Marriott Vacation Club point system

michael3092 - "Who wants to cook when you are away? Yes, families do.but not retirees." - That would be us, perhaps we are not the norm, could well be! We really hate hotel rooms for numerous reasons, this being one of many. We simply require a kitchen. When your spouse has diabetes and other conditions that require specialized diets, it's simply too difficult to eat out. It's also a lot cheaper to do (as much as we travel, we're sort of cheapskates too!) Even if this was not a concern, we would likely still want a kitchen. Even the thought of eating out for 30 days is gross. Used to do that for business, hated it. BTW - You can cancel your points usage stay, you get the points back even if you cancel the day before. They go into a holding account, sure, but you can still use them. Didn't you say you could not cancel? The Marriott in downtown Melbourne is not a bad hotel, nice service there. I did see yesterday that I could trade my lockoff for 2018 into Aruba Ocean Club in May, which would be a good trade for a lockoff.

johnm3523 - As I recently went through this, I believe all of them are actually the same. I believe people go off of old data, what they remember, etc. As far as I know, the maintenance per point is a constant. Some people add in their club dues, which can vary based on what level owner they are. Others exclude it, which makes it look lower. See: http://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/faq-mvc-destinations-points-program.197346/ which I use as a good source for information. For this years costs, see: http://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/marriott-2017-maintenance-fees.246824/ which says it's .5272 per point. This calculates to exactly my maintenance fee.

Be aware there are some tricks. For example, my use year is Jan - Dec. If you buy resale points that are say Apr-Mar, then, you will find you cannot combine them into the same account. I was recently told by Marriott that they no longer will combine and convert use years. So, I had to find one with the same use year as my existing points, which I did. Also, please note Marriott has ROFR. If you structure the purchase in a traditional manner and say you are buying for $3 per point, you will lose as Marriott will buy it. There are some ways that can mitigate that though. There are substantial fees on any used points sales. Consider in your costs to pay those fees, including the biggest one which is the fee for transferring the points to you, currently is $2 per point with $3,000 minimum. it takes a little creativity and effort, but, you can make some very creative and cost effective deals if you work at it.

As a Marriott Aruba Ocean Club gold weeks member by my cancelling a point use trip to Newport, CA in November I had only about one month to reuse the points. I cancelled due to an arthritis knee flare up. Now where to go after resting my knees for a month? There was no good resort open unless 7 days in Absecon NJ Give me a break! Arthritis which affects about 50,000,000 Americans is a pre-existing condition and not covered by insurance. There are at least 130,000,000 Americans wth pre-existing conditions. If you are a senior just being one is a pre-existing condition! I lost the1,900 points as even no one wanted any vacation offer on Craig's List. I had the usual scans of first set up the vacation and then receive a check from where? Funny but United Airlines listened to me a waived their $200. per person cancellation of airfare fees. There is very limited use of points if you cancel with a couple of months remaining in the year. I am going to bank my points for a couple of years and then maybe go to Australia. Hopefully Marriott or the next owner of the Marriott system does not change the game again on the Art of Vacationing.

Ah, true, if anywhere near year end, you have to use them that year so options are pretty limited. There are of course openings.

I have osteoarthritis, and various other conditions so know what you mean.

Look into travel insurance . You might have to read all the fine print but you may find a policy that covers your timeshare and airfare . It's worth looking into in the future .

Thanks on the travel insurance info. Still the question will be asked as to whether I was ever treated before. Also just another cost to add for a weekly timeshare rental. At least with a hotel rental I can cancel the last minute and I do get the travel insurance automatically when I fly and Even if the airlines travel insurance find a reason not to pay and they will I am only out $200.00 per person. With a timeshare I can lose the entire rental especially if originally booked towards year end.To me a timeshare is a room with a kitchen rental with extra charges for additional room cleaning, pre maintenance charges, sometimes parking and utility fees.

No, a timeshare is a home away from home to me, with activities and fun. A hotel is a boring drab place to sleep, generally noisier, cramped, inconvenient, and to escape from and nothing more. But to each his own, there is no right answer for all. I know many people who like hotels, and many that do not. Even the 8 out of 9 rated Marriott Melbourne was nowhere near as nice as the exchanged into shares in Western Australia, for me.

