Marriott Internal Exchange -- How easy is it?

[tango4u]

Hi,
I need helps!! I am new with Marriott timeshare system and would need some helps here...
I recently bought 2 Marriott timeshare.
Marriott Kauai 1 bedroom/2 bathroom ocean front, floating week platinum season, annual usage ($6000 with $499 closing cost, $120 transfer fee, $1574 MF per year)
Marriott Kauai 1 bedroom/2 bathroom ocean front, floating week platinum season, Even year usage ($4000 with $499 closing cost, $120 transfer fee, $787 MF per year)
My questions are:
1) Is it a good purchase or is it too high? I am in the final step to close this deal
2) What is the Marriott Internal exchange policy/procedure? I am not familiar with it since I am fairly new with their system.
3) How easy to trade within Marriot system if I do not want to use this location but want to trade to other Marriott (i.e.: Maui or Oahu)
Thanks!!
MN

 

[thinze3]

The prices you paid are good and actually very cheap compared to only 18 months ago.

Your property, KBC, will trade very well as Hawaii always has high demand. However, because the annual fees are so high at Hawaii resorts, it is not recommended that you buy Hawaii resorts unless you plan on using them often.

For trading advice, ask lots of questions here on Tug. We can help you maximise your value.

P.S. - If you have never been to Kauai, you are going to love it! I own down the street at Marriott Waiohai.

 

[gmarine]

The prices are about where they should be right now however a Hawaii purchase is much more cost effective when used rather than traded. Trading a resort with such high maintenance fees is not cost effective. If you plan on trading often then another property with lower fees would be a better choice. But if you plan on using this resort during most years then it may be worth it to you.

 

[Dave M]

Marriott doesn't have an "Internal exchange policy/procedure". Marriott to Marriott exchanges are handled by Interval International ("II"). You'll have an internal trading priority when exchanging through II for another Marriott. You and others using a Marriott week to exchange will have first chance at confirming an exchange to other Marriotts for up to 24 days before II members can see and confirm those other Marriott weeks that you might want. The priority period starts when that other week is first deposited into II.

You should register for the online MVCI site. There is a ton of info on the site that will help you to learn all of your options for using your timeshare.

How easy is it to trade for other Marriott timeshares? Easy and not easy. Relatively easy if you reserve (with MVCI) and deposit (with II) your week a year or so before check-in, request the exchange you want at least a year in advance, don't request a bigger unit than you give up and don't request a time of year that's more in demand than you give up. Not always so easy and sometimes impossible if you don't follow that formula.

 

[tango4u]

Hi Terry/Gmarine/Dave and all Tuggers,
We plan to use it, most of the time. However, we would want to visit other Hawaii islands and want to know if it is possible to trade to other Marriott properties in Maui or Oahu. This Marriott property actually is nice, but it does not have full kitchen (only has microwave!! and no oven :-((( oh well)... It has good reviews (but not excellent reviews!!).
I guess it is not that easy to trade within Marriott (per Dave). We would want to stay in Oahu but it is hard to get a good price on these properties!! Therefore, we settle for the Marriott Kauai Beach Club.
We want to visit the Oahu within few months and wonder if we can trade these units for the Oahu properties... (we guess it is impossible after we read these comments!!)
Do you think we had a decent price on these units?
Thanks!!
MN

 

[Dave M]

How easy to trade to other Marriott properties in Hawaii?

Please see the last paragraph of my earlier post.

Also do you think we have a fair price and should go for it?

Please see the first paragraph of Terry's post.

 

[tango4u]

Please see the last paragraph of my earlier post.Please see the first paragraph of Terry's post.

Dave,
Well, still not very clear.
Your post said it is easy and not easy. We asked if it is possible to trade or get a week in Oahu for the next few months. People (outside of Tug community) told us that it can be done, depends on the demand and how lucky you are... and we just want to hear from Tuggers (who are the experts) for the "tricks"..
For the pricing, Terry thinks it is fairly cheap, but others think it is right in the level it should be (so it is right price, but not cheap).
Others may have other opinions too, since the MF can put into the consideration.
I guess we did not receive the information we are looking for (at least NOT yet, we still want to hear from other Tuggers).
Thanks.
MN

 

[LAX Mom]

If you want to go to Oahu in the next few months, you might find some units available during Flexchange. These are units you'll see within 59 days of check-in when II relaxes the "comparable exchange" rules.

