Some Aruba-related Marriott Questions

[Rhys]

Great board, and thank you. I've spent the last few weeks reading as much as I can here and appreciate all the good information.

My wife and I sat through the Marriott Aruba Surf Club presentation last week and knew enough to say "thank you", go home, and do our research. We know Aruba well, and based on a lot of what I've read here, we may wish to consider an Ocean Club resale as an alternative. The Surf Club units are lovely but the complex is just too big and too crowded for us, and I don't think we would buy from the developer. If we buy, it would be with the intent of using the unit every year rather than exchanging or renting to others.

I do have a few questions that I can't seem to get easy answers to online, and will definitely join TUG if we get closer to buying.

1. Some owner ads in places like Redweek refer to these Marriott Aruba units as Deeded, others as Right-To-Use. Marriott's ads do not use either term. The sales rep said they can be passed to heirs. What document do you actually receive as an owner, and is it possible to find one to read in advance? I asked for something like a legal prospectus and was not given one.

2. The Marriott Aruba Ocean Club Cooperative Association maintains an online newsletter for owners (www.arubaoceanclub.com) with a section listing resales by owner. They charge the seller a $150 listing fee (no commission to Marriott itself, just their $100 fee to amend ownership records if sold) and they explain how to contact Marriott if a buyer is found, including the ROFR process. Quite a few units are listed. This seems like a good way to determine realistic resale prices without brokerage fees, and place an offer. I would love to know at what point Marriott would exercise their ROFR, but I guess there is no way to really know that. Does this seem like a good place to start?

3. I think I read somewhere that Title Insurance is not readily available in Aruba -- something to do with the government not recording timeshare deeds?

4. I'm also curious how experienced owners in the Caribbean have found rising air fares offsetting the vacation value derived from distant time share purchases. It seems if you must reserve a week a year in advance you really lose the ability to take advantage of fare deals from the airlines, and may pay top dollar as a result.

Thank you again for responses to these newbie questions, and for a terrific BBS.

Rhys

 

[m61376]

Great board, and thank you. I've spent the last few weeks reading as much as I can here and appreciate all the good information.

My wife and I sat through the Marriott Aruba Surf Club presentation last week and knew enough to say "thank you", go home, and do our research. We know Aruba well, and based on a lot of what I've read here, we may wish to consider an Ocean Club resale as an alternative. The Surf Club units are lovely but the complex is just too big and too crowded for us, and I don't think we would buy from the developer. If we buy, it would be with the intent of using the unit every year rather than exchanging or renting to others.

I do have a few questions that I can't seem to get easy answers to online, and will definitely join TUG if we get closer to buying.

1. Some owner ads in places like Redweek refer to these Marriott Aruba units as Deeded, others as Right-To-Use. Marriott's ads do not use either term. The sales rep said they can be passed to heirs. What document do you actually receive as an owner, and is it possible to find one to read in advance? I asked for something like a legal prospectus and was not given one.
You receive what looks like a stock certificate. The Aruban government has leased the land to Marriott for 60 years (I believe that was the length) so it isn't a deeded property. However, it is not RTU in the typical sense, since ownership rights do not expire. IF the government was for some reason not to renew the lease it would have to pay the HOA fair market value and each owner would get a piece of the pie, so ownership rights don't just expire. If, as expected, Marriott is granted continued rights, then ownership continues. That's basically the way it was explained to me at least.
2. The Marriott Aruba Ocean Club Cooperative Association maintains an online newsletter for owners (www.arubaoceanclub.com) with a section listing resales by owner. They charge the seller a $150 listing fee (no commission to Marriott itself, just their $100 fee to amend ownership records if sold) and they explain how to contact Marriott if a buyer is found, including the ROFR process. Quite a few units are listed. This seems like a good way to determine realistic resale prices without brokerage fees, and place an offer. I would love to know at what point Marriott would exercise their ROFR, but I guess there is no way to really know that. Does this seem like a good place to start?
Yes, and check out the ads here, on Reweek, etc., as well as calling a few brokers. There are many posts on ROFR; basically, what Marriott nabs one day my pass at a lower price another day, so just negotiate the best price you can.
3. I think I read somewhere that Title Insurance is not readily available in Aruba -- something to do with the government not recording timeshare deeds?
Since there are no actual "deeds" I cdon't think title insurance is an option.
4. I'm also curious how experienced owners in the Caribbean have found rising air fares offsetting the vacation value derived from distant time share purchases. It seems if you must reserve a week a year in advance you really lose the ability to take advantage of fare deals from the airlines, and may pay top dollar as a result.
Last year I bought in October and made reservations for Jan.. The airfare out of NY for 5 people was $483pp on a non-stop flight. This year I paid 424pp. In some respects, having the reservations early allows you to plan and constantly check the fares and nab them when they dip, so I think it is an advantage.
Thank you again for responses to these newbie questions, and for a terrific BBS.


