Point System a DISASTER for me !!

[ironweed]

I was just looking at the Marriott Points Program website, and it appears that the new system will be a true disaster for me.

I own 1 Platinum week at Ocean Point, and 2 gold weeks (one owner resale) at Grande Vista.

We usually vacation for 6 weeks in March & early April in Florida & Hilton Head.
We split our units and get some fabulous trades, even with our lockoffs.
A GV lockoff has gotten me a 2 bdrm at Hilton Head. My OP lockoff can fetch a 1 or 2 bedroom in Grande vista or other Orlando resorts.

I always trade my GV Gold weeks for Platinum weeks in Orlando.

According to Marriott, my GV weeks are worth 2175 pts each. A mid-March stay at GV would cost me 3175 pts......... 1000 pts more than I've got !!!

My OP platinum week is worth 4325 pts, but a mid march stay would cost me 4725 pts !!!!!

As I said, a DISASTER for me !!

It looks like I should stay away from the points system, and hope that my very successful trades at Interval continue...........

 

[dioxide45]

You may benefit from the consolidated fee structure of the new program. With three lock off weeks you could save over $500 a year in fees.

We are still holding off though as we don't know how we will still interact with II under the new program.

 

[saturn28]

You may benefit from the consolidated fee structure of the new program. With three lock off weeks you could save over $500 a year in fees.

We are still holding off though as we don't know how we will still interact with II under the new program.

The VOA told me today that Marriott would handle all internal exchanges be they points or weeks exchanges. I would have to sign up for a Marriott corporate account with II to do exchanges and it would be done through the VOA.

I could keep my present Interval account, but I would have to pay for it.

 

[jjluhman]

You also only benefit from the fee structure if you only trade for other Marriott properties.
The VOA told me in an online chat today that you still pay II's exchange fee for all properties that are not Marriott.

I don't think this program is right for me.

I would not convert my week to points because I would get less than I do when I split my lock off. I still have to pay exchange fees for resorts that are not Marriott, I have to pay to join the system, and I may lose my online access to II. I am not interested in vacations that are less than a week, or staying in a hotel.

Initially I was looking at this system as just providing another option (as I have been told numerous times by the Marriott folks), but the more I look at it the less sense it makes for me to join.

Am I overlooking some benefit??

 

[davidvel]

You may benefit from the consolidated fee structure of the new program. With three lock off weeks you could save over $500 a year in fees.

We are still holding off though as we don't know how we will still interact with II under the new program.

I am confused. Is the annual fee per unit, or for all units? I thought it was per unit.

 

[dougp26364]

I am confused. Is the annual fee per unit, or for all units? I thought it was per unit.

As I understand it, the annual fee is for all weeks.

 

[pwrshift]

I'm inclined to agree with you. When we've had all these years of being able to trade through Interval on a week is a week basis, the new points program seems to mean you lose on both cases ... you pay more to trade back into your own home resort and twice or three times as much to get into some of the other resorts through Marriott. It's even worse if you try to split and trade lockoff portions.

I'm beginning to think agree that this is a terrible thing for owners...and if you sign up you lose your right to vote against Marriott on any changes they want to make or increases in their management fees. Bad news. The only guys that are happy are those who bought Maui and other very expensive places who found out that they don't want to use their places every year and don't want to trade to our 'lesser' resorts without some form of compensation. Yet, that's not the program they bought into where a week is a week.

Brian

I was just looking at the Marriott Points Program website, and it appears that the new system will be a true disaster for me.

...........

 

[ldanna]

You may benefit from the consolidated fee structure of the new program. With three lock off weeks you could save over $500 a year in fees.

We are still holding off though as we don't know how we will still interact with II under the new program.

Dioxide, in the new program I can continue to reserve and exchange my weeks for weeks (I would even be able to lock them off), and Marriott will handle ALL internal trades (weeks and points), for only $169-199. Is that right?

But until now, nobody knows if II will grant full access for week owners.

