[2014] President's week definition

[llstubborn]

We purchased a Ocean front Platinum Plus President's week unit in 2010.We went platinum because it was the only week that our children and grandchildren could be with us. We love the surf club and truly enjoyed it the last few seasons. When my wife attempted to book a check in date for 2015 she was told that a Mon to Mon week was the only availability. We were not happy but accepted it. We presumed that this meant the 16th through the 23rd. When we went to make travel plans this month we realized that we were given the week of Feb 9 through the 16th. After many e-mails and phone calls about our "guaranteed" Presidents week, we were left with the explanation that the week beginning on the 9th constitutes President's week because it runs until the holiday on the 16th! This was the official explanation given after 3 days of frustrating phone calls and unanwered e-mails. I am just curious if this has happened to anyone else and what other owners think. We had to put our unit up on Interval and rent another from redbook.

 

[tschwa2]

Just curious as to when you attempted the booking?



There are calenders on marriottvacations that show the plat plus weeks for all the resorts for the next several years.

 

[llstubborn]

We booked on February 21. Every calendar available defines presidents week check in as beginning either Thursday February 12 or Friday February 13

 

[BocaBoy]

The Marriott Aruba Surf Club calendar clearly shows that the 2015 President's Week starts February 9 for Monday check-ins. Thursday through Sunday check-in dates are February 12-15.

 

[dioxide45]

The Marriott Aruba Surf Club calendar clearly shows that the 2015 President's Week starts February 9 for Monday check-ins. Thursday through Sunday check-in dates are February 12-15.

Are you sure? Here is the calendar. 2015 is on the right hand side of page 2. It shows Platinum Plus President's Day checkin dates are the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th. Monday the 9th is week 6, Presidents Day week is 7.

 

[tschwa2]

Are you sure? Here is the calendar. 2015 is on the right hand side of page 2. It shows Platinum Plus President's Day checkin dates are the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th. Monday the 9th is week 6, Presidents Day week is 7.

Yes but if you look at the calendar they highlight the plus week. It isn't called a week 7 plat plus week and they adjust it to what they consider the holiday week to be for that check in day. The calendar goes up to 2016.

Next year call exactly 1 year ahead of the first possible check in date for better results.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes but if you look at the calendar they highlight the plus week. It isn't called a week 7 plat plus week and they adjust it to what they consider the holiday week to be for that check in day. The calendar goes up to 2016.

Next year call exactly 1 year ahead of the first possible check in date for better results.

I agree, but for 2015 week 7 is the only highlighted week for Platinum Plus Presidents Day. That is why I was referring to week 7 vs. week 6. Some years week 7 is Platinum Plus President's Day, others it is week 8. It is never week 6, which is what week Monday February 9th shows up as for 2015.

 

[tschwa2]

Interesting, That's not the current link I see at my-vacationclub.com

https://www.my-vacationclub.com/resort/PdfLinkServlet?file=%5Cresort%5Cac%5C020%2BOwner_Guides_and_Resources%5C020%2BCalendars%5C099%2BMarriott%27s_Aruba_Surf_Club_Resort_Calendar.pdf

It shows that monday check in is on week 6 for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019

 

[dioxide45]

Interesting, That's not the current link I see at my-vacationclub.com

https://www.my-vacationclub.com/resort/PdfLinkServlet?file=%5Cresort%5Cac%5C020%2BOwner_Guides_and_Resources%5C020%2BCalendars%5C099%2BMarriott%27s_Aruba_Surf_Club_Resort_Calendar.pdf

It shows that monday check in is on week 6 for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019

Interesting. The calendar I linked to was from the FAQ. It seems to perhaps be outdated. It also appears that they changed the calendar after it was initially produced.

 

[Weimaraner]

We own Plat Plus President's Week Oceanside and received Feb9-16 too. I always call at 9 am at the 13 and or 12 month dates. Like you, I was pretty surprised and felt like I received week 6 but didn't complain since we only get 2 school days off for the holiday. But definitely not good dates to rent out since many renters get the President's Week off. I ended up converting it to DC points.

 

[dioxide45]

We own Plat Plus President's Week Oceanside and received Feb9-16 too. I always call at 9 am at the 13 and or 12 month dates. Like you, I was pretty surprised and felt like I received week 6 but didn't complain since we only get 2 school days off for the holiday. But definitely not good dates to rent out since many renters get the President's Week off. I ended up converting it to DC points.

I would agree. As a week to use, I think more people would prefer to have the week of the holiday and not the week before. It seems that MVCI pulled a fast one by changing the calendars at some point. Was it to get more access to the prime week of President's Day for DC points or rental?

 

[llstubborn]

Can someone tell me where to find the surf club calendar that defines the week of February 9th as Presidents week? Thank you all for your informative posts

 

[MOXJO7282]

I would agree. As a week to use, I think more people would prefer to have the week of the holiday and not the week before. It seems that MVCI pulled a fast one by changing the calendars at some point. Was it to get more access to the prime week of President's Day for DC points or rental?

Actually last I looked at the demand index for 6 was higher than 7. And i can tell you first hand week 6 is a hot renter. I did so with a OV at the Surf Club for 7 or 8 years.

