Marriott Week & Asia Pacific Points / Bali and Australia Points Info

[luckybunny]

Newbie to Marriott vacation club. I have a few questions prior to buying:

1. If I buy resale AP points, can I then convert a resale week into points?

2. If so, what’s the minimum points?

3. Is there an Asia Pacific points chart?

4. Do I need to book the week first before converting to points?

4. Can I do the same to Abound and is it better? I’m mainly interested in Asia, European and Caribbean destinations

Thanks for your help in advance

 

[ljmiii]

Newbie to Marriott vacation club. I have a few questions prior to buying:

1. If I buy resale AP points, can I then convert a resale week into points?

No. The only way to enroll a resale week purchased after 2010 is to participate in one of MVC's Ongoing Sales Incentives. In the US they involve the direct purchase of Abound Points, in non-US locations like the Caribbean they involve the direct purchase of one of the overseas weeks that cannot be put in the Abound Trust.

I've never read of someone being offered the ability to enroll their post-2010 weeks at a MVC location that sells Asia Pacific points...but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

2. If so, what’s the minimum points?

In the US the most recent numbers were 3000 points to enroll one week; 4000 for two, etc with a max of 6 weeks allowed to enroll.

3. Is there an Asia Pacific points chart?

No...Asia Pacific points were aligned with Abound Points and now use the same chart.

4. Do I need to book the week first before converting to points?

You would need to elect your enrolled week into points - the deadline for doing so depends on your MVC level and is Sep 30 or Oct 31 of the prior year.

5. Can I do the same to Abound and is it better? I’m mainly interested in Asia, European and Caribbean destinations

As I wrote, I have no idea if the MVC locations that sell Asia Pacific points offer the ability to enroll post-2010 weeks. Both Abound Points and Asia Pacific Points can be used anywhere so it doesn't matter which you buy in terms of destinations. The slight exception to that is if you buy a Caribbean Week directly from MVC to enroll your resale week you could then use that Caribbean Week as a week (i.e. without converting it to points).

 

[bazzap]

The cutoff dates for enrolling weeks outside of the US is 2012 in Europe and 2016 in Asia (Phuket)
You can enrol an ineligible Resale week by purchasing a European week directly from MVC.

 

[Dean]

I think it's officially a max of 5 weeks enrolled currently and last I heard, no flexibility to enroll more under a single purchase. I think there are some nuances for Asia Pacific if one already owns within that system.

 

[luckybunny]

Thanks!

Anyone knows the best European or Caribbean weeks to buy? By best I mean cost effective

 

[Dean]

Thanks!

Anyone knows the best European or Caribbean weeks to buy? By best I mean cost effective

IMO this is a difficult question to answer. If one is looking at an enrollment purchase, you'd need to look at the spend required to accomplish the goal. Look at up front price, number of points, maintenance fees and desirability of the week if one might use or rent it. For the Caribbean this is often the 1BR Aruba Ocean Club Platinum or St. Kitt's event weeks.

Usually the most economical option to start from scratch is to buy resale for the specific need and/or a trading week. I would not buy points for this purpose either retail or resale. I cannot think of a situation where it makes sense buying direct for retail only with MVC if that's all that's being done. In some cases buying a bundle (retail combined with resale from MVC) makes sense but generally it makes the most sense to buy resale then do an enrollment purchase if one is set on points. While that's still a larger purchase, it'll generally be less up front and yearly than any other option to end up with points. That assumes one isn't looking at a huge number of points like 25K or more where it might make more sense to buy a Tahoe Fractional and then do an enrollment purchase. If so, one needs to make sure they understand all the requirements before buying anything, like only buying from a qualified reseller.

Look at this over a 10 year period including fees, not just the up front costs. Good luck.

 

[luckybunny]

Understood. The week I want to buy is where I would like to vacation regularly but just thinking ahead for when I would like to travel elsewhere. I guess I can buy the week first then explore enrollment option later on.

Thanks!

