Need info related to MVCI and Ko Olina

[FlyerBobcat]

Got a(nother) call from Marriott Vacations tonight related to vacation "special". The rep got me interested in a 6-day (5 night) stay at KoOlina for $748 for the efficiency (studio?). The 1-BR is an extra $200 for the 5 nights.

$198 deposit if/when I accept the offer, and 18 months to use it. Price includes taxes. No TS tour required.

They have my name and information from a week stay at Waiohai in October, and a long weekend (and TS tour) on HHI (Monarch) last summer. (I had talked to him last month for a bit, and we agreed to talk again later.)

This special can be used/tranferred to Kauai or Maui, or can be transferred to be used (at a lower price) to use Marriott resorts in Orlando/Phoenix, etc.

Questions:
1) Any one with experience getting such an offer? And if so, did it work out?

2) What should I be looking out for here? What am I missing? What else should I ask when I talk again in a few days?

3) Do the studio and the 1BR (when combined) equal the 2BR floorplan that I see on the MVCI web?

TIA

 

[tango]

We have been to Ko Olina and it is a nice place. We were not there on a special however. It does seem to be a little pricey for what is essentially a teaser to get you interested in the property.
We have taken Marriott up on a similar deal at the Newport Coast Villas, and it went as advertised.
I do believe that since most of the units at Ko Olina are 2 bedroom lock offs, that you are right about the division of the studio and the 1 bedroom.
If you are interested in experiencing Ko Olina, and it seems like a reasonable price to you, I'd say, go for it. But be sure that you can make a plan and stick with it.

 

[LAX Mom]

I've recently received many of these calls from Marriott sales. It's a good deal if you can make the dates work with your schedule. They will book an open package and then you can later chose the dates. That was my concern, that the dates I wanted wouldn't be available.

You also have the option to book dates now, that would probably be a safer way to go.

 

[capjak]

I've done these in Orlando, Maui and the Big Island great deals usually included a rent a car as well. You can usually add on nights once you book at a reduced price as well. This is the first one that I have heard of that did not require a timeshare presentation.

If you are going on a vacation in the next 18 months and marriott has the resort/area you want I would do it.

 

[Pens_Fan]

We did one of the deals in Aruba.

We did have to sit through the 90 minute presentation.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

extending??

Thanks for all the responses so far.....

I think I'll call the Marriott rep back and see what they offer to extend the stay, especially if I can tie in another island. I haven't been to Maui in a while....
But let's say that I have to plan Maui (or BI/Kauai) on my own for 4 or 5 nights. What non-hotel options exist that the TUG community can expand on -- say for 4 nights???? (My only TS is a Marriott Grande Ocean - resale.)

 

[jancurious]

We did this Ko Olina package in 2007. They held it for me for over a year while I lined up two back to back exchanges so we had a little over 2 1/2 weeks at the resort. The 1 BR back then was $100 more and it included an ocean view.

We thought it was a great deal because it also included a rental car. We did have to take the tour.

Jan

 

[pharmgirl]

Seems to be good availability for Marriott award reservations in Hawaii - lots of "lock off" or efficiency rooms available for awards, we also found full one BR for before and after our stay at KoOlina

This is our favorite vacation spot in Hawaii