Favorite Caribbean Resorts at Christmas time?

[RookWDW]

I have a week at MGC to trade through Interval that I'm targeting to use somewhere on the beach in the Caribbean for Christmas 2024 (one of the last two weeks of December). I know nothing will show until 13 months out so I have some time. I'm agnostic on where to go as we have only been on cruises in the Caribbean. Right now my list includes: Aruba Surf Club and Ocean Club; Frenchmans Reef; Marriott St Kitts. I'm thinking to do an OGS only for Surf Club and Ocean club to start and add the others if I don't get one of those in the first month, mostly because the others seem easier to get for a future trip and Aruba is slightly easier and cheaper to fly to. Any other resorts I should consider or any other tips to increase the odds? We are pretty open to ideas, we have what will then be an 14 and 18 year old, like to beach, eat, golf, hike, and generally just tour around. We might also consider the Spain properties as my 18 year old is looking to do a Spanish minor in college and I think that would be an interesting trip, but I already read the few threads with tips on Spain.

 

[jwalk03]

I would include all of them from the get-go. All will be a relatively difficult trade. Surf Club, Frenchman's Cove, and St. Kitts week 51 & 52 are fixed week Platinum Plus weeks. Ocean Club is the only one of the bunch that didn't sell them as fixed weeks and they are just part of Platinum season there- but still very high demand.

The Spanish resorts would be a very easy trade for that time of year as it will be cold and off season. That time is quite low demand there. Those resorts would be much more enjoyable in the summer or at least summer shoulder season (Late May, Early Sept)

 

[Pamplemousse]

I have a week at MGC to trade through Interval that I'm targeting to use somewhere on the beach in the Caribbean for Christmas 2024 (one of the last two weeks of December). I know nothing will show until 13 months out so I have some time. I'm agnostic on where to go as we have only been on cruises in the Caribbean. Right now my list includes: Aruba Surf Club and Ocean Club; Frenchmans Reef; Marriott St Kitts. I'm thinking to do an OGS only for Surf Club and Ocean club to start and add the others if I don't get one of those in the first month, mostly because the others seem easier to get for a future trip and Aruba is slightly easier and cheaper to fly to. Any other resorts I should consider or any other tips to increase the odds? We are pretty open to ideas, we have what will then be an 14 and 18 year old, like to beach, eat, golf, hike, and generally just tour around. We might also consider the Spain properties as my 18 year old is looking to do a Spanish minor in college and I think that would be an interesting trip, but I already read the few threads with tips on Spain.

If you are exchanging you don’t need to limit yourself to MVC do you?
We loved St. Maarten- we stayed at oyster bay and while the resort wasn’t MVC fancy we loved the island more than Aruba or St. Thomas.

I agree with jwalk03- I would sit down with the fam and look at options and request everything you would be happy with at once.

We are going to playa andaluza this November so I can give you a rundown on that when we return. We are not going for the beach, we don’t like it hot- average monthlies show highs in the upper 60’s then.

 

[jwalk03]

If you are exchanging you don’t need to limit yourself to MVC do you?
We loved St. Maarten- we stayed at oyster bay and while the resort wasn’t MVC fancy we loved the island more than Aruba or St. Thomas.

I agree with jwalk03- I would sit down with the fam and look at options and request everything you would be happy with at once.

We are going to playa andaluza this November so I can give you a rundown on that when we return. We are not going for the beach, we don’t like it hot- average monthlies show highs in the upper 60’s then.

If you add any non-MVC resorts to the ongoing search you have to pay the full ($219) exchange fee, even if you ultimately match to an MVC resort that would have the reduced Marriott to Marriott exchange fee ($164) or be free for an enrolled week owner.

 

[RookWDW]

I'm okay with non MVC resorts so long as they are equal quality. I'm fine with extra exchange fee. We visited St. Marten on a cruise and really liked it there.

For Spain, I think it would have to be not Christmas time. Either Spring Break, or June. Those are the only times I think my kids could reasonably go and even then Spring break is iffy with my daughter's Irish Dance.

