• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

MVC Aruba Always Sold Out?

F

FRECK

Guest
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
22
Reaction score
5
Resorts Owned
MVC
I have been trying to book a trip to Aruba for two years, and it is always sold out. I read on another website that the allocation of bookings with points is low because the resort is tied up with those who have a traditional week. Not sure if this is true. Any ideas on how we can book at one of those properties? I am very frustrated at the limited availability in most properties. We are points members.

Thanks for any insight.
 
When are you trying to go? I booked 2 rooms at the ocean club and 1 room at the Surf Club last year in points during July 4th week. It was packed at both the Ocean club and Surf Club. I had booked 12-13 months in advance.

Winter is even harder as it is profitable to rent out and it is a great time to go. The only suggestion I have is being online exactly at 13 months and checking multiple times up until 12 months. Points inventory changes minute by minute. As Aruba was sold as weeks and not points, it is a tough trade but planning in advance should be doable at least for a 1 bedroom.
 
FRECK said:
I have been trying to book a trip to Aruba for two years, and it is always sold out...
Click to expand...
Like all MVW properties outside the US (and the Custom House in Boston), Aruba can't be held in the Abound Trust. So Abound Point availability depends on enrolled weeks being elected into Abound Points. Which can happen at any time...but if it happens at 12 months or less may well be snapped up by a waitlist request.

Abound availability in Aruba is worse off than some other non-US properties (e.g. St Kitts) because Aruba owners usually use or rent out their weeks - particularly Nov-Apr. Similar situations happen in summer in Spain and fall in Boston.

If you want to stay in Aruba using points, your best option is to go in late summer/early fall. Aside from that, submit a waitlist and/or check every day starting at 13 months out and ending at 60 days.
 
FRECK said:
I have been trying to book a trip to Aruba for two years, and it is always sold out. I read on another website that the allocation of bookings with points is low because the resort is tied up with those who have a traditional week. Not sure if this is true. Any ideas on how we can book at one of those properties? I am very frustrated at the limited availability in most properties. We are points members.

Thanks for any insight.
Click to expand...
The US-based Abound trust doesn't (can't) own inventory at any of the international locations. There are separate points trusts specifically for Asia/Pacific properties but nonefor other locations.

So for Aruba or other international inventory to be available using points, a weeks owner at those properties has to elect to exchange their week for a given year for Abound points. And to do that, their week has to be enrolled in the Abound exchange system. If they use their owned week themselves, deposit it in Interval International, or rent it out for cash, then it's not being placed into the Abouund exchange for you to book with points.

Weeks purchased resale after 2010 are typically not enrolled due to enrollment restrictions/requirements, so this further limits possible deposits into Abound.
 
Last edited:
FRECK said:
I have been trying to book a trip to Aruba for two years, and it is always sold out. I read on another website that the allocation of bookings with points is low because the resort is tied up with those who have a traditional week. Not sure if this is true. Any ideas on how we can book at one of those properties? I am very frustrated at the limited availability in most properties. We are points members.

Thanks for any insight.
Click to expand...
I have been to Aruba twice on points but November and October. Never bothered to try in the winter. I was there for 10days 11/9/24 in a one bedroom. So for the fall it’s available.
 
Here is my favorite thing about the how the points users get sucked in: MVW markets the prime properties (like Aruba and RCCSF) as bait to sell points, but then when people buy points, they are shocked that they have no access to the prime properties. Then they find themselves buying more points. Honestly, this forum is fascinating because it does seem like the vast majority of users are pleased with what they are receiving. MVW is sued daily yet continues in the same old practices, so it seems to be working for them. Again, totally fascinating from a case study perspective. I have a friend who has made a killing in crypto - one absurd coin offering after another - she is laughing all the way to the bank and we have ceased speaking because I find her conduct distasteful. With that said, I do respect her for being very clear in her stance towards me: "Who are you to get between me and my prey? Let the market decide!" To her credit, I think she just upgraded her private jet.
 
FRECK said:
I have been trying to book a trip to Aruba for two years, and it is always sold out. I read on another website that the allocation of bookings with points is low because the resort is tied up with those who have a traditional week. Not sure if this is true. Any ideas on how we can book at one of those properties? I am very frustrated at the limited availability in most properties. We are points members.

Thanks for any insight.
Click to expand...
I have had no problems getting into Aruba through IIe exchangers or using points. That said, I plan ahead and for points, book at exactly 12 months out when the window opens day 1. That means I need to know when that is and be prepared. I have put together trips by adding a day here and there when it came available as well then later combing the nights into a single stay. I don't think I've used the wait list for Aruba but have successfully for HHI and HI. For Aruba Surf Club a Thursday or Monday start is usually easier to reserve. Weeks 7, 14, 51 & 52 will likely be impossible. January and April will be easier than the rest of Platinum time (Feb/Mar). With planning Gold season shouldnt' be that difficult.

