Marriott/Vistana overlay

[bizaro86]

not sure what properties you are talking about. Vistana Signature Experiences, formerly named Starwood Vacation Network, built the Hawaii properties -- they did not buy them from someone else. Same applies to a vast majority of the other locations. The few exceptions include hotel properties that were converted, but i think most of those came from Starwood Hotels.

and i have no idea what properties you claim were not kept up to date, and needed a lot of work, etc...

I think the Vistana properties are at least as nice/well maintained as the MVC properties on average.

 

[YYJMSP]

I think the Vistana properties are at least as nice/well maintained as the MVC properties on average.

I think the VSE properties are better maintained.

We keep looking at new possible destinations for holidays, and often see MVC properties available for MB redemptions, and then we head to YouTube to check out people's videos of the place and I would say 75% of the time the first words out of my wife's mouth is something about how Marriott properties look old and run down...

will we stay at them if there's some overlay program? sure, but our expectations will be lower when staying at a Marriott vs a Westin branded property.

 

[bizaro86]

I think the VSE properties are better maintained.

We keep looking at new possible destinations for holidays, and often see MVC properties available for MB redemptions, and then we head to YouTube to check out people's videos of the place and I would say 75% of the time the first words out of my wife's mouth is something about how Marriott properties look old and run down...

will we stay at them if there's some overlay program? sure, but our expectations will be lower when staying at a Marriott vs a Westin branded property.

I would generally agree. I think Westin resorts are a half step above the average MVC, with Sheraton maybe a half step below on average. YMMV, and this is always a very contentious topic so I always hesitate to comment.

 

[dioxide45]

Personally, I found the newly refurbished villa at SVV last year to be fantastic and just about on par with newly renovated Marriotts. However we did stay in some newly renovated units at Beachplace Towers and Aruba Surf Club and they were top notch. Westin villas are fantastic too and really only place them above Marriott due to the in room amenities such as a better kitchenette and laundry in the studios. I have yet to be impressed with the Heavenly Beds, perhaps because the one we had at the Westin Maui in 2000 was out of this world and what they have now simply don't compare. Marriott mattresses are hard as a rock though, so I do give a slight edge to Westin on the beds.

As far as comparing the grounds and resort amenities, I think this is one where Marriott is a notch above. Comparing the Maui Ocean Club vs any of the Westin properties on Maui, the Marriott has much more of a "resort" feel to it. The same could be said for Grande Vista over Sheraton Vistana VIllages. Though we do love Vistana Villages.

Villas - Westin > Marriott
Villas - Marriott > Sheraton
Grounds - Marriott > Westin & Sheraton

> means better than.

 

[bizaro86]

I think housekeeping/services are better at Vistana than MVC. My success rate at getting in by check-in time has been better.

Also, MVC doesn't have a midweek cleaning as a brand standard, which really should be the minimum for an upscale property imo. I believe all Vistana/HGVC properties do this, and even my silver crown independent does.

 

[dioxide45]

I think housekeeping/services are better at Vistana than MVC. My success rate at getting in by check-in time has been better.

Also, MVC doesn't have a midweek cleaning as a brand standard, which really should be the minimum for an upscale property imo. I believe all Vistana/HGVC properties do this, and even my silver crown independent does.

I don't think SVV has a mid-week tidy. One thing I dislike about Vistana properties is that there is no trash chute. I always have problems getting rid of a full bag of trash between cleanings. With Marriott, it is a DIY. I like that.

 

[dsmrp]

I don't think SVV has a mid-week tidy. One thing I dislike about Vistana properties is that there is no trash chute. I always have problems getting rid of a full bag of trash between cleanings. With Marriott, it is a DIY. I like that.

I haven't stayed at SVV, but have at SVR, albeit at least 5 years ago. I recall at mid-week tidy at SVR.
We've also carried out our own trash/recycle to the large bins if we see them.
I think SDO was last place we stayed at in December, and the recycle collector bins were out of sight.
We were told to just put our garbage & recycle bags outside the door and maintenance would pick it up as they went round to other villas.

