Opinion sought on Points vs Legacy Weeks for MVC

[deluxe]

Hi Folks. I am new to TUG so apologize for the question. My wife and I have ownership at Marriott Shadow Ridge. She has platinum every year Enclaves and I have every other year Platinum Enclaves as well. We have resisted the points because we use use the weeks at the same property every year. So we finally went to presentation after all these years and they say you can opt for point each year and it is no longer all or nothing. Would like to know your opinion of the points program and whether you like it or not. We are not going to buy points so just want to know if you have experience trading over to the points and what your thoughts are good and/or buy. Thank you!

 

[BJRSanDiego]

I own 4 Marriott weeks (Palm Desert) and pay about $2200 per owned week. My perception is that the cost of the points needed to book a week is roughly about the same (although booking off season would be less and booking prime season may be more). But I always split my weeks and trade them through Interval, so the cost per booked week is about $1100. So, even though I own weeks at DSV1, DSV2 and Shadow Ridge I have always exchanged in to those same locations rather than using my home week and I have always exchanged into a 2 BR unit. Yes, there is a cost to split and to upgrade the unit size, but for me that works.

I think that one of the advantages of the points system is if a person just wanted to book less than a full week or was trying to stretch their points by booking Sunday to Friday (or whatever the particular lower-cost days are).

 

[daviator]

The points program isn't terrible. I sometimes elect for Abound points with one or more of my ownerships. This is something you really only want to do if you want to go to different property(s) than the one you own. In general, if you elect points and then want to book Shadow Ridge with those points, it may cost you more (points) than you received for electing points (people call that difference the "skim.") There can be exceptions (like if you are trying to book a very low-demand week with Abound points, it might cost fewer points than you received for electing your week) so if you KNOW exactly when you want to travel, you can check the Abound points chart and see if it would be a good deal to elect and use points vs. just using your week. But remember that you have to elect by June 30 (IIRC) of the prior year, if you miss that deadline then you wouldn't have the option to use points for the subsequent year.

We have to go to Miami a couple of times next year for graduation events, so I elected one of my ownerships to Abound and was able to book the rooms we need at the MVC Doral that way.

But if you want to keep going to Shadow Ridge every year, the simplest choice is to just use your weeks as you've always done. DO NOT buy more points unless you are trying to get more MVC vacation time, and you're ok with paying the additional maintenance fees every year. And (in my opinion) do not let them talk you into "trading in" your weeks for points.

 

[WBP]

Hi Folks. I am new to TUG so apologize for the question. My wife and I have ownership at Marriott Shadow Ridge. She has platinum every year Enclaves and I have every other year Platinum Enclaves as well. We have resisted the points because we use use the weeks at the same property every year. So we finally went to presentation after all these years and they say you can opt for point each year and it is no longer all or nothing. Would like to know your opinion of the points program and whether you like it or not. We are not going to buy points so just want to know if you have experience trading over to the points and what your thoughts are good and/or buy. Thank you!

Good for you for asking.

I would not believe one word that you hear from the mouth of anyone from the sales or marketing department of Marriott Vacations Worldwide. No one.

 

[vacationtime1]

Good for you for asking.

I would not believe one word that you hear from the mouth of anyone from the sales or marketing department of Marriott Vacations Worldwide. No one.

+1

Ask your questions here. We are not paid on commission; they are.

 

[davidvel]

Hi Folks. I am new to TUG so apologize for the question. My wife and I have ownership at Marriott Shadow Ridge. She has platinum every year Enclaves and I have every other year Platinum Enclaves as well. We have resisted the points because we use use the weeks at the same property every year. So we finally went to presentation after all these years and they say you can opt for point each year and it is no longer all or nothing. Would like to know your opinion of the points program and whether you like it or not. We are not going to buy points so just want to know if you have experience trading over to the points and what your thoughts are good and/or buy. Thank you!

When did you guys buy your weeks? If before June 2010, you can enroll them for free (+annual club dues.) This makes your weeks enrolled, and you can CHOOSE to elect on a year by year basis. This was ALWAYS the case, so salesperson lied to you right there.

This would only be advantageous if you wanted to use weeks at times for cheaper mid week stays at resorts, or trade with II. This is because you get free II membership, free lock off, free MVC to MVC and related brands trades (including unlimited free retrades.)

But it may take a little work to combine title and put in a single account to avoid double dues.

 

[Hindsite]

I think that one of the advantages of the points system is if a person just wanted to book less than a full week or was trying to stretch their points by booking Sunday to Friday (or whatever the particular lower-cost days are).

The difference between what an MVC week elects for and the points needed to book many of the weeks, means it can still be better value to exchange via II and just arrive or leave early, than to use Club points. II getaways and accom certs are another way to get better value than can be had via Abound. Where it can help is if certainty of unit view type is particularly important to you. With club points you get the view type that you book, with II you aren't guaranteed the view type and it can be better or worse than booking via Abound. Even owners get dumpster views....

I keep trying to find value in using club points for how we travel and usually just burn them on additional days for an II reservation.