 

[vol_90]

I've never read of someone being offered the ability to enroll their post-2010 weeks at a MVC location that sells Asia Pacific points...but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

Enrolled 2 Phuket Beach Club Platinum resale weeks with the purchase of 1,000 Asia Pacific points in Phuket earlier this month. Price was $17.07 per point. Was advised during the purchase that AP Points can only be sold to existing AP point owners. They are selling Bali points to everyone else.

 

[Dean]

Understood. The week I want to buy is where I would like to vacation regularly but just thinking ahead for when I would like to travel elsewhere. I guess I can buy the week first then explore enrollment option later on.

Thanks!

It's still likely best to getting a good trading week resale and play that game well. Reasons to buy a specific resort and/or week would be that view is important (like OF) or one needs a specific week that's guaranteed with the purchase such as an event/plus week. Specifics of the plan and situation would help define which is best. There are other ways to get specific options than paying very high prices for the chance to try to make a reservation.

 

[bazzap]

Enrolled 2 Phuket Beach Club Platinum resale weeks with the purchase of 1,000 Asia Pacific points in Phuket earlier this month. Price was $17.07 per point. Was advised during the purchase that AP Points can only be sold to existing AP point owners. They are selling Bali points to everyone else.

And as you know Sean, but others probably don’t, Bali points do not have the much lower Maintenance Fees cost per point compared to US Abound points that Asia Pacific points do.

 

[bazzap]

Thanks!

Anyone knows the best European or Caribbean weeks to buy? By best I mean cost effective

For us, we decided the most cost effective purchase to enrol otherwise ineligible weeks was a 1 Bed Gold week in Marbella Beach resort which also comes enrolled for £11,800 (or approx $14,900) and with significantly lower MFs than the Caribbean resorts.

 

[vol_90]

And as you know Sean, but others probably don’t, Bali points do not have the much lower Maintenance Fees cost per point compared to US Abound points that Asia Pacific points do.

Sent a query to my contact at the Phuket Beach Club sales center and received the following response on Bali points and MF's. I believe 2022 is 2024 and have sought clarification. Once confirmed I'll post in the MF tread. Surprising that they are only slightly above AP Points and significantly below US Abound points:


We started to sell Bali points in December 2020. Please see maintenance fee for Bali point from 2022-2024 as below:

2022 -USD 0.47714/ point.

2023 -USD 0.46208/ Point.

2024 -USD 0.46208/ Point.

Received confirmation that 2022 was higher, reduced in 2023 then no increase in 2024.

 

[bazzap]

Sent a query to my contact at the Phuket Beach Club sales center and received the following response on Bali points and MF's. I believe 2022 is 2024 and have sought clarification. Once confirmed I'll post in the MF tread. Surprising that they are only slightly above AP Points and significantly below US Abound points:


We started to sell Bali points in December 2020. Please see maintenance fee for Bali point from 2022-2024 as below:

2022 -USD 0.47714/ point.

2023 -USD 0.46208/ Point.

2024 -USD 0.46208/ Point.

Received confirmation that 2022 was higher, reduced in 2023 then no increase in 2024.

Thanks Sean.
This is definitely surprising.
Every indication previously had been that the reason MVC would now only sell AP points to existing AP points owners was that the could sell Bali points to new owners with a higher MF more in line with Abound points.
If this is not the case, it is less easy to understand why they will no longer sell AP points to new owners.

 

[vol_90]

Thanks Sean.
This is definitely surprising.
Every indication previously had been that the reason MVC would now only sell AP points to existing AP points owners was that the could sell Bali points to new owners with a higher MF more in line with Abound points.
If this is not the case, it is less easy to understand why they will no longer sell AP points to new owners.

I suspect it is due to limited inventory of available AP points for sale. The AP Club has not added PBC Club Revocations since 2019 which will change in 2024.

 

[luckybunny]

Wait, so instead of AP points I should buy Bali points to enroll resale weeks?

