Pros and Cons of weeks ownership vs points...would love your input

[sdp1969]

Hello Mariott TUGGers,

I am in the process of buying my second resale 3BR lockout which will give me a total of four weeks a year to trade with II.

I have the option of buying a third 2BR lockout week from Marriott and in doing so for 36K, become a member of the points program w 12,200 pts.

However, I have read a number of threads where people say that II is getting them the Marriott resorts they want so they are not a fan of the points program especially for the price.

I would really appreciate everyones opinion regarding the resale weeks vs points program. Currently my MGV can trade in the Florida club and OTW I have to use II. I looked at II recently after banking my studio lockout and saw plenty of availability for months down the road even in Hawaii. Is that typical or just due to COVID and lack of travel? What would be the argument for or against spending 36K to join the points program vs just using Florida Club/ II to book my weeks.. I do realize that short 3-5 day stays are an advantage of the points program as you only use what you need and dont have to use up a week for a short stay.

Thanks again,

Steven

 

[bazzap]

We don’t own Points, but we do have all of our eligible Weeks enrolled so we can elect 20k+ Points per year.
We find that Points offer us excellent additional options and flexibility.
Would we buy them - no, we were lucky to have bought a number of Resale weeks before the cut off dates
However, Points have proved especially useful for us during the pandemic by being able to bank them to future years, whereas with our non eligible Weeks our only option was to deposit with Interval.

 

[bogey21]

I have the option of buying a third 2BR lockout week from Marriott and in doing so for 36K, become a member of the points program w 12,200 pts.

IMO you would be just pissing away $36k...

George

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Resale weeks are a far better buy because your cash outlay is far less. Granted, you may not have points to obtain an instantaneous exchange into another Marriott Resort, but if that's not an issue for you then going the resale weeks is the better way to go.

Other than the Florida Club, you will be using Interval International for your trades, and that's not a bad thing. It sometimes takes longer to get what you want but that's the trade off of not using points to obtain another Marriott exchange. Points do offer far more flexibility in that you can reserve nights (as opposed to weeks) but is the cost to play the point game actually worth it?

Many of us have obtained juicy I.I. trades. Just be patient, and plan well in advance, and in my opinion you should be fine....

Keep your hands in your pocket and save your hard earned dollars.




.

 

[Dean]

Hello Mariott TUGGers,

I am in the process of buying my second resale 3BR lockout which will give me a total of four weeks a year to trade with II.

I have the option of buying a third 2BR lockout week from Marriott and in doing so for 36K, become a member of the points program w 12,200 pts.

However, I have read a number of threads where people say that II is getting them the Marriott resorts they want so they are not a fan of the points program especially for the price.

I would really appreciate everyones opinion regarding the resale weeks vs points program. Currently my MGV can trade in the Florida club and OTW I have to use II. I looked at II recently after banking my studio lockout and saw plenty of availability for months down the road even in Hawaii. Is that typical or just due to COVID and lack of travel? What would be the argument for or against spending 36K to join the points program vs just using Florida Club/ II to book my weeks.. I do realize that short 3-5 day stays are an advantage of the points program as you only use what you need and dont have to use up a week for a short stay.

Thanks again,

Steven

It likely isn't worth the cost at this point. I'd get into the system and see how it's working for you then decide. You may want to consider going bigger for more points before jumping in IF it looks like a good choice in general as the cost to enroll 7 weeks isn't much more than for 2 weeks espy you do so buying Aruba or St. Kitt's.

 

[Pompey Family]

We enrolled two of our Son Antem weeks into points because we didn't learn our lesson from our last sales pitch! So far we haven't used them because they haven't worked for us. We require prime time school holidays and availability is like gold dust with points. Our Son Antem weeks are Gold Holiday which allows all but the school summer holidays. Prime European weeks are very near on impossible for II exchange so we've resorted to renting if we want to visit in August. Plenty of availability for rental for often not much more than the maintenance fees so clearly a lot of owners are renting their weeks out. Our other two weeks, Playa Andaluza and Harbour Lake are not eligible for the points program however we use our Playa Andaluza week regularly and have managed to utilise our Harbour Lake week from some off peak travel. We've pretty much given up on II, it doesn't work for us and I won't be renewing our subscription. It works well if you wish to travel to or within the US but the availability and choices within Europe are poor. We've already let deposits expire and have never used the numerous accommodation certificates because the choices available simply don't fit our requirements. If I knew what I know now I would not have bought either weeks or points but rather rent and save the cost and hassle of trying to secure the dates we require and not being tied to the system if we decide to visit somewhere not in the system.

