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Owning Vacation Club Points For $6.13 Per Point
- Thread starter Michigan Czar
- Start date
JeffandJamie
TUG Member
New to Timeshares
So our neighbors just bought into Marriott in Aruba Surf Club and we really like the idea of owning a timeshare. We are trying to determine what will be best for us to purchase. We love the Marriotts and the flexibility of the points system but it seems like they've made it impossible to buy re-sale. Thoughts? Is there a better points system to get started in?
So our neighbors just bought into Marriott in Aruba Surf Club and we really like the idea of owning a timeshare. We are trying to determine what will be best for us to purchase. We love the Marriotts and the flexibility of the points system but it seems like they've made it impossible to buy re-sale. Thoughts? Is there a better points system to get started in?
Hilton has a great point system, but currently lacks the locations that Marriott offers. Wyndham has a point system with many resorts, mostly on the east coast and Worldmark with resorts on the West coast.
If you'd like to join your neighbores in Aruba, I believe Aruba weeks bought through Marriott resale can still be enrolled in the Destinations club without an additional point purchase. Not as cheap as resale, but cheaper than buying trust points.
If you'd like to join your neighbores in Aruba, I believe Aruba weeks bought through Marriott resale can still be enrolled in the Destinations club without an additional point purchase. Not as cheap as resale, but cheaper than buying trust points.
JeffandJamie
TUG Member
Thanks for the pointers!
The only place we've been to so far has been the Marriott Ocean Club where we stayed in a 2 bedroom lock-off. It was a great place to stay but we really do not have much to compare it to. We are young so we do not have a lot of vacation experience but when we go anywhere, we usually go for the less expensive hotels. We'd like to try to do more, and a timeshare is our "excuse" to have a nice place to stay.
We are considering trying the other resorts i.e. Wyndham and Hilton through renting a week before we make a purchase. Marriott is very nice but it seems like they are attempting to make it almost impossible to buy resale and that concerns me for the long run if we ever did need to sell.
Buying resale DVC points still seems like an option but it takes away the perk of converting to hotel points (not a big deal to us). So I'm keeping my eyes out for points resales. I saw someone earlier in this thread mentioned a min $2000 fee basically to be able to use your points you purchased. Is that a pretty straight forward process? Or is it one big headache and not worth the $k you save?
Thank you again!
Jamie
The only place we've been to so far has been the Marriott Ocean Club where we stayed in a 2 bedroom lock-off. It was a great place to stay but we really do not have much to compare it to. We are young so we do not have a lot of vacation experience but when we go anywhere, we usually go for the less expensive hotels. We'd like to try to do more, and a timeshare is our "excuse" to have a nice place to stay.
We are considering trying the other resorts i.e. Wyndham and Hilton through renting a week before we make a purchase. Marriott is very nice but it seems like they are attempting to make it almost impossible to buy resale and that concerns me for the long run if we ever did need to sell.
Buying resale DVC points still seems like an option but it takes away the perk of converting to hotel points (not a big deal to us). So I'm keeping my eyes out for points resales. I saw someone earlier in this thread mentioned a min $2000 fee basically to be able to use your points you purchased. Is that a pretty straight forward process? Or is it one big headache and not worth the $k you save?
Thank you again!
Jamie
No one on tug has reported buying resale points. The governing docs apparently allow Marriott to restric the use of resale points, but other Tuggers have quoted conversations with Marriott that says otherwise. If you really want to pursue DC points I would use the package option, buy Aruba and enroll, or my favorite just rent.
Maintenance fees are currently $.41/pt and going up to I belive $.43. You can currently rent points for $.55-$.60/ point. You'll need the owner to make the reservation for you. Tuggers GregT and steventing started the site below to help owners. Renting is a great way to testdrive the system.
Maintenance fees are currently $.41/pt and going up to I belive $.43. You can currently rent points for $.55-$.60/ point. You'll need the owner to make the reservation for you. Tuggers GregT and steventing started the site below to help owners. Renting is a great way to testdrive the system.