 

[vol_90]

Wait, so instead of AP points I should buy Bali points to enroll resale weeks?

Currently if you do not own AP Points you cannot purchase AP Points from Marriott. You would need to contact the Phuket Beach Club sales center and/or attend a presentation to determine if they would enroll resale weeks with a purchase. Not sure if my transaction was a one off or something available for anyone. I do have several other unenrolled Phuket Beach Club weeks and was limited to enrollment of 2 weeks.

 

[SueDonJ]

Moderator Note:

I came to this thread after the Bali Points MF's were posted to the 2024 MF's thread because I know absolutely nothing about Bali Points - didn't even know they're a thing! - so I want to say thanks for educating me. This thread will be linked in the 2024 MF's thread directly under "Bali Points" and will eventually be linked somewhere in the Abound Points FAQ, if any of you want to take the opportunity to explain Bali Points more fully.

Questions re Post #2 above: does anyone know the approximate date that "Asia Pacific points were aligned with Abound Points and now use the same chart" and, anyone want to take a stab at a basic blurb about the AP integration to be included in the Abound FAQ?

Thank you so much!

 

[bazzap]

Moderator Note:

I came to this thread after the Bali Points MF's were posted to the 2024 MF's thread because I know absolutely nothing about Bali Points - didn't even know they're a thing! - so I want to say thanks for educating me. This thread will be linked in the 2024 MF's thread directly under "Bali Points" and will eventually be linked somewhere in the Abound Points FAQ, if any of you want to take the opportunity to explain Bali Points more fully.

Questions re Post #2 above: does anyone know the approximate date that "Asia Pacific points were aligned with Abound Points and now use the same chart" and, anyone want to take a stab at a basic blurb about the AP integration to be included in the Abound FAQ?

Thank you so much!

I can help with some of this information.
Asia Pacific Points were divided by 10 to align with Destination Club (now Abound) Points effective 31st December 2015, as described in this email.

 

[SueDonJ]

I can help with some of this information.
Asia Pacific Points were divided by 10 to align with Destination Club (now Abound) Points effective 31st December 2015, as described in this email.

I have a few questions, will probably think up more still.

- Are AP Points still called AP Points, or are they now just called Abound Points like any other? Are the Club Dues annual fees that are billed to Abound Members the same as what's billed to (formerly?) AP Points members?

- Do owners of (what used to be/might still be called) AP Points have any type of preference for the resorts which make (made?) up the AP segment when AP Points were what was sold?

- Obviously there are currency differences between the Abound and AP Points MF's, but do they equalize to the same amount? Where do Bali Points fit in to that equation?

- Speaking of Bali, are they also consistent with the AP Points? Are they affiliated somehow with any of the resorts specifically (maybe the Nusa Dua Gardens resort?)

Whatever else you think is important enough to put in the Abound FAQ will be appreciated. I'm thinking that there'll be a little blurb in "SECTION 1. THE BASICS" but if any of you AP owners want to write up an AP/Bali Points section that's fairly consistent with the overall FAQ, I'm happy to take a look at it. It needs some updating/tweaking here and there anyway, which I hope to get through after I head back to Hilton Head after the holidays.

Again, thanks so much!

 

[bazzap]

Moderator Note:

I came to this thread after the Bali Points MF's were posted to the 2024 MF's thread because I know absolutely nothing about Bali Points - didn't even know they're a thing! - so I want to say thanks for educating me. This thread will be linked in the 2024 MF's thread directly under "Bali Points" and will eventually be linked somewhere in the Abound Points FAQ, if any of you want to take the opportunity to explain Bali Points more fully.

Questions re Post #2 above: does anyone know the approximate date that "Asia Pacific points were aligned with Abound Points and now use the same chart" and, anyone want to take a stab at a basic blurb about the AP integration to be included in the Abound FAQ?

Thank you so much!

As for Bali Points, you may wish you hadn’t asked (and dare I even mention Australia Points?!)
However, these are the Legal Disclosures for the Bali Plans (plural)
Perhaps someone else more familiar with these Points programmes can explain this in a more understandable simple language?