 

[Norcal5]

We feel it was totally worth it on the points.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We feel it was totally worth it on the points.

Can you expand on that statement?

I keep getting opportunities to move our floating weeks to points but the cost to get in is just so high. I think I would buy something I loved and would just use it and not pay so much for the conversion to points. But I am speaking from an "always buy resale" point of view. I don't want to go to another sales' presentation, just to be told I need to pay a lot of money to convert. If they ever offer a better deal, I might be interested, but I would count on TUG members who to go the presentations to post here on TUG that a better conversion deal is now being offered.

Are DC points given based on MF's? So if you buy at low MF places, do you get less points? Inquiring minds want to know. Is there are bargain-basement week you can buy that might be worth a conversion cost?

 

[jmhpsu93]

A cominbation of weeks (resale) and points (developer and resale) works great for us. Tons of flexibility through II trades and getaways for weeks and then adding on nights through points.

 

[dansimms]

Being in the points program is more effective, particularly if you are tied to a school calendar for some or all of your travel. That invesment you are looking at is no small matter, particularly if you are financing it through Marriott with a 10 year payoff. An alternative to consider for far less, is buying a very small number of points resale and then when necessary for the more difficult bookings, to 'rent' the points you need for that transaction or year. The going rate, without any further committment is about 65 cents a point. On 1000 resale points, after the Marriott 'junk fees' of $3 a point you can come in at or under $6 a point and you would pay the maintainence on only the 1000 points at about $610 a year, (this year). That is an outlay of only about $6,000. So if you needed a total of 5,000 more points for a pricey week, you are only looking at a per transaction expense of about 65 cents x 5000 or $3,250 to go with your 1000 'owned points'. Not sure what the 'banking' rules are when you only have 1000 points. If you go the expensive route for $36,000 , your banking option on all this points would be up to 18 months out which would give you even more flexibility.

 

[Norcal5]

Can you expand on that statement?

I keep getting opportunities to move our floating weeks to points but the cost to get in is just so high. I think I would buy something I loved and would just use it and not pay so much for the conversion to points. But I am speaking from an "always buy resale" point of view. I don't want to go to another sales' presentation, just to be told I need to pay a lot of money to convert. If they ever offer a better deal, I might be interested, but I would count on TUG members who to go the presentations to post here on TUG that a better conversion deal is now being offered.

Are DC points given based on MF's? So if you buy at low MF places, do you get less points? Inquiring minds want to know. Is there are bargain-basement week you can buy that might be worth a conversion cost?

I used to think I would always buy resale. I still would only consider that for Disney and Hyatt. However, Marriott’s points product is really good, and our last minute, just a few days at a time, bringing friends that possibly might cancel last minute usage makes it a great deal. We use the points with our weeks, and our trades, to get the right dates. For example, in the last couple of years various family members made last minute, short stay reservations at the Tahoe properties, Newport Coast villas, Florida properties, Boston Custom house, and Desert Springs Villas 1. Most were the result of friends/family wanting to join a a month or so before a planned trip. I’m glad it worked out because the trips were better because of it. Weekdays are a much lower point cost than weekends, so we usually book the friends on weekdays if possible, once they see the significant price difference their flexibility increases.
Your resale weeks will each have a point value, high season weeks will reap more points, for the same MF. It may only be worth it to enroll high point weeks. Ours were platinum so I felt we get good value. But it’s mainly the convenience.
It’s not as cheap as 100% resale weeks, but there are hidden costs to lack of flexibility, and Covid has made that even more true, and someone like you will easily be able to work with the system to get a great value. Having the ability to easily bring friends/family along has been great. Ive learned the hard way that sometimes no matter how well you explain the timeshare cancellation rules, and I’ve explained them in great detail, no one really pays attention, and they just don’t “get it” when they need to change their dates or cancel last minute why you’re out money. Ill give them back the money, but the points have largely solved that problem.
I don’t know of any bargain weeks that will translate well into this program, but I’m sure there are some.
We bought a week in Aruba to enroll.

