Westin Flex with II Marriott preference

[KACTravels]

Wow! I am finally ok with our Westin Flex purchase. We used Westin Flex to retro our Vistana resales and reach 5* to use as our retirement travel tool vs a vacation home. Up until now, I was a little unsure if it was the best thing to do,but searching in II using Flex with the (apparently) newer Marriott preference, I can’t believe the availability and (my perceived) value of the Flex Vacation Point value in II. I’m very pleased right now. We have 176,600 Flex Options ($3,344 MF ) and that translates into 250,000 “Vacation Points” in II. An example exchange is 2BD Marriott St, Kitts in May for 81,000 Vacation Points. Or a 2BD Marriott in Spain for 37,000-44,000 Vacation Points with availability to string several weeks together dates Nov-March. I’m pretty happy right now with Flex, Marriott and II. I’ll wait for someone to burst my bubble (LOL)

 

[dioxide45]

How do you know these Marriott weeks are in the preference period? If flex gets to see Marriott and Vistana weeks in preference, it might help their resale value.

 

[KACTravels]

Actually, I'm not sure, but I don't recall seeing so much Marriott availability. There was another thread about the maintenance yesterday at II and Vistana and my speculation is that it was some kind of tweaking for the preference. Of course it just could have been a coincidence and I could be totally wrong. It is the first time I played around with Flex and II. I also check with our Westin Weeks and the same availability showed up. I was just really pleased with the Flex Option value to "II Vacation Points" when I searched.

 

[DannyTS]

I think it is best to compare what you can see with the postings in the TUG sighting section (at the time of posting). Concerning your examples, Marriott St kits is not a hard trade and neither is Marriott in Spain in the shoulder season. Can you see any summer weeks in Spain?

 

[krj9999]

Couple other items. There are 2 and 3 BRs available as Getaways for Playa Andaluza for less than $500/week in Nov/Dec (except Christmas) - with 2BRs as low as $347 for Platinum II members. So may not be the best use of your points; and not that hard to obtain.

I know what I can see as the difference between Marriott and Vistana weeks for priority (of each). Easy enough to have some trade tests on the Sightings board to help determine.