Help - Questions Before I Purchase

[spaulino]

Im pretty familiar with timeshare but no expert. But before I purchase (currently looking/in the market) for Marriott Ko'Olina, I want to make sure that I've gotten feedbacks from current owners. We do go to Hawaii frequently, lately every year but no plans this year yet.... I have been reading here about Marriott's ROFR, and I want to make sure I get a good deal before I jump into purchasing. My question is, just in case we can't get to Hawaii and use a week for our year, I know I have options to trade, deposit, etc... and even rent it out. From your experience, is it hard to trade that property into something else, which I guess I'm trading down (?) since Ko'Olina costs more, or if I rent it out, it is fairly easy to find renters if needed in Ko'Olina? IMO, people are always looking for place to stay in Hawaii and Ko'Olina is such a desirable spot so I'm thinking is should not be that hard if I book the summer week the prior year... am I correct?

 

[BocaBoy]

I am an owner of an EOY ocean view week at Ko Olina. I think it is a wonderful property to own if you plan to use it frequently. It does trade well and should be easy to rent, especially if you buy an oceanfront unit. You can also lock off and stay two weeks or trade the studio and stay in the 1BR side (or vice versa). If you trade you will also be able to get an XYZ from II for an extra week (normally off season or shoulder season at non-Hawaii resorts). Someone else can probably point you to a link that describes what an XYZ is and how it works.

My only caveat is that if you do not plan to go to Ko Olina at least every other year the maintenance fees might be a little high for the value of the trades you are getting. But since you go to Hawaii most years, I think it would be a great purchase for you.

 

[dioxide45]

I don't have any specific knowledge of renting Ko'Olina, but it is a big resort and there is probably a lot of rental supply. It may make renting the unit a little harder and perhaps even keep prices down some. I would buy to use and if you can't use, then lock off and trade. Getting two weeks (or more) from one MF.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Im pretty familiar with timeshare but no expert. But before I purchase (currently looking/in the market) for Marriott Ko'Olina, I want to make sure that I've gotten feedbacks from current owners. We do go to Hawaii frequently, lately every year but no plans this year yet.... I have been reading here about Marriott's ROFR, and I want to make sure I get a good deal before I jump into purchasing. My question is, just in case we can't get to Hawaii and use a week for our year, I know I have options to trade, deposit, etc... and even rent it out. From your experience, is it hard to trade that property into something else, which I guess I'm trading down (?) since Ko'Olina costs more, or if I rent it out, it is fairly easy to find renters if needed in Ko'Olina? IMO, people are always looking for place to stay in Hawaii and Ko'Olina is such a desirable spot so I'm thinking is should not be that hard if I book the summer week the prior year... am I correct?

Don't forget to keep in mind the cost of transportation (flights) to get there…

You may want to give some serious consideration to Newport Coast Villas as an alternative.





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[wvacations]

. It does trade well and should be easy to rent, especially if you buy an oceanfront unit.

I am not positive but I believe Ko Olina only offers Ocean View and Mountain View. I don't think they offer Ocean Front. They do offer Penthouse (top floor) in both views.

 

[spaulino]

Don't forget to keep in mind the cost of transportation (flights) to get there…

You may want to give some serious consideration to Newport Coast Villas as an alternative.

.

Thanks TheTimeTraveler - I actually have heard about Newport Coast Villas... do you know if that trades well as well? I've heard (not sure if it's correct) that it also costs a lot to rent that out or cost a lot of points to get into that property. I am not too far from Newport Beach, CA.

 

[Ron98GT]

Im pretty familiar with timeshare but no expert. But before I purchase (currently looking/in the market) for Marriott Ko'Olina, I want to make sure that I've gotten feedbacks from current owners. We do go to Hawaii frequently, lately every year but no plans this year yet.... I have been reading here about Marriott's ROFR, and I want to make sure I get a good deal before I jump into purchasing. My question is, just in case we can't get to Hawaii and use a week for our year, I know I have options to trade, deposit, etc... and even rent it out. From your experience, is it hard to trade that property into something else, which I guess I'm trading down (?) since Ko'Olina costs more, or if I rent it out, it is fairly easy to find renters if needed in Ko'Olina? IMO, people are always looking for place to stay in Hawaii and Ko'Olina is such a desirable spot so I'm thinking is should not be that hard if I book the summer week the prior year... am I correct?

