Marriott Timeshares - What and where is the best long term value for a Timeshare purchase?

[DRH90277]

If you were starting from scratch, what would be your assessment of the best long-term value? Would it be points or resale weeks? What resales would have the best long-term value in use? What is the best defensive position from rising fees? What is the best avenue to ensure access to the reservations you want?

There is lots of experience here but times and options have and are changing for us. Our timeshare program has and continues to change. Satisfying VAC shareholders and timeshare interest holders is a challenge if not a conflict.

 

[Bill4728]

If you find a MVC resort that you'd want to visit regularly, then a resale week is the way to go.

 

[Pamplemousse]

If you were starting from scratch, what would be your assessment of the best long-term value? Would it be points or resale weeks? What resales would have the best long-term value in use? What is the best defensive position from rising fees? What is the best avenue to ensure access to the reservations you want?

There is lots of experience here but times and options have and are changing for us. Our timeshare program has and continues to change. Satisfying VAC shareholders and timeshare interest holders is a challenge if not a conflict.

How do you define value?
Are you talking strictly money, or does ease of booking and getting exactly what you want play into value?

Fees for everything in the universe are going to rise (hopefully your paycheck does too).
There is no guarantee that you will get the reservation that you want 100% of the time- be it booking your home resort, using points or exchanging on II or skipping ownership and renting. Learning exactly how and when to book will increase you chances of satisfaction.

I own an enrolled lockoff week (purchased direct 15 years ago) and some points.
The best monetary value for my week is to lock off and exchange on II to other MVC with no exchange fee- 2 weeks of vacation for my maintence fee (about $1900) and abound club fee ($240). So I get 14 nights for $2300 ($165/ night) (not counting initial investment which was so long ago I feel we have made up for it).
But the maintenance fees do increase, and I have to invest time and effort to get the exchanges and there is no guarantee on view with an II exchange.

Some times something else is more valuable to us than cost- we might want a view, or a different number of nights. In those cases having points is great.

If you are just starting out a resale lockoff bought inexpensively might be the way to go. If you learn how to use II well even with paying exchange fees when you factor in the low initial investment that can give a good monetary value. But you have to be able accept the restriction- no view choice, booking weeks, dealing with II.

I don’t think there is one answer to your query- it’s individual.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

There was just a long conversation on this. I don't own MVC but I glanced thru it. Had some well-thought out ideas. Kierland in Scottsdale week is one I remember. Mandatory resorts in general. non-ROFR too. East coast. West coast. Preferred destination. ymmv. here
https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/best-way-to-buy-in-to-marriot.361292/

 

[DanCali]

What resales would have the best long-term value in use?

A Vistana Platinum "mandatory" week like Westin Kierland or Sheraton Vistana Villages (Bella or Key West phases) or Westin Kaanapali Villas I/II.

You buy a resale week and still have access to the 20-25 Vistana resorts. Home resort at 12 months out, internal Vistana exchanges at 8 months out.

I would not buy MVC resales with the intent of enrolling in Abound later on for $30K+ -- They just devalued ownership a great deal by increasing MFs throughout the system at ridiculous rates, but have not reduced prices to account for that.

What is the best defensive position from rising fees?

Don't buy...

What is the best avenue to ensure access to the reservations you want?

Buy a resale week where you want to go with the view you want to get. Not foolproof, definitely not when there's a points system sucking inventory, but highest odds you get what you want.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Don't buy...

muttley says "he he he he he".

 

[jwalk03]

I love my trader weeks. I get great value! I just bought my first one in 2020- and I just keep buying more so I ca. share vacations with family & friends as well! It’s addicting! I may need an intervention, lol

 

[vacationtime1]

The problem with seeking "long-term value" is that developers can and do frequently change the rules. Marriott put in a points overlay, Wyndham stopped rentals, Hyatt changed the Interval deposit values. imho, owning anything other than a deeded week comes with the risk of a third party (the developer) having the ability to reduce the use value of the week.

