What should I Buy (Interval/MVC edition)?

[terminaluser]

I have a resale purchase in mind but I'll get to that after some context...

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
No

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
Trade.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Hawaii, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, West Coast

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?
3

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Any time

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
4

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
10-15k

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?
2-3k

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
Yes

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?
Yes

More context:
a) Prefer the II system over RCI (wife likes what's available in II over RCI and the deals they run there)
b) Aiming to go to different resorts in different regions over time with in Marriott and II system
c) Interested in a lockoffs that we trade separately so we can get 2 weeks/year out of the purchase. Our family of 3 can share 1 bedrooms easily and even studio if we have to resort to it.

My top consideration so far which I would appreciate some feedback on:

Marriott Grand Chateau 3 bedroom platinum floating weeks from the resale market. Reasoning being:
+ Decent trading power that can get you into other locations in Marriott and II with some planning and flexibility (at least from a newbie's lens glancing at various post from searching)
+ Lock off enables 2 trade a year as a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom. I'm aware of fees and such that adds up and is ok.
+ Decent MF relatively
+ In the worse case if trading to anywhere I want falls through, going to Las Vegas at the MGC is an okay vacation to me

The main downside I see is:
- Not sure if trading power is enough to always get what I want. The TDI is only very high on week 52. Most resale listing that are platinum doesn't even include 52, usually it's 1-51. I don't think I'll need to trade into peak season Hawaii/Caribbean/etc (would hope for it and try but not count on it) but not sure if I would even get into shoulder seasons at high demand regions consistently with MGC platinum weeks.

Alternatives I thought about:
i) Marriott Grande Vista 3 bedroom platinum weeks
Seems similar to MGC in terms of decent trading power for the dollars spent. However their 3 bedroom lockoff into a 2 BR + studio and I rather have the extra trading power of a 2 BR + 1 BR of MGV. Also in the worse case if no desirable trade comes through, I rather be in Vegas than Florida.

ii) Abound points resale
Abound is nice really flexible system that fits wanting to travel to different resorts. The default options in the Marriott + Westin + Ritz system is plenty to play with without needing to go to II. Much less complication of buying a trader and doing all these thought exercise about weeks, TDI, trading power, etc but very expensive even on resale market. We can afford to buy resale abound points but I like to be thrifty. Seems like we can accomplish the goal of going to different Marriott resorts for cheaper by buying weeks and trading and still have option to trade into II for outside Marriott properties.

iii ) Some other good II trader that I haven't thought of?

Appreciate any feedback

 

[terminaluser]

Another alternative that's an obvious one if trading power is a concern is to get Marriott platinum weeks at a higher demand region like Hawaii, Aruba, etc. That would be more straight forward. It's a highest cost obviously too. It looks like trading with MGC can still accomplish trading into high demand region with enough early planning and flexibility, thats why it looks appealing. Let me know if that's the case or not.

(Sorry for new post can't find the edit feature)

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Marriott Grand Chateau and Marriott Grande Vista will provide you the best bang for the buck when it comes to trading. Inexpensive to purchase with high demand for trading purposes.

If you go with Grande Vista be sure to obtain a Platinum week which belongs to the Florida Club in order to expand your reservation options. All week at Grand Chateau are Platinum (except week 52).

You'll make it to Hawaii easily if you make plans well in advance............





.

 

[terminaluser]

All week at Grand Chateau are Platinum (except week 52).

Do you think it's worth waiting to pick up a week 52 Grand Chateau (either 2 BR or 3 BR) to maximize trading power?

Listing looks rare idk how long I'd have to wait for one to pop up. Although I suppose you already answered that question with

You'll make it to Hawaii easily if you make plans well in advance............

Which makes me think holding out for a week 52 Grand Chateau is not super important or worth the extra cost.

 

[jwalk03]

Do you think it's worth waiting to pick up a week 52 Grand Chateau (either 2 BR or 3 BR) to maximize trading power?

