Marriott Vacation Club

[Dean]

I wonder what the trade availability is between HHI Surf Watch & California's Newport Coast Villas. I have heard that if you have a gold week, sometimes you can trade 1 (Surf Watch) for 2 (Orlando). Any info on individual experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Newport coast is not hard to get part of the year and Ocean Watch (MB) has lockoff's. Surfwatch doesn't have lockoff's so the only way you could trade 1 for 2 is if you got a bonus week. Newport coast also does not have lockoff's so you're in the same boat. But Orlando is not hard to get part of the year with a bonus week though many bonus weeks exclude trading for Marriott's.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have a Marriott week, bought resale, I had no interest in Marriott Rewards for the extra $8000. We stayed at Newport, with a fall week. Actually, we have had great trades, always at Easter and Christmas, because my fall Marriott includes Thanksgiving week. Having a holiday week increases your chances of getting other trades. But I wouldn't buy several weeks at Marriott just to stay during the winter. You need one week at some resort to have access to II, then you can get a week at lots of resorts(some as good as Marriott, some are not) for as little as $300 a week, which is less than maintainence fees on a purchased week. There are some great values on weeks thru II.

 

[JimC]

Through invitation from a Delta and Marriot promotion, we just purchase a package staying in one of the Marriot's properties in Aruba at $499 for 5 days 4 nights. Will get an extra night if go before 12/14. Of course the catch is to sit for the timeshare presentation for 90 minutes. I figure not a bad deal to give up my 90 minutes for rooms that cost around $600 per night. Have anyone done this before? I would like to know your opinion on Marriot's Aruba Surf Club, Ocean Club or the hotel. We have never been to Aruba before, and is excited about it. Thanks in advance for any good tips and info.

Marriott in Aruba is a great location. We bought there because Hawaii is too far for us (east coast) to do for a week trip and the cost is far more reasonable. It is a great place to relax and unwind. People are friendly. The resorts are quite nice. Marriott is a top notch operation, not perfect, but certainly a brand you can trust. The timeshare presentation is not high pressure. Aruba is a very good trader, but we bought to go there, not to trade. We lock-off, use the one bedroom and give the studio to the kids to use or trade.

 

[Pedler]

Dean,

How are the point only systems like Fairfield to use for trading just within thier system? The delima we have is that we prefer to get a suite when we travel. At traditional hotels that can cost upwards of 300-400 per night. At Ocean City Maryland the place we stay is a bit over $400 now. We have thought of just renting condo's were we go but lots of those are individuals renting and I would prefer to deal with a company kinda like it is with DVC. Anyhow that's the delima. We are looking at going to Williamsburg this summer and to stay at the Marriott Vacation Club there for a week would be around $1,400. As you can see it starts to add up and the vacation club thing looks appealing. Our main concern is the ease of transfering.

Thanks for all the info you have already provided. It is a bit maddening trying to get a handle on how the mechanics of the trades work.

 

[Dean]

Dean,

How are the point only systems like Fairfield to use for trading just within thier system? The delima we have is that we prefer to get a suite when we travel. At traditional hotels that can cost upwards of 300-400 per night. At Ocean City Maryland the place we stay is a bit over $400 now. We have thought of just renting condo's were we go but lots of those are individuals renting and I would prefer to deal with a company kinda like it is with DVC. Anyhow that's the delima. We are looking at going to Williamsburg this summer and to stay at the Marriott Vacation Club there for a week would be around $1,400. As you can see it starts to add up and the vacation club thing looks appealing. Our main concern is the ease of transfering.

Thanks for all the info you have already provided. It is a bit maddening trying to get a handle on how the mechanics of the trades work.

I think they are some of the best options in this situation. Maybe slightly less flexibility than DVC in some ways, more in others. And if you put yourself it the right situation by getting enough points to be at the head of the line, you can do almost anything with them it appears. If you are thinking about these options, go to www.tug2.net and get more info. For BG, there is a yahoo group. I know FF has a group or two but not as certain about them.

 

[Daitcher]

Once again Dean puts the right things out there to consider. Logic would have always told me to buy in a prime location to get the best trade value. Dean helped me with this. The best situation probably is to find the best location for the best price. Buying say Aruba or Hawaii with the idea of trading out a lot probably is a poor decision. They are 2 of the most expensive Marriott options right now. Any trade out would be a loser. To the poster who asked about Aruba Surf Club, it is a fine resort an we have stayed there twice. PM me for more info. Use is certainly a consideration, if you intend on using it often then a higher buy in might be warranted. Buying in a a higher end resort to trade seems like a no. I'll than Dean for clueing me in on that. When I buy into Marriott Dean will be getting a PM from me.


