Every year it is the same thing. We bought our Canyon Villas Platinum week to use over Easter week as this is the week that is available to us for vacation. So, I have to stop what I am doing, take off from work, etc. to get online before 9 AM Eastern. This AM I got into the Vacation Club system, but then it would never bring up the booking engine. I kept getting the hour glass..............waiting......waiting.......waiting. So, tried a second computer - same problem. It wasn't the computer, it was their system. I have not had this happen before. So at 9:07 AM I had to pick up the phone - 5 minutes later, already sold out. Went back to my computers - timed out because they could never get into the system. At 9:40 AM, could finally get in - but knew it was too late.
It is very frustrating when you take the time off and have it blocked on your calendar, and then the system lets you down. Calling is never successful - takes too long. I spoke to supervisor to let him know my frustrations - as you can guess, his story was too many people trying to get online at the same time. So, Marriott is not set up for the volume of traffic on busier days. I can always use Destination Club Points, if available when that opens up. But, my week is worth 2900 points - they want about 4700 for the same week in that program - great deal, I can get about 4 nights for the price of 7 if I go that route.
The other vacation clubs we own are not nearly as bad - it is just the two Marriott properties that are so cut throat to get into. I used to think that as long as you could drop what you were doing and be at the computer before 9 AM - you would get what you want. Now, I discover you can drop what you are doing, take time off, and still not get what you want.
It is very frustrating when you take the time off and have it blocked on your calendar, and then the system lets you down. Calling is never successful - takes too long. I spoke to supervisor to let him know my frustrations - as you can guess, his story was too many people trying to get online at the same time. So, Marriott is not set up for the volume of traffic on busier days. I can always use Destination Club Points, if available when that opens up. But, my week is worth 2900 points - they want about 4700 for the same week in that program - great deal, I can get about 4 nights for the price of 7 if I go that route.
The other vacation clubs we own are not nearly as bad - it is just the two Marriott properties that are so cut throat to get into. I used to think that as long as you could drop what you were doing and be at the computer before 9 AM - you would get what you want. Now, I discover you can drop what you are doing, take time off, and still not get what you want.