Listing looks rare idk how long I'd have to wait for one to pop up. Although I suppose you already answered that question with

Which makes me think holding out for a week 52 Grand Chateau is not super important or worth the extra cost.

No. It is not worth the added expense to purchase or the scarcity of finding one. Just buy a regular Platinum week and book the highest TDI week you can within Platinum season.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I would go with any platinum Marriott and book the highest demand week possible for best trading power. I see basically no difference in my platinum weeks for trading power, as long as I book the highest demand weeks, and I own Grand Chateau, Willow Ridge and Shadow Ridge Villages and Enclaves.

 

[terminaluser]

I would go with any platinum Marriott and book the highest demand week possible for best trading power. I see basically no difference in my platinum weeks for trading power, as long as I book the highest demand weeks, and I own Grand Chateau, Willow Ridge and Shadow Ridge Villages and Enclaves.

Thanks. Curious, is it a mad scramble when the reservations open for the year that everyone is calling in to immediately book the high demand weeks (per TDI chart)?

If you booked a high demand week early, seems like you have most power and flexibility to trade even back into the same resort for a different window. So why wouldn't everyone just do that i.e. call as early as possible and get the highest week per TDI? Or maybe everyone IS doing that?

 

[sponger76]

Thanks. Curious, is it a mad scramble when the reservations open for the year that everyone is calling in to immediately book the high demand weeks (per TDI chart)?

If you booked a high demand week early, seems like you have most power and flexibility to trade even back into the same resort for a different window. So why wouldn't everyone just do that i.e. call as early as possible and get the highest week per TDI? Or maybe everyone IS doing that?

I'm sure that plays a part in the difficulty in booking certain weeks at various resorts. But that is not the sole reason. Keep in mind that people on TUG are not the average timeshare user, and even among TUG members, not everyone is making every single booking with the sole intent of exchanging in II. Some actually want to stay in their home resorts, and some want to rent out the highest demand weeks for cash. Still, in general the most coveted weeks are subject to heavy competition for booking, so yes, people do try to book them at the earliest possible date, and in many cases the earliest possible minute.

 

[terminaluser]

Thanks for everyone's help I think a 3 bedroom Grand Chateau is what I'm looking to buy resale.

What's a reasonable listing price?

I've having a hard time searching on this forum for past data points on what people paid for a 3BR MGC. Judging by listings on various sites maybe looking to be around 7-10k is the range but want to make sure I don't overpay too much.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Thanks for everyone's help I think a 3 bedroom Grand Chateau is what I'm looking to buy resale.

What's a reasonable listing price?

I've having a hard time searching on this forum for past data points on what people paid for a 3BR MGC. Judging by listings on various sites maybe looking to be around 7-10k is the range but want to make sure I don't overpay too much.

Check out the ROFR website to get an idea of acceptable prices.


www.ROFR.net


Best of luck!





.

 

[CPNY]

Thanks for everyone's help I think a 3 bedroom Grand Chateau is what I'm looking to buy resale.

What's a reasonable listing price?

I've having a hard time searching on this forum for past data points on what people paid for a 3BR MGC. Judging by listings on various sites maybe looking to be around 7-10k is the range but want to make sure I don't overpay too much.

You're making a good choice. Although... to throw a wrench into your plan, you could always pick up a Vistana mandatory unit which comes with Star Options and interval membership included in your annual fees. Not to mention you will get the same preference/priority at Vistana/Marriott resorts.

With your upfront budget, you could easily pick up a Westin Kierland Villas 2 bedroom. You can use the star options or deposit into interval. there is no lockoff fee if you wanted to use half SO and exchange in interval with the other half or if you wanted to deposit both into interval. What youll save in the lockoff fee can be put toward an upgrade fee.