I thought some credit cards even have travel insurance? I'll have to look at mine....i'd swear at least one card had it, though, will have to read what it covers specifically.

I agree with you at times. The hotels that we stop at are usually large suites over 600 square feet with new linens and towels every day with the bed made and no interruptions to change the air filters, fix a toilet below or above you, etc, etc at least at the Aruba Ocean Club.

A far as the trip insurance from United Airlines they WILL find a way not to pay yo. documents, documents, etc. and the illegal requirement that the last six digits of your credit show up on the credit receipt!!!! Ugly. Thank god United airlines itself is more compassionate when it comes to an arthritis flare up.

My idea of a home away from home in a hotel is I do no maintenance, get great points for future visits or now even Amazon Gift cards.

I like my timeshare in Vegas. It's right next door to the Bellagio . My view is the Bellagio fountains . They have a shuttle that takes us to a supermarket . I buy my breakfast and snack food. I like to have my coffee and breakfast in my room rather than trudge down to a restaurant and wait for refills on my coffee . It's also nice to come back to the room and have a nice snack late at night .

It appears the card I was thinking of is Chase Sapphire, which has a reputation for paying and includes timeshares. YMMV.

At Vegas I use my Hilton and last time had a 951 sq ft suite with a sink and microwave , Breakfest is free and I got comped a weeks stay. To me the only places that I would find my Marriott timeshare of value is Aruba, Marco Island weekdays and maybe Newport California. Other areas I can book the cheapest room and receive the best with my Hilton status.I stayed at the Hilton Vegas before it became another Vegas timeshare. I had their best room at $39.00 per day Christmas week. I spent more than my weeks stay for one fine dinner. I have booked the Marriott timeshare Breckenridge for $103.00 per day. So much for those who pay more maintenance per day as "owners"?

You are stretching it a little now. I do agree with you that you can sometimes do as you say. You cannot always do as you say, nor is it reasonable to say that because I can book something on a specific day, that it is always available at that rate or any other day, etc. Sure, you have one place where you can get a hotel room that sounds decent (would have to see it and what else is on property, etc.) at least one a certain day you got it for. So, you have done an analysis of every timeshare destination and the Hiltons there, and know for a fact that in every location, you can do as you say, any day you want, any time of year? I suspect not, as I have tried at many locations to do the same and could not. I gave you some examples recently. So, I would dispute that anywhere you can share, there is such an alternative. Maybe you can live with those hotel rooms, I cannot.

Of course I can get into Colorado cheap in summer. And we do go there! We went to Vail last summer via II, at the Marriott, cost was $274 for the week, not $103 per day. And of course one would not exchange into there given the rate for the date we went. Vail is nice in summer. And there may be occasional deals, we always check them out.

To the extent that you can do as you say at a specific location for specific dates you want (you said you could not arrange too far in advance I think?), and you are happy with the accommodations, obviously that is the best choice for you. There is little doubt that you can sometimes get deals, just like you can with getaways. And when you can get a great deal, go for it of course! Use all sources you are ok with. It sounds like your travel destinations are quite limited though. We have gone to more than 50 locations all around the world thus far. And before we use our share, we always look for alternative lodging. Rarely, very rarely, does that time spent pay off.

So, I agree with you if that works for you.

To me buying a timeshare at this time is like getting involved in a pyramid scam. Unless you bought several years ago, like me, you will be pre-paying for a weeks stay much more than it's worth. You are better off going through the secondary rental channels. Yes we have been to man places such as Europe, Australia, New Zealnd, Alaska, Hawaii, California, Nevada, British Columbia Canadian maritimes, etc, etc. We are slowing down somewhat picking on Florida but plans are in the works for the Western National Parks and maybe Russia.

There is no question the value of the points program seems less than the old model, far worse if you buy direct. Florida is about the cheapest location for timeshare rentals, dirt cheap, too many of them. As a whole that is, esp. Orlando. We aren't a big fan of Florida trips really. Though, we have a deal for points that is not bad (a steal) on the secondary market upcoming since we travel so much. Some year or decade, we will be more like you are and slow down, but not anytime soon hopefully. If you get points for close to zero, it's not a bad deal depending on how you use them.

stevef280 wrote:

Florida is about the cheapest location for timeshare rentals, dirt cheap, too many of them. As a whole that is, esp. Orlando. We aren't a big fan of Florida trips really.

