Home Resort Reservation Difficulty

[jellen613]

Ok I am just realizing that this whole thing is actually no big deal.

Gold season at Barony includes week 21, which is almost always Memorial Day week. However, next year Memorial Day is late (May 31). So 2027 just happens to be a rare year in which Memorial Day week does not fall in Gold season.

There actually is nothing nefarious going on. Its just a calendar thing.

Actually, due to how late Memorial day is in 2027, it was available as part of the gold season in 2027. I wanted to book the best TDI weeks in Gold that I could book for an interval exchange. I looked at my gold season, and the choices for 2027 with the best Gold TDI were weeks 20-21, checking in May 21, 22, or 23 and May 28, 29, 30.
I was concerned that if I waited to book the May 28, 29, 30, I might not get it because of demand. So I booked check in on May 22nd.

My preference to stay at Barony is typically the 1st 1-2 weeks after Labor day, it is still warm, not crowded, still has a summer feel. However, the TDI is lower at that time for exchanges.

 

[Hindsite]

We were just confused by a white box that should have been grey.

I have the problem of the white box on the reservation calendar for one of my weeks for several years. I cross check the resort calendar and go with that. Any time I've tried to "wait" for the later reservation that it looks like will come, it doesn't, so I've learnt what it really means.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Interestingly enough the actual weeks chart for Marriott's Monarch @ Sea Pines is always a week later than it actually should be and has never been fixed. I bring this up because I believe all the Marriott Hilton Head Resorts may be in the same situation.

A really good example of this is to examine Week 52. Wouldn't you think it would be the last week of the year? Not at Monarch. Week 52 is usually the first week of the year and rarely will it ever have January 1st during that Week 52 time frame.

If you want Christmas Day then you have to reserve Week 50 and not Week 51.

Go figure!

















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[heathpack]

Actually, due to how late Memorial day is in 2027, it was available as part of the gold season in 2027. I wanted to book the best TDI weeks in Gold that I could book for an interval exchange. I looked at my gold season, and the choices for 2027 with the best Gold TDI were weeks 20-21, checking in May 21, 22, or 23 and May 28, 29, 30.
I was concerned that if I waited to book the May 28, 29, 30, I might not get it because of demand. So I booked check in on May 22nd.

My preference to stay at Barony is typically the 1st 1-2 weeks after Labor day, it is still warm, not crowded, still has a summer feel. However, the TDI is lower at that time for exchanges.

I am not sure what you're saying. If you're saying that you looked at the booking calendar and it appeared to you that you'd be able to book a check in date of May 28, 29 or 30, that's what we are talking about. That's a mistake because check in dates of May 28, 29 or 30 are week 22, which are platinum weeks in 2027.

Attached is the weeks calendar for Barony. Scroll to year 2027 and you will see that May 28, 29 and 30 are week 22. Gold owners are not entitled to book week 22.

 

[jellen613]

You own in Gold season which allows you to book as late in the spring as week 21. In 2027, the check in dates for week 21 are May 21, 22, or 23.

You are trying to book week 22, which is a Platinum week. The Marriott employees that told you that are correct.

All of this is on the MVCI website. You can find a PDF there that tells you the check in dates for each season at Barony, for 2027 and for other years.

I agree that on the reservation page, the check in dates for week 22 are white (not greyed out), suggesting you should be able to book them. However the fact that you couldn't book them was correct per your deed and per the weeks calendar for Barony in 2027. So the lapse here is that the booking calendar did not grey out that box, which is an annoyance and they should get things like that right. However, neither you nor I were actually deprived of something we were legally entitled to. We were just confused by a white box that should have been grey.

I am not sure what you're saying. If you're saying that you looked at the booking calendar and it appeared to you that you'd be able to book a check in date of May 28, 29 or 30, that's what we are talking about. That's a mistake because check in dates of May 28, 29 or 30 are week 22, which are platinum weeks in 2027.

Attached is the weeks calendar for Barony. Scroll to year 2027 and you will see that May 28, 29 and 30 are week 22. Gold owners are not entitled to book week 22.

