Are Abound Club Point exchanges a value? First glance.....no

[M Wyo]

We priced a week in April at NYC Marriott Club Pulse. Using a club point value of 0.6$/Club Point (based one our yearly maintenance fee) a week in a king room is $2445 or $349/night. The cost of the same room using the Bonvoy App is $345 / night. There might be value out there...but this isn't it, and no doubt you'll have to work at it.

 

[Mroze]

We priced a week in April at NYC Marriott Club Pulse. Using a club point value of 0.6$/Club Point (based one our yearly maintenance fee) a week in a king room is $2445 or $349/night. The cost of the same room using the Bonvoy App is $345 / night. There might be value out there...but this isn't it, and no doubt you'll have to work at it.

Based on 2023-MF, the cost /Club-Point is $0.68932/Club-Point which is closer to $0.7/Club-Point

 

[Venter]

And remember certain levels of ownership even get discount if available.

 

[Red elephant]

I used my SVR (2600) and I booked a 1 bedroom premium at Westin Kierland for 1250 points in October for 5 nights not including Saturday. That’s $875 but in the web it’s not even available but in September is $2265.

 

[DanCali]

We priced a week in April at NYC Marriott Club Pulse. Using a club point value of 0.6$/Club Point (based one our yearly maintenance fee) a week in a king room is $2445 or $349/night. The cost of the same room using the Bonvoy App is $345 / night. There might be value out there...but this isn't it, and no doubt you'll have to work at it.

You're not likely to get value in NYC, but there are certainly plenty of economical stays in Abound (compared to retail rates) especially off season and Sunday-Thursday night stays. And when I say "off season" that doesn't necessarily mean ridiculous timing.

For example, we don't ski but love mountains in the summer. Check out this all-2BR property in Vail for Sunday-Friday stay in the peak of summer school break (July 9-14, 2023):
1625 points for 5 nights (about $1100 or $220/night)

I don't like to compare to hotel rates, because that's what salespeople do when they show me rooms on Maui that I would never book with cash... But since you chose that route than here you go - the full rate for that is $538/night, the prepaid rate is $458/night, and the Presidential/Chairman Club rate with 30-day cancel policy (not always available) is $357/night. Add taxes on top...

And if you are flexible to go Mid-April to early June, you can book the 2BR on weekdays for 75 points/night - which is about $50! Compare that to a minimum of 253/night (+taxes) using the Chairman's discount for an average (non-holiday) mid-May week...

So if you are looking for deals compared to marriott.com rates - they are definitely out there. You just have to look

 

[timsi]

The reason I do not like to compare VSN and now VSN and Abound with the hotel rates for off season is because usually there are lots of Interval getaways that can be booked at very attractive prices.

For example, for May 2023 a 2 BR at Marriott's MountainSide is $425 for a full week.

 

[sponger76]

The reason I do not like to compare VSN and now VSN and Abound with the hotel rates for off season is because usually there are lots of Interval getaways that can be booked at very attractive prices.

For example, for May 2023 a 2 BR at Marriott's MountainSide is $425 for a full week.

And in June there is no getaway available for Mountainside and the Marriott website is quoting $500+ per night for a 2BR with no owner discount available. Yes, there are off times where getaways are the best deal going. And there are other times where they simply aren't, so at those times using points is the best available deal.

 

[needvaca]

I used my SVR (2600) and I booked a 1 bedroom premium at Westin Kierland for 1250 points in October for 5 nights not including Saturday. That’s $875 but in the web it’s not even available but in September is $2265.

if you have Staroptions (which you must have, if you were able to convert elect Abound points), why wouldn't you just use those?
Of your 81,000 staroptions, you would only need 16,400 staroptions to book 5 nights at Kierland in October. (20% of your Staroptions)
but instead you elected Abound and used 1250 of your 2600 Abound points (48% of your points)
Just curious, why?