 

[Venter]

Dioxide, in the new program I can continue to reserve and exchange my weeks for weeks (I would even be able to lock them off), and Marriott will handle ALL internal trades (weeks and points), for only $169-199. Is that right?

But until now, nobady knows if II will grant full access for week owners.

I can confirm that I had this chat and voiced some other concerns to my salesperson whom I have full confidence in.

She took a few days to make phonecalls etc and confirmed that I would be able to use my II account exactly like before. Deposit, check flex changes, check availability further out, pay to upgrade to gold membership to do short stays, buy getaways etc.

I did not however ask her about fees. The reason I say this is that I noticed on another post about maybe paying fees if you book online instead ogf going through the Marriott Vacation Advisor.

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning....

I am repeating the info from a previous post. It is my understanding that all fees from the new MVCD II account (except external exchanges) are covered in the club fee IF, IF, IF you go through the MVCD VOA. Instant Exchange and Flexchange done online WILL incur an additional fee...

If you see an instant exchange or flexchange with a deposited unit you can dial up your VOA promptly, hope the unit is still there and save the fees! This does not help with the 5 am release of inventory!!!

This is just info passed to me from what I consider to be a reliable source that has never been wrong with info to me!!!

 

[TRAVELING FOOL]

Point System

We won't have alot of Marriott exchange fees in the new system, but then we won't have the points to get into any units we want anyway...so why would it matter!

 

[Dave M]

If you are a weeks owner, you shouldn't care how many points you get if you enroll, unless you happen to own one of the Bronze weeks that get no points or almost no points. You'll still be able to use your week as you do now, potentially save on exchange, lock-off and other fees and have the points available if, for example, you decide you want to do a couple of very short stays one year.

Using points you get when you enroll will generally be a waste of the use of your week, unless you can add the 800 points bonus for enrolling to the points for your week to trade up.

 

[caterina25]

If you are a weeks owner, you shouldn't care how many points you get if you enroll, unless you happen to own one of the Bronze weeks that get no points or almost no points. You'll still be able to use your week as you do now, potentially save on exchange, lock-off and other fees and have the points available if, for example, you decide you want to do a couple of very short stays one year.

Using points you get when you enroll will generally be a waste of the use of your week, unless you can add the 800 points bonus for enrolling to the points for your week to trade up.

Can you use your 800 points (sign on bonus)separate from your week.My week for next year is already reserved.Lets say, I want to get two or three days at a resort for the 800 points,is that possible?Or must my week be converted to points to use the 800 bonus points?

 

[LAR]

You can use your 800 points regardless of whether you've turned in your week for it's points. They do expire though...

 

[ironweed]

If you are a weeks owner, you shouldn't care how many points you get if you enroll, unless you happen to own one of the Bronze weeks that get no points or almost no points. You'll still be able to use your week as you do now,

Dave, that is certainly NOT the case in my situation. Just look at the points comparison in my initial post... There is no way that I will be able to vacation the way I have been in the past if I use the points system.... and I'm not a "bronze" owner.

 

[Dave M]

In that case, it’s not a disaster for you. Ignore the points system and use your week just as you always have.

Or take a look at the two threads that discuss positive aspects and potential benefits of the new program and decide whether you might be able to use the points program to your advantage. If so, enroll. If not, don't enroll.

Examples:

• Depending on what II and MVCI fees you incur each year, the new program might benefit you by reducing those fees.
• If you want to take some short vacation stays, you can spread your points around for some magnificent short stays without wasting an entire week. If you have the flexibility to travel mid-week or off-season as I do, the opportunities are many.

But is the points program a disaster for you? Only if you make the wrong decision with respect to joining.

 

[wbrown]

It's kind of funny, Marriott has already decided for me whether to join the points system or not. They are giving me a whopping zero points for my Summit Watch Bronze. No worries, I'll just continue to split it and still get two vacations with it just as I have for several years now although now I'll probably vacation at a Westin or some other decent timeshare or of course Marriott's as long as they're available.

