MVC Looking for Advice on Booking

[blhar15]

We are chairman level with MVC for three years now and finding it very difficult to book places we want to go to. They told me I can book 13 months out, but even when I check at certain places on day one of the 13 months, there is still no availability. This is my biggest complaint about the club so far. We have had some nice vacations already and really like the resorts we have been to.

Any advice to navigating the site or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[ljmiii]

Where are you looking? Keep in mind that any resort outside the US can't be in the Abound Trust. Availability at resorts that can't be in one of the trusts depends on owners electing their enrolled weeks. Also, some of the most prime weeks (i.e. Maui Ocean Club Oceanfront) have very little inventory in the Abound Trust.

The best points availability is at those resorts that are 'Points Only'...

Marriott Vacation Club, San Diego - United States, California - San Diego
Marriott Vacation Club, San Francisco - United States, California - San Francisco
Marriott's Crystal Shores (Egret Building)- United States, Florida - Marco Island
Marriott Vacation Club, South Beach - United States, Florida - Miami Beach
Marriott Vacation Club, Waikīkī - United States, Hawaiʻi - Honolulu, Oʻahu
Marriott's Waikoloa Ocean Club - United States, Hawaiʻi - Waikoloa Beach, Big Island
Marriott Vacation Club, New York City - United States, New York - New York City
Marriott Vacation Club at The Mayflower, Washington, D.C. - United States - Washington, D.C.

Marriott Vacation Club at Surfers Paradise - Australia, Surfers Paradise - Gold Coast
Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Gardens - Indonesia, Bali - Nusa Dua
Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Terrace - Indonesia, Bali - Nusa Dua
Marriott Vacation Club at The Empire Place, Bangkok - Thailand, Bangkok - Yannawa, Sathorn
Marriott's Mai Khao Resort — Phuket - Thailand, Phuket - Mai Khao, Talang

 

[SChiam]

I’m at Chairman level. I never have problem booking 12 months out with Abound, however 13 months out not so great. Seems like what I want shows up 12 months out instead of 13 months out. I have both Marriott and Westin Abound points. Wondering which properties (and room categories) you were looking for?

 

[Pamplemousse]

We are chairman level with MVC for three years now and finding it very difficult to book places we want to go to. They told me I can book 13 months out, but even when I check at certain places on day one of the 13 months, there is still no availability. This is my biggest complaint about the club so far. We have had some nice vacations already and really like the resorts we have been to.

Any advice to navigating the site or suggestions would be appreciated.

Be sure you are looking at the ‘when can I book’ calculator on the owners site and noting the dates based on brand too.
If you don’t get it on minute 1 of 13 month release keep looking repeatedly- inventory is always changing sometimes by the hour if people cancel. Look minute 1 at 12 months too and place a waitlist and keep looking if you don’t find what you want. It’s a process, not a one time time chance.

I have personally booked a number of ways- minute 1 @12 months, getting lucky and finding what I wanted sitting in inventory @3 months, waitlisting, collecting nights as they showed up until I had my full stay.

 

[blhar15]

We have been using the Marriott owners website, https://owners.marriottvacationclub.com/

 

[blhar15]

Should also mention the ones that have been really hard to book are:
Both locations in Aruba, Los Sueños Costa Rica, Crystal Shores Marco Island, St. Kitts Beach Club, Waiohai Beach Club

 

[jwalk03]

Should also mention the ones that have been really hard to book are:
Both locations in Aruba, Los Sueños Costa Rica, Crystal Shores Marco Island, St. Kitts Beach Club, Waiohai Beach Club

The international resorts do not belong to the points trust. They were all sold as weeks. So there is almost never going to be any inventory available at any of them to release at 13 months out. Points inventory is only made available when a weeks owner elects to trade their usage in a given year for points instead.

The best way to get a reservation at any of the international resorts is to try at 12 months and if its not available put in a wait list request so you have a chance of automatically matching when a weeks owner trades for points.