I've got used to a mid-week tidy, even at non-Vistana properties. I would be very surprised for most Marriott resorts not to offer it.

 

[JIMinNC]

I've got used to a mid-week tidy, even at non-Vistana properties. I would be very surprised for most Marriott resorts not to offer it.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe we got a mid-week tidy at both Marriott's Waiohai on Kauai and at Marriott's Maui Ocean Club on our trip a couple months ago.

 

[dioxide45]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe we got a mid-week tidy at both Marriott's Waiohai on Kauai and at Marriott's Maui Ocean Club on our trip a couple months ago.

Yes, midweek tidy is something that the Marriott properties in Hawaii and the Caribbean offer. Though not at any domestic US properties. Daily service in Europe and Asia.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Our friends own Marriott in Tahoe and they have mentioned a mid-week tidy.

Given the high MF that MVC owners pay (on average $1000 or $1500 more per year than HGVC or Hyatt which offer mid-week tidies) I would be surprised if they don't offer them. Otherwise, that's just plain gross.

 

[YYJMSP]

I don't think SVV has a mid-week tidy. One thing I dislike about Vistana properties is that there is no trash chute. I always have problems getting rid of a full bag of trash between cleanings. With Marriott, it is a DIY. I like that.

We always called down at the various VSE properties, have been told to leave the garbage bags outside the door, and someone came to grab them pretty quickly...

 

[CalGalTraveler]

You can also call and get more towels and have them take the old ones away even if it is not your mid-week.

 

[JIMinNC]

Given the high MF that MVC owners pay (on average $1000 or $1500 more per year than HGVC or Hyatt which offer mid-week tidies)

How do you figure that Marriott resorts have maintenance fees that much higher than HGVC or Hyatt? Our HGVC Seaworld 2BR is a little under $1200, our Marriott 2BR Barony Hilton Head a little under $1400. Our Hawaii resorts are more - $2100 per use year for Waiohai and $2400 for Maui Ocean Club. The only MVC 2BRs in the entire system with fees over $2000/year are those in Hawaii and a couple in the Caribbean. For MVC to be $1000 to $1500 more on average, would have to mean that HGVC and Hyatt fees were well under $500/year. Did you mean $100 or $150 more? That would make sense.

 

[bizaro86]

You can also call and get more towels and have them take the old ones away even if it is not your mid-week.

Marriott Shadow Ridge wanted to charge me for that. It wasn't nominal either, IIRC it would have been ~$40-50. The amount might not be correct, but there was definitely no midweek tidy and they definitely said there would be a charge to get new towels. I washed the ones we had, but that didn't feel like a high end vacation to me...

 

[CalGalTraveler]

HGVC Oahu runs in the $1200 - $1750 range on average (and Honolulu is expensive). Ocean Tower on the Big Island runs around $1700 for a 2 bdrm OV Penthouse. MOC is about $2,400+. In NYC MF run around $1500 - $1900. MVC? Perhaps in Orlando or South Carolina they are similar (we never go there) but even in Vegas HGVC runs $800 - $1,100 for a 2 bdrm whereas the Grand Chateau is about $1250. Perhaps $500 to $1000 but still a big difference for similar quality.

 

[TravelTime]

How do you figure that Marriott resorts have maintenance fees that much higher than HGVC or Hyatt? Our HGVC Seaworld 2BR is a little under $1200, our Marriott 2BR Barony Hilton Head a little under $1400. Our Hawaii resorts are more - $2100 per use year for Waiohai and $2400 for Maui Ocean Club. The only MVC 2BRs in the entire system with fees over $2000/year are those in Hawaii and a couple in the Caribbean. For MVC to be $1000 to $1500 more on average, would have to mean that HGVC and Hyatt fees were well under $500/year. Did you mean $100 or $150 more? That would make sense.

I own at Westin Kaanapali North OF. The maintenance fee is between $2700 - $2800. Higher than Marriott in Maui.