I advocate buying strong resale weeks where you want to vacation. Westin Kierland is a triple threat (Plat+ units only). Scottsdale is a great place to be in Feb - April, so that use value will always be there and cannot be taken away. Plus, it can be rented at a substantial profit and it comes with transferable StarOptions.

 

[5finny]

Buy a fixed week and a fixed unit at a fully sold out resort with an independent board with a view you love at a location where you know you will want to be going for the next 30 years--and then it still comes with no guarantees

 

[vacationtime1]

I love my trader weeks. I get great value! I just bought my first one in 2020- and I just keep buying more so I ca. share vacations with family & friends as well! It’s addicting! I may need an intervention, lol

Great trader weeks may provide the biggest bang for the buck, but I don't find that to be a long-term strategy.

Remember when South Africa weeks were cheap and traded well? Remember when Starwood would make predictable bulk deposits of 2bd units on Maui that we could snag with a cheap SDO or SBP unit? Remember when Interval exchange fees were $109? Rules change; successful trading requires time and adaptability.

Developers are squeezing the arbitrage out of trading to the extent possible -- and that will continue. Yes, there are definitely bargains to be had, but the bargains you find today will be less available in the long-term.

 

[jwalk03]

Great trader weeks may provide the biggest bang for the buck, but I don't find that to be a long-term strategy.

Remember when South Africa weeks were cheap and traded well? Remember when Starwood would make predictable bulk deposits of 2bd units on Maui that we could snag with a cheap SDO or SBP unit? Remember when Interval exchange fees were $109? Rules change; successful trading requires time and adaptability.

Developers are squeezing the arbitrage out of trading to the extent possible -- and that will continue. Yes, there are definitely bargains to be had, but the bargains you find today will be less available in the long-term.

We’ll see. I bought all resale so the buy-in cost was low. If it’s no longer a good value at some point in the future I’ll get out. But I have been reading about the demise of trading for years.

 

[dansimms]

One suggestion would be buy an every other year Marriott resale, at a resort you would like to visit frequently, bundled with as few Trust Points as possible and then just rent the points you need moving forward. This minimizes your upfront cost and doesn't saddle you with a big annual maintenance fee. Points can be rented close to what the maintenance fees are and you are under no ongoing obligation beyond what you bought. You would havbe the flexibility of the Abound Program and would have spent a lot less than most Owners that bought from Marriott.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

bundled with as few Trust Points as possible

How is that done? is that resale also or direct Marriott required? Potential outlay?

 

[marmite]

We’ll see. I bought all resale so the buy-in cost was low. If it’s no longer a good value at some point in the future I’ll get out. But I have been reading about the demise of trading for years.

I agree. It has become more expensive each year to trade, but even my (now very old) SDO Gold Plus week that I bought for $1000 back in the day, pulls 2BR Hawaii weeks at Vistana and Marriott (sure, Interval doesn't deposit KAA and KAN as 2BR's anymore, but there's still Nanea). When it doesn't get me the trades I want I'll find something that will. If I were buying something now I would buy another Platinum Marriott week. I am guessing people find it easy to book with being enrolled in Abound, but the weeks I want are very expensive using points (high-season 2BR Hawaii).

 

[claraj]

So far, I'm enjoying having access to weeks for trading and some points for when I don't need to stay somewhere a full week (3 nights during mid week for skiing). It really depends on how you intend to travel, which can change in the future as family grows or travels less with you.

 

[ljmiii]

How is that done? is that resale also or direct Marriott required? Potential outlay?

Because of MVC's 'activation fee' - $3 per point, min $3000 - the minimum number of points you should buy is 1000. And yes, you can do this resale very easily for around $6-$7.50 per point including MVC's fee.

Or, you could go through MVC and see if they have a week at a resort that you would like to use at least half the time at a reasonable price (and w/reasonable MFs). They would also make you buy an 'equivalent' number of Abound Points at a combined price of around ~$8-10/point. The advantage of this is that the week would be enrolled and could be elected into Abound Points any year that would didn't want to use the week as a week.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you want to book with points rather than just buying and using weeks is that your MVC Ownership level matters. At 4000 points you can book 7+ nights at 13 months and at 7000 points you can book 1+ nights at 13 months. Which matters rather a lot if you want to book at 'hard to get' locations.

