Playing with points

[jont]

A recent thread about renting a platinum plus Ocean Watch week got me thinking about the use of DC points in this situation, but I didn’t want to hijack the OP’s thread so I thought I’d start my own.

I own a platimum OW week which I plan on trying to rent in 2013, assuming I am able to secure a good week later this year. My understanding is that I can convert my ressie to points if I so choose. I am however, still not clear until what point in time this can be done. Will it have to be done by Sept 30th 2012? Or can I continue to hold the reservation until march of 2013, thereby maximizing the amount of time to find a renter.
It would be great if I can keep the ressie active as long as possible and if a suitable renter cannot be not found, I can convert the week to points to be used later in the year 2013 or possibly in 2014.
Your insight would be most appreciated.

 

[iluvfla]

hahaha!!!! if Marriott ever reads this....will charge you $300.00 and send you to timeshare education course !!!!! Cheers!!!

 

[Deej82]

I believe you must elect by Sept 30, 2012 in order to convert to points for 2013 use year. Requirement is election has to occur 3 mos prior to beginning of use year... I don't think season has anything to do with it. Unless you convert this year you will be stuck with your ressie next year. If you do elect points for 2013 by Sept 30, you will have until Dec 31, 2013 to use the points or bank them to 2014 by June 30, 2013. Worth confirming but that's the best understanding I have! --D.J.

 

[jont]

hahaha!!!! if Marriott ever reads this....will charge you $300.00 and send you to timeshare education course !!!!! Cheers!!!

aah yes, the dreaded education fee! I'll be sure to check my statements.:hysterical:

 

[puckmanfl]

good afternoon...

This is correct. For example, using 12 mos (13 if book 2) I can now snag Jan/feb 2013 Waiohai inventory. I have until 9/30/2012 to convert this to DC points...I also have until 60 days before check in to deposit with II. I can do a request first with II, and pull theunit back if I choose to and then convert to DC points as long as it is before 9/30/12..Request first has its own set of restrictions. I believe that if I used request first the exchange check in must be before my occupancy on my home reservation...You cannot wait list for DC reservation using the booked ressie, you must convert to DC points before wait listing. The downside to this is if you are looking for Late year Tgiving Xmas ressies. For example if you are looking for tgiving 2013 using DC points you must convert topoints by 9/30/2012 and HOPE your ressie is available come nov2012...

tricky stuff

yes I took the reeducation course...

 

[CashEddie]

good afternoon...

This is correct. For example, using 12 mos (13 if book 2) I can now snag Jan/feb 2013 Waiohai inventory. I have until 9/30/2012 to convert this to DC points...I also have until 60 days before check in to deposit with II. I can do a request first with II, and pull theunit back if I choose to and then convert to DC points as long as it is before 9/30/12..Request first has its own set of restrictions. I believe that if I used request first the exchange check in must be before my occupancy on my home reservation...You cannot wait list for DC reservation using the booked ressie, you must convert to DC points before wait listing. The downside to this is if you are looking for Late year Tgiving Xmas ressies. For example if you are looking for tgiving 2013 using DC points you must convert topoints by 9/30/2012 and HOPE your ressie is available come nov2012...

tricky stuff

yes I took the reeducation course...

I'm faced with this decision as well this year. We usually go to Grande Vista during Thanksgiving week and I was exploring the option of either reserving the 2013 Tgiving week in November 2012 and then depositing to trade for something for 2013 - 2015 (we are targeting Hawaii for 2014) or if I should convert to points and play around with reserving a higher demand period with our points.

Since we only own EOY odd at GV and we only get 2175 points per usage year, it probably makes more sense for us to reserve 2013 Tgiving and deposit via II for max trade power. In my situation, we are diffenetly not going to use our 2013 week at GV no matter what so I figured it would be best to leverage that week for a good trade in Hawaii.

 

[jont]

So if i'm reserving a Jan week, I have about 9 months to keep the ressie before converting to points. If I reserve a thanksgiving or christmas week,
I cannot convert it to points because its after the Sept 30 deadline?

 

[CashEddie]

So if i'm reserving a Jan week, I have about 9 months to keep the ressie before converting to points. If I reserve a thanksgiving or christmas week,
I cannot convert it to points because its after the Sept 30 deadline?

You got it, John!

 

[jont]

Make's me wonder why Marriott chose the sept 30 deadline. Doesn't seem fair, a more equitable way would be to have a set period of time since the original reservation is made. Maybe 6 months? What do you think?

 

[CashEddie]

Make's me wonder why Marriott chose the sept 30 deadline. Doesn't seem fair, a more equitable way would be to have a set period of time since the original reservation is made. Maybe 6 months? What do you think?

Yea, I don't know why they picked September 30th prior to usage year either. It does seem unfair to the Tgiving and Xmas week folks to have to make a decision if they want to reserve (for use or trade) or convert to points before they can even reserve their week!