 

[claraj]

Both locations in Aruba, Los Sueños Costa Rica, Crystal Shores Marco Island, St. Kitts Beach Club, Waiohai Beach Club

Many of these locations (Aruba, Costa Rica and I think St. Kitts) are not available to reserve with points until a weeks owner elects to convert their week to MVC points. I'm surprised you were not able to book Marco Island at 13 months out. Though I did run into a situation recently where I could only book 13 months out if I changed my reservation to 7 nights (I was only looking for 4 nights).

 

[Pamplemousse]

.

 

[ljmiii]

Should also mention the ones that have been really hard to book are:
Both locations in Aruba, Los Sueños Costa Rica, Crystal Shores Marco Island, St. Kitts Beach Club, Waiohai Beach Club

Of those Aruba, Costa Rica, and St Kitts can't be part of the Abound Trust. Aruba and Costa Rica are indeed very tough to book using Abound Points.

But I've never had any trouble booking St Kitts nor at Waiohai at 9:00AM at 13 months. Nor at the Egret Building half of Crystal Shores (Pool Side High, Pool Side, Islandside, and Standard View) that has no weeks ownership. However, Gulf Front *is* extraordinarily difficult in high season.

(EDITED) Though as @claraj wrote, many resorts have minimum stay restrictions...particularly in high season. If you're not seeing availability at a resort for any dates you should try 7 (and sometimes 3) nights.

 

[Dean]

Should also mention the ones that have been really hard to book are:
Both locations in Aruba, Los Sueños Costa Rica, Crystal Shores Marco Island, St. Kitts Beach Club, Waiohai Beach Club

Also all of those other than St. Kitt's are going to be difficult to book for all of us. Make sure you understand exactly when the units you want will come onboard which is 13 months out on Tuesday at 9 AM for 13 months out and Friday for 13 months out. Also at 12 months out you can wait list if needed. I too find a lot more availability at 12 months out than at 13 months. There are reasons but I won't derail this thread with the reasons this is the case. Also, make sure you're looking at multiple weeks and not trying to get the highest demand weeks like Xmas, NY, Spring break and the like. Make sure you're looking for a full week that starts on a day or days that the resorts schedule. For most it'll be Friday, Saturday or Sunday but Aruba Surf club for example also has weeks that start on Thursday and Monday. I think if you lean just a little more, are proactive, have some flexibility and use the wait list; you'll do much better than you've described.

 

[blhar15]

How do you use the wait list? I don't see any options on the website to do this or is this something you have to call in for? Thanks

 

[Dean]

How do you use the wait list? I don't see any options on the website to do this or is this something you have to call in for? Thanks

You have to call. Once the 12 month window opens you can wait list. You can't do this at 13 months out. They will hold your points though so those points will not be available for other usage unless you call them. I've only used it a few times but always had success even with difficult to get options.

 

[Pamplemousse]

How do you use the wait list? I don't see any options on the website to do this or is this something you have to call in for? Thanks

Dean answered you but I’ll add a few more details-
You can waitlist multiple things and they only hold the number of points need for the most expensive option.
You can also cancel a waitlist using the MVC chat or by phone.
If you find something you would like to book you can put it on the 15 minute hold and in my experience the waitlist was released fast enough to use the points to book.

 

[danill]

We have found Crystal Shores to be a tough one to book, especially for Gulf Front, but have had success for 3 years now at 13 months by looking online right as they open. If you miss, there is additional inventory at 12 months, and then it is hit or miss, with rooms going fast when they do pop up. I'd recommend waitlisting after the 12-month window.

 

[cindyandjp]

I got frustrated not being able to book Aruba at 13 months however I just booked it for late Sept. 2025 through Interval International. I reserved Las Vegas and then deposited my week to book Aruba. I did watch a few You Tube videos before doing it so that I understood how to make the trade. I also called a II rep and had them explain how it works too. The only drawback is that I am not guaranteed a room with a view but that is not a dealbreaker for me.

 

[Viv.Rob]

The international resorts do not belong to the points trust. They were all sold as weeks. So, there is almost never going to be any inventory available at any of them to release at 13 months out. Points inventory is only made available when a week's owner elects to trade their usage in a given year for points instead.