Or WKORN... With a unit like that you would be able to enjoy your home resort, enjoy Star Option use, have very high trade power in interval, and if you ever wanted to bring that back into the Abound program with an additional purchase down the road, you will receive a huge amount of club points. You would be chairman level very quickly.

or just go with a voluntary points ownership like Sheraton or Westin flex resale. then you will never worry about TDI, since points will see everything. You just need enough points to make the reservation based on TDI.

Just something else to think about.

 

[Bill4728]

Since there are just 3 of you, I look at a 2 bedroom unit not a 3 bedroom. You can still split it into two units for trading.

 

[terminaluser]

you could always pick up a Vistana mandatory unit which comes with Star Options and interval membership included in your annual fees. Not to mention you will get the same preference/priority at Vistana/Marriott resorts.

Thanks, reading about the whole Vistana mandatory unit thing and Star options. Still trying to wrap my head around their system. My understanding Vistana mandatory unit for my purpose means when I buy such unit I will get Staroption. But after that there's so much questions....

Star options are to be used in Vistana Signature network, which are Westins + Sheraton properties? Anything beyond that I have to trade star options into II?
Is trading star options into II generally better/worse/similar as trading MVC weeks into II?

With the new abound program looks like there's option to elect for your star options to convert to Abound Club Points. So seems like with star options there's 3 things you can do
i) Use within Vistana (Westin + Sheraton)
ii) Convert to Abound Club Points (Marriott + Westin + Sheraton + Ritz Carlton)
iii) Exchange into II

or just go with a voluntary points ownership like Sheraton or Westin flex resale. then you will never worry about TDI, since points will see everything. You just need enough points to make the reservation based on TDI.

If trying to get points why not just get Abound resale points?

Since there are just 3 of you, I look at a 2 bedroom unit not a 3 bedroom. You can still split it into two units for trading.

2 bedrooms looks like are all lockoff as 1BR + studio? Studio is okay for 3 of us but much rather have at least a 1BR. Prefer my 2 trades to be a 2BR+1BR instead of 1BR+studio.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Thanks. Curious, is it a mad scramble when the reservations open for the year that everyone is calling in to immediately book the high demand weeks (per TDI chart)?

If you booked a high demand week early, seems like you have most power and flexibility to trade even back into the same resort for a different window. So why wouldn't everyone just do that i.e. call as early as possible and get the highest week per TDI? Or maybe everyone IS doing that?

In the Marriott weeks system, the reservations open about a year in advance on a week-by-week basis. The entire week (like week 47 for instance) opens roughly 365 days in advance (Marriott has a calendar telling you when you can reserve). Also, many Marriotts have a "Season". So, for instance a Platinum Desert Springs (Palm Desert) might have a season of weeks 1-21, and 48-50 or something. Interestingly the Grand Chateau has a really wide platinum season (weeks 1-51).

For my Palm Desert platinum/red weeks I just reserve something in late Feb or March and it doesn't seem like a mad scramble. For my gold/silver weeks, I try to reserve Thanksgiving (highest TDI) and that is where it is important to set the alarm. Sometimes the key Thanksgiving res's are gone in about 10 minutes.

So, if you are looking for a really high demand week, it is best to set the alarm and be on the phone when the switchboard opens FOR THAT WEEK.

 

[sponger76]

Star options are to be used in Vistana Signature network, which are Westins + Sheraton properties? Anything beyond that I have to trade star options into II?
Is trading star options into II generally better/worse/similar as trading MVC weeks into II?

You can deposit the weeks into II rather than as StarOptions.

With the new abound program looks like there's option to elect for your star options to convert to Abound Club Points. So seems like with star options there's 3 things you can do
i) Use within Vistana (Westin + Sheraton)
ii) Convert to Abound Club Points (Marriott + Westin + Sheraton + Ritz Carlton)
iii) Exchange into II

While previously owned mandatory resales were eligible for Abound, those purchased after August of 2022 are not. To fully enroll and have that ability, you'd have to make an additional (currently $10k for first week and $5k for additional weeks enrolled in the same transaction) purchase directly from VSN.