Quadmaniac
TUG Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
- Messages
- 1,913
- Reaction score
- 217
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Resorts Owned
- Marriott Willow Ridge (x2), Ko Olina week 51 (x3) & 52(x2)
Is there a reason why you would not consider buying Aruba on resale (not from Marriott and just use it if you really want Aruba and not worry about the points ? It would be much cheaper buying resale on eBay or the marketplace here than Marriott resale or developer sale. Or buy a cheaper Marriott and trade into Aruba ?
It doesn't have to be an all or nothing situation. Points do give added flexibility but many of us manage quite well without points. I guess it all depends on how much you are prepare to pay for this flexibility. If you really like Marriotts buy a resale and trade into a few of the places to see what you think. If you really must have points you can later buy a resale from Marriott. Baby steps
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2006
- Messages
- 7,336
- Reaction score
- 370
- Location
- NY
- Resorts Owned
- Marriott Aruba Surf Club 2 & 3BRs
As suggested above, esp. if there is a place you'd like to revisit half the time or so, buying a resale week there is probably your best bet- it is the most economical way to get into the system, and guarantees you a reservation in your season at your home resort. Pure points owners have no home resort, and even with points it is subject to availability. Points do give you more flexibility, but the cost may or may not be worth it to you.
If you are considering other point systems rent a week from someone and make sure you like the accommodations, and feel free to ask a lot of questions on this and other forums here on Tug; don't buy until you understand the ins and outs of what you are purchasing. Timeshares are easy to buy, but hard to sell, so try to make an informed purchase.
If you are considering other point systems rent a week from someone and make sure you like the accommodations, and feel free to ask a lot of questions on this and other forums here on Tug; don't buy until you understand the ins and outs of what you are purchasing. Timeshares are easy to buy, but hard to sell, so try to make an informed purchase.
JeffandJamie
TUG Member
Points vs week
Thank you for all the input! The points systems really appeal to us because right now, we don't want to go to the same place every year. The points seem like the easiest way to go somewhere new every year. Aruba was great but we don't want to be stuck going there every year. Like I said, we haven't traveled much so far (we are in our late 20s) and want to go everywhere!
How easy is trading? If we did buy a Marriott resale say in Aruba is it an easy trade on II? An I able to check out II before I'm an owner?
Thanks Tuggers for all you're expertise! We are taking our time to learn first then buy. One other thing, eBay auctions for $1.00? What's the catch?
Jamie
Thank you for all the input! The points systems really appeal to us because right now, we don't want to go to the same place every year. The points seem like the easiest way to go somewhere new every year. Aruba was great but we don't want to be stuck going there every year. Like I said, we haven't traveled much so far (we are in our late 20s) and want to go everywhere!
How easy is trading? If we did buy a Marriott resale say in Aruba is it an easy trade on II? An I able to check out II before I'm an owner?
Thanks Tuggers for all you're expertise! We are taking our time to learn first then buy. One other thing, eBay auctions for $1.00? What's the catch?
Jamie
Quadmaniac
TUG Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
- Messages
- 1,913
- Reaction score
- 217
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Resorts Owned
- Marriott Willow Ridge (x2), Ko Olina week 51 (x3) & 52(x2)
If those are your goals you are much better off buying a platinum resale like Marriott Willow Ridge for under $1K and trading into places like Aruba, Hawaii, etc. MF is $900 compared to buying in Maui for example where you might pay $12K island view and $2200 MF. Owning any Marriott gets you internal priority on II for other Marriott's.
Trading into Marriotts are not that difficult except for peak holiday periods, even then it is not impossible. In the last year, I have traded into Marriott in Maui and Oahu 4 times in the last 8 months and this was before I purchased Marriott and Starwood for internal priority. This included Christmas and spring break. My ability to trade had jumped dramatically since then. You don't need points to make great trades. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get great vacations.
Trading into Marriotts are not that difficult except for peak holiday periods, even then it is not impossible. In the last year, I have traded into Marriott in Maui and Oahu 4 times in the last 8 months and this was before I purchased Marriott and Starwood for internal priority. This included Christmas and spring break. My ability to trade had jumped dramatically since then. You don't need points to make great trades. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get great vacations.