Cancellation window MOC

[pacman]

I am still in the closing process on my Marriott Maui Ocean Club unit. I had the seller reserve an April 28 week for me. I now have exchanged into the Westin property through II with another Starwood property for that same week, as it is a very very good trade for me.
Being new to Marriott, I am not familiar with the cancellation windows. Within what window can I cancel my April booking? Is there a cancellation fee? I will probably try to rebook a November week if it is available.

One more question - for my 2012 week, do I have to use it in 2012, or just make a reservation in 2012 (for 2013)? I may have to rebook a better week and just try to rent it out if I have no other alternatives.

pacman

 

[CashEddie]

I am still in the closing process on my Marriott Maui Ocean Club unit. I had the seller reserve an April 28 week for me. I now have exchanged into the Westin property through II with another Starwood property for that same week, as it is a very very good trade for me.
Being new to Marriott, I am not familiar with the cancellation windows. Within what window can I cancel my April booking? Is there a cancellation fee? I will probably try to rebook a November week if it is available.

One more question - for my 2012 week, do I have to use it in 2012, or just make a reservation in 2012 (for 2013)? I many have to rebook a better week and just try to rent it out if I have no other alternatives.

pacman

As long as you cancel before the 60 day mark, you can rebook another time without penalty.

For your 2012 week, it would either need to be used in 2012 or booked and deposited with II to be used in a future usage year. So if you want to go to MOC in 2013 and cant do it in 2012 but dont want to loose 2012 "usage", you would deposit and trade back into MOC for 2013 with your 2012 week.

 

[pacman]

So if you want to go to MOC in 2013 and cant do it in 2012 but dont want to loose 2012 "usage", you would deposit and trade back into MOC for 2013 with your 2012 week.

I assume that owners do not get any special preference trading back into your home resort, just the normal Marriott preference?

pacman

 

[GregT]

I assume that owners do not get any special preference trading back into your home resort, just the normal Marriott preference?

pacman

There is a home resort preference for MOC -- but it hasn't done me any good trying to trade back in....I've been picky about check-in date, but sheesh....i'm getting a goose egg on trading back in.

Congrats on the close (and the Starwood trade), perhaps your seller can cancel the reservation before February 26th so it's more than 60 days out and re-book you with something/anything later in the year that you can deposit in II?

Good luck and enjoy Maui!

Best,

Greg

 

[CashEddie]

I assume that owners do not get any special preference trading back into your home resort, just the normal Marriott preference?

pacman

Acutally, owners do get a preference higher than just the Marriott preference, all other factors being comparible. For example, if you are giving up a high demand week at MOC and someone else is giving up a high demand week at another Marriott Hawaii property, your request would trump the other person's request because you are an owner at MOC.

 

[CashEddie]

Pacman,

A few minor points I want to share with respect to your current/future reservation for this year. Expanding on what Greg posted about, you can request the seller to cancel and make another reservation for you prior to the 60 days for a later time in the year.

The thing of note here is that your current resevation and any future reservations the seller makes for your is still tied to the seller, with you as a guest on the reservation. Once your tranfer is completed with Marriott, you will need to call them to get the reservation transfered into your name. Some report here that the reservation will auto transfer to you but in my experience, that didn't happen. I just purchased a resale Grand Chateau week and during the closing process, I had the seller make a reservation for me. When I was recognized as the new owner, I called owner services to make sure the reservation was actually tied to my name as the owner and not as a guest. What ended up happening was they had to cancel that reservation number the seller made for me and create a new reservation for me for same time with me as owner. The system wouldn't allow them to transfer that old reservation from the old owner to me.

I bring this up because its important to have this done so that you are treated as an owner of that resort versus a guest on the ressie. This is also important if you are building up elite night status with Marriott via your rewards number. When the seller makes the ressies for you with you as a guest, the sellers rewards number is still tied to the ressie and you wouldn't get credit for the nights stayed.

When you get your transfer completed, you will want to call onwer services to setup you online account and get your Marriott Rewards number associated with your owner account.

 

[BocaBoy]

The thing of note here is that your current reservation and any future reservations the seller makes for you is still tied to the seller, with you as a guest on the reservation. Once your transfer is completed with Marriott, you will need to call them to get the reservation transferred into your name....its important to have this done so that you are treated as an owner of that resort versus a guest on the ressie. This is also important if you are building up elite night status with Marriott via your rewards number. When the seller makes the ressies for you with you as a guest, the sellers rewards number is still tied to the ressie and you wouldn't get credit for the nights stayed.

The part above that I have marked in bold is true only if you do not change it at check-in. If you give them your MR number at check-in you will get the points and elite nights even if the seller's name still remains on the reservation.

 

[pacman]

The part above that I have marked in bold is true only if you do not change it at check-in. If you give them your MR number at check-in you will get the points and elite nights even if the seller's name still remains on the reservation.

Ok, really stupid question from a Marriott newbie. How do Elite Points work?
How do you earn them?
How do you use them?

pacman

 

[CashEddie]

Ok, really stupid question from a Marriott newbie. How do Elite Points work?
How do you earn them?
How do you use them?

pacman

Pacman,

Marriott has a customer loyalty program called Marriott Rewards. There are two sides to the program that complement each other. The points side of the program allows you to earn points for nights stayed in Marriott hotels, purchases you make with Marriott Branded Visa cards, certain activities at hotels and resorts that you charge to your room. These points add up and can be used for free hotel night stays, various travel packages through Marriott, etc. Its like currency.

The other side of the program is the "elite status" which are typically earned when you stay a night in a Marriott hotel or resort. Each elite status level gives you different perks when you stay at Marriott hotels. The first level is "silver" which requires 10 nights stay at a Marriott hotel or resort. Your timeshare stays count toward your elite status, however, you don't earn points for the night only stays. You maybe able to earn points to things that you purchase at the resorts, however.

The status levels go up to gold then platinum, with each level requiring more nights stayed and offer additional perks (e.g. room upgrades, free gifts, free internet where there is a charge for it, etc.) Now people can earn points and I believe complement their elite status buy using the Marriott Visa card. I don't have the Marriott Visa so folks that have it can tell you more of how the elite status and points work with it.

 

[LAX Mom]

Ok, really stupid question from a Marriott newbie. How do Elite Points work?
How do you earn them?
How do you use them?

pacman

You have to sign up with Marriott for their Marriott Rewards program. Then you can accumulate points (from hotel stays, VISA credit card, etc) and spend them on travel packages (Marriott hotels & airline points) or hotel stays.

https://www.marriott.com/rewards/rewards-program.mi

Caution....Marriott points can be very addicting!

 

[wvacations]

I beleive there is a fee to change the reservation if not enrolled in DC. I think the fee is $30, but not exactly sure.

 

[aka Julie]

I beleive there is a fee to change the reservation if not enrolled in DC. I think the fee is $30, but not exactly sure.

The reservation change fee is $35 if you aren't enrolled in the DC. I just did this last month and that is what I was charged.