Marriott discounts

[okwmiester]

We have been DVC members since 1992 and we have traded with several of the Marriott Vacation Resorts. I just found out that you will get an automatic 25% discount on all Marriott resorts by mentioning that you are an II member and upon check in you just show you DVC card. Some great deals out their at many of their resorts including Boston Custom HOuse, Cypress Garden, Mountain Valley Lodge in Breckenridge, etc...

 

[luckytso]

That is great news.

Do you know if the 25% discount only applies to regular cash rates or any rates? I am getting a great deal to stay at one of their resorts for 3 days, 2 nights under the condition that I need to attend one of their sales presentation. Do you know if the 25% discount will apply?

Also, do you have a phone # that I can call to get more details?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[DLVisitor]

This is VERY interesting, because as a Marriot owner, WE are not given a 25% discount (not even on the hotels OR timeshares). Have you tried this yet? Does it work?

 

[downontheBW]

That sounds wonderful...but just because I'm a member of DVC doesn't mean I'm automatically a member of II - I don't think so anyway. But if they'll accept the DVC card to give the 25% off, that's good enough for me.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Don't get your hopes up. Even MVCI owners and direct II members have trouble getting the MVCI discount and II discount.

If you get such a discount on the basis of your DVC membership, consider yourself very lucky.

 

[llp479]

Don't know about the 25%, but via AAA I had $123/night for a two bdrm at any of the Marriott Vacation Club resorts in Orlando for this August. Booked the ressie because I wasn't sure we would be able to get OKW, but OKW came through, so I cancelled these. Didn't want to tell my sister who owns at Marriott's Grande Vista that I could stay at her resort in a 2bdrm for $123/night.

A $123/night makes it a viable option for those who don't want to use points for a Fri/Sat stay at DVC.

 

[Dean]

The 25% discount if for Marriott members only and subject to availability from what I understand. Still it's rack rates and you can usually do better or as well renting from a member. The 2 Marriott Grande Oceans I rented out this year were just under the price for the rack rate less the discount. They also get member benefits like room request priority and do not have to pay taxes on it.

 

[okwmiester]

I am simply passing along a deal that came my way. It was stated to me by the Marriott staff. I then called another Marriott (Custom HOuse in Boston), and they quoted me a 25% discount rate with or without the II membership. It is my understanding that If you are a DVC member then you are also a member of II.

Regarding the sales presentation special, I also attended this presentation special and I really doubt that they will allow for you to apply andy other specials to an already discounted price, but it doesn't hurt to ask!

I also think that the discount is based on availability and may be seasonal according to high versus low demand periods. Just a thought.


My conversation with the reservation folks at Marriott was that the special 25% was not only for Marriott members but for all II members which includes DVC ( If it wasn't for the special they proposed to me I would not have made the reservation)


OKWMIESTER

 

[Werner Weiss]

I think that DVC owners who are spoiled by spacious, high quality DVC resort accommodations would enjoy staying at Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI) resorts, especially if they can get a decent discount. But I don't think you'll have much success if you just ask for an II discount when checking in -- although you might have a chance when you make reservations. Just don't think that you're automatically entitled to an II discount.

I'm an MVCI owner, DVC owner, and II member (because I own at an II-affiliated MVCI resort, and I pay for II membership). When booking at MVCI resorts for cash, I always try to get discounts. I ask for the MVCI owner discount (25%) and Visa discount (10%). The MVCI and Visa discounts are additive, allowing a 35% discount. If I can't get those, I ask for an II member discount (20%, I think) or AAA discount (10%).

The problem is that Marriott sees the discounts as a way to fill empty rooms, not as a benefit to encourage MVCI ownership or II membership. So you're unlikely to get a discount during peak periods. Also, the discount is off the full, rack rate. So you can often do better with a promotional rate.

A couple of years ago, when I made cash reservations at Marriott's Manor Club (Williamsburg), the reservationist could not give me the MVCI discount, but she could give me the II discount. That seemed strange, but she could only do what her computer screen allowed. More recently, when I wanted to stay at Marriott's Desert Springs, the reservationist couldn't offer me any discount rate -- just the full $500 per night rack rate. But the same reservationist was able to give me a great rate at Marriott's Newport Coast Villas for the same weekend -- 35% off the off-season rate. That's because Spring is peak season in Palm Desert, but a lower demand time in Newport Beach. And earlier this year, I got a terrific promotional rate through http://www.marriott.com for Marriott's Cypress Harbour in Orlando -- much better than the owner+Visa discount rate (and, no, it didn't involve a timeshare tour).

Bottom line: You're not automatically entitled to an II discount, but you can get decent rates at great MVCI resorts when Marriott is trying to fill empty rooms. It won't hurt to ask for an II discount on the basis of your DVC membership, even though technically it's DVC, not you as a DVC owner, who is the II member.

Good luck!