Interesting, I did not know about the PDF. When I went to book, the calendar had those dates in my season, so I thought I could book them. However you are correct, even though the date is in my season, it is not in my season for check in. Thank you for pointing that out.

One other thing that is upsetting about my gold ownership, is a Select level owner, I have to decide what to do with my week by September 30th. So I am never able to choose to take my week for the Gold season that continues after that deadline. Of course, Marriott's solution is that I purchase enough points to get to Executive to extend my booking window. As I paid for a gold week (pre 2010), I shouldn't have to purchase more points to open up the rest of my season. I can exchange for points and book the week (my week is worth 2700 points, and I can book for 2900 points for the gold Oct-Nov dates). Kind of annoying, however I have no interest in purchasing more points, so I deal with it.

 

[DRH90277]

Home Resort Reservation Difficulty topic -

Consider this as it relates to this topic. We own six Platinum Ocean-Side weeks at OceanWatch (Myrtle Beach) which we can use for reunions every year if we can get concurrent weeks. These 6 resales cost us about $70,000 and were bought over recent years. Maintenance fees were $13,400 this year for the 6 weeks. (Incidentally, I have been able to get the concurrent owned week reservations each year sufficient to house our family.) The question, did we make the right decision in buying the weeks? We do get our reservations with what we did.

With Points - Well, trying to do this with points would be impossible - First, you cannot get 6 concurrent weeks with points (I'm lucky to get 1 at 13 months out for points). Second, even if we could get the point reservations, we would need 25,050+ points which would cost about $325,000 (6 x 4,175 pts per week = 25,050 points costing $325,000 (even at a discounted price of $13 per point). We've been dumb buying into the MVC dream but maybe not this dumb. You will fight to get your reservations with this; many higher demand reservations will be nearly impossible to get.

The Rental alternative - I could go on Redweek and rent these six reservations for about $3,500 per week or $21,000, no maintenance fees, no large upfront expenditure, no forever obligation to MVC. I know what we did but I might have chosen this road if I had thought more about it (and, now knowing that we do "age out" of timeshare eventually). Looking back, this option that we missed, may have been the best for us as it offers much more flexibility and there is no exit strategy needed. With this option, the kids could do every other year reunions at an annual cost of about $11,000 - but this would be a tough sell now as the grandkids think we own OceanWatch and will always go every year. You will be able to get your reservations for weeks.

Finally, when we're older (we're already in our late 70's) we could sell the owned resale weeks and get our $70,000 upfront money back. It is not our plan to sell out as our 5 kids and the 19 grandchildren would probably lynch us - Our kids can and are willing to keep this going.

I don't know if this will help any of you but I've lived this timeshare life for years with our OceanWatch and other timeshares (including points) and just wanted to share an alternative.

 

[Hindsite]

It is not our plan to sell out as our 5 kids and the 19 grandchildren would probably lynch us - Our kids can and are willing to keep this going.

Fantastic position to be in, well done, that really makes it all worthwhile

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Home Resort Reservation Difficulty topic -

Consider this as it relates to this topic. We own six Platinum Ocean-Side weeks at OceanWatch (Myrtle Beach) which we can use for reunions every year if we can get concurrent weeks. These 6 resales cost us about $70,000 and were bought over recent years. Maintenance fees were $13,400 this year for the 6 weeks. (Incidentally, I have been able to get the concurrent owned week reservations each year sufficient to house our family.) The question, did we make the right decision in buying the weeks? We do get our reservations with what we did.

With Points - Well, trying to do this with points would be impossible - First, you cannot get 6 concurrent weeks with points (I'm lucky to get 1 at 13 months out for points). Second, even if we could get the point reservations, we would need 25,050+ points which would cost about $325,000 (6 x 4,175 pts per week = 25,050 points costing $325,000 (even at a discounted price of $13 per point). We've been dumb buying into the MVC dream but maybe not this dumb. You will fight to get your reservations with this; many higher demand reservations will be nearly impossible to get.

