Marriott Questions from a Potential Newbie

[thinze3]

OK Perry. Now that you've got my attention.

Are you saying that you use your Marriott deposit to actually get the trade you want and then tell II that you want to use your WM credits in lieu of your Marriott deposit? If this is true, do you then still have your Marriott to make another second trade? And then, after you get your second trade using your Marriott deposit, now you "roll" it over to "rented" WM credits and still have your Marriott to make a third trade? etc...


Terry

 

[Andy08]

Ok... I still don't get it...

Marriott is a weeks based system, not a points sytem like HGVC. You can buy a lock-off unit and travel twice a year, once in a 1BR and once in a studio unit.

You can trade your unit to any Marriott loaction. The trading strength of the week you own and have booked would determine you ability to trade into certain resorts at certain times of the year. For instance, trading into a 2BR Marriott at a ski location the week after Christmas is a very tough thing to do for all Marriott owners. If you owned a winter week in South Carolina, your chances of getting that trade would be less than the person who owns a summer week in South Carolina.

Keep reading here on Tug about the different resorts before making a decision. Also, read the Marriott FAQ's to find out how the Marriott system works. Most Marriott owners do not stop after their fist purchase.


Terry

I consider myself pretty smart... but I'm just not understanding the Marriott system thus far. I've gone to their website and it doesn't really help me understand their system. Or maybe I'm just stuck on HGVC's presentation.

1. With Marriott I purchase weeks and not points?
2. If I don't want to stay at my home resort then I have to use II... for a fee?
3. I have to be flexible if I choose not to stay at my home resort... this represents an issue for me because I need to travel during school breaks (mostly spring break, summer).

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I consider myself pretty smart... but I'm just not understanding the Marriott system thus far. I've gone to their website and it doesn't really help me understand their system. Or maybe I'm just stuck on HGVC's presentation.

1. With Marriott I purchase weeks and not points?
2. If I don't want to stay at my home resort then I have to use II... for a fee?
3. I have to be flexible if I choose not to stay at my home resort... this represents an issue for me because I need to travel during school breaks (mostly spring break, summer).

Marriott Vacation club is definitely a week base system. Most resorts have 3 check-in dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Some resorts only have one check-in date and some may Thursday check in dates. Some resorts have split week stays like at Timberlodge within your season you can reserve Mon through Friday and another time reserve Friday to Monday.

However, if you buy from the developer you can convert your timeshare week to points to use at a Marriott HOTEL (the key word is hotel). Alot of people will convert points to a HOTEL/AIRLINE package and travel Europe. These points are not redeemable for Timeshare stays.

Yes... if you don't want to stay at your home resort you'll have to deposit your home resort into II and request a trade. Yes.. there are fees (unfortunately)... So, the motto is to buy where you want to go most years.

Finally.... I know everyone says you have to be flexible with II and trading but I've never had that issue. We travel exclusively during school holidays and I always get what I want. You can click the link in my signature and see the places we have visited. Some of the places I do own but others I did trade to. I put my request in at least a year or more in advance. I'm usally matched around 12 months (plus or minus a month). If you are not a planner I don't think any timeshare will help you out. Most involve some sort of planning.

Have you stayed in a timeshare? Maybe you could rent a few more times to learn more about the different systems. All systems have their pluses and minuses. Good luck..

 

[tracie15436]

OK Perry. Now that you've got my attention.

Are you saying that you use your Marriott deposit to actually get the trade you want and then tell II that you want to use your WM credits in lieu of your Marriott deposit? If this is true, do you then still have your Marriott to make another second trade? And then, after you get your second trade using your Marriott deposit, now you "roll" it over to "rented" WM credits and still have your Marriott to make a third trade? etc...


Terry

I'm not perry (he is much more of an expert on WM than I am), but I believe this is how it works...
1. reserve your wm resort in the area you want to travel with WM credits
2. put in a request first into II with your WM credits (you don't actually have to have any credits when you request - but you better have them when the request is filled or you have to pay WM's per credit fee)
3. When your request is filled through II, you can cancel your WM reservation - you get those back, and use those credits to cover the II trade.