I wanted to experiment with points trying to go to Hawaii. My target time for going to Hawaii is 2014. So if I wanted to use points to do so (mind you, I would have to bank and borrow to go for close to 2 weeks which is my target time to stay) I would have to pull the trigger on my 2013 GV week by 09/30 this year and pray that by 2014, I can still afford to get my room in Hawaii for 12-13 days using points from 2013/2015. Heaven only knows what the point values one the weeks will be in 2014.

In my situation, it would really be a big gamble because once I convert to points there is no turning back for that usage year. At least with the reserve and bank with II, I have a 3 year travel window to target my Hawaii trip and will max on trading power for depositing soo far in advance.

 

[fluke]

A thought

After you make your reservation you could try to call the VOA and convert the week to points at some later date and obtain the same reservation on points if it was available and assuming that enough points would be allocated. Of course you would have to be sure it was available via exchange inventory prior to converting it. That could give you more time and flexibility.

Of course it does hinge on whether you have enough points allocated to obtain the same reservation.

 

[jont]

Yea, I don't know why they picked September 30th prior to usage year either. It does seem unfair to the Tgiving and Xmas week folks to have to make a decision if they want to reserve (for use or trade) or convert to points before they can even reserve their week!

I wanted to experiment with points trying to go to Hawaii. My target time for going to Hawaii is 2014. So if I wanted to use points to do so (mind you, I would have to bank and borrow to go for close to 2 weeks which is my target time to stay) I would have to pull the trigger on my 2013 GV week by 09/30 this year and pray that by 2014, I can still afford to get my room in Hawaii for 12-13 days using points from 2013/2015. Heaven only knows what the point values one the weeks will be in 2014.

In my situation, it would really be a big gamble because once I convert to points there is no turning back for that usage year. At least with the reserve and bank with II, I have a 3 year travel window to target my Hawaii trip and will max on trading power for depositing soo far in advance.

Eddie
You may consider renting a portion of those points you need. At around 50 cents a point in may be a viable option for you. That way you would not have to tie up your 3 weeks for one vacation. I would check out GregT site for point rentals.
Also, if your going for more than 1 week, you might consider arriving on a Sunday, stay the full week and then ckeck out the Thursday afterwards, 12 days with 1 weekend, the best way to stretch your points. Marriott really sticks it to you for weekends. Good luck
IMO it adds a lot of flexibility to vacation planning.

 

[CashEddie]

Eddie
You may consider renting a portion of those points you need. At around 50 cents a point in may be a viable option for you. That way you would not have to tie up your 3 weeks for one vacation. I would check out GregT site for point rentals.
IMO it adds a lot of flexibility to vacation planning.

Thanks for the suggestion, John and I had totally forgot about the work GregT has put into the points rental. For the trip we are planning, a ball park figure for what we were looking at for Hawaii was going to be ~4300 DC points (again, based on 2012 values). I have to check GregT's site but based on the .50/point figure, that may not be a bad option.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Eddie
You may consider renting a portion of those points you need. At around 50 cents a point in may be a viable option for you. That way you would not have to tie up your 3 weeks for one vacation. I would check out GregT site for point rentals.
Also, if your going for more than 1 week, you might consider arriving on a Sunday, stay the full week and then ckeck out the Thursday afterwards, 12 days with 1 weekend, the best way to stretch your points. Marriott really sticks it to you for weekends. Good luck
IMO it adds a lot of flexibility to vacation planning.

John; good post. Another major factor in stretching the days into the following week is that the air fares are usually at their lowest rates on a Tuesday or a Wednesday....




.

 

[rthib]

Thanks for the suggestion, John and I had totally forgot about the work GregT has put into the points rental. For the trip we are planning, a ball park figure for what we were looking at for Hawaii was going to be ~4300 DC points (again, based on 2012 values). I have to check GregT's site but based on the .50/point figure, that may not be a bad option.

Don't think you will get .50/point.
Usual rate I have seen is MF or .41 a point.

 

[jont]

I was using the 50 cents per point figure based on my visit to Greg 's site last week. If Eddie can rent points for 41cents, even better.

 

[suzannesimon]

Not only is it a pain that I have to elect points 15 months before my fixed weeks, I have to believe there will be a lack of those weeks available for other owners to book with points. I'm sure a lot of us haven't figured it out and will miss the deadline. I'll probably just rent them if I don't use them rather than convert to points since the rental rates are really good for most holiday weeks.

 

[jont]

Not only is it a pain that I have to elect points 15 months before my fixed weeks, I have to believe there will be a lack of those weeks available for other owners to book with points. I'm sure a lot of us haven't figured it out and will miss the deadline. I'll probably just rent them if I don't use them rather than convert to points since the rental rates are really good for most holiday weeks.

I'm not sure why you would even consider using points. Your MFC fixed holiday week(s?) should get a very good rental price or be a very good trader in II.

 

[puckmanfl]

Good afternoon

Jont...

MFC Xmas week will generate a nice rental. My brother routinely rents Aruba surf pres week for cool $$$. If the OP would ever trade thru Ii, it is doomed to down trade as it doesn't lock off.the odds of snagging another Xmas week somewhere us close to zero as most owners of these occupy. If the op has a 2 bedroom ,II in its infinite wisdom/ stupidity will not even give be OP a September 3 bedroom at Imperial palms..


