[2019] Was a Good Deal---Year's Ago

[Woj]

We currently own three Cypress Harbour weeks and one Custom House week. We have been owner's since 1995 and been around the world over three times and really enjoyed the vacationclub. But now the bad news! Times have changed and family needs have changed which is acceptable. Our current maintenance fee's are over $6500 plus other varied costs so we decided to sell our Custom House week and one Cypress weeks. I called Marriott asking what are our options and was told that they would take back the weeks once all maintenance fees were paid but we would not receive any monies for the weeks! I thought that that was absurd as we would be out over $38,000. I then searched as to how to sell them and found out that there are hundred's of postings regarding selling both Cypress and Custom House weeks and no one buying! We are at wits end as we may have to just let them go as we do not want to go through the aggravation of posting and hoping. What a mess and hard to believe we made such a costly decision year's ago! We used to brag about how the Marriott Timeshare Program was the best thing on earth and now we found out why timeshares have such a poor reputation!

 

[Pamplemousse]

Don’t be hard on yourself. No one can tell what the future holds. Times change- that’s life. We just traded in the 8 passenger mini van for a Prius since the kids left for college- I don’t consider that purchase a mistake.
I think the poor reputation you refer to is from dishonest high pressure salesmen who give unrealistic expectations.

I would be thankful for all the great trips you had through the years and if it is time to let the TS go then so be it.

 

[Gemini Chica]

They are never a financial investment but really the value was all the family holidays you had and the memories you have. We were advised when buying by many not to expect any financial reward at the end. Look into red week and some FB pages where you could sell at market price or find a reputable agent. And see if you can get something for them, or failing that rent the DP points to cover the MF during the time it takes to sell.


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[Dean]

We currently own three Cypress Harbour weeks and one Custom House week. We have been owner's since 1995 and been around the world over three times and really enjoyed the vacationclub. But now the bad news! Times have changed and family needs have changed which is acceptable. Our current maintenance fee's are over $6500 plus other varied costs so we decided to sell our Custom House week and one Cypress weeks. I called Marriott asking what are our options and was told that they would take back the weeks once all maintenance fees were paid but we would not receive any monies for the weeks! I thought that that was absurd as we would be out over $38,000. I then searched as to how to sell them and found out that there are hundred's of postings regarding selling both Cypress and Custom House weeks and no one buying! We are at wits end as we may have to just let them go as we do not want to go through the aggravation of posting and hoping. What a mess and hard to believe we made such a costly decision year's ago! We used to brag about how the Marriott Timeshare Program was the best thing on earth and now we found out why timeshares have such a poor reputation!

Depending on what season you own, they literally may be worth nothing and you may be coming out good for them to take them at no OOP costs. For the higher season at both there may be some value but not a lot. If you can't afford the costs just the certainty of being out for no costs may be worth it. If it's just that the timeshare options you've used aren't working, you may want to consider enrolling if yo haven't already, which you can likely do for free. Being enrolled you can access a different inventory for the length you need and the room size that's more compatible with you needs. For the 4 weeks you could be at over 10K Destination Club Points for a reasonable per point maintenance fee but if you have Gold at Custom House & Sport at Cypress Harbor, the numbers are not nearly as favorable.

 

[elaine]

Amortize your purchase price over the 25 years you used them and maybe that’ll make you feel better. I bought a non-Marriott Hilton head summer resale week for $8k (when direct was $25k) used it or traded it for 15 years. I thought it was a bargain. Almost Worthless now on the resale market. I look at the $8k as $500/year plus annual fees. I feel I got a decent return on my vacation money in those terms.
The problem is that there is not a vibrant resale market except for Disney and the timeshare market has changed. With the internet it’s easy to rent Marriott weeks or Airbnb. Plus many hotels now have suites like residence inns etc that families can stay in as options. And then there’s 2008 which changed the landscape forever imho.

 

[MOXJO7282]

It's unfortunate that some Marriott units no longer have much resale value but the good news is if you've owned since 1995 then you certainly got you monies worth IMHO. Now you just need to maximize your ownership and if you can't you should make the tough decision just to get rid of them even if you have to give them away.

