CLOSED: Thread Dedicated to the Upcoming/Anticipated Integration of Vistana & Marriott Ownerships (Marriott Link + Vistana Discussion)

[daviator]

The same holds true for Gold Plus at Lagunamar. We used our 81K SVV StarOptions to spend 13 nights in a 1BR at Lagunamar in May. Great use of points. Won't ever be able to get the same value using DC points.

We are apparently glutton for punishment. We spent July in Palm Desert and Scottsdale last year. We are doing the same this year. Those points go much further in off season.

If you can deal with the extreme heat, you can get so much for your money in the summer. I get a little bored when it’s that hot, because it’s really too hot to be at the pool. It is usually a dry heat, which helps, but man, is it hot.

 

[CPNY]

If you can deal with the extreme heat, you can get so much for your money in the summer. I get a little bored when it’s that hot, because it’s really too hot to be at the pool. It is usually a dry heat, which helps, but man, is it hot.

The fall is a great time to be in Arizona as well. Every time I’ve gone to Arizona for work it’s always been in late September and it’s been amazing. Warm days by the pool and cool evenings. Fall is my favorite time to travel, it’s just unfortunate that i cannot travel as often as I’d like at that time because I have a side job officiating football.

Are you getting 2 weeks in studios with 81,000 SOs? Also even in studios, wouldn’t that limit you to just a few Vistana resorts in low season? He is right if he is talking about 2 weeks in 1 BRs and studios at some of the MVC resorts. You could even get 3+ weeks at some MVC resorts in studios in low season. Look at Beach Club in Ft Lauderdale or Harbour Lake in Orlando or Desert Springs in CA. You could almost get 4 weeks.

The studio side of a lockoff in Marriott is not as good as the small one bedroom in a vistana unit. Id rather 3 weeks in a small one bedroom in vistana than 4 weeks in a “hotel room with a microwave”.

 

[Ken555]

We are apparently glutton for punishment. We spent July in Palm Desert and Scottsdale last year. We are doing the same this year. Those points go much further in off season.

You're not alone! I'll be in Scottsdale for at least two weeks this summer, and likely some time in Palm Desert as well. I bought a getaway week for $297+tax at SDO and likely will combine it with a week at WKV/WDW as well. It's hard for me to pass up ~$300 weeks.

 

[CPNY]

You're not alone! I'll be in Scottsdale for at least two weeks this summer, and likely some time in Palm Desert as well. I bought a getaway week for $297+tax at SDO and likely will combine it with a week at WKV/WDW as well. It's hard for me to pass up ~$300 weeks.

Look at the bright side, you’ll dry off instantly when you get out of the pool and the room has AC! Sounds like a great time to me. Haha

 

[Ken555]

The studio side of a lockoff in Marriott is not as good as the small one bedroom in a vistana unit. Id rather 3 weeks in a small one bedroom in vistana than 4 weeks in a “hotel room with a microwave”.

This is a big part of why I just smh when I read comments about how Marriott is better...

 

[Ken555]

Look at the bright side, you’ll dry off instantly when you get out of the pool and the room has AC! Sounds like a great time to me. Haha

Many times when I visit Palm Desert in the summer my home is also in the midst of a relative heat wave, so it's not always all that much hotter. Last summer it was ~10F hotter, which is noticeable, but another reason why I don't mind going then...at least I don't have to pay for the a/c at home that week.

 

[dioxide45]

The studio side of a lockoff in Marriott is not as good as the small one bedroom in a vistana unit. Id rather 3 weeks in a small one bedroom in vistana than 4 weeks in a “hotel room with a microwave”.

Even though we own two Marriott lockoff weeks, we rarely ever stay in a studio. We've done it with getaways now and then but for our weeks we always deposit and that studio is always exchanged up to a 1BR or larger. Just exchanged one of our studios today for a 2BR Lakeshore Reserve. We have the benefit of enrolled weeks so we can trade for "free". But one never should have to stay in a studio. Those are there for the people that wait too long to exchange and that is all that is left. Or Marriott rents them on Marriott.com to people that don't know the difference.

