I am curious what is more beneficial Marriott weeks resort or Destination points?

[Danjos]

I am presently looking to find out what I should look for a Marriott resale or Marriott points resale what is more beneficial or am i looking for the right company?
What are Destination points MF compared to a weeks MF

 

[TXTortoise]

The usual first question is whether you think you’ll want to go to the same resort the majority of time. e.g., Maui. If so, a week ownership has lower maintenance fees.

If not, then it’s a decision of points vs purchasing a good week to use and/or trade via Interval World.

be sure and read the FAQ sticky threads also. And search is your friend.

you can see MF by resort here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1JCC8PxvfcjBVUdW710Oz68ewcUfH5pbQjVgNySGJPwY/htmlview

 

[TravelTime]

I am biased because all my MVC weeks are enrolled in the DP program and I also own trust points. Given this coronavirus crisis, points are a lot more flexible and you can also bank them. Maybe you can see if MVC is still offering any hybrid packages. That way you get the best of both worlds - flexibility of points and lower MFs from weeks. It is a little more expensive than buying points resale but not tremendously so. Regarding cost of MFs for DPs vs weeks, the MFs for weeks vary a lot.

 

[Danjos]

The usual first question is whether you think you’ll want to go to the same resort the majority of time. e.g., Maui. If so, a week ownership has lower maintenance fees.

If not, then it’s a decision of points vs purchasing a good week to use and/or trade via Interval World.

be sure and read the FAQ sticky threads also. And search is your friend.

you can see MF by resort here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1JCC8PxvfcjBVUdW710Oz68ewcUfH5pbQjVgNySGJPwY/htmlview

Thank you for the help i am searching ongoing trying go to various locations for 3 to 4 weeks per year in late February to late march Maui is a bucklist stop for sure.

 

[TravelTime]

If you want to travel to Maui, I think DPs are better because it is cheaper than buying a week in Maui. In the past, at least, an oceanfront week in Maui was close to $30K. If you want to visit different places all the time and select your view and unit size, DPs are better. If you want to return to the same place every year, generally want lower MFs, and are okay using the Interval “lottery” program, then weeks are better. As you can see, I am not an Interval fan. The first timeshare I ever bought was an every other year in an ocean view 2 BR at Ko Olina. At the time, I paid $5500. It was a steal, IMO. It might be lower now with the covid crisis. I have since enrolled the week into the DP program, which I prefer. But I do like that I got a lot of DPs for that week and I can use it to stay in one bedrooms and have points left over for a different trip. I like the control and flexibility of the DP program.

 

[davidvel]

Thank you for the help i am searching ongoing trying go to various locations for 3 to 4 weeks per year in late February to late march Maui is a bucklist stop for sure.

My short answer if you were to buy Marriott is buy weeks not DC points based on the above. You'll save tens of thousands of dollars. The long answer can be found here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/forums/new-to-timesharing-start-here.17/

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@TXTortoise the spreadsheet is very informative as we have been considering a MVC week. I noticed that the MF for both Ko Olina and MOC Napili/Lahaina MF increased 6.86% to 7.68%. this past year. Any idea why the large increase YOY?

 

[TXTortoise]

@TXTortoise the spreadsheet is very informative as we have been considering a MVC week. I noticed that the MF for both Ko Olina and MOC Napili/Lahaina MF increased 6.86% to 7.68%. this past year. Any idea why the large increase YOY?

I haven’t analyzed the budget breakout, but I expect HR cost and management fees are the big drivers.

I’ve only owned for two years and Maui at 5% a year was hard, but manageable. 7% was crazy and not sure what Corvid-19 will do next year. While it doesn’t impact many, it’s even stranger to see folks still renting at 2017-2018 rates, while Marriott rack rates and Hawaii use taxes have continued to climb. Though few owners register and pay Hawaii rental taxes at about 15%.

You can thank @StevenTing for maintaining that spreadsheet.

 

[ski_sierra]

I am presently looking to find out what I should look for a Marriott resale or Marriott points resale what is more beneficial or am i looking for the right company?

Weeks are good if you want to go to a particular resort regularly as well as for interval trading.

Points are good for the flexibility but the flexibility is very expensive. The purchase price as well as MFs for Marriott points is high compared to other points systems like Hilton, Hyatt and Vistana. I think points are great if you have a flexible schedule, don't need large units and you travel to different locations all the time. That does not apply to me so I didn't get into Marriott points. I decided that a Marriott week for interval trading plus a flexible points system like HGVC would work out well for me. I didn't want to pay $3 per point in junk fees to Marriott or buy a hybrid week at retail price and experience a 90% depreciation a week after the purchase.