 

[BocaBoy]

Can someone tell me where to find the surf club calendar that defines the week of February 9th as Presidents week? Thank you all for your informative posts

It is on the calendar link on the MVCI website. Go to Surf Club, click on the week owners tab and then click on the calendar near the bottom. This calendar is why I said earlier that it was clearly identified as February 9 for Monday check-ins.

 

[llstubborn]

Ok, I see the calendar starting the 9 th. Do not understand why there are conflicting calendars, but it is what it is. Seems dishonest.

 

[Weimaraner]

Things just got weird for me. Remember I posted that I also got the Feb 9-16 for my Platinum Plus week at Surf Club and I converted it to DC points? Well I woke up today to find I had a match to Aruba Surf Club with a deposit with an OGS. I matched to a Week 6 Mon Feb 9-Mon Feb 16. I'm keeping it but found it interesting that it's identified as a Week 6!

 

[Arubasurfowner]

Marriott is trying to claim presidents week is two weeks long

The same thing just happened to us with regard to check in for our three-bedroom, platinum plus presidents week timeshare at the Marriott Aruba surf club. Marriott has deliberately and dishonestly moved the Monday check in date to the Monday BEFORE presidents day. I'm sure this expands their inventory for sale (as they are lumping two weeks together) as well as for rent.

Oddly, there is a several-day gap from that initial (and improper) Monday check-in until the next check in day. That is because the Monday check in day should have been the day AFTER the Sunday check in day. That would have been logical, and that is how Marriott originally operated.

So under marriott's new position, week seven -- or presidents week -- actually stretches from February 8 to February 21!! Further, Marriott is claiming that the timeshares are "sold out" for the check in dates that would enable one to be there DURING presidents week, while at the same time they are offering the units up for rent. This is outrageous and improper.

 

[SueDonJ]

Huh. This is weird! Once again the calendar that Dioxide links in his Post #4 highlights different dates for the Platinum Plus President's Day 2016 check-ins than the calendar that's linked on my-vacationclub.com (Sign in, click on "Plan And Book My Vacation ---> Resort Calendars for Weeks Owners ---> Marriott's Aruba Surf Club.") The website link conforms to the Monday-2/8/16 check-in that they gave you; the other calendar gives Monday-2/15/16.

Both include this language at the bottom of the page (bolding mine):

Platinum Plus-Presidents Day Use Period includes Presidents Day [as observed in the United States], Platinum Plus-Spring Break includes Good Friday [as observed in the United States], Platinum Plus-Holiday includes December 25 and Platinum Plus-New Year’s Day includes January 1. If Platinum Plus-Presidents Day, Plati- num Plus-Spring Break, Platinum Plus-Holiday and Platinum Plus-New Year’s Day falls on a check-in/check-out day, the Platinum Plus Use Period will be the applicable Use Period that ends (i.e., checks out) on the pertinent holiday. Platinum Plus-Presidents Day is the third Monday in February [as observed in the United States]. This will be fully described in the governing documents of the Resort.

So based on that it does seem to be correct that with the holiday falling on the third Monday-2/15/15 and the check-out day being the determining factor, the Fixed Week with a Monday check-in does begin 2/8/16. But it seems to me that Owner Services should be asked to explain why there are still two different active links to two different calendar versions, both apparently originating from my-vacationclub.com. I can understand why they had to re-issue a corrected version but not why they'd allow both to remain live.

(I think the links from TUG all redirect to the Aruba Surf Club calendar that currently links from my-vacationclub.com. If anyone sees something different please let me know so that it can be corrected.)

 

[SueDonJ]

As far as I can see Aruba Surf Club is the only resort with a Fixed/Plus President's Week that allows Monday check-ins. If I'm wrong, is the same thing happening with the calendars for those resorts?

 

[Arubasurfowner]

Further comments

The language you cite is new. And it attempts to validate an unreasonable position that Marriott has recently taken. Moreover, it is at odds with: (1) the language of my contract; and (2) statements made by Marriott when I purchased the timeshare that Presidents' Day week would guarantee me vacation over Presidents week. No one would buy a premium Presidents' Day week that in actuality gives you a vacation period during the week BEFORE Presidents' Day! That week is utterly useless to many (including me).

You are correct that an ADDITIONAL problem is that there are conflicting calendars regarding check in dates for the Aruba surf club. This makes the matter further muddled -- but is unrelated to the central issue of dishonesty by Marriott.

A note: It makes sense for Marriott to take the position that, with regard to Christmas week, the check in date cannot be on Christmas Day itself as that would interfere with marriott's other valuable New Years week. But the same is not true with respect to Presidents week. There is no reason that the Presidents week check in cannot take place on Presidents' Day itself (as has been the case in the past) as there is no overriding legitimate need by Marriott to maintain a second (different, and differently marketed) valuable week.

This language is an obvious attempt by Marriott to mask/validate their improper attempt to enlarge the Presidents' Day inventory to two weeks. Shame on you, Marriott.