 

[TravelTime]

The fall is a great time to be in Arizona as well. Every time I’ve gone to Arizona for work it’s always been in late September and it’s been amazing. Warm days by the pool and cool evenings. Fall is my favorite time to travel, it’s just unfortunate that i cannot travel as often as I’d like at that time because I have a side job officiating football.


The studio side of a lockoff in Marriott is not as good as the small one bedroom in a vistana unit. Id rather 3 weeks in a small one bedroom in vistana than 4 weeks in a “hotel room with a microwave”.

How many SOs for the small 1 BR, where and what season? With 81,000 SOs, could you get the small 1 BR anywhere in any season for 27,000 SOs per week?

 

[Ken555]

So that’s what I’m referring to when I say I can get nearly two weeks out of 81,000 SOs in the Vistana program already. I strongly doubt the Marriott program will be as generous. I guess time will tell, it does have a much more granular awards chart so I’m sure I could do so in the middle of July or something (no thanks.)

FWIW, it's not uncommon for me to redeem 19-26 nights in exchange for 148,100 SOs, and that typically includes ~9-11 nights in Hawaii (in a studio, usually). A few examples:

2010: 24 nights; 7 nights Harborside (Premium 1-bed), 7 nights WDW (Premium 1-bed), and 10 nights WKV (Premium 1-bed)
2011: 19 nights; 9 nights WKORV-N (Premium 1-bed), 10 nights Oct/Dec at WDW/WMH (1-bed)
2016: 21 nights; 15 nights WKORV (studio over two trips) and 6 nights WDW (1-bed)
2017: 22 nights; 13 nights WKORV-N (studio) and 9 nights WDW (1-bed)
2018: 26 nights; 11 nights WKORV-N (studio) and 15 nights WDW (1-bed)
2019: 25 nights; 11 nights Kauai (studios) and 14 nights WDW (1-bed)

Sure, most of the WDW redemption is in the summer...but it still counts and it works for me. I like this flexibility; I could use it all in a week for a 2-bed in Hawaii or spread it out like this...it's my choice. This, combined with the quality and reliability of the resorts, is why I still own it. Hopefully this type of redemption options will continue to exist in the future.

 

[TravelTime]

Just got back from a Marriott presentation. They are giving a little over 8300 DPs for a 2BR at WKOVRN. I was rather shocked at how many points they are awarding for Maui. However, to enroll my week, he said I need to buy 1000 DPs at $15 pp. That did not interest me right now. I am still hoping that once MVC does its hard roll out that they will grandfather in some of us Vistana resale owners and allow us to pay an enrollment fee instead of buying a bunch of expensive points.

BTW, there is a poster in the lobby stating that the integration is happening now. They have laminated cards showing all the MVC and Vistana locations combined.

Westin Princeville is getting a lot fewer points than Maui. I know Vistana people do not want to hear this but Maui is one of the hardest if not the hardest resort to book using DPs. So it makes sense MVC would value it higher. All the other Hawaii resorts are fairly easy to book using DPs. With Maui, you need to be online right when the booking window opens and the inventory is gone within minutes.

 

[CPNY]

How many SOs for the small 1 BR, where and what season? With 81,000 SOs, could you get the small 1 BR anywhere in any season for 27,000 SOs per week?

2 weeks in a Vistana lockoff is better than 4 weeks in a Marriott studio. Personally, if I didn’t care about my accommodations, I’d stay in a motel 6. But since I’m a high maintenance. I need a washer dryer and an electric range to cook a meal.

 

[Ken555]

How many SOs for the small 1 BR, where and what season? With 81,000 SOs, could you get the small 1 BR anywhere in any season for 27,000 SOs per week?

You should take a few minutes and review the SO chart. The short answer is yes... a few examples:

WMH/WDW/SDO/WKV 1-bed: 25,800 SOs; Premium 1-bed: 30,500
SBP/PGA/SSRV/WRMV/SMV as low as 25,800

 

[CPNY]

I know Vistana people do not want to hear this but Maui is one of the hardest if not the hardest resort to book using DPs. So it makes sense MVC would value it higher. All the other Hawaii resorts are fairly easy to book using DPs. With Maui, you need to be online right when the booking window opens and the inventory is gone within minutes.

