Marriott Timeshare offering "points"

[esulerzy]

Have DVC and Marriott - just got a notice in the mail last night from Marriott - they are offering to switch my acocunt to "points" - however, they didn't offer any further details except to encourage me to speak with a sales rep during my next vacation. They did mention that the "conversion" to points would cost a few hundred dollars but allow you to check in any day of the week for any number of nights.

I'm heading to Myrtle Beach in September (using Mariott timeshare) and will try to get some additional details at that time. In the meantime, anyone else get this notice? Do you have any additional details?

I find it interesting that they are going to points (for existing members only) - must mean the Disney model works well and they are copying it?!

 

[bwvBound]

For the "Disboards-equivalent" on Marriott topics, you might want to read the Marriott Resort board on TUG (Timeshare Users Group): http://tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=29

 

[esulerzy]

Nice to know - heading over there now. Thanks, bwvBound!

 

[chalee94]

yep - i'd second looking at TUG. they are currently putting the points plan under a microscope to see how it works.

sounds like a mess to me. they've already sold a lot of fixed weeks to try to shoehorn a points plan on top, but i suppose the salesmen can make it sound good...

 

[Starr W.]

yep - i'd second looking at TUG. they are currently putting the points plan under a microscope to see how it works.

sounds like a mess to me. they've already sold a lot of fixed weeks to try to shoehorn a points plan on top, but i suppose the salesmen can make it sound good...

I'll 2nd the mess part, one TUGGER did the sales tour yesterday and it doesn't seem like any of the sales people picked up any relevant info to discuss the program with legacy week owners other than the use of buzzwords, like flexibility!

Supposedly an ex-DVC mgmt type helped set this thing up!

 

[littlestar]

Log into your Marriott account online and it will show you what your resort is valued in points. Be aware, though, that in most cases you won't have enough points assigned to your week to even book a 7 night stay at your home resort. The answer I've heard for that is well, you'd just use your week if you want to stay at your home resort.

if you use the little point calculator they provided on the website, it shows you what it takes to book at different resorts using points. We won't be joining Marriott's point system - they don't offer us enough value to do it and we only own a little every other year Marriott week. We already have points with DVC and Wyndham and I feel like I truly receive value from those ownerships.

With the economy we're in, value is important to me.

DVC may have an easier time selling against Marriott at Ko Olina now since Marriott is selling points instead of weeks. If it were me picking one over the other, there's no longer the difference of buying a week vs. points if you're buying direct from Marriott (although I've heard DVC may offer some fixed weeks!). You could still pick up a Marriott Ko Olina deeded week if you bought resale, though.

 

[Brian Noble]

sounds like a mess to me. they've already sold a lot of fixed weeks to try to shoehorn a points plan on top, but i suppose the salesmen can make it sound good...

This doesn't have to be a disaster; Wyndham's earlier resorts worked that way. But, at least in Wyndham's system, if you convert a fixed week, you actually get back enough points to book the same season in your home resort. Apparently, that isn't necessarily true in Marriott's system, based on what I've read on TUG.

 

[JBx3]

So with all this being said, what would someone recommend right now if you were in the resale market for HHI, a Marriott or for us an add on on Disney? Any help is appreciated as we have tried hard to understand the Marriott system and now with changes, we seem to find Disney easier to understand. We are not looking for trading, simply using it yearly.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[littlestar]

So with all this being said, what would someone recommend right now if you were in the resale market for HHI, a Marriott or for us an add on on Disney? Any help is appreciated as we have tried hard to understand the Marriott system and now with changes, we seem to find Disney easier to understand. We are not looking for trading, simply using it yearly.

Thanks for any advice.

I have to say I've always loved the consistent quality of Marriott resorts. But this points fiasco has me scratching my head to be honest. I do know that the newest Hilton Head Marriott's have high occupancy rates by their owners (especially platinum weeks). But apparently the only thing Marriott is selling now is points. So if you want a platinum Hilton Head Marriott week to use my guess is you'd have to buy resale to get it. Summer/school vacation times have always been hard to get at Hilton Head be it Disney or Marriott.

I like Disney's Hilton Head resort, but it's not on the ocean like some of the Marriott resorts are (not all are on the ocean by the way and some on the ocean have garden views so you'd have to watch what you're buying).

 

[JBx3]

Yes, i understand Disney HHI is not on ocean but we are OK with that. We just came back from there and I was looking for something extremely slow and peaceful (I have an issue with always needing be on a schedule and doing something and i have driven my family crazy) so sitting on the chair and watching high tide come in with the marsh view worked! It is slower than the ocean moving!

Anyway, we did visit Surfwatch and Grande Ocean, we loved location of Grande Ocean but also liked Surfwatch, my problem is this.

1. I now understand a platinum week converted to new point system will not get you a full week.
2. I will not pay direct and I am very unsure of who and how to by Marriott resale correctly and with someone trustful.
3. Marriott explains very little on their MVC website and Disney seems to offer more full disclosure.
4. If Marriott is bought at resale, as of now, there is no point conversion offered for resales which baffles me?
5. Really loved Disney HHI but maintenence is higher than Marriot in HHI areas.

Can you help, you answers above are helping us think thru this! Thanks

 

[littlestar]

Yes, i understand Disney HHI is not on ocean but we are OK with that. We just came back from there and I was looking for something extremely slow and peaceful (I have an issue with always needing be on a schedule and doing something and i have driven my family crazy) so sitting on the chair and watching high tide come in with the marsh view worked! It is slower than the ocean moving!

Anyway, we did visit Surfwatch and Grande Ocean, we loved location of Grande Ocean but also liked Surfwatch, my problem is this.

1. I now understand a platinum week converted to new point system will not get you a full week.
2. I will not pay direct and I am very unsure of who and how to by Marriott resale correctly and with someone trustful.
3. Marriott explains very little on their MVC website and Disney seems to offer more full disclosure.
4. If Marriott is bought at resale, as of now, there is no point conversion offered for resales which baffles me?
5. Really loved Disney HHI but maintenence is higher than Marriot in HHI areas.

Can you help, you answers above are helping us think thru this! Thanks

Head over here for answers (don't let all the drama scare you ):

http://tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=29

It might be a great time to find a bargain on a resale Marriott week to use (instead of trade) with people being disgusted with Marriott's roll out of this new points program.

 

[JBx3]

Head over here for answers (don't let all the drama scare you ):

http://tugbbs.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=29

It might be a great time to find a bargain on a resale Marriott week to use (instead of trade) with people being disgusted with Marriott's roll out of this new points program.

Just made a call to Marriott rep. and she said resales may be limited in advance bookings of only 2 mos. out? Perhaps another pitch to buy direct?

 

[littlestar]

Just made a call to Marriott rep. and she said resales may be limited in advance bookings of only 2 mos. out? Perhaps another pitch to buy direct?

If that's true, owning some Disney Hilton Head points sounds like the better deal if you need summer peak time. Disney doesn't punish resales. That's something I really, really like about DVC.

 

[JBx3]

Yes. we do want summer peak time and I can not imagined them treating resales different than direct.

I also agree with you that all are treated equal at dislike and I agree that is an awesome feature!

Thanks for your help as well. All that I have learned always comes from a friend on the boards!