Rhys

BTW- Aruba is fantastic. We own at the Surf Club and bought with the intention of trading a lot, but I am thinking of buying another unit for trading purposes because we will likely be going there most years. Our family had a terrific time- all 3 generations!

 

[Rhys]

Thanks! Since this was moved to the Marriott section last night I've been spending much time reading the hundreds of posts and replies about these properties. Your clarification was most helpful.

Rhys

 

[m61376]

Thanks! Since this was moved to the Marriott section last night I've been spending much time reading the hundreds of posts and replies about these properties. Your clarification was most helpful.

Rhys

My pleasure- and welcome to Tug! Pat yourself on the back for the thousands you have potentially saved by finding this site and not buying during your trip.

 

[bubie34]

Aruba Surf Club

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[LUVourMarriotts]

With regards to the airfare question, I believe the pricing for flights to Aruba have decreased over the past 3 years. I wanted to go 3 years ago, but didn't because flights were around $800/pp. In March, we paid $380/pp and in December we are going for $370/pp. These are all non-stop from NYC to AUA.

 

[gores95]

With regards to the airfare question, I believe the pricing for flights to Aruba have decreased over the past 3 years. I wanted to go 3 years ago, but didn't because flights were around $800/pp. In March, we paid $380/pp and in December we are going for $370/pp. These are all non-stop from NYC to AUA.

Airfare fluctuations are unforunately a reality...especially to the Caribbean. We own Gold at Surf Club (May-mid Dec roughly) and since we have young kids would try to go when they are on vacation. The airlines REALLY increase airfares when schools take vacations. The other issue we have is my wife does not want to go to a Caribbean destination during the summer when temps are the same in Aruba and NJ! We just go down the Jersey shore.

So for us looking during Teachers convention in November for example airfares can be $700 or more as opposed to $300-400 other times of the year. Oh well we knew this going in!

 

[rosepointe]

I also read the board for several weeks before purchasing a resale 2 years ago. We have been in Aruba almost every year for 10 years. Got great advise here and am very plesed with our purchase.

Those who live in NY NJ have much better luck with flights since Jet Blue has joined the Aruba market. I heard they might make it Phildelphia...I hope so. Airline tickets go up and down but if you book and they go down most airlines will honor it if you book directly with them. We got over 200 back per ticket on 3 tickets this past June.

Rates have gone up for us though and I have found no bargins pre booking.

Good Luck.
Sue

 

[happy3sum]

Rhys:

I just talked to a senior sales conuselor for Marriott today and I was offered the Aruba resort as well --- to be clear, I was told today that it was a 50-yr lease.

Happy3sum

 

[lovearuba]

I have already booked my airfare for next July. I booked from Boston to Aruba direct for $384.00, within a week of me making the reservations the price has gone up to $469.00, same seat category, same flights.

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

I just talked to a senior sales conuselor for Marriott today and I was offered the Aruba resort as well --- to be clear, I was told today that it was a 50-yr lease.

I also believe it is a 60 year lease as noted above. The lease started in 1987, so yes, there are 50 years left. The government in Aruba would be crazy not to renew the lease.

I can't find anything specific in my docs regarding the term of the lease. The only thing I found even remotely close is that the board votes every 30 years to determine if the Surf Club Association will continue to exist. Anyone else find the exact info?