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Re: Buying timeshares (even resale) (by Paulo N.):

Again, I have to disagree... 1. Yes, you can rent a Getaway to others if you wish. For $39 you can make a reservation on somebody else’s name (last page on the online reservation process).

2. You get no Marriott Reward Points points if you buy resale. Cypress Harbor’s seasons are: Sport (trades for 90,000 points), Special & Summer ( trade for 110,000 points).

3. Contractually, the Marriott points system is indeed incidental, however, if ever removed, it MUST be replaced with another program/benefit with similar value. No speculation here.

4. If you convert your timeshare week into points, you cannot use the same points to book a timeshare week back.

5. It costs $104 to convert a week into points. Maintenance + taxes at Cypress cost about $800.

6. 200,000 points already include the airline miles for two to Hawaii, Caribbean or Mexico. PLUS, a 7 night stay at a category 6 hotel. You don’t have to convert anything. It’s a package (hotel plus air for 2)

7. Sorry, but your math is incorrect. If you stay home and do not travel, you might invest the money. But if you do, every penny in put into renting is 100% loss.

8. You can no longer buy so many points. According to a recent Marriott memo, only up to 10% of the total package.

9. If you can find getaways for $500, why did you rent a week in Fort Lauderdale twice as much?

10. Only buy resale if you do not care about packages (packages for hotel plus airline miles). If you often travel abroad, as I do, these packages are awesome.

You tell me to check my facts. Well, I own Marriott(s) and I know the program and the points pretty well, probably much more than you do, based on your previous affirmations. Would you allow others to disagree with your pre-conceived ideas and opt to respectfully argue your point, or shall we engage into arrogant and fruitless personal attack?

You believe buying resale is the right thing to do. That depends on how people like to travel. I like to trade my week into 5-star hotels with 2 international airline tickets attached. Any problem with that?

kekouri wrote:

First, we can not RENT a week obtained from a getaway from II.

Resale Plat weeks at Cypress Harbor sell for between $5000 and $6000 all are 2 bed 2 bath.

Some MArriott Resorts can not be traded back for points. And those that do recieve differing amounts of points, some at 75,000 some at more a very few at less.

Many using MAR Reward Points ( A travel Reward System of points that can be discontinued at any time by Marriott) feel their value is exactly what MArriott Rewards were selling them at all winter and spring 2007....one penny each. Some of us missed the sale. But it might return.

A top turn in of a Marriott week might fetch 120,000 or even 130,000 points for a 2 bed 2 bath unit. Jf you want to use points for another week at a 2 bed 2 bath MVCI location for a week, it will cost 150,000.

It costs a fee to give your week in for points. And you must pay your Maint fees & Taxes on the week given in....Approox $1000.

In the old days, Marriott gave reward points for the purchase of a developer week. Biggest I saw listed on tug was about 750,000 for a manor club plat unit to complete sell out of the old section (Non lock out section.

You can use approx 200,000 points for a world trip for 2 in a MAR hotel ...but you need to convert the points into airline miles.

You can get points by using Marriott Hotels, and the Marrriott Premier Credit Card....which costs over $65.00 a year, but you do get a free night in a cat 5 or less and other bennies. There is a less expensive MAR card, a VISA via JPMorgan/Chase.

You need to include the money lost buy buying a unit for the points. Interst on a $17,000 unit loses about $1000 on a 5.5% CD rate....and of course if you take a loan on that $$$ that much more money at your loss.

So, $1000 main/tax + $1000 lost in interest + whatever the loan interest is = a loss of at least $2000 a year for 130,000 points, that will not buy you a week in a 2 bed 2 bath MVCI unit for a week. ( Remember, it costs 150,000 points.

We paid Marriott $1000 for 100,000 points this spring. Then we wondered if that was a good value.

The getaways I see for Orlando, including a full week at the 2 bed 2 bath are lower than $500. I currently see Marriott Ocean Points for less than $350 a week.

PLEASE, do your own homework....first, go to the MArriott Rewards website, and see what you can get for the points. Just remember, you need to figure out if the value and costs are worth it to you.

I know at least 5 super Marriott points users. They know how to stretch a MArriott point to over its max.

And for everyone....all points are not the same. The RCI points in no way resenble or act like Marriott Travel Reward points.

Nor does the Fairfield/Wyndhams, the Blue Green, the Sunterra,...they all act different.

But IMO.....it is a better value to but a Marriott resale. Best value is a Marriott Lock Out that II will give you two weeks for ( As will Redweek), and if INterval wants you weeks bad enough, you will get a bonus week.

Thats three weeks for the one, and one maint fee payment....the II week has fees attached....but to me, thats the beast value.

And as I have said before, the best value (IMO) T/S is the Four Seasons just N of San Diego....you'll get 4 weeks for the one there ( 2 bed 3bath) BUT the maint fees are approaching $2000 a week