 

[m61376]

I'm not perry (he is much more of an expert on WM than I am), but I believe this is how it works...
1. reserve your wm resort in the area you want to travel with WM credits
2. put in a request first into II with your WM credits (you don't actually have to have any credits when you request - but you better have them when the request is filled or you have to pay WM's per credit fee)
3. When your request is filled through II, you can cancel your WM reservation - you get those back, and use those credits to cover the II trade.

Are you saying, in effect, that you use your Marriott to get the trade, but then actually use the WM credits as the trader for the exchange? Maybe I'm obtuse, but I'm still confused on this.

 

[Andy08]

Yes... if you don't want to stay at your home resort you'll have to deposit your home resort into II and request a trade. Yes.. there are fees (unfortunately)... So, the motto is to buy where you want to go most years.

Finally.... I know everyone says you have to be flexible with II and trading but I've never had that issue. We travel exclusively during school holidays and I always get what I want. You can click the link in my signature and see the places we have visited. Some of the places I do own but others I did trade to. I put my request in at least a year or more in advance. I'm usally matched around 12 months (plus or minus a month). If you are not a planner I don't think any timeshare will help you out. Most involve some sort of planning.

Have you stayed in a timeshare? Maybe you could rent a few more times to learn more about the different systems. All systems have their pluses and minuses. Good luck..

My biggest concern is being able to travel during school breaks. I don't have much flexibility in that area. With what I've read so far, that is a big concern. I understand, however, that for you it hasn't been a problem.

I am very much a planner... I plan all of our vacations and activities. I enjoy it, so calling 12 months in advance won't be an issue for me. The only thing I enjoy more than planning vacations, is getting a great deal.

Going to another TS presentation doesn't sound very appealing right now... and the kids hated waiting 2+ hrs for us to return. I was hoping to find out what I needed to know here. I don't want to waste anymore vacation time watching a sales rep turn from Jekyell to Hyde once we tell them that we're not going to buy. And then have to tell their manager the same thing. And then tell the Sampler Mgr the same thing. How annoying.

So here's what I understand thus far...

I purchase the week(s) that I want at the property I wish to make my home resort, during the season that I want.

I have to call 12 months prior to my desired check-in date to reserve my week.

If I do not wish to stay at my home resort then I have to pay II a fee... even if it is another Marriott resort. I deposit my week with II and wait to hear if I get in. Here's where it gets a little fuzzy for me.

What happens if I don't get the week/place I want? Can I still book at my home resort for the week, unit size I purchased? Or do I have to contend with others trying to get in through II?

 

[m61376]

If I do not wish to stay at my home resort then I have to pay II a fee... even if it is another Marriott resort. I deposit my week with II and wait to hear if I get in. Here's where it gets a little fuzzy for me.

What happens if I don't get the week/place I want? Can I still book at my home resort for the week, unit size I purchased? Or do I have to contend with others trying to get in through II?

First, you call Marriott and book a week. Don't let Marriott select the week for deposit, because you want to make sure you reserve a good trading week in your season.

With II, you can request first or deposit. If you deposit, you give them the week to use and then place an on-going search for the week(s) you'd like to travel and the places you'd like to go. The time frame here is up to a year before the date of the reservation and up to two years afterwards, although a deposit can be extended for a fee.

With a request first, you keep ownership of the week until II finds a match for you. If you don't get anything you'd prefer, you can keep your original reservation. The drawback here is that you obviously can't search for a date later than your reservation; in reality, if you don't get what you want at the >61 day mark you should decide either to deposit the unit and place an on-going request or take the unit back and use it for the scheduled week.

 

[tracie15436]

Are you saying, in effect, that you use your Marriott to get the trade, but then actually use the WM credits as the trader for the exchange? Maybe I'm obtuse, but I'm still confused on this.

Try this thread and scroll down until you see Perry's Marriott strategy post #13...

 

[thinze3]

I'm not perry (he is much more of an expert on WM than I am), but I believe this is how it works...
1. reserve your wm resort in the area you want to travel with WM credits
2. put in a request first into II with your WM credits (you don't actually have to have any credits when you request - but you better have them when the request is filled or you have to pay WM's per credit fee)
3. When your request is filled through II, you can cancel your WM reservation - you get those back, and use those credits to cover the II trade.

With this example, you never be able to get a "high demand" Marriott week with your WM credits, as the Marriott owners who have a full 24 day priority will get them way before you can.

