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[dougp26364]

...and we've used the oven to roast a turkey and (along with the stove and microwave) prepared a full Thanksgiving feast on Thanksgiving, at least a dozen times over the years. We've baked cakes and cookies and casseroles in the oven. We use the oven for something nearly every trip. So I don't think the oven is superfluous at all.

But we pretty much never want to do ANY of those things while staying in a dense urban (city) location with tons of dining choices right outside the door. That's why I think the City Collection properties don't need to be quite as well equipped, at least for us. But I feel exactly the opposite for the less urban, more resort-like locations. I want a full kitchen and a dining/living area. But I think it's fine that there are a selection of properties in the network and perhaps not all of them are our cup of tea. It would be a lot to expect that every property was perfect for every type of traveler.

I love dining out and finding new gems……but, it’s become cost prohibitive, especially in major cities. Our first morning at the Mayflower we had breakfast at
Edgar. The basic breakfast of 2 eggs, bacon, toast and potatoes was $25. My ham and Swiss omelette was $22. Add on 2 coffees, and order of banana bread (they’re famous for their banana bread) plus tip and we were in for $90+.

Yes, that was on the high end and we found less expensive options. Dinner later that day at Edgar was actually less expensive but each day we’d spend close to $200 eating 2 meals/day. For us that’s just not sustainable over a long period of time taking 4 or 5 trips/year.

Because we travel quite a bit I’m relatively certain we’re at the far end of the travel curve. Keeping costs a little lower is one reason we can travel a little more. To that end we’ve begun using that oven, cook top and resort grills more frequently than in the past.

 

[chinh9]

Yeah good points above. We are also doing all this for the long haul as eventually a long time from now (fingers crossed we stay healthy enough) when our kids are older and out of the house we can use it for a month or 2 of retirement in hawaii or palm springs etc each year to get away from the winters here in Ohio and an oven would be a must at that point. MF's will be insane i'm sure by then so who knows what that landscape will look like.

 

[jme]

Yeah good points above. We are also doing all this for the long haul as eventually a long time from now (fingers crossed we stay healthy enough) when our kids are older and out of the house we can use it for a month or 2 of retirement in hawaii or palm springs etc each year to get away from the winters here in Ohio and an oven would be a must at that point.

MF's will be insane i'm sure by then so who knows what that landscape will look like.

Yes, probably, but not nearly as much as rental fees.......I would guess MFs will be about half of rental fees, same as now.
That's why owning deeded weeks is golden.

 

[jp10558]

The City Collection doesn’t work for everyone. Families or those needing more than one bedroom probably won’t find the value in it. Young couple without children and empty nesters like us can find value. For us it need to be more than a hotel room unless we’re just spending one night.

For instance, as I type this, my wife is still in the bedroom asleep. Recently we spent the night in a hotel. In order for me to drink my morning coffee without disturbing my wife I had to get dressed in the dark and head down to the lobby for a couple of hours. Even as empty nesters hotel room just don’t cut it for us but, we generally don’t need the larger 2 bedroom unit either.

My main problem is just, I can often get a hotel with a 1BR, like an Embassy Suites, or I could book 2 hotel rooms that connect a lot of the time, though it initially might cost more - I'm not even sure about that with the MF rates for cities...

 

[dioxide45]

My main problem is just, I can often get a hotel with a 1BR, like an Embassy Suites, or I could book 2 hotel rooms that connect a lot of the time, though it initially might cost more - I'm not even sure about that with the MF rates for cities...

The main issue I have with hotel suites is that there isn't much of a kitchen. Perhaps a tiny microwave, a tiny sink, and a tiny fridge. The closest to a timeshare 1BR might be a Residence Inn, but still not the same. Often the separation of the bedroom and living area is not that good.

 

[ljmiii]

I'm not even sure about that with the MF rates for cities...

Generally speaking, the Abound prices for City Collection (formerly Pulse) locations range from good to amazing...particularly for 1BR or 2BR villas. The only real exception to this is are the NYC and SF locations which only offer guestrooms and have high weekend rates (when hotel rates are usually lower). The prices for a weekday and weekend stay at a medium villa on good but not peak dates are presented below in rough order of appearance in MVC DP/Abound program using the 2026 Abound Point MFs of $0.81480/point.

