Marriott Vacation Club Points for regular Marriott Hotels

[Notcreative]

I am considering a MVC purchase. I'd go with points, because I don't want to be locked into a specific week or location. It looks like you can only stay at regular Marriott hotels if you cash your vacation club points in for Bonvoy points within the first 90 days of your use year. Based on the amount of Bonvoy points it takes to stay at a hotel, this does not seem like a good use of points. What do those of you with MVC do when staying at regular Marriott hotels? Do you use RCI or II? Is RCI even available for MVC?

I just want to have all the information before I purchase, because it does not seem like it's worth it to stay at regular Marriott hotels, which I would probably do more than MVC properties, given how few there are. I think I see 72-74.

 

[SueDonJ]

I think you're correct in thinking that it's not "worth it" to buy DC Points with the intent to stay mostly in Marriott hotels. In addition to the devaluations inherent in trading DC Points for Bonvoy Points, there are also annual limits on how many can be traded depending on DC status levels (somewhere between 50-75% as indicated on this Benefits At A Glance chart.)

Most of us who own Marriott timeshares use hotel stays in addition to our timeshares, not in place of, using Bonvoy Points earned in other ways and/or taking advantage of timeshare-ownership cash discounts when they're available. Some of us, though, do occasionally consider using DC Points for Explorer Collection options, as explained in the TUG DC Points FAQ:

• The Explorer Collection - including various travel options such as cruises, group tours, city packages and adventures, as well as items such as Travel Protection Insurance and airline tickets. Certain offers such as VIP Weekends at iconic city properties, and packages for Premier Events in college and professional sports are made available only to Members of higher status tiers. Offers in this collection vary widely and change frequently; see the Explorer Collection page on owners.marriottvacationclub.com for current offers and eligibility rules.

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Also, welcome to TUG!

 

[Fasttr]

Agree, don't buy Marriott Vacation Club points (what we call DC points) with the primary focus of staying at Marriott hotels.

 

[Notcreative]

I think you're correct in thinking that it's not "worth it" to buy DC Points with the intent to stay mostly in Marriott hotels. In addition to the devaluations inherent in trading DC Points for Bonvoy Points, there are also annual limits on how many can be traded depending on DC status levels (somewhere between 50-75% as indicated on this Benefits At A Glance chart.)

Most of us who own Marriott timeshares use hotel stays in addition to our timeshares, not in place of, using Bonvoy Points earned in other ways and/or taking advantage of timeshare-ownership cash discounts when they're available. Some of us, though, do occasionally consider using DC Points for Explorer Collection options, as explained in the TUG DC Points FAQ:

• The Explorer Collection - including various travel options such as cruises, group tours, city packages and adventures, as well as items such as Travel Protection Insurance and airline tickets. Certain offers such as VIP Weekends at iconic city properties, and packages for Premier Events in college and professional sports are made available only to Members of higher status tiers. Offers in this collection vary widely and change frequently; see the Explorer Collection page on owners.marriottvacationclub.com for current offers and eligibility rules.

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Also, welcome to TUG!

Thanks, I did read the FAQ thread, but I got the feeling staying direct the majority of the time is the only way it's worth it.

Thanks for the welcome.

Agree, don't buy Marriott Vacation Club points (what we call DC points) with the primary focus of staying at Marriott hotels.

Yeah, I would love to travel to other places that are under MVC, but with DVC and DH working all the time, we might be a ways off from that. Thanks, I will probably wait to purchase MVC.

 

[jwalk03]

Only buy Marriott Vacation Club Points if you want to stay at Marriott Vacation Club locations! Marriott hotels really should not be a part of that value proposition at all. Also buy RESALE POINTS, not from Marriott!

 

[Notcreative]

Only buy Marriott Vacation Club Points if you want to stay at Marriott Vacation Club locations! Marriott hotels really should not be a part of that value proposition at all. Also buy RESALE POINTS, not from Marriott!

Thanks, I was definitely looking into resale. It seems like resale and paying the $3 pp plus extra fees to Marriott is the way to go (when I am ready to make the purchase).

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

RENT a week before considering buying resale points or resale weeks. Take it for a test drive to make sure it's your cup of tea.......


.

 

[Notcreative]

RENT a week before considering buying resale points or resale weeks. Take it for a test drive to make sure it's your cup of tea.......


.

Thanks! I may do just that.

 

[TravelTime]

I was planning to ask about the hotels in the Explorer Collection. I was comparing the cost in DPs (my average MF is $0.54) and I found many are the same or less than paying cash. When that is the case, and I am going somewhere that Marriott Vacation Club does not have a property, I would consider using DPs for a hotel stay.

I have a lot of Bonvoy points but I have a few one week stays coming up, one at the Ritz Carltons in Key Biscayne and Coconut Grove, and another in Fiji next year, so my supply of Bonvoy points will be diminished in the next year or so.

Besides some hotels not being a good use of DPs, are there other negatives? Do you get Bonvoy points or would you not get them for that stay since you are paying in DPs? Do they still recognize your status and give you upgrades? Can you use Suite Night Awards with these stays?