Questions for DVC members who also own Marriott

[burnsoc]

I'm thinking about buying a Marriott timeshare that is not part of the points program. How limited is trading if I'm not part of the points program? I'd probably like to trade out every 3 - 4 years, is it extremely limited since the introduction of the points program? Is it even a good idea to buy a regular week timeshare with Marriott or should I think about buying resale points? The point cost is twice the price of the week. Thanks for any help, I'd better start researching the Marriott system.

 

[Dean]

I'm thinking about buying a Marriott timeshare that is not part of the points program. How limited is trading if I'm not part of the points program? I'd probably like to trade out every 3 - 4 years, is it extremely limited since the introduction of the points program? Is it even a good idea to buy a regular week timeshare with Marriott or should I think about buying resale points? The point cost is twice the price of the week. Thanks for any help, I'd better start researching the Marriott system.

I don't want to get too involved since this is a Marriott only question and not a comparison to DVC. Anyone can certainly contact me and others privately to explore more options/info.

Marriott really has essentially 3 options now but only 2 for new buyers. The 3 are fixed/floating weeks (mostly resale), Trust points and a hybrid between the 2 (enrolled weeks) only open to those who already owned weeks at the cutoff time a couple of years ago. Inventory for weeks is locked at the point it was at the conversion and shrinking slightly in some cases. Points are technically only in new resorts and resorts that were in active sales at the time but have a back door access to weeks resorts in a crossover function. Trust points have no home resort priority so access to all trust inventory at up to 13 months out (VIP) or 12 months otherwise but you're also competing with the entire membership as well. Points will also be more expensive but maybe not as much as you say depending on how you'll use them. Accepted prices can be MUCH lower than offered. One can likely get 2500-5000 points for around 1/3 of the retail price or a little less including the over $2K transfer fee.

Trading to other Marriott for those who are in either of the 2 points options is directly through Marriott and indirectly through II in some cases at no additional charge. For those who are in weeks only, they have access to other Marriott's and trading in general in either 1 or 2 ways. If they own at a resort that has sister resorts like the FL club, they can exchange into the smaller group without any other membership; otherwise it's joining and using II or independent exchange companies or possibly private exchanges. At this point the inventory for weeks is far more than for points but it's certainly less for II than it was before this change and should continue to shrink.

I don't know where you're looking at but if you're looking to buy something you'll use routinely and trade occasionally at once every 3-4 yrs, I would doubt joining II is the best option. If you're looking at a high demand option like summer HH, HI, ski areas or Aruba; getting top reservations is almost impossible. For many, buying 2 weeks at different resorts can be the best because you have the option of reserving at 13 months out rather than 12 if you chose the weeks correctly. Likely DVC, owning top choices and trading can be a downhill proposition.