Newbie considering Marriott trader for Ko'Olina

[YuzuYou]

I'm considering buying a 2-bed trader to get into Ko'Olina. That's where we'd like to go yearly for the next 3-6 years (after that we are likely to go elsewhere). Although we are tied to school schedules, we live on Oahu so don't have to worry about aligning dates with flights, and could cut into school schedule if push comes to shove. Also, the week I want is second week in October which I'd guess is less competitive.

• If it turns out this doesn't work for us, the deed-back program is hassle-free?
• Is Abound the points-based program, and we don't get access to that with a resale? Are there any other limitations with resale deeds?
• If our main goal is trading, how imperative is it to get a Platinum week versus Gold?
• Does Ko'Olina ever pop up on II Get Aways? If so, do I have to own a TS to join II?

I also have questions about how lock-offs work. Our family would always need a 2-bed. So I would have to buy a 3-bed LO in order to rent out the 1-bed side or trade in the 1-bed. But trading in the 1-bed means I'm limited to a 1-bed for that "extra week", correct? We would not need a 3-bed for Ko'Olina, just trying to figure out if it makes sense for us to spend more for a 3-bed LO.

Willow Ridge, Grande Vista, and Desert Springs I are the properties I'm looking at. Would you consider one to be a better trader than the other? We are unlikely to ever use any of these traders in-person (with the exception of Desert Springs I if we got stationed in CA). Anything else I should think about? Thanks!

 

[echino]

The cheapest Marriott trader in terms of maintenance fees is Phuket Beach Club - about $1,200 yearly fees. These are only two bedroom units, no lock offs.

If you prefer a US based week, then a 3br at Grand Chateau is the next best choice. It locks off in 2br + 1br, so you could make two trades for one week. You can potentially exchange 1br for a 2br by paying a size upgrade fee in II.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I'm considering buying a 2-bed trader to get into Ko'Olina. That's where we'd like to go yearly for the next 3-6 years (after that we are likely to go elsewhere). Although we are tied to school schedules, we live on Oahu so don't have to worry about aligning dates with flights, and could cut into school schedule if push comes to shove. Also, the week I want is second week in October which I'd guess is less competitive.

• If it turns out this doesn't work for us, the deed-back program is hassle-free?
• Is Abound the points-based program, and we don't get access to that with a resale? Are there any other limitations with resale deeds?
• If our main goal is trading, how imperative is it to get a Platinum week versus Gold?
• Does Ko'Olina ever pop up on II Get Aways? If so, do I have to own a TS to join II?

I also have questions about how lock-offs work. Our family would always need a 2-bed. So I would have to buy a 3-bed LO in order to rent out the 1-bed side or trade in the 1-bed. But trading in the 1-bed means I'm limited to a 1-bed for that "extra week", correct? We would not need a 3-bed for Ko'Olina, just trying to figure out if it makes sense for us to spend more for a 3-bed LO.

Willow Ridge, Grande Vista, and Desert Springs I are the properties I'm looking at. Would you consider one to be a better trader than the other? We are unlikely to ever use any of these traders in-person (with the exception of Desert Springs I if we got stationed in CA). Anything else I should think about? Thanks!

When you exchange on II you can request any size unit you want. You pay $99 per step up in size. But your trading power is lower trying to get a larger unit than you gave- ie-you have more trading power to get a 2 br exchanging with 2 br than a 1 br.
But trading power has other factors too such as the TDI of your week so the 1br may be sufficient especially if you request early.

Be sure you consider the costs of exchanging- $99/ year II membership, around $200 exchange fee per week, any upsize fee, eplus or insurance, lock off fee.

Also there is never a guarantee your trade will come through (especially on busy school vacation weeks) and no view choice or guarantee with II.

Have you run the numbers? Does purchase + yearly maintenance + yearly exchange costs come out less than simply renting your stay- either directly off Marriott.com or from red week or such and easily booking exactly what you want?

Resale weeks work the same as original legacy weeks purchased from MVC.
You will likely need to sell your week if you decide you don’t like it.
You can’t easily enroll your resale in abound- it may be possible with a significant points purchase.

You do need to own a TS to initially get an II membership ( you can keep membership after you sell if you keep paying).
Getaways are let over inventory so it is unlikely you would find a good deal on school vacation week.

I’ll add that I’m not trying to talk you out of buying. We travelled all over with II exchanges while the kids were young and continue now. But we never limited it to one week and one resort.