 

[CPNY]

Thanks, reading about the whole Vistana mandatory unit thing and Star options. Still trying to wrap my head around their system. My understanding Vistana mandatory unit for my purpose means when I buy such unit I will get Staroption. But after that there's so much questions....

Star options are to be used in Vistana Signature network, which are Westins + Sheraton properties? Anything beyond that I have to trade star options into II?
Is trading star options into II generally better/worse/similar as trading MVC weeks into II?

With the new abound program looks like there's option to elect for your star options to convert to Abound Club Points. So seems like with star options there's 3 things you can do
i) Use within Vistana (Westin + Sheraton)
ii) Convert to Abound Club Points (Marriott + Westin + Sheraton + Ritz Carlton)
iii) Exchange into II


If trying to get points why not just get Abound resale points?


2 bedrooms looks like are all lockoff as 1BR + studio? Studio is okay for 3 of us but much rather have at least a 1BR. Prefer my 2 trades to be a 2BR+1BR instead of 1BR+studio.

To your first point. With a mandatory resale as of now (post 8/9/22) the resale vistana is not Abound eligible unless you make an additional purchase from vistana to bring it back into the network fully. You will still have i and iii.

You have different ways to use a vistana ownership as you’ve read.
i) use your deeded week as is, in your home season
ii) use the star options to book nightly stays up to 21 nights in the Vistana Signature Network at 8 months or less.
iii) deposit the full week into interval, the same you would a Marriott “trader”

The Vistana unit would also pull excellent trade power and has priority for Vistana resorts in interval and then Preference for Marriott resorts. Best thing here is Vistana gives a blended TDI, so as long as you own in a plat plus season in a premiere resort, you’ll be good! You will not have to worry about setting alarms to reserve a high demand week just to deposit it. The earlier you deposit the the more power you get.

Interval inventory visibility by owners:
Vistana Inventory: Vistana members > Marriott members > all other interval members
Marriott inventory: Marriott members > Vistana Members> all other interval members

You’ll get three different ways to use a Vistana mandatory resale unit whereas you’ll receive only 2 ways to use a Marriott resale trader (Home resort and Interval exchanges).

as far as “why not get club point resale”. You absolutely could go that route, but for what you may want to book and the amount of points you may need, it will be a very costly buy in. Also, the annual fees will be higher with Club Points than the trader route you’re currently looking to take. With all of that, points are a great option.

I only gave the idea of a flex contract because you were looking to exchanges and concerned about TDI. Flex resale contracts are also very inexpensive because they are a voluntary ownership. You won’t get VSN usage but you will still have plenty of resorts to choose from in your home trust. Flex options can also be exchanged in interval and will see all inventory as long as you have enough points to book it. TDI doesn’t really apply. It goes by the amount of points you have to exchange. Also and this is a big one. Flex options CAN be exchanged in interval for vistana and Marriott resorts, where Abound Club points CANNOT be used in interval to book Marriott or Vistana resorts.

Hope that clears some of the muddiness up

 

[rickandcindy23]

Agree with @BJRSanDiego that Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert has no mad scramble, at least not for really great weeks to use for exchange. Whether I book a President's Day week, or a spring break March/ early April week, I can easily get the dates and get varied dates each year to check trading power. I do pay the $90 to lock them off into two deposits each. The studios are amazing for trading purposes.

We do go to the Palm Desert sometimes, but I admittedly love Westin Desert Willow for staying, and that is why we bought it. But the trading power on those is also crazy good.

 

[stans2000]

You're making a good choice. Although... to throw a wrench into your plan, you could always pick up a Vistana mandatory unit which comes with Star Options and interval membership included in your annual fees. Not to mention you will get the same preference/priority at Vistana/Marriott resorts.