Boston Pulse 300/700 (1BR) - $244.44/$570.36
Washington DC - 350/475 (King or Double Studio) - $285.18/$387.03
Washington DC - 450/625 (1BR) - $366.66/$509.25
South Beach - 350/450 (Guestroom) - $285.18/$366.66
South Beach - 825/1075 (2BR) - $672.21/$875.91
NYC 525/725 (King Guestroom) - $427.77/$590.73
San Diego - 225/325 (1BR King) - $183.33/$264.81
San Francisco - 350/575 (Urban view Guestroom) - $285.18/$468.51
SF RCC - 450/750 (1BR) - $366.66/$611.10 (technically not MVC)
Waikiki - 375/525 (Studio) - $305.55/$427.77
Waikiki - 525/750 (1BR) - $427.77/$611.10

In 2026 we only have one upcoming stay in a City Collection, the Custom House in June. The three nights cost 975 points or $794.43 while the current cash price is $2,203 and a 1BR at the Long Wharf is $4,206.

In 2025 we did so more frequently...but I'm sure hotel prices haven't gone down...

We have an upcoming stay in July at the SF RCC in a 2BR for 675 points ($549.99). At the SF RC a 1BR is $1,289 and a 2BR is $2,072 while at the St Francis a 1BR is $789 and a 2BR is $4,992.

In September we have a weekend stay at the MVC Mayflower. 1700 points ($1385.16) for a 1BR for us and 1300 ($1059.24) for a double for our kids. No cash availability on the MVC side and on the hotel side the Mayflower rooms are $1,805 and $1,261.

And in October we have a tentative weekday stay in a 1BR at the Custom House in Boston for 650 points ($529.62). As opposed to $1,372 for a cash reservation or at the Marriott Long Wharf a basic room is $1,581 and a 1BR is $3,183.

 

[ljmiii]

...we can use it for a month or 2 of retirement in hawaii or palm springs etc each year to get away from the winters here in Ohio and an oven would be a must at that point. MF's will be insane i'm sure by then so who knows what that landscape will look like.

I don't know what you own (or are intending to own) but if you can pick a preferred resort or three in Hawaii and a preferred resort in Palm Desert your MFs will be substantially lower if you buy weeks instead of points. And with weeks you won't have to pay MVC an 'activation fee' that you'll never get back that roughly doubles the cost of the purchase.

We've owned Every Other Year (EOY) weeks in Hawaii for some time now and have done just that. And while past performance is no guarantee of future results, I can tell you that hotel rates for oceanfront suites in places like Waikiki and Ka'anapali have increased faster than my MFs.

 

[jp10558]

Yes I neglected to mention for now we only want 2 bedroom suites since we have 3 kids. So the 1 bedrooms are out for us.

And agreed maybe the oven itself isn’t a need. We do use it from time to time though so it’s nice to have. Kinda like a formal dining room in most modern family houses lol. Just a much more expensive and harder to maintain convenience to have just in case. Although to your point I doubt we’d ever be upset if it was not there.

I have usually been upset (like at Club Wyndham La Belle Maison) not having an oven for reheating Pizza - microwaved Pizza is yuck. And I have used a stovetop for several other things as well. IDK, I think not having an oven / range is also a loss.

 

[jp10558]

...and we've used the oven to roast a turkey and (along with the stove and microwave) prepared a full Thanksgiving feast on Thanksgiving, at least a dozen times over the years. We've baked cakes and cookies and casseroles in the oven. We use the oven for something nearly every trip. So I don't think the oven is superfluous at all.

But we pretty much never want to do ANY of those things while staying in a dense urban (city) location with tons of dining choices right outside the door. That's why I think the City Collection properties don't need to be quite as well equipped, at least for us. But I feel exactly the opposite for the less urban, more resort-like locations. I want a full kitchen and a dining/living area. But I think it's fine that there are a selection of properties in the network and perhaps not all of them are our cup of tea. It would be a lot to expect that every property was perfect for every type of traveler.

