How does a fixed week work?

[suzannesimon]

I have 2 fixed Holiday weeks at Frenchman's Cove. The week is fixed but the unit location varies. I do have to reserve because there are Fri, Sat, Sun check-ins and I need the same check-in dates for both. One unit is a 3 BR and there aren't many so I reserve them asap. I cannot reserve another platinum week. I would have to go through II for a trade. There are only 3 fixed weeks at FC. I really like fixed because they are stress-free plus if you can join Destination Club, you get a lot of points for them and you can use them on less prime weeks and have even more great vacations. Those prime weeks rent really well at top dollar. They are more expensive but I've owned mine 3 years and I've recouped about 1/3 the cost including MF in rentals and vacation value. I know I could never sell them for anything close to what I paid, but if I can get the cost back in vacations and rentals, I'm happy.

 

[Beefnot]

I have 2 fixed Holiday weeks at Frenchman's Cove. The week is fixed but the unit location varies. I do have to reserve because there are Fri, Sat, Sun check-ins and I need the same check-in dates for both. One unit is a 3 BR and there aren't many so I reserve them asap. I cannot reserve another platinum week. I would have to go through II for a trade. There are only 3 fixed weeks at FC. I really like fixed because they are stress-free plus if you can join Destination Club, you get a lot of points for them and you can use them on less prime weeks and have even more great vacations. Those prime weeks rent really well at top dollar. They are more expensive but I've owned mine 3 years and I've recouped about 1/3 the cost including MF in rentals and vacation value. I know I could never sell them for anything close to what I paid, but if I can get the cost back in vacations and rentals, I'm happy.

How does "vacation value" figure into your 1/3rd calculation?

 

[SDKath]

How does "vacation value" figure into your 1/3rd calculation?

In 3 years she has recouped 1/3 her investment. So that implies that in 9 years she will be even and after that it will be profit plus her vacation time for the rest of her life, her children's lives, etc.

I got what she was saying! I have a few timeshares where I have long recouped my initial investment and 1 rental pays for 3 timeshare MFs, so the rest of the vacations are free for me!

 

[SDKath]

Wait a minute!!!

I was told by Jim Dinda in resales that for prime fixed weeks at Mountainside, like weeks 7, 51 & 52, Marriott would consider offers. So make an offer.

Hmmm, does anyone have a good sales rep contact info so I can call and ask some questions. Feel free to PM me. Also, has anyone had success in doing something creative like trading in an EOY unit for an EY unit? The way Starwood has in the past...

Katherine

 

[Beefnot]

In 3 years she has recouped 1/3 her investment. So that implies that in 9 years she will be even and after that it will be profit plus her vacation time for the rest of her life, her children's lives, etc.

I got what she was saying! I have a few timeshares where I have long recouped my initial investment and 1 rental pays for 3 timeshare MFs, so the rest of the vacations are free for me!

I have reread that several times and cannot figure how "vacation value" can be quantified. MFs and rental income I get, vacation value not so much. I dunno, I suppose I am misreading it.

 

[ronparise]

Im not sure what the poster means by "vacation value" either Unless its a calculation like the timeshare salesmen do....

How much woulds a non timeshare owner pay for similar accommodations?

How much does your timeshare cost? (mf)

The difference would be value added by the timeshare

 

[dioxide45]

The option to trade the Use Period associated with the Exchange Member’s Interest per season for Marriott Rewards points shall be limited to non-successive Use Years; i.e. trades may not be made two (2) years in a row, or in the case of an every-other-year Eligible Member, at least three (3) years must separate Use Years in which trades are made, as specified in the Resort Rules & Regulations

The confusing part is the "every-other-year Eligible Member". No one knows if this applies to being eligible for DC points every other year, or eligible to exchange for MRPs every other year. IMO it is the former.

 

[suzannesimon]

If I rent one, I deduct the rental value I received. If I use them, i pick a conservative rental number for those weeks on Redweek as that is what I would have paid to go if I didn't own it. The big thing I received when I purchased them, and I didn't even realize it at the time I purchased, was Marriott Reward points for the purchase. My first year I converted to reward points because it was too late to plan a trip that year. When I checked my Rewards balance, I had almost a million points - woo hoo! So I deducted what I would have had to pay for the trips I took with those points. I am super happy with my purchase, but I never considered it an investment. It is prepaid vacations forever and I'm going to do everything I can to enjoy all of them.

 

[suzannesimon]

My maintenance fees run just under $3,000 for the 2 of them, but I add that every year to the cost of my timeshares so it is factored in.