DAVE

 

[boatboatboat]

LOT's of great post here, with ALOT of info.

I am going to read and re-read.

Thanx to everyone for taking the time to share your info.

Looks like DIS has some real experts here on time shares.

I hope to learn alot.

 

[Dean]

There are simply an enormous number of variables when buying for trading. It is not something to enter in for one who isn't well versed in timeshares already. That's why I like buying a dual use property, one to use and trade part of the time. And there is no one right or wrong answer though there are a number of obviously wrong ones for most situations. And even if there were one best choice, if everyone took that one choice, it would flood the market and it wouldn't be a good choice anymore.

 

[boatboatboat]

Dean, what happens if someone buys a bargin time share, like a Spice Bush on HH for 2k for the week, and over the course of time the place is allowed to run down, and simply becomes some place you don't want to stay at, and are unable to sell.

The taxes/dues still need to be paid, what happens if you don't pay those?

At that point I could care less if the time share is TAKEN away from me, in fact that is what I hope happens. I simply want to walk from the deal. Can I do that, or can they come after me and force me to continue to pay the taxes/dues even if I am willing to GIVE THEM the time share back, and just eat my small investment of 2k?

 

[Dean]

Dean, what happens if someone buys a bargin time share, like a Spice Bush on HH for 2k for the week, and over the course of time the place is allowed to run down, and simply becomes some place you don't want to stay at, and are unable to sell.

The taxes/dues still need to be paid, what happens if you don't pay those?

At that point I could care less if the time share is TAKEN away from me, in fact that is what I hope happens. I simply want to walk from the deal. Can I do that, or can they come after me and force me to continue to pay the taxes/dues even if I am willing to GIVE THEM the time share back, and just eat my small investment of 2k?

Spicebush and Swallowtail are no longer Marriott's. You mean they're not already run down? LOL, actually just kidding. It goes back to an old discussion on SB/ST vs Marriott over the pat few years on TUG.

Most, if not all states, actually specifically state you are financially responsible. I know FL does as I was just looking at the info last night. They even have a FAQ that addresses those issues, deed backs and the like. But nothing will last forever and that includes DVC, Top Marriott's, etc. I know of a number of horror stories and just changes that happen over time, some good and some bad. For Marriott, they have dropped now 7 and 1/5 resorts over time. One is no longer in business I believe or at least doesn't belong to an exchange company if it is. Marriott dropped the condo's on HH aggregately know as Sea Pines villas a few years ago and then SB/ST a couple of years ago. Recently they have dropped one building of the Vail property because they would not upgrade to Marriott standards, I suspect that will still get ugly. Previously to that other properties included a resort in NH (Loon), LongBoat in FL, Paradise Resort Bahamas' and a resort in Barbados. Those that bought with the idea of doing Marriott to Marriott trading were not very happy as you can imagine. I bet they believed it wouldn't happen either. I predicted it, as I did the Vail issue, but everyone jumped on me saying it'd never happen, well it did.

But more specific to your question, that is why you need to get educated. Make sure you find out all the likely issues, get a great price and then learn the system and use it to your advantage. An approach that some on DIS seem to have a problem with both in terms of learning and using. Decide what you want to use a property for and what options will work for that use. Include details like which exchange company is best, will a certain points system work so you don't have to join an exchange company, any likely special assessments, yearly dues, purchase price, what unit size you need, how/when you will exchange, how far out you can plan ahead and will you use it part of the time.

I would tell you that unless you will use it a large portion, paying $2K for an off season HH week is not a good value. However, shoulder season and high season weeks at HH can be a good value. Remember you're closing costs and yearly dues are going to be the same with most options, points systems excluded usually. I never make even semi specific recommendations of what one should do unless I have a good feel for their situation. And even then, it's just some options that would work which might not end up being the best for them.

 

[boatboatboat]

so basicly if I buy in for a one time fee of 2k, and pay my dues/taxes each year, and at some point the place becomes a dump I can't simply walk away?

My concern is that at some point I may not be able to GIVE the thing away and will have to pay taxes/dues on a timeshare that is a dump and has ZERO value.

If I understand you, it sounds like you simply couldn't walk away, and forefit you 2k?

I see some QTR. shares in shelter cove that are of intrest to me.

 

[dvc_john]

Spicebush and Swallowtail are no longer Marriott's. You mean they're not already run down? LOL, actually just kidding. It goes back to an old discussion on SB/ST vs Marriott over the pat few years on TUG.

