Marriott weeks - booking question

[GTLINZ]

I am considering picking up a Marriott week (or 2) and have never owned. I would of course buy resale.

I use Interval and have read about Marriott preference and splitting lockoffs and feel like i have a good idea how that would work trading within Interval. But we love going to Ocean Pointe and would like to know how booking where you own works. Lets assume for this example i own 2 plat 2br lockoff weeks at OP since my main interest is really around being able to do an longer stay there.

So do you call Marriott to book (in this case, 13 months out) to book your consective 2br weeks and are there any fees (i would think not)? And how would you book if you want to split up your lockoff and book 4 weeks - do you have to go thru Interval, or is it a similar process as not splitting? It seems a much bigger advantage to own where you want to go if you can book each side of what you own, where you own, without going thru interval.

TIA

 

[Hindsite]

So do you call Marriott to book (in this case, 13 months out) to book your consective 2br weeks and are there any fees (i would think not)? And how would you book if you want to split up your lockoff and book 4 weeks - do you have to go thru Interval, or is it a similar process as not splitting? It seems a much bigger advantage to own where you want to go if you can book each side of what you own, where you own, without going thru interval.

TIA

For 13 month consecutive or concurrent bookings you need to do that at 13 months by calling. Yes there is a lock-off fee, can't remember how much. At that point you book the dates you want for the 4 weeks and receive 4 reservation numbers, same process as booking without locking off and no need to go through II.

 

[VacationForever]

You would call Marriott to book 2 consecutive or 4 consecutive weeks. No fees, except when you when to lockoff, like $99(?).

 

[dioxide45]

You can only book at 13 months out if you have multiple ownerships. With just a single lock off week you can only book consecutive weeks at 12 months. So you need to go for buying two if you want the 13 month advantage.

 

[jwalk03]

lock-off fee is $99

 

[GTLINZ]

Thanks ! Seems pretty clear.

The advantage to me of owning two weeks at OP would not only the 13 month booking advantage, but also having longer to stay. We might break it up into 2 trips since we have other access in FL on the front or back end, or book 3 weeks and trade with one of the studios so we have only one week in a studio (which is referred to by the wife as "camping". )

But that brings up another angle ... If i owned one 2br OP lockoff and another unit at say GV - would i still be able to book the 2 consecutive lockoff weeks 13 months out at OP? (ignoring what to do with the GV week).

 

[jwalk03]

Thanks ! Seems pretty clear.

The advantage to me of owning two weeks at OP would not only the 13 month booking advantage, but also having longer to stay. We might break it up into 2 trips since we have other access in FL on the front or back end, or book 3 weeks and trade with one of the studios so we have only one week in a studio (which is referred to by the wife as "camping". )

But that brings up another angle ... If i owned one 2br OP lockoff and another unit at say GV - would i still be able to book the 2 consecutive lockoff weeks 13 months out at OP? (ignoring what to do with the GV week).

To book at 13-months you must be booking consecutive or concurrent reservations using separate ownerships. So if you wanted to book week 6 at GV and then week 7 at OP you could do that at 13-months. You could not book just OP at 13-months out and then book GV at a later date.

 

[Dean]

To book at 13-months you must be booking consecutive or concurrent reservations using separate ownerships. So if you wanted to book week 6 at GV and then week 7 at OP you could do that at 13-months. You could not book just OP at 13-months out and then book GV at a later date.

That means the times to book must match up but not necessarily the season. Thus they only need to be bookable concurrently or consecutively. But you must be using some combination of units from different deeds to book at 13 months out or anywhere before the 12 month window opens.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I am considering picking up a Marriott week (or 2) and have never owned. I would of course buy resale.

I use Interval and have read about Marriott preference and splitting lockoffs and feel like i have a good idea how that would work trading within Interval. But we love going to Ocean Pointe and would like to know how booking where you own works. Lets assume for this example i own 2 plat 2br lockoff weeks at OP since my main interest is really around being able to do an longer stay there.

So do you call Marriott to book (in this case, 13 months out) to book your consective 2br weeks and are there any fees (i would think not)? And how would you book if you want to split up your lockoff and book 4 weeks - do you have to go thru Interval, or is it a similar process as not splitting? It seems a much bigger advantage to own where you want to go if you can book each side of what you own, where you own, without going thru interval.

TIA

The advantage to locking off and trading back in via II is you can (potentially) up size your unit (for a fee).
Booking your lockoff at the home resort gives you a 1 bedroom one week and a studio the next and ensures you need to move rooms.
II fees are thd downside.