I find points very flexible for my situation but to me flexible doesn't mean I don't have to plan ahead. A timeshare is not like a second home where you can just pick up and go when you want to as they are planned to be at or near capacity all year round.

My suggestion is to decide when you want to go then find out when the reservation window opens for that time. Have the points available and set yourself a remind to be on the computer signed in AND on the phone at the time the reservation window opens, both at 13 months out if you qualify and again at 12 months out. If you quality for the 13 month option and don't get what you want, check online daily in case something shows up. If you don't get what you need at 13 month, wait list AND keep looking on line. And don't forget about II, a lot of my trips have been using II or II in combination with points.

If you'll post more details I suspect the group can help you improve your chances of success substantially.
 
I’m betting there’s a spike in availability in Sept and Oct. I have a couple weeks in Aruba and I like to keep my options open. So generally if I’m going to elect for points I’ll wait until the deadline nears.
 
FRECK said:
I have been trying to book a trip to Aruba for two years, and it is always sold out. I read on another website that the allocation of bookings with points is low because the resort is tied up with those who have a traditional week. Not sure if this is true. Any ideas on how we can book at one of those properties? I am very frustrated at the limited availability in most properties. We are points members.

Thanks for any insight.
Click to expand...
Do you own just points?
If you had week to exchange on II that trade is very possible. There is almost the full month of April at Ocean Club just sitting in II inventory right now, plus done July and November at Surf club.
 
Pamplemousse said:
Do you own just points?
If you had week to exchange on II that trade is very possible. There is almost the full month of April at Ocean Club just sitting in II inventory right now, plus done July and November at Surf club.
Click to expand...
That would be best if they have the option but my guess is they're trying for a specific week, likely spring break or similar. IMO no timeshare works well for that situation for high demand weeks other than a fixed week option or someone who has lots of options to try at the same time and are very proactive in planning & executing.
 
FRECK said:
I have been trying to book a trip to Aruba for two years, and it is always sold out. I read on another website that the allocation of bookings with points is low because the resort is tied up with those who have a traditional week. Not sure if this is true. Any ideas on how we can book at one of those properties? I am very frustrated at the limited availability in most properties. We are points members.

Thanks for any insight.
Click to expand...


Buy a couple of resale weeks and you'll be able to book at the 13 month mark.....










.
 
TheTimeTraveler said:
Buy a couple of resale weeks and you'll be able to book at the 13 month mark.....
Click to expand...
For some that would be a great choice and for others, a horrible choice. That's why I suggested they post more details. For example, if they're flexible, buying an exchange week and either foregoing points or using them to add a couple of days extra would be the best choice. If it's a plus week they won't need the 13 month option and even if they do, only one of the weeks would have to be an Aruba week. Getting in with points shouldn't be that difficult except for the highest demand weeks which is what I suspect the OP is looking at.
 
Dean said:
That would be best if they have the option but my guess is they're trying for a specific week, likely spring break or similar. IMO no timeshare works well for that situation for high demand weeks other than a fixed week option or someone who has lots of options to try at the same time and are very proactive in planning & executing.
Click to expand...
And of course the other option for OP is if Aruba is a one time thing jjust pay cash for that trip- redweek or book direct.
 
Last edited:
I am glad to hear that points should be possible in the lower demand period, as I think I finally talked my wife into trying Aruba. We are currently thinking of sometime in May 2026, but we do have flexibility. May does not look like the lowest season, but I don't think its the highest either.
 
1Kflyerguy said:
I am glad to hear that points should be possible in the lower demand period, as I think I finally talked my wife into trying Aruba. We are currently thinking of sometime in May 2026, but we do have flexibility. May does not look like the lowest season, but I don't think its the highest either.
Click to expand...
I've had a lot of luck during Platinum time including Jan and March. May should be a breeze but should also be easy as an exchange. Maybe book with points then try for an exchange replacing part or all of a points reservation.
 
We are going to Aruba Ocean Club in a couple of months in early March on an Abound Club Points booking. There were multiple units and sizes available. We booked with points right at the 12 month release date last March. They were all gone in less than an hour.
 
Dean said:
I've had a lot of luck during Platinum time including Jan and March. May should be a breeze but should also be easy as an exchange. Maybe book with points then try for an exchange replacing part or all of a points reservation.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm glad it should be reasonably easy to book with points then. We only have points with MVC, and so far, I have had good luck with them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top