Even with the skim,the Op can get good Dc points,book another week at MFC and "keep the change"

In my puckerian analysis,the only options are renting or dc points if not occupied.please also remember thereRe some IRS isssues. With Reno g,it is income above mf's...

 

[suzannesimon]

I joined the points program, which I will probably use rarely, because my units are non-lock-offs. I only use those weeks every other year. With the points, I will have the option of using part of the points for a smaller unit in a less desirable week and keeping the rest for other trips. I probably wouldn't have joined if they'd been lock-offs. Also I might combine points to go to a more "expensive" place, like Aruba (thanks to the skim) instead of St. Thos.

 

[SueDonJ]

Make's me wonder why Marriott chose the sept 30 deadline. Doesn't seem fair, a more equitable way would be to have a set period of time since the original reservation is made. Maybe 6 months? What do you think?

Yea, I don't know why they picked September 30th prior to usage year either. It does seem unfair to the Tgiving and Xmas week folks to have to make a decision if they want to reserve (for use or trade) or convert to points before they can even reserve their week! ...

I think it has something to do with the laws and regulations for timeshare systems, specifically the ones related to inventory controls. In both Marriott's and DVC's point systems, which are both registered in Florida, the deadlines are set according to Use Years (and not based on the seasonal designations of existing Weeks or any reservation dates.) For enrolled Marriott Weeks which are converted to DC Points, the Use Year is the calendar year, 1/1-12/31. If you enroll your Week(s) in the DC and also purchase DC Points, the Use Year for your purchased Points will coincide with the 1/1-12/31 Use Year of your enrolled Week(s.) But if you only own purchased DC Points, IOW you are a Trust Member, your Use Year will be dependent upon the date of your purchase. That's similar to DVC's point system. (In Disney's system, as well, an owner can request a certain Use Year depending upon their expected usual travel dates. I'm not sure if Marriott allows a choice beyond the Use Year established by the purchase date, but if I didn't own Weeks and was considering purchasing Points I'd try to get the Use Year that works best for my travel dates.)

So if the regulations say that inventory controls require Week(s) to be converted to Points at least three months prior to their Use Year, then Marriott had no choice but to set a 9/30 deadline for conversions. Same thing with their banking and borrowing deadlines, they're probably set according to regs and not necessarily according to what would be in Marriott's best interest.

 

[jont]

Good afternoon

Jont...

MFC Xmas week will generate a nice rental. My brother routinely rents Aruba surf pres week for cool $$$. If the OP would ever trade thru Ii, it is doomed to down trade as it doesn't lock off.the odds of snagging another Xmas week somewhere us close to zero as most owners of these occupy. If the op has a 2 bedroom ,II in its infinite wisdom/ stupidity will not even give be OP a September 3 bedroom at Imperial palms..


Even with the skim,the Op can get good Dc points,book another week at MFC and "keep the change"

In my puckerian analysis,the only options are renting or dc points if not occupied.please also remember thereRe some IRS isssues. With Reno g,it is income above mf's...

Your probably right but it is sometimes possible to get Christmas weeks thru II trades. I, for example, have gotten into Ocean Pointe the last 2 years. Maybe i'm just lucky
But to convert to points, she does have to make a decision a full 15 months in advance. I think it would be better for her to make a ressie first then convert to points. She, like many others, do not have that option.

your humble student

 

[jont]

I think it has something to do with the laws and regulations for timeshare systems, specifically the ones related to inventory controls. In both Marriott's and DVC's point systems, which are both registered in Florida, the deadlines are set according to Use Years (and not based on the seasonal designations of existing Weeks or any reservation dates.) For enrolled Marriott Weeks which are converted to DC Points, the Use Year is the calendar year, 1/1-12/31. If you enroll your Week(s) in the DC and also purchase DC Points, the Use Year for your purchased Points will coincide with the 1/1-12/31 Use Year of your enrolled Week(s.) But if you only own purchased DC Points, IOW you are a Trust Member, your Use Year will be dependent upon the date of your purchase. That's similar to DVC's point system. (In Disney's system, as well, an owner can request a certain Use Year depending upon their expected usual travel dates. I'm not sure if Marriott allows a choice beyond the Use Year established by the purchase date, but if I didn't own Weeks and was considering purchasing Points I'd try to get the Use Year that works best for my travel dates.)

So if the regulations say that inventory controls require Week(s) to be converted to Points at least three months prior to their Use Year, then Marriott had no choice but to set a 9/30 deadline for conversions. Same thing with their banking and borrowing deadlines, they're probably set according to regs and not necessarily according to what would be in Marriott's best interest.

Thanks Sue, that makes a lot sense!

 

[puckmanfl]

Good afternoon..

John...

You are ready to graduate with a PhD from the " university of puck". You don't need my help...you are a quick study....

 

[suzannesimon]

The other problem with trading in II for a holiday week, and with points as well, is that airfare can get exorbitant if your trade doesn't come through quickly. If traveling at that time of year, I keep coming back to the fact that renting is probably the safest option. I have a Hyatt lock-off I can use in II for trades for other times of the year.