Original Message:
Re: Marriott Vacation Club "Destinations" - What I Like and What I've Done (by Jean F.):
Hey Dennis,
We joined the Destinations program when it first came out, but we didn't buy any points; simply because it made far more sense to pay $199/year for membership to it AND to Interval. Considering that we traded week for week through Interval many times, that meant $89 for the Interval membership per year and $109 (at that time) for Marriott to Marriott trade ... or $198. We would trade several units a year ... that's $89 each trade! There were also the "guest" fee of $49 or the "lock off fee" of $75 and the $29 "cancellation" fee if need be ... We figured we were ahead of the game just getting rid of all of those fees. We had spent that $695 initiation fee or darned near that, each year in fees! In all honesty, we haven't turned any of our units into the DP's yet. We may ... but we haven't found the need yet. We are Platinum members with Interval, which is pretty neat too. They offer us "short stay" trades. This can be between one to six nights stay somewhere, and as long as you say "short stay" ... you can use your one week as two "short stays" for between one to UP TO SIX NIGHTS ... Yes, you read that right. We can make 2 6-night stays out of one week. It looks like the places that are included in that are limited, but ... worth looking at, we figure. Our little bronze week in Myrtle is only worth 575 DP's. That doesn't get you much. But, we have traded through II and gone to Sedona Summit (nice) TWICE in a two bedroom unit each time, with that week, Vegas, the Dominican Republic (sent daughter & her husband for their anniversary), and Cypress Harbor twice. (Love Cypress Harbor, feels like "old" Florida). That little bugger trades very well with Interval. Our silver week in Myrtle is only worth 1600 DP's. We go the first week of Silver which is right after Labor Day... the ocean is warm, the weather is great, kids are in school, the summer crowds are gone ... it's fantastic! 1600 seems a little cheap for trading in that kind of a vacation and we've gotten to Aruba in February trading that little silver week. I have checked out a theoretical DP trip once, using our Myrtle properties and Vegas property, and found we could do a very nice 3 week+ trip through California, staying at MVCI properties and using our Marriott Rewards points at hotels. I think you were wise to join the DP program. As you said, if you can go off peak, and do those Sun - Thur trips, you can really capitalize on them!
Our friends came on a "free" week with us to Aruba in 2009, and they ended up buying there. (guilty) We still joke about it. They didn't think they needed to join the DP program, because they thought they'd be very happy just going to Aruba each year, and they have been. BUT ... they have gone with us on a few trips elsewhere, and I was explaining to them that locking off is free with the DP program; they could stay in Aruba one week, and turn the other half in to Interval, and that often times Interval will give them an accommodation week on top of that ... making 3 weeks out of 1. They just joined DP too. One week owners. And, as you are seeing, you can make two weeks with the points at other locations. We have really enjoyed our MVCI experiences, and look forward to doing more of them.
Where is it that you own?