The best way to get a reservation at any of the international resorts is to try at 12 months if it's not available, put in a waitlist request so you have a chance of automatically matching when a week's owner trades for points.

I am somewhat new to booking using the MVC points system and the MVC waitlist. I booked 8 nights at the St. Kitts resort from March 14th to March 22nd, 2026. I submitted a waitlist request for two additional nights, March 22nd and 23rd, to extend my stay to 10 nights at the resort (March 14th to 24th).
I recently noticed on the MVC system that March 15th is available for 9 nights, which includes the 2 nights I want. I called the MVC Owner Services Representative, and she said that she cannot add the requested two nights to my current reservation. She said that I can change my current reservation to arrive on March 15th for 9 nights and wait list one night, March 14th, as I need to arrive at the resort on Saturday, March 14th. Note that I do not have enough points for both.
My questions are:
- If anyone has experience with the waitlist request, is the information provided accurate?
- Since this international resort is sold by the week, with arrival on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, should I change my current reservation from March 14th - 8 nights to March 15th - 9 nights?
- Should I wait until September or October when the week's owner elects to trade their usage this year for points?
- If anyone has experience with the waitlist, I would appreciate your advice on how to proceed.

 

[Pamplemousse]

It’s no

I am somewhat new to booking using the MVC points system and the MVC waitlist. I booked 8 nights at the St. Kitts resort from March 14th to March 22nd, 2026. I submitted a waitlist request for two additional nights, March 22nd and 23rd, to extend my stay to 10 nights at the resort (March 14th to 24th).
I recently noticed on the MVC system that March 15th is available for 9 nights, which includes the 2 nights I want. I called the MVC Owner Services Representative, and she said that she cannot add the requested two nights to my current reservation. She said that I can change my current reservation to arrive on March 15th for 9 nights and wait list one night, March 14th, as I need to arrive at the resort on Saturday, March 14th. Note that I do not have enough points for both.
My questions are:
- If anyone has experience with the waitlist request, is the information provided accurate?
- Since this international resort is sold by the week, with arrival on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, should I change my current reservation from March 14th - 8 nights to March 15th - 9 nights?
- Should I wait until September or October when the week's owner elects to trade their usage this year for points?
- If anyone has experience with the waitlist, I would appreciate your advice on how to proceed.

It’s not uncommon for resorts to restrict booking just a few nights.
Individual resorts are free to set their own policies- which is one reason why it is so frustrating that sales touts the flexibility of points.

That said, if that’s what you want keep checking the website in addition to the waitlist, still lots of time.
You could also make cancellable cash reservations in the same size/view unit if possible and continue to let the waitlist ride.

That said, if changing to the available 9 night reservation is an option for you that’s probably the easiest path.

 

[Steve A]

The Ritz Carlton Club in San Francisco is easy to book with abound points. The RC in Vail is nearly impossible.

 

[Marriottsrule]

I am somewhat new to booking using the MVC points system and the MVC waitlist. I booked 8 nights at the St. Kitts resort from March 14th to March 22nd, 2026. I submitted a waitlist request for two additional nights, March 22nd and 23rd, to extend my stay to 10 nights at the resort (March 14th to 24th).
I recently noticed on the MVC system that March 15th is available for 9 nights, which includes the 2 nights I want. I called the MVC Owner Services Representative, and she said that she cannot add the requested two nights to my current reservation. She said that I can change my current reservation to arrive on March 15th for 9 nights and wait list one night, March 14th, as I need to arrive at the resort on Saturday, March 14th. Note that I do not have enough points for both.
My questions are:
- If anyone has experience with the waitlist request, is the information provided accurate?
- Since this international resort is sold by the week, with arrival on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, should I change my current reservation from March 14th - 8 nights to March 15th - 9 nights?
- Should I wait until September or October when the week's owner elects to trade their usage this year for points?
- If anyone has experience with the waitlist, I would appreciate your advice on how to proceed.