If you purchase a Marriott resale week, you get a deeded unit for a specific week.

You can use that specific unit/week each year, or you can deposit that week into Interval International (II). If you deposit the week into II:

1. You can exchange for another Marriott TS at Ko'Olina or another Marriott else where. How about Phuket, Bangkok, Spain, Paris, Aruba, Kauai, and Maui.
2. You can exchange into other companies TS's like the Westin's on Ka'Anapali, Kauai, and Cancun.
3. If you purchase a 2-BDRM Lock-Off (L/O), you can call Marriott and L/O the unit into a 1-BDRM and a Studio (I do this every year), which would give you 2-weeks that you can exchange thru II, for the price of one Maintenance Fee (MF). You can also retrade/exchange these into larger units, which is something else I do each year.
3. You don't have to use your unit in that use year, if you deposit it into II, which gives you 2 more years to use it.

 

[presley]

I actually have heard about Newport Coast Villas... do you know if that trades well as well? I've heard (not sure if it's correct) that it also costs a lot to rent that out or cost a lot of points to get into that property. I am not too far from Newport Beach, CA.

A platinum week will trade well, BUT, all the units there are dedicated 2 bedrooms. That means, you cannot split up the unit and use it for 2 deposits. With that said, if you only want to exchange for a one week anywhere in the Marriotts, you'll be probably be fine by using a platinum Newport week. You'd deposit it a year ahead and request Hawaii a year ahead of time.

If you can afford to fly to Hawaii every year and want to stay at Ko Olina, you may as well just buy there. You won't have a II membership fee and exchange fee doing it that way. We want to go to Hawaii every year, but we can't pay for flights. So, we'll never buy there.

 

[SueDonJ]

If you purchase a Marriott resale week, you get a deeded unit for a specific week.

You can use that specific unit/week each year, ...

This is only true for the very few fixed Weeks/Units in Marriott's system. Ko 'Olina's calendar shows "Plus" (fixed) Weeks for only the Christmas and New Year's holidays, and a Ko 'Olina owner will be able to verify if any of those are also fixed unit.

All Marriott deeds contain Week and Unit numbers for inventory purposes but most Marriott Weeks are float weeks/units. Single Weeks in season can be booked on a first-come-first-served basis 12 months in advance of the first available check-in day of a desired interval. Again looking at Ko 'Olina's calendar, say you want to book the week of Saturday, July 11-18, 2015. The resort allows Weeks check-ins on Fri/Sat/Sun, so the Reservation Window for your desired interval opens 12 months in advance of that Friday check-in, or 7/10/14.

A couple notes:

- All available inventory for high-demand intervals throughout the system can sometimes be booked within the first few minutes of a Reservation Window opening, so it's important to be online/on the phone at the exact opening time, 9AM eastern.
- Each resort has its own calendar, seasonal designations and allowed check-in days; this link will give you links to all of the resort calendars. Any "Plus" Weeks in any of the calendars are fixed, although not all fixed Weeks are also fixed Units.

If you want to use your float Week to exchange in II, you can either let Marriott choose the Week to be deposited or reserve a high-demand Week yourself and deposit that one. Most Marriott owners who are exchanging reserve based on II's TDI ranking in order to get the highest exchange value. Then,

... or you can deposit that week into Interval International (II). If you deposit the week into II:

1. You can exchange for another Marriott TS at Ko'Olina or another Marriott else where. How about Phuket, Bangkok, Spain, Paris, Aruba, Kauai, and Maui.
2. You can exchange into other companies TS's like the Westin's on Ka'Anapali, Kauai, and Cancun.
3. If you purchase a 2-BDRM Lock-Off (L/O), you can call Marriott and L/O the unit into a 1-BDRM and a Studio (I do this every year), which would give you 2-weeks that you can exchange thru II, for the price of one Maintenance Fee (MF). You can also retrade/exchange these into larger units, which is something else I do each year.
3. You don't have to use your unit in that use year, if you deposit it into II, which gives you 2 more years to use it.