I don't expect every location to be perfect for every traveler, but I also think one of the reasons to want a kitchen with range is hosting people over (with the larger suites), saving money on food etc. I also think that as timeshares are competing with VRBOs, and most of those have a range (that I've seen), and plenty are 2BR - not having that is tilting those locations away from timeshares for exactly what had been the bread and butter of timeshares (ARDAs report of 70% TS being 2BR).

Like many here, I struggle to see the value in the hotel room TS in the big cities (The HGVC District in DC tour underwhelmed me quite a bit)...

 

[jp10558]

The main issue I have with hotel suites is that there isn't much of a kitchen. Perhaps a tiny microwave, a tiny sink, and a tiny fridge. The closest to a timeshare 1BR might be a Residence Inn, but still not the same. Often the separation of the bedroom and living area is not that good.

The separation in Embassy Suites was a door. The Homewood 2 suites doesn't have a separation, which is why I didn't mention it, but they do have full sized dishwasher and at least a 3/4 if not full size fridge. Microwave was small though. I don't think it's a replacement AT ALL for a 2BR TS, but a lot of the city Studios I think they 100% are.

 

[ljmiii]

And I have used a stovetop for several other things as well...

Cooktops are a different issue than ovens as they are easy to acquire and relatively inexpensive (at least compared to the cost of a week in a 2BR in Hawaii). Owners in the original towers at Maui Ocean Club routinely buy and/or pass along cooktops...I assume the same is true for other locations (though I do not know).

 

[dioxide45]

The absence of a full kitchen is indeed more prevalent....but most families don't use an oven on vacation anymore. And so you see new-ish properties like Waikoloa that have nice 2BR villas with a W/D and large-ish kitchen w/full size refrigerator that are perfect for most families (including ours)...but no oven.

I can often make do without an oven. The lack of a cooktop is more of an issue and pretty much all Marriott City Collection and studio units don't have cook tops. This is where Westin and Sheraton Vacation Club is better. Even their smallest units have a cook top or can provide one. I recall only one property, Sheraton Desert Oasis, doesn't have a cooktop in the small 1BR units, but will provide a portable one.

 

[vol_90]

Just out of a presentation at MGC (400 abound points for 75 minutes of our time). Was advised that there will be new level "Chairman Reserve" announced April 1st. Could not confirm point level yet but believe it will be 25,000. I'll take a wait and see approach.

 

[dioxide45]

Just out of a presentation at MGC (400 abound points for 75 minutes of our time). Was advised that there will be new level "Chairman Reserve" announced April 1st. Could not confirm point level yet but believe it will be 25,000. I'll take a wait and see approach.

Yeah, owners at that level will get a free cookie at checkin in addition to the existing beanies for Chairman's Club...

 

[ljmiii]

Just out of a presentation at MGC (400 abound points for 75 minutes of our time). Was advised that there will be new level "Chairman Reserve" announced April 1st. Could not confirm point level yet but believe it will be 25,000. I'll take a wait and see approach.

Yeah...but did they mention the year?!? First time I heard about a new level above Chairman's Club was almost exactly a decade ago...

 

[sponger76]

Just out of a presentation at MGC (400 abound points for 75 minutes of our time). Was advised that there will be new level "Chairman Reserve" announced April 1st. Could not confirm point level yet but believe it will be 25,000. I'll take a wait and see approach.

Guess what that salesperson will say if you go back to them on April 1 and ask where the announcement is?

 

[chinh9]

I don't know what you own (or are intending to own) but if you can pick a preferred resort or three in Hawaii and a preferred resort in Palm Desert your MFs will be substantially lower if you buy weeks instead of points. And with weeks you won't have to pay MVC an 'activation fee' that you'll never get back that roughly doubles the cost of the purchase.

We've owned Every Other Year (EOY) weeks in Hawaii for some time now and have done just that. And while past performance is no guarantee of future results, I can tell you that hotel rates for oceanfront suites in places like Waikiki and Ka'anapali have increased faster than my MFs.

We own nanea OF and Westin flex. The flex maintenance is bleh. Nanea isn’t too bad but I’d prob buy some deeded weeks in kierland as we get older and begin doing that so we can work our way west slowly.

 

[chinh9]

Just out of a presentation at MGC (400 abound points for 75 minutes of our time). Was advised that there will be new level "Chairman Reserve" announced April 1st. Could not confirm point level yet but believe it will be 25,000. I'll take a wait and see approach.

Chairman reserve?!?! lol. What benefits could they possibly offer to incentivize that. How can an announce that big be without any information.

 

[daviator]

The main issue I have with hotel suites is that there isn't much of a kitchen. Perhaps a tiny microwave, a tiny sink, and a tiny fridge. The closest to a timeshare 1BR might be a Residence Inn, but still not the same. Often the separation of the bedroom and living area is not that good.

Yes, exactly, and many (perhaps most) Residence Inns are poorly maintained and I won't even consider them any more. The last Residence Inn we stayed in, the room was infested by fleas and we both gotten bitten badly. We literally picked a live flea up off the carpeting and took it down and presented it to the desk clerk. They moved us to another room but that was the end of Residence Inn for us. Too many of them have rooms which have been "ridden hard and put away wet." And there's not much enforcement of brand standards any more.

At least the MVC and Vistana properties are pretty well maintained to a higher standard than any of the Marriott hotel properties with kitchens.

 

[terminaluser]

The big sales push was to trade deeded weeks for trust points with a minimum purchase of new points at the rack rate of $17.94. The fear factor was the illusion of big SA’s coming. With the cash reserves Marriott collects, there better not be a rash of SA’s in the future.

Hehe that's the sale push every time I entertain a owners update for some extra Marriott Points. They always some argument that our deeded Marriott weeks will be less valuable in the future. The only way to protect our vacationing power is pay tons of money NOW and convert to trust points. Something on the order of at least $20k-30k just to get started on the most basic amount of points.

 

[daviator]

Hehe that's the sale push every time I entertain a owners update for some extra Marriott Points. They always some argument that our deeded Marriott weeks will be less valuable in the future. The only way to protect our vacationing power is pay tons of money NOW and convert to trust points. Something on the order of at least $20k-30k just to get started on the most basic amount of points.

They love to imply that points owners are immune from SA's, but they fail to acknowledge that the Abound trust has to pay special assessments just like other weeks owners. So as a points owner, you indirectly pay special assessments (through increased points maintenance fees) for every single MVC and Vistana property which is part of the trust, even for those properties you may never visit. You're spreading the SA risk among more owners, but you're taking on more SA risk because you pay for SAs at every single property which might impose them. I don't think there is any accurate way to predict whether owning points will result in paying less in SAs than owning weeks, it's a crap shoot. Some will pay more and some may save.

Fortunately, MVC and Vistana are pretty conservative about collecting reserves and it's rare that they have to impose SAs (but it does happen, I've paid them.)

 

[bazzap]

Just out of a presentation at MGC (400 abound points for 75 minutes of our time). Was advised that there will be new level "Chairman Reserve" announced April 1st. Could not confirm point level yet but believe it will be 25,000. I'll take a wait and see approach.

April Fool


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[DRH90277]

I did hear earlier this month during a presentation that there was a new level coming of 80,000 points but they could not disclose the advantages accompanying this level. They are trying to sell more points to those within reach of attaining this level.

I'm trying to imagine what one would do with 80,000 points considering the selection of resorts. Maybe there is a moon-landing event coming up.

Correction - My notes say it was 85,000 rather than the 80,000 number I mentioned. I'm not surprised as this may be the elite of the elite level and there are some up there. We'll see....

 

[chinh9]

I did hear earlier this month during a presentation that there was a new level coming of 80,000 points but they could not disclose the advantages accompanying this level. They are trying to sell more points to those within reach of attaining this level.

I'm trying to imagine what one would do with 80,000 points considering the selection of resorts. Maybe there is a moon-landing event coming up.

This has to be a like fools gold. Thats $65,000+ a year in MF if you own club points. Am I staying with Tiger woods and getting lessons from him at Augusta National during the Masters?

 

[daviator]

This has to be a like fools gold. Thats $65,000+ a year in MF if you own club points. Am I staying with Tiger woods and getting lessons from him at Augusta National during the Masters?

Given that the highest current level is 15,000 points, I think it’s highly implausible that they’d introduce a level at 85,000 points, unless they’ve discovered a way to monetize the laughter of presentation attendees.