With your upfront budget, you could easily pick up a Westin Kierland Villas 2 bedroom. You can use the star options or deposit into interval. there is no lockoff fee if you wanted to use half SO and exchange in interval with the other half or if you wanted to deposit both into interval. What youll save in the lockoff fee can be put toward an upgrade fee.

Or WKORN... With a unit like that you would be able to enjoy your home resort, enjoy Star Option use, have very high trade power in interval, and if you ever wanted to bring that back into the Abound program with an additional purchase down the road, you will receive a huge amount of club points. You would be chairman level very quickly.

or just go with a voluntary points ownership like Sheraton or Westin flex resale. then you will never worry about TDI, since points will see everything. You just need enough points to make the reservation based on TDI.

Just something else to think about.

What is TDI?

 

[jwalk03]

What us TDI?

Travel Demand Index.

Its Interval's rating system to show what weeks in a given location are the highest and lowest demand. Example below:

 

[stans2000]

I need some help and advice. We have a resale purchase @ Marriott Oceanwatch every year Oceanside, resale purchase @ Sheraton Broadway every year, and a developer purchase @ Westin Lagunamar worth 81,000 Star Options every other year. We were offered the bring everything into Abound if we change our 81,000 Star Options to Sheraton Flex. We were given 2 options. Purchase into Sheraton Flex which would change our 81,000 every other year to either 67,100 or 81,000 every year depending on what we wanted to spend. So I have a few questions.

1. Can we deposit the new 67,100 into II for anything worth while?
2. I'm assuming we still don't have any Star Options for the resale Sheraton Broadway even though it's been brought into the Sheraton Flex system and has been assigned Club Points.
3. The Abound II transfer system will be easier to trade for other Marriott properties.

Will our Maintenance Fees change for our 2 resale properties?

Thank you for your insight.

 

[CPNY]

I need some help and advice. We have a resale purchase @ Marriott Oceanwatch every year Oceanside, resale purchase @ Sheraton Broadway every year, and a developer purchase @ Westin Lagunamar worth 81,000 Star Options every other year. We were offered the bring everything into Abound if we change our 81,000 Star Options to Sheraton Flex. We were given 2 options. Purchase into Sheraton Flex which would change our 81,000 every other year to either 67,100 or 81,000 every year depending on what we wanted to spend. So I have a few questions.

1. Can we deposit the new 67,100 into II for anything worth while?
2. I'm assuming we still don't have any Star Options for the resale Sheraton Broadway even though it's been brought into the Sheraton Flex system and has been assigned Club Points.
3. The Abound II transfer system will be easier to trade for other Marriott properties.

Will our Maintenance Fees change for our 2 resale properties?

Thank you for your insight.

So, give back your WLR unit in and buy Sheraton Flex? How do you use your current ownerships now?

 

[terminaluser]

@CPNY thanks

as far as “why not get club point resale”. You absolutely could go that route, but for what you may want to book and the amount of points you may need, it will be a very costly buy in. Also, the annual fees will be higher with Club Points than the trader route you’re currently looking to take. With all of that, points are a great option.

Abound resale point does look ridiculous cost wise. On Tug marketplace e.g. there's 4,500 points for $12,600 asking, $3,125 MF, but have to factor in $3 per point to enroll after purchase (4,500 x $3 = 13.5k). So that's about $26,100 up front before closing cost + $3.1k MF annually. Ouch. All that for only 4.5k club points which doesn't seem to get much from the Abound points usage chart, maybe around a 1 bedroom for 1 week (a bit more or less depending on resort, season, view).
Sounds kind of crazy cost wise but I guess it's paying for the connivence and simplicity versus trading into those resorts under Abound?