The annual fees for points for 6 weeks @ 4,175 per week equals a total of 25,050 points (4,175 x 6). At 80 cents per point for maintenance the annual fees would be $20,040.

Since you only paid $13,400 for fees this year you are way ahead with ownership of weeks.

This great example posted by @DRH90277 clearly shows that resale weeks are the best way to go (versus playing in the points playground).



















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[MOXJO7282]

"When can I reserve?" hasn't been working for me lately. Tried in multiple browsers. I'm trying to confirm 12 month for June 6. Marriott told me June 5 but I'm concerned because I can't check myself. I have a feeling it may be june 4th. Can someone confirm for me? Is the tool working for others?

 

[dioxide45]

"When can I reserve?" hasn't been working for me lately. Tried in multiple browsers. I'm trying to confirm 12 month for June 6. Marriott told me June 5 but I'm concerned because I can't check myself. I have a feeling it may be june 4th. Can someone confirm for me? Is the tool working for others?

Points? This is what When Can I Reserve shows for me.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Points? This is what When Can I Reserve shows for me.
View attachment 125947

No weeks. Yeah the points one works but not the weeks version. I assume it’s the same but want to be certain because week before was the Thursday before

 

[dioxide45]

No weeks. Yeah the points one works but not the weeks version. I assume it’s the same but want to be certain because week before was the Thursday before

For weeks, it will depend on the resort. Some with Thursday checkin will have a different call in day than one with checkin only starting on Friday.

 

[MOXJO7282]

For weeks, it will depend on the resort. Some with Thursday checkin will have a different call in day than one with checkin only starting on Friday.

I'm not sure it matters. I believe its just the 365 day window no? So it could be a Thursday if its the 365 day window, not just because it has Thursday check-in? Has anyone gotten the weeks "When can I reserve" tab to work? Again I assume the points version is accurate but would love to confirm 100%

 

[MOXJO7282]

I'm not sure it matters. I believe its just the 365 day window no? So it could be a Thursday if its the 365 day window, not just because it has Thursday check-in? Has anyone gotten the weeks "When can I reserve" tab to work? Again I assume the points version is accurate but would love to confirm 100%

I've reported the problem to Marriott because this is an important tool for owners. The dates are definitely different than the points release. In the meantime I would double check info you get from Marriott over the phone because already I was given misinformation in June 5th and just now someone else confirmed it is in fact June 4th for check-in June 4,5,6 in 2027 for the MGO.

 

[heathpack]

I'm not sure it matters. I believe its just the 365 day window no? So it could be a Thursday if its the 365 day window, not just because it has Thursday check-in? Has anyone gotten the weeks "When can I reserve" tab to work? Again I assume the points version is accurate but would love to confirm 100%

At Barony you can reserve one year ahead starting Thursday of the week in question. So if you want to check in Fri, you reserve 365 + 1 day ahead, Sat is 365 + 2 days ahead, and Sun is 365 + 3 days ahead.

So the “When Can I Reserve?” Tool is important. However it no longer works for me, either.

 

[sponger76]

I'm not sure it matters. I believe its just the 365 day window no? So it could be a Thursday if its the 365 day window, not just because it has Thursday check-in? Has anyone gotten the weeks "When can I reserve" tab to work? Again I assume the points version is accurate but would love to confirm 100%

I believe it has to do with the first check-in date for the week in question, so not necessarily exactly 365 days out. So if you can can check in Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun, for a given week the inventory for Fri/Sat/Sun check-ins are all made available when Thu becomes available. At any rate, if I go through https://ownerservices.marriottvacationclub.com/os-site/release-calendar/resort-list.html and select a resort it seems like the function works to see when weeks can be reserved.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I believe it has to do with the first check-in date for the week in question, so not necessarily exactly 365 days out. So if you can can check in Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun, for a given week the inventory for Fri/Sat/Sun check-ins are all made available when Thu becomes available. At any rate, if I go through https://ownerservices.marriottvacationclub.com/os-site/release-calendar/resort-list.html and select a resort it seems like the function works to see when weeks can be reserved.