I made the same choice early on buying a GV gold thinking I could trade to Maui only realizing very quickly that was not easy so I sold my GV back to Marriott in 2001. I also realized Orlando and places like Williamsburg, as nice as the Marriotts there are weren't going to be great traders, renters and wouldn't maintain value so I didn't pursue those locations.

 

[Woj]

Thank you folks for helping me getting a better perspective regarding where we have been in those $38,000 plus dollars as I feel alot better while looking back! Yes we have been to Australia twice, Moscow twice, Egypt twice, Vienna twice, Paris five times, UK seven plus times, Norway once, Ireland three times, Berlin once, New Zealand once, Spain two times, and more than I can remember off hand. Plus most of the time we flew first class and the accomodations were always first class. Thank you all as looking back we more than got our moneys worth! Happy New Year to everyone!

 

[Panina]

Thank you folks for helping me getting a better perspective regarding where we have been in those $38,000 plus dollars as I feel alot better while looking back! Yes we have been to Australia twice, Moscow twice, Egypt twice, Vienna twice, Paris five times, UK seven plus times, Norway once, Ireland three times, Berlin once, New Zealand once, Spain two times, and more than I can remember off hand. Plus most of the time we flew first class and the accomodations were always first class. Thank you all as looking back we more than got our moneys worth! Happy New Year to everyone!

You got your money’s worth and have priceless memories.

 

[bogey21]

Amortize your purchase price over the 25 years you used them and maybe that’ll make you feel better.

Amortizing your purchase price over anticipated usage is the way to go. When I bought my 6 Fixed Week/Fixed Units at 6 different HOA Controlled Independent Resorts for $8,000 I consciously divided by 10 years and said my annual cost would be $133 + the MF per year for each. I never expected to get anything back when I was done with them. And by the way I was right...

George

 

[jme]

Look at this way.
If you spent $38,000 25 years ago for a brand new automobile, it would be worth nothing today too (or even $60,000).
That was your vehicle for getting around town, and you could not have done it without the vehicle.
Your $38,000 spent on timeshare weeks were your "vacation vehicles" and they helped you enjoy priceless family time, and likewise carried you all over the world. And you could not have done it without them. So be happy. You probably got MORE than you paid for, all things considered.

 

[Dean]

Thank you folks for helping me getting a better perspective regarding where we have been in those $38,000 plus dollars as I feel alot better while looking back! Yes we have been to Australia twice, Moscow twice, Egypt twice, Vienna twice, Paris five times, UK seven plus times, Norway once, Ireland three times, Berlin once, New Zealand once, Spain two times, and more than I can remember off hand. Plus most of the time we flew first class and the accomodations were always first class. Thank you all as looking back we more than got our moneys worth! Happy New Year to everyone!

That's a good lesson for those of us in timeshares today and an even better lesson for those that are looking to buy in (or buy retail and able to cancel). The value is in the usage. While it's good to at least consider exit options, no one has a clue what 25 years are going to bring. One should buy an expensive automobile (esp a new one) or a timeshare thinking if it rolled off a cliff, they'd still be OK financially though it'd still sting.

 

[pedro47]

Suggestion only for Cypress Harbour, I would try to rent your high demand weeks. Select a prime time liked the Fourth of July , or Spring Break or any good holiday or summer week. Try to charge enough to recover your MF.
For your Custom House, I would try to rent a week during football, basketball or baseball seasons. Good luck.

 

[Big Matt]

As an aside, I am betting that Pulse will be a failed experiment from a timeshare perspective. I know that they want to add more, but you aren’t getting value relative to hotels. South Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, and New York are prime examples. Mayflower and Custom House give you a little more. CH fees are through the roof per square foot with almost no reason other than the building itself.

I would get rid of all of them except one CH week and enroll in points. At least you get a free II account to leverage getaways and bonus weeks.


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[Woj]

We remain Legacy owners and attended numerous Destination Points sales presentations but never pulled the trigger. Being members for 25 years it worked for us but it looks as though the Legacy owners will eventually be squeezed out. We realize that much has changed in 25 years which makes sense. When we bought our first Cypress Harbour week there was a bonus of one week stay anywhere in the world PLUS airfare for two so we bought two weeks ($13,000 per week). The following year we went to Egypt with me, my wife, son and his best friend. Our maintenance fees at that time were approx $750 per week. Yeah, those were the days!

