Marriott- gold season OP or DSV

[M&M]

I have been contemplating a Marriott resale for about a year now. I would like to have a nice resort that I'd enjoy going to, but that would also trade well when we decide to go somewhere else. Because our children are in school, we are kind of tied to Christmas, Spring Break or Summer (with a preference for summer)

I really like Marriott Timberlodge (I recently sold two weeks at Ridge Tahoe and have been longing to go back to LT). But I don't like the split Plat seasons (winter or summer) and the cost even for resales is a lot higher than I want to pay. So I've looked at OP and at DSVI. I have seen gold/white weeks for $8-$10K.

If I were to decide to purchase either of these resorts, which would be best for using about half the time and trading the other half. I'd like to be able to trade into LT (Spring Break or Summer) as well as other areas that might catch my eye.

How do these resorts compare for rooms, amenities, MFs, trade power W/I Marriott etc.?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Dave M]

That sounds dangerous to me. You're suggesting buying in a lower season (Gold/White) and trading up into a peak Platinum season or to a difficult-to-get spring break week.

As long as you're willing to accept some disappointment and use the week you own instead of exchanging, go for it. Your proposed summer weeks will probably get the job done sometimes.

But if you want to trade into peak seasons at Marriotts on a regular basis, especially with school vacations as a limiting factor, you should have a strong trader. That suggests Platinumn or the equivalent at most resorts.