 

[vail]

Things have changed. Best advice is to just go to Redweek and rent the weeks you want when you want.
You will usually rent them for the annual maintenance fee, and even in certain cases when it is higher, it
will probably work out much less expensive in the long run.

Most timeshare weeks are worth nothing, so whatever you pay is wasted.
Points are even worse.

 

[marmite]

Things have changed. Best advice is to just go to Redweek and rent the weeks you want when you want.
You will usually rent them for the annual maintenance fee, and even in certain cases when it is higher, it
will probably work out much less expensive in the long run.

Most timeshare weeks are worth nothing, so whatever you pay is wasted.
Points are even worse.

What do you own or what did you own that made you come to this conclusion? I get incredible value with what I own and have owned in the past. Not only Marriott, but other brands too.

 

[Dean]

If you were starting from scratch, what would be your assessment of the best long-term value? Would it be points or resale weeks? What resales would have the best long-term value in use? What is the best defensive position from rising fees? What is the best avenue to ensure access to the reservations you want?

There is lots of experience here but times and options have and are changing for us. Our timeshare program has and continues to change. Satisfying VAC shareholders and timeshare interest holders is a challenge if not a conflict.

Unfortunately I don't see a reasonable way to get into the points system with any volume if last years amnesty program is any indication going forward. If I were starting from scratch I'd probably mirror my current portfolio minus a few weeks. Then add maybe 1000 points so I could rent points for shorter stays or to extend full week exchanges. There are 2 or 3 weeks I currently have that I'd do without and I would substitute 2 or 3 more MGO weeks. I would do more exchanging than I do currently to replace the stays I do on points. Then I'd keep an eye on enrollment options in case things open up later but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[tourproto]

I advocate buying strong resale weeks where you want to vacation. Westin Kierland is a triple threat (Plat+ units only). Scottsdale is a great place to be in Feb - April, so that use value will always be there and cannot be taken away. Plus, it can be rented at a substantial profit and it comes with transferable StarOptions.

Yes, yes and yes. However, I am starting to get hesitant always promoting WK on this site as it may raise the prices of the units I want to buy

I am new to HGVC, but so far I am liking their system too. But I don't plan to rent out those units. I have family now in LV and will be using the points to visit them all year round, and surprisingly have not had an issue booking 3 nights over a weekend when less than 3 months out. I guess there is so much inventory available there... If I can get 9-12 nights a year off of $1300MFs I will be happy. I can't get hotel rooms at a decent place for those prices.

 

[AlmostRetired]

If you were starting from scratch, what would be your assessment of the best long-term value? Would it be points or resale weeks? What resales would have the best long-term value in use? What is the best defensive position from rising fees? What is the best avenue to ensure access to the reservations you want?

If I was starting from scratch today and I could still take advantage of an enrolled week, I would only own my enrolled 3 bedroom GC. If this wasn't an option, I would own what I currently own. A GO and 2 3br GC traders (annual & EOY). If I was starting today based on long term value I would opt out if you mean keeping what you initially own long term. Too many moving parts to think long term is greater than 10 years. I adjust my portfolio so I can get the most out of life changes and to a lesser extent, industry changes. Since 1996, I have changed my portfolio 4 times, starting out with a Monarch & Resort World of Orlando. I have always purchased resale and only own Marriott since Resort World. Other than the Resort World which I gave away plus paid first year MF, I got back what I paid for on anything I sold.

If you find a MVC resort that you'd want to visit regularly, then a resale week is the way to go.

This is maybe the most sound advice one could offer. Through all my changes, the one consistency is owning on Hilton Head, where my family enjoys going. The resort changed but not the location. I will add one caveat, it should rent well because you need an easy way to get outside and escape when you want to take a break from timeshares and vacation elsewhere.