Check the points chart to get an idea of how many points it will cost for your desired destination.

Vacation Club Points Charts

Marriott Vacation Club Points Chart Abound 2026 Points Chart Abound 2025 Points Chart Abound 2024 Points Chart Abound 2023 Points Chart 2023 Points Chart 2022 Points Chart 2021 Points Chart ...

vacationpointexchange.com

I personally think anybody considering Marriott points should investigate Hyatt, Hilton and Vistana points system in more depth before deciding to spend a lot of money on Marriott points. If you buy into any of those systems and decide it doesn't work for you, you don't lose a lot of money that you would with a Marriott points purchase.

 

[Danjos]

Weeks are good if you want to go to a particular resort regularly as well as for interval trading.

Points are good for the flexibility but the flexibility is very expensive. The purchase price as well as MFs for Marriott points is high compared to other points systems like Hilton, Hyatt and Vistana. I think points are great if you have a flexible schedule, don't need large units and you travel to different locations all the time. That does not apply to me so I didn't get into Marriott points. I decided that a Marriott week for interval trading plus a flexible points system like HGVC would work out well for me. I didn't want to pay $3 per point in junk fees to Marriott or buy a hybrid week at retail price and experience a 90% depreciation a week after the purchase.

Check the points chart to get an idea of how many points it will cost for your desired destination.

Vacation Club Points Charts

Marriott Vacation Club Points Chart Abound 2026 Points Chart Abound 2025 Points Chart Abound 2024 Points Chart Abound 2023 Points Chart 2023 Points Chart 2022 Points Chart 2021 Points Chart ...

vacationpointexchange.com

I personally think anybody considering Marriott points should investigate Hyatt, Hilton and Vistana points system in more depth before deciding to spend a lot of money on Marriott points. If you buy into any of those systems and decide it doesn't work for you, you don't lose a lot of money that you would with a Marriott points purchase.

Thanks i presently own 2 SDO platinum plus weeks from secondary market i am just trying to figure out how to get to more places I.e hawaii without II it isnt easy to get there or Naples florida with II

 

[ski_sierra]

Thanks i presently own 2 SDO platinum plus weeks from secondary market i am just trying to figure out how to get to more places I.e hawaii without II it isnt easy to get there or Naples florida with II

I don't have any knowledge about any timeshares in Naples FL.

The Hilton resorts on Big Island in Hawaii do have good availability. Oahu is also available to book at 9 months if you aren't after the lower point units.

 

[Danjos]

I don't have any knowledge about any timeshares in Naples FL.

The Hilton resorts on Big Island in Hawaii do have good availability. Oahu is also available to book at 9 months if you aren't after the lower point units.

I believe there may be a few units around Naples such as Marco Island and Ft. Meyers

 

[Dean]

I am presently looking to find out what I should look for a Marriott resale or Marriott points resale what is more beneficial or am i looking for the right company?
What are Destination points MF compared to a weeks MF

I would start by making decisions to include:

• Where you want to go repeatedly.
• How flexible you can be.
• How far in advance can/will you plan.
• Budget.
• Usual length of trips.
• Unit size normally needed.
• How particular you are. Some people are more resort quality oriented and some more location oriented.
• Budget.
• Financial stability.

The answers to these and similar questions will give you an idea of what is best for you, if anything. The preferred locations will go a long way toward helping you decide which is the best system for you, it may or may not be Marriott. There are cheaper and more flexible systems (Worldmark, Diamond, Bluegreen, Wyndham, etc) and all can be great but they have their own compromises and limitations. Each one can be the best choice for a subset of people and bad for others. Specific to Marriott the main choices are whether to buy weeks for direct usage, weeks for exchanging, Trust points or weeks and get them enrolled (several ways to do so). If enrolled you might have the best of both weeks and points but at a significant cost. Points and enrolled weeks will come with a multiple 5 figure price tag. And since you own with Sheraton you could wait and see what enrollment options you might have later.

If your choices lead to to where exchanging is feasible and you make good choices on the acquisition, the price for 3-4 weeks could be as little a $1-2K up front and yearly $3K (2 lockoff units at a reasonable priced resort) plus an II membership if you don't have one already you can use, exchange fees, unit upgrade fees and lockoff fees would add another $1K or so yearly. Points for 3-4 weeks resale is likely somewhere in the range of $50-60K (15K points) right now but historically would have been higher. Weeks for specific destinations to use without routine exchanging will vary dramatically depending on the resort and destinations and could be as low as a few thousand $$$ for Orlando/Branson/Williamsburg/LV or as much as six figures for fixed ski weeks/Maui and the like. Weeks that are enrolled if you plan it on the front end could be as low as $60-80K (very roughly) but early 6 figures for the volume in question. Of course there are lots of in variations.

