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Re: Marriott One Week Owners and the Destination Club (by Charles S.):

thomasj282 wrote:

I am a one week owner at Frenchme's Cove, St. Thomas. I did not join the points program because in my case having only one week it was too costly to do exchanges over the long run. Granted they give you 800 points for converting, but I look at the program as if I don't have any extra points. Please follow my logic and correct me if I do not understand the program. The sales personnel tell me that my time share here is worth 2750 points. If I want to go to St. Kitts the exact same unit will cost 2950 points. So I have to come-up with additional 200 points. I realize I can bank a year without vacationing, but at my stage in life at retirement, I don't want to miss a year of not vacationing. I can also buy 1000 points at a cost of over $10,000. Now what if I owned in St. Kitts, what would by time share be worth? Using marriott chart is it is worth 2,750 points and yet for me to go to St. Thomas it would cost me 2,950 points. How can that be like that if my current timeshare in St. Thomas is worth 2,750 points. So, in addition to the yearly membership fee that they charge you, they have built in another fee of 200 points. At $10.00 a point that comes to $2,000 to do the exchange. There is no even exchange for like units. Again, as a one week owner I do not see the advantage. I do agree with you, that it is a lot easier to exchange under the point system, but not cheaper.

I am looking at it from this standpoint. The DC has other components to it. From what I know of people for a variety of reasons they cannot always go to their resort even in retirement. Yes, you can bank your resort to exchange for a couple of years, but sometimes that is difficult. The DC offers you other options to take advantage of. Now with 2750 points you will be more limited, but a lot would depend on how you use your timeshare. Maybe you might choose a studio instead of a one or two bedroom. Let's say the grands are coming and you need another room. You can rent another room with additional points and know right away as you are planning your trip what you have and not wait for six months to a year if you are going to get the accommodations you need by using Interval International.

In using your example, I am not saying to BUY anything. I am saying it's better to RENT points when needed. If you want to go to St. Kitts one year, you could go to the website I posted and have 200 points exchanged for only $100 and then you could make your reservation and be done with it. You could be making your reservation for a cheaper flight knowing in advance and being able to check in on a day that is more cost effective for you. Does this make sense? I did not make a mistake when I wrote only $100 for those points to be rented. That's the going rate. Heck no, don't buy points from Marriott at $10 per point and then have to pay those maintenance fees. Rent them and still get what you want.

Please understand my points here:

1. The DC allows you more options to your vacation choices.

2. You can rent points and get your reservation earlier to more difficult places through the DC than you can with Interval Internationa.

3. If you always stay at you reseort in St. Thomas and don't wish to go to other Marriotts and don't lockoff a two bedroom, then do as you always have.

I just wanted to let one week owners like myself understand there can be some benefit to it. It all depends on how you use your membership.