 

[Red elephant]

if you have Staroptions (which you must have, if you were able to convert elect Abound points), why wouldn't you just use those?
Of your 81,000 staroptions, you would only need 16,400 staroptions to book 5 nights at Kierland in October. (20% of your Staroptions)
but instead you elected Abound and used 1250 of your 2600 Abound points (48% of your points)
Just curious, why?

I did not want to wait 8 months. I will recheck again at 8 months if available will rebook and and cancel the point reservation. It’s actually 26,400 staroptions.

 

[TravelTime]

I did not want to wait 8 months. I will recheck again at 8 months if available will rebook and and cancel the point reservation. It’s actually 26,400 staroptions.

How would you check using SOs at 8 months if you already elected Abound points?

 

[Red elephant]

How would you check using SOs at 8 months if you already elected Abound points?

Because I have more staroptions to use in 2023. I only converted that one VOI.

 

[timsi]

I did not want to wait 8 months. I will recheck again at 8 months if available will rebook and and cancel the point reservation. It’s actually 26,400 staroptions.

Exhibit 1 that by placing Abound 4 months ahead of VSN, VSN has become a second-class exchange, especially after they cut banking in half for most folks.

 

[DanCali]

I did not want to wait 8 months. I will recheck again at 8 months if available will rebook and and cancel the point reservation. It’s actually 26,400 staroptions.

Exhibit 1 that by placing Abound 4 months ahead of VSN, VSN has become a second-class exchange, especially after they cut banking in half for most folks.

For most non-Maui owners, doing this type of things would be too costly and I suspect the enthusiasm will wane over time as people realize this and learn how easy it is to rent points from others (much easier transaction than renting a week).

I wouldn't even consider electing points for WKV just to book at 12 months in Abound over 8 months in Vistana, especially for a shoulder Gold season reservation that I suspect was never a problem to get in VSN. To me, 148,100 SOs are worth $4200+ (rental value of the week) while 4050 points are worth about $2800 (rental value of the points). You stop yourself from making that election 3 or 4 times and you just earned a 3-night Disney cruise for the family.

That's not to say you shouldn't book in Abound at 12 months if you really want/need to. But a more cost-effective way to do it is to rent out your week for $4200, rent 4050 points for $2800 (or rent as many as you need), and enjoy an extra $1400 in your pocket.

For a long time we had only 2 pre-2010 Marriott weeks that were enrolled and for 12 years I elected points for one of those weeks exactly one time. We now have more enrolled MVC weeks, some of which I am happy to elect points for because of a more generous point allocation, but those pre-2010 weeks (and now my WKV weeks) are not in that category.

 

[SteveS1]

I’m at Sheraton Kaua’i Villas now. i used 66.8k home options (Sheraton flex) for this 1BR 5 night stay. Those options translate to 1905
Abound points. I just checked Abound and the same early Dec nights for next year can be booked for 1450 points. So Sheraton Kaua’i for this week is an excellent use of Abound.. I’d have 455 abound points left over to use for another trip. I also checked to compare with the other one bedrooms at the MVC resorts here on Kauai, on the Big Island and Ohau , as well as the Marriotts on Maui, and all the Westins (Princeville and Kannapali) and they were all more than the 1905 for 66.8k, some in the 3000’s! I guess it’s because the Sheraton Kaua’i villas aren’t valued as high by Marriott. It’s a beautiful setting in a great south shore location but isn’t right on the ocean (the hotel part is)… it’s just a one minute walk to the beach though from our room.