My question was simply, is Perry using his Marriott to gain that priority and then changing the exchange (within 24hrs) to use WM credits? I'll suspect II will not allow this to happen as the week that has been exchanged into is still within the "Marriott only" priority period.


Terry

 

[m61376]

Terry- you post made me wonder the same thing. I am not sure if that's what Perry is implying, or just that he uses WM credits as a back-up plan, so he can make his airline reservations in case a last-minute Marriott exchange doesn't come through...sort of a way to maximize Flexchange without everything being last minute. Hopefully he will clarufy for us.

 

[PerryM]

With this example, you never be able to get a "high demand" Marriott week with your WM credits, as the Marriott owners who have a full 24 day priority will get them way before you can.

My question was simply, is Perry using his Marriott to gain that priority and then changing the exchange (within 24hrs) to use WM credits? I'll suspect II will not allow this to happen as the week that has been exchanged into is still within the "Marriott only" priority period.


Terry

Here is what I'm saying:

I have 2 Marriott exchanges (The studio Summit Watch and 1BR Summit Watch) that exclusively search for Christmas weeks in Park City and President's weeks in Maui Ocean Club)

I have 10+ on-going searches with WM 3BR units searching the exact same weeks and a whole bunch more. I don't need to allocate 1 single WM credit until weeks after an II exchange occurs. I could have 100+ searches on-going with II and not use 1 single WM credit. I do have to pay $139 for each search to remain active.

I get exchanges all the time - 80% of them I reject until I find a juicy one.

While all of this is going on I locked in a WM resort nearby 13 months before check in. I did have to use my WM credits but I could rent unlimited quantities from other WM owners for about 7 cents each. I have my vacation locked in and now play games with www.Kayak.com to lock in great rates for airlines and cars. www.Orbitz.com new lowest price guarantee is something I’m looking into now.

Sometimes I get Summit Watch exchanges and sometimes I get WM credit exchanges – I wait for one part of a 2BR to snag (studio or 1BR). I then immediately change the on-going searches to snag the other component of the 2BR (1BR or studio).

I wait and wait and wait and 100% of the time I get the missing part of the 2BR unit. I then ask Marriott to merge the studio and 1BR together. Sometimes this does not work at MOC since they actually have 1BR units.

If this is not clear, I apologize for any confusion and will gladly answer questions.

I will say that the Gold Summit Watches snag Marriotts before the WM credits 100% of the time. Marriott has obviously told II that ANY Marriott owner will get an exchange before that reservation leaves the 24 day window and enters the general II population.

P.S.
In the past month I've gotten tickets to Salt Lake City and Miami for 1/2 price with Kayak. They have a 90-day history of prices of flights and when you see a spike down you pounce. This is a VERY handy feature.

The best time to buy airline tickets is at and near a holiday like 4th of July - folks are busy and demand shrinks - the airline computers detect this and panic and cut fares by 50% sometimes.

 

[ladycody]

Perry's strategy works for all sorts of reservations...not just Marriott. You need to remember to book your WM stay beginning on the right check-in days (days that are check-in days for the resort(s) you're looking to trade into.)...esp if you're booking airfare etc based on the dates reserved through WM. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[GregT]

Perry,

I am confused as to why the Marriott searches are needed/helpful? Do you ever accept the Summit Watch trades, and not wait to see if WM hits?

Is this an example of what you would do?

1) Lock-off the Summit Watch studio and deposit both with II
2) Start searches in II with both the Marriott deposits, and with WM 3BR
3) When the Summit Watch deposit matches a MOC 1BR (which would happen before a WM match?), do you accept the trade, or wait for WM?
4) If you accept the Summit Watch trade for the 1BR, then do you use WM for the studio?

I've been following many of your posts on this strategy, and have started my own search(es) for MOC with WM, and am curious if the lack of the Marriott access will diminish my probability of success?

Separately, any views on getting into Frenchman's Cove with WM??

Please advise and thanks!!

Greg

 

[PerryM]

Perry,

I am confused as to why the Marriott searches are needed/helpful? Do you ever accept the Summit Watch trades, and not wait to see if WM hits?

Is this an example of what you would do?