For Marriott, they have dropped now 7 and 1/5 resorts over time. One is no longer in business I believe or at least doesn't belong to an exchange company if it is. Marriott dropped the condo's on HH aggregately know as Sea Pines villas a few years ago and then SB/ST a couple of years ago. Recently they have dropped one building of the Vail property because they would not upgrade to Marriott standards, I suspect that will still get ugly. Previously to that other properties included a resort in NH (Loon), LongBoat in FL, Paradise Resort Bahamas' and a resort in Barbados. Those that bought with the idea of doing Marriott to Marriott trading were not very happy as you can imagine. I bet they believed it wouldn't happen either. I predicted it, as I did the Vail issue, but everyone jumped on me saying it'd never happen, well it did.

Dean: Isn't it true that all of the Marriott properties that were dropped were NOT built originally as Marriott properties, but rather brought in to the Marriott system sometime after they were built?

 

[Dean]

so basicly if I buy in for a one time fee of 2k, and pay my dues/taxes each year, and at some point the place becomes a dump I can't simply walk away?

My concern is that at some point I may not be able to GIVE the thing away and will have to pay taxes/dues on a timeshare that is a dump and has ZERO value.

If I understand you, it sounds like you simply couldn't walk away, and forefit you 2k?

I see some QTR. shares in shelter cove that are of intrest to me.

Quarter or other fractional shares could be an option as I mentioned for you previously. The ones above the Shelter Cover area itself don't look very appealing to me personally. The issue would be getting the right one for the right time and price. You can walk away, just like you can from any other debt with all the risks to your credit there. Now sometimes they will let you deed it back and they many times do not report to credit card companies but the risk would be yours.

 

[Dean]

Dean: Isn't it true that all of the Marriott properties that were dropped were NOT built originally as Marriott properties, but rather brought in to the Marriott system sometime after they were built?

That is true though I don't personally see it as much protection for those that bought Marriott developed resorts. The one's remaining in the system not built by Marriott are Monarch, Harbour Pointe and a couple of buildings still at Vail. I think all of those are pretty safe fro a while but you never know.

 

[Pedler]

so basicly if I buy in for a one time fee of 2k, and pay my dues/taxes each year, and at some point the place becomes a dump I can't simply walk away?

My concern is that at some point I may not be able to GIVE the thing away and will have to pay taxes/dues on a timeshare that is a dump and has ZERO value.

If I understand you, it sounds like you simply couldn't walk away, and forefit you 2k?

I see some QTR. shares in shelter cove that are of intrest to me.

Does this problem apply to point based systems like FF?

 

[Dean]

Does this problem apply to point based systems like FF?

Yes but to a lessor degree for most system. The other problem that many points based systems have is that they specifically and systematically raise the number of points it takes to reserve the newer resorts. This forces you to avoid them and/or add on more points. Thankfully DVC hasn't taken that route.

 

[Pedler]

Yes but to a lessor degree for most system. The other problem that many points based systems have is that they specifically and systematically raise the number of points it takes to reserve the newer resorts. This forces you to avoid them and/or add on more points. Thankfully DVC hasn't taken that route.

With point based systems like FF are all points created equal? That is if you have 150,000 points at one resort can you use those to rent you anything that takes 150,000 points?

You can tell what I am really looking for is a DVC type system. My ideal points based system would be one where I buy in with the points but have the ability to call a single reservation line and book at any one of several resorts based on the points I have.

BTW its OK to let me know if I am dillusional in trying to find this type of thing.

 

[Dean]

With point based systems like FF are all points created equal? That is if you have 150,000 points at one resort can you use those to rent you anything that takes 150,000 points?

You can tell what I am really looking for is a DVC type system. My ideal points based system would be one where I buy in with the points but have the ability to call a single reservation line and book at any one of several resorts based on the points I have.

BTW its OK to let me know if I am dillusional in trying to find this type of thing.

Each one will be different. With BG, all points are created equal but availability is the issue. You can opt to keep your deeded week instead of points and thus it never goes into inventory. There are however, certain priorities as to how many points you own much like Marriott allowing those who own multiple weeks to reserve earlier than those with a single week. Hyatt works similarly I'm told where you have your week and turn it in for points. I think FF is similar but it's been a while since I looked at their system. Club Intrawest is all points are equal from all resorts. I don't know as much about RCI points, sunterra, Worldmark or Hilton but there are owners her for some of the above systems. You should get some basic info on all and see which ones have resorts in the ares you want to go. Then explore those further. TUG is a great place to start.