Newbie- Ease of booking?

[AFitt143]

Hey all! We recently acquired 1500 MVC abound points with a bonus of 3000 for a total of 4500 to use in 2025 or 6000+ in 2026. Our use year is August and we would love to set our expectations of what may realistically be available to book in August 2024 for a June or July 2025 2 bedroom for one week in the Caribbean. We’ve tried to research and are having a hard time finding a resource that shows availability at 12 months out for differing resorts. Thank you!!!

 

[claraj]

First - assuming you paid developers price, are you sure you don't want to rescind and save a lot of $ ? I almost fell obligated to at least ask.

 

[claraj]

Regarding your question, it depends on which resort. Some might be easier and if you get on the wait-list, something may come through with some patience.

 

[Hindsite]

If you are in the time to rescind seriously consider doing that as time isn't on your side. Then you can research and really understand what you ae buying. Any deal they offered you will be available again, no matter what they say.

1) Here is the points chart so you can browse what you get for what you've bought. The Caribbean starts on page 88. Take a bit of time to understand the data in the chart as it isn't intuitive.

https://vacationpointexchange.com/pointschart/points_charts_2025.pdf

2) You've bought the smallest package and typically that means you can't find what you need, so the next time you go to a sale presentation you complain about that so they sell you more points as the solution, and so the cycle continues.

3) June/July in the Caribbean is mid to low season due to hurricane risk, less so with Aruba. For example 2-bed St Kitts for 1 week would be 2,700 club points. You can probably buy that on the open market for $3,000-3,500, so compare that with the purchase cost plus maint fees of the club points to see if it is worth it for you. You can look up what the marriott.com website would charge for any of the weeks or resorts you are interested in. If the cost via timeshare isn't at least 30% cheaper than what is publicly available then it isn't a good deal to have the timeshare. As its not peak season then you stand a good chance of getting bookings in your time period, you may have to waitlist, but it should happen.

4) As above from claraj, there are much cheaper ways to achieve what you want, so take a look at those.

5) If you are past the recission period then you are probably going to need to look into buying more, resale of course, to ensure that you can achieve your needs.

All the best

 

[Hindsite]

Duplicate - ignore

 

[Pamplemousse]

Hey all! We recently acquired 1500 MVC abound points with a bonus of 3000 for a total of 4500 to use in 2025 or 6000+ in 2026. Our use year is August and we would love to set our expectations of what may realistically be available to book in August 2024 for a June or July 2025 2 bedroom for one week in the Caribbean. We’ve tried to research and are having a hard time finding a resource that shows availability at 12 months out for differing resorts. Thank you!!!

Also agree rescind if you can…
Do you have an MVC owners account yet? That will be the way you can see what is available. You will also find the booking dates and points charts on MVC owner site under resources, helpful tools.
A week at Aruba Ocean club 2BR in June is 3500-4525 depending on view, St. Thomas is 2975.

 

[jwalk03]

I will join the chorus- you should rescind if you still can. You way overpaid.

The non- US resorts can be tough to book with points because none of them belong to the US based land trust. So the only time there is inventory available for a points booking is when a weeks owner at one of those resorts trades there usage for points in a given year. Summer is not high season though, so assuming you are flexible its likely you can get a week at one of them. Especially if you use the wait-list option.

 

[curitiba_tapley]

Hey all! We recently acquired 1500 MVC abound points with a bonus of 3000 for a total of 4500 to use in 2025 or 6000+ in 2026. Our use year is August and we would love to set our expectations of what may realistically be available to book in August 2024 for a June or July 2025 2 bedroom for one week in the Caribbean. We’ve tried to research and are having a hard time finding a resource that shows availability at 12 months out for differing resorts. Thank you!!!

The advice to rescind is right. But if you are not able to do that because you missed the window, then learning how to use your points is what is critical. Not learning is what causes many owners to sour on timeshares. That doesn't need to be the case.