I guess this doesn’t mean anything to me since after all of these years, I’m finally going to Maui in Feb. I can’t see myself going back all that often simply because of the distance from NY. If I lived in the west coast it would be different. With that being said, I’m going on an interval exchange. Small SVV 1 bedroom into a 2 bedroom at the Westin Nanea.

My interests are in the Caribbean or Florida.

 

[TravelTime]

I guess this doesn’t mean anything to me since after all of these years, I’m finally going to Maui in Feb. I can’t see myself going back all that often simply because of the distance from NY. If I lived in the west coast it would be different. With that being said, I’m going on an interval exchange. Small SVV 1 bedroom into a 2 bedroom at the Westin Nanea.

My interests are in the Caribbean or Florida.

I am not referring to anyone’s personal interests. I know you could care less. I am just sharing what I learned and how MVC is valuing Maui.

 

[Ken555]

I guess this doesn’t mean anything to me since after all of these years, I’m finally going to Maui in Feb. I can’t see myself going back all that often simply because of the distance from NY. If I lived in the west coast it would be different. With that being said, I’m going on an interval exchange. Small SVV 1 bedroom into a 2 bedroom at the Westin Nanea.

My interests are in the Caribbean or Florida.

I've done this a bunch of times to Hawaii. Years ago when I went to "owners updates" I would be told I couldn't exchange into Hawaii and I would just laugh. The sales weasels need to reinforce the notion that the only way to get Hawaii is to buy there or have the best points...and we know that's just not true. Now the smart ones will say that sometimes, if you're lucky, if the moon is in alignment, you might get a studio. They have to sell their product with fear - fear that you can't get their premium locations without spending gobs of money.

In the distant past, I've even obtained multiple Harborside weeks via II.

 

[dioxide45]

Just got back from a Marriott presentation. They are giving a little over 8300 DPs for a 2BR at WKOVRN. I was rather shocked at how many points they are awarding for Maui. However, to enroll my week, he said I need to buy 1000 DPs at $15 pp. That did not interest me right now. I am still hoping that once MVC does its hard roll out that they will grandfather in some of us Vistana resale owners and allow us to pay an enrollment fee instead of buying a bunch of expensive points.

BTW, there is a poster in the lobby stating that the integration is happening now. They have laminated cards showing all the MVC and Vistana locations combined.

Westin Princeville is getting a lot fewer points than Maui. I know Vistana people do not want to hear this but Maui is one of the hardest if not the hardest resort to book using DPs. So it makes sense MVC would value it higher. All the other Hawaii resorts are fairly easy to book using DPs. With Maui, you need to be online right when the booking window opens and the inventory is gone within minutes.

I am still not convinced there is currently the ability to retro an unqualified Vistana week by purchasing DC points.

 

[CPNY]

I am still not convinced there is currently the ability to retro an unqualified Vistana week by purchasing DC points.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Marriott liars talk to the vistana (Marriott) liars and then lie and tell you it’s done but it’s not.

 

[Mroze]

So let me guess this right. You purchased your WOY Westin flex from vistana but you have to buy another point contract in order for that contract to be enrolled? The lies are pathetic.

So wait, their pitch is, the Marriott program is more generous so buy into this not so generous program for an absurd about of money so you can use the more generous program one day? These sales reps need to be fired, Marriott sales is the worst.

This is exactly what we were told by the Marriott people at the last 2 presentations.
100% of our VSN are either Direct-Purchase or Enrolled and we were told that every VSN-Owner would have to purchase something to be eligible to enroll within the DCP-System.

Since we purchased a Hybrid [Week + Points in OCT-2021] we were informed that the Oct purchase was good enough and would meet the requirement to enroll our VSN.
This was repeated last week at our Grand Chateau presentation.

Justification: Marriott purchased [not merged] and thus being able to exchange within DCP was an added benefit for which VSN-Owners would have to pay. When I informed them that I had already paid VSN, they informed me that what I paid VSN was for access to ~20 VSN-Resorts. To Access 90+ resorts was an added benefit which Marriott was unlikely to provide for free.

 

[VacationForever]

I am still not convinced there is currently the ability to retro an unqualified Vistana week by purchasing DC points.