 

[TravelTime]

Marriott Ko Olina is more expensive than Hilton Grand Vacations on Oahu. The per night rate is much higher for MKO. I suspect the pricing is irrelevant. I think Marriott Vacation Club wants to be priced above an equivalent Hilton timeshare. From what I can see in terms of pricing and repuation, it seems to be Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott, Westin and then Hyatt. I think Hilton lost its brand reputation a long time ago although I am sure there are some really nice Hiltons.

 

[vacationtime1]

QUOTE="TravelTime, post: 2285619, member: 105071"]I own at Westin Kaanapali North OF. The maintenance fee is between $2700 - $2800. Higher than Marriott in Maui.[/QUOTE]

I own at Westin Kaanapali (south) OFC. MF's are $2,384, for a two bedroom, a few dollars less than a 2bd at the Maui Ocean Club old section, about $300 less than at MOC's new towers, and hundreds less than those who "own" via DC points.

(The difference between WKORV and WKORVN maintenance fees has never made sense to me; the resorts are adjacent and very comparable; units at WKORVN are actually about 10% smaller than those at WKORV.)

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Marriott Ko Olina is more expensive than Hilton Grand Vacations on Oahu. The per night rate is much higher for MKO. I suspect the pricing is irrelevant. I think Marriott Vacation Club wants to be priced above an equivalent Hilton timeshare. From what I can see in terms of pricing and repuation, it seems to be Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott, Westin and then Hyatt. I think Hilton lost its brand reputation a long time ago although I am sure there are some really nice Hiltons.

I believe you are referring to the hotels, not the timeshares.

 

[YYJMSP]

QUOTE="TravelTime, post: 2285619, member: 105071"]I own at Westin Kaanapali North OF. The maintenance fee is between $2700 - $2800. Higher than Marriott in Maui.

I own at Westin Kaanapali (south) OFC. MF's are $2,384, for a two bedroom, a few dollars less than a 2bd at the Maui Ocean Club old section, about $300 less than at MOC's new towers, and hundreds less than those who "own" via DC points.

​

(The difference between WKORV and WKORVN maintenance fees has never made sense to me; the resorts are adjacent and very comparable; units at WKORVN are actually about 10% smaller than those at WKORV.)

WKORN was around $2700 last year. I'm pretty sure that WKORV was less (I can't compare directly, as we own a Deluxe unit at WKORV so their MFs are higher than the regular 2BRs)

 

[bizaro86]

QUOTE="TravelTime, post: 2285619, member: 105071"]I own at Westin Kaanapali North OF. The maintenance fee is between $2700 - $2800. Higher than Marriott in Maui.

I own at Westin Kaanapali (south) OFC. MF's are $2,384, for a two bedroom, a few dollars less than a 2bd at the Maui Ocean Club old section, about $300 less than at MOC's new towers, and hundreds less than those who "own" via DC points.

(The difference between WKORV and WKORVN maintenance fees has never made sense to me; the resorts are adjacent and very comparable; units at WKORVN are actually about 10% smaller than those at WKORV.)[/QUOTE]

South is cheaper because more of the costs are borne by deluxe and standalone 1 bedroom owners, both of which pay more than their fair share (imo). The north resort doesn't have those room types.

 

[vacationtime1]

South is cheaper because more of the costs are borne by deluxe and standalone 1 bedroom owners, both of which pay more than their fair share (imo). The north resort doesn't have those room types.

That makes sense; MF's on the deluxe units are about $800/yr higher than the basic ("premium") unit. And the dedicated one bedroom units have disproportionate MF's as well.

 

[TravelTime]

I believe you are referring to the hotels, not the timeshares.

No I was referring to timeshare rentals on the open market (not through an owner).

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I have stayed at multiple properties at both and I find HGVC comparable to MVC quality-wise. However HGVC treats its owners much better and the points system beats MVC hands down.

 

[bizaro86]

HGVC is comparable to MVC quality-wise. However HGVC treats its owners much better and the points system beats MVC hands down.

The big thing where MVC beats both HGVC and Vistana hands down is the diversity of their locations.