Newbie - question about where to buy

[jenfed]

I am new to timesharing - several of my friends have them and I am interested in Marriott.

Originally I was thinking of Horizons Orlando since I have a 3 and 7 year old and it sounds great, but after reading the boards I wonder if I should purchase elsewhere since trading into Orlando should not be a problem. My parents are considering a move to NC, near the boarder of SC not far from Myrtle Beach and now I am thinking maybe Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach...it would mean we would be near my folks but not have to necessarily stay with them every time. But I still want to be able to exchange and go to other places...what do you think? I'd be looking at Gold, since our primary vacationing would be at the end of August or the Spring.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[lprstn]

I would purchase in Myrtle Beach, that is a beautiful property and should trade extremely well into Orlando (just try to get a summer or spring break time week). Also, its at a location you will most often use at least 30% of the time, and the location has lots to offer.

Of course, purchase "Resale" and enjoy vacationing as a TS owner...

 

[capjak]

I would also reccomend that you put down what your vacation goals are:

1. Will I want to travel in the spring/fall (Gold time) when kids are older?
2. Will I want to travel to hotels? Is it worth the extra $$$ to me?
3. Jot down your next 5 years of vacations? Does Marriott have Timeshares there? Will I have to fly etc..

Just a thought.

Look at resale prices for the resort you want and compare that to buying from developer and determine what is best for you. Only you can determine what is best for you. Obvivous I know but sometimes I get caught up in all the excitement on these forums and think I want to buy...whereever is currently the buzz.

 

[DJensen]

We also were set on Horizons in Orlando, but now are looking elsewhere as Orlando seems fairly easy (per the posts on TUG) to get into. Our 2 boys are 9 and 7 and seems like a great place right now, but we were concerned about the years to come. We just got back from a rental at Grande Vista and the boys had a great time in those pools as well.

We are considering Manor Club at Ford Colony. I would suggest taking a look at the calendars (see FAQ for Marriott on how to access each of the resorts calendars) of your top TS spots as there is quite a bit of difference in weeks (and also what some of them are called).

 

[chc818]

I am new to timesharing - several of my friends have them and I am interested in Marriott.

Originally I was thinking of Horizons Orlando since I have a 3 and 7 year old and it sounds great, but after reading the boards I wonder if I should purchase elsewhere since trading into Orlando should not be a problem. My parents are considering a move to NC, near the boarder of SC not far from Myrtle Beach and now I am thinking maybe Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach...it would mean we would be near my folks but not have to necessarily stay with them every time. But I still want to be able to exchange and go to other places...what do you think? I'd be looking at Gold, since our primary vacationing would be at the end of August or the Spring.

Any help would be appreciated.

Coincidently I was thinking about Ocean Watch too, but merely for the points. THe following tread was very helpful for me. I decided not to buy retail for the points. If I decide to buy at all, I'll buy resale. Then with the money I save I'll buy points directly from Marriott if we need them (up to 50,000 points for $625 per year per spouse).
http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78455

 

[m61376]

Keep in mind that, esp. in off-season, Getaway weeks are plentiful in Orlando. You can purchase elsewhere (perhaps Ocean Watch as you suggested), join II and, even if you decide not to trade, purchase cheap Orlando Getaway weeks for less than the annual MF's. Something to consider....

- welcome to TUG, btw!

 

[McFail]

If you are willing to wait long enough to get inside a 60 day window an accomodation certificate will typically get you a quality week in Orlando. So, I almost always have an AC from a Marriott deposit or another week that I have. I've used AC's for Imperial Palms, Cypress Harbor, Grande Vista, Sheraton Vistana and Star Island. Always got a 2br or better. These weeks were in Apr, May and Oct. Most recently it was a 2BR at GV Memorial week this year.

 

[jenfed]

My husband's work schedule doesn't allow us to travel from January to June as a family right now. So we've been vacationing at the end of the summer. That's really why I would buy gold. As for Marriott locations...there are so many places I haven't been, I would be happy to try other locations as well as visit OW.

I would also reccomend that you put down what your vacation goals are:

1. Will I want to travel in the spring/fall (Gold time) when kids are older?
2. Will I want to travel to hotels? Is it worth the extra $$$ to me?
3. Jot down your next 5 years of vacations? Does Marriott have Timeshares there? Will I have to fly etc..

Just a thought.

Look at resale prices for the resort you want and compare that to buying from developer and determine what is best for you. Only you can determine what is best for you. Obvivous I know but sometimes I get caught up in all the excitement on these forums and think I want to buy...whereever is currently the buzz.