 

[Dean]

I have a week at MGC to trade through Interval that I'm targeting to use somewhere on the beach in the Caribbean for Christmas 2024 (one of the last two weeks of December). I know nothing will show until 13 months out so I have some time. I'm agnostic on where to go as we have only been on cruises in the Caribbean. Right now my list includes: Aruba Surf Club and Ocean Club; Frenchmans Reef; Marriott St Kitts. I'm thinking to do an OGS only for Surf Club and Ocean club to start and add the others if I don't get one of those in the first month, mostly because the others seem easier to get for a future trip and Aruba is slightly easier and cheaper to fly to. Any other resorts I should consider or any other tips to increase the odds? We are pretty open to ideas, we have what will then be an 14 and 18 year old, like to beach, eat, golf, hike, and generally just tour around. We might also consider the Spain properties as my 18 year old is looking to do a Spanish minor in college and I think that would be an interesting trip, but I already read the few threads with tips on Spain.

I agree, I'd add all of them that you're OK with and likely Crystal Shores as well. And I'd accept a 1 BR if that would work for you. Even more than 13 months out, that may be a touch match assuming week 51 or 52. If you can do week 50 or week 1, that would be far easier.

 

[RookWDW]

Unfortunately, we are stuck on dates from Dec 20, 2024 to Jan 5, 2025. After that Christmas I think I vacation timelines will open up more. I don't need to setup a request for this until November, right?

Looking at the list of available properties, I've come up with the following list. What other property should I consider?

Marriott Aruba Surf Club
Marriott Aruba Ocean Club
Marriott Frenchman's Reef
Marriott St. Kitts
Westin St John
Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Martin
Coral Beach Club St. Martin
Dawn Beach Club St. Martin
Windjammer Landing St Lucia (although St Lucia is a long haul)
Marriott Harborside (maybe, we've been to Nassau on cruises)
I'm not sure about Crystal Shores, and I'm contemplating but not sure about Key West Hyatt as well.

 

[jwalk03]

The resort in St. Thomas is Marriott Frenchman's Cove- Frenchman's Reef was the former hotel that was destroyed. Its being rebuilt as a Westin hotel I believe.

Harborside in Nassau is not a Marriott, its just called Harborside Resort at Atlantis.

Not sure if you are interested in Mexico as well? If so you could add the Westin Cancun and the Westin Lagunamar to your list.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Unfortunately, we are stuck on dates from Dec 20, 2024 to Jan 5, 2025. After that Christmas I think I vacation timelines will open up more. I don't need to setup a request for this until November, right?

Looking at the list of available properties, I've come up with the following list. What other property should I consider?

Marriott Aruba Surf Club
Marriott Aruba Ocean Club
Marriott Frenchman's Reef
Marriott St. Kitts
Westin St John
Oyster Bay Beach Resort St. Martin
Coral Beach Club St. Martin
Dawn Beach Club St. Martin
Windjammer Landing St Lucia (although St Lucia is a long haul)
Marriott Harborside (maybe, we've been to Nassau on cruises)
I'm not sure about Crystal Shores, and I'm contemplating but not sure about Key West Hyatt as well.

Oyster bay is not Marriott fancy- by that I mean kitchen isn‘t granite and stainless. We had everything we needed and were comfortable. No elevator in our building (if I recall it was 2 stories). There were several restaurants within walking distance but I’m not sure if they reopened after the hurricane. You mention wanting “marriott quality” so depending on your definition of quality you may not be happy- defiantly research- I wouldn’t want you to take my recommendation and be diappointed. Daw beach club is just across the bay from OBB and it was closed for awhile after the hurricane.

If I was shooting for the stars in the carribean I’d include Turks and caicos.

 

[WBP]

We enjoyed several Christmas and New Year's weeks at Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club and Marriott's Aruba Surf Club. We love the resorts, Marriott quality, Marriott service, and the safe island ("One Happy Island").

