Original Message:
Re: Marriott Vacation Club "Destinations" - What I Like and What I've Done (by Charles S.):
dennish144 wrote:Jean - Thank you but no apology was necessary.Enrolling weeks in Destinations - mid-June price increase in enrollment fee
Recently, I wrote on the Rip-off entitled forum that it may not make sense to join Destinations if you only owned 1 week. I've thought a bit about this since and I think I was wrong.
The point - A couple of postings back on this forum I wrote about acquiring a week at Cypress Harbour using 1,725 Dest pts and about how this was a better deal than trading thru Interval - a week for week exchange. I think that the better answer might be that enrolling even 1 week in Destinations will potentially "double your vacation use" for certain properties or less than peak season requests. For example, I deposit an average week and get 3,000+ Dest Pts and then acquire two 7 day periods at 1,725 pts each using Dest Pts. Of course, the other advantages of Destinations include a fixed annual fee for Interval use and being able to use days rather than an entire week. I especially like using 5 nights (Sunday thru Thursday nights) at a huge discount.
Please let me know if you think I'm missing something.
Incidentally, our sons and their families are just finishing up at Cypress Harbour and DisneyWorld. To these families, this has been the best vacation ever.
Dennis,
I have posted on this in the past as well on TUG. The point you are making is valid about the Destination Club (DC) being good for one week owners. The Sun-Thurs point requirements particularly during off season times can be great deals. The only caveat I would add to it is that it's most beneficial to those who have one week and get a substantial amount of points for it to really bring value to the owner of one week. For example if you own a week that will net you 4000 or more points then you will have more opportunities in off peak season. Plus with the renting of points even if you have a lower value week, being in the DC can allow you to still get into higher valued resorts when you would like without upping your maintenance fees every year.