Marriott’s Costa Rica

[Wanderlustgrl]

There is a new resort in Costa Rica. Has anyone been? It looks beautiful but I heard that they don’t have a lot of rooms so I’m sure it will be hard to get but we would like to consider it for next year as our daughter graduates.

 

[TravelTime]

I have been trying to book Costa Rica and there is never a full week available. I only see a few days here and there. I have not yet woken up at 6 am PST (9 am EST) on a Tuesday to see if I can book a week so I may try that next. I’ve been told Marriott releases inventory on Tuesdays.

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

I have been trying to book Costa Rica and there is never a full week available. I only see a few days here and there. I have not yet woken up at 6 am PST (9 am EST) on a Tuesday to see if I can book a week so I may try that next. I’ve been told Marriott releases inventory on Tuesdays.

We think 5 days might be enough and maybe give us a better chance than looking for a full week although I would enjoy that more. I’ll take what we can get! If you are able to book it please let me know if getting up early made the difference! I’ll have my husband take one for the team as he’s up early anyway

 

[kds4]

We'd love to go there as well. Good luck fighting the roosters for availability.

 

[kds4]

MVC @ Los Suenos is very small because they simply converted one building from hotel rooms to timeshare units at the existing Los Suenos Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort. I believe there are 24 units +/-, ranging from Studios to 2 Bedrooms. Access is extremely difficult for anything more than a couple of days. I recently checked availability for any size unit, and there was nothing through August of 2022 more than an occasional 1 or 2 night opening. Unfortunately, that's too far to travel for me for just a night or two. I would need at least 5 nights and there was no availability for that many nights, in any size unit, through August of 2022 showing.

 

[jmhpsu93]

There's nothing new about Los Suenos. It's about 21 years old now. It appears they added a really small number of TS units to a big resort hotel complex. We stayed there shortly after it opened in 2000. It's nice and all, but if you're expecting a timeshare experience like in the US or even Europe or Asia I would imagine you'll be disappointed. It's a tough drive from any airport, you can't walk anywhere and even grocery shopping is a very different experience.

All that said, Costa Rica is an incredible place. I sat under under a hot spring waterfall fed by an erupting Arenal and the nature tours are incredible. I'd recommend the Guancastle area over where Los Suenos is.

 

[Wanderlustgrl]

There's nothing new about Los Suenos. It's about 21 years old now. It appears they added a really small number of TS units to a big resort hotel complex. We stayed there shortly after it opened in 2000. It's nice and all, but if you're expecting a timeshare experience like in the US or even Europe or Asia I would imagine you'll be disappointed. It's a tough drive from any airport, you can't walk anywhere and even grocery shopping is a very different experience.

All that said, Costa Rica is an incredible place. I sat under under a hot spring waterfall fed by an erupting Arenal and the nature tours are incredible. I'd recommend the Guancastle area over where Los Suenos is.

Thanks for that info! We looked at the Westin too and hope with points and an upgrade for titanium we would be good. All inclusive was a plus

 

[dioxide45]

MVC @ Los Suenos is very small because they simply converted one building from hotel rooms to timeshare units at the existing Los Suenos Marriott Ocean and Golf Resort. I believe there are 24 units +/-, ranging from Studios to 2 Bedrooms. Access is extremely difficult for anything more than a couple of days. I recently checked availability for any size unit, and there was nothing through August of 2022 more than an occasional 1 or 2 night opening. Unfortunately, that's too far to travel for me for just a night or two. I would need at least 5 nights and there was no availability for that many nights, in any size unit, through August of 2022 showing.

We don't think it was a hotel conversion. Someone looked at some images a while back and it looks like it was a new build beside the existing hotel.

 

[dansimms]

I would book what you can and try their wait list for a few more days. We loved the resort as a hotel about 5 years ago. I would personally supplement the trip with a stay near our favorite town of Tamarindo, further north ans pay for the Marriott Hotel near there. It is closer to the airport in the north which is quite nice. We did 5 nights at each property and for us it was ideal ! Tamarindo is far nicer than Jaco.

 

[kds4]

We don't think it was a hotel conversion. Someone looked at some images a while back and it looks like it was a new build beside the existing hotel.

That's good to know. So, at least the units aren't 21 years old. Just the rest of the resort property.

 

[n777lt]

The JW Guanacaste (hotel) was lovely and wonderfully situated for all sorts of expeditions when we stayed there about 5 years ago. I wish they'd build a new timeshare in that development! And I fell in love with Tamarindo. I'm trying to convince the rest of the extended family to book a bunch of units through VRBO for a gathering next year. Since all of my family are on the East Coast (or Europe) they think Hawaii's too far, and CR is the next best thing, to my mind. Haven't looked at what II offers, but I guess I should.

 

[Davey54321]

Just checked Costa Rica with 2vc code and found availability there in 2 bedroom MVC villa, though there was none using DC points for same timeframe (January 2022). Frankly, this confuses me because these were never sold as weeks, so it cant be said that weeks owners wanted to rent. Just doesnt seem to me that the seperate buckets defense should apply here, at least not to the same extent….Thoughts?

 

[jont]

My son is there now. I booked 5 days using points when the resort opening was first announced. Wish I could have gone but my better half still has FOC

 

[Fasttr]

View attachment 37470

My son is there now. I booked 5 days using points when the resort opening was first announced. Wish I could have gone but my better half still has FOC

Looks nice. How does he like the villas, the resort overall, and the surrounding town/area?

