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Re: Ripoff - Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Program - New Point System

Den, Just reserved 3 weeks in FEB 24 at a Marriott Caribbean resort. I called at 9AM exactly. If you call 15 minutes later you'll find nothing available. If you want a good week at a good resort you have to call in advance to find the 13 month and 12 month inventory release dates. Then you have be on the phone at exactly 9 AM. Yes it's a real hassle and it's a bit nerve wracking but it works. Trying to get what you want 6 months out is pointless. You'll be picking from what every one else didn't want. You have to plan 12-13 months out. Ocean Pointe in West Palm is a good example. The Platinum season there runs from DEC 15 to APR 30. Nobody wants to go in April, everybody wants to go in JAN-FEB. Most Plat owners own multiple weeks and snowbird there. I know a few who own 4 or more. Those owners can split their weeks into 1bdrm and lockouts and book 8 weeks in advance. A one week owner has little if any chance getting a week in JAN-FEB there. That said every week owner will get a week sometime in Plat season as long as it's booked before the season starts. Points owners don't have a good chance because this resort is mostly owned by weeks owners and unless they turn in their weeks for points there won't be any reservations available for points users. In order to get what you want in the Marriott system you have understand the system and how it works. All the resorts you mentioned are not that difficult to get, you just have to book them at least a year out. Some folks can't plan that far ahead and the Marriott system just won't work as well for them.