 

[SueDonJ]

Okay, so Bali Points are affiliated with the Nusa Dua Terrace only, but can be used for any intervals in the Abound Exchange Company? I'm assuming (I know, I know!) that the Australia Points are similarly affiliated with only the Surfers Paradise - Gold Coast resort, and that they can also be used in the Abound Exchange Company?

No Weeks were sold at either of these two resorts, right?

With either/both, is there a one-to-one ratio for owned Points when using the Abound Exchange Company? Or, what is the exchange rate?

 

[bazzap]

I have a few questions, will probably think up more still.

- Are AP Points still called AP Points, or are they now just called Abound Points like any other? Are the Club Dues annual fees that are billed to Abound Members the same as what's billed to (formerly?) AP Points members?

- Do owners of (what used to be/might still be called) AP Points have any type of preference for the resorts which make (made?) up the AP segment when AP Points were what was sold?

- Obviously there are currency differences between the Abound and AP Points MF's, but do they equalize to the same amount? Where do Bali Points fit in to that equation?

- Speaking of Bali, are they also consistent with the AP Points? Are they affiliated somehow with any of the resorts specifically (maybe the Nusa Dua Gardens resort?)

Whatever else you think is important enough to put in the Abound FAQ will be appreciated. I'm thinking that there'll be a little blurb in "SECTION 1. THE BASICS" but if any of you AP owners want to write up an AP/Bali Points section that's fairly consistent with the overall FAQ, I'm happy to take a look at it. It needs some updating/tweaking here and there anyway, which I hope to get through after I head back to Hilton Head after the holidays.

Again, thanks so much

Okay, so Bali Points are affiliated with the Nusa Dua Terrace only, but can be used for any intervals in the Abound Exchange Company? I'm assuming (I know, I know!) that the Australia Points are similarly affiliated with only the Surfers Paradise - Gold Coast resort, and that they can also be used in the Abound Exchange Company?

No Weeks were sold at either of these two resorts, right?

With either/both, is there a one-to-one ratio for owned Points when using the Abound Exchange Company? Or, what is the exchange rate?

As I don’t own any of these Points, you really are now stretching the extent of my knowledge to the absolute limit, so perhaps vol_90 or MALC9990 or another AP Points owner can better advise and provide input to the Abound FAQ?
However:
Yes AP Points are still called AP Points
AP Points MFs don’t equalize to Abound Points MFs, they are substantially cheaper per equivalent Point
Bali Points MFs don’t equate to either AP or Abound Points MFs, as vol-90 has discovered they are a little more expensive than AP Points MFs but still much cheaper than Abound Points MFs
Both Bali resorts are in “a Bali Plan”, although seemingly different ones if you refer to the attached.
With all of them though there a one-to-one ratio for owned Points when using the Abound Exchange Company
No weeks were sold at any of the MVC Asia Pacific resorts except Phuket Beach Club

 

[Fasttr]

And people say this program is confusing. ;-)

 

[SueDonJ]

That's an awesome attachment, Barry, and I figured out how to navigate to it via vacationclubap.com, so thanks very much!

Again, anybody who wants AP/Bali/Australia info to be added to the Abound FAQ is welcome to post here. I'll be checking back before making any changes to the FAQ. Thank you!

 

[dioxide45]

With the interntaional resorts, they had no method to add the resorts to the MVC US based trust recorded in Florida. Each resort would be its own system with whatever legal structure they are allow to setup there. With all of them being in different countries, we see different systems. Costa Rica is selling weeks, but Bali is selling points and Surfers Paradise is again another point system. AP again another, but aren't there both points and weeks at Phuket? There are also weeks in the European resorts. MVC attempts to bring this all together with Abound MVC Exchange Program.

Do AP/Bali/Australia provide any kind of home resort priority? Certainly if one owns one of these systems they can book into those system and only give up their use rights if they book something through the Abound point program.