 

[bazzap]

We remain Legacy owners and attended numerous Destination Points sales presentations but never pulled the trigger. Being members for 25 years it worked for us but it looks as though the Legacy owners will eventually be squeezed out. We realize that much has changed in 25 years which makes sense. When we bought our first Cypress Harbour week there was a bonus of one week stay anywhere in the world PLUS airfare for two so we bought two weeks ($13,000 per week). The following year we went to Egypt with me, my wife, son and his best friend. Our maintenance fees at that time were approx $750 per week. Yeah, those were the days!

Why would original Week(s) owners ever be squeezed out?
They own and are guaranteed Week(s) in their owned season at their home resort(s) and unless they offer them up for Interval exchange or Enrol and Elect for DC Points, MVC and other Owners cannot access this inventory.

 

[Swice]

Look at this way.
If you spent $38,000 25 years ago for a brand new automobile, it would be worth nothing today too (or even $60,000).
That was your vehicle for getting around town, and you could not have done it without the vehicle.
Your $38,000 spent on timeshare weeks were your "vacation vehicles" and they helped you enjoy priceless family time, and likewise carried you all over the world. And you could not have done it without them. So be happy. You probably got MORE than you paid for, all things considered.

I think this was an excellent point. The $35-40,000 vehicles I usually buy last about nine or ten years.

 

[Pamplemousse]

We remain Legacy owners and attended numerous Destination Points sales presentations but never pulled the trigger. Being members for 25 years it worked for us but it looks as though the Legacy owners will eventually be squeezed out. We realize that much has changed in 25 years which makes sense. When we bought our first Cypress Harbour week there was a bonus of one week stay anywhere in the world PLUS airfare for two so we bought two weeks ($13,000 per week). The following year we went to Egypt with me, my wife, son and his best friend. Our maintenance fees at that time were approx $750 per week. Yeah, those were the days!

I don’t see week owners being “squeezed out”- we can still book our ownership week or exchange on II as always.
The advantage we found in enrolling in destination club as empty nesters is we can choose the number of days we stay and the unit size-if we want a long weekend for 2 we can book a studio for 3 nights, if we want a big family vacation we can book a 2 or 3 br for a week. And if we want to just book our regular ownership week or exchange on II we can do that too. We found our fees were lower enrolled in DC so when we were offered enrollment for free there was no downside. You are not giving up your legacy ownership when you enroll.

 

[Woj]

I don’t see week owners being “squeezed out”- we can still book our ownership week or exchange on II as always.
The advantage we found in enrolling in destination club as empty nesters is we can choose the number of days we stay and the unit size-if we want a long weekend for 2 we can book a studio for 3 nights, if we want a big family vacation we can book a 2 or 3 br for a week. And if we want to just book our regular ownership week or exchange on II we can do that too. We found our fees were lower enrolled in DC so when we were offered enrollment for free there was no downside. You are not giving up your legacy ownership when you enroll.

PLEASE Look into all the posts regarding giving up their deeded weeks and now going into the pool of weeks and experiencing the disgust. I don't want to start a war but we will not go into the dp no matter how many sales presentations. You made a decision that works for your family but it does not work for our family. As they say, don't worry about what thet tell you, be worried about what they are not telling you!!!!

 

[Pamplemousse]

PLEASE Look into all the posts regarding giving up their deeded weeks and now going into the pool of weeks and experiencing the disgust. I don't want to start a war but we will not go into the dp no matter how many sales presentations. You made a decision that works for your family but it does not work for our family. As they say, don't worry about what thet tell you, be worried about what they are not telling you!!!!

You don’t give up your deeded week when you enroll in the DP.
I never mentioned giving up a deeded week.
I enrolled in the DP 5 years ago so I know how it works.
I use my week exactly as I have been for the past 10 years.
My fees are lower (II membership and exchange, lock off, not needing eplus) and I have the option to elect points if I want to- but I don’t have to. I have only elected once in 5 years.

Anyway, yes you do what is best for you and good luck.
PS- I found the all caps please to be a little much. I was just sharing my experience- because I’ve done it already.

 

[turkel]

Since you bought directly from Marriott you can sign up for the points program for free. No need to buy anything more from Marriott.