 

[gsb]

We’ve been owners for 30 years—9 weeks as well as points. I think the points program is much more flexible and easy to use. In fact it’s rare that we book a straight week or trade one through II anymore. We convert our weeks to points and travel off them. Our weeks are mostly Hawaii and platinum beach weeks and I’ve never thought trading one of our KoOlina weeks to go to Myrtle Beach for a week (for example) was a good deal. But, I can turn in KoOlina for points and spend a month in Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head off season.

Last year we took our nine week’s worth of points and turned them into 6 months of vacation time. This year we are in our third month of life at the beach and still have a good number of points left to go. I never could have done that in the old weeks based system.

We really like the flexibility of choosing our size villa based on who is traveling and checking in for as many days as we choose. I also like being done with all the little fees—for II membership, Marriott to Marriott exchanges, etc....

it took me a couple years to warm up to enrolling our weeks, but I’m sure glad we did it. I‘m not saying the old way is wrong, just that it’s wrong for us. We would never go back.

 

[rthib]

Others have made good points on the advantage of hybrid. One other advantage is if you have enrolled weeks you can trade as many times as you want in II. So when we had to cancel a Christmas week we could just keep making new trades to keep it alive And out of jail turned it into one bedroom Ko Olina Island view and then kept an eye out and traded again into 2 bedroom ocean view. Same with Kauai kept trading until I got the size and view I wanted and then traded my other lock off to December to keep it out of II jail. So my Hawaii vacation was II trade then week days into Ocean Front Maui (retreaded in a modified puck trick so they were cheaper than Garden view with discount) then because it was an easy trade, got two weeks in Kauai so allow the other couple to be in own resort and allow us to have a full kitchen.
$5-6/pt is going resale point cost after junk fees, so if you can beat that and have a use for that many points and it is not a financial stretch I would enjoy it.

I own enrolled weeks, resale points and an unenrolled resale week because I hated having to decide if I was going to stay at my home resort or trade for points, so now I didn’t have to decide - I can do both. Both week and points were COVID no ROFR purchases so were very cheap.

 

[capjak]

I have both points and a 3 bedroom GV lock off EOY. I turn in the GV every year as I find the points much more useful. I do not need to trade through II to get a different season reservations, I can use points at 13 months, I can book instantly many more resorts than trying to search II for the week, unit size etc... I can book any day of the week arrival and departure, I can bank/borrow points etc...
Better Prouduct for me but much more $$$ also, so if $$$ is not an issue than definitely go for the points enrollment.

 

[csalter2]

I was used to using points with my Diamond membership. I had always wished that Marriott had a points program because I liked not having to always had to stay a full week or keep a two bedroom instead, so when they had a points options I was happy. I love points for many reasons already stated, but to make mid week reservations is great in saving major bucks on airfare. I have saved over a grand one year by traveling on a Wednesday instead of a weekend. Plus, if you have a week with high points value, you get a better maintenance fee per point than what you would get by just points only. I pay about .40 per point with my weeks while Destination points are .64 per points. Weeks are the better deal with their flexibility. Also, if you can get weeks to enroll it’s a better deal. I bought high point value weeks from Marriott to get points. Buying the points as weeks was much cheaper. That’s why the Aruba weeks are a better deal. 4075 points in destination points at $11 per point which is a discount, costs $44,825 but as you can see it’s going to cost you about $36k. If you are a larger amount of points in weeks, you can get it cheaper than resale from Marriott. Just don’t buy more than you can use. If you use your timeshare and its flexibility, you can benefit from it. I am about to retire and I will be using those discounts for under 60 days reservation to the hilt! I do plan to use many, many weeks and days with the over 14, 000 points that I have. Learn how to use to the maximum and you will be happy.