 

[jont]

I am a big believer in buying where you want to go. Since you live on Oahu, I would strongly consider buying a resale week at KoOlina. You will most likely have a better chance of getting the week(s) you want as opposed to trading in thru II. You will also have control over the size and view you get. The downside is the greater maintenance fees but they may be worth it to have more control. I’m pretty sure KoOlina is a good trader and has good renting potential. You may be able to get day passes to use the facilities when you are not staying there(not sure if they are available at KoOlina)
Good luck with your decision. You came to the right place to get lots of good opinions and advice.

 

[frank808]

I live on Oahu and have been trading into MKO well over 13 years. For the past decade, have been averaging about 42+ weeks a year. Best part is if an exchange doesnt come in, we can stay home. I have gotten trades from 12 months out to the day of check in.

As you know, trading is not guaranteed but living on island mitigates that risk.

Buy a good platinum trader and at the worst you would just give the week to someone else if trading doesn't work for you are you want to get rid of unit.
No abound points for a resale purchase. Only way to get abound enrolled weeks is to buy week direct or enroll with a direct purchase.
I would say get a platinum over a gold for trading purposes. Oct is not really a hard time to trade for but the platinum weeks are stronger in trading.
I used to see MKO on getaways but it has been many many years since I have seen one. The one exception was during the early days of Covid during March-June of 2020 there were getaways on II. You have to be a member of II to book getaways.

The traders I would buy would be Willowridge or Grand Vista 2br plat units. Willowridge edges out GV for the slightly lower MF.

 

[SteelerGal]

Another option. Haven’t tried but I own Plat Marriott Harbor Lake. I basically got it for free so skipped GV.

 

[dioxide45]

I think if you want to be guaranteed a week at the resort every year, your best bet is to buy that resort. They always say to buy where you want to go. By the time you add the exchange fees, upgrade fees, lock off fees and other fees, you won't be that far off the maintenance fee of a 2BR at Ko'olina.

 

[b2bailey]

I'm of the opinion that the only guarantee is the week you buy.
I own a 2 bedroom at Newport Beach. I was able to exchange into a 2 bedroom at Ko-Olina ONCE.

If it was easy to exchange in -- why would anyone buy Ko-Olina?

 

[davidvel]

I'm of the opinion that the only guarantee is the week you buy.
I own a 2 bedroom at Newport Beach. I was able to exchange into a 2 bedroom at Ko-Olina ONCE.

If it was easy to exchange in -- why would anyone buy Ko-Olina?

Ko Olina is very easy to exchange in. We routinely exchange our desert studio or 1BR for 2BR in shoulder seasons.

 

[pchung6]

Just buy where you want to stay. You get much better view and higher floor at Ko Olina. I learned my lesson many years ago when we were assigned to dumpster view at 2nd or 3rd floor via exchange.

 

[terminaluser]

Ko Olina is very easy to exchange in. We routinely exchange our desert studio or 1BR for 2BR in shoulder seasons.

What's months would you consider shoulder season for Ko Olina?

I can kind of get an idea looking at the TDI chart for MKO https://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=MKO but there are months where it is just starting to pick up in TDI but not at peak yet.
e.g. week 22 late may/ start of june or week 32 33 mid august. aka right before kids start getting out of school and starting to get back in school.

 

[dioxide45]

What's months would you consider shoulder season for Ko Olina?

I can kind of get an idea looking at the TDI chart for MKO https://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=MKO but there are months where it is just starting to pick up in TDI but not at peak yet.
e.g. week 22 late may/ start of june or week 32 33 mid august. aka right before kids start getting out of school and starting to get back in school.

Generally for warm weather locations (Hawaii, Florida, Aruba, Mexico), May and then September through mid December are shoulder season.

 

[davidvel]

What's months would you consider shoulder season for Ko Olina?

I can kind of get an idea looking at the TDI chart for MKO https://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=MKO but there are months where it is just starting to pick up in TDI but not at peak yet.
e.g. week 22 late may/ start of june or week 32 33 mid august. aka right before kids start getting out of school and starting to get back in school.

There are usually bulk banks form late Oct -early December, and late April through early June. You can count on thee like clockwork each year, easy to upgrade trade to 2BR with Marriott.

Ko Olina also shows up throughout the year.

 

[Dean]

What's months would you consider shoulder season for Ko Olina?

I can kind of get an idea looking at the TDI chart for MKO https://www.intervalworld.com/web/cs?a=1503&resortCode=MKO but there are months where it is just starting to pick up in TDI but not at peak yet.
e.g. week 22 late may/ start of june or week 32 33 mid august. aka right before kids start getting out of school and starting to get back in school.

What are you trying to accomplish? Ko Olina is not a difficult reservation or exchange with planning. I would consider January, late April, May, and Sept through mid Dec (week 50) to be of lower demand there but even then it varies a lot between different weeks.