 

[Dean]

I believe there may be a few units around Naples such as Marco Island and Ft. Meyers

I would not let one time trip hopes make your determinations but I would look at patterns. Lot's of systems will get you go HI, several to Naples/Marco/Ft. Myers. You might put together an ideal 5-7 year plan then work backwards from there. It may be you should consider more than one system.

 

[Danjos]

I would start by making decisions to include:

• Where you want to go repeatedly.
• How flexible you can be.
• How far in advance can/will you plan.
• Budget.
• Usual length of trips.
• Unit size normally needed.
• How particular you are. Some people are more resort quality oriented and some more location oriented.
• Budget.
• Financial stability.

The answers to these and similar questions will give you an idea of what is best for you, if anything. The preferred locations will go a long way toward helping you decide which is the best system for you, it may or may not be Marriott. There are cheaper and more flexible systems (Worldmark, Diamond, Bluegreen, Wyndham, etc) and all can be great but they have their own compromises and limitations. Each one can be the best choice for a subset of people and bad for others. Specific to Marriott the main choices are whether to buy weeks for direct usage, weeks for exchanging, Trust points or weeks and get them enrolled (several ways to do so). If enrolled you might have the best of both weeks and points but at a significant cost. Points and enrolled weeks will come with a multiple 5 figure price tag. And since you own with Sheraton you could wait and see what enrollment options you might have later.

If your choices lead to to where exchanging is feasible and you make good choices on the acquisition, the price for 3-4 weeks could be as little a $1-2K up front and yearly $3K (2 lockoff units at a reasonable priced resort) plus an II membership if you don't have one already you can use, exchange fees, unit upgrade fees and lockoff fees would add another $1K or so yearly. Points for 3-4 weeks resale is likely somewhere in the range of $50-60K (15K points) right now but historically would have been higher. Weeks for specific destinations to use without routine exchanging will vary dramatically depending on the resort and destinations and could be as low as a few thousand $$$ for Orlando/Branson/Williamsburg/LV or as much as six figures for fixed ski weeks/Maui and the like. Weeks that are enrolled if you plan it on the front end could be as low as $60-80K (very roughly) but early 6 figures for the volume in question. Of course there are lots of in variations.

Wow that is costly i think i should stick to Vistana and look to buy a WKS 148000 points as this will get me to where i want for the most part and it is more economical than the Marriott. Or maybe I should keep what i have and use VRBO i am planning for retirement vacation places for the winter months and want to be warm for Feb and March. My SDO 2 bedroom gives me 4 weeks if i break them up and use as 1 bedroom units.

 

[Danjos]

I would not let one time trip hopes make your determinations but I would look at patterns. Lot's of systems will get you go HI, several to Naples/Marco/Ft. Myers. You might put together an ideal 5-7 year plan then work backwards from there. It may be you should consider more than one system.

Yes thanks i think i have come to that conclusion probably going to have to get good researching RCI and II i have memberships in both

 

[Dean]

Wow that is costly i think i should stick to Vistana and look to buy a WKS 148000 points as this will get me to where i want for the most part and it is more economical than the Marriott. Or maybe I should keep what i have and use VRBO i am planning for retirement vacation places for the winter months and want to be warm for Feb and March. My SDO 2 bedroom gives me 4 weeks if i break them up and use as 1 bedroom units.

With the II priority and exchange tie in, you may be able to do everything you need with what you have and if you end up having to do an occasional rental. Even if not as you spend time researching areas and see how things work with II and/or RCI, you'll know more what you truly want and need. I've found that often people get excited and overbuy when the emotions get involved, esp with DVC but with timeshares in general. Are all of your RCI/II options corporate or could you add a MVC week to II esp? If so and your good at planning more than a year out, adding a single "trading Marriott" might be worth it, esp right now.

 

[Danjos]

With the II priority and exchange tie in, you may be able to do everything you need with what you have and if you end up having to do an occasional rental. Even if not as you spend time researching areas and see how things work with II and/or RCI, you'll know more what you truly want and need. I've found that often people get excited and overbuy when the emotions get involved, esp with DVC but with timeshares in general. Are all of your RCI/II options corporate or could you add a MVC week to II esp? If so and your good at planning more than a year out, adding a single "trading Marriott" might be worth it, esp right now.