 

[SueDonJ]

The language you cite is new. And it attempts to validate an unreasonable position that Marriott has recently taken. Moreover, it is at odds with: (1) the language of my contract; and (2) statements made by Marriott when I purchased the timeshare that Presidents' Day week would guarantee me vacation over Presidents week. No one would buy a premium Presidents' Day week that in actuality gives you a vacation period during the week BEFORE Presidents' Day! That week is utterly useless to many (including me).

You are correct that an ADDITIONAL problem is that there are conflicting calendars regarding check in dates for the Aruba surf club. This makes the matter further muddled -- but is unrelated to the central issue of dishonesty by Marriott.

A note: It makes sense for Marriott to take the position that, with regard to Christmas week, the check in date cannot be on Christmas Day itself as that would interfere with marriott's other valuable New Years week. But the same is not true with respect to Presidents week. There is no reason that the Presidents week check in cannot take place on Presidents' Day itself (as has been the case in the past) as there is no overriding legitimate need by Marriott to maintain a second (different, and differently marketed) valuable week.

This language is an obvious attempt by Marriott to mask/validate their improper attempt to enlarge the Presidents' Day inventory to two weeks. Shame on you, Marriott.

I have no idea if you have a legitimate gripe with MVW or not, based on the information currently available at my-vacationclub, but that's not the reason for my comments. Like I said, MVW does have a problem in that there are two active links to two different calendars. If there is also a discrepancy between your governing documents and the calendar as they re-issued it, that's certainly something you should pursue.

I do question whether it's correct as you say that, "The language you cite is new." The link that Dioxide provided is a compilation of calendars encompassing the six years of 2012 through 2017, and there's no indication that it's a revised edition with the language added anytime after it was released prior to the 2012 year commencing. If you look at all six of the calendars on that one page and take into consideration the footnote at the bottom regarding check-out day being the determining factor, it's fairly obvious that somebody missed the President's Day adjustments for 2014, 2015 and 2016 prior to it being issued. Every other Fixed/Plus Week line shifts according to the footnote. I'd say that the fact that a corrected version that conforms to the existing footnote has been issued speaks to their acknowledgement of the error rather than a nefarious plan to cheat owners, but that's only my opinion.

Every time I've called to make a reservation with a floating component, which your check-in day is, the rep has confirmed both the check-in and check-out days and dates prior to and after confirming the reservation. Was that not done during your call?

 

[Arubasurfowner]

Presidents week vacation periods always included vacation during . . . presidents week! This is according to (yes, common sense) Marriott reps themselves. At some point, someone hatched the plan to either move up the Monday check in day to the preceding week or to add it as an option to capture the preceding week. That's why the calendars are different on different cites. Marriott forgot to pull the old -- fair -- calendar. The language you cite does not appear in my contract. I bought in 2004. Is it in yours?

 

[SueDonJ]

Presidents week vacation periods always included vacation during . . . presidents week! This is according to (yes, common sense) Marriott reps themselves. At some point, someone hatched the plan to either move up the Monday check in day to the preceding week or to add it as an option to capture the preceding week. That's why the calendars are different on different cites. Marriott forgot to pull the old -- fair -- calendar. The language you cite does not appear in my contract. I bought in 2004. Is it in yours?

I don't have an Aurba Surf Club contract. Like I said, I'm going by the Resort Calendar currently linked on my-vacationclub.com which appears to support next year's Plus President's Day Week beginning on 2/8/16 rather than 2/15/16, considering the footnoted information contained on both live versions of the Resort Calendar. If you have something that says differently you should bring it to the attention of MVW's Executive Leadership and ask for a detailed explanation, making specific mention of the two different Resort Calendar links that both apparently originated from my-vacationclub.com (they're not from different sites/entities.)

It's impossible to know how you're reading me but I'm not meaning to be combative here! You have an issue that can't be resolved by TUG, can only be resolved by MVW. You posted about it here so I figured I'd take a look and maybe try to give you an idea of why MVW might be saying what they're saying. You can do with it whatever you want, but posting about it here without going directly to the source for answers is only going to lead to further frustration.

I am interested in hearing what MVW might say about all this, and I hope that you'll consider letting us know if you decide to take it further.

 

[Arubasurfowner]

I'm posting here because I'd like to get a sense of who else was mislead. I appreciate your digging around. But in my mind, the information you cite doesn't get to the heart of the matter. (Not trying to be combative either -- just stating my position).

I am absolutely taking this to Marriott execs and invite others to message me if (as in the original post here from 2014) they believe Marriott has acted dishonestly and they would like to air their greivances. I will keep this site up to speed on marriott's response.

Btw, go Sox.

 

[SueDonJ]

I'm posting here because I'd like to get a sense of who else was mislead. I appreciate your digging around. But in my mind, the information you cite doesn't get to the heart of the matter. (Not trying to be combative either -- just stating my position).

I am absolutely taking this to Marriott execs and invite others to message me if (as in the original post here from 2014) they believe Marriott has acted dishonestly and they would like to air their greivances. I will keep this site up to speed on marriott's response.

Btw, go Sox.

Considering that the holiday always falls on a Monday and the footnote says the check-out day is the determining factor, every Plus-President's Week reservation with a Monday check-in should be affected. Hopefully you'll hear from others who question it as well. Good luck!