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Confessions of a Marriott Timeshare Renter

Salisburyfive

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I am a Marriott Timeshare Renter.

This is the story of someone who has never bought a timeshare property (Marriott or otherwise) ever in my life. I have never paid an annual maintenance fee. I have only once ever attended a timeshare sales presentation, and that was in the early 1990's and we visited the very first phase of the Desert Springs I Complex. We did not buy (we didn't have kids and my wife was aghast at the thought of cooking during a holiday - how we have changed). I didn't even know what II was, or lockoff stood for until very recently.

But despite these shortcomings, I have stayed at a Marriott timeshare property pretty much every year since my daughter was born in 2000 - sometimes 2 or 3 times a year.

For example, I have stayed at Newport Coat Villas in California, almost every Marriott timeshare property in Orlando include Grade Vista, Cypress Harbour and others, one property I can't remember the name in Hilton Head, the property on Palm Beach (Grande Ocean?), Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, and as I write this I am staying at Marriott Manor Club in Williamsburg.

My family and I like the roominess the Marriott properties have to offer, as well as the quality of accommodations and the activities.
I have read many of the posts on TUG which debate the pros and cons of ownership. I don't want to start another thread about that - just to share with you that for me, the economics of ownership never made sense.

I sometimes book my timeshare stays over the Marriott website, like fo example this stay at the Manor Club. This week, I am paying about $2100 to stay for the week here in Williamsburg. By stayng in this way, I get to pick when I want to arrive and when I want to leave. I get maid service each day, as well as Marriott points (20% bonus because I am Gold).

By the way, I like the Manor Club property, though I think it needs a renovation pretty soon. I may come back here if and when they do renovate. But that's my choice as a renter.

I sometimes stay by buying people's weeks (in which case I get no maid service unless I pay extra and no points). That's OK because the cost is usually $1400 or less for the week depending on the property. If I really look hard I can usually find a suitable week for $1000 or less depending on the location.

Anyway, this is how we do it each year - sometimes twice a year or more. I just thought I would share my story.
 

KCI

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Thanks for sharing with us who have paid the system. If I knew then what I know now, I may have not bought as many as I have but I have to honestly say, we have never traded for points, rented any units or just let them slip through the cracks. We use every week, lock off most units that can be locked off and have really never had a horrible experience even though we have traded to lots of properties that are not Marriott. If what you do works for you, then congrats...you've found a way to stay MVCI without the upfront costs or the mf's.
 

Lawlar

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Me Too (From Now On)

I share your opinion. If any of my friends or relatives asked me for my advice, I would tell them to rent and never buy a TS.

This December I am renting, through II, a week at Timber Lodge for $299. That is 1/2 of the MF.

But there is another option that people lose by buying their vacations. I am always receiving ads for special rates at some really nice hotels that compare very nicely with timeshare properties (For that matter, I stayed at MOC and Marriott's Kuai property when they were hotels). Those specials are not available to me if I'm locked into a TS.

Last January I had to pass on a special rate at the Hana Hotel because we were locked into our MOC TS. A few years ago we rented a luxury home in Hana (much nicer than MOC) that was priced at a rate that was less than the price for the hotels we stay at.

Never again will I buy a TS.
 

californiagirl

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I really liked your "confessions".:rofl: Although I love our timeshares, sometimes I wonder what our vacations would be at this point in our lives if we didn't own the TS. I think the bottom line for me is that if we didn't own TS weeks, we would not take as many vacations. I think we would always find a place to spend the money elsewhere. The vacations have become an important time for us to reconnect as a family.

I'm glad you have found a way for timesharing to work for you.
 

luv2vacation

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I think the bottom line for me is that if we didn't own TS weeks, we would not take as many vacations. I think we would always find a place to spend the money elsewhere.

I feel exactly the same way. We vacation at least 4 weeks per year and really look forward to and enjoy each and every one. If not for TS, we would not take all of those vacations. We would spend the money elsewhere.
 
