Encore package inventory availability

[Swimfam1]

Our family of 5 recently rented a 2 br villa at Marriott Surfwatch for 10 days mid/late August). We loved every minute. We were enticed to attend a presentation with a good sized credit for our stay (and a free pizza). We are not timeshare owners and honestly knew next to nothing about timeshares prior to sitting through the presentation, which we found impressive (we do love Marriott and are Mr reward and Marriott credit card holders). However, we simply aren't making an investment like this on the spot so turned it down...we were then offered an Encore package ($1599 for 7 nights at a hhi resort except grande ocean...March to May 25th and August 15 through nov).

We have no qualms about the value of the Encore package to us...do not mind sitting through another presentation and we wanted to return to Surfwatch anyway...and this is far less than what we rented for...however, since we returned from our vacation and started learning more, I've had some small and larger concerns (for example learned through this board the stay won't count toward my mr points or elite nights)...we can live with the small issues for the price savings though.

I'm much more concerned that we won't get the week we want (August 19-26) at Surfwatch (the only one we can do within the package parameters give we are far away and have school aged kids) even though the salesperson did not think it was going to be an issue. I've learned about inventory issues through these boards and I'm not sure if I should be panicking and cancel as we are within 10 day window. I noticed the contract said inventory released at 10 months which I did not really understand at the time but do now...any thoughts on whether I should be worried we might get shut out on these dates (and lose our money) based on Encore experiences would be appreciated...and thank you for reading this very long email...

 

[Fasttr]

I would contact them, and tell them that the week of Aug 19th is the only week that will work for you, and unless they can confirm a reservation now, with a Marriott.com reservation number attached to it, you are likely going to rescind as you don't want to take your chances in not getting that week.

You are in the drivers seat. They want your encore money and more importantly your return trip for a sales presentation. It seems like they would be motivated to get you the week that you need.

 

[kds4]

Our family of 5 recently rented a 2 br villa at Marriott Surfwatch for 10 days mid/late August). We loved every minute. We were enticed to attend a presentation with a good sized credit for our stay (and a free pizza). We are not timeshare owners and honestly knew next to nothing about timeshares prior to sitting through the presentation, which we found impressive (we do love Marriott and are Mr reward and Marriott credit card holders). However, we simply aren't making an investment like this on the spot so turned it down...we were then offered an Encore package ($1599 for 7 nights at a hhi resort except grande ocean...March to May 25th and August 15 through nov).

We have no qualms about the value of the Encore package to us...do not mind sitting through another presentation and we wanted to return to Surfwatch anyway...and this is far less than what we rented for...however, since we returned from our vacation and started learning more, I've had some small and larger concerns (for example learned through this board the stay won't count toward my mr points or elite nights)...we can live with the small issues for the price savings though.

I'm much more concerned that we won't get the week we want (August 19-26) at Surfwatch (the only one we can do within the package parameters give we are far away and have school aged kids) even though the salesperson did not think it was going to be an issue. I've learned about inventory issues through these boards and I'm not sure if I should be panicking and cancel as we are within 10 day window. I noticed the contract said inventory released at 10 months which I did not really understand at the time but do now...any thoughts on whether I should be worried we might get shut out on these dates (and lose our money) based on Encore experiences would be appreciated...and thank you for reading this very long email...

We also have an Encore package booked through a different MVCI property and we were similarly concerned about travel dates based on our school age kids. While we found it a bit stressful, we were able to get the week we needed by calling the resort's Encore point of contact on the day the inventory for the week we wanted was released. You can also call the resort and find out if there is a waitlist for the week you want. Even if you are unable to book the week you need when inventory is first released, there are additional releases every week up until your preferred check-in date and they will fill those additional releases using the waitlist. You can also continue to call-in yourself each week to try and book the reservation as additional intervals are released (but that is alot more leg work for you).

Bottom line - There are no guarantees, but there are ways to increae the liklihood of success if you are willing to put in the work.

Final note - The resort itself has flexibility to go outside the stated dates on your Encore package. As long as the first or last day of your stay falls within the stated dates on your package you should be fine negotiating alternative dates (if your schedule permits).

If none of this is appealing to you, then I would go with the prior poster and opt out before your window closes. Good luck.

 

[Ricci]

I purchased an encore package at Surf Watch as well. $995 to use for Dec. - Feb. I was able to book a Feb. 28 - March 6 week. I called in early June and they did not have any availability for Barony, Harbour Club, or Monarch at the time. So just as a point of reference, that was 9 months out and Surf Watch was one of only two or three available Marriott properties at the time.