I regularly check for Hawaii Marriott units during Flexchange. Sometimes you'll see a bunch and then very few for awhile. Your sucess will depend on how flexible you can be with travel dates.

However, Marriott has been very slow to transfer units and show you as the owner on their records. It can take several months after closing before you can actually reserve and then deposit a unit with II. Are you in Marriott's system as an owner and able to deposit a week with II now?

 

[tango4u]

Hi Lisa,
No, we are not in Marriott's system yet. Our seller told us that he will try to reserve for us a week (guess that he meant the Kaui property), but we want the Oahu property since it has full kitchen and close to big city. We do not have II membership yet. Should we buy and set up our II membership now so we can ask the seller to deposit the week onto II system?
Thanks.

 

[ecwinch]

Hi,
My questions are:
1) Is it a good purchase or is it too high? I am in the final step to close this deal
2) What is the Marriott Internal exchange policy/procedure? I am not familiar with it since I am fairly new with their system.
3) How easy to trade within Marriot system if I do not want to use this location but want to trade to other Marriott (i.e.: Maui or Oahu)
Thanks!!
MN

1) Every year at 6K is a good price, and at the lower end of the range they are going for. EOY at 4k + plus high closing is in the middle of the range. Prices have fallen significantly in the past six months, and you would have probably paid twice these prices a year ago.

2) As Dave mentioned, MVCI has no internal trading system. Trading is by depositing with an exchange company (II being the main player).

3) II gives MVCI members a advantage by allowing MVCI deposits to only be viewed/exchanged by other MVCI weeks for a period of 30 days. It is easy to trade in II and your week will have great trading power. Only downside is it is more difficult to trade for 2 BR unit at Maui or Oahu as these resorts are lock-off units, and most owners split their week into two deposits.

Only trick is the 30 day MVCI window and to do on-going searchs.

 

[LAX Mom]

No reason to start your II membership until Marriott has you in their records as an owner. The previous owner can reserve a week (2009?) for you at Kauai, but he can't deposit it into your II account.

Some here on TUG have reported waits of 7 months to get these Marriott transfers complete. Marriott has cut back staff in this department and it takes a lot longer than it used to.

 

[ecwinch]

No reason to start your II membership until Marriott has you in their records as an owner. The previous owner can reserve a week (2009?) for you at Kauai, but he can't deposit it into your II account.

Some here on TUG have reported waits of 7 months to get these Marriott transfers complete. Marriott has cut back staff in this department and it takes a lot longer than it used to.

Interesting side note - can you even open an account with II without owning a timeshare?

 

[LAX Mom]

Interesting side note - can you even open an account with II without owning a timeshare?

You're right, II requires you to own a timeshare before they allow you to open an account with them.

 

[davidvel]

I am in the final step to close this deal

It seems you have yet to complete the purchase/ deed transfer and recording. Note that once you do, and paperwork is forwarded to Marriott, it will take 4-6 months to be recognized as an owner. See this thread for details: http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84198 You cannot join II until you own a week and are recognized.

You stated that the seller will reserve a 2009 week for you. If it is a company that routinely sells timeshares they likely will have an II account. You can ask them to reserve the best week and put in an ongoing request to exchange to Oahu for you, and then get you a guest certificate if they get the exchange. Ask them about this.

 

[tango4u]

Thank you everyone, especially Lisa and Davidvel...
David, We will ask our seller to reserve the best week and exchange to Oahu per your recommendation.
We understand that it would take a long time to close and be recognized as Marriott TS owner. We actually will look to see if we can rent another 1bedroom Marriott unit in Oahu. I am with Marriott Reward program (platinum level) and I already reserve an one bedroom unit there in March using my MR points.
We really want to go to visit Hawaii in Feb or March (due to family obligation).
Thanks!!
MN

 

[m61376]

It is unlikely that you will be recognized as an owner by Marriott by February/March, although they claim the wait is 6-8 weeks from the time they receive all the paperwork (but, as posted above, the reports here have been of much longer waits). Definitely have the owner book the week(s) you want and, assuming your contract includes '09 usage, have him add your name to the reservation. If he is nice, as suggested above, he may request the exchange you want in II, but many owners will not bother so you may be out of luck there for this year.