 

[drlee]

If you own one or more weeks at a resort you want to go to every year, the weels are beetter. They are cheaper than the points required for the same stays, and the maintenance fees are generally less than the equivelent points. If your vacation strategy is to stay at lots of different resorts, points are better. The points give better fliexibility on check in days, and the number of days for a reservation. If you can swing a hybrid, with some number of weeks and a few (1000-1500) points then you can add days before or after a weeks stay. The weeks do not have to be enrolled to take advantage of this. We bought a week at Aruba {back in the day) just as a trader. It's a two bedroom lock off, so we have gotten many two week vacations after trading this. It's also enrolled, so we now deposit it for points once in a while if we want more time at our home resort. (Maui. We enrolled these when offered the chance in 2010 for $299). So we never deposit our Maui weeks for points, but have deposited the lock offs for an interval vacation elsewhere when we don't need a full two bedroom stay. So the main advantage of weeks goes to the resort you want to stay at frequently. You are guaranteed a stay in your season and view category. You will have to "play the game right at 12 or 13 months" to make sure you get your first choice of stays. We have 1000 trust points we use to mitigage airline schedules. The major disadvantage of weeks is the strict checkin days and the inability to "upgrade". Points, as many have pointed out, give you the most flexibility. They are also the most expensive. One other consideratiosn about Marriott. There is shrinking inventory, as they aren't building new timeshares. So every p;oint sold is vying for the same inventory as everyone else. Weeks inventory also is shrinking, as Marriott recovers weeks and converts them to points. Every week converted is one week less in inventory for owners. This shrinking inventory requires strict management of your vacation planning, availability schedules, and flexibility. The convenience of points also causes strain on inventory as people book stays, and then cancel them when they find a better deal. Not saying it's bad, just the facts. You already have access to VIstana properties via Interval for weeks, and soon, points people will have access to those properties just as if they were Marriotts. So my advice is to lay out your vacation strategy, your tolerance for capital outlay, and your willingness to manage timeshares. We've been going to Maui for more than 20 years and haven't regreted a minute of our original decision. We lament the increasing nature of maintenance fees, like everyone else. But over the years we've stayed at fantastic properties around the Marriott timeshare brand. A little effort and you can make it work.

 

[bazzap]

If you own one or more weeks at a resort you want to go to every year, the weels are beetter. They are cheaper than the points required for the same stays, and the maintenance fees are generally less than the equivelent points. If your vacation strategy is to stay at lots of different resorts, points are better. The points give better fliexibility on check in days, and the number of days for a reservation. If you can swing a hybrid, with some number of weeks and a few (1000-1500) points then you can add days before or after a weeks stay. The weeks do not have to be enrolled to take advantage of this. We bought a week at Aruba {back in the day) just as a trader. It's a two bedroom lock off, so we have gotten many two week vacations after trading this. It's also enrolled, so we now deposit it for points once in a while if we want more time at our home resort. (Maui. We enrolled these when offered the chance in 2010 for $299). So we never deposit our Maui weeks for points, but have deposited the lock offs for an interval vacation elsewhere when we don't need a full two bedroom stay. So the main advantage of weeks goes to the resort you want to stay at frequently. You are guaranteed a stay in your season and view category. You will have to "play the game right at 12 or 13 months" to make sure you get your first choice of stays. We have 1000 trust points we use to mitigage airline schedules. The major disadvantage of weeks is the strict checkin days and the inability to "upgrade". Points, as many have pointed out, give you the most flexibility. They are also the most expensive. One other consideratiosn about Marriott. There is shrinking inventory, as they aren't building new timeshares. So every p;oint sold is vying for the same inventory as everyone else. Weeks inventory also is shrinking, as Marriott recovers weeks and converts them to points. Every week converted is one week less in inventory for owners. This shrinking inventory requires strict management of your vacation planning, availability schedules, and flexibility. The convenience of points also causes strain on inventory as people book stays, and then cancel them when they find a better deal. Not saying it's bad, just the facts. You already have access to VIstana properties via Interval for weeks, and soon, points people will have access to those properties just as if they were Marriotts. So my advice is to lay out your vacation strategy, your tolerance for capital outlay, and your willingness to manage timeshares. We've been going to Maui for more than 20 years and haven't regreted a minute of our original decision. We lament the increasing nature of maintenance fees, like everyone else. But over the years we've stayed at fantastic properties around the Marriott timeshare brand. A little effort and you can make it work.