S

Steamboat Bill

I am an avid snow skier and stay at a 2 bedroom ski-in/out location every year in Park City.

I OWN a Westgate Park City timeshare and it cost $25,000 resale and about $975 in annual dues.

I am unable to find any rentals under $3500 for what I need. That is why I bought a ski timeshare.

If I could rent cheap, I would, but ski weeks are hard to find.
 

Cathyb

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We also agree with Californiagirl. We would not have had the opportunity/money to stay in Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Carribean, London, Paris for weeks at a time. Call it forced vacations, but it worked.

More importantly for us, we like to know we are getting a real oceanfront view, not chance on a back of the building peek-a-view when going to Maui.:)

Whatever works for you -- that is the important thing.
 

icydog

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When we bought our first timeshare in 1992, Disney Vacation Club, we had never really been on a true vacation. Now we vacation at least one week per month, we're retired, and enjoy every minute of it. Owning forces you to vacation, otherwise we would be stay at home coach potatoes like our friends. I'm glad the rental thing works for you but renting from Marriott for more than twice the going rate seems silly. I think if you want to continue this plan you should rent from owners. Try www.redweek.com for a lot of timeshare rental listings.
 

pharmgirl

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renting can indeed allow great opportunities, right now on TUG for "last minute" rentals there are 2 BR for rent for $700 for a marriott Aruba labor day and Westin princeville for Aug 30

great bargains
 

IanMcM

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"Salisburyfive" - which sites do you find best to find the weeks that you rent,Ian
 

janna1

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Salisburyfive - What happen if your travel plan changed after you paid your rent?
 

icydog

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Salisburyfive - What happen if your travel plan changed after you paid your rent?

Hi Janna and welcome to Tug. If you want a personal response from a fellow tugger you can send him a Personal Message or PM. Go to the poster's name and click on it. You will see the option to send a PM. Feel free to write whatever you like since a PM is, as advertised, completely private.
 

MOXJO7282

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I am an avid snow skier and stay at a 2 bedroom ski-in/out location every year in Park City.

I OWN a Westgate Park City timeshare and it cost $25,000 resale and about $975 in annual dues.

I am unable to find any rentals under $3500 for what I need. That is why I bought a ski timeshare.

If I could rent cheap, I would, but ski weeks are hard to find.

I think this is the key to buying vs renting. I wanted an oceanview at the Maui Marriott for the highest demand week there is, President's week. Just like a prime resort for a prime ski week, if you want to do Maui on President's week, I still believe ownership is the better option. Otherwise you're paying $3K+ for one week. If you buy a resale at a good price, you will have a return on your investment, instead of just spending money every year.

Now if I was someone who could travel short notice or wanted the off-season, then I would agree the person with that travel profile should be renting as opposed to buying. There is definitely some awesome deals out there. I just saw a Maui Ocean Club OV 2BDRM rent for $1075 on ebay. There was no reserve, so someone got a great deal. This renter had both "value" drivers working for them, they could travel short notice, and like traveling off-season, so they got the deal of the year.

Regards.
Joe

Regards.
 

Beverley

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You raise an interesting point. I applaud you for taking vacations and doing so two or three times each year! We, on the other hand, would not be so diligent to take the great vacations with regularity.

Before timeshares, we took vacations but they were "spur of the moment" type of vacations and I had never been to Europe or the Caribbean. Because we now own more than a few, we can amass points and hotel stays and timeshares and take vacations all over the world for very very little outlay beyond of course the initial outlay for the ownership and MF's. Because it is structured we do it.

I have not been sorry for the purchases and it has brought us wonderful family connect time and vacations with friends. Now that our daughters are older they are enjoying the fruits or our purchases. :clap:

But, my hats off to you. What you are doing seems to work well for you. Happy vacationing. :cheer:

Beverley
 

alwysonvac

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Thanks for sharing your story :hi:
 

Eric F

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Renting your vacations is a great way to pass on your money to the t/s owners, hotel owners, and hotel companies. Marriott has 3000 hotels thanks to the travelling publics' willingness to pay other peoples mortgages, mf, property insurance, and profit on investment. Your non-equity receipts are the thank you notes from owners.
 

pianodinosaur

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The main reason I purchased TSs was to force myself to take vacations. There is no question that renting hotel rooms would be cheaper in the short term. However, I certainly would not have taken the vacations had it not been for time sharing. I did not purchase my TSs as an investment but for personal enjoyment.
 

