Buying resale from Marriott

[hg1980]

Hi, I am new to this world of Timeshare, so truly apologize if the questions I have are stupid. I have been reading on this forum for hours, and are now ready to ask some for me unanswered questions.

I have been to one MVC sales presentation (in Paris) and one Westin (on Maui). So I have some knowledge about the concept in general. Marriott is the best for my family needs (we live in Europe, and want to split our vacations between Europe and US).

So, we are looking to buy four weeks, 2BR. That is our base need per year. But it's important for us to have flexibility of using those weeks at different resorts. I remember from the Paris presentation that the weeks equals to points, which you use to book nights at the resorts (especially other than your home resort). So I am thinking I need to buy enough points to have two weeks in say Marbella and two weeks somewhere in Florida.

Can I buy these points directly from Marriott on the resale market? I have been looking at their site where they resale, but it looks like it's a pure week? I read about enrolling, is that what I need to do? Buy four weeks and then enroll to be able to convert them to points so I can stay at other resorts than my home one?

Is there anywhere where you can see how many points a certain week is worth?

And by points I don't mean the traditional Marriott Rewards points.

Thanks!

 

[StevenTing]

I'm not the best at explaining this but you'll want to check out a couple of things. First, I would set a budget of what you are willing to spend.

When talking resale, you'll want to look at other resale sites that are not Marriott. i.e. TUG, Redweek, etc. Find weeks that you know that you will want to use. These weeks will, for the most part, not able to be enrolled for points. You can also buy some points through the resale market as well. I'm currently doing this myself but for a small number of points. (https://www.redweek.com/timeshare-companies/marriott-vacation-club/points-for-sale)

Or, you could speak with Marriott about a "hybrid" purchase, which they offer on occasion where you purchase a Week from Marriott along with points. The week is enrolled and you average cost per point is like $6-7 each. It's better than the retail rate of $13 per point.

If you want to see what weeks are worth in terms of points, you can click on the link in my signature.

 

[hg1980]

Hi, thanks for helping out. So if I buy a resale week, it cannot be exchanged to points? Even if I buy it from Marriott?

Thanks

 

[JIMinNC]

As far as the two European weeks you may be interested in, there are a number of TUGgers from Europe that can address the most cost effective way to acquire weeks in Marbella or elsewhere in Europe. The Marriott program there is somewhat different than in the U.S. in that Marriott no longer sells weeks in the U.S., instead selling beneficial interests in a timeshare real estate trust. I believe they still sell weeks in Europe. The European TUGgers will know the best sources for resale European weeks and the ways those can be allowed to participate in the points program. In general, Marriott does not allow resale weeks to participate in points, but there may be ways to get the week qualified in some cases.

As far as the two U.S. weeks, if you want points, you generally have two choices - 1.) buy pure resale points (no underlying week is associated with these points, you just own an interest in the Marriott Trust), or 2.) buy the "hybrid" packages that Steven Ting mentioned that involve buying one of the resale weeks sold by Marriott's internal resale department, along with a matching amount of pure points. Generally, even if you buy the resale week from Marriott, they will require you to buy some number of pure points also in order to qualify the week for points participation. Both of these options - resale points or hybrid - will likely result in a total cost per point acquired of somewhere around $7 (US) per point after paying closing costs and activation fees to Marriott. Generally, resale weeks bought from third-party resellers (Redweek, TUG marketplace, independent brokers, etc.) cannot participate in the point system. These weeks can be used at the resort/season you own or traded for other resorts through Interval International, but cannot be converted to points. Those are Marriott's rules that are designed to try to drive people to buy points and weeks from them inserted of the third-party market.

Whatever you do, take your time to read and understand the program. Start with the two informational threads at the top of this Forum:

One on the points-based Marriott Destination Club: http://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/faq-mvc-destinations-points-program.197346/
The other on the legacy weeks-based system: http://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php?threads/faq-marriott-vacation-club-weeks-system.391/

Then ask questions and learn. Don't be in a hurry. The Marriott program can be complex to learn, but once you figure it out, it's not as complex as it first may seem.