 

[SueDonJ]

Just checked Costa Rica with 2vc code and found availability there in 2 bedroom MVC villa, though there was none using DC points for same timeframe (January 2022). Frankly, this confuses me because these were never sold as weeks, so it cant be said that weeks owners wanted to rent. Just doesnt seem to me that the seperate buckets defense should apply here, at least not to the same extent….Thoughts?

** Ignore my first response that's been deleted - I forgot for a minute that non-US properties can't be conveyed to the DC Trust. DOH! **

So on second thought, there can still be at least three "buckets" of inventory:

- intervals that MVW (Marriott Vacations Worldwide) chooses to retain out of the DC Exchange Company that they manipulate through MI (Marriott, Int'l) for cash/Bonvoy Points stays
- intervals that MVW chooses to retain out of the DC Exchange Company that they use in-house for preview/promotional stays
- intervals that MVW chooses to manipulate through the DC Exchange Company for DC Trust and Exchange members

(Sometimes "manipulated" is taken by TUGgers to mean that Marriott is doing something nefarious. That's not at all the context in which I use it. There needs to be certain actions taken or not taken that affect the availability of intervals through the various "buckets," on Marriott's side as well as on the owners' side, and "manipulation" is the word I use to reference those actions.)

 

[jont]

Looks nice. How does he like the villas, the resort overall, and the surrounding town/area?

Just got in sat. Loves the villas and the hotel grounds. TS grounds and pool uninspired. Beach is disappointing, very rocky. Hasn't been to Jaco yet. I will post some villa pix later and give a more detailed report when he gets back

 

[SueDonJ]

View attachment 37470

My son is there now. I booked 5 days using points when the resort opening was first announced. Wish I could have gone but my better half still has FOC

You know how sometimes a picture gives a vibe? This one does - it's very calming, very peaceful, and makes the property look very inviting. I hope you and your wife get there soon.

 

[TravelTime]

Just checked Costa Rica with 2vc code and found availability there in 2 bedroom MVC villa, though there was none using DC points for same timeframe (January 2022). Frankly, this confuses me because these were never sold as weeks, so it cant be said that weeks owners wanted to rent. Just doesnt seem to me that the seperate buckets defense should apply here, at least not to the same extent….Thoughts?

How do you check with a 2vc code? Is it through the DC points system?

 

[jont]

some villa pix
(he's fanatical about his showers)

 

[Fasttr]

How do you check with a 2vc code? Is it through the DC points system?

Just put it in as the Corp discount code while booking a ressie at Marriott.com.

 

[SueDonJ]

How do you check with a 2vc code? Is it through the DC points system?

From page three of the TUG DC Points FAQ:

~~ Member Discounts ~~

***All discount rates are based on availability. There is no guarantee that any certain inventory or discount component will be available.***

Discounts for cash stays at the MVCI resorts (and very infrequently, at certain of the Marriott hotels/resorts) are capacity-controlled and based on ownership status:

• Presidential and Chairman's Club DC Members - 35% off (code "2VC")
• Executive DC Members - 30% off (code "6VC")
• Select DC Members and Weeks Owners not affiliated with the DC - 25% off (code "7VC")

*MVW has clarified for TUG (see this post) that the Chase Marriott VISA 10% discount component is no longer available: "The Owner’s Discount can no longer be combined with any other discounts or offers."

*When checking availability on marriott.com, enter the appropriate code in the "Corporate/promotional code" box under "Special Rates."

*Owners may also book discount cash stays through the owners.marriottvacationclub.com website. Sign in --> click on "Owner Benefits" under "Partners & Specials" in the column on the right of the home page --> click on "Enjoy 25% off ..." under "Marriott International, Inc. Promotions" --> scroll through and click on "Explore" for the desired resort --> select "Corporate/Promo" in the dropdown menu for the "Special Rate Code" box and your eligibility code should pop up automatically when you click on the "Enter Code Here" prompt.

*Note the confirmations for stays using these discounts indicate that at check-in the certain eligibility will be verified. If unable to verify eligibility the cost for the stay may revert to rack rates.

 

[dioxide45]

Do we even know if they plan to sell Costa Rica? If so, how will they do it? They can't convey the inventory to the DC trust. I suppose they could sell points directly from the Costa Rica location out of some sort of corporate ownership. Perhaps they somehow get the points into Asia Pacific? Perhaps they just decide to rent it out for cash and deposit the scraps into the MVC Exchange Company (DC)?

 

[TravelTime]

Just put it in as the Corp discount code while booking a ressie at Marriott.com.

Would that make it a hotel reservation with cash or Bonvoy points?

 

[jwalk03]

Do we even know if they plan to sell Costa Rica? If so, how will they do it? They can't convey the inventory to the DC trust. I suppose they could sell points directly from the Costa Rica location out of some sort of corporate ownership. Perhaps they somehow get the points into Asia Pacific? Perhaps they just decide to rent it out for cash and deposit the scraps into the MVC Exchange Company (DC)?

There is a sales gallery on the resort map- so they are certainly planning to sell something there! There is also a weeks calendar on the website, so I assume they will be selling weeks like they do in the other international locations that cant be in the Trust.

https://www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com/common/cms/mvc/pdfs/helpfulTools/resortCalendar/Marriott_Vacation_Club_at_Los_Suenos_Calendar.pdf

 

[Fasttr]

Would that make it a hotel reservation with cash or Bonvoy points?

Yes, hotel ressie with cash.