Salisburyfive

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I must admit I am having trouble getting my head around the concept of spending money on a TS (or otherwise) to force myself to take a vacation.

It reminds me of the time I bought a dental insurance policy to force myself to go to the dentist.

But the point is taken (in my case, I get 4 weeks vacation a year - and I take every last day, TS ownership or not!)
 

m61376

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It isn't only forcing yourself to take the days off from work, but also going away and vacationing. Once the purchase is made you no longer have the annual (or periodic) decision of whether to spend money on a trip or on something for the house, the kids, or whatever; the vacation is largely pre-paid, so you hesitate not to use it.

As long as you have such flexibility with planning that you are getting better deals with renting than by buying your analysis makes sense, and it may always work for you. But you may also find over the next few years as your family dynamics change, most notably getting more tied down to traveling over school holidays/vacation time, that getting cheap rentals becomes increasingly difficult. If so, you can always change your approach.
 

lprstn

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Hey buying a TS definately has its downside, however I know for me if I hadn't bought it I would have never considered taking my 4 kids and DH on a vacation 1 time a month...which is what we do now by owning a TS. If I didn't have all these kids and had more upfront $$ to pay out, than renting would definately be a better solution.
 

jaym

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I am a Marriott Timeshare Renter.

An interesting "non-owner" perspective. I thought I'd throw my 2 cents worth into the thread. Although some of my comments are of secondary consideration in vacation enjoyment, they are part of the buy vs. rent decision.

My family and I like the roominess the Marriott properties have to offer, as well as the quality of accommodations and the activities.
As a renter, you are exempting your heirs (kids) from the perpetuality of ownership in a Marriott timeshare. You can pass this experience on to future generations for continued enjoyment at historical costs. I don't believe TS vacations will become cheaper over time. This week, I am paying about $2100 to stay for the week here in Williamsburg. By stayng in this way, I get to pick when I want to arrive and when I want to leave.

Somewhat related to previous comment in that the ownership of a timeshare allows some hedge against rising resort rack rates. Even though you have upfront and MF costs to cover, the inflation is somehwhat mitigated by "locking in" your interval with a given developer. Also, Marriott is one of the best in the business at expansion. They just need to work a bit harder overall maintenance, upgrades, etc. to sustain growth of established properties. [/FONT]

Anyway, this is how we do it each year - sometimes twice a year or more. I just thought I would share my story.
Many families cannot plan, much less afford, frequent vacations. As mentioned by others, I find the ownership creates the need to plan a trip or at least how to manage the available interval for a given year. I also like the number of MAR resorts available and exchange preference (24 day) for greater possibility for desired trade
Best of luck.....
 
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ironweed

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I feel exactly the same way. We vacation at least 4 weeks per year and really look forward to and enjoy each and every one. If not for TS, we would not take all of those vacations. We would spend the money elsewhere.

My wife & I spend the month of March in our timeshares. When we return home, we are already thinking about where we will be going next year.

Yes, we certainly would not be vacationing as much as we are if we didn't own...
 

nanaboat

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I love having my timeshares. I always tell people it takes about 8 years for your vacations to become free. I do believe you get what you pay for and that's why I always recommend the Marriott. My husband, who is now retired, use to get 6 weeks vacation which sometimes he did not use. Having the timeshares made it harder for him to give up vacation time and the family loves going back to Hilton Head every year and now we are into the grandkids. It is planned and everyone comes back each year at the same time. If I don't use it, which has been twice in 13 years, I rent the units which pay for both weeks maint. fees and I make $1,000.00. I have not lost anything on my timeshares and love every minute!
 
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