 

[DanCali]

I’m at Sheraton Kaua’i Villas now. i used 66.8k home options (Sheraton flex) for a 1BR 5 night stay. Those options translate to 1905
Abound points. I just checked Abound and the same early Dec nights for next year can be booked for 1450 points. So Sheraton Kaua’i for this week is an excellent use of Abound.. I’d have 455 abound points left over to use for another trip. I also checked to compare with the other one bedrooms at the MVC resorts here on Kauai, on the Big Island and Ohau , as well as the Marriotts on Maui, and all the Westins (Princeville and Kannapali) and they were all more than the 1905 for 66.8k, some in the 3000’s! I guess it’s because the Sheraton Kaua’i villas aren’t valued as high by Marriott. It’s a beautiful setting in a great south shore location but isn’t right on the ocean (the hotel part is)… it’s just a one minute walk to the beach though from our room.

That's exactly the point I was trying to make. We have kids in school so can't go to Hawaii in early December. But if you can, that's great. And based on the points charts, those 5 nights for 1450 points actually included (more expensive) Friday and Saturday nights too.

In Vistana, most Hawaii resorts are the same for weeks 1-50. Abound is priced much more like hotels, with seasonality. So, if you can find a niche that suits you in Abound (mountains in the early summer, beaches when kids are not on break), there can be even more value there.

What I did find surprising is that the math works out in your favor pretty much all weeks of the year. Even in July, a Friday-Wednesday stay would only cost you 1625 points. So, it does look like the Sheraton was somewhat undervalued, especially when compared with Marriott's Kauai Beach Club where a 1BR Garden View (most comparable) is about 12% costlier per week.

Those 1905 points could get you 5 nights in a 1BR OV room at Kauai Beach Club but, unfortunately, you can't have both Friday and Saturday nights included since you'd be a bit short on points. Any option without both Friday and Saturday works. But we never stayed there and I'm not quite sure how the location (near airport) compares to Poipu.

 

[SteveS1]

That's exactly the point I was trying to make. We have kids in school so can't go to Hawaii in early December. But if you can, that's great. And based on the points charts, those 5 nights for 1450 points actually included (more expensive) Friday and Saturday nights too.

In Vistana, most Hawaii resorts are the same for weeks 1-50. Abound is priced much more like hotels, with seasonality. So, if you can find a niche that suits you in Abound (mountains in the early summer, beaches when kids are not on break), there can be even more value there.

What I did find surprising is that the math works out in your favor pretty much all weeks of the year. Even in July, a Friday-Wednesday stay would only cost you 1625 points. So, it does look like the Sheraton was somewhat undervalued, especially when compared with Marriott's Kauai Beach Club where a 1BR Garden View (most comparable) is about 12% costlier per week.

Those 1905 points could get you 5 nights in a 1BR OV room at Kauai Beach Club but, unfortunately, you can't have both Friday and Saturday nights included since you'd be a bit short on points. Any option without both Friday and Saturday works. But we never stayed there and I'm not quite sure how the location (near airport) compares to Poipu.

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The other thing I took for a test drive is if I can reserve the Westins 8-12 months out which I can not do with my SOs. I can. There is availability in November , a 5 night at WKORV 1BR for 2900 abound points , equal to 98k of my Sheraton flex. I don’t see view but if that reservation was available at 8 months it would be 52k assuming Islandview for comparison reasons. It may be worth it to pay more to secure the reservation sooner, in some situations (not sure if I would ever actually do it).

So Abound does appear to benefit me. Yes I do have flexibility now.. I bought Vistana in 1997 resale (pre Starwood/VSE/MVC), my oldest son was 3, my youngest wasn’t born yet now they are 28 and 22.. my wife and I are used to the kitchens etc so we continue with 1BRs..

 

[DanCali]

The other thing I took for a test drive is if I can reserve the Westins 8-12 months out which I can not do with my SOs. I can. There is availability in November , a 5 night at WKORV 1BR for 2900 abound points , equal to 98k of my Sheraton flex. I don’t see view but if that reservation was available at 8 months it would be 52k assuming Islandview for comparison reasons. It may be worth it to pay more to secure the reservation sooner, in some situations (not sure if I would ever actually do it).