I can see why you previously mention WKV as another good option. WKV 2 bedroom platinum season with 148,100 StarOptions looks like being traded resale ~$17k ask and ~$1.9k MF. That amount of StarOptions looks like can get a 1br for 1-2 weeks in Vistana. Doesn't look like it would be worth enrolling that into Abound because the conversion tracker thread shows someone having a platinum plus and only getting 4,050 points out of it which is just more or less 1 week of usage. AND from my understand to enroll your WKV week would cost $15k. So that's ~$17k to pickup + $15k abound enroll = $32k to get ~4k abound points, ouch.
Seems to me if going the WKV route you just stick to the Vistana network, exchange into II if you want more options, and avoid trying to convert to Abound points.

So if I had to compare picking up MGC and WKV as traders to go to other properties, does this sound right?

3BR MGC would trade as
2BR deposited in II
1BR deposited in II

2BR WKV would trade as
1BR deposit in II or use StarOptions
1BR deposit in II or use StarOptions

 

[stans2000]

So, give back your WLR unit in and buy Sheraton Flex? How do you use your current ownerships now?

Exactly!! Currently, we have been using the every odd year WLR options to get the Sheraton Broadway or other resorts in the Vistana system. Those same years we use the Sheraton week we own to trade in II to stay in Arizona for Christmas week. The even years we use the Sheraton week during the Summer. We always use the Marriott Oceanwatch week every Summer.

We will be using II more with trips to Europe, Greece, Caribbean, ect..

 

[CPNY]

@CPNY thanks

Abound resale point does look ridiculous cost wise. On Tug marketplace e.g. there's 4,500 points for $12,600 asking, $3,125 MF, but have to factor in $3 per point to enroll after purchase (4,500 x $3 = 13.5k). So that's about $26,100 up front before closing cost + $3.1k MF annually. Ouch. All that for only 4.5k club points which doesn't seem to get much from the Abound points usage chart, maybe around a 1 bedroom for 1 week (a bit more or less depending on resort, season, view).
Sounds kind of crazy cost wise but I guess it's paying for the connivence and simplicity versus trading into those resorts under Abound?

I can see why you previously mention WKV as another good option. WKV 2 bedroom platinum season with 148,100 StarOptions looks like being traded resale ~$17k ask and ~$1.9k MF. That amount of StarOptions looks like can get a 1br for 1-2 weeks in Vistana. Doesn't look like it would be worth enrolling that into Abound because the conversion tracker thread shows someone having a platinum plus and only getting 4,050 points out of it which is just more or less 1 week of usage. AND from my understand to enroll your WKV week would cost $15k. So that's ~$17k to pickup + $15k abound enroll = $32k to get ~4k abound points, ouch.
Seems to me if going the WKV route you just stick to the Vistana network, exchange into II if you want more options, and avoid trying to convert to Abound points.

So if I had to compare picking up MGC and WKV as traders to go to other properties, does this sound right?

3BR MGC would trade as
2BR deposited in II
1BR deposited in II

2BR WKV would trade as
1BR deposit in II or use StarOptions
1BR deposit in II or use StarOptions

Yes, that all sounds about right. Granted the buy in for 4500 points seems steep from a resale persepective however, when you compare how much retail points cost for 4500 you would be floored.

Your assessment of usage comparing MGC and WKV is accurate. most people will buy WKV for the star option usage since it has the lowest ratio of SO/MF. I dont think its wise to go all in for WKV as a trader. Thats not saying you wont get great trades, its just there are more economical ways to get into the interval trading game. My SVV Platinum week sees a ton of inventory that my small one bedroom at WKV sees. Dont forget, there is no lockoff fee for Vistana units and the Mandatory deeds come with an interval membership included in the annual fees.

 

[CPNY]

Exactly!! Currently, we have been using the every odd year WLR options to get the Sheraton Broadway or other resorts in the Vistana system. Those same years we use the Sheraton week we own to trade in II to stay in Arizona for Christmas week. The even years we use the Sheraton week during the Summer. We always use the Marriott Oceanwatch week every Summer.

We will be using II more with trips to Europe, Greece, Caribbean, ect..

unless you need more, I wouldnt buy anything