How come I never hear about Marriott's Fairway Villas in New Jersey?

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Are all the 2 bedrooms lock-offs? Do you usually get an AC when you deposit into Interval International?

Is maintenance a problem or is the place well maintained? Is the HOA friendly with Marriott management or is there presently a risk of the hotel losing Marriott status?

How far is it from the beach? and Great Adventure? and Philadelphia?

What is the going price for a 2 bedroom lockoff resale?

Is there anything else I should know before I consider buying a 2 bedroom Platinum lock-off at Fairway Villas OR Manor Club Sequel? Which would be the better trader?

Thanks for any help you can provide!


Best wishes,

Dave

 

[Twinkstarr]

I think Icydog owns there, hopefully she'll post some info for you.

 

[pwrshift]

Fairway Villas is non-lockoff and one of the reasons I wouldn't buy personally. If you like golf, it's on a great PGA course (not free) but if you like gambling I much prefer being right in the hotel(s) where the action is -- FV is about 30 minutes away from the tables and not on the beach. When i stayed there it was very well maintained, but I think they've had problems selling it as there was a sell-off some time ago at attractive prices. The hotel (4 years ago) was in need of great investment to bring it up to standard, and a good part of it wasn't even in use, but that may be improved by now. FV has (had) a terrific Red Door spa on premises. I don't know what FV sells for.

If you compare it to Manor Club Sequel MSE I would take that one as it is a lockoff and golf rounds are included in relatively low maintenance ($850 per week). Getting an extra week for $75 in smaller quarters is quite attractive for small families. There also seems to be more to do in Williamsburg with Busch Gardens, Outlet Malls, Water World, Virginia Beach, Jamestowne, Yorktown, etc. Original non-lockoff Manor Club MMC looks more Virginian and carries a lower price tag. MSE resales about $10k and MMC about $8k. I own 2 weeks at MMC and 1 at MSE and they do trade well, but probably not as well as an 'on the beach' location which cost more to buy and in maintenance fees.

If Icydog owns there (where doesn't she own??) her report will be more valuable. A huge advantage of either location is the ability to drive.

Brian

 

[luv2vacation]

Fairway Villas do NOT have lock-offs, so if that is what you're looking for, go with MSE.

 

[andrea t]

I believe Icydog does not own at Fairway Villas, but uses her Manor Club to trade in regularly.

 

[Twinkstarr]

If Icydog owns there (where doesn't she own??) her report will be more valuable. A huge advantage of either location is the ability to drive.

Brian

I just read a post of her's I think this week and how she uses FV.

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

Hi Dave. I do own at MFV. Hopefully I can answer all your questions you've posted.

As stated previously, the units are all 2-bedroom fixed units. I have always received an AC when depositing to II. When I've called to ask what weeks would get an AC, I've been told any Platinum week will do.

Maintenance has not been a problem that I have seen. The management seems to be on top of that. They even started changing the hardwood kitchen areas to carpet because visitors were complaining that they could hear every footstep from the unit above theirs. I believe they carpeted over the hardwood. The newest existing building didn't have hardwood to start with and the new one being built now will not have hardwood. The maintenance staff is very responsive while you are there. I called one night at about 10pm because I heard what sounded like a dripping coming from the unit above me. They showed up within 10 minutes. It ended up being the bulb in the foyer ticks when it warms up. I've not heard of any risk of losing Marriott status. The new building that is going up now leads me to believe they are doing well with Marriott.

When we were there last year, we drove to Brigantine beach. It was very nice and large beach. It was about a 15 minute drive. The casino's were also only about 15 minutes for us. We didn't go to Great Adventure, so I can't answer that. Philadelphia was 45 minutes (MFV to parking garage in the city).

A Platinum MFV just sold on eBay last week for $8100. The seller seemed a little sketchy, but hopefully it was all legit. I've talked to others that have purchased around $8500 and up to $10,000.

If you're into golf and the Faldo Institute is one of your likings for this resort, forget about that. It's no longer there, but there is another golf institute there. I've recently still seen Faldo Institute advertised as a benefit to MFV. As mentioned, there is an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. My wife really enjoys that. It has always been quite busy.

Regarding trading, I don't own Manor Club, so I can't compare. But, I've never had a problem trading to where I wanted to go with my MFV week. It has been a great purchase for us.

One of the things that we've enjoyed at MFV is the adult only pool area. It is behind the spa. They say its a mineral pool. Not exactly sure what that means. It feels just the same as the other pool to me. There is also a hot tub there. It's the pool you see in the MFV images with the tiny waterfall, which is where the pool drops down to another level and the hot tub.

 

[MRSFUSSY]

I love Seaview

in New Jersey. It is a pleasant drive for us. The place is newish, quite and very well kept. We were there several years ago on Thanksgiving and they (management) came around on Thanksgiving morning and gave everyone a turkey pan! If I had school age chikldren though, I'd think about school vacations etc. Northeast weather can be very unpredictable and I don't think that I'd like to be inside a condo for several days with snow and ice outside. Also, ( maybe it has changed, I hope so) but getting in and out of the swimming pool was a pain. Someone had added portable stairs that were placed way too far from the side of the pool, almost impossible to use. Engineering anyone?

 

[John Cerra]

Marriott Seaview-Fairway Villas

In a nutshell, there is only only big issue with Fairway Villas. Decide how you feel about it, vis-a-vis other timeshares.

Most of the other locations in the Marriott have a reason to go there for long consecutive periods of time. Either you are escaping from winter, or going skiing...or it is Hawaii.

For those travelling without kids, who generally prefer to travel Sept to early June, when others with kids are home....there is May, Sept, and Oct. They are generally nice months in NJ, and the golf is great here.

For those with kids, June, July and August are "the" months. FV does a huge traffic from this crowd. This is generally a drive-to vacation, and the parking lot is filled with plates from NJ, NY, PA, DE and even CT and MA.

Once you have purchased the TS, the MF is very reasonable for a "Jersey Shore" rental. OK, so you are 10 miles from the beach...but there are several pools...and the Elizabeth Arden Spa and 2 great golf courses.

We bought this TS several years ago, looking to lock in a reasonable weekly cost, and thinking if airflight ever got too difficult or expensive, this was just a 100 mile drive straight down the Garden State Parkway. Very convenient and easy "long getaway." Given the current cost of flying, this could become a more popular ts.

So what is the problem? November, December, January, February, March and April. It's a nice place with a lot going on, given the hotel is an active place. But what is the reason to come here in those months? If you want to gamble, you will be in Atlantic City, not 10 miles away.

Am I mistaken to think this is most northern, non-skiing, non-big-city timeshare resort Marriott has built? That might be the reason this has been, at least to my impression, a bit of a sluggish seller. But, after a several year break, Marriott is building out a new ts building.

Btw, it is a great place, read the reviews.