1,500 points isn't a lot to start with, learning how to use them and getting comfortable with the MVC system is essential for you and your family to enjoy years of great vacations. Here are some things (not all by any means) that I found useful as my wife and I started this journey about 10 years ago and we had just about the same number of points:

1. Book as early as possible, 12-months out. You can check on https://www.marriottvacationclubs.com to log into your account, and then under Use Points --> Plan --> When Can I Book? to find the earliest you can book using your points.
2. Realize that getting a full-week at a resort during the high season won't be possible based on the points you have
3. Stretch your points by booking check-ins on Sunday and check-outs on Fridays (e.g. 5 days) - cost to stay Friday and Saturday nights often double from Sunday - Thursday; the trips are shorter, but you get to experience the resort(s) you desire
4. Look for the shoulder dates, meaning a few weeks +/- from the high seasons week, and off-season times, each resort has its own points chart and you can get a feeling of when these dates are.
5. Bank or Barrow future years to do the BIG vacation that you desire - you're still paying the Maintenance Fees (MFs) in the years you don't travel, however, you are taking those dream vacations you were sold

Final word of advice, read about MVC here, learn from the experts - and go to Youtube to watch videos - Jeremy does a great job. If and when the time is right and you want to increase your ownership you'll be better prepared to do it at a lower cost and with the product that is right for you and your family.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Adding to @curitiba_tapley excellent post-

You can also rent points if you need extra on vacation point exchange.

Jeremy‘s (dioxide) YouTube channel is called destination timeshare.

 

[davidvel]

One hit wonder.

 

[craft]

The advice to rescind is right. But if you are not able to do that because you missed the window, then learning how to use your points is what is critical. Not learning is what causes many owners to sour on timeshares. That doesn't need to be the case.

1,500 points isn't a lot to start with, learning how to use them and getting comfortable with the MVC system is essential for you and your family to enjoy years of great vacations. Here are some things (not all by any means) that I found useful as my wife and I started this journey about 10 years ago and we had just about the same number of points:

1. Book as early as possible, 12-months out. You can check on https://www.marriottvacationclubs.com to log into your account, and then under Use Points --> Plan --> When Can I Book? to find the earliest you can book using your points.
2. Realize that getting a full-week at a resort during the high season won't be possible based on the points you have
3. Stretch your points by booking check-ins on Sunday and check-outs on Fridays (e.g. 5 days) - cost to stay Friday and Saturday nights often double from Sunday - Thursday; the trips are shorter, but you get to experience the resort(s) you desire
4. Look for the shoulder dates, meaning a few weeks +/- from the high seasons week, and off-season times, each resort has its own points chart and you can get a feeling of when these dates are.
5. Bank or Barrow future years to do the BIG vacation that you desire - you're still paying the Maintenance Fees (MFs) in the years you don't travel, however, you are taking those dream vacations you were sold

Final word of advice, read about MVC here, learn from the experts - and go to Youtube to watch videos - Jeremy does a great job. If and when the time is right and you want to increase your ownership you'll be better prepared to do it at a lower cost and with the product that is right for you and your family.

Excellent advice.. Learning to maximize your 1,500 points is crucial. Early booking, aiming for shoulder seasons, and being strategic with your stays can help you make the most of your timeshare...

 

[AFitt143]

Thank you! Super helpful advice and we appreciate it so very much. We also have Disney DVC points so we are somewhat familiar with point systems and booking far in advance. We are intending to bank points so we use 2 years worth of DVC points one year for a bigger vacation and MVC the following year and alternating as we go. I would say our largest concern currently is being able to get a week in a beach front 2 bedroom for summer at 12 months out every other year via MVC. We still have one daughter in high school (son starting college) so we will need to work around her schedule for the next two years as much as possible.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Thank you! Super helpful advice and we appreciate it so very much. We also have Disney DVC points so we are somewhat familiar with point systems and booking far in advance. We are intending to bank points so we use 2 years worth of DVC points one year for a bigger vacation and MVC the following year and alternating as we go. I would say our largest concern currently is being able to get a week in a beach front 2 bedroom for summer at 12 months out every other year via MVC. We still have one daughter in high school (son starting college) so we will need to work around her schedule for the next two years as much as possible.

Plan in advance and know your location and dates then use the “when can I book” calculator on the MVC site under resources, helpful tolls and be ready to book online or by phone at 9AM EST on the release date.