When do your children get spring break? You could check availability now.

 

[Swimfam1]

Thanks, all, for your fast responses. I did call to express my concerns and while they couldn't make the reservation, I did learn that I could actually reserve 11 months out (vs the 10 in the Encore letter) and that they most likely would have something on the beach as it's after the busiest season. No promises, but I feel good enough to keep the package and certainly knowledgable enough to push harder if it doesn't seem to be working out.

 

[m61376]

welcome to Tug!
make sure to start by reading the stickies posted at the top of this forum and feel free to ask questions. Make sure you fully understand the system and the benefits of ownership, not only of points which they're selling, but of resale weeks as well. If you post more about what your needs are you're sure to get more advice than you want ;-)- seriously, many here will happily give you a timeshare education so you can make an informed decision as to what will work best for you and your family, and how to achieve those goals the cheapest way possible.

 

[Swimfam1]

Thank you-these boards are great. Hope to be up to speed on everything before we attend the next presentation. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of paying a lot of money into an ownership system without any guarantee you can vacation where and when you want....

 

[SueDonJ]

Thank you-these boards are great. Hope to be up to speed on everything before we attend the next presentation. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of paying a lot of money into an ownership system without any guarantee you can vacation where and when you want....

You have as much a guarantee of getting specific intervals with Points as you do with floating Weeks in the Marriott system. Availability is of major concern especially when the highest-demand intervals are desired; being able to plan and book as far in advance as possible is extremely important.

 

[GreenTea]

I seem to remember I got nights credit when I traveled on encore packages. And it was so easy getting any week i wanted with the package. Now as an owner....

 

[JIMinNC]

Thank you-these boards are great. Hope to be up to speed on everything before we attend the next presentation. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of paying a lot of money into an ownership system without any guarantee you can vacation where and when you want....

The key word here is "guarantee". No lodging provider can guarantee there will be availability since all accommodations from motels, to hotels, to condo rentals, to timeshares are first-come-first-served and are limited by the inventory of available rooms/units.

With timeshare of any kind, if you can plan well in advance (like a year or so) you can usually get what you want - there's never a guarantee - but the odds are strongly in your favor. If you are flexible in your dates, you can almost always get what you want. But if there are only a few, very high demand weeks that you can travel, and you are always restricted to those weeks, especially if you can't plan well in advance, then timeshare of any kind may not be ideal for you.

 

[BocaBoy]

I seem to remember I got nights credit when I traveled on encore packages.

If you did, it was a mistake.

 

[kds4]

If you did, it was a mistake.

I will be surprised if I don't when I return on my Encore package. It is literally a paid (cash out of my pocket) stay. This is opposed to an owner occupied week that is 'paid' from my maintenance fees. Marriott gives Elite night credit for those stays. Then there are the II exchanges, which I also get Elite night credit for by attaching my MR account number to the reservation. I would argue those are less clearly a paid stay than an Encore package, yet credit is given (and rightfully so).

 

[SueDonJ]

I will be surprised if I don't when I return on my Encore package. It is literally a paid (cash out of my pocket) stay. This is opposed to an owner occupied week that is 'paid' from my maintenance fees. Marriott gives Elite night credit for those stays. Then there are the II exchanges, which I also get Elite night credit for by attaching my MR account number to the reservation. I would argue those are less clearly a paid stay than an Encore package, yet credit is given (and rightfully so).

It doesn't matter how we think it should work. Based on the rules Encore Packages aren't eligible so if we don't get Elite Night credits for them, we don't have a legitimate basis to claim them.

 

[kds4]

It doesn't matter how we think it should work. Based on the rules Encore Packages aren't eligible so if we don't get Elite Night credits for them, we don't have a legitimate basis to claim them.

Is the exclusion from Elite night credit somewhere in the Encore package paperwork and I simply missed it?

 

[lejo2008]

We were offered the Encore Package when at MOW in August 2014. We also were very concerned, as we also were limited to when we could go.

Surprisingly, we reserved and requested a certain week in August 2015 and were quite surprised that our week was approved.

I can only conclude that the Encore Package places you ahead in the Queue.

IT is not 100% Guaranteed, but the chances are pretty good.

If I have the chance again - I would take the Encore Package offer....they really do want to try to sell you again ....

 

[wuv pooh]

Have done a few encore packages and have always gotten the week I wanted. You need to work ASAP with the onsite person to book the week. One time I even booked the following summer while I was still at the resort.

This is a major driver of points sales, people who have already paid cash towards the points are more willing to buy than lose the "investment", so they will do everything they can to get you what you want.