Ditto.

 

[CPNY]

I've done this a bunch of times to Hawaii. Years ago when I went to "owners updates" I would be told I couldn't exchange into Hawaii and I would just laugh. The sales weasels need to reinforce the notion that the only way to get Hawaii is to buy there or have the best points...and we know that's just not true. Now the smart ones will say that sometimes, if you're lucky, if the moon is in alignment, you might get a studio. They have to sell their product with fear - fear that you can't get their premium locations without spending gobs of money.

In the distant past, I've even obtained multiple Harborside weeks via II.

Ifs unreal how they’ve told all of the Marriott weeks owners that there would be nothing in interval for them to book so buy DC points now!!! Look at how that turned out. Now they are saying the VSN will dry up. It may but it may not. I’m not falling for the scare tactics. I will continue to use my ownerships the way I have been until I can no longer.

We can all agree that most owners are clueless on the various ways to use their ownerships. Those people won’t be buying more when they don’t even use what they have. The ones that do buy more because they are “sold” to, I say great! Help out the parent company. It’s still probably a small percentage of owners. The economy is Another thing we all have to consider. If prices continue to rise the way they are across the board, people will be less likely to drop cash. They may even offer great deals. When that happens I know I’ll be ready with fistfuls of cash ready to retro my mandatory resales haha.

 

[CPNY]

This is exactly what we were told by the Marriott people at the last 2 presentations.
This was repeated last week at our Grand Chateau presentation.

Justification: Marriott purchased [not merged] and thus being able to exchange within DCP was an added benefit for which VSN-Owners would have to pay. When I informed them that I had already paid VSN, they informed me that what I paid VSN was for access to ~20 VSN-Resorts. To Access 90+ resorts was an added benefit which Marriott was unlikely to provide for free.

Something tells me that there is a really big group text chat filled with all Marriott sales reps that work at every resort and they just share lies to spin out so it’s consistent.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they got that justification from right here on TUG in the Marriott forum. Go back to 2019 and read the threads up until today, most MVC “people” believe that to be true. They believe that they should have access to vistana properties but vistana owners should only have access to Marriott IF and only if they buy DC points. Talk about privileged.

 

[SDKath]

Joining the 58 page thread now... a little late I am sure . Would someone possibly be willing to take a moment to summarize maybe 3-4 key points that seem consistent and likely to happen with the integration? Is that even possible? LOL. I would so appreciate any reader's digest version of it all. At least from the Westin side since I don't own Marriott.

 

[DanCali]

The studio side of a lockoff in Marriott is not as good as the small one bedroom in a vistana unit. Id rather 3 weeks in a small one bedroom in vistana than 4 weeks in a “hotel room with a microwave”.

It's also a lot worse than the studios at Vistana...

 

[dioxide45]

Joining the 58 page thread now... a little late I am sure . Would someone possibly be willing to take a moment to summarize maybe 3-4 key points that seem consistent and likely to happen with the integration? Is that even possible? LOL. I would so appreciate any reader's digest version of it all. At least from the Westin side since I don't own Marriott.

No way! You have to go through the same pain we all have over these past four year. GET READING!

 

[CPNY]

Joining the 58 page thread now... a little late I am sure . Would someone possibly be willing to take a moment to summarize maybe 3-4 key points that seem consistent and likely to happen with the integration? Is that even possible? LOL. I would so appreciate any reader's digest version of it all. At least from the Westin side since I don't own Marriott.

What we think we know so far
Conversion is an annual election only, it’s not permanent. (Vistana owners really win here)
You can convert to DC points if you purchased directly from Vistana or made a purchase to enroll a resale
You can convert only your whole ownership, if you own a two bedroom you have to convert the whole two bedroom
You’ll pay a new VSN fee called a club fee which will remove other fees like banking, interval internal exchange fees, etc
Depending on how many DC points your VSN ownerships convert to will determine your Marriott vacation club status
Resale units not enrolled cannot convert (unofficially)
If you do nothing you’ll get to use your ownership as you do today which includes star options usage in the VSN.

Sales lies: none of the above is true unless you buy another ownership TODAY!