I Don't Believe It [waitlisting for Spain]

[ilene13]

Since I drank the kool-aid on June 11 I have been trying to decide how to use my 800 points. So with a lot of looking and renting 850 points from another owner (easiest transaction in the world via paypal) we are booked for 4 nights at Crystal Shores over Memorial Day 2013. Ok the kool-aid worked--so here's my next question:


I am thinking of changing my 2013 Surfwatch into points---I get 4650. I would like to go to Spain next July. Currently there is no availability. I spoke to a Marriott advisor and she said at 12 months out I could waitlist it. Any idea to what my chances would be to get it????

 

[jimf41]

Nobody knows how the european resorts will pan out yet but as far as wait listing I can say that it has worked for me two years in a row at MFC in February. That's a pretty tough request when you want a specific week and a specific checkin day.

In 2012 I requested two weeks. One came though in about 10 days and the other came through in about 4 1/2 months. In 2013 I requested one week and it came through in about two days. None were available at 13 months. I used only legacy points.

 

[ilene13]

Thank you for that insight. If I go on a waiting list and it does not come through when will the points expire--they would be 2013 points.

 

[Cmore]

Thank you for that insight. If I go on a waiting list and it does not come through when will the points expire--they would be 2013 points.

Ilene,
If you have your own 2013 use year points, you have until June 30th of 2013 to use or bank them into 2014. If banked they have to be used on a 2014 reservation by 12/31/14. If you leave them in 2013, you can use them until 12/31/13. I believe you can trade up to 50% of the points into MR points - not the best use of them, but better than not using them. The restrictions on use come into play if you bank/borrow them into the next/prior year, then you must use them for reservations in the the year that you move the points into - No banking, borrowing, transferring or MR points once banked or borrowed. If you use them in the "normal" use year you have lots of options. Hope this makes sense.

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Since I drank the kool-aid on June 11 I have been trying to decide how to use my 800 points. So with a lot of looking and renting 850 points from another owner (easiest transaction in the world via paypal) we are booked for 4 nights at Crystal Shores over Memorial Day 2013. Ok the kool-aid worked--so here's my next question:


I am thinking of changing my 2013 Surfwatch into points---I get 4650. I would like to go to Spain next July. Currently there is no availability. I spoke to a Marriott advisor and she said at 12 months out I could waitlist it. Any idea to what my chances would be to get it????

Sorry but your chances are virtually zero!

That is the time european owners take 4-6 weeks of vacation. The fact that there is no inventory at this point is because its all booked. It was probably all gone since last month.

If by chance something becomes available, its usually a studio or 1-BR at best.

If you can go in May/June 2013 instead of July, you can increase your odds by 50% in scoring a resi. The kids are still in school in much of Europe.

Those resorts are mostly sold out and European owners tend to never exchange.

 

[ilene13]

Sorry but your chances are virtually zero!

That is the time european owners take 4-6 weeks of vacation. The fact that there is no inventory at this point is because its all booked. It was probably all gone since last month.

If by chance something becomes available, its usually a studio or 1-BR at best.

If you can go in May/June 2013 instead of July, you can increase your odds by 50% in scoring a resi. The kids are still in school in much of Europe.

Those resorts are mostly sold out and European owners tend to never exchange.

Thank. You. Then I will have to wait until I retire---I'm a high school assistant principal--- probably 2014.

 

[SueDonJ]

Ilene,
If you have your own 2013 use year points, you have until June 30th of 2013 to use or bank them into 2014. If banked they have to be used on a 2014 reservation by 12/31/14. If you leave them in 2013, you can use them until 12/31/13. I believe you can trade up to 50% of the points into MR points - not the best use of them, but better than not using them. The restrictions on use come into play if you bank/borrow them into the next/prior year, then you must use them for reservations in the the year that you move the points into - No banking, borrowing, transferring or MR points once banked or borrowed. If you use them in the "normal" use year you have lots of options. Hope this makes sense.

All of your other points sound right - DC Points from enrolled converted Weeks must be used for reservations in the calendar Use Year or banked to the following year by the 6/30 deadline, and once banked they must be used for reservations in that following calendar Use Year.

But what I bolded is not correct. An enrolled Week can be exchanged for either DC Points or MR Points; it cannot be exchanged in such a way that you receive both DC and MR Points for it. The following language (bolding mine) is from the "RULES & REGULATIONS FOR THE MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB DESTINATIONS EXCHANGE PROGRAM TIMESHARE/MARRIOTT REWARDS® PROGRAM (Enrolled Owners Only)" document:

2. ... f. An Eligible Member desiring to trade his Use Period for Marriott Rewards points through the Program for any Use Year must trade the entire Use Period associated with the Interest. ...

