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Original Message:

Re: Marriott Vacation Club point system (by Steve F.):

I will try and simplify as I might have provided too much info. Take one of the stays for my recent Australia trip, Surfers Paradise. Take maint fee for points used + club dues. That's it, those are the annual expenses. Add to that what you suggest, the initial cost, the total of the points purchased on the resale market divided by FIVE, not 20. And in doing so, I break even. And that does not consider all the other things Marriott gives me which we shall not consider here, mainly the rewards points which are worth real money.

So, considering the cost of buying those points, I break even if I have 5 of the same trip in 5 years. Yes, the math is totally different when you buy at $14 per point or some huge number like that, it takes quite some time to break even, if ever depending on how you use it.

I hope you are able to get back your fees in your rental at least.

For my ownership weeks, that initial cost was recouped by trips long ago, but that's because it was a long time ago and I actually got a cheap deal back then which is impossible now. Yes, I know, I paid too much, etc. Undoubtedly, but, by cheap I mean cheap for Marriott. Still, despite that, I recouped those costs though it took longer than 5 years but less than 10. But when you add in the hundreds of thousands of rewards points they keep giving me, it gets much better.