Not sure what you mean by corporate i have both Sheraton units with II and a Grandview 122000 points with RCI so i would I imagine i could add a unit. I have had the timeshares for off and on 15 years but mostly just for golfing in Hilton Head but as i want to stay longer in the winter i am looking more at what to do. I will not buy with emotion i am Canadian and with the depressed dollar i am not jumping that is why i am asking first. We have spent a few weeks per year in Mexico at the Villa Del Palmar in Nuevo Vallarta and really enjoyed that i am just reluctant to buy into Mexican property and that one is hard to find on the secondary market

 

[Dean]

Not sure what you mean by corporate i have both Sheraton units with II and a Grandview 122000 points with RCI so i would I imagine i could add a unit. I have had the timeshares for off and on 15 years but mostly just for golfing in Hilton Head but as i want to stay longer in the winter i am looking more at what to do. I will not buy with emotion i am Canadian and with the depressed dollar i am not jumping that is why i am asking first. We have spent a few weeks per year in Mexico at the Villa Del Palmar in Nuevo Vallarta and really enjoyed that i am just reluctant to buy into Mexican property and that one is hard to find on the secondary market

Others can speak definitively but if the Sheraton II account is paid for through your dues and not independently, as I suspect it is, you may not be able to add other weeks owned to it. Thus you'd have to have another II account to use the Marriott at this time. That may change and you may have other MVC options within the next year or 2 with the merger, we'll see. I wouldn't buy anything in MX at the present time either.

 

[Danjos]

Others can speak definitively but if the Sheraton II account is paid for through your dues and not independently, as I suspect it is, you may not be able to add other weeks owned to it. Thus you'd have to have another II account to use the Marriott at this time. That may change and you may have other MVC options within the next year or 2 with the merger, we'll see. I wouldn't buy anything in MX at the present time either.

You are correct my II is paid by the Sheraton dues i hope MVC recognizes the Vistana group maybe i should look for another Sheraton?

 

[hcarman]

We own two weeks and bought some destination club points for the flexibility. However, one big thing the sales people push is the flexibility of banking and borrowing the points to go on a bucket list trip like a cruise or a tour. We used some expiring points once for a weekend cruise but have yet to find any bucket list trip that we want to do that would make sense to use the points for. In general we have found the cash price to always be significantly lower than the maintenance fees associated with the points - particularly if you want a balcony cabin. And for some cruise lines the points are just outrageous. One recent example - we priced a cruise at 7300 (out the door price) for two for a balcony. This same cruise was over 20,000 destination club points - plus the port fees and travel agent fees which are tacked on to a destination points reservation. And this difference doesn't even take into account how much the initial buy in cost of the points is. The same has occurred when pricing tours. So my advice would be not to buy Destination Clubs Points if you are lured by the idea of taking bucket list cruises or tours. They have the most value at the Marriott Vacation Club Resorts and if that is the main purpose for buying - it may just work out well for you - especially if you can book closer in and get a better deal on points. Just a suggestion if you think you might want to use for a cruise or tour - you would be better off renting the points (if you can anymore) and paying for the cruise and/or tour in cash. There are many owners that take wonderful trips with their points but I am one that calculates to see if it is a good deal or not - if it is not, I can't bring myself to basically pay more money for it. So in the end I pay cash and end up with extra points that I have to try and rent. I probably should have just enrolled my two weeks in the program and stopped there.

 

[Dean]

We own two weeks and bought some destination club points for the flexibility. However, one big thing the sales people push is the flexibility of banking and borrowing the points to go on a bucket list trip like a cruise or a tour. We used some expiring points once for a weekend cruise but have yet to find any bucket list trip that we want to do that would make sense to use the points for. In general we have found the cash price to always be significantly lower than the maintenance fees associated with the points - particularly if you want a balcony cabin. And for some cruise lines the points are just outrageous. One recent example - we priced a cruise at 7300 (out the door price) for two for a balcony. This same cruise was over 20,000 destination club points - plus the port fees and travel agent fees which are tacked on to a destination points reservation. And this difference doesn't even take into account how much the initial buy in cost of the points is. The same has occurred when pricing tours. So my advice would be not to buy Destination Clubs Points if you are lured by the idea of taking bucket list cruises or tours. They have the most value at the Marriott Vacation Club Resorts and if that is the main purpose for buying - it may just work out well for you - especially if you can book closer in and get a better deal on points. Just a suggestion if you think you might want to use for a cruise or tour - you would be better off renting the points (if you can anymore) and paying for the cruise and/or tour in cash. There are many owners that take wonderful trips with their points but I am one that calculates to see if it is a good deal or not - if it is not, I can't bring myself to basically pay more money for it. So in the end I pay cash and end up with extra points that I have to try and rent. I probably should have just enrolled my two weeks in the program and stopped there.

