Attending a presentation at Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas...have questions

[JT62]

My husband and I are staying 5 days at the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas on a timeshare presentation. We actually attended a presentation in June 2023 while staying at the Sheraton Waikiki (we are Titanium Elite with Marriott and were staying on points). We declined to buy at that time and were offered this 5 day package.

I'd really like to understand the benefits (if any) of buying from Marriott vs buying resale. I understand that older purchases are a week at a specific resort while all new purchases are just points? I was also told if you buy a week from resale you cannot convert to points? But an older weeks owner can convert to points and then sell?

I want to be prepared so I can more easily shut down the discussion and know when they are not being upfront. We currently own two timeshares at very small resorts (Aquamarine Villas and Capri By the Sea), so we are pretty unfamiliar with these larger points based systems like Marriott or Westin.

Thank you for any input.

 

[davidvel]

My husband and I are staying 5 days at the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas on a timeshare presentation. We actually attended a presentation in June 2023 while staying at the Sheraton Waikiki (we are Titanium Elite with Marriott and were staying on points). We declined to buy at that time and were offered this 5 day package.

I'd really like to understand the benefits (if any) of buying from Marriott vs buying resale. I understand that older purchases are a week at a specific resort while all new purchases are just points? I was also told if you buy a week from resale you cannot convert to points? But an older weeks owner can convert to points and then sell?

I want to be prepared so I can more easily shut down the discussion and know when they are not being upfront. We currently own two timeshares at very small resorts (Aquamarine Villas and Capri By the Sea), so we are pretty unfamiliar with these larger points based systems like Marriott or Westin.

Thank you for any input.

Generally they are not selling weeks (yes some obscure exceptions.) A week bought resale after June 2010 cannot be enrolled for points without an obscene purchase of points.

They are selling Abound points for about $14/pt. You can buy the exact same thing resale for about $7-$8 all in, no restrictions. Here are the points need for various units and views:

The examples assume upfront cost is averaged over 20 years, and there is no increase in MF, and no time value of $$. You can determine the resale/retail weekly cost by using these formulas for any week's point value.

Here is what a 1BR oceanview week (2525 pts) would cost you if you buy resale:
$2,942
Calculation: 1.165 * PTS=cost of reservation
Compare this amount to what you could rent on Redweek, Marriott or other sites.

This is the basis for the calculation:
Acquisition amortized over 20 years for resale purchase + MF cost**
(($7 * pts)/20) + (.815 * pts)=reservation cost
__________________________________

Here is what a 1BR oceanview week would cost you if you buy retail:
$5,593
Calculation: 2.215 * PTS=cost of reservation
Compare this amount to what you could rent on Redweek, Marriott or other sites.

This is the basis for the calculation:
Acquisition amortized over 20 years for resale purchase + MF cost**
(($14 * pts)/20) + (.815 * pts)=reservation cost

**NOTE: MF will actually increase over time and should be considered over 20 year ownership.
Ask your salesperson to tell you what X week would cost when amortized over 20 years and have fun!

 

[Hindsite]

Generally they are not selling weeks (yes some obscure exceptions.)

When did anywhere outside of the US become "obscure"?

 

[Hindsite]

I want to be prepared so I can more easily shut down the discussion and know when they are not being upfront. We currently own two timeshares at very small resorts (Aquamarine Villas and Capri By the Sea), so we are pretty unfamiliar with these larger points based systems like Marriott or Westin.

Thank you for any input.

Don't try and outwit someone who is trained in obfuscation even if you do have that master skill. Assume that they won't offer you the best deal, as you don't know the answer to what that is now, listen and then say no thankyou and leave. Don't be bullied into feeling like you have to commit to anything. If their deal proves to be the best for you, you will be able to get it another day, no matter what they say about it being a 1-time deal of a lifetime

The numbers presented above by davidvel ring true for much of the use of club points so take them as good rule of thumb, that you will be paying double compared to resale.

 

[ljmiii]

I'd really like to understand the benefits (if any) of buying from Marriott vs buying resale....I want to be prepared so I can more easily shut down the discussion...

To answer the second question first, there is no point to being prepared. The best way to engage a MVC salesperson is to banter about pleasantries for as long as possible, shift to smiling and saying nothing when the conversation turns to making a purchaes, and then saying, "No". Probably repeatedly...and perhaps needing to remind them when their time is up. Do not engage them in any other way...pointing out that they are lying is particularly counterproductive.

And then you get to walk out knowing you got a great deal on a 5 night vacation.

The answer to the first question is there is no reason to buy anything directly from MVC except in a very limited set of circumstances that doesn't apply to you (or most people). If at some future date you decide you want to own 5 or so weeks then it makes sense to buy the weeks you want in the villas/resorts you wish to stay (ideally ones with high Abound Point values) and then buy directly from MVC to enroll them all. Ideally at a location like Aruba where the something you have to buy direct is an enrolled week with good value (to use, rent, and/or elect into Abound Points). That's the only reason to buy direct.

