Exchanging into Marriott Club Points to use in Spain

[Don Springett]

We are long time Westin owners and would like to try one of the Marriott properties in Spain in 2025. My assumption is I have to concert one of my 2025 weeks into club points and then try to book Spain 13 months out (we are 5 star elite or presidential level). Any tips on how hard it is to book for Spain, best times to go, best times for availability, best resorts to stay at? Thanks

 

[LeslieDet]

We are long time Westin owners and would like to try one of the Marriott properties in Spain in 2025. My assumption is I have to concert one of my 2025 weeks into club points and then try to book Spain 13 months out (we are 5 star elite or presidential level). Any tips on how hard it is to book for Spain, best times to go, best times for availability, best resorts to stay at? Thanks

Spain can be difficult to access with Club Points because basically the only Club Point inventory is created when existing owners elect Club Points in lieu of occupancy. MVC may have some inventory it is selling, and that occupancy may end up being available to book with Club Points, but it seems when there is unsold inventory, MVC does a dump into II. A majority of the owners are either European or from the UK, and they tend to use what they own.

There are three different resorts in Spain, Son Antem is on Mallorca, and Marbella and Playa Andaluza are on the mainland and within about 30 minutes of each other. You may have more availability at Son Antem. If you are set on going to MMBR or Playa, then you might want to consider doing an exchange via II, and not electing Club Points. Also, the Platinum season is difficult to book, because owners use their weeks. So, going in a lower season gives you better chances, especially if using Club Points.

Son Antem is inland and surrounds a golf course. As noted, it is on the island of Mallorca. MMBR is to the east of the city of Marbella in the Costa del Sol, and Playa is to the west of the city of Marbella, but those two basically are located such that you can see all of the sights of the region, like Alhambra, Ronda, Gibraltar, Tangier, Malaga, Puerto Banus, and the white towns.

Another thought is renting out what you own with your Westin VOI and then renting a unit in Spain. There are property management firms in the region that specialize in the timeshares. FAB Timeshare Resales and Rentals is one of them, as an example. There are also others.

I happen to own gold season at MMBR and IMO both June and September are fabulous times to visit Spain. June - August will be more crowded due to the summer holidays, as you most likely already suspect. The Spring - April and May, as well as the Fall - September and October, are great times to visit, and you'll have better odds to book whether you are trying to use Club Points or exchange via II.

 

[Hindsite]

Worth looking for the Facebook page for the resort that you want to go to and see if an owner will rent to you for around the maint fees, it might be better value than using a Westin week.
fabtimeshare dot com are an agency that rent out on behalf of some owners, you could contact them to see what rental rates are likely to be.
An II exchange is likely to be better use of your ownership than electing for club points and than booking via Abound. You may be able to do request first, using the special reservation process that II has. That way you don't give up your ownership unless you get an exchange. I know it works for MVC weeks owners but not seen verification on whether or not it works for Sheraton and Westin too.

 

[bobpark56]

We have used Abound points for bookings in Spain without problems. The key for us was booking for stays before the 4th week of March for Playa Andaluza, before the 3rd week of March for the Marbella Beach Club. Prices go up and availabilities drop after mid-March, as that is when Brits and Northern Europeans begin descending on the Costa del Sol.
The note about pricing and availabilities applies to auto rentals and airbnb rentals as well. Prices shoot up if you are anywhere around Holy Week, and that applies for flights too.
If you are willing to rent something other than a timeshare, it's not hard to avoid the crowds. We have enjoyed several weeks in Fuengirola, a total of several months in Gaucin, a few weeks in Jimena de la Frontera, a few weeks in Málaga and Mijas Pueblo, and a week each in Antequera, Puerto Banús, Cádiz, and Sevilla. We found Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona enjoyable as well...again, all before the tourists start arriving in droves.
And perhaps I should add that Interval International often has very reasonably priced getaways for the Marriott resorts from mid-Febraary to mid-march.

 

[SteveinHNL]

I see plenty of availability on Interval for Spain Marriotts MUZ, MEM, MMB, throughout 2024. 2025 is not posted yet, though.

 

[klpenny]

We are Vistana side owners. We felt using Abound points for Marriott would not get us what we wanted. We wanted to go to Spain for a bit warmer weather than the winter through March. We deposited our 1 bedroom Harborside platinum week into II late summer 2023 for either of the Spain Marriott's. We matched in late 2023 for the last week April to first week May 2024 for a 2 bedroom in II at Playa Andaluza. It can be done for a bit warmer weather than winter. It requires early depositing of the week and planning. Also, helps to give a large date range. It can take a year to match. The summer is probably impossible to get in II but it is nice there late April, early May.

 

[alwysonvac]

October through April dates are usually sighted in Interval along with a few May dates here and there (but just not as many as April). See Interval's Travel Demand chart below
You can search the TUG Sighting Forum for Marbella to get an idea.
For Example - link

 

[Don Springett]

Wow, such great feedback. Thank you all much! We regularly Rent our Westin in Scottsdale and Maui units so the ticket looks like booking the Marriott or other units with the cash we get from our Westins. One other question, we liked Scottsdale so much we moved here so are looking for getaways in the summer. Any suggestions on Spain for cooler and perhaps less crowded adventures In the summer?

 

[Hindsite]

Any suggestions on Spain for cooler and perhaps less crowded adventures In the summer?

For cooler and less crowded, you might want to go further north in Europe. Watch out for cities that close down in the summer as that may not suit you, it can vary a lot depending on where you are. It will be pleasant and a bit busy in German/Denmark/Netherlands and Scandanavia and there are plenty of choices for places to go, same for the UK and Ireland.

 

[alwysonvac]

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