 

[GTLINZ]

Thanks - ya'll have explained it pretty clearly. In my example with OP and GV I could book consecutive weeks at OP and GV (however i parse that out).

Consecutive weeks owned at the location you want to go to seems to give the best guarantee of bookings. Interval can stretch with upgrades but has fees. I would think it would be hard to book consecutive weeks with Interval at OP in the winter (studios might be easier). The owners we have talked to at OP who own multiple weeks at OP have little issue booking and staying for an extended period. Not a bad snowbird plan, even with the high MFs. And they also like not having to move often.

 

[Mlvnsmly]

Thanks - ya'll have explained it pretty clearly. In my example with OP and GV I could book consecutive weeks at OP and GV (however i parse that out).

Consecutive weeks owned at the location you want to go to seems to give the best guarantee of bookings. Interval can stretch with upgrades but has fees. I would think it would be hard to book consecutive weeks with Interval at OP in the winter (studios might be easier). The owners we have talked to at OP who own multiple weeks at OP have little issue booking and staying for an extended period. Not a bad snowbird plan, even with the high MFs. And they also like not having to move often.

Not really a downside, but it's important to note that not all inventory is released at 13 months. I think they will release up to 50%. Someone can correct me if that isn't exactly correct. I have experienced this sometimes with high value weeks where we strike out at 13 months, but get the reservation at 12.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

@GTLINZ , adding to what pamplemousse said, you could do a "split" and then do a "Request First" in Interval. That way, if you did NOT get a match, you would still have your underlying reservations. If something came up that was bigger, then you'd get a match/exchange.

 

[GTLINZ]

@GTLINZ , adding to what pamplemousse said, you could do a "split" and then do a "Request First" in Interval. That way, if you did NOT get a match, you would still have your underlying reservations. If something came up that was bigger, then you'd get a match/exchange.

Gotcha.... So how long would you personally wait (amount of time before desired check in) to see if Interval hits? It seems if you don't book your home resort as soon as you are able, you will end up with the less desireable weeks in your season (i.e late April at OP when you want Jan or Feb).

I would think owners would not release a lot of inventory from OP to Interval for Jan-Mar unless it is studios ...

 

[Hindsite]

Gotcha.... So how long would you personally wait (amount of time before desired check in) to see if Interval hits? It seems if you don't book your home resort as soon as you are able, you will end up with the less desireable weeks in your season (i.e late April at OP when you want Jan or Feb).

I would think owners would not release a lot of inventory from OP to Interval for Jan-Mar unless it is studios ...

In your case you book your home resort for the dates that you want and then put in the request first for those same dates, asking for a larger unit, agreeing to pay the unit size upgrade fee. Do that as soon as you get your reservation number, so you are early in line for a match. If you don't get a hit in the first 3-6 months, the next point you are likely to get a match is 60 days before when flexchange period comes in and people deposit unrented units. You can let the request run right up to 48hrs before, per the Buyers guide below. If they don't match you get your exchange fee back.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Gotcha.... So how long would you personally wait (amount of time before desired check in) to see if Interval hits? It seems if you don't book your home resort as soon as you are able, you will end up with the less desireable weeks in your season (i.e late April at OP when you want Jan or Feb).

I would think owners would not release a lot of inventory from OP to Interval for Jan-Mar unless it is studios ...

You would want to book (through Marriott) the exact weeks that you want and then do an Interval "Request First". That way you don't lose your weeks and can still use them if you don't get a match.

You're correct though that there might not be a lot of inventory and getting a match might be a challenge. Also, you would want to call Interval to have them make a note that you will only accept a specific date for check-in. If you were trying to string together a bunch of back-to-back weeks and got an exchange that is off by a day or two, that would be a nuisance/problem.

I suppose that you could let your ii request stand up until a week or two before check-in as long as you weren't trying to do a different exchange. Otherwise, you'd want to bail out before 60 days so that you stay out of Flexchange.

 

[GTLINZ]

Wow. I did not catch the book your home resort first part. So you may get an upgrade, you may not. And you get the fee back if no match. VERY clever.

Thanks again ! Lots to think about. The possible match closer to 60 days also makes a lot of sense, as does cancelling at 60 days out to stay out of flexchange.

 

[Dean]

Thanks - ya'll have explained it pretty clearly. In my example with OP and GV I could book consecutive weeks at OP and GV (however i parse that out).

