Abound waitlist - does it work?

[luv_maui]

I just put in a waitlist for Frenchman’s cove for next February - not president’s week. Today was supposedly the first day I could request the waitlist for my dates when the rep told me last week was calling in too early.

1) what are my chances?
2) in general, does waitlist work

 

[Hindsite]

Good, chance, especially if you request at 12 months, subject to the number of nights you are allowed to book at that point.
I've found they do work in general

 

[griffer1278]

I just put in a waitlist for Frenchman’s cove for next February - not president’s week. Today was supposedly the first day I could request the waitlist for my dates when the rep told me last week was calling in too early.

1) what are my chances?
2) in general, does waitlist work

I was successful getting on the wait list for Frenchman's Cove for June 2025. Put the request in Sept 2024 and it was filled on Oct 2024.

 

[ljmiii]

I just put in a waitlist for Frenchman’s cove for next February - not president’s week. Today was supposedly the first day I could request the waitlist for my dates when the rep told me last week was calling in too early.

1) what are my chances?
2) in general, does waitlist work

1) No way of knowing. I can tell you that February at Frenchman's Cove is highly desired.
2) Yes. But I've only ever tried one night waitlists...and over time was successful OS at St Kitts Xmas week, OV at Waikoloa in February for 5 nights, and for 5 nights in summer in Spain. But all three accumulated a day or two at a time.

 

[Dean]

I just put in a waitlist for Frenchman’s cove for next February - not president’s week. Today was supposedly the first day I could request the waitlist for my dates when the rep told me last week was calling in too early.

1) what are my chances?
2) in general, does waitlist work

I've used the WL several times for Maui in June/July for SEVERAL weeks to go from a Gardenview 2 BR to an OF 2 BR over times. And for MGO for the highest demand week there.

 

[luv_maui]

pleasantly surprised yesterday, but our 5 night waitlist for Marriott Frenchman’s Cove came through, about 1 month after our request. So we’re set with 5 nights at Frenchman’s Cove followed by 5 nights at Ritz Carlton Club St Thomas.

 

[Fasttr]

pleasantly surprised yesterday, but our 5 night waitlist for Marriott Frenchman’s Cove came through, about 1 month after our request. So we’re set with 5 nights at Frenchman’s Cove followed by 5 nights at Ritz Carlton Club St Thomas.

Can I come? ;-) Sounds like a great trip!

 

[CalGalTraveler]

pleasantly surprised yesterday, but our 5 night waitlist for Marriott Frenchman’s Cove came through, about 1 month after our request. So we’re set with 5 nights at Frenchman’s Cove followed by 5 nights at Ritz Carlton Club St Thomas.

Congrats on your WL match. If you had to pick one of these resorts, which one is better?

 

[GregT]

Congrats on your WL match. If you had to pick one of these resorts, which one is better?

Will be curious to see how others answer, but I think they are very different properties and I enjoy staying at both of them.

MFC is more central to the entire island and the property itself is very compact, making everything accessible with easy beach access. The beach itself is neither a strength nor a weakness, it's just warm water to enjoy. The property is hilly so something to be aware of. I think the views of the harbor are beautiful and there is very good snorkeling just to the right of beach.

Ritz has a different vibe and I love the access and amenities that the adjacent hotel provide. The beach over at the hotel side is superior to the beach in front of the timeshare, and the beach in front of the timeshare is not good. I remember lots of seawood, making it inferior to the MFC and the hotel side beaches. The units are more bigger, but I have also felt the additional space is kind of wasted -- similar room amenities to the Marriott timeshares but the obligatory additional space because its a Ritz.

For me, the advantages at the Ritz are the good (expensive) on-site restaurants, access to the hotel amenities, and proximity to Red Hook, because we like to do excursions to other islands. I also love the catamaran that is housed at the Ritz because it is very easy to access.

I welcome the views of others and would return to either property in a heartbeat.

Best,

Greg

 

[ljmiii]

Congrats on your WL match. If you had to pick one of these resorts, which one is better?

Ignoring the additional cost of the RCC I’d choose it every time.

Life at the RCC is just much more pleasant. The onsite pool bar/restaurants are better, the service is extraordinary, and there are always taxis eager to serve the guests of the RCC/RC.

The pools at the RCC are nicer and much less crowded and to us the beach is nicer - fewer people in the water and plenty of nice lounges. The only downside is that you have to navigate around the rocks…but since the protected bay makes the water a bathtub it isn’t really an issue.