 

[kermadec]

We currently own three Cypress Harbour weeks and one Custom House week. We have been owner's since 1995 and been around the world over three times and really enjoyed the vacationclub. But now the bad news! Times have changed and family needs have changed which is acceptable. Our current maintenance fee's are over $6500 plus other varied costs so we decided to sell our Custom House week and one Cypress weeks. I called Marriott asking what are our options and was told that they would take back the weeks once all maintenance fees were paid but we would not receive any monies for the weeks! I thought that that was absurd as we would be out over $38,000. I then searched as to how to sell them and found out that there are hundred's of postings regarding selling both Cypress and Custom House weeks and no one buying! We are at wits end as we may have to just let them go as we do not want to go through the aggravation of posting and hoping. What a mess and hard to believe we made such a costly decision year's ago! We used to brag about how the Marriott Timeshare Program was the best thing on earth and now we found out why timeshares have such a poor reputation!

I am happy with my resort club son antem but maintenance too expensive now and doesn't cover school term on my gold season anymore so thinking of asking marriotts to buy back program or just give it up. Maintenance fee and renting it through online is almost the same or cheaper without obligations of yearly maintenance fee. Hope you are able to sort out your timeshares

 

[Dean]

PLEASE Look into all the posts regarding giving up their deeded weeks and now going into the pool of weeks and experiencing the disgust. I don't want to start a war but we will not go into the dp no matter how many sales presentations. You made a decision that works for your family but it does not work for our family. As they say, don't worry about what thet tell you, be worried about what they are not telling you!!!!

I think we keep mentioning it because for many it would be the best approach and I think it's possible it is for you also if you'll give it a look. You can enroll for free and you can use your weeks just like always. You loose nothing but the club dues yearly. You'll pick up a free II account free Marriott to Marriott exchanges (including ePlus) and free cancelations/changes plus the ability to rent points if you wanted. The free lockoff doesn't apply in your situation. While your deed may say week 51 or 52, you don't have any specific rights to those weeks but at least they are the highest points value there. I'm assuming your Boston week is Gold is your other Orlando week Special Season as well?

 

[Woj]

We are not disgruntled owners but the four weeks do not work for us anymore. We would never have been able to travel all over the world three times. stay in $500 a night villas, if it were not for Marriott. We never used our home resort as we always traded for points and used them for airfare etc. However over the years the trading power along with the rising maintenance fees does not work for us. We will let one of our Cypress and Custom House go and go back to just having our two weeks at Cypress. After almost 25 years we finally went to Cypress two years ago and what a surprise. We met the new general manager and he REALLY made Cypress a showcase property for Marriott. We usually stay at Marriott Village de France outside of Paris and 5 minutes away from Euro Disney. If you have not been there you are missing out.

 

[KewZee]

If you do decide to give the weeks away, consider giving them to Tuggers instead of back to Marriott.

 

[Dean]

We are not disgruntled owners but the four weeks do not work for us anymore. We would never have been able to travel all over the world three times. stay in $500 a night villas, if it were not for Marriott. We never used our home resort as we always traded for points and used them for airfare etc. However over the years the trading power along with the rising maintenance fees does not work for us. We will let one of our Cypress and Custom House go and go back to just having our two weeks at Cypress. After almost 25 years we finally went to Cypress two years ago and what a surprise. We met the new general manager and he REALLY made Cypress a showcase property for Marriott. We usually stay at Marriott Village de France outside of Paris and 5 minutes away from Euro Disney. If you have not been there you are missing out.

Even if you pare down to 2 weeks you still may want to consider enrolling. We've owned over 20 years and while I can't speak to the French property but I can for Aruba, HI and the US. We had 56 people at Grande Ocean in Hilton Head this past year and should surpass that this year and the year before 15 in HI for 3 weeks, etc.

For others reading now or in the future, enrolling in this situation could give a TON of additional options as well as access to additional inventory. In this exact situation one should end up with around 10-11K points depending on the specific seasons of each. Even using 2 weeks for Orlando one could do another 1 to 2 weeks about anywhere in the Marriott system. For me personally enrollment has been a godsend opening up choices and inventory that I never would have had otherwise on reward points or exchanging. We still exchange but one complements the other tremendously with planning. That gives free changes/cancelation, II account, M to M exchanges, M to M ePlus and free lockoff fee (where applicable). Small potatoes in a way but it really adds up.