 

[Likes to Travel]

I think it might be good to also point out that if you do mention to them that you know how to buy resale for ~$7/point(~$4/points resale + $3/point junk fee to Marriott that gives the points full status as if you bought them directly from Marriott) then they will probably present you with a hybrid deal where you buy points and a week (enrolled). They can get it down to ~$8 to $9/point and will tell you how great a deal it is. That week is not usually a good week and usually has higher fees associated with it... I agree with those above that there are very few reasons to buy directly from Marriott. LT Transfers would be able to help you buy something off of redweek.com and it would definitely be cheaper. Rofr.net is a great resource to see what others have paid and if it passed Marriott's Right of first refusal...good luck!

 

[Pamplemousse]

My husband and I are staying 5 days at the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas on a timeshare presentation. We actually attended a presentation in June 2023 while staying at the Sheraton Waikiki (we are Titanium Elite with Marriott and were staying on points). We declined to buy at that time and were offered this 5 day package.

I'd really like to understand the benefits (if any) of buying from Marriott vs buying resale.

there are none

I understand that older purchases are a week at a specific resort while all new purchases are just points?

Before points system MVC sold weeks at specific resorts, mostly floating within a season, and you could stay your owned week or deposit it into interval international to exchange.

I was also told if you buy a week from resale you cannot convert to points?

correct, stay your ownership or exchange on II.

But an older weeks owner can convert to points and then sell?

Weeks purchased prior to 2010 can be enrolled in Abound and each years owners can stay their ownership, deposit into II to exchange or elect points.
If an enrolled week is sold it doesn’t remain enrolled, you can’t buy an enrolled week resale.
MVC may sell you one in a package deal with points, but then you are paying full price for the points- twice as much as you could get them resale. You can get resale points for about $4 each and with the $3 activation fee they work the same as points purchased directly.

I want to be prepared so I can more easily shut down the discussion and know when they are not being upfront. We currently own two timeshares at very small resorts (Aquamarine Villas and Capri By the Sea), so we are pretty unfamiliar with these larger points based systems like Marriott or Westin.

Thank you for any input.

Don’t argue- it is a waste of breathe. Smile and nod, say no and go enjoy your vacation.

 

[rickandcindy23]

If you want to own on Maui, I recommend buying on Maui, and if you can afford an oceanfront unit, I would buy it, and of course you should ONLY buy resale. advantagevacation.com is Syed Sarmad's website. He has some bargains on resale weeks, but you could also check Redweek.

You haven't really said what you would want to do with points. If you buy anything at Westin South or North, you get Staroptions to use for resorts that are in the system. You can find a point chart for that by doing a quick search.

Marriott Abound points are expensive to buy resale or developer. You could buy some deeded platinum weeks and use them for exchanging into resorts, but exchanging is not really a guarantee you will get anything.

 

[Likes to Travel]

If you want to own on Maui, I recommend buying on Maui, and if you can afford an oceanfront unit, I would buy it, and of course you should ONLY buy resale. advantagevacation.com is Syed Sarmad's website. He has some bargains on resale weeks, but you could also check Redweek.

You haven't really said what you would want to do with points. If you buy anything at Westin South or North, you get Staroptions to use for resorts that are in the system. You can find a point chart for that by doing a quick search.

Marriott Abound points are expensive to buy resale or developer. You could buy some deeded platinum weeks and use them for exchanging into resorts, but exchanging is not really a guarantee you will get anything.

I agree that Syed Sarmad does a great job!

 

[Bill4728]

Please note Marriott currently manages both westin/Sheraton and also Marriott resorts . Until 2010, all Marriott resort were sold as weeks not points.

BUT that isn't true of several Westin resorts. Many Westin resorts were sold as weeks but had points (staroptions) also. These star options could be used at most all westin/Sheraton resorts. A few of these resorts may be able to be bought resale and still have use of the staroptions.
Check out the Westin forum to find out more.

Good Luck

 

[jabberwocky]

Please note Marriott currently manages both westin/Sheraton and also Marriott resorts . Until 2010, all Marriott resort were sold as weeks not points.

BUT that isn't true of several Westin resorts. Many Westin resorts were sold as weeks but had points (staroptions) also. These star options could be used at most all westin/Sheraton resorts. A few of these resorts may be able to be bought resale and still have use of the staroptions.
Check out the Westin forum to find out more.

Good Luck

Agree with this fully. You’ll actually be staying at a Vistana resort (the Westin and Sheratons owned by MVC). Two of the resorts on Maui have pretty much all of the benefits transfer if you purchase a resale (ie you get the StarOptions which are points that can be traded within other Vistana resorts).

Overall you’ll find the Vistana resorts are more cost effective than trying to use the MVC points system - but you do lose a certain level of flexibility which may be important to you.

Take a look at the Vistana and Marriott forums for more details.