It is true that Resort Weeks inventory is shrinking, but for each Week that disappears from the Weeks inventory, there is an equivalent reduction in Weeks Owners competing for the remaining Weeks inventory.
This can impact your chances of getting the specific Weeks you might want when you want them, but it is not as bad as it might at first seem.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

It is true that Resort Weeks inventory is shrinking, but for each Week that disappears from the Weeks inventory, there is an equivalent reduction in Weeks Owners competing for the remaining Weeks inventory.
This can impact your chances of getting the specific Weeks you might want when you want them, but it is not as bad as it might at first seem.

Weeks inventory may be shrinking somewhat but maybe not as fast as one thinks. Remember, when weeks are sold on the open market, most of those weeks will never be enrolled because of the excessive cost to do so.

Additionally, resale weeks are still quietly being sold by Marriott (if that is one wants) both with and without points eligibility. Obviously the price of the week will vary depending whether or not it is super charged to be points eligible.

So, Marriott weeks on the interval International market are still out there......




.

 

[bazzap]

Weeks inventory may be shrinking somewhat but maybe not as fast as one thinks. Remember, when weeks are sold on the open market, most of those weeks will never be enrolled because of the excessive cost to do so.

Additionally, resale weeks are still quietly being sold by Marriott (if that is one wants) both with and without points eligibility. Obviously the price of the week will vary depending whether or not it is super charged to be points eligible.

So, Marriott weeks on the interval International market are still out there......




.

Definitely so.
Trusting that we are actually allowed International travel from the UK in the later months of this year, from the deposits we had to make in 2020 due to cancellations Interval fairly quickly confirmed for us 6x MVC to MVC exchanges for 2021.

 

[Bucky]

IMO you would be just pissing away $36k...

George

I’ve never been a big fan of paying twice for something. We bought both of our units resale off of EBay at ridiculous prices many years ago. Since we are no longer prolific travelers there is no reason to pay for something that is of no use to us. Many moons ago we were members of RCI points and it worked for us then because we were both still working and could bank enough weeks to take a three week vacation to St Maarten every couple of years. I don’t see that advantage with the Marriott system for us.

 

[dougp26364]

Just my perspective:

We own a total of three weeks, two 3 bedroom units and one 2 bedroom unit plus 4,250 trust points. Total points available is approx 15,500 if I convert all my weeks to points.

History wise I have locked off units for exchange and typically trade up our studio units to 1 bedroom units. However, for the last several years I’ve reserved almost exclusively with points or used our home resort week.
I have one studio week on deposit and I do periodic searches on II, just to see what’s out there. We currently have no plans to use it. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the possibilities, but keep in mind I’m often looking at Shoulder season in areas such as May/June/Sept in Breckenridge, CO or Spring/Fall in Branson. I’ll occasionally look at Las Vegas or Sedona.

I can get more time if I trade strictly weeks. With weeks, it’s like for like. Getting five weeks, three 2 bedrooms and two 1 bedrooms would be easy enough and, I feel confident with request or deposit first I’d get what I wanted, just not the view I prefer.

For the last several years we’ve used all most exclusively points for reservations within the MVC system. The advantage points have may not be a lot, but it’s enough.
1. I can book 13 months in advance
2. I can book as little as 1 night
3. I can check in any day of the week
4. I can search and reserve instantly instead of request/deposit, then wait to see if something matches.
5. I can reserve a specific view (ocean front or ocean view is important to us whenever it’s an option).

We live in a location that pretty much requires we fly to a lot of the destinations we desire for vacation. Being able to reserve stays from Tuesday to Tuesday or Wednesday to Wednesday either saves us money or allows us to upgrade to first class seats. When traveling to Hawaii this is an important consideration for us. Also, flights home from the islands typically leave late afternoon to close to midnight. I can book 8 nights and not have to spend the final day of our vacation “homeless”, carting our luggage around the island until it’s time to head for the airport. Spending that last day lounging and relaxing before leaving for the airport is a better way to end a Hawaiian vacation for us.

Either system works well. What works best for you may change over time. I know it has for us, so keeping options open has proved to be a good thing.

 

[GregT]

Hello sdp 1969,

I think there is value in having your weeks enrolled. I don't think it's $36K -- or close to that number -- but tell us more about the week that you would be buying. Would you ever use it personally or is it being bought as a points generator? Does Marriott offer Incentive Points as part of the purchase, which have some value as well. Most important, is the $36K easily affordable to you? I do think this merits debate.