Vivrob…how many people are you bringing??? If your guest can come March 15th you should just book the hotel as a back up! It’s available now for $331 a night…but just as a back up because most likely the waitlist reservation will happen by then! But this way you can book the airfare and be stress free! That’s what’s nice about Marriott being so big now…there is always a hotel nearby or some share a hotel on the same grounds like St. Kitts! From what I have heard you only get waitlisted if there is a really high chance of it getting it fulfilled…can anyone else chime in on that statement?

 

[timtax]

We are chairman level with MVC for three years now and finding it very difficult to book places we want to go to. They told me I can book 13 months out, but even when I check at certain places on day one of the 13 months, there is still no availability. This is my biggest complaint about the club so far. We have had some nice vacations already and really like the resorts we have been to.

It's interesting because I have done points reservations pretty easily compared to Interval trades lately. I have 1 BR high demand weeks at Canyon Villas and Shadow Ridge on deposit and yet can't get a match using OGS or instant exchange for February or March in Kauai, Oahu, Aruba, Phoenix or Mallorca (Sept). I set up the OGS back in February and no matches. Things seem more difficult for me this year.

 

[Viv.Rob]

Vivrob…how many people are you bringing??? If your guest can come March 15th you should just book the hotel as a backup! It’s available now for $331 a night…but just as a backup because most likely the waitlist reservation will happen by then! But this way you can book the airfare and be stress free! That’s what’s nice about Marriott being so big now…there is always a hotel nearby or some share a hotel on the same grounds like St. Kitts! From what I have heard you only get waitlisted if there is a really high chance of it getting it fulfilled…can anyone else chime in on that statement?

Marriottsrule and Pamplemousse... Thanks for your advice and possible options.
I anticipate bringing four people and need a two-bedroom accommodation, preferably with an ocean view or ocean-facing location. I am hoping to book the airfare on September approximately 6 months before travelling, so I have some time. I like the idea of booking a free cancellation cash reservation for one night while at the same time of being on the waitlist for that night. I hope to get my request fulfilled.

 

[Viv.Rob]

Update on

Marriottsrule and Pamplemousse... Thanks for your advice and possible options.
I anticipate bringing four people and need a two-bedroom accommodation, preferably with an ocean view or ocean-facing location. I am hoping to book the airfare in September, approximately 6 months before travelling, so I have some time. I like the idea of booking a free cancellation cash reservation for one night while at the same time of being on the waitlist for that night. I hope to get my request fulfilled.

It’s no

It’s not uncommon for resorts to restrict booking just a few nights.
Individual resorts are free to set their own policies- which is one reason why it is so frustrating that sales touts the flexibility of points.

That said, if that’s what you want keep checking the website in addition to the waitlist, still lots of time.
You could also make cancellable cash reservations in the same size/view unit if possible and continue to let the waitlist ride.

That said, if changing to the available 9 night reservation is an option for you that’s probably the easiest path.

Update: Yesterday, I contacted the MVC owner services to change the reservation from March 14 - 8 nights + wait list March 22 and 23 to March 15 - 9 nights + wait list March 14. I mentioned to the representative (Luis) that my objective is to make a reservation of a two-bedroom oceanside on March 14 for 10 nights. He was extremely helpful, and after 20 minutes, he completed the reservation that I wanted.

 

[winger]

Be sure you are looking at the ‘when can I book’ calculator on the owners site and noting the dates based on brand too.
If you don’t get it on minute 1 of 13 month release keep looking repeatedly- inventory is always changing sometimes by the hour if people cancel. Look minute 1 at 12 months too and place a waitlist and keep looking if you don’t find what you want. It’s a process, not a one time time chance.

I have personally booked a number of ways- minute 1 @12 months, getting lucky and finding what I wanted sitting in inventory @3 months, waitlisting, collecting nights as they showed up until I had my full stay.

Sounds like a lot of work
Wait, don't most owner updates come with promises of personalized help with bookings and such?

 

[winger]

...Make sure you understand exactly when the units you want will come onboard which is 13 months out on Tuesday at 9 AM for 13 months out and Friday for 13 months out. ...

Hi Dean. Can you clarify, not clear about the point Tue vs Fri