Regarding my other timeshare NCV Gold which I bought from Marriott, no way I'm going to tolerate being ripped off any more from them buy joining a point system that gives me 2700 points and I can't even reserve through points what I own. II always gives me a bonus week for that so I get two vacations with that just like my Summit Watch.

So tell me, why on Gods green earth would I pay Marriott to join a system where I get half as many vacations as I do now?????

Oh, I forgot to mention, I am also getting two short stay vacations from II from my 1 BR Summit Watch.... how can Marriott compete with that????

 

[Beverley]

You also only benefit from the fee structure if you only trade for other Marriott properties.
The VOA told me in an online chat today that you still pay II's exchange fee for all properties that are not Marriott.

I don't think this program is right for me.

I would not convert my week to points because I would get less than I do when I split my lock off. I still have to pay exchange fees for resorts that are not Marriott, I have to pay to join the system, and I may lose my online access to II. I am not interested in vacations that are less than a week, or staying in a hotel.

Initially I was looking at this system as just providing another option (as I have been told numerous times by the Marriott folks), but the more I look at it the less sense it makes for me to join.

Am I overlooking some benefit??

As it stands today, you would pay 3 fees to split your units ($225) plus upto $654 for internal Marriott trade fees, plus ~$89 per year for the II membership. So each year you pay approx $950 - $1000 per year to secure the 6 units. As an enrolled owner you would pay $165 or $199 per year flat fee.

From what my adviser tells me, you will be able to do your own online searches in II under the new account and you will be able to reserve the unit as you do today. You can also place pending requests etc.

The only downside I see for you as an enrolled owner is that one of your units you mentioned is a resale unit. If this was purchased privately, your fee to enroll is $1999. However, you can potentially save $800 per year in fees so this would amortize off in only a few years.

Keep in mind, being an enrolled owner does not mean you have to reserve on points. You can continue as you do know. However, if you have a year wherein a partial week is desired, you would have the capability under points, or if you wanted to secure a 3 bedroom, which you cannot request for sure today, you could get this with points. Changing seasons is easier too. None-the-less, you could continue as you do now only pay less yearly fees.

Good luck in your decision.

Beverley

 

[Beverley]

good morning....

I am repeating the info from a previous post. It is my understanding that all fees from the new MVCD II account (except external exchanges) are covered in the club fee IF, IF, IF you go through the MVCD VOA. Instant Exchange and Flexchange done online WILL incur an additional fee...

If you see an instant exchange or flexchange with a deposited unit you can dial up your VOA promptly, hope the unit is still there and save the fees! This does not help with the 5 am release of inventory!!!

This is just info passed to me from what I consider to be a reliable source that has never been wrong with info to me!!!

Actually, you can book that 5am exchange, pay the fee that II will charge online .... and ... then call your adviser when they open and get a refund of your exchange fee through Marriott. You will have to use your new Marriott II account to do so. So, the early morning/ late evening exchanges are still possible under the new fee structure. :whoopie:

Beverley

 

[Beverley]

I'm inclined to agree with you. When we've had all these years of being able to trade through Interval on a week is a week basis, the new points program seems to mean you lose on both cases ... you pay more to trade back into your own home resort and twice or three times as much to get into some of the other resorts through Marriott. It's even worse if you try to split and trade lockoff portions.

I'm beginning to think agree that this is a terrible thing for owners...and if you sign up you lose your right to vote against Marriott on any changes they want to make or increases in their management fees. Bad news. The only guys that are happy are those who bought Maui and other very expensive places who found out that they don't want to use their places every year and don't want to trade to our 'lesser' resorts without some form of compensation. Yet, that's not the program they bought into where a week is a week.

Brian

I didn't the idea that all voting rights are lost .... only the right to vote the resort out of the points system and the right to vote Marriott off the board. Voting on other issues should be unchanged.

Beverley

 

[puckmanfl]

Good morning...

Thanks Beverly

that is very useful info....