 

[thinze3]

Hmmm, does anyone have a good sales rep contact info so I can call and ask some questions. Feel free to PM me. Also, has anyone had success in doing something creative like trading in an EOY unit for an EY unit? The way Starwood has in the past...

Katherine

It is my understanding that there is only one person now in the resales of 'weeks'. I'm sending you his info in a PM.

 

[m61376]

Just to consolidate the info. in case you are confused- Plat. Plus ownership guarantees a reservation during the fixed week, but you still need to call to select your arrival date (and if the day is important to you that means at 9AM 12 months out). Some resorts sold fixed weeks and fixed units, so that the unit and arrival day do not vary and therefore do not need to be reserved beforehand. Unless I am mistaken, the holiday ski weeks fall into the former category.

Sue- I thought most weeks were only eligible for MRP exchange every other year, although some resorts did switch to every year offers later in their offerings. I could be wrong though. 200K points are a lot for the cost of the MF's, but the real cost would be the value of the week- what would it rent for if not used by the owner? I agree that while the points may be great to get, I'd be hard pressed to pay a 20K differential just to be entitled to trade for them.

I would definitely suggest contacting a few resale brokers a well to get a feel what the external market is like for these weeks before making a decision. Glad you enjoyed your trip last week!

 

[SueDonJ]

The option to trade the Use Period associated with the Exchange Member’s Interest per season for Marriott Rewards points shall be limited to non-successive Use Years; i.e. trades may not be made two (2) years in a row, or in the case of an every-other-year Eligible Member, at least three (3) years must separate Use Years in which trades are made, as specified in the Resort Rules & Regulations

The confusing part is the "every-other-year Eligible Member". No one knows if this applies to being eligible for DC points every other year, or eligible to exchange for MRPs every other year. IMO it is the former.

Some of the confusion comes in with EOY Weeks ownership, too. It's been explained so many different ways by so many different reps, but no TUGger has put it to the test yet. This is one of those times that it would be great to have an official Marriott rep participating on TUG - we're not asking for the moon here but s/he could clarify this once and for all without giving away any state secrets.

The way it was explained to me by a Marriott exec - if a direct-purchase Week is eligible for MRP-exchange every year, a same-interval external resale that is enrolled is eligible for MRP-exchange every other year; and, if a direct-purchase Week is eligible for MRP-exchange every other year, the same-interval external resale that is enrolled is eligible for MRP-exchange every fourth year.

Not saying this is the be-all-and-end-all because it's what I heard - I know others have heard differently and until it's tested none of us knows for sure.

 

[thinze3]

They are now offering MR Points every year on their resale weeks. Here is a sampling of what I was sent.

Marriott Reward Points every year

Manor Club Platinum
$7,800 (was selling for $24,700)
110,000 every year with a two bedroom II Cert as an incentive

Beach Place Platinum
$15,600 (was selling for $32,800)
Lock off, 110,000 every year, great exchanger, with a two bedroom II Cert as an incentive

Kauai Beach Club
$14,000 (was $26,300)
2 bedroom lock off, 125,000 points every year, with a two bedroom II Cert as an incentive

Grande Vista
$8,900 (was $27,500)
2 bedroom Platinum Season, Lock off, 110,000 every other year, with a two bedroom II Cert as an incentive

Mountainside Platinum
2 bedroom lock off,
125,000 every year
$24,900 (was $52,900), with a two bedroom II Cert as an incentive

 

[GregT]

Terry, these are not eligible for DClub, correct?

You have to buy another X,XXX Trust Points for the resale week to be enrolled?

Thx very much

 

[m61376]

Some of the confusion comes in with EOY Weeks ownership, too. It's been explained so many different ways by so many different reps, but no TUGger has put it to the test yet. This is one of those times that it would be great to have an official Marriott rep participating on TUG - we're not asking for the moon here but s/he could clarify this once and for all without giving away any state secrets.

The way it was explained to me by a Marriott exec - if a direct-purchase Week is eligible for MRP-exchange every year, a same-interval external resale that is enrolled is eligible for MRP-exchange every other year; and, if a direct-purchase Week is eligible for MRP-exchange every other year, the same-interval external resale that is enrolled is eligible for MRP-exchange every fourth year.

Not saying this is the be-all-and-end-all because it's what I heard - I know others have heard differently and until it's tested none of us knows for sure.