So Abound does appear to benefit me. Yes I do have flexibility now.. I bought Vistana in 1997 resale (pre Starwood/VSE/MVC), my oldest son was 3, my youngest wasn’t born yet now they are 28 and 22.. my wife and I are used to the kitchens etc so we continue with 1BRs..

This is one advantage in owning both systems. I don't plan to elect points on the Vistana side because I have 15K-20K electable points at MVC that I am happier to convert to points than what I get for WKV. Those MVC weeks have both lower MFs and lower rental values than WKV, but offer both more points, so they look better on any metric...

So, taking your example, I can book with Abound points and then try again with Staroptions at 8 months out. If I get it at 8 months, I can cancel the Abound reservation. I have a feeling some salespeople will use this pitch to try to sell you points

That said, I probably would never book Westin Maui with in Abound - it's way too expensive for my taste and for that amount of points, you can just rent on RedWeek with cash for the equivalent amount. But for Kauai, Kierland, or some other locations that might work well.

 

[SteveS1]

So, taking your example, I can book with Abound points and then try again with Staroptions at 8 months out. If I get it at 8 months, I can cancel the Abound reservation. I have a feeling some salespeople will use this pitch to try to sell you points

They did, I did an owners update here on Thursday and they were pitching 1k abound points for $15k to supplement my Vistana points.

 

[SteelerGal]

I own WKV Gold as well so Abound is not worth it for me. I checked to see how many Abound points it would cost to go to Hawaii and Tahoe and it wasn’t reasonable at all. It still makes sense for me to use my SOs and a trader via II.

 

[SteveS1]

I own WKV Gold as well so Abound is not worth it for me. I checked to see how many Abound points it would cost to go to Hawaii and Tahoe and it wasn’t reasonable at all. It still makes sense for me to use my SOs and a trader via II.

If Tahoe for a ski week I see a 2BR at Timber lodge in early Feb for 3500 abound points for 7 nights. Depending on your SO conversion rate that could be valuable , for mine it’s 119 SO which is less than the 148k I’d need for a Vistana 2BR in Avon or Steamboat.. I agree re Hawaii unless you go to Kauai off peak. Also when II fees included it could be a better way to get a week on Oahu or Big Island.

 

[jeffm211]

They did, I did an owners update here on Thursday and they were pitching 1k abound points for $15k to supplement my Vistana points.

That was the same pitch I got at WDW in October before the launch.

 

[SteveS1]

That was the same pitch I got at WDW in October before the launch

That was the same pitch I got at WDW in October before the launch.

He claimed it’s just a matter of time before Vistana owners realize they need both so should buy now at that bargain price!

 

[SteelerGal]

If Tahoe for a ski week I see a 2BR at Timber lodge in early Feb for 3500 abound points for 7 nights. Depending on your SO conversion rate that could be valuable , for mine it’s 119 SO which is less than the 148k I’d need for a Vistana 2BR in Avon or Steamboat.. I agree re Hawaii unless you go to Kauai off peak. Also when II fees included it could be a better way to get a week on Oahu or Big Island.

Fortunately we are not skiers. We tend to go in the summer.

 

[jeffm211]

That was the same pitch I got at WDW in October before the launch

He claimed it’s just a matter of time before Vistana owners realize they need both so should buy now at that bargain price!

Exactly!

 

[TravelTime]

I found some good Maui values if I exchange in my WKOVRN which gives me 8325 points. I can go to the Marriott Ocean Club old towers in the same category for a week for 6425 - 7800 in all weeks of the year except New Year’s week. I can go to Marriott Ocean Club in the new tower for 7450. These are all great values for the 2BR OF esp MOC in high and low season.

If you are fine with a 2BR garden view, you can book into Marriott Ocean Club old tower in Maui for as low as 4700 points and 2525 for a 1BR garden view. I can‘t see why these are not good values especially for Maui which is highest demand and hardest to get at 8 months with SOs. With Abound, you can book these at 12 months. Marriott releases half of its Maui inventory at 12 months.