All correct for fixed and float Weeks, the only thing I'd caution is that not all 2BR units in the system are lock-offs. (Note presley's post about NCV, for example.)

 

[spaulino]

If you purchase a Marriott resale week, you get a deeded unit for a specific week.

You can use that specific unit/week each year, or you can deposit that week into Interval International (II). If you deposit the week into II:

1. You can exchange for another Marriott TS at Ko'Olina or another Marriott else where. How about Phuket, Bangkok, Spain, Paris, Aruba, Kauai, and Maui.
2. You can exchange into other companies TS's like the Westin's on Ka'Anapali, Kauai, and Cancun.
3. If you purchase a 2-BDRM Lock-Off (L/O), you can call Marriott and L/O the unit into a 1-BDRM and a Studio (I do this every year), which would give you 2-weeks that you can exchange thru II, for the price of one Maintenance Fee (MF). You can also retrade/exchange these into larger units, which is something else I do each year.
3. You don't have to use your unit in that use year, if you deposit it into II, which gives you 2 more years to use it.

Thanks Ron98GT.... But when you say when I purchase resale you get a deeded unit for a specific week, I don't think it's for a "specific week"... the ones I've seen are Platinum weeks which are weeks 1-50... From what I understand, the only specific weeks sold were week 51 and 52 which are priced higher. So for platinum weeks, I can book whatever week, whatever we want or what's left available for the following year correct?

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks Ron98GT.... But when you say when I purchase resale you get a deeded unit for a specific week, I don't think it's for a "specific week"... the ones I've seen are Platinum weeks which are weeks 1-50... From what I understand, the only specific weeks sold were week 51 and 52 which are priced higher. So for platinum weeks, I can book whatever week, whatever we want or what's left available for the following year correct?

See my post just above yours, looks like we were posting at the same time.

 

[Ron98GT]

Thanks Ron98GT.... But when you say when I purchase resale you get a deeded unit for a specific week, I don't think it's for a "specific week"... the ones I've seen are Platinum weeks which are weeks 1-50... From what I understand, the only specific weeks sold were week 51 and 52 which are priced higher. So for platinum weeks, I can book whatever week, whatever we want or what's left available for the following year correct?

Your are deeded a specific building/unit/week, along with purchasing a designated view category. When I said use the unit/week, I should have elaborated a little more in the original post. By using that unit/week and view that you own with/thru Marriott, you:

1. Do not contact, surrender, give-up, or exchange your week with/thru II in any shape, manner, or form.
2. You telephone the Marriott Vacation Club and tell them that you want to use your week and when. If you have a Platinum week, you have to schedule your desired use week during your resorts/TS's platinum season. If you own a Gold week, you have to schedule your desired use week during your resorts/TS's gold season. Etc. You do not get to use your actual deeded week/season physical unit, because you surrender that actual unit back to Marriott for the right to use a similar unit (same number of BDRM's, same season, & same view). You could be on any floor.

I'm not sure, but I think that they could even assign you into any building, as long as it's in the same season and view that you own. Maybe Sue can answer that one. I own my Marriott only for trading thru II.

I hope this helps. It's not Ko'Olina specific.

 

[SueDonJ]

Your are deeded a specific building/unit/week, along with purchasing a designated view category. When I said use the unit/week, I should have elaborated a little more in the original post. By using that unit/week and view that you own with/thru Marriott, you:

1. Do not contact, surrender, give-up, or exchange your week with/thru II in any shape, manner, or form.
2. You telephone the Marriott Vacation Club and tell them that you want to use your week and when. If you have a Platinum week, you have to schedule your desired use week during your resorts/TS's platinum season. If you own a Gold week, you have to schedule your desired use week during your resorts/TS's gold season. Etc. You do not get to use your actual deeded week/season physical unit, because you surrender that actual unit back to Marriott for the right to use a similar unit (same number of BDRM's, same season, & same view). You could be on any floor.