 

[tlwmkw]

Oceanwatch is a beautiful resort. I haven't been but everyone raves about it and the pictures I've seen look great. I would seriously look at that or at HHI given the location of the grandparents in NC.

Another consideration is that with the HHI or Myrtle Beach you can trade into DVC (Disney resorts) which you cannot do with the Orlando locations (Disney has a regional block so that no other Orlando resort can trade into them). With kids at those ages this might be fun for you since you would be on property at Disney. You would need to have a strong week to trade but from what others on the boards here say it is definitely possible.

tlwmkw

 

[luv2vacation]

I have been to OW and it is an absolutely gorgeous resort. I would've purchased there myself but personally wanted a L/O unit (my kids are grown), so I purchased a platinum week at OP instead (already own gold, which trades very well). I also love it there.

 

[m61376]

Another consideration- depending upon how close the OW property is to your parents- some resorts allow owners to have guest privileges for the day even when not staying at the resort. If it is close to your parents, it might be worth considering because buying there might (I don't know if OW is a resort that allows it) enable you to use the facilities when you are in the area.

 

[KathyPet]

I would issue you one warning about ocean Watch since you indicated you are looking at Gold weeks for the Spring and for AUgust. Many people are of the opinion that Marriott made a grave error when they designated the last two weeks of August as gold time at this resort. Many school systems in the Northeast do not start school until after Labor Day. As a result lots of purchasers bought gold time at Ocean Watch thinking that they would save some $ over platinum time and would vacation there the last two weeks of August before school started. As a result the demand for those two weeks is absolutely off the charts and there are tales of people who have tried for two and three years in a row to reserve one of those weeks and been unable to do so. Don't know if the situation is any better now that the opened the new building but I know that is was pretty bad.

 

[jenfed]

I have seen that posted here, and it concerns me too...I really only would want the gold for those last 2 weeks of August, since my daughters go to camp and I thought we would vacation when camp is over...maybe I am better off getting platinum and vacationing earlier in the summer ...I just like the idea of going to 8 weeks of camp and then going away, versus pulling them out in the middle of camp for a vacation...it's definitely something to think about if those weeks are really hard to get.

I would issue you one warning about ocean Watch since you indicated you are looking at Gold weeks for the Spring and for AUgust. Many people are of the opinion that Marriott made a grave error when they designated the last two weeks of August as gold time at this resort. Many school systems in the Northeast do not start school until after Labor Day. As a result lots of purchasers bought gold time at Ocean Watch thinking that they would save some $ over platinum time and would vacation there the last two weeks of August before school started. As a result the demand for those two weeks is absolutely off the charts and there are tales of people who have tried for two and three years in a row to reserve one of those weeks and been unable to do so. Don't know if the situation is any better now that the opened the new building but I know that is was pretty bad.

 

[m61376]

I don't know what the price differential is between Gold an Plat., but buying 2 Gold weeks may not be much more than buying 1 Plat. and would give you the 13 month advantage for booking those late August weeks, if that's when you really want to travel. You would have 2 MF's, though, but you could either visit there for 2 weeks or trade one of the reservations for somewhere else and/or another time. Something to consider at least.

I am not surprised that it is an issue, because while schools in the South start before Labor Day, many in the NE start afterwards. I know we always went away the last week of August and there were times that everyone I knew was away as well. I see you are from LI also, so it is likely that will be a favorite time to travel, at least until your daughters are college-aged.

 

[pwrshift]

Ocean Pointe has a nice gold season you might want to look at. Besides, they are lockoff suites and you're not stuck with a 2 bdrm suite in the future when the kids leave the nest -- for $75 you can split and get two weeks in a row instead of just one.

If Orlando is high on your list, consider the new Grande Lakes that opens 2010 ... it's in pre-construction pricing right now (direct only) and comes with a pile of MR points - up to a million depending on how much non-use you take. Search for Grande Lakes on TUG in the Marriott board as there has been a lot on it.

Brian

 

[kjd]

Getaway comparison with a lockoff

There is a certain fallacy about comparing the cost of a getaway week with the cost of an annual MF on lockoff units like MGV. It's like apples and oranges. However, I think it's a fair comparison with non-lockoff units but only if the comparison is for the same time of the year.

A locked off unit gives the owner two weeks of vacation, not one. Therefore, the MF should be cut in half for comparison purposes. Getaways are usually offered during the slow times of the year in places where there is excess inventory. A plat lockoff anywhere can usually be used to trade for choice platinum times at many different locations. Getaways are limited to the inventory on hand at a given moment.

Getaways are a good deal under the right circumstances. They are a supplement rather than a substitute to an owner's TS portfolio.