Yes it is working. I don't know when it started but wasn't for me at least for a few days. Strange.

 

[dioxide45]

I'm not sure it matters. I believe its just the 365 day window no? So it could be a Thursday if its the 365 day window, not just because it has Thursday check-in? Has anyone gotten the weeks "When can I reserve" tab to work? Again I assume the points version is accurate but would love to confirm 100%

It does matter. It isn't a rolling 365 day window. Marriott releases inventory for Marriott resorts for the entire week at 12 months on one day. So if you are booking Sunday checkin, the call in date is the same as if you were reserving the Friday checkin.

If you are booking a June 5th 2027 checkin. That is a Saturday. But if you are booking a resort that the first checkin date of the weekend as a Friday. Then that is the 4th. Meaning you can reserve on June 4th 2026. However, if the first checkin day of the season calendar is a Thursday, that would be the 3rd of June 2027. Meaning you can call in on June 3rd 2026.

 

[Dean]

At Barony you can reserve one year ahead starting Thursday of the week in question. So if you want to check in Fri, you reserve 365 + 1 day ahead, Sat is 365 + 2 days ahead, and Sun is 365 + 3 days ahead.

So the “When Can I Reserve?” Tool is important. However it no longer works for me, either.

Barony doesn't have a Thursday check in from what I know for weeks though some resorts do.

 

[Dean]

One thing to keep in mind for weeks reservations is that some years the timeshare calendar week varies between different check in days. Plus the Sea Pines resorts are a week off the standard timeshare calendar.

Sorry, didn't see there was a page 2 until I'd posted these messages.

 

[heathpack]

Barony doesn't have a Thursday check in from what I know for weeks though some resorts do.

Barony does not have a Thursday check in but nonetheless weekend check in dates are released the Thursday prior to 365 days ahead of your desired check in date.

See the Inventory Release Calendar:

Inventory Calendar - Weeks

 

[Dean]

Barony does not have a Thursday check in but nonetheless weekend check in dates are released the Thursday prior to 365 days ahead of your desired check in date.

See the Inventory Release Calendar:

Inventory Calendar - Weeks

It's because they calculate from the first check in day which for Friday 2027 reservations for 7/3 as an example is Thursday but it's 365 days out, not plus one. Leap year would add a day. Of course if one started a string of 13 month reservations with a resort that has a Thursday check in, you're getting an extra day head start.

 

[heathpack]

It's because they calculate from the first check in day which for Friday 2027 reservations for 7/3 as an example is Thursday but it's 365 days out, not plus one. Leap year would add a day. Of course if one started a string of 13 month reservations with a resort that has a Thursday check in, you're getting an extra day head start.

If I wanted to check in Sunday May 30, 2027, the inventory release calendar tells me that inventory becomes available Thursday May 28, 2026. That is 365 days + 2 days ahead of check in. As long as I've owned at Barony, it has been like this. If you want to check in on Sunday of a certain week, you book that on Thursday 1 year and several days ahead.

If you think I'm just confused that sometimes that day happens to be a Thursday, you can play with the inventory release calendar and see for yourself. That's why I posted it.

 

[Dean]

If I wanted to check in Sunday May 30, 2027, the inventory release calendar tells me that inventory becomes available Thursday May 28, 2026. That is 365 days + 2 days ahead of check in. As long as I've owned at Barony, it has been like this. If you want to check in on Sunday or a certain week, you book that on Thursday 1 year and several days ahead.

If you think I'm just confused that sometimes that day happens to be a Thursday, you can play with the inventory release calendar and see for yourself. That's why I posted it.

It's 12 or 13 months from the first day of check in for the weekend for weeks. So 365 days from the Friday if check in starts on Friday or 365 from Thursday for some resorts. It'll show the same day to reserve for all check in days.

 

[Dean]

BTW, I have seen the when to reserve tool be wrong once though I don't recall the exact specifics. Thus I use it but I also calculate it independently just to be sure. Fortunately I'm almost always able to start my reservation string with a resort that has Thursday check in.