Consecutive weeks owned at the location you want to go to seems to give the best guarantee of bookings. Interval can stretch with upgrades but has fees. I would think it would be hard to book consecutive weeks with Interval at OP in the winter (studios might be easier). The owners we have talked to at OP who own multiple weeks at OP have little issue booking and staying for an extended period. Not a bad snowbird plan, even with the high MFs. And they also like not having to move often.

I wouldn't think OP would be difficult to book in the winter if one is able to use teh 13 month option other than possibly the holiday weeks. OS will likely be easier than OF. Others can likely tell you for certain. Booking then trying for a unit size upgrade (or 2) is very viable in certain situations but probably less likely during Platinum season.

 

[Hindsite]

Wow. I did not catch the book your home resort first part. So you may get an upgrade, you may not. And you get the fee back if no match. VERY clever.

Thanks again ! Lots to think about. The possible match closer to 60 days also makes a lot of sense, as does cancelling at 60 days out to stay out of flexchange.

A little more to think about.
Best to assume with II that you will get the poorest unit view type and a poor placement within the type.
e.g you could deposit a 1-bed OF and get a 2-bed dumpster view. via II.
If view type and unit placement matter to you, then II is a risk. You can do very well with view types via II, but not always at all resorts.
If you know the resort well and the unit types and how they allocate II bookings to units, then you can get something good, but that can take time and error.

 

[GTLINZ]

Agreed - the first floor above parking is not so good.

We also have never stayed at Kingfish - every building except - but we now go during May which is low season. A great time to go weather and crowd wise. I am just thinking about extended stays to escape the winter once retirement comes.

 

[jwalk03]

A little more to think about.
Best to assume with II that you will get the poorest unit view type and a poor placement within the type.
e.g you could deposit a 1-bed OF and get a 2-bed dumpster view. via II.
If view type and unit placement matter to you, then II is a risk. You can do very well with view types via II, but not always at all resorts.
If you know the resort well and the unit types and how they allocate II bookings to units, then you can get something good, but that can take time and error.

To be fair- ALL of the Oceanside views at Ocean Pointe overlook a parking lot. As there are parking lots between every building, and all the side units are Oceanside. But there are also some fine Oceanviews from many of them as well. The views are actually better from the living room windows than from the balconies due to the staggered design of the buildings.

 

[Dean]

As long as one makes reasonable requests, a decent view at OP is likely meaning a middle floor though possibly further back. . And if one is using a combination of owned weeks and exchanges/points exchanges for the same unit type, that should further help one's options.

 

[jwalk03]

As long as one makes reasonable requests, a decent view at OP is likely meaning a middle floor though possibly further back. . And if one is using a combination of owned weeks and exchanges/points exchanges for the same unit type, that should further help one's options.

Agreed. I had 3 villas there 2 weeks ago; all 3 were interval exchanges. I requested that all be together and anywhere but Kingfish.

We got 3 villas in Cobia though it was a bit strange they put my villa and one of the others on the 3rd floor. And then my other guests on the 5th floor. I was a bit surprised if they were going to have to place someone on a higher floor it wouldn’t have been mine since I’m the owner instead of my guests? But i didn’t really care that much.

 

[GTLINZ]

We love Ocean Pointe.

Its just the 1st floor has blocked views with the bushes and being so close to the parking lot you are much more aware of it. 3rd floor works just fine, 2nd will work.

And we always request anywhere but Kingfish, which is probably not hard with well over half being "ocean front".

 

[jwalk03]

We love Ocean Pointe.

Its just the 1st floor has blocked views with the bushes and being so close to the parking lot you are much more aware of it. 3rd floor works just fine, 2nd will work.

And we always request anywhere but Kingfish, which is probably not hard with well over half being "ocean front".

Yes, Kingfish has 65 villas. 5 of them are 3-bedroom oceanfront and 40 are 2 bedroom oceanfront. So only 20 oceanside villas there.

Dolphin & Pompano have 56 oceanside villas each; while Sailfish & Cobia have 54 oceanside each.

 

[GTLINZ]

[QUOTE="jwalk03, post: 3079481, member: 86764"

Dolphin & Pompano have 56 oceanside villas each; while Sailfish & Cobia have 54 oceanside each.
[/QUOTE]

I know the basic layout is 10 lockoffs per floor in the 4 core buildings. I also know Sailfish has part of it's first floor for activities rooms.

I assumed there are 2 (1 2br 1 3br) oceanfront and 8 oceanside lockoff villas on every floor but Sailfish first. Sounds like a few others are also offices.