The problem, as I see it, is there are a fixed number of flights, arriving and departing each day, at the Aruba airport, and they sell out, almost a year in advance (the "Fixed Week timeshare owners at resorts all over Aruba, book their air, a year in advance). If you can, I'd diversify your request to include whatever resorts are acceptable to you, for Chrsitmas 2023, and ADD Christmas 2024 to your request, now, so that you get high in the cue for next year. I'm afraid this is late, to pull this off (with lodging and air) for Christmas 2023.

We traded into Atlantis at Harborisde, several times, never during a holiday week, and loved it there. It's not quite Marriott quality, but access to the Atlantis Resort is a big plus. You must bring lots of money for food on Paradise Island, or bring lots of food with you. You can tell the timeshare owners at the airport, they travel with coolers as checked baggage.

 

[RookWDW]

Oyster bay is not Marriott fancy- by that I mean kitchen isn‘t granite and stainless. We had everything we needed and were comfortable. No elevator in our building (if I recall it was 2 stories). There were several restaurants within walking distance but I’m not sure if they reopened after the hurricane. You mention wanting “marriott quality” so depending on your definition of quality you may not be happy- defiantly research- I wouldn’t want you to take my recommendation and be diappointed. Daw beach club is just across the bay from OBB and it was closed for awhile after the hurricane.

If I was shooting for the stars in the carribean I’d include Turks and caicos.

Thanks. I usually target the Elite resorts from the bigger timeshare programs, according to Interval, and only the Gold's if a member recommends it and the recommendation is recent. I looked at Oyster Bay and it looks nice. We don't need "lux", we need clean, good shape, pool, some time on on site food and bar, beach, and in a safe area.

 

[RookWDW]

We enjoyed several Christmas and New Year's weeks at Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club and Marriott's Aruba Surf Club. We love the resorts, Marriott quality, Marriott service, and the safe island ("One Happy Island").

The problem, as I see it, is there are a fixed number of flights, arriving and departing each day, at the Aruba airport, and they sell out, almost a year in advance (the "Fixed Week timeshare owners at resorts all over Aruba, book their air, a year in advance). If you can, I'd diversify your request to include whatever resorts are acceptable to you, for Chrsitmas 2023, and ADD Christmas 2024 to your request, now, so that you get high in the cue for next year. I'm afraid this is late, to pull this off (with lodging and air) for Christmas 2023.

We traded into Atlantis at Harborisde, several times, never during a holiday week, and loved it there. It's not quite Marriott quality, but access to the Atlantis Resort is a big plus. You must bring lots of money for food on Paradise Island, or bring lots of food with you. You can tell the timeshare owners at the airport, they travel with coolers as checked baggage.

Thanks. We are only looking for Christmas 2024. We are going to Hawaii for Christmas 2023 (got Kauai booked, still hoping to land a trade for Oahu or Maui). If you are saying flights book up 12 months out, then I'll have to decide if we are doing Aruba (and include more Aruba properties) or just exclude Aruba, if we don't get a trade quickly.

 

[WBP]

Thanks. We are only looking for Christmas 2024. We are going to Hawaii for Christmas 2023 (got Kauai booked, still hoping to land a trade for Oahu or Maui). If you are saying flights book up 12 months out, then I'll have to decide if we are doing Aruba (and include more Aruba properties) or just exclude Aruba, if we don't get a trade quickly.

In my opinion, you might have to adjust your expectations, as I have never known a Christmas or New Year's week exchange into Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club, or ARuba Surf Club to happen quickly. Those weeks are fixed-weeks, and have huge income potential on the rental market. A lot of MVC Aruba fixed-week owners choose, first, to rent their weeks, if they are not going to occupy them, and then, as a last resort, give them to I.I. The good thing about both MVC resorts in Aruba, is that the resorts and the owner base are matured, since their opening, and the allure of Aruba, may predispose owners to want to exchange into other II resorts (in which case, they probably do "Request First," so good luck with that).