I'm not sure, but I think that they could even assign you into any building, as long as it's in the same season and view that you own. Maybe Sue can answer that one. I own my Marriott only for trading thru II.

I hope this helps. It's not Ko'Olina specific.

Yes, that's how it works with a float Week - the unit and week numbers in the deed stipulate the unit view/type and season of the ownership. Owners can then book any intervals that correlate to those units/seasons, and placement can be in any units in the resort for which those Unit/Week numbers were declared in the governing docs. Actual unit assignment doesn't take place until a week or two prior to a stay (whenever the on-resort rooms controller reviews the interval) and owners are not told in advance to which unit they'll be assigned. We find out at check-in. Unit requests can be taken in advance when the reservation is made and will be noted but no guarantees are given. Owner Services sends out a generic email about two weeks weeks before a stay and the replies are routed directly to the resorts. It's another way for requests to be noted but again there are no guarantees.

Fixed Weeks are a completely different animal. Some are guaranteed bookings with week, unit number and check-in day. Some are guaranteed bookings with unit number and week but the owner has to call in to request the desired check-in day. Some are guaranteed availability for the fixed week but the owners have to call in to request a desired check-in day and the unit placement isn't known until check-in. … If purchasing any type of fixed/"Plus" week, the buyer should confirm the specifics with Owner Services prior to closing.

 

[BocaBoy]

I am not positive but I believe Ko Olina only offers Ocean View and Mountain View. I don't think they offer Ocean Front. They do offer Penthouse (top floor) in both views.

You are correct. I was a little sloppy with my terms...I was just trying to distinguish between ocean view and mountain view. Thanks for the correction.

 

[spaulino]

If you purchase a Marriott resale week, you get a deeded unit for a specific week.

You can use that specific unit/week each year, or you can deposit that week into Interval International (II). If you deposit the week into II:

1. You can exchange for another Marriott TS at Ko'Olina or another Marriott else where. How about Phuket, Bangkok, Spain, Paris, Aruba, Kauai, and Maui.
2. You can exchange into other companies TS's like the Westin's on Ka'Anapali, Kauai, and Cancun.
3. If you purchase a 2-BDRM Lock-Off (L/O), you can call Marriott and L/O the unit into a 1-BDRM and a Studio (I do this every year), which would give you 2-weeks that you can exchange thru II, for the price of one Maintenance Fee (MF). You can also retrade/exchange these into larger units, which is something else I do each year.
4. You don't have to use your unit in that use year, if you deposit it into II, which gives you 2 more years to use it.

I know this is an old post of mine but my reservation time to book for Ko'Olina is coming up here shortly so I want to make sure I understand how lock off works. I've tried going back in my other posts but didn't find it.

Anyway, my question is for #3 - "you can retrade/exchange these into larger units".... How do I do that with II? I have a 2 BR lock off and I know to inform Marriott if I want to lock off and only book the 1 BR for 2017 use. AND the Studio portion will not be used so it's either I book it with Marriott for Ko'Olina for 2018 use or deposit it to II account for use at a different Marriott location. But I was assuming I would get a Studio type room as well if I decide to use it at a different Marriott property or a different TS like Starwood etc... I didnt know i can get another bigger unit than Studio (like a 1 BR perhaps?).

 

[dioxide45]

I know this is an old post of mine but my reservation time to book for Ko'Olina is coming up here shortly so I want to make sure I understand how lock off works. I've tried going back in my other posts but didn't find it.