1) Lock-off the Summit Watch studio and deposit both with II
2) Start searches in II with both the Marriott deposits, and with WM 3BR
3) When the Summit Watch deposit matches a MOC 1BR (which would happen before a WM match?), do you accept the trade, or wait for WM?
4) If you accept the Summit Watch trade for the 1BR, then do you use WM for the studio?

I've been following many of your posts on this strategy, and have started my own search(es) for MOC with WM, and am curious if the lack of the Marriott access will diminish my probability of success?

Separately, any views on getting into Frenchman's Cove with WM??

Please advise and thanks!!

Greg

MOC is very very hard to exchange into outside the 59-day window without putting up a Marriott to exchange - I've never done it. Other Marriotts are easier but I can't make a general ruling. I've exchanged into Christmas weeks at Summit Watch and MountainSide with WM credits - it's not hard to do. MOC is another story.

 

[GregT]

Perry,

Understood, thanks for the thoughts -- it's an interesting strategy!

All the best,

Greg

 

[ciscogizmo1]

So here's what I understand thus far...

I purchase the week(s) that I want at the property I wish to make my home resort, during the season that I want.

I have to call 12 months prior to my desired check-in date to reserve my week.

If I do not wish to stay at my home resort then I have to pay II a fee... even if it is another Marriott resort. I deposit my week with II and wait to hear if I get in. Here's where it gets a little fuzzy for me.

What happens if I don't get the week/place I want? Can I still book at my home resort for the week, unit size I purchased? Or do I have to contend with others trying to get in through II?

Here's how I do it:

I own at Marriott Shadow Ridge (Platinum week). My season is January through end of May and 2 weeks in Dec (2nd and 3rd week). I usually request spring break week as it rents the best if I decide not exchange with it.

So, let's say I reserved Spring break 2009, April 4th through 11th. I would make my reservation on April 3, 2008.

Next, I would deposit that unit in II. With my deposit I have from April 4th, 2008 through April 4, 2011 to use my exchange if I use deposit. With request first, I would only have from April 4, 2008 through April 4, 2009 to make an exchange. Request first can be tricky because of timing. For example, I would never use Request first with my Shadow Ridge week to travel in the summer because the earliest I can make my request is in January which is only 6 months before summer starts. I need to travel during school vacation time and I like to make sure I have something lined up at least 12 months in advance so, I can plan the rest of summer with camps for the kids, family camping trips, going away to camp for the kids, swim team, other family vacations, etc...

Okay... so, I depsoited my unit in II. Next, I pick where I want to go for the summer of 2009. As you can see you really need to be a planner and know what you want to do years in advance not just 12 months. I usually map out our vacations 2 years in advance. This gives me ideas on when I should deposit my unit over rent it over use it.

In my case, I usually have a one week window of when I can travel (as the kids get older it gets harder to find available time to travel). So, I pick my place and make my request. In II they force you to pick 3 places, 3 different dates or some combination of 3. I usally pick the required 3 and after I pay I go back and delete the ones I don't want. Then, I wait until about 13 months before the day I want to check in and I start doing manual searches with my week. I check the sighting board (here on Tug). Usually around 12 months I get my request.

I have our vacation schedule mapped for the next 2 years. I'm not saying that these are set in stone but I need to map them out. I have a lot of timeshares so, this works for me. It might not for you.

If I were you, I'd buy resale, buy where you want to stay.. If I didn't buy I'd just rent via redweek for now. I definitely believe timesharing is a lifestyle. Will you get disappointed? Yes you bet. There will be times you won't get the trade you want or get the week you want to go. People get sick of paying the fees, etc.. Anyways... only do timesharing if it fits your lifestyle. It is not investment at all. We love timesharing because it forces us to go on vacation 4 times a year. My dh love that because he has something to look forward to.

Good luck with your decision...

 

[luv2vacation]

In II they force you to pick 3 places, 3 different dates or some combination of 3. I usally pick the required 3 and after I pay I go back and delete the ones I don't want.

If you call II, you can request just 1 date and 1 resort. It's only online that you HAVE to choose 3 dates or places .

We love timesharing because it forces us to go on vacation 4 times a year. My dh love that because he has something to look forward to.

Same here - four weeks/year, we're out the door. Hubby sooo much looks forward to those vacations!