For some people, just staying in the weeks-based system will meet their needs. Others of us like and benefit from the points system, but it costs more. Still others find that timeshares don't really work for them and they would rather rent. You'll get all three types of advice on TUG, so you need to read, learn and figure out whether you are a weeks person, a points person, or a never-timeshares person. There are multiple approaches that can serve a variety of vacation styles and a variety of travel needs.

 

[hg1980]

Thanks for tons of info.

So if I go for the hybrid option. Will I get the points I buy AND the points for the week when exchanged? Is this also a scenario where the $2390 fee apply?

 

[JIMinNC]

Thanks for tons of info.

So if I go for the hybrid option. Will I get the points I buy AND the points for the week when exchanged? Is this also a scenario where the $2390 fee apply?

Yes, with a hybrid, you get to "enroll" the week you buy, plus you get a matching amount of Trust points. For example, lets say you buy a 2BR Platinum week at Marriott Grande Vista in Orlando for $8,900 from Marriott Resales. That week is worth 2775 points. So, if you also buy 3000 Trust points (you have to buy the matching amount, but only in 250 point increments, so 2775 rounds up to 3000), Marriott will probably charge you somewhere around $11 a point for those points, or $33,000. So your total cost would be $41,900 plus closing costs, and you will have access to 5775 points. So, you cost per point would be about $7.26 plus closing costs. You do not have to pay an additional $2390, as that enrollment fee is waived with the matching point purchase. That fee only applies to weeks bought prior to June 2010 that have not yet been enrolled.

Note, with the hybrid, you also have the option to use the week at the resort you buy, or you can trade that week through Interval International. Converting to points becomes just one optional way you can use the week.

 

[hg1980]

Awesome! With that and all the great sticky posts I think I have the info I need. Thanks again!


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[bazzap]

If you want to buy European MVC resort weeks, MVC are still selling these directly (at a considerable premium price, but possibly with the option to enrol for points)
By far the cheapest way to buy these though is from one of the reputable resellers here.
We bought direct initially, but our later weeks have all been resale for as little as 10-20% of the direct MVC price.
You pay your money, you take your choice. Just decide what is right for you.

 

[hg1980]

If you want to buy European MVC resort weeks, MVC are still selling these directly (at a considerable premium price, but possibly with the option to enrol for points)
By far the cheapest way to buy these though is from one of the reputable resellers here.
We bought direct initially, but our later weeks have all been resale for as little as 10-20% of the direct MVC price.
You pay your money, you take your choice. Just decide what is right for you.

Thanks, and the resale weeks you bought, where did you buy those? And the hybrid option mentioned above is still the method to enroll the weeks even though they are European?

Thanks

 

[JIMinNC]

Thanks, and the resale weeks you bought, where did you buy those? And the hybrid option mentioned above is still the method to enroll the weeks even though they are European?

Thanks

bazaap will have to address the European specifics and if there is any way to enroll resale European weeks, or if you have to buy from Marriott in Europe to get the points enrollment option. I believe the hybrid approach I described is only an option for U.S. resorts. The MVC Trust is only for U.S. properties, so I'm not sure if there is a way to do one of those with an international week.

 

[bazzap]

bazaap will have to address the European specifics and if there is any way to enroll resale European weeks, or if you have to buy from Marriott in Europe to get the points enrollment option. I believe the hybrid approach I described is only an option for U.S. resorts. The MVC Trust is only for U.S. properties, so I'm not sure if there is a way to do one of those with an international week.

We have enrolled all our MVC direct purchase European weeks in to the DC Points programme.
This became possible later than for US weeks and in fact was also valid for all resale weeks purchased up to June 2012, so we also enrolled our eligible resale weeks then.
Later externally purchased resale weeks here are not eligible (yet anyway).
I believe new MVC direct purchase weeks may be, although I do not have any of those.

 

[Gemini Chica]

I bought a 2 bed gold week in Marbella last year, we love the resort. I bought it on the external market as it was a fraction of the cost. We live in Spain so can drive there. We also holiday in Florida twice per year, usually stay in Marriott Grande Vista. We have young kids so going with them in October and staying in Harbour lake. I have considered buying in Florida and may do but at the moment I can get "getaways" in interval for much less than maintenance fees. If you want more in on any of this just give me a pm anytime!


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