I'm not even sure that the rep would know. I was told by the former head of customer advocacy that resale weeks where the interval was eligible for every other year point exchanges would be eligible for the same every other year exchanges if enrolled in the DC. I had been very specific about my inquiry, so there was no misunderstanding. I am not saying that his answer was gospel, just reporting what I was told.

I think the direct resale week offers that Terry posted are now being offered for the every year point exchange because Marriott has to do something to justify the price differential, since now even their resale weeks aren't treated the same as developer weeks. It is a real shift in their former sales strategies. I also think it is a good money-maker for them, since owners are paying ever increasing MF's yet exchanging for a stable number of points, so the more weeks exchanged for points that Marriott can choose either to rent for $$'s or place in the DC exchange pool, the better for Marriott.

And you're right, Greg- these weeks cannot be enrolled in the DC even if the purchaser is already an enrolled owner. Puck has reported that a purchase of 2500 points will entitle a Marriott direct resale week to enroll in the DC (kinda equivalent to Starwood's requalification program).

 

[SueDonJ]

I'm not even sure that the rep would know. I was told by the former head of customer advocacy that resale weeks where the interval was eligible for every other year point exchanges would be eligible for the same every other year exchanges if enrolled in the DC. I had been very specific about my inquiry, so there was no misunderstanding. I am not saying that his answer was gospel, just reporting what I was told. ...

Same here, it's what I was told by someone "high-up," whatever that's worth these days, but it obviously conflicts with what others have heard through similar channels. Gah, it's frustrating!

When I talk about "an official Marriott rep participating on TUG" I think of the position Marriott Concierge has on flyertalk.com - you know that if you ask a question, it will be directed to and answered by a person in the company who is qualified to answer it, and you know that you can rely on the information that's been given to you. (Even when MC got that bit about Rollover Nights wrong last year, Marriott still made good on the info that had been delivered through that medium.) That set-up would be invaluable on TUG.

I think the direct resale week offers that Terry posted are now being offered for the every year point exchange because Marriott has to do something to justify the price differential, since now even their resale weeks aren't treated the same as developer weeks. It is a real shift in their former sales strategies. I also think it is a good money-maker for them, since owners are paying ever increasing MF's yet exchanging for a stable number of points, so the more weeks exchanged for points that Marriott can choose either to rent for $$'s or place in the DC exchange pool, the better for Marriott.

I think you're exactly right here.

 

[CashEddie]

I think the direct resale week offers that Terry posted are now being offered for the every year point exchange because Marriott has to do something to justify the price differential, since now even their resale weeks aren't treated the same as developer weeks. It is a real shift in their former sales strategies. I also think it is a good money-maker for them, since owners are paying ever increasing MF's yet exchanging for a stable number of points, so the more weeks exchanged for points that Marriott can choose either to rent for $$'s or place in the DC exchange pool, the better for Marriott.

And you're right, Greg- these weeks cannot be enrolled in the DC even if the purchaser is already an enrolled owner. Puck has reported that a purchase of 2500 points will entitle a Marriott direct resale week to enroll in the DC (kinda equivalent to Starwood's requalification program).

I hope Marriott evolves its DC enrollement program to extend the inclusion of post 06/20/10 resale weeks, not matter the source. My thought would be for them to include a mandatory trust point purchase for the external weeks purchased on the open market similar to what they are doing with these direct resale weeks. They can charge a premium if they want but at least give the option to people that missed the window.

This way, its a win/win for everyone. Marriott would continue to sale new points and collect MFs on them and post 06/20 resale owners would have a method of participating in the DC program.

 

[EKniager]

They are now offering MR Points every year on their resale weeks. Here is a sampling of what I was sent.

Meaning you can trade your week for points every year? For example, your annual week, or more specifically, your ~$1K MF at Manor Club trades for or buys you 110K MR points?

 

[thinze3]

Meaning you can trade your week for points every year? For example, your annual week, or more specifically, your ~$1K MF at Manor Club trades for or buys you 110K MR points?

Exactly! They are giving away Manor Club. This is the one that was touted as the absolute best deal.

 

[thinze3]

Terry, these are not eligible for DClub, correct?

You have to buy another X,XXX Trust Points for the resale week to be enrolled?

Thx very much

You have to purchase a minimum of 2500 DC points to retro any of these resale weeks. I confirmed this again this morning.

 

[SDKath]

Exactly! They are giving away Manor Club. This is the one that was touted as the absolute best deal.

Sorry, just learning about all this but what do you mean they are giving it away? DOn't you have to still get DC points to use and then buy extra points to make that happen?