Question on combining my existing Vistana (week worth 2950 Marriott points) and buying “trust/Marriott Abound Points

[clotheshorse]

I have a question on combining my existing Vistana (week worth 2950 Marriott points) and buying “trust/Marriott” points to become select members so we can open up Abound. Is it possible or will we need to buy Marriott points direct to qualify. We were just at a sales meeting and turned down the 25K investment to get additional points to open up the barriers Marriott properties and benefits. I knew to check with TUG first. Looking for guidance.

 

[vacationtime1]

You made a wise decision not to buy points -- especially retail.

Why do you want more points? What are you objectives? Do you know that you can rent points on a one-time basis for the cost of MF's or a bit less?

What do you mean by "open up Abound"? That sounds like sales weasel talk; Abound is already open to you.

 

[sponger76]

I have a question on combining my existing Vistana (week worth 2950 Marriott points) and buying “trust/Marriott” points to become select members so we can open up Abound. Is it possible or will we need to buy Marriott points direct to qualify. We were just at a sales meeting and turned down the 25K investment to get additional points to open up the barriers Marriott properties and benefits. I knew to check with TUG first. Looking for guidance.

I think some clarification is needed. Do you know it's worth 2950 points because it's already enrolled or did the salesperson just tell you that's how many points it would be worth if you pay to enroll it in Abound? In other words:

1) Was your existing Vistana week purchased retail or resale?

2) If resale, is it currently enrolled in Abound and you're already able to elect it for 2950 Club Points? Like retail purchases, resale mandatory deeds owned prior to the integration of Vistana into Abound a couple of years ago should have been automatically enrolled into Abound. If you had that opportunity but opted out then you are not currently enrolled, and my understanding is that you won't be able to get free re-enrollment.

If the answer to either 1) or 2) is yes, you don't need to buy more Marriott points to open up Abound unless 2950 isn't enough Club Points for the bookings you want to make. If you just really want more points, you don't have to buy them direct from Marriott you can buy them resale and pay a lot less overall.

If 1) and 2) are both no, then you do need to make a purchase if you want to get your existing week enrolled into Abound, and that purchase does need to be retail, directly from Marriott.

 

[Hindsite]

There are very few situations where this deal would be even worth looking at, and as others have asked, more information is needed to assist in providing guidance.

The key point is whether Abound is actually of any use to you at all now or in the future. You have other excellent choices available to you and may never need to use it at all.

One thing to beware of is that improvements to the benefits are coming in the changes that are in the pipeline that add the 2 new tiers to the Abound status levels. As well as the 2 new levels, some of the restrictions at the lower levels are being softened. That might mean that any perceived limitations that you have now might soften enough or go away so there is no problem that needs fixing. It would be best to wait and see rather then commit to more and then find it is a waste.

It is possible to rent Club points for around the cost of the maint fees for them, so if you already have access to Abound, that is well worth considering before dropping $25k their way.