*The rules you're referencing apply to only purchased Trust Points; a Trust Member is able to annually convert certain percentages of what's owned to MR Points. The conversion table for purchased Trust Points can be found here on the "Benefits At A Glance" chart.

 

[Cmore]

All of your other points sound right - DC Points from enrolled converted Weeks must be used for reservations in the calendar Use Year or banked to the following year by the 6/30 deadline, and once banked they must be used for reservations in that following calendar Use Year.

But what I bolded is not correct. An enrolled Week can be exchanged for either DC Points or MR Points; it cannot be exchanged in such a way that you receive both DC and MR Points for it.

*The rules you're referencing apply to only purchased Trust Points; a Trust Member is able to annually convert certain percentages of what's owned to MR Points. The conversion table for purchased Trust Points can be found here on the "Benefits At A Glance" chart.

Sue, Thanks for clarifying. I knew that I read there was partial redemption options (trust only). It is good for everyone to know the difference for Legacy points (full week for assigned level of MR points) on this issue. I know you likely saved me from a future mistake on left over points.

 

[SueDonJ]

Ilene, if you're willing to accept a range of dates at any of the Spain resorts, I wouldn't be so quick to accept now that you won't find availability. With the DC it's been surprising how many of the intervals that we would think would be extremely difficult to get, like Jim's February MFC stays, do become available within 12 months of a desired stay.

If you do not want to lock your Points from the SurfWatch Week conversion into the Waiting List, you might still convert it with the Holy Grail in mind as well as a back-up plan. The Wait List would, of course, give you an automatic match if what you want becomes available but you can always hang on to the Points in your account to do your own daily/weekly searches for whatever strikes your fancy. As well, if you do lock them into the Wait List for Spain you could still call a VOA at any time to ask them about any other intervals that might be available - if they come up with something you can just undo the Wait List request and reserve what's available.

 

[SueDonJ]

Sue, Thanks for clarifying. I knew that I read there was partial redemption options (trust only). It is good for everyone to know the difference for Legacy points (full week for assigned level of MR points) on this issue. I know you likely saved me from a future mistake on left over points.

Glad to help - TUGgers have saved me from myself quite a few times.

 

[MALC9990]

Thank. You. Then I will have to wait until I retire---I'm a high school assistant principal--- probably 2014.

Ilene
You might consider Son Antem in Majorca which is still Spain and a beautiful island. Lots of sightseeing and Palma is considered to be a smaller version of Barcellona.

Mid June thru Julu the weather is hot and sunny. Not a beach resort, all the villas are two storey houses with gardens. 2 and 3 bed units spread around the fairways of one of the two golf courses. All the villas have access to small shared pools around the resort and also full access to the facilities of the Marriott Hotel.

Exchange for next year via II is probably a better bet. Enrolment into DC points only started a week ago and so for 2013 even owners such as myself who have enrolled will not have elected next years weeks yet and may not do so. I am thinking about depositing 2 of my Gold weeks - July is not in my season and may then bank them into 2014 to use with 2014 points for a big trip to the USa or the Caribbean.

If you delay the trip until 2014 we may have better data on just how many weeks have been signed up.

 

[dioxide45]

Exchange for next year via II is probably a better bet. Enrolment into DC points only started a week ago and so for 2013 even owners such as myself who have enrolled will not have elected next years weeks yet and may not do so. I am thinking about depositing 2 of my Gold weeks - July is not in my season and may then bank them into 2014 to use with 2014 points for a big trip to the USa or the Caribbean.

This is what I was going to say. I think the OP may fare better in II than in DC exchange. The OP could put in a request first exchange request with II now and see if something comes through for July. They have until Sept 30, 2012 to determine if they want to convert to DC points. If nothing comes through by the middle of September, they could cancel their request and convert to points.

One reason I think they may still have a good chance in DC is that in the early days of USA DC, MVCI was filling the exchange company with units that were traded for points in order to get the program rolling. This may also be the case in Europe and I would expect some inventory to be there. The OP should take Sue's advice and place a waitlist request if they decide to go the points route.

 

[davidn247]

You will have a better chance for mid to end of June (and if you
are a teacher that could work for you).