Anyway, my question is for #3 - "you can retrade/exchange these into larger units".... How do I do that with II? I have a 2 BR lock off and I know to inform Marriott if I want to lock off and only book the 1 BR for 2017 use. AND the Studio portion will not be used so it's either I book it with Marriott for Ko'Olina for 2018 use or deposit it to II account for use at a different Marriott location. But I was assuming I would get a Studio type room as well if I decide to use it at a different Marriott property or a different TS like Starwood etc... I didnt know i can get another bigger unit than Studio (like a 1 BR perhaps?).

Is your 2BR a home resort reservation? If so, you just call Marriott and ask them to lock off. You may or may not be able to do so. Though if you have a lock off unit booked, you should be fine.

Do you already have the reservation deposited with II or an exchange in to a 2BR already confirmed? If so, you can't lock off now. Your original week is gone.

If you are able to lock off, you can then deposit both sides of the lock off in to II and try for an exchange. People to trade up are successful in doing so by looking online for instant exchange inventory. You can't place a request for a unit larger than the one you are depositing. Though you can get around this by only including resorts with larger units in your ongoing search.

Keep in mind that studio units in II don't have a lot of trade power. Though a Hawaii week will give it somewhat of a boost and if you are patient you can find a larger unit. Though it is much easier if you are willing to travel in off or shoulder season.

 

[VacationForever]

Question on booking timing. If I want to lock off a 2BR unit at 12 month, can I book 2 weeks back to back (consecutive weeks) exactly at 12th month? Or do I need to call twice, both at 12th month, one week apart?

 

[tschwa2]

The 12 month inventory is only open at 12 months. So you would need to book a single unit and then call the following week to book the lock off portion.

For owners of multiple units with seasons that are concurrent, they can book multiple units (which can be broken down into lock off portions for different weeks as long as at least 2 different units are being reserved consecutively or concurrently.

So if you own a single lock off (or only want to book a single lock off),it would require 2 calls a week apart at 12 months each.

If you own and are booking 2 lockoffs (or more), you can call at 13 months prior to the start of the first reservation and book a 1 bedroom for week 46, and a studio for week 47, and the entire 2 br lockoff for week 48 or any combinations as long as you are booking 2 different units for a concurrent or consecutive stay at your home resort or resorts. They do not all have to be at the same resort. A maximum of 50% of all available inventory is opened up before the 12 month regular booking period. At 13 months you could get blocked out of a week 3 weeks down the line because someone with more weeks booked those weeks even further out.

 

[VacationForever]

The 12 month inventory is only open at 12 months. So you would need to book a single unit and then call the following week to book the lock off portion.

For owners of multiple units with seasons that are concurrent, they can book multiple units (which can be broken down into lock off portions for different weeks as long as at least 2 different units are being reserved consecutively or concurrently.

So if you own a single lock off (or only want to book a single lock off),it would require 2 calls a week apart at 12 months each.

If you own and are booking 2 lockoffs (or more), you can call at 13 months prior to the start of the first reservation and book a 1 bedroom for week 46, and a studio for week 47, and the entire 2 br lockoff for week 48 or any combinations as long as you are booking 2 different units for a concurrent or consecutive stay at your home resort or resorts. They do not all have to be at the same resort. A maximum of 50% of all available inventory is opened up before the 12 month regular booking period. At 13 months you could get blocked out of a week 3 weeks down the line because someone with more weeks booked those weeks even further out.

Thank you for the clarification for reservation at 12 month. I am familiar with booking at 13 month but I am thinking of selling my 2 weeks and buying a week at Ko Olina, and hence booking at 12 months. Is reservation of Ko Olina at 12 months difficult for the month of May and early December? I know these are lower demand weeks and they are when we like to travel.

 

[dioxide45]

Thank you for the clarification for reservation at 12 month. I am familiar with booking at 13 month but I am thinking of selling my 2 weeks and buying a week at Ko Olina, and hence booking at 12 months. Is reservation of Ko Olina at 12 months difficult for the month of May and early December? I know these are lower demand weeks and they are when we like to travel.

I wouldn't expect any problems booking May and early December at the 12 month mark. Most people aren't up at the crack of dawn to try to book these weeks. I would expect perhaps some early December weeks are still available at KoOlina for 2016. Though an owner with 2016 usage still unbooked would have to verify, something that is probably rare around TUG.