Don't be discouraged or confused by Dave's post- he was trying to convey that the trades you want are definitely possible, but that you need to be realistic. For example, if you are expecting to trade into a 2BR Ko'Olina over the summer using your 1BR unit, you'll have to be very lucky and generally won't get the trade outside of Flexchange (last minute trades under 59 days before travel). However, if you are looking for a 1BR on Oahu and request far enough in advance, your chances are much better. Similarly, if you reserve a high demand Kaui week and look for perhaps a slightly off season (although all of Hawaii is Platinum, there are weeks that are in higher demand than others) week, your chances for a trade increase.

A good option not mentioned above is "request first" in II- you can book your Kaui week and, instead of depositing it in II, put in a "request first." Basically, you tell them if they find the week you want, you will give them your week, but you retain the right to take your week back if they don't. So, you can make your travel plans and, if the trade comes through, always take an inexpensive inter-island flight; otherwise, you can just go to Kaui that year. You just have to be careful with a request first that, if you want to deposit it, you do so greater than 2 months beforehand so it isn't considered a late deposit (which would then only be good for Flexchange trades).

HTH. While you wait for the transfer to go through, read lots of posts here so you will get a feeling for how to do things and what is possible.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

Marriott doesn't have an "Internal exchange policy/procedure". Marriott to Marriott exchanges are handled by Interval International ("II"). You'll have an internal trading priority when exchanging through II for another Marriott. You and others using a Marriott week to exchange will have first chance at confirming an exchange to other Marriotts for up to 24 days before II members can see and confirm those other Marriott weeks that you might want. The priority period starts when that other week is first deposited into II.
.....

Based on this posting there appears to be another advantage of Marriott to Marriott exchanges handled by II (but not sure..... ).

Can someone confirm that indeed you only have to request a single exchange location/week for a Marriott-to-Marriott exchange, but have to specify 2 (or 3?) locations/weeks when it's not a Marriott to Marriott exchange? Thanks

 

[Cathyb]

Check their assessments coming. We were there last August and I think I heard they were going to do some major work which means special assessments.

 

[tango4u]

Hi Cathy,
Do you have any ideas on their assessments? Roof, kitchen upgrade? or..? How much is it? thousands of dollars?
I asked my seller earlier and he told me that he was not awared of any assessments :-((( Who should I ask/verify? Call the resort directly?
Thanks.
MN

 

[Cathyb]

Not sure, it was their sales presenter that told us about the assessments. I would start with calling the resort and ask to speak with the General Manager and see where that takes you. I do know the kitchenette in the lockoff needs some help. It's too small and almost unusable.

 

[Dave M]

Kauai has had some special assessments - in 2006, 2007 and 2008. 2007 was the big one - $758.17 for a 1BR. Most of the multi-year assessment was to repair some major unexpected damage to the property

No special assessment for 2009.

 

[Dave M]

Adding....

The following was in the October 2008 update for owners. All of the work described was included in the budget, thus not requiring any special assessment for 2009:

Villa refurbishments began on September 6th with completion scheduled before Christmas. This includes all new furniture, appliances, flat-panel TVs, carpets, drapes, bedding, and shower grab bars. The kitchen counters will be lowered, sink enlarged, and the microwave mounted to the wall above the sink. Cabinets will surround the larger microwave. House wares are relocated from the closets to the cabinets providing more closet storage space for personal items. Bedrooms will receive a larger refrigerator, Internet access, and a security safe. Corridors will also be upgraded and the coin-op laundry facilities will be modernized with energy efficient stacking models. Our design team has been working closely with the suppliers and contractors to reduce delivered prices for this refurbishment.