Nearby restaurants are basically a push…except that I am told that Frenchman’s Reef closed the footpath between the Cove and the Reef sometime last year.

The villas at the RCC are (unsurprisingly) much better stocked with much nicer furnishings. That said, the one major downside to the RCC that we found (which applies to the Suites and not the Residences) is that the Master Bedroom and the Living Room are separated by frosted glass French Doors. Which means that light and sound from the common areas bleeds into the bedroom.

 

[bucs0721]

Our last trip to MFC (Nov 2023) guests were not allowed to use the Westin (former Mariott) facilities. This makes a huge difference for us. We enjoyed both the upper pool & the lower pool & beach at the former Morning Star resort. Not sure if this has changed since then

 

[luv_maui]

Congrats on your WL match. If you had to pick one of these resorts, which one is better?

We’ve never been to St. Thomas so I appreciate all the comments by everyone on both timeshare resorts.

 

[rickandcindy23]

pleasantly surprised yesterday, but our 5 night waitlist for Marriott Frenchman’s Cove came through, about 1 month after our request. So we’re set with 5 nights at Frenchman’s Cove followed by 5 nights at Ritz Carlton Club St Thomas.

Well YAY! That is very good to know.

 

[ljmiii]

Our last trip to MFC (Nov 2023) guests were not allowed to use the Westin (former Mariott) facilities…

This was still true in early 2024. Also, I’ve read that the Westin closed the footpath from the MVC to the hotels making dining over there something of a pain.

 

[jimf41]

RCC is a really nice resort. It has a nicer bar, a nicer beach, no worries about chair hogs an attendant shows you to your lounge chairs and provides the towels. Those are yours for the day no matter what time you get to the beach. Not sure how they run the pool we didn't go there during our stay. The service is excellent in all areas. Can't comment on the restaurants except for the breakfast buffet. It's the best I've ever had, everything cooked fresh no scooping eggs out of a serving dish. It was included with the room for all guests but I understand it is no longer included. We had 4 adults and 2 children. I gained about 8 lbs in one week. It's also very expensive. We stayed there in 2018, a gin&tonic was $16. I have aa FEB week of rent there now and I didn't really know how to price it so I looked at what weeks were going for on Redweek. Lowest was $7500 highest was $12000. RCC is nice but it's not $12,000 nice or $7500 nice. I still haven't figured out how to price it or if anyone will pay those prices. I wouldn't. I guess if you really need a Viking stove and a sub-zero fridge while on vacation it might be worth it.

As far as MFC I'm a little prejudiced as I own a few weeks there. I'll agree with all the above comments about MFC and not add any save one. If you look at FEB weeks at MFC and RCC on redweek the MFC weeks are about $4000 less. If your staying for the whole month of February that adds up.

 

[Eric B]

I remember lots of seawood, making it inferior to the MFC and the hotel side beaches.

A year or so ago, they installed a floating barrier system to prevent the seaweed (sargasso) from getting onto the beach directly in front of the Ritz-Carlton Club; now it gets diverted to the shore a bit to the north of the resort and is removed. They also added a bunch of sand to the beach; I believe it was sourced from Barbuda. There's also a very good snorkeling spot in the area of bay in front of the Ritz; it's on the northern edge of the bay about halfway out. We saw a bunch of lobsters and lionfish there on our last trip.

Not sure how they run the pool we didn't go there during our stay.

Chairs at the pools are run the same way as the beach. If you own there, they'll reserve your chairs for you the night before. There are several pools, one a quiet pool and one for families.

Ignoring the additional cost of the RCC I’d choose it every time.

Life at the RCC is just much more pleasant. The onsite pool bar/restaurants are better, the service is extraordinary, and there are always taxis eager to serve the guests of the RCC/RC.

The pools at the RCC are nicer and much less crowded and to us the beach is nicer - fewer people in the water and plenty of nice lounges. The only downside is that you have to navigate around the rocks…but since the protected bay makes the water a bathtub it isn’t really an issue.

Nearby restaurants are basically a push…except that I am told that Frenchman’s Reef closed the footpath between the Cove and the Reef sometime last year.

The villas at the RCC are (unsurprisingly) much better stocked with much nicer furnishings. That said, the one major downside to the RCC that we found (which applies to the Suites and not the Residences) is that the Master Bedroom and the Living Room are separated by frosted glass French Doors. Which means that light and sound from the common areas bleeds into the bedroom.

You forgot to mention the freshly baked cookies every day at 3:00 at RCC....