Marriott Monarch at Sea Pines

[vmpt]

I am thinking of acquiring a spring season/gold week at Marriott Monarch at Sea Pines for use and II trades when I can't use. How does it compare to the HHI II elite resorts (Barony, Surfwatch and Grande Ocean) for trading power in II?
Thanks

 

[Dean]

I am thinking of acquiring a spring season/gold week at Marriott Monarch at Sea Pines for use and II trades when I can't use. How does it compare to the HHI II elite resorts (Barony, Surfwatch and Grande Ocean) for trading power in II?
Thanks

I can't speak to actual trade power as I don't own at Monarch or a Gold week there (all Platinum at SW & GO) but II tends to have community ratings from a trade power standpoint. I used to own a HP week 35 strictly for Marriott to Marriott trading. What they've done historically is rate resort quality as an independent factor and limit trades somewhat within a range of resort quality, I'm not sure if they still do. I must say I was disappointed in the HP week 35, it did not trade as well as I had hoped though being able to deposit 18 months out for a fixed week was a plus (yes I was depositing early and putting in OGT 12-24 mo out). If you'll use it most of the time and trade some planning a year or more in advance with an ongoing search, you should be fine as long as you're not trying to get the top options like GO mid summer. Would a more traditional trader with lockoff capabilities be a better choice trading back in to Monarch (or others on HHI) part of the time? For me personally it would depend on whether I wanted Monarch specifically and what % of the time I wanted to trade vs use. Assuming I'd only be happy with Monarch, I'd still want to have personal use for that week 50% of the time or more. The more flexible I was on resort and week, the less likely I'd be to buy Monarch. Don't forget the timeshare calendar for Sea Pines is a week off from the rest of the world so make sure you know what week you're actually getting if you proceed.

 

[bogey21]

When I divested my Marriott Weeks my Monarch Week was the last to go. We loved it. Having said that the way I look at it is that Monarch is a Resort to own to use. It is inside Sea Pines, on the beach, bike trail right there, golf courses across the street, equidistant between South Beach and Harbour Town. If I wanted a Resort to trade it wouldn't be Monarch...

George

 

[Big Matt]

II deems Surfwatch, Barony and Grande Ocean as Elite and Monarch (and the others) as premier. Not sure how that impacts trading power, but it shows that they differentiate among the Marriotts.

 

[vmpt]

Thanks for the great information! Looks like I will have to evaluate how much we would use vs trade to make the right purchase.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the great information! Looks like I will have to evaluate how much we would use vs trade to make the right purchase.

If you can get a knowledgeable and talkative II rep, you can get some real insight. It's been a while since I had the need and my contacts have moved on but it might be worth some investigation along those lines.

 

[lweverett]

If you are buying a floating week you will not be allowed to deposit it at 18 months because you cannot get a reservation before 12 or 13 months.
I own a fixed week 21 at Monarch and have easily traded for platinum Aruba or St. Thomas Marriotts every year I have tried. I also own a Harbor Point
week 21 that trades almost as well.