Scarcity of availability for points

[jimf41]

I've been renting out my weeks for a few years now due to an inability to travel myself. It's been working out pretty well so far until this year. I have seven deeded weeks, four at Ocean Pointe and three at Frenchman's Cove. I book the MFC weeks in JAN-FEB-MAR timeframe with no availability issues as long as you pay attention to the inventory release dates. The OP weeks are enrolled and I turn them into points. This year there has been a real lack of availability at the Caribbean resorts using points. I would say there is almost zero availability. I checked today and looking from JAN 2025 thru FEB 2026 there are no 7 day openings in Aruba or the USVI. I don't expect anyone to solve the problem but I would like to hear any input on the issue.

 

[jmhpsu93]

Lots of threads on this issue, but the underlying problem (especially for Aruba) is that these resorts aren't in the trust and weeks owners need to elect their weeks for points for there to be any inventory. As Aruba is super popular in the winter months, most owners either use their week or rent them out. I would assume USVI is the same way.

 

[jimf41]

Michael,
I agree these weeks are super popular. The issue is this year. In the past I've had little difficulty in getting these resorts at the 13 or12 month window. I can't really buy into the fact that there is no availability anytime at any USVI or Aruba resort for any unit for the next 13 months. That has never happened in the five years I've been booking them. I'm wondering if MVC has set some priority for trust points over enrolled points.

 

[davidvel]

Michael,
I agree these weeks are super popular. The issue is this year. In the past I've had little difficulty in getting these resorts at the 13 or12 month window. I can't really buy into the fact that there is no availability anytime at any USVI or Aruba resort for any unit for the next 13 months. That has never happened in the five years I've been booking them. I'm wondering if MVC has set some priority for trust points over enrolled points.

5 years ago was the start of COVID. I have to think that somehow affected the usage pattern over the past 3-4 years. But may be a coincidence.

 

[jmhpsu93]

@jimf41 I just checked as well for the Aruba and FC resorts. Not one available 7-day check-in, even in the slower fall season. Something might be glitchy in their system. Maybe call and do a waitlist and see what happens.

I know in the past I've been able to pull Aruba stuff in September/October without much trouble.

 

[Pamplemousse]

@jimf41 I just checked as well for the Aruba and FC resorts. Not one available 7-day check-in, even in the slower fall season. Something might be glitchy in their system. Maybe call and do a waitlist and see what happens.

I know in the past I've been able to pull Aruba stuff in September/October without much trouble.

I was searching Aruba this weekend and agree that there was not a single night in October/November.
But I searched again this morning for single night and the whole month of October was open.
Then I looked at another resort in my same search, went back about 30 seconds later and most of the month was full again.
I think there is some kind of glitch.

 

[dioxide45]

I think the biggest issue is that MVC continues to sell more and more US based trust points but there is only a finite amount of Caribbean inventory available. More people vying for the same amount of inventory.

 

[Red elephant]

Michael,
I agree these weeks are super popular. The issue is this year. In the past I've had little difficulty in getting these resorts at the 13 or12 month window. I can't really buy into the fact that there is no availability anytime at any USVI or Aruba resort for any unit for the next 13 months. That has never happened in the five years I've been booking them. I'm wondering if MVC has set some priority for trust points over enrolled points.

Back in October there were Aruba Ocean club units available. I even got 1 bedroom ocean front. I have always gotten fall at 12 months.

 

[Red elephant]

I think the biggest issue is that MVC continues to sell more and more US based trust points but there is only a finite amount of Caribbean inventory available. More people vying for the same amount of inventory.

This is unfortunate . Best bang for your buck is to use trust points on US based resorts it seems. Caribbean inventory seems plentiful on interval based on the sightings board.

 

[NJWolfpacker]

How does MVC determine how much points can be sold - is it based on actual holding figures?

 

[jwalk03]

How does MVC determine how much points can be sold - is it based on actual holding figures?

Yes. Every week owned by the trust has an assigned points value. They can only sell points equal to the number of weeks owned by the trust. The problem with the Caribbean resorts is the trust owns zero weeks at the international resorts- but the sales people of course never mention that and the average owner is very unaware as a result.

And most people don't buy points dreaming of booking a winter week in Myrtle Beach, or a mud week in Park City, or a blistering summer week in Palm Desert- but those low demand weeks also generate points they sell. (and the trust owns a disproportionate number of lower demand weeks than higher demand weeks since they can be cheaply acquired through ROFR.)

Some new Caribbean inventory being added with some new resorts would be fantastic- but I won't held my breath on that happening anytime soon.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes. Every week owned by the trust has an assigned points value. They can only sell points equal to the number of weeks owned by the trust. The problem with the Caribbean resorts is the trust owns zero weeks at the international resorts- but the sales people of course never mention that and the average owner is very unaware as a result.

And most people don't buy points dreaming of booking a winter week in Myrtle Beach, or a mud week in Park City, or a blistering summer week in Palm Desert- but those low demand weeks also generate points they sell. (and the trust owns a disproportionate number of lower demand weeks than higher demand weeks since they can be cheaply acquired through ROFR.)

Some new Caribbean inventory being added with some new resorts would be fantastic- but I won't held my breath on that happening anytime soon.

I would suspect that if/when they ever create more Caribbean resorts, they will simply sell them as weeks like they did with Costa Rica. So it doesn't help alleviate the availability issue.

 

[jwalk03]

I would suspect that if/when they ever create more Caribbean resorts, they will simply sell them as weeks like they did with Costa Rica. So it doesn't help alleviate the availability issue.

Yes I am sure that is completely true, but more inventory is still always a good thing.

 

[LeslieDet]

Michael,
I agree these weeks are super popular. The issue is this year. In the past I've had little difficulty in getting these resorts at the 13 or12 month window. I can't really buy into the fact that there is no availability anytime at any USVI or Aruba resort for any unit for the next 13 months. That has never happened in the five years I've been booking them. I'm wondering if MVC has set some priority for trust points over enrolled points.

Just FYI - the USVI property, Frenchman's Cove, has a nominal number of components in the MVC Trust, and as others have said, zero inventory in Aruba is owned by the Trust. Many Aruba owners take advantage of the high rental value (which you hope to take advantage of) for those weeks, or they vacation themselves. Aruba remains available for exchanges in II too. And, remember, the more folks who originally purchased are aging, they may very well sell, and any resales aren't eligible to enroll, meaning even fewer potential owners to elect Club Points.

 

[LeslieDet]

How does MVC determine how much points can be sold - is it based on actual holding figures?

The Florida laws under which the MVC Trust was created require that Points for Sale in the Trust at any given time will never exceed the Points for Use. Note - both Points for Sale and Points for Use are defined terms in the MVC Trust. And, the MVC Trust does not and cannot own any components outside of the USA (this doesn't exclude territory like USVI).

 

[jmhpsu93]

I was searching Aruba this weekend and agree that there was not a single night in October/November.
But I searched again this morning for single night and the whole month of October was open.
Then I looked at another resort in my same search, went back about 30 seconds later and most of the month was full again.
I think there is some kind of glitch.

That happened to me this afternoon on another unrelated search...inventory available, then none, then it's available again five minutes later.