With respect to your weeks/points question, I do think that both have value. Most of my usage is for my intact weeks that I use in a traditional manner, but I have had good success making a point reservation and extending it, making a 10 day reservation possible. I also have been able to do short stays in Palm Desert or in Florida that are preferable to hotel reservations. So I see value in both. I wouldn't discount the value of having access to points and at a high enough level to be able to book single night stays 13 months out.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Best,

Greg

 

[Pamplemousse]

Can you expand on that statement?

I keep getting opportunities to move our floating weeks to points but the cost to get in is just so high. I think I would buy something I loved and would just use it and not pay so much for the conversion to points. But I am speaking from an "always buy resale" point of view. I don't want to go to another sales' presentation, just to be told I need to pay a lot of money to convert. If they ever offer a better deal, I might be interested, but I would count on TUG members who to go the presentations to post here on TUG that a better conversion deal is now being offered.

Are DC points given based on MF's? So if you buy at low MF places, do you get less points? Inquiring minds want to know. Is there are bargain-basement week you can buy that might be worth a conversion cost?

Cindy and Rick,
When you enroll your weeks into the destination club you are not “moving your weeks to points” you are giving yourself the option to EACH year to use your week as you have been (stay ownership or exchange on II) or to elect to take the set number of DC points your week is worth to book directly on MVC.
You still pay the same week maintence fee you always paid.
Once you are enrolled in the DC you can rent more points if you ever need them.
We enrolled our week because it saves on II fees- you pay DC club dues that cover your II membership, lock off fee and exchange fee to other Marriott properties (including Sheraton/Westin)- and because there are no exchange fees it means we don’t have to buy eplus.
We were easily able to enroll our pre 2010 week so it was a no brainer for us even without the intent to use points. You would have to run the numbers for yourself.
I have used points a couple of times when I was able to book that way last minute when an II exchange didn’t work out and to add nights to an exchange week reservation.
Electing points is not the best financial value- you get more out of your week especially if it is a lock off where you get 2 weeks. The amount of points you get if you elect your week is less than you would need to stay at your home resort for a week. But there are many ways to access value and sometimes if you are able to book what you want for,the length of time you want that is a good value.

 

[liongate88]

Hi, For all the resales, Marriott seems to confuse me more than others. After reading a lots of threads about Marriott, buying resale week to trade in IL seems to be the cheapest option. Buying resale DC points has a bigger upfront and the MF is also high. A 2000 DC points with 0.75/point MF would only let you stay in a studio in most places and not even all. It also mentioned enrolling weeks into DC. I suppose this is only possible for developer purchased weeks? Would Marriott retro resale weeks and later enroll into DC points? Once enrolled into DC points, do you have to be DC points every year or you can elect to use the week rather than the points? Thanks

 

[Steve Fatula]

A cominbation of weeks (resale) and points (developer and resale) works great for us. Tons of flexibility through II trades and getaways for weeks and then adding on nights through points.

This is our belief as well. Granted, we got in when things were cheaper, but, any time you get in will likely always be cheaper than the future anyway. We simply do not wish to stay a week in general. One can own muitiple weeks of course, but, we also like to travel to many different places. This means II trades, which then can be difficult to get back to back weeks. While points are expensive, many times adding 5 nights to a 7 night weeks stay is pretty attractive. That, and, the incredible cheapness of stays at certain resorts at certain times of year make points a great value to us. But it always depends on your usage. It's tough to beat the value of weeks to stay at a specific place, good luck with that. However, for some of us (likely the minority), flexibility is worth a lot. We've used (during travel) a few couple nights stays as well with points as a bridge to get somewhere.

There have been many times we can't get into a place using weeks (trade), but we can with points. And, there's been many times we can't get into a place with points, but we can with weeks. There have also been many times we were able to get in with weeks, however, the downside was airfare was a lot more. Adding on required number of nights via points helped a lot in those cases. There's also been cases where we got 2 weeks via trades, but there were a couple in between days, we bridged those with points for a single stay.

We enjoy both, weeks and points and also find they complement each other. Were we to start over, I think we'd still opt for both.