New to Abound

[Krishogan]

Hi, we have owned with Vistana. We have been approached and did a video call with someone from Abound Marriott. We were never offered the “ hybrid” points and they are now trying to sell us them to get us to be Marriott vacation owners.
Questions:
1. Is this worth doing?
2. Do I need to do this through Marriott to become a Marriott vacation owners? Or can I just purchase resale points?
3. What I’m being offered is 1500 points (is this annual?) for $24,090. Promo points 4500, Bonvoy points 145,000.

 

[davidvel]

Do not accept this offer, it is full (over) priced. Others will give details.

 

[daviator]

You could buy the same points resale for less than half that price, including the fee you’d have to pay Marriott to register the points. The end result would be exactly the same as if you’d bought from them, except you’d be out a fraction of the money.

But know what you are buying. 1500 points won’t get you much. Make sure you understand where you might like to go and when, and what that would cost (in points) so you have an idea of the value.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Don't sign anything.

 

[Krishogan]

You could buy the same points resale for less than half that price, including the fee you’d have to pay Marriott to register the points. The end result would be exactly the same as if you’d bought from them, except you’d be out a fraction of the money.

But know what you are buying. 1500 points won’t get you much. Make sure you understand where you might like to go and when, and what that would cost (in points) so you have an idea of the value.

The only + from their side would be I could book trips and use points 13 months out being an owner rather than 8 months. Is it worth it?

 

[Eric B]

The only + from their side would be I could book trips and use points 13 months out being an owner rather than 8 months. Is it worth it?

Is your ownership at Westin Lagunamar enrolled in VSN? I kind of presume that it is because you cite the ability to book trips as an owner at 8 months. If it is in VSN, you should also be able to convert the StarOptions to Abound Club points and use them to book in Abound at 12 or 13 months depending on your owner level. What you really need to do is figure out what you already have and can do first before you think about investing in anything more.

Lagunamar is a great ownership both in VSN and in Abound. A 2 BR Platinum converts to 4,950 Abound Club Points; 1 BR Platinum to 3,250; studio platinum to 2,250; 2 BR Gold to 3,400; 1 BR Gold to 2,275; and studio gold to 1,525. The maintenance fee per point for those is much better than the points they are offering to sell you.

 

[iftravel]

Is your ownership at Westin Lagunamar enrolled in VSN? I kind of presume that it is because you cite the ability to book trips as an owner at 8 months. If it is in VSN, you should also be able to convert the StarOptions to Abound Club points and use them to book in Abound at 12 or 13 months depending on your owner level. What you really need to do is figure out what you already have and can do first before you think about investing in anything more.

Lagunamar is a great ownership both in VSN and in Abound. A 2 BR Platinum converts to 4,950 Abound Club Points; 1 BR Platinum to 3,250; studio platinum to 2,250; 2 BR Gold to 3,400; 1 BR Gold to 2,275; and studio gold to 1,525. The maintenance fee per point for those is much better than the points they are offering to sell you.

If you own 2bed LO, are you able to elect only one side for Abound points, and the other for SO, or use, etc.

 

[Hindsite]

The only + from their side would be I could book trips and use points 13 months out being an owner rather than 8 months. Is it worth it?

You can book from Abound club points inventory at 13 months, not in VSN. All the reservation systems remain separate so you aren't getting a jump on anyone.
In Abound, Sheraton and Westin inventory is not available earlier than 12 months ahead either.
Club points can be an expensive use of ownership, depending on where and when you want to go, so "in general" its not worth it just for the possibility that you might use it.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

If you own 2bed LO, are you able to elect only one side for Abound points, and the other for SO, or use, etc.

No

 

[daviator]

The only + from their side would be I could book trips and use points 13 months out being an owner rather than 8 months. Is it worth it?

As @Hindsite said, you can't book Vistana properties 13 months out, only Marriott properties. And from what I have heard, they don't release a lot of inventory at 13 months, so many people strike out and have to search at 12 months when they release more. Also, inventory at some properties is very limited in Abound, so depending on where you want to go, you might have a theoretical ability to book a property that in reality was almost worthless.

For example, several of the Vistana properties were basically sold out when Vistana was added to Abound. Those properties have very little inventory in the Abound trust. So there might be lots of inventory available through VSN (StarOptions) and no inventory available through Abound. (At another property, the reverse can be true.)