In the past years, I was proposed a couple of times to go with DC points for Marbella (as I was not successfully with II). For instance, last Decembre, I had the opportunity to book 2 consecutive 3BR weeks via VOA at Marbella for July 2012 for 12000 point in total. I did not go for it (went for Redweek rental that was cheaper).

If you place early enough (first on the wait list) and try to go for a "Saturday to Saturday" week, it could work. Good luck.

 

[csxjohn]

I just checked DAE and they had 2 dozen exchanges completed for Spain in June, July, and Aug, 2013.

Free to join, then put in a request for the weeks you're interested in, you never know. You would then have to give them a confirmed week in exchange that is further than 8 weeks out to check-in.

Just a thought.

 

[Michigan Czar]

I just checked DAE and they had 2 dozen exchanges completed for Spain in June, July, and Aug, 2013.

Free to join, then put in a request for the weeks you're interested in, you never know. You would then have to give them a confirmed week in exchange that is further than 8 weeks out to check-in.

Just a thought.

What is DAE?

 

[Margariet]

Since I drank the kool-aid on June 11 I have been trying to decide how to use my 800 points. So with a lot of looking and renting 850 points from another owner (easiest transaction in the world via paypal) we are booked for 4 nights at Crystal Shores over Memorial Day 2013. Ok the kool-aid worked--so here's my next question:


I am thinking of changing my 2013 Surfwatch into points---I get 4650. I would like to go to Spain next July. Currently there is no availability. I spoke to a Marriott advisor and she said at 12 months out I could waitlist it. Any idea to what my chances would be to get it????

July is an extremely busy time in Europe. And in Spain it is really crowded then. This Spring and Summer Spain has a consistent wonderful weather so the holiday locations are packed this month! The really nice timeshare locations are often booked 2 years in advance for high season! I would just get on the waiting list. There might be a cancellation. Or indeed wait when you are retired. Spring and late Summer/early Fall are the best times for sightseeing. Good luck!

 

[csxjohn]

What is DAE?

Dial An Exchange, one of the small independent exchange companies.

www.daelive.com

 

[Tacoma]

DAE stands for dial an exchange. It's an independent exchange company that is free to join and exchange fees are slightly lower than II or RCI. The company is easy to work with but I doubt you will pull Marriott quality. There are lots of threads you can find here.

Joan

 

[hotcoffee]

We are getting some variations of opinion here. I have given some thought to attempting Spain using DC points in 2014. Son Antem was the resort on my radar. For those of you who think it will be very difficult to get a summer exchange for Spain, how about the suggestion made here that June would work? I will have one daughter in college in 2014, but it is unclear whether she will attempt to do a June term program. When in June do schools let out in Spain?

 

[Margariet]

We are getting some variations of opinion here. I have given some thought to attempting Spain using DC points in 2014. Son Antem was the resort on my radar. For those of you who think it will be very difficult to get a summer exchange for Spain, how about the suggestion made here that June would work? I will have one daughter in college in 2014, but it is unclear whether she will attempt to do a June term program. When in June do schools let out in Spain?

To give you an idea: this year in Spain the schools are closed between June 20 - September 16. In most European countries they have the same time frame, often organized per region, but often shorter from July until the end of August. In June you will be allright. There will be mostly European tourists with younger pre school children and older people without children. And the weekends will be busy on the coast with Spanish families. There are some national holidays which are celebrated on the beach, like San Juan at the end of June. July and August will be high season. To really enjoy Spain I always advice April, May, June or September, October. It gives you the best opportunity for nice resorts and to do plenty of sightseeing.

 

[ilene13]

To give you an idea: this year in Spain the schools are closed between June 20 - September 16. In most European countries they have the same time frame, often organized per region, but often shorter from July until the end of August. In June you will be allright. There will be mostly European tourists with younger pre school children and older people without children. And the weekends will be busy on the coast with Spanish families. There are some national holidays which are celebrated on the beach, like San Juan at the end of June. July and August will be high season. To really enjoy Spain I always advice April, May, June or September, October. It gives you the best opportunity for nice resorts and to do plenty of sightseeing.

Thank you for the information. I think it is best if we wait until I retire and I can take time off during the months you suggest. I am a high school assistant principal and they frown on me taking off then.

 

[Margariet]

Thank you for the information. I think it is best if we wait until I retire and I can take time off during the months you suggest. I am a high school assistant principal and they frown on me taking off then.

That is the advantage of retirement: you will be able to vacation without children and teenagers around you!