Great trader weeks may provide the biggest bang for the buck, but I don't find that to be a long-term strategy.

The concept of owning a trader is a great long term strategy but I will agree that owning the same one might not be unless you are smart enough to pick it right the first time. I was not. It took me 4 tries.

 

[DRH90277]

I should begin this by mentioning that we own a number of weeks, 7,500 points, and most of the weeks are enrolled. We can convert to lots of points. I struggle to get what I want with points and I am biased against the points program, the cost, and what MVC is buying to build to "to their objectives" for us.

As I read Tug member writings, I suspect most Tug users are not heavily invested in purchases from MVC but are managing a mixed portfolio of properties they use or exchange. It would be very interesting to know the extent of points ownership by Tug members. I think Tug members are smart and plot their best options and own a lot of resale weeks.

Think about this as a simplistic and low-cost alternative and with a lower investment and a quite predictable outcome.

What if one owned 5 highly desirable location Platinum weeks, rentable at good rates (possibly beach locations), properties you would like to use, and knew how to maximize Interval trades and options. I was going to add Chairman's Club membership but that would involve an expensive points spend. The idea would be to get the best reservations possible in the Platinum season which may or may not be the weeks wanted for your use. These weeks could be used, rented out for cash to rent what you want, deposited for exchange using Interval, etc.

 

[marmite]

What if one owned 5 highly desirable location Platinum weeks, rentable at good rates (possibly beach locations), properties you would like to use, and knew how to maximize Interval trades and options. I was going to add Chairman's Club membership but that would involve an expensive points spend. The idea would be to get the best reservations possible in the Platinum season which may or may not be the weeks wanted for your use. These weeks could be used, rented out for cash to rent what you want, deposited for exchange using Interval, etc.

I like the idea of owning weeks at beach places if I would be using them for myself (or renting) AND they could not be acquired through trading in Interval. I wouldn't be renting an Interval trade of course, but I think if your true goal is to rent then you are running your numbers based on that alone. I really don't want to pay 2K in MF for something that I'm going to use to exchange to something else in Interval. But if my plan is to rent it at 5K a week then that purchase starts to make sense.

I don't suspect my Grand Chateau weeks would rent for much, but they get me Interval trades into properties that have a very high MF in comparison, so I see a lot of value in that. I like to own in desert places because I am risk adverse -- I don't want to pay for repairs after a hurricane for instance.

I like staying in Palm Desert but there is so much availability in Interval, I haven't felt the need to own there. If I wanted Newport Coast in Summer, then I would own there for sure. I am rambling now, but maybe it illustrates the highly personal nature of developing a timeshare portfolio. We all have different needs, budgets and comfort level with the idea of renting or exchanging. I do like your idea overall, but I think there can be value to having some cheaper traders too, maybe even a gold season week somewhere if it works to pull what you want in Interval (especially if you can pick it up for free on TUG).

 

[DRH90277]

I don't suspect my Grand Chateau weeks would rent for much, but they get me Interval trades into properties that have a very high MF in comparison, so I see a lot of value in that.

Good thoughts - Grand Chateau is a great trader and inexpensive to buy. It's perfect for use with Interval and easy to get a reservation. The Platinum season is near 52 weeks a year and the lock-off feature adds a lot to the use.

If we were starting over, Grand Chateau would be our first "resale" buy. One can do a lot with a Grand Chateau lock-off unit.

Renting out - Our first preference has always been to use what we own, renting out for us is a fallback position and competes with uses through Interval trades.

 

[dansimms]

How is that done? is that resale also or direct Marriott required? Potential outlay?

This would be a purchase from Marriott. You would probably have to pay about a total of about $30,000 to $35,000 for the bundle. About $8000 for the resale every other year and you would probably have to buy at least 1500 Trust Points to go with it and that would be the larger part of the package. Upon purchase they might throw in Plus Points for a 1 time usage of maybe 3000 to 3500 Points. So that first year you might have 3225 Points from the EOY, 1500 Trust Points and the Plus Points…… about 7000 Abound Points total. These are rough numbers