we decided to look at Marriott. I wasn't intending to buy BUT we are now the owners of 3500 points.

I am currently drafting my letter to cancel but I wanted some wonderful DIS advice first- I know many of you own Marriott as well.

We love the variety of Marriott resorts. We would primarily travel in the summer- mostly HHI and Myrtle Beach and would probably add the Caribbean in as well. But I can't commit to a vacation week a year in advance. Because my vacation is pretty much a lottery, I can't be sure of when I am off in the summer until about 9 months in advance. I'm used to this working fine for DVC, but what I've read here and on TUG, I suspect I will not be able to get a beach week in the summer. Am I right?

With DVC I will sometimes book 11 months out and then change it when I know when I am definitely off. Can you do this with Marriott?

I am also nervous because I fear inventory with be limited to those of us in the Trust. It seems a lot of owners don't want the point based system (which is exactly what appeals to me.) and less owners means less inventory, correct?

Decisions, decisions,
Thanks in advance!
Amanda

 

[ToddyLu]

Why not just use your DVC points at HHI ? I think having Marriott points would be nice and I think I would enjoy the variety. We could not book the trip at the same week each year either. DH is a fireman and the schedule goes by senority.

 

[BBG-BLT]

Get out if you can. You can't re-sell any other timeshare and it's easier to rent the weeks online - there's a ton of people renting Mariott and Sheraton. I own at Paradise Village and can't give the TS away. We end up traded it in every few years for a 2 BR but to give you an idea - In 2012 we were able to trade ours in for the Liki Tiki resort in Orlando for a week in March. We've stayed there before and it ain't no Disney.

Just my 2 cents. I own my DVC but I love my DVC and love to stay in really nice places.

 

[majortom1981]

Also even though people say its not worth it you can also use your dvc points for the other time shares that dvc is partners with . They have some good ones like the hotels at hershey and some places like that.

 

[JimMIA]

I don't know much about Marriott other than the fact that they are in the process of converting from fixed weeks (in many cases) to points. However, with just a quick check of completed listings on eBay, I see them selling from $1 up, with many auctions expiring without any bids. So Marriott can be bought cheap if you are patient.

My suggestions are that you:

1. Rescind immediately if you have any questions or doubts at all
2. Go over to the TUG Marriott forum and get some advice over there. At the top of the page, you'll find some "stickies" that will give you a lot of basics about Marriott. Read those first -- TUGers are not as courteous to newbies as DISers, so do your homework before you ask questions.
   
   Expect to hear a lot of disgruntled owners complaining about the change to points, but I'd focus more on the resorts themselves, tips on how to use the Marriott system to your best advantage, etc. In other words, ignore the noise and focus on the basics as they would apply to your family.

In particular, I'd determine whether home resort really matters with Marriott. If it doesn't, and "points is points" then you might want to put more weight on the annual maintenance fees than the location of your home resort.

Take your time and do your own research at your own pace. Once you do that, you'll have a much better idea of whether you should purchase Marriott. Or, you might decide to take a careful look at other good systems -- Wyndham, Hilton, Bluegreen, etc.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Mtnman44]

I'm far from an expert but my observation and memory is that if you buy Marriott from the developer, you are overpaying by a factor of at least 4 and possibly a lot more than that.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm far from an expert but my observation and memory is that if you buy Marriott from the developer, you are overpaying by a factor of at least 4 and possibly a lot more than that.

On eBay, I saw Marriott contracts sold ranging from $1 to about $5,000. Most of the ones I glanced at were less than $500. Those were completed auctions, so they're actual sales, not asking prices. OP can compare those to what they purchased and get a pretty good idea of the difference. I suspect it's more like 100:1 to 1000:1.

One thing I learned buying my Wyndham contract on eBay is that value has nothing to do with the auction prices. Often bidders just get carried away in the heat of the auction and pay WAY more than they probably should have. I bought a fairly large Wyndham contract for a little less than $2000, and at the very same time an identical contract (same resort, same MF's, just a few points LESS than my contract) sold for $5,400+ because of auction fever.

 

[amandaC]

Thanks everyone.

I've watched the auctions but from what I've read, new resale purchasers cannot convert their fixed week to points. And it's the flexibilty that I want.

I just get the impression that Marriott hasn't thought the whole point thing through completely and I am very spoiled by DVC.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you are still in your rescission period, rescind. Take the time to understand how their product works, and what it does and doesn't do. If after doing your due diligence you decide you like and want the product, call the sales office you purchased from, and offer to buy under the same terms you have now. They will fall all over themselves to write it up.

Most timeshares are bought on impulse. But, that doesn't make it right.

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks everyone.

I've watched the auctions but from what I've read, new resale purchasers cannot convert their fixed week to points. And it's the flexibilty that I want.

I just get the impression that Marriott hasn't thought the whole point thing through completely and I am very spoiled by DVC.

In that case, you might want to take a look at Wyndham, especially since you live in the East. Again, it's a timeshare that can be bought easily for less than $1,000 (often a LOT less), with lower dues than DVC, and about 70 resorts including Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Wyndham is particularly strong in the East, with many resorts within easy driving distance of SC, including several IN SC. You might go to wyndhamvacationresorts.com and click on "Explore our Resorts" to see what they have. The Wyndham points system is very easy to use (ONLINE booking for both Wyndham stays and RCI).

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

good luck with your decision

 

[Dean]

I own Marriott and I could not suggest a friend buy Marriott Trust Points retail right now. My understanding also is that new resale buyers cannot convert to Destination points but are not actually trust points. OTOH, it's a great time to be buying a floating week Marriott right now.

The Trust points are only available at the newest of resorts still in active sales. There is no home resort which means that the most in demand times are not going to be available even day 1. There is little Trust inventory and for existing resorts you're depending on those owners to elect points on their owned full weeks. Here's a real world example. We plan to go to HI next year for 3 weeks. We own a week on Oahu which we'll use (Marriott) and we need to be on Maui for a specific week due to a work meeting. Marriott has 3 VIP levels of which I'm the highest and therefore can call at 13 months out. I needed a 2 BR but was only able to get a studio. Later I got a separate 1 BR off the wait list but only after more inventory came on board at the 12 month window. I'm currently on the WL for a 2 BR and if I get it, I'll cancel the others. IF I get a lower view, I'll then wait list for a higher view 2 BR. Of course Maui is an extreme example but it's also a problem for those that own weeks there where many can't get any times when school is out. HH and MB higher summer and Aruba Winter will be similar.

What's the best for one person will not be for another. From a value standpoint I really like the resale Marriott weeks and the mini points systems, esp BG and Wyndham. You should look at Wyndham and Bluegreen closely given your location but there are others like Shell, Worldmark, VRI to name a few. RCI has a points system themselves as well. Look to see which one has resorts in the areas you'd like to go.

 

[amandaC]

Thanks everyone!

I was hoping you would answer Dean- I know you have a lot of knowledge about Marriott.

I decided to rescind- tomorrow is day 3 (we have 10 days) and my letter will be sent certified return receipt mail in the am.

I will definitely check out Wyndham (thanks JimMIA). I may just rent- looks like there's a fair amount of rental weeks for less than $1000 of what my dues would be (at that rate it would take me 30+ years to recoup my investment )