Central Florida (Orlando) certainly fits that bill. However, some places in SW FL have a pretty high demand-to-supply ratio that makes rentals cost somewhat more than the maintenance fees.

We rent either a home or an apartment in Florida for one and or two months. That cost runs from $1,250 per week to $1,750 per week. Still we pick the best gulf views in Marco Island and have 2-3 bedrooms , to bathrooms . A pool, a beach and a full kitchen and laundry, We use the Marriott timeshares now only for The Marriott Ocean Club Aruba as just about any other US location is not worth even the maintenance price. At this point averaging a cost of $12,500 per Ocean Club timeshares we are not really losers on our cost if we sell in the future.

Exchanging into Aruba costs me about $700 in MF so pretty attractive in my book!

Perhaps those people who purchased their timeshares many years ago and use them regularly benefit from them. A newer owner needs to realize that their timeshare purchase with annual maintenance cost can take over 20 years to reach a break even point where the price per night is less than renting directly from Marriott. I don't think many timeshare buyers think about the affordability when there is a change in family income health issues or age and death. Be prepared to give the timeshare to your children and if they don't even want to pay the maintenance fees then sell it at best about 25% of the price you paid.

I thought Saram sounded like an ad for a lawyers office or something, didn't believe a word he said.

I bet you are right as far as what buyers may think. Any purchase is a risk, even a house if health issues arise. You can (and will) definitely lose more on a timeshare early on. How many years depends on how you use it, etc. I am easily ahead, so, if I sold at 25% of my cost, which would probably be fortunate, that would really be profit for me. But not so for newer owners. That is good advice.

The problem is they don't view it that way. And the sales pitches can be quite good at times, even the semi honest ones. They are pretty good.

But there are other money pits. Some people waste as much on cell phones as a timeshare! And that's really for nothing. ;-) That one is a pet peeve for me.

I definitely saw it as a lifetime purchase, and, have been fortunate enough to be able to use it for so long. Not the best way to buy, but, it did work out. We have always travelled, from birth really. So, it's just normal for us, not much takes priority over trips.

Looking at Williamburg, not been there, I see I can spend the $280, or so for a week not a day, for a house there via II. In September, good time to go. Sleeps 10. I have family a couple of hours away, so, could be fun.

I am signing the closing documents now so they can be filed for my third party purchase, excited. As much as I always said I would never ever buy more points, I have found when buying privately, it can be well worth it with some usage creativity.

As a former employee I can tell you guys that you are definitely getting ripped off to join destinations. The only exception is if you own multiple weeks.

When I left, approximately a month ago, the centers focus was on increasing elections and enrolling legacy weeks into the destinations program. It was such an emphasis that our work schedule is based on how many people we can get to elect their week for vacation club points. Honestly, knowing the system, about 9.5/10 it's a bad deal for owners.

I encourage you to compare your week before electing for points, especially if you have a lockoff unit ;)

I can go to Aruba HIlton Using my points for Ocean Front Room an use about 498,000 points. I get free breakfast, no resort fees, best rooms or even higher grade room at no cost. Sure, it takes spending to get the points but I do not start out with a donation of $1,500. maintenance fee for the room. I don't need to beg for the better Marriott Ocean View room once I am in Aruba. Sure, I do not have kitchen which now really for two people do I want to cook on vacation? Maybe the eggs I will miss. That whirlpool tub in the Ocean Club suite should readily be changed to spin laundry as who uses it? Wow I get the room cleaned and beds made every day. If the air goes, or there is a water problem I change my room and not wait for that maintenance crew. Yes, there are air conditioning and water problems every time I go. You can go to the Endless Vacations website run by Wyndham which owns RCI and find the Marriott Surf Club and even the Marriott ocean club weeks available for as little as $900.00 per week. You can cancel days before if you wish and no charges. I will keep my two weeks Marriott timeshares and use them wisely in Aruba or Marco Island since anywhere else I can rent for a lot less than the $1,500. maintenance fees.