When I've looked at cruises it almost always looks like I'm getting 34¢ PP in return. Collette has been a little more, like 43¢ PP when I've looked. I suspect they're getting a discount to offer them but it's my cost of cash or points that I compare. I am not aware of a single cash type exchange where it routinely makes sense. Enough so that one can blanket statement that is essentially never makes sense and make an absolute statement that it never makes sense to buy for those options. But if one has the options keeping an eye on things might yield the one off. With DVC I've seen exactly 2 times when the return was reasonable. Once for a transatlantic cruise and the first year they offered Alaska. With MVC I've never seen anything that I though was worth it. A few have been able to find the needle in a haystack with Thirdhome but not I and I didn't see details to know if I'd agree.

 

[Danjos]

When I've looked at cruises it almost always looks like I'm getting 34¢ PP in return. Collette has been a little more, like 43¢ PP when I've looked. I suspect they're getting a discount to offer them but it's my cost of cash or points that I compare. I am not aware of a single cash type exchange where it routinely makes sense. Enough so that one can blanket statement that is essentially never makes sense and make an absolute statement that it never makes sense to buy for those options. But if one has the options keeping an eye on things might yield the one off. With DVC I've seen exactly 2 times when the return was reasonable. Once for a transatlantic cruise and the first year they offered Alaska. With MVC I've never seen anything that I though was worth it. A few have been able to find the needle in a haystack with Thirdhome but not I and I didn't see details to know if I'd agree.

I book on vacations to go best prices by far.

 

[hcarman]

When I've looked at cruises it almost always looks like I'm getting 34¢ PP in return. Collette has been a little more, like 43¢ PP when I've looked. I suspect they're getting a discount to offer them but it's my cost of cash or points that I compare. I am not aware of a single cash type exchange where it routinely makes sense. Enough so that one can blanket statement that is essentially never makes sense and make an absolute statement that it never makes sense to buy for those options. But if one has the options keeping an eye on things might yield the one off. With DVC I've seen exactly 2 times when the return was reasonable. Once for a transatlantic cruise and the first year they offered Alaska. With MVC I've never seen anything that I though was worth it. A few have been able to find the needle in a haystack with Thirdhome but not I and I didn't see details to know if I'd agree.

I agree with your calculations which is why we have yet to use them for that big bucket list trip that sales people like to get everyone so excited about. And I also think Collette is a little better value as you mentioned. We generally use them for vacation stays and the leftovers getting ready to expire the resort credits (which also is a bad deal but is nice to have) or the insurance. I was beginning to wonder because we run into those people at the resorts from time to time that have taken wonderful tours and cruises on destination club points and seem to think they got a great deal- so I always wondered if I was just having bad luck or whether they just weren't the type that calculated out what the cash would be vs. the maintenance fees. The one time we used points on a weekend cruise was when we had some that were expiring and we have no vacation clubs in Texas (other than through an exchange which is tough to get here during certain times of the year) - so a Galveston cruise seemed like a good plan. And it worked out well -I just remember seeing that I could get a better deal with cash, and being surprised when I still had to pay port fees and a travel agent fee on top of the already not so good deal.

At the Owners Updates they love to ask why we don't buy enough points to use for airfare, car rental, and the trip. Our answer is always we have yet to see a good deal so why would we want to do that.

 

[cbyrne1174]

Not sure what you mean by corporate i have both Sheraton units with II and a Grandview 122000 points with RCI so i would I imagine i could add a unit. I have had the timeshares for off and on 15 years but mostly just for golfing in Hilton Head but as i want to stay longer in the winter i am looking more at what to do. I will not buy with emotion i am Canadian and with the depressed dollar i am not jumping that is why i am asking first. We have spent a few weeks per year in Mexico at the Villa Del Palmar in Nuevo Vallarta and really enjoyed that i am just reluctant to buy into Mexican property and that one is hard to find on the secondary market

Marriott has really high MF compared to other systems. Worldmark has properties in Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii and their MF are almost half Marriott. Don't get me wrong, the Marriott units are nicer, but you're paying for it.