 

[spaulino]

Is your 2BR a home resort reservation? If so, you just call Marriott and ask them to lock off. You may or may not be able to do so. Though if you have a lock off unit booked, you should be fine.

Do you already have the reservation deposited with II or an exchange in to a 2BR already confirmed? If so, you can't lock off now. Your original week is gone.

If you are able to lock off, you can then deposit both sides of the lock off in to II and try for an exchange. People to trade up are successful in doing so by looking online for instant exchange inventory. You can't place a request for a unit larger than the one you are depositing. Though you can get around this by only including resorts with larger units in your ongoing search.

Keep in mind that studio units in II don't have a lot of trade power. Though a Hawaii week will give it somewhat of a boost and if you are patient you can find a larger unit. Though it is much easier if you are willing to travel in off or shoulder season.

Thanks dioxide45.

I don't have the reservation yet. They release inventory in July for the date that we would like to go in July 2017.

Do I "lock off" my unit at the same time when I call in to make my reservation right? My plan is to lock off and use the "smaller unit" sometime in 2018. I assume if I'm using it at same property, Ko'Oina, that I will just have to do the same reservation process, which is call when inventory is open 12 months out from the day we want to stay in 2018 correct?

And if I DIDN'T lock off and reservations have already been made for the 2br, I also assume that this cannot be changed just in case we change our mind of locking off the unit but keeping the same reservation date, just change mind of locking off unit.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Quadmaniac]

Thanks dioxide45.

I don't have the reservation yet. They release inventory in July for the date that we would like to go in July 2017.

Do I "lock off" my unit at the same time when I call in to make my reservation right? My plan is to lock off and use the "smaller unit" sometime in 2018. I assume if I'm using it at same property, Ko'Oina, that I will just have to do the same reservation process, which is call when inventory is open 12 months out from the day we want to stay in 2018 correct?

And if I DIDN'T lock off and reservations have already been made for the 2br, I also assume that this cannot be changed just in case we change our mind of locking off the unit but keeping the same reservation date, just change mind of locking off unit.

Thanks everyone.

If you are booking usage for your week, you can only book the year of your usage. You can not lock it off to use the 1 br in 2017 and studio in 2018. Both have to be 2017 as 2018 is a separate year. If it is an annual usage you have, you will have the same choice in 2018 for that year. If you an a biannual odd, you have to use both sides in 2017. You can use it at different times if you want during the year.

If you deposit your week into Interval, you can use it to trade back into Ko Olina for up to 2 years from the date of the reservation - say you booked July 1 2016 and deposited it into II, you can trade for anything you see upto July 1, 2018. Personally Ko Olina is too expensive to use as a trader. If you can't use the week, you are better off renting it out and getting a cheap trader to trade into Ko Olina via II

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks dioxide45.

I don't have the reservation yet. They release inventory in July for the date that we would like to go in July 2017.

Do I "lock off" my unit at the same time when I call in to make my reservation right? My plan is to lock off and use the "smaller unit" sometime in 2018. I assume if I'm using it at same property, Ko'Oina, that I will just have to do the same reservation process, which is call when inventory is open 12 months out from the day we want to stay in 2018 correct?

And if I DIDN'T lock off and reservations have already been made for the 2br, I also assume that this cannot be changed just in case we change our mind of locking off the unit but keeping the same reservation date, just change mind of locking off unit.

Thanks everyone.

Lock-off components can be booked through Owner Services only if they're being reserved for their Use Year. If you want to use it/them in an off year then you have to make the exchange through II. It's subject to availability, of course, so you should put in your request as far in advance as possible.

I think if you book it as a 2BR and then want to change it to the lock-off components at a later date, it can be done through a call to Owner Services but will be subject to availability based on how many other owners have requested locking-off and how many units at the resort can be locked-off.

 

[spaulino]

Got it!

Thank you Quadmaniac and Susan...