Can I make a reservation for the full 2 bedroom unit and then within the 24 hour "free" change period call a VOA and lock it off? I plan on keeping the dates the same for both halves.
Thanks!
TimeTraveler is correct. Simply locking off is not considered a change in reservation, thus not subject to the $35 reservation change fee.
Be aware however, if you are booking a popular week at a resort that isn't 100% lock offs, you may not be able to call back and lock out keeping the same dates. Lock offs at resorts without 100% lockoff units are reserved on a first come first served basis.
I pretty much knew if I locked off within 24 hours of making the reservation I wouldn't pay the change fee, but are you saying I can lock off more than 24 hours later and still not pay a change fee (as long as I keep the same dates)?
There are a few non-lock offs at my resort, but most are lock offs and that's what I own. Wouldn't they have to give me the type of unit that is described in my deed?
I'm planning my strategy for next month's release dates.![]()
Many resorts allow non-deeded lock-offs to lock off, so yes you could find yourself without the ability to lock-off your unit for the date that you chose.
You should be able to lock off at any time in the future only paying the $80 lock off fee. When you reserve the 2BR ask for the "Full Villa with Lock Off" instead of just "Full Villa". This should assure that you can lock off down the road even if there are no 1BR and studios available to book.
Thanks for the info. Let's hope that doesn't happen.![]()
If things work out like last year, I'll be making the reservation online (I'm hoping my fingers are agile enough to dial the phone number and point and click at the same time just in case!). Unfortunately, the online choices are Full Villa, Master Suite, or Deluxe Lock off. Assuming I do this online, I'm hoping to save some time by reserving the full unit at 9am and locking off later rather than trying to reserve each side separately and having the system get bogged down and not get what I need.
My thanks to all for your responses!
What resort are you trying to reserve and for what time of year? Only a few resorts and seasons have such a strong 12-month demand that you may have a problem reserving both halves separately at 9 a.m. a year ahead.
Slightly off topic:
If you purchased a Lock-Off unit through Marriott, you still have to pay an $80 lock-off fee?
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I was on-line and on the phone at 9 am and refreshed my screen exactly at 9 am. It came up at 9:00:02 with no green boxes at all for the entire weekend and kept coming up that way on every refresh! By the time I got through on the phone, she confirmed nothing available. This is very frustrating. My first few years of ownership, it was easy to make reservations at this time of year. Last year and this year, not so easy. :annoyed:
Thanks for letting me rant!
Ron-
1) You have to lock off before depositing. Once the unit is locked off with Marriott, it can be used as a 2BR (assuming that the same week was reserved) 2) BUT once it is deposited into II as separate units you cannot recombine them. Once you lock off you are given separate reservation numbers.
I have found in the past that availability does not always show up dead on at 9am. Last year for my lockofff unit it was several hours past the 9 am point that the green boxes started to appear in the online system. When I called, the agent just said that there was no availability.
I knew there was something wrong since this was for low season in November in Spain. Availability to lock off appeared about 3 hours after the 9 am deadline.
the online choices are Full Villa, Master Suite, or Deluxe Lock off. Assuming I do this online, I'm hoping to save some time by reserving the full unit at 9am and locking off later rather
I ran into a problem this week. I reserved the full 2 bedroom suite at Desert Springs Villas on line and waited for the rep to come to the phone so I could split the reservation into the 1BR and lock out. She told me I couldn't, that the 1BR was not available that week. No matter how many times I tried to explain I ALREADY had the 2 sides, all I needed was for her to split them, she continued to say the 1BR was not available. I am still too new to have asked for a supervisor